Organic management of broccoli white mold in Meghalaya hills

Abstract

The demand for broccoli crop has led to increase in the acreage and production of this crop throughout the subtropical areas as well as the north-eastern region of the country. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a soil-borne necrotrophic and cosmopolitan fungus, is an emerging and dreaded pathogen for crop production systems in the terraces of the north-eastern hills region. This pathogen causes white mold disease in broccoli which can substantially reduce the quality and production, leading to lower supply. The article presents organic management of this disease through Trichoderma species, which is also compatible with the other organic inputs like neem oil cake and essential oil (citronella).