Determination of the prevalence of sclerotium rolfsii and investigation of the control methods in peanut fields in Adana province

In this study, survey studies were carried out in order to determine the prevalence of Sclerotium rolfsii which is a disease of stem rot in peanut plantations and to investigate the control strategies in Adana province. Also, the effects of some plant activators (Crop-Set, ISR 2000, Messenger, Fosetyl-Al), chemicals (fluazinam) and Trichoderma harzianum preparations on mycelial development and disease formation of Sclerotium rolfsii were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The disease symptoms were observed in all surveyed areas. SR-1, SR-2, SR-3 and SR-4 isolates were obtained as a result of isolations made from stems of peanut plants showing disease symptoms in survey areas. Fluazinam inhibited the sclerot formation of SR-2, SR-3, SR-4 isolates by 100%. The effect of plant activators and biological preparations on mycelial development of the pathogen was limited. While ISR 2000 reduced the pathogen development from 600 ppm, Fosetyl-Al was only able to act at 1000 ppm. In greenhouse experiments, T-22 (20 mg), Trianum (20 mg) and Fosetyl-Al were determined the most efficient applications that reduced disease rate by 50%. Fluazinam, the only fungicide used in the study, showed a very low effect with a disease rate of 25%. As a result the inclusion of plant activators and biological agents in the integrated struggle of Sclerotium rolfsii, which is the cause of stem rot in peanuts, will contribute to more successful results.