Diversity of Pathogens causing Storage rot and Impact of Storage structures on Ginger rot

Three different ginger storage structures i.e. pits, heaps and mud plaster were generally used in Rajasthan. Association of Aspergillus niger, Rhizophus stolonifer, Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani and Pythium aphanidermatum was found under traditional storage structures of ginger rhizomes. Out of these, P. aphanidermatum and F. solani were more frequency of association with ginger rot diseased rhizomes. The maximum infection index of F. solani (18.3%) was observed in heap storage structure, while P. aphanidermatum (16.3%) infection index was high in mud plaster structure storage of ginger rhizomes. The mud plaster was found more susceptible to rotting in storage and its range was 2.0% to 18.3% during 2001 in Dungarpur and Udaipur districts whereas during 2002, it ranged from 1.0% to 15.6%, respectively. Minimum infection index was 2.0% and 1.0% in pits storage structure of ginger.