Title: A Diagnostic Guide for Pythium Damping-Off and Root and Stem Rot of Cucurbits
Abstract: All major commercially cultivated species of Cucurbitaceae are susceptible to Pythium damping-off and root and stem rot. Twenty-four species of Pythium and Phytopythium helicoides have been reported to cause disease across 10 genera. The goal of this diagnostic guide is to describe symptoms and to summarize and provide insight on techniques for isolation, storage, morphological and genetic identification, and conducting pathogenicity tests of Pythium isolates.