White Sclerotinia rot

Causal Organism: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

• Causing severe yield reduction.

Symptoms:

• Water soaked lesions are formed on plant parts which come in contact with soil, where white cottony growth of fungus is visible.
• Later on black, hard sclerotia are formed on and inside of the infected parts.

Control:

• Plants become susceptible after or around flowering and earlier sowing suffer severe damage, hence late sowing (November) is recommended.
• Need based sprays of Carbendazim @ 0.1 %at fortnightly intervals starting from disease appearance.