Reduction of Spore Density of Plasmodiophora brassicae in Soil by Decoy Plants

The severity of clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) on Chinese cabbage was reduced by growing plants such as oats, spinach and leafy daikon prior to Chinese cabbage in pot experiments. Resting spore densities of P. brassicae in the soil were 29–62%, depending on the pervious crop, as compared to unplanted control plot after ploughing under the previously cultivated plants. Root hairs of the preceding plants were infected with P. brassicae, but clubbed roots were not formed on these plants. The results indicate that these plants functioned as decoy plants reducing the resting-spore density in soil and thereby suppressing disease severity.