Under Egyptian conditions Basil (Ocimum basillicum L.) plants are subjected to invasion by many soil borne diseases causing considerable losses. Damping off and root rot of basil were found widespread in plantations in Beni-Suef and Fayoum governorates during 2016 and 2017 seasons. The isolated fungi from naturally infected basil plants with these diseases were identified as Fusarium subglutinans, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. semitectum, F. nival, F. roseum, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Fusarium moniliforme and R. solani have achieved the highest occurrence percentage in isolation trials from samples of Beni-Suef and Fayoum governorates.  Rhizoctonia solani was more virulent than the other fungi in pathogenicity tests on the two tested basil varieties, i.e French and American. The effects of biocides (Plant guard and Rizo-N), biofertilizers (Biogen and Nitrobien), fungicides (Folio gold, Babon and Amister top) and plant extracts (Basil and Verbascum) on controlling  damping off and root rot on two basil varieties were tested under greenhouse and field conditions. The controlling agents, however, were varied in their positive efficiency against diseases. Biocides and fungicides were the superior treatments in controlling diseases and improving plant growth parameters. In the applied field experiments, all treatments tested significantly decreased the percentages of infection and increased the growth parameters compared with control treatment.