Integrated Control of Sclerotium rolfsii on Groundnut in South Africa

Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. causes disease of numerous crop plants worldwide, including groundnuts. Control of this pathogen is difficult as it produces sclerotia which overwinter in the soil to emerge as inoculum and cause disease the following season. Various chemical, biological and cultural control strategies have been suggested and implemented, some of which have reduced disease incidence in the field. No studies have yet been undertaken in South Africa to control this disease on groundnut, either chemically, biologically or by cultural practices. In this study, several strategies were investigated for the control of S. rolfsii on groundnuts. Difenoconazole was identified as a fungicide that could possibly be applied in combination with Trichoderma harzianum, a biological antagonist of S. rolfsii, above carbendazim and flusilazole, and chlorothalonil. Difenoconazole significantly reduced the growth rate of S. rolfsii but not of T. harzianum. The cultivation of infected fields with an inversion plough significantly reduced infection of groundnuts by S. rolfsii and also improved the quality of the produce, while yield was not increased. Lower plant density increased the incidence of disease in an infected field, and is therefore not considered to be a viable form of cultural control.