19 Niger Seed Macrophomina root and stem rot Disease Macrophomina phaseolina (Maubl.) Ashby Typical root rot, stem rot, charcoal rot and leaf blight symptoms are produced. Macrophomina infected roots are light blackish to black in colour, which are covered with black sclerotia and are brittle. The blackening extends from ground level upward on the stem giving black colour to stem. Deep ploughing in summer, crop rotation, seed treatment with thiram (0.2%) + Carbendazim (0.1%), application of Trichoderma viride @ 2.5 kg/ha mixing with 50 kg FYM in the field before sowing. 8,629