Characterization and Integrated Management of <i>Pythium aphanidermatum</i> ‐Induced Damping‐Off in Papaya, Punjab, Pakistan

Damping‐off disease, caused by Pythium aphanidermatum , is a serious problem in papaya nurseries, leading to substantial seedling losses. Although Pythium species have been reported in various crops in Punjab, Pakistan, the causal agent of papaya damping‐off had not been conclusively identified, nor had an integrated management strategy been assessed. This study aimed to characterize the pathogen using morphological and molecular tools and to evaluate chemical and botanical control options. Surveys conducted in five major papaya nurseries recorded disease incidence ranging from 13% to 60%. The pathogen isolated from symptomatic seedlings was identified as P. aphanidermatum based on morphological features and confirmed through ITS and Cox II gene sequences. In vitro assays revealed that Vidal and neem oil were the most effective treatments, reducing mycelial growth to 12.10 and 21.92 mm, respectively, at the highest concentrations tested (600 mg a.i. L −1 for fungicides and 20% v/v for neem products). In greenhouse experiments, combination treatments Vidal + Epic and neem oil + neem leaf extract resulted in the lowest disease incidence (11.67–18.17%) and improved seedling growth. These findings highlight the potential of integrated chemical and botanical approaches for effective management of papaya damping‐off and indicate the need for further field‐level validation.