Studies on Varietal Reaction of Tuberose Against Stem Rot Diseases Caused by Sclerotium Rolfsii

Tuberose (Polianthus tuberosa Linn.) is a commercially important bulbous ornamental perennial plant cultivated in the world as well in India for cut and loose flower trade. Tuberose gets infected by many fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. The most devastating disease is basal stem rot caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii. According to the present studies, using varietal screening method against the Sclerotium rolfsii is considered as an ecological and durable method for controlling this disease. Therefore, three different varieties and three local cultivars were evaluated by pot culture under controlled condition. Study of varietal resistance revealed that all the six cultivars tested under controlled glass house condition were found highly susceptible (HS) to stem rot or basal stem rot diseases. But some other cultivars are found low level of per cent disease incidence.