CHARCOAL ROT RESISTANCE IN SUNFLOWER

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is the world's fourth largest oilseed crop. The lower yield can be attributed to several factors including damage caused by charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina). Charcoal rot affected plants are characterized by a grey-to-black discoloration at the base of stem which extends upwards thus hollowing the interior portions. Charcoal rot disease affect the yield of sunflower and had a great impact on the yield attributes. There were three treatments applied in the field on sunflower accessions. Treatment 3 was kept as control treatment. While in treatment 1 the seeds were treated with fungicides before sowing and impact of fungicides was measured. The disease was not controlled fully but prevent the accessions from sever attack of disease affect and reduced the loss of yield of sunflower and all the accessions of treatment 2 were inoculated with fungus showed much susceptibility. So it is concluded that the sunflower crop should be saved from charcoal rot disease if applied fungicides and then make care of field in regard to pullout the affected plants those expressing the disease in early stages.