Studies on Stem Rot of Mustard Caused by Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum Lib De Bary

Abstract

Rapeseed-mustard (Brassica Juncea (L.) Czem and Coss. is one of the most importent crop grown in India and located all sides in the world. It is far-reaching grown common as a pure crop as well as intercrop in marginal and sub-marginal loam in the eastern, northern and north western states of India. Cold and wet climate of winter months in the most importent factor for abundant growth and productivity of mustard in these states. The mustard cultivated countries in the world, India ranks 3rd in area and production after China and Canada (Anonymous. 2013). In India, rapeseed-mustard crops are cultivated on region of 6.51 million hac with a production of 7.67 million tones and with an average production of 1179 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2013). In spite of considerable increase in efficiency and yield a wide gap exists between yield potential and yield realized at farmer s field which is largely due to biotic and abiotic stresses, the devastating diseases of mustard include those caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and phytoplasma. Sclerotinia rot is the most important fungal disease that causes highest damage in India mustard (Rathi et al., 2014). newlineAmong the various host crops of this pathogen in India, the first record of S. sclerotiorum was made on rapeseed-mustard by Shaw and Ajreker (1915). Since then, sclerotinia stem rot has been reported to occur on this crop in many other countries, like Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden and United Kingdom (Kolte, 1985). Globally, this disease was earlier reported to be of minor importance, due to newer crop husbandry practices and extensive cultivation of susceptible varieties, it has attained the next position to alternaria blight in their economic importance (Kolte, 1985; Singh et al., 2002; Parveen et al., 2007). newlineThe sclerotinia stem rot of mustard caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a necrotrophic pathogen and worldwide distribution known to infect over 400 plant species and is more common it temperate and sub-tropical area occupy cold and