I'm not too sure just what the differences are between the mustard seed fungus, and the one that causes crown rot ( maybe even the same one !), but both of those, as well as the botrytis rot, are fungal in origin .....basically, if it stinks...it's a bacteria, if it DOESN'T stink(or even smells kinda' "sweet and yeasty"), it a fungus. I found that Listerine (the cheap, wally world imitation
), poured into an empty windex spray bottle, with one teaspoon of "broad spectrum fungicide, seems to do a good job of "drying" up the soft, rotten tissue.....and *may* actually either help kill the bacteria, or fungus.
The more I read on the subject of the various rots...and the causes......and the treatments for them......the more I think we need to really consider we *may* be doing more harm, than good, with our "treatments". take the old "dust it with comet" treatment....yes, it will kill bacteria.....but it also adds a lot of phosphates to the area......and, according to some *experts*, the use of excessive phosphate promotes rot
.
I'm considering using Agri strep, or an agricultural biocide, this next spring, if my problems come back. The 'high powered" fungicide I used this spring seemed to halt the botrytis.......but ,of course, didn't do a thing for the bacterial soft rot that had entered the "wounded" rhizomes. The problem with either the biocides, or the fungicides, is that they kill both the 'targeted" ones, and also the "good "ones, that the soil needs. So far, the 'aspirin" drench seems to improve the rhizome's chance of survival....but , that may be wishful thinking on my part
