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
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Stem rot |
Pathogen:
It is a necrotrophic and soilborne pathogen
Small tufts of white mycelium that form brown mustard like sclerotia
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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
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