What Does Fusarium Mean?
Fusarium is a soil-borne plant pathogen. It attacks the root system of several types of plants, including cannabis. Once the soil has been contaminated by a fusarium fungus, the fungi will reside in the area indefinitely.
Fusarium produces a wilt disease in plants and is sometimes called ‘yellows’. Once it infects plants, it causes them to wilt, turn yellow, and start exhibiting stunted growth.
Many fusarium-diseased plants will eventually perish, but others will just grow stunted and produce poorly. The fungus commonly attacks eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes.
Maximum Yield Explains Fusarium
Fusarium fungus occurs in warm soil and usually starts thriving when the soil temperature reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Times of drought and dry weather also encourage the fungus to spread. It is highly contagious and difficult to control or eradicate. The fungus is spread by gardening tools, equipment, water, and insects. Boots, equipment, and gardening tools should all be sanitized with bleach if they have come into contact with fusarium-infected soil.
Once a plant's root system absorbs the fungus, the fungus immediately starts restricting the plant’s water-absorbing ability. The fungus is believed to be harbored in old and decaying plant material and in the soil. Crop rotation as a preventative measure is highly suggested. Soil that is believed to contain the fusarium fungus should have black plastic spread across its surface for a month to kill off the fungus via heat.
In cannabis, fusarium usually causes dark spots to develop on the lower leaves of the plant. The infected leaves then start to turn yellow and brown before wilting. If the roots of the marijuana plant are also infected, the stem will turn reddish and burst open.
Some plant varieties have been developed to be resistant to fusarium fungus. Genetics play a significant role in cannabis plants becoming infected by the fungus. For example, certain strains of marijuana are less likely to suffer from fusarium. These types of strains would be recommended for soil grows.
During the United States government’s War on Drugs campaign, fusarium was often used to kill off cannabis fields.
