*Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi – 110 012
National Centre for Integrated Pest Management, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110 012
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
The oilseed crops, especially Brassica spp. play a vital role in agricultural economy of India. Sclerotinia rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) of Brassicas causes heavy yield losses up to the tune of 40% in the field. Being a seed and soil borne pathogen with widest host range, it is difficult to manage this disease by existing chemical control methods. Use of host plant resistance is the most viable, economically sound, environmentally safe and less expensive tool in integrated disease management (IDM). Field experiments were undertaken during 2008–2009 (under natural epiphytotic) and 2009–10 (under artificial epiphytotic)) for virulence assessment of 50 varieties of Brassicas against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at IARI Farm, New Delhi. Artificial inoculation of soil was carried out by adding 100g FYM/M2 (pre-inoculated with liquid broth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). Artificial stem inoculations were also undertaken. The results revealed that the disease incidence in different varieties was below 5.0% along with severity of 1–2 grade during 2008–09, however, in 2009–10, forty varieties showed high incidence (>10%) and severity of Sclerotinia rot. Four varieties namely NPC 9, Kiran, Pusa karisma and RLM 619 showed less than 5% incidence were termed as resistant, whereas six namely Pusa Jagannath, Pusa Vijay, Pusa Mustard 21, CS 54, RH 30 and IGC01 showed 5–10% incidence were moderately resistant. The varieties which were found resistant can be used in IDM technologies of rapeseed-mustard.
