Cause: A fungal pathogen that thrives in high humidity, poor drainage, and overgrown vanilla farms. It enters the plant through wounds or infected soil.
Symptoms:
Stem rot at the base leading to vine collapse
Yellowing and wilting of leaves
Affected stems turn dark brown or black and soften
Organic Treatment & Prevention
Improve drainage and aeration by mulching with coconut husks or dry leaves to retain moisture while preventing excessive dampness. Avoid water stagnation by using raised beds and surface water runoff.
Apply Trichoderma-based biofungicides (5g/L) as a soil drench around the base of plants to suppress fungal growth.
Use neem cake and compost tea by mixing neem cake powder with soil to reduce fungal spores. Foliar spray of aerated compost tea every two weeks helps boost plant defenses.
Prune and sanitize regularly by removing infected plant parts immediately and applying turmeric paste or wood ash to cut surfaces to prevent secondary infections.