Effect of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the disease development, growth, oil yield and biochemical changes in plants of Mentha arvensis

Experiment was carried out to determine the effect of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the disease development, growth, oil yield and biochemical changes in the plants of Mentha arvensis. With the increase in initial inoculum levels of S. sclerotiorum a corresponding decrease in plant fresh and dry weights were recorded. The maximum reduction in the shoot-roots/suckers fresh weight and shoot-roots/suckers dry weights (39.8%, 43.6%, 40.3% and 42.9%), respectively, was observed at the highest initial inoculum level of 12 g fungal mycelium/5 kg soil as compared to uninoculated control. The infection of roots and suckers due to S. sclerotiorum increased with increasing initial inoculum levels. At the lowest initial inoculum (1.0 g mycelium/5 kg soil), infection was observed 18.0% and at the highest (12 g mycelium/5 kg soil), it was 80.2%. Significant (P ⩽ 0.01) reduction in oil yield, total chlorophyll, total phenol and total sugar content of M. arvensis plants was observed at the lowest inoculum level as compared to uninoculated control.