Abstract
Various isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina were isolated from root rot disease affected mulberry gardens in south India. Pathogenicity trials exhibited that the different isolates (AP-01 to AP-09, KA-01 to KA-09 and TN-01 to TN-09) were found pathogenic to mulberry causing root rot disease. The results revealed that the sprouting percentage was significantly decreased (21.39 – 44.28%), while root rot disease severity was found to be markedly increased (71.0 – 100%). Thus the different isolates viz., AP-01 to AP-09, KA-01 to KA-09 and TN-01 to TN-09 fulfilled the Koch postulates. However, it was evident that the isolates (AP-01 to AP-09, KA-01 to KA-09 and TN-01 to TN-09) have exhibited variation in their virulency and the isolate AP-03 was found to be most virulent.
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to the Director, Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Srirampura, Mysore for providing facilitates and encouragement.