Influence of Sowing Dates on Incidence of Sclerotinia Stem Rot of Rapeseed-Mustard

摘要

Among the rabi oilseed crops, rapeseed and mustard are the major crops of India, are consumed by human beings and also fed to cattle as a feed supplement in the form of oil cake. These are severely affected by many fungal diseases that deteriorates the quality and quantity of seed and oil content considerably in the crops. Among them, Sclerotinia stem rot of rapeseed-mustard caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary has become important in recent times in India and elsewhere with high diseaseincidence and yield losses. The fungus infects all above ground parts of the plant but most destructive symptom is on stem. Sclerotia are the primary survival structure of the fungus and act as a source of infection for many years in the field. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with an objective to reduce the disease incidence through the adjustment of sowing dates.