Friday, June 26, 2015

Sclerotinia Stem Rot

A photo of basil plants with brown stem lesions
Sclerotinia stem rot on sweet basil
(Photo: NMSU - PDC)
Featured Diagnosis - Stem rot on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) caused by the fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Sample submitted in May 2015 from Southern NM. Key plant symptoms: necrotic stem lesions and wilt. Key fungal diagnostic characteristic: dark black overwintering structures called sclerotia. These sclerotia can survive and persist for many years in the soil. Unfortunately, once a plant is infected, there is no cure.
A close-up of a brown lesion on the stem of a basil plant
Stem lesion caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)
A petri dish with a white fungus and roundish black fruiting bodies around the upper edge of the dish
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in culture
(Photo: NMSU - PDC)






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