Integrated pest management resources for Michigan Michigan State University home IPM Michigan home
IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials

Search
Resources
bulletChristmas trees
bulletField crops
bulletFruit
bulletHome and yard
bulletNursery and landscape
bulletTurfgrass
bulletVegetable

Related pest diagnostic/management programs
Diagnostic Services ● Soil/Plant Nutrient Lab ● Enviro-weather ●Regional IPM Center ● Pesticide safety ● Organic: New Ag Network ● Invasive species ●Sustainable ag & food systems

Organizations
MSU ANR departments ● MSU Extension ● Site index ●Contacts/permissions
Sclerotinia
IPM scouting in herbaceous perennials > sclerotinia
Pathogen: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Hosts Include: Anemone, Aquilegia, Aster, Bellis, Campanula, Coreopsis, Delphinium, Digitalis, Helianthus, Hosta, Iris, Liatris, Lupinus, Papaver, Platycodon, Rudbeckia and Scabiosa.

Symptoms: Pre- and postemergent damping-off, crown rot, and blighting of foliage and petioles. Small, hard, irregular, black structures called sclerotia may be present on or in plant tissue (especially inside stem and petiole tissue). White, fluffy growth on affected plant parts is most readily visible in high humidity.

Spread: Sclerotia, long-term survival structures, are found in soil and on plant debris. The disease is primarily spread when these structures are moved. Disease can also be spread when infected plant material is moved.Under certain environmental conditions, mushroomlike structures (apothecia) are produced. These release air-borne spores.

Management: Field soil should be sterilized before use in growing media. Susceptible crops should not be grown in areas with a history of white mold problems. Additionally, good sanitation is important to limit spread. Control weeds in production areas – some weeds are hosts to
S. sclerotiorum. Fungicide drenches can protect plants from infection.
Dieback of a flower stalk Canker
Dieback of a flower stalk of Baptisia caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Canker caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Note the white growth and the small sclerotia.
This information was developed from A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials by Jan Byrne and Raymond A. Cloyd. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2981).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
Email the web developer.
Updated 9/28/07