20 Niger Seed Damping off/root rot Disease Rhizoctonia solani The fungus attacks stem of the seedling at ground level, makes water soaked soft and incapable of supporting the seedling which falls over and dies. On older seedlings elongated brownish black lesions appear. The seed should be treated with Thiram or Captan @3.0 g/kg seed. The disease can also be reduced by drenching the plants with Captan 50 WP @0.25% and crop rotation should be followed. 8,629