MORPHOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON Slerotinia sclerotiorum CAUSING STALK ROT OF CAULIFLOWER

Morphological, cultural and physiological of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were studied on solid and liquid media at Vegetable Pathology Laboratory, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh, India. The fungus produced aerial mycelium, which was hyaline consisting of closely septate hyphae and measured 2.0-9.4 µm. Micro- conidia were produced on conidiophores of the vegetative mycelium and measured 1.5-3.5 µm. Sclerotia were black in colour, round to irregular and measured 2-15 x 1.5-7 mm. Apothecia were round or globate type with diameter ranging from 2-9 mm. The asci were hyaline and cylindrical and measured 91-165 x 4.9-8.5 µm. Ascospores were elliptical and ranged from 6.5-13 x 4.2-6.6 µm. The fungus was found to grow best on potato dextrose agar medium and Richard solution. Optimum temperature and pH for the growth of the fungus were 20-25 o C and pH 5.0, respectively.

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