Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Effect of Age on Susceptibility of Groundnut Plants to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. Caused Stem Rot Disease

Bekriwala TH, Kedar Nath and Chaudhary DA

Stem rot of groundnut caused by Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) is a soil borne disease favoured in humid and warmer soil condition at all growth stages. Our objective was to determine how plants ages affect susceptibility of plants exposed to Sclerotium rolfsii. Groundnut seeds were grown in pots containing sterilized soil. Groundnut plants were inoculated 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) by actively mycelium and sclerotia developed on sorghum grains places near the seeds/plants. Stem rot developed in all inoculated plants but severity decreased with increasing plant age at inoculation. Highest disease severity (79.04%) was recorded in 45 DAS inoculated plants. Whereas plants inoculated 0 DAS may cause pre-emergence rotting and few plants emerged. Plants were inoculated at 15, 30 and 60 DAS developed stem rot symptoms. Our findings suggest that plants are more susceptible to infection at early development stages (0-45 DAS). However, susceptibility to stem infection was reduced after 45 DAS of inoculation. Moreover, young stage of maturity was more susceptible to S. rolfsii.