SYMPTOMS: The grown up plants also show symptoms after flowering stage.

1. COLLEGE OFAGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3)
Kullapuram (Po),ViaVaigai Dam, Theni-625 562
CHARCOAL ROT OF SUNFLOWER
Submitted by Course teacher
D.Priyadharshini. Dr.S.Parthasarathy
2015021100 Assistant Professor (Plant Pathology)

2. SUNFLOWER CHARCOAL ROT
 Introduction
 Distribution
 History
 Symptoms
 Pathogen
 Lifecycle
 Management

3. INTRODUCTION
Sunflower belongs to the family Asteraceae. It
is a main oil crop. In China sunflower is
cultivated with 0.8 million ha.

4. DISTRIBUTION
 In the former USSR, the charcoal Rot of
Sunflower is registered in Russia (Northen
Caucasus, Central Black Soil Zone), Ukraine
and Moldova.

5. PATHOGEN
 Sexual stage: Macrophomina phaseolina.
 Asexual stage: Rhizoctonia bataticola

6. HISTORY
 Charcoal rot of sunflower was first reported in
1927 in Srilanka.
 The Scientist who gave name Macrophomina
phaseolina is (Tassi) Goidanich in 1947.

7.  In 2014, wilting of sunflower plants with silver
grey lesions surrounding the lower stems were
collected from Baicheng, Jinlin Province and
Inner Mangolia Region.

8. ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
 Yield loss of sunflower infected with the
disease can reach 25%.
 Control measures include crop rotation, use
of less susceptible varieties, pre sowing
treatment of seeds.

9. SYMPTOMS
 The pathogen is seed borne and primarily cause
seedling blight and collar rot in the initial
stages.
 The grown up plants also show symptoms after
flowering stage.
 The infected plants show drooping of leaves
and death occurs in patches.

10.  The bark of the lower stem and roots shreds and
are associated with a large number of sclerotia.
 Dark coloured, minute pycnidia also develop on
the lower portion of the stem.

11. CHARCOAL ROT OF SUNFLOWER
©eagri.org ©eagri.org

12. DISEASED STALK DUE TO INSIDE OF STALK SHOWING
CHARCOAL ROT CHARCOAL ROT
©www.sunflowernsa.com

13. SYSTEMIC POSITION
Domain : Eukaya
Kingdom : Fungi
Phylum : Ascomycota
Class : Dothideomycetes
Order : Botryosphaeriales
Family : Botryosphaeriaceae
Genus : Macrophomina
Species : M. phaseolina

14. Disease cycle of Macrophomina
phaseolina
A) Macrophomina phaseolina overwintering by
microsclerotia in crop residue.
B) Infected roots after being in contact or in
proximity with microsclerotia.

15. C) Fungus grows within the stem and root affecting
and disrupting the vascular system. More
microsclerotia are produced.
D) Abundant microsclerotia presence on lower stem
and taproot tissue gives a charcoal like appearance.
Infected residue will become potential source of
inoculum for next planted crop.

16. MODE OF SPREAD
 The pathogen is seed borne and it serves as
primary source of infection.
 Wind borne conidia cause secondary spread.

17. PATHOGEN
 The fungus produces a large number of black,
round irregular shaped sclerotia.
 The pycnidia are dark brown to black with an
ostiole and contain numerous single celled, thin
walled, hyaline and elliptical pycnidiospores.

18. PYCNIDIA
©eagri.org

19. FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS
 Due to moisture stress.
 High temperature favors development of
disease.

20. MANAGEMENT
 Closer planting of the seedling should be avoided.
 Optimum nutrition should be provided to maintain
the plant vigor.
 Whenever the soil becomes dry and the soil
temperature rises then irrigation should be provided.

21.  Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride
formulation at 4g/Kg seed.
 In endemic areas crop rotations should be
followed.

22.  Practicing minimum tillage and controlling
weeds.
 Spot drenching with Carbendazim at
500 mg/litre.