The mycelium of Sclerotinia minor attacks lower branches and rapidly invades succulent tissues causing cells to collapse. The mycelium then develops a white, fluffy mass on the surface of the tissue as it invades more plant tissue. The plant is eventually killed and sclerotia are produced in abundant numbers on the dead tissue. Some sclerotia are shed from the plant tissue into the soil or can be retained on dead plant tissue as overwintering inoculum. When conditions are right, the sclerotia germinate into either mycelium or apothecia (sexual stage of the fungus). In the mycelial stage the fungus infects a new plant and the cycle starts over again. If the sclerotia give rise to apothecia (which is a very rare occurrence in S. minor) then asci are formed with ascospores (the sexual spores). When the ascospores mature they are discharged and land on a plant, germinate, and start the disease cycle over again (3).