Factors affecting development of collar rot disease in chickpea

The study was conducted during the winter season of 2003 to assess the effect of factors like inoculum potential, age of the seedling and soil type on the incidence of collar rot disease in chickpea caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. An increase in the inoculum load of the pathogen enhanced the disease incidence. Among the techniques used for pathogenicity, use Of inoculum in the form of wheat grains fully impregnated with mycelium of the pathogen was found to be simple, feasible and highly effective. In case of the soil textures, the mortality of seedling was higher in clayey soil. Younger seedlings were more susceptible and the susceptibility decreased with the increase in age of seedlings.