Six plants per plot were assessed for severity of phoma stem canker. For assessing the stem canker severity, the stem were cut the stem base, the cross-section was scored on a 0-7 scale ( 0= no symptoms observable, 1 = ≤ 5% girdling,2= 2-25% girdling, 3=26-50% girdling, 4=51-75% girdling, 5= 75-100% girdling, 6=100% girdling ( stem weak/firm), 7 = 100% girdling (stem dead/lodged))