Screening of Alfalfa Germplasm and Evaluation of Fungicides Against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Causing Stem and Crown Rot

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a member of the Fabaceae family, is regarded as the queen of fodder. It is also the oldest and most significant forage crop in the world. Alfalfa is susceptible to various bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases, with stem and crown rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, posing a major threat. These diseases significantly reduce alfalfa productivity. Significant annual yield losses are anticipated due to this disease. Since sclerotinia disease affects a variety of hosts, it is becoming a significant global issue, with annual reports of significant yield losses. Given these significant losses, this research primarily focused on disease management through screening for resistant alfalfa cultivars. In the greenhouse, pathogenicity was confirmed by following the Koch's postulates. Five alfalfa germplasm types were evaluated for resistance sources. The best method for managing stem and crown rot disease was V3. Disease severity data was documented using the Welty disease rating system (grades 0-6). To compare the means of several alfalfa varieties, the Least Significant Difference Test (LSD) was applied at a 5% probability level. Statistical analysis was performed using a Factorial design within a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).