Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology

ABSTRACT

Sclerotium rolfsii, which causes collar rot diseases, poses a serious risk to sunflower production in tropical and subtropical areas. Chemical seed treatments are extensively used in agriculture, considering that they predominantly protect the early stages of the cultivated crops. Soil-borne inoculum, on the other hand, tends to survive and induce infection later. The objective of this research was to explore the efficacy of trichocompost alone or in conjunction with seed treatment to decrease the incidence of collar rot disease and enhance the output of sunflower. Seven treatments, along with an untreated control, were used in a field trial. Yield per lot was recorded at harvest, and disease incidence was documented at regular intervals up to 60 days after sowing (DAS). The application of trichocompost and seed treatment together (T ₇) had the lowest disease incidence at 60 DAS (17.51%), with tricho compost alone (T ₄) coming in second at (18.77%). The reduction in disease pressure led to a large increase in productivity. The yields of T ₇ and T ₄ were over 2-fold higher, giving 658.03g/plot and 638.81g/plot respectively, compared to the untreated control, which yielded 304.63g/plot. In brief, seed treatment alone provided minimal protection in the initial stages, however, when combined with trichocompost, it resulted in a better, and more reliable disease control, thus emphasizing the importance of a numerically superior approach to soil and seed interventions for efficient management of collar rot disease of sunflower. 

Keywords: Sunflower; Collar Rot Diseases; Sclerotium Rolfsii; Trichocompost; Soil Health; Integrated Disease Management