Clubroot from seeds?

[Chantal]

My plot neighbour and I are having a discussion about club root which he insists he has never had on his plot until he planted some brassica seeds and these appear to have clubroot. He swears it's come from the seed, but I've always believed it to be transmitted throught the soil.

I've planted some of the same seeds (same packet|) and my plants appeared to be OK, but I did pull them out very young.

I've decided to plant some seeds in a pot and let them grow to full maturity as a control, but in the meantime, does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[FelixLeiter]

It is soil borne. Club root is actually quite rare and its symptoms are often mistaken for those of wart disease, which is common and not nearly as intractable nor as devastating. Clubroot can be distinguished by its unholy stink.

Reproduction by seed is a plant's way of making a fresh start, free from any pathogens that might have infested the parent. Some viruses are seed borne, but that is extremely rare and then only certain genera.

[Chantal]

Hi Felix

Thanks for the info; I'd never heard of this one! I've checked Google images and from what I saw it is clubroot rather than warts, they do look quite different. The roots were swollen rather than having "warts" growing on the roots.

I'm glad you agree about it being soil borne though, there are two or three on our site who are all saying they've grown seeds with clubroot and won't be dissuaded.

I'm going to plant my control pot of seeds this morning, so that will settle it one way or another, I'll report back with the results.

I'm very interested in this as I gave him some of my seeds and am currently feeling rather guilty, not that he is blaming me in any way, but I feel the urge to clear my name (and that of the seeds!).