Stem Rot (Fusarium solani)

Symptoms

• The disease is noticed in cuttings, stock plants and flowering plants.
• It is serious during rainy weather.
• The affected plants show different symptoms such as leaf chlorosis, necrosis, decay and discoloration of internal portion of the stem.
• When the flower buds are about to open, small dark streaks are seen at the base of the stem.
• Root decay is noticed only in advanced stages of infection.
• In many cases the infection is devoid of any external symptoms and roots also look healthy.
• In some cases stem and root rot are confined to one side of the stem, the other side remaining healthy.

Management

• Cuttings should be taken from healthy plants.
• Following strict field sanitation, rouging of infected plants and crop rotation helps to minimize the disease incidence.

Chemical Control