Evaluation of Selected Plant Extracts and Carbendazim against Stem Rot of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary

Sclerotinia stem rot disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a serious problem of mustard. The effect of five plant extracts using neem, garlic, eucalyptus, datura, and calotropis were tested against S. sclerotiorum. Maximum inhibition (%) of mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was recorded in garlic bulb extract at 10%, followed by calotropis extract after 96 hours of inoculation. In a field experiment during rabi season 2023-24, seed treatment with carbendazim 2g/kg and foliar sprays of garlic bulb extract at 10% was most effective and recorded the lowest disease incidence (20.08%) of sclerotinia stem rot of mustard (Brassica juncea L.), maximum production (13.26 q/ha) and maximum cost-benefit ratio (1:1.87).