Email:
pbaiswar@yahoo.com
Address:
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103
Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is a soil borne fungal plant pathogen, infecting several crops. Many weeds act as collateral hosts of this pathogen and help in spreading this. Pathogenicity of R. solani AG 1-IB isolate was tested on 47 common weeds of Meghalaya. Incubation period on all the common weeds was 2-3 days except 6 days on Cyperus iria with R. solani AG 1-IB isolate. Minimum days for sclerotia formation was 4 days on Crassocephalum crepidioides, Galinsoga parviflora and Tridax procembens. Maximum sclerotia production (16 nos.) was observed on Lantana camara. The weed Emilia sonchifolia was most susceptible to isolate R. solani AG 1-IB based on area under disease progress curve criteria. Highly susceptible weeds identified in this study should be avoided for mulching purpose since this will increase the inoculum load of this pathogen