First report of Athelia rolfsii causing stem rot disease on Vasaka (Justicia adhatoda)

Abstract

Athelia rolfsii is a facultative plant pathogen which develops characteristic white mycelial mats and sclerotia at the crown infection sites when conditions are favourable. In July 2019, stem rot symptoms such as dark brown necrotic lesions were observed at collar of the stem base. The infected plants showed dark brown symptoms which later turned into light white mycelial growth with immature white sclerotia, while the isolated fungus was initially white in colour and later turned black. The identification of the isolate as Athelia rolfsii was also confirmed by using internal transcribed spacer region sequencing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of stem rot of Justicia adhatoda caused by Athelia rolfsii in the world.