The potential transmission of clover rot, Sclerotinia trifoliorum Erikss., by slugs

Slugs of three species, Deroceras reticulatum, Arion fasciatus and A. subfuscus , which had fed on sclerotia or apothecia of Sclerotinia trifoliorum , transmitted the disease to water agar plates. In the case of Arion spp., transfer of excreta also produced infection. After feeding on apothecia D. reticulatum transmitted the disease to white clover plants, although the direct transfer of apothecia produced higher levels of infection. The visible symptoms of the disease were reduced when slugs were allowed to remain on the plants, apparently owing to a feeding preference of D. reticulatum for diseased leaf tissue.