Macrophomina phaseolina as causal agent for ch rot of sunflower

Macrophomina phaseolina has a wide host range and is responsible for causing losses on m cultivated and wild plant species. So far in Pakistan it has been reported to cause disease on hosts including field crops, pulses, flowers and vegetable have been reported. Infection on s first reported from Sri Lanka in 1927 and in 1982 it was reported from sunflower field in fungus is reported to be soil, seed and stubble borne. The fungus can survive for more th under dry soil conditions. The severity of the disease is directly related to the population of v in the soil. The pathogen generally affects the fibrovascular system of the roots and basal in parasitic fitness of a facultative soilborne pathogen before invading the host is linked with compete for its survival, utilization of organic sources and colonization in the host root r competing other microorganism in the vicinity.