What is sclerotinia disease?
Sclerotinia disease is caused most commonly by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This fungus produces black, seed-like structures (sclerotia) that can survive for long periods in the soil, and causes disease in a very wide range of plants. Damage is seen in summer and early autumn.
S. sclerotiorum attacks a wide range of plants including vegetables: lettuce, beans, celery, chicory, cucumbers, tomatoes and peas; and many ornamentals, especially plants with hollow stems such as Delphinium, Dahlia and Helianthus (sunflower) and related yellow daisies.
In commercial agriculture and horticulture S. sclerotiorum is a major problem in lettuce, oilseed rape and sunflower production.
Other very similar Sclerotinia or related species attack gladioli (Stromatinia gladioli) and bulbs (Sclerotinia bulborum). In addition to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, lettuce can also be affected by Sclerotinia minor.