Green Acres SSD

🌶️ 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 (𝐒𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐟𝐬𝐢𝐢) 🌱

Field monitoring has revealed severe wilting in chilli plants. The basal stem shows white fungal mycelium and mustard-seed-like brown sclerotia, clear signs of collar rot disease, caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii.

🔬 About the Fungus
✅ Survives in soil as sclerotia (hard fungal structures)
✅ Attacks the collar region, leading to sudden wilting
✅ Thrives in warm, humid conditions with high soil moisture
✅ Infects many crops: chilli, groundnut, soybean, vegetables, and more

⚠️ Field Symptoms
🤚 Sudden wilting and drying of plants
🤚 White, cottony fungal growth at the collar base
🤚 Numerous mustard-like sclerotia on infected tissue

✅ Integrated Management Practices

1. Cultural Control
🤚 Crop rotation with cereals
🤚 Remove and destroy infected plants
🤚 Deep summer ploughing to expose sclerotia

2. Biological Control
🤚 Seed and soil treatment with Trichoderma harzianum / T. viride (5–10 g/kg seed or 2.5 kg/acre enriched in FYM)
🤚 Soil drenching with Pseudomonas fluorescens

3. Chemical Control (if severe)
🤚 Soil drenching near the collar region with Carbendazim 0.1% or Tebuconazole 0.1%
🤚 Combine fungicide + bioagent for sustainable management

🌍 Takeaway
Soil-borne pathogens like Sclerotium rolfsii are persistent and difficult to manage. The most effective approach is integrated management, with emphasis on biological solutions for long-term sustainability.