Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar-385 506, India.
Castor wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ricini Nanda and Prasad) is the most important disease of castor at present in India. The symptoms of the disease are more prominent at flowering and spike formation stage as gradual yellowing, inter-veinal necrosis, hang down of leaves and blackening and necrosis of roots. A great deal of variability in the pathogen exists. Reniform nematodes predispose plants for infection by wilt pathogen. Infected seeds play an important role in the perpetuation and spread of the pathogen. The favourable temperature for infection by wilt pathogen is 13–15°C. Application of bio-agents like Trichoderma spp. and chemical like carbendazim as seed treatment as well as use of resistant cultivars along with proper cultural practices like soil solarization provides an effective control of the disease.
