Nine fungicides testedin vitroinhibited the growth of all pathogens associated with basal stem rots at 200 ppm active ingredient except chloroneb and mancozeb which were ineffective onPythium aphanidermatum. Thiram + BHC, captafol, captan, thiram and fentin hydroxide gave effective control of pre-emergence damping-off caused byP. aphanidermatumandCorticium rolfsiiin cowpea seeds, but failed to control post-emergence damping-off in the glasshouse. Soil drench with an aqueous suspension of thiram, thiram + BHC and captan controlled both pre- and post-emergence damping-off. In field trials, however, there was no significant difference between seed dressing alone and a combination of seed dressing and soil drench both in terms of percentage plant survival and grain yield.