Survey for the disease incidence of root rot of sesame caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi.) Goid, in major sesame growing areas of Telangana

Abstract

A roving survey was conducted during summer 2017 in major sesame growing areas of Telangana to record the occurrence and distribution of root rot of sesame in ten mandals of the three major sesame growing districts of Telangana. Maximum mean dry root rot incidence was observed in Nirmal district (11.98%) followed by Nizamabd district (6.78%), The highest disease incidence of 15.00% was recorded in Babapur village of Nirmal district and least disease incidence of 2.50% was recorded in Korutla village of Jagtial district. Disease was more prevalent in sandy loam soil areas followed by clay loam and minimum in clay soil areas. Disease incidence was also higher in areas where farmers used susceptible varieties (VRI-1 and private variety) without seed treatment and in areas where irrigation was less frequently given.