Stem and Pod Rot

Symptoms

• The fungus attacks all parts of the plant, but stem infection is the most common and destructive.

• Yellowing and wilting of branches near the base of the plant is the first symptom. 

• White fungus growth develops at or near the soil around the affected stem.

Symptoms

• Severely infected pods are completely covered with a white fungal growth, and eventually decay.

• In some cases the seeds from the diseased pods show a characteristic bluish-gray discoloration known as 'blue damage'.

Management

• Cultural practices like deep ploughing, sanitation and control of leaf spots to prevent leaf drop helps in controlling stem rot.

• Control of moisture, and soil solarization helps in controlling stem rot.
  

• Crop rotation with cotton, wheat, onion and garlic is an effective means of control.
  

• Seed treatment with Rhizolex or Captan at 2.5 g/kg seed reduce stem rot incidence.