A method for inducing apothecia from sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

An isolate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum from oilseed rape was grown on sterilized wheat grain for 3 weeks at 20 C, followed by 4 weeks at 4 o C. Harvested sclerotia were buried 1 cm deep in compost in plastic containers and kept at 10 o C until apothecial stipes appeared (c. 6 weeks). When these dishes were placed under near‐UV light (14 h/day) at 22 o C, apothecia matured in 5 days. The method also induced apothecia from sclerotia of 35 other isolates of S. sclerotiorum obtained from 17 different hosts.