Soybean Diseases in Ohio

Sclerotinia white mold

• Symptoms
  • plants first appear wilted, as they die leaves and stems turn brown to tan
  • stems are covered with thick white mold under high moisture
  • thick, hard black sclerotia can be found both in and outside of plants
• Environment
  • wet, cool conditions prior to and during flowering
• Survival
  • survive in the soil as sclerotia
  • soybean flowers serve as food source for the fungus
  • both sclerotia and mycelium in harvested seed can contaminate new fields
• Management
  • Clean seed and seed treatment
  • plant moderately resistant varieties
  • rotation with corn and wheat
  • good weed management
  • Scouting
• Sclerotinia research project