Mulberry (Morus sp.) is an important commercial crop grown under varied climatic conditions ranging from temperate to tropical region of the world but mulberry cultivation has many hindrances in its cultivation, one such constraint is diseases that to soft root rot disease. Symptoms of the soft root rot disease manifests in yellowing sudden withering and drying of leaves starting from the bottom branches and spreads upwards, followed by defoliation and finally resulting in death of plants. The disease initiates in isolated patches later spreading throughout the mulberry field. Bark of root peels off easily and the plants die. The cortex of infected roots first turns brown and rot followed by darkening of xylem, conspicuous mucilaginous matrix covers the mulberry root and hence the name soft root. Disease incidence was 27.17 % in major mulberry growing area i.e., Ramanagar district of Karnataka. Mulberry soft root rot disease, effective management is needed. Hence, in vitro and in vivo studies on efficacy of fungicides (contact, systemic and combi-product) having different mode of action was taken. The biological control method is contemplated as promising approach to management of soil borne diseases. Among the fungicides evaluated in vitro condition Captan (86.29 %), Mancozeb + Metalaxyl, Carbendazim + Mancozeb, Fenamidone + Mancozeb, Azoxystrobin + Mancozeb (94.44 %), and Tebuconazole (100 %) were found effective. Among botanicals, neem extract (14.02 %) had highest inhibition of the pathogen. Trichoderma viride-1 (95.54 %) and Bacillus pumilis (58.88 %) were effective in vitro conditions. The bio-agents T. viride-1 and T. viride-2 found effective in glasshouse and field conditions. The effective fungicides Mancozeb + Metalaxyl (0.1 %) and Captan (0.2 %) reduced disease under field conditions up to 31.96 and 27.45 per cent, respectively. These fungicides, botanicals and bio-agents can be exploited for the management of soft root rot disease of mulberry.

Mulberry, Soft root rot disease, Pythium sp. Botanicals, bioagents

1. Molecular confirmation of mulberry soft root pathogen Pythium sp. 2. Large scale demonstration of effective fungicides against soft root rot disease of mulberry in farmer’s field. 3. Large scale mass production of bio-agents along with organic amendments would be helpful for the management of mulberry soft root rot disease.

Ravichandra, Somasekhara Y.M., Shalini M. and Thimmareddy H. (2023). A New Disease of Mulberry, Pythium Soft Root Rot Managed through Biological, Botanical and Fungicidal Approaches, both In-vitro and Field Condition. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8): 546-556.