Rhizoctonia solani may cause different diseases in carrot (Daucus carota L.). To test control methods, artificial inoculation is generally employed. This work aimed to adjust a methodology to inoculate R. solani (AG-4) in carrot. A randomized block outline with five replicates was used, with an experimental unit of a 3L-pot with 40 seeds and a substact composed by a mixture of soil/sand (3:1 v/v). Treatments were those in a factorial experiment 4 x 3, with 4 inoculum densities (9; 18; 36; 72 mg of inoculum.kg-1 of soil) and three forms of artificial infestation (incorporated to the substract as a whole; incorporated on the surface; with direct contact with seeds) and an additional control. The experiment was carried out in a growth chamber at 20(0)C and a 12h photoperiod. The evaluations were daily performed from the 8th to the 30th day after sowing, recording plant stand and number of seedlings with damping-off. The emergence index, averge percentage of pre and post emergence. Were analyzed the density of 72 mg of inoculum·kg-1 of soil, incorporated on the surface of the susbtract was the most efficient inoculation method.
Daucus carota; inoculum; epidemiology
