Morphological variability among Macrophomina phaseolina associated with mulberry root rot in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Considerable variations were noted in radial mycelial growth, dry weight, sclerotial number, colony colour and texture among the Macrophomina phaseolina cultures isolated from mulberry root rot infected samples. Among 15 cultures, two cultures were fast growing (>80 mm), five cultures produce maximum mycelial dry weight (>55 mg) and five cultures produce abundant sclerotial number (>50). Cultures were categorized based on colour as: grayish black, black with white mycelium and black and on the basis of texture as: fluffy, partially fluffy and appressed growth.