Abstract:
A post- emergence disease of rain-fed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) encountered in Ibadan, South-Western
Nigeria was investigated. The incidence of disease was 13.07% in 1993,20.81% in 1994 and 11.95% in 1995
on six wheat cultivars. Cultivar ‘Sonalika’ was most susceptible. Of the two fungal species isolated from
infected tissues, only Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. produced the disease in pathogenicity tests. Disease developed
within 6-10 days after planting and infected seedlings died by the twelfth day. Twelve to fourteen- day old
seedlings were not infected by S. rolfsii. Seedling infection by S. rolfsii induced a reduction in the rate of
seedling emergence, root length and seedling vigour. Fusarium graminearum Schwab., isolated from
infected tissues alongside S. rolfsii is a secondary invader of S. rolfsii infected tissues. It exhibited
antagonistic potentials againstS. rolfsii.
