Soilborne Diseases of Peanut

The agents (pathogens) that cause soilborne diseases of peanut are various fungi and nematodes that survive in the soil and infect one or more parts of the plant at or below the soil surface. Soilborne diseases can severely limit peanut yields in Oklahoma, particularly in fields where long rotations with nonhost crops are not practiced. Southern blight and Sclerotinia blight are probably the most widespread and destructive of the soilborne diseases and are described in OSU Extension Fact Sheet F-7186. There are several other soilborne diseases that are less common, but still important where they occur. The purpose of this fact sheet is to describe these diseases to aid growers in their identification and to provide general suggestions for their management. Specific suggestions for cultural and chemical controls are updated yearly in the OSU Extension Agents Handbook of Insect, Plant Disease, and Weed Control (Circular E-832) and in the Oklahoma Peanut Production Guide (Circular E-608).