damping-off

[ dam-ping-awf, -of ]

noun

, Plant Pathology.

1. a disease of seedlings, occurring either before or immediately after emerging from the soil, characterized by rotting of the stem at soil level and eventual collapse of the plant, caused by any of several soil fungi.

damping off

noun

1. any of various diseases of plants, esp the collapse and death of seedlings caused by the parasitic fungus Pythium debaryanum and related fungi in conditions of excessive moisture

damping off

1. Any of various diseases of seedlings that are caused by oomycetes, especially of the genus Pythium, or by fungi, and result in wilting and death.

Word History and Origins

Origin of damping-off¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The research team zeroed in on Globisporangium ultimum, a major soil-borne oomycete responsible for damping-off and root rot in many plant species.

From Science Daily

Tipping fills each flat with a homemade potting mix of about 10 parts well-aged compost to one part sand, which improves the drainage and helps limit surface algae growth and damping-off disease.

From Seattle Times

Houses containing large-flowered Japanese chrysanthemums will require to be kept dry, airy and moderately warm to prevent “damping-off” of petals.

From Project Gutenberg

It is partly owing to the want of systematisation of this knowledge, and its extension in other directions, that such extraordinary blunders are made in ignorant practice, and trees for instance are planted in low-lying frost beds which would succeed in slightly higher situations, or seeds subject to damping-off are sown in beds rife with the spores of Peronospora or Pythium, and so forth.

From Project Gutenberg

If trouble is likely to be experienced from damping-off fungi, the soil may be heated to 200° F. and held there for an hour, using oven or electric or steam sterilizer.

From Project Gutenberg