1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004
Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004
*E-mail: ruhigill007@yahoo.com
Online published on 25 August, 2015.
Among the major constraints in mustard cultivation, stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is important one.
The disease incidence is correlated directly to yield losses. Variability among isolates may provide information about aggressiveness and help in devising specific strategies. Geographical isolates were collected and maintained.
Fifty-three such isolates were studied for their morphological and cultural characteristics. Cultures were grown on PDA and morphological characteristics viz., mycelial growth (mm) in diameter at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after inoculation, colony colour, sclerotial initiation and complete formation after inoculation, size and shape of sclerotia and pattern of sclerotial formation were recorded. Isolates showed considerable variability and were grouped according to various characteristics. Based on this, five groups were formed by using similarity coefficient and UPGMA.
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, isolates, morphological characteristics, variability
