Southern stem rot

Caused by: Sclerotium rolfsii
Problem Category: Fungal Disease
Symptoms: Lateral branches or main stem yellowing and wilting; white fungal mat developing on the stem close to the soil line; white to brown spore containing structures developing from the fungal mats.
Comments: Pathogen has a large host range and attacks many crops including sugar beets; disease favors dry soils which crack deeply, allowing the penetration of oxygen.
Management: Plow crop debris deeply into soil after harvest of crop; crop rotation of 3-4 years are very effective at reducing soil inoculum in the case of severe infestations;
Control: Grow Resistant varieties like kadiri-3,4 to control the stem rot, spray 5% cowurine sloution to control rot symptoms