ABSTRACT
Niger is one of the important minor, edible and traditional oilseed crops of India known by various names such as Noog in Ethiopia and Ramtil or Kalatil in India. The disease was reported all over Varanasi where it appeared in great severity. Heavy losses occur as the diseased plants start drying. Necrotic lesions develop on the stem of well-grown plants near the soil level, which gradually extends upwards. The wilting of the diseased plant is very fast and can be observed at any hour of the day. Tissues in the collar region turn soft and weak followed by necrosis of plant cells. Macrophomina rot has a wide host range and is responsible for causing losses on more than 500 cultivated and wild plant species. The recurrence of the disease takes place through seed and soil-borne inoculum which later spreads through workers, tools, and insects. Hot and dry weather promotes infection and development of Macrophomina rot.
