Sclerotium wilt/ Collar rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.)
Period of occurrence
The disease in very common in the mulberry nurseries during the rainy season (July- September)
Identification of the disease
- The disease is characterized by presence of dark brown to black water soaked spots on the collar region of the stem.
- The black water soaked spots encircle the stem and eventually more upward and downward regions.
- White mycelial mat with a large number of chocolate brown sclerotial bodies will develop over the infected tissues.
- Sclerotia are ellipsoidal in shape and vary from 0.5 to 1.5 mm in size.
- Once the stem base is affected, the entire shoot drops down.
Infected plant Mature sclerotia