Stem rot: Sclerotium rolfsii

Symptoms:

• Sudden drying of branch completely or partially
• Leaves turn brown and dry but remain in the plant
• White mycelium over the soil around stem
• Mustard like sclerotia on infected part

Stem rot

Pathogen:

It is a necrotrophic and soilborne pathogen

Small tufts of white mycelium that form brown mustard like sclerotia

Pathogen

Favourable Conditions:

• Soil moisture: 40-50% water holding capacity
• Temperature: 29-32ºC during day and 25ºC during night

Mode of Spread and Survival:

• Pathogen has wide host range
• Sclerotia remain viable for years in soil
• Disease spreads through infected soil and sclerotia

Management:

• Deep ploughing to bury surface litter
• Cultivation of groundnut in flat or raised beds
• Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seeds and soil application of T. viride @ 2.5 kg/ha with 500 kg FYM
• Soil drenching with carbendazim 50 WP @ 1 g/litre