Diseases of Fruit Plantation Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

Root rot

Causal organism: Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.

• It is prevalent in parts of Bihar and U.P.
Symptom
• Affected plant begins to wither and dry up from the base. The stem at the collar region shows blackening and shredding of root barks. The affected plants dry up; the disease is noticed in patches. Large number of minute and black sclerotia can be seen on affected root barks.
Mode of survival

• Primary source of inoculum : sclerotial bodies
• Secondary source of inoculum: Mycelia
Etiology

• Mycelia- septate
• Asexual spores: Absent
• Sexual spores : Basidiospores
• Vegetative structures: Sclerotial bodies
• Fungus hyphae are colorless, branched and 8-9 micrometer in diameter later they become brown.
• Sclerotia are black and measures 150 micro meter in diameter.
Managemnt

• Seed treatment with carbendazim 2 g/kg and provision of proper drainage facilities are the important control methods.