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Basal stem rot and blight disease incited by Sclerotium rolfsii resulted in significant crop loss in vegetable cowpea. Among the different levels of pH tested under in vitro conditions, pH 6.0 was revealed to be optimum for the mycelial growth, whereas pH 7.0 supported maximum sclerotia formation. Soil moisture of 35 to 50 per cent was ideal for early disease expression and establishment. A minimum level of two per cent fungal inoculum multiplied in sand oats medium resulted in complete disease incidence. Among the botanicals tested in vitro, garlic bulb extract (1%) and garlic creeper leaf extract (5%) revealed cent per cent inhibition of mycelial growth and sclerotia formation of the fungus. Both the extracts also inhibited the mycelial regeneration from sclerotia. Thus, garlic bulb and garlic creeper were revealed to be potent botanicals which can be used as effective alternatives to soil fumigants for the management of S. rolfsii.

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