Environment
The pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotioum proliferates in moist environments. Under moist field conditions, S. sclerotiorum is capable of completely invading a plant host, colonizing nearly all of the plant’s tissues with mycelium. Optimal temperatures for growth range from 15 to 21 degrees Celsius. Under wet conditions, S. sclerotiorum will produce an abundance of mycelium and sclerotia. The fungus can survive in the soil mainly on the previous year’s plant debris. Like most fungi, S. sclerotiorum prefers darker, shadier conditions as opposed to direct exposure to sunlight.