Charcoal rot

Caused by: Macrophomina phaseolina
Problem Category: Fungal Disease
Symptoms: Discoloration of stem at soil line; cankers on stem may spread upwards; leaves may wilt and drop from plant; numerous small black sclerota (fungal fruiting bodies) develop in affected tissues and can be used to diagnose the disease
Comments: Fungus had a wide host range and affects beans, tobacco, soybean, pigeon pea and many other crops; disease is primarily spread via microsclerota in the soil
Management: Organic soil amendments such as the addition of manure or neemcake can be used to reduce levels of inocuum in the soil
Control: spray 10% cow urine extract=Asafoetida solution to control the rot symptoms