DALVINDER PAL SINGH, KISHOR CHAND KUMHAR, SATPAL, NEERAJ KHAROR, RAVISH PANCHTA, SATYAWAN ARYA AND SWATI MEHRA
Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
Department of Plant Pathology 3Department of Seed Science & Technology
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: dsingh4@gmail.com)
(Received: 2 August 2025; Accepted: 22 September 2025)
SUMMARY
Stem rot of berseem, caused by Sclerotinia trifoliorum, is a major constraint on forage production, resulting in significant yield losses. The study evaluated the efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum-enriched organic substrates in suppressing stem rot under field conditions. Results revealed that Trichoderma asperellum-enriched substrates, such as vermicompost and FYM, effectively reduced disease incidence and promoted better plant growth compared to untreated controls. The enriched substrates not only acted as carriers for Trichoderma but also improved soil health, thereby contributing to long-term disease suppression. This eco-friendly approach provides a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides and can be recommended as a component of integrated management practices for stem rot in berseem.
Key words: Trichoderma asperellum, organic substrates, stem rot, Biocontrol, FYM, vermicompost, Berseem