Canola concepts: managing sclerotinia

Sclerotinia stem rot is a disease that attacks many species of broadleaf plants, including canola, peas, beans, sunflowers, soybeans and lupins. The disease is sporadic, occurring when environmental conditions are favourable, and is mainly caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In canola, prolonged humid or wet conditions during flowering favour disease development. Yield losses as high as 24% have been recorded under Australian conditions.

This Agnote includes information on:

• Causes of sclerotinia
• Symptoms
• Disease cycle
• Basal infections of sclerotinia
• Disease levels in NSW
• Management options
• Use of fungicides to control sclerotinia stem rot
• Sclerotinia disease forecasting and petal testing.