Evaluation of different inoculation techniques on Pathogenecity of Sclerotium rolfsii

Collar rot is one of the most destructive diseases of lentil. Yield losses can be attributed to fungal growth at collar region near soil line which leads to smaller and fewer seeds, premature ripening, shattered pods. The stem rot fungus overwinters as sclerotia in the soil, stubble or mixed with seed. Sclerotia can remain viable for five years or more when conditions are suitable sclerotia will germinate myceliogenically and directly infect plants near soil line. The present investigations were carried out the efficacy of various inoculation techniques of Sclerotium fungus in lentils. Maximum disease severity 44.5% were recorded in wheat inoculums method followed by agar disc method (40%) and the minimum disease severity 12% was observed in toothpick method.