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

Disinfect the pots, flats and cell packs before planting to avoid problems with damping off and other diseases.

From Seattle Times

Another issue is that planting in cool, overly wet soil encourages damping off, a disease caused by mold or fungus that rots the stems of tender seedlings.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s a little bit of a dance between making sure they’re moist and not overly moist,” he says, to avoid issues like damping off, a fungal disease that often kills or weakens seedlings.

From Seattle Times

Airflow is important, or thickly sown microgreens can suffer from a fungal disease called damping off.

From New York Times

Perhaps he overlooked the packets’ stern warnings about overcrowding and etiolation and damping off, their instructions to carefully sprinkle pre-wetted soil extremely sparsely with, say, five seeds at a time.

From The New Yorker