Incidence, yield losses and symptomatology of sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) incited by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Abstract

SSR hamper successful cultivation and causes significant yield losses globally including India. The SSR disease incidence ranged from 3.59 to 18.50 per cent in mustard growing areas of Rajasthan and Bharatpur district having the highest (18.50%) disease incidence. However, the Udaipur district had the lowest (3.59%) disease outbreak. SSR was responsible to cause 18.80 per cent overall yield losses in two consecutive years (Rabi 2016-17 and 2017-18). Highest yield loss (43.82%) was observed from Bharatpur district while minimum yield loss (3.51%) had recorded from Udaipur district. Characteristics symptoms, formation of white mycelium on host stem and development of sclerotia on/inside the stem, of SSR on mustard crop were noted during survey.