Relation of Carbon Loss from Sclerotia ofSclerotium rolfsiiDuring Incubation in Soil to Decreased Germinability and Pathogenic Aggressiveness

14 CO 2 accounted for 45.9-88.4% of the total 14 C loss, and sclerotial respiration was estimated to account for 42.2-77.2% of the 14 C loss during the same incubation time. Sclerotia incubated in soil became dependent on nutrients for germination and lost viability when the 14 C loss reached approximately 20 and 40%, respectively. Radish seedlings inoculated with sclerotia that had lost more than 20% of their 14 C had significantly longer shoots than seedlings inoculated with nonincubated sclerotia