The effects of watering frequency and soil moisture status on the carpogenic germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were studied under controlled environmental conditions. Soil and sclerotia were placed in gerbox and periodically watered up to 75 and 100% of saturation, one, two, three and five times a week. There was no sclerotium germination when the soil was watered up to 75% of saturation once a week. On the other hand, soils saturated frequently allowed higher percentage of sclerotia germination, until 70%, as well as higher numbers of apothecia. Independently of the soil water content, germination of sclerotia and production of apothecia increased with watering frequency. Important factors on the carpogenic germination of S. sclerotiorum were the soil moisture and the watering frequency. Frequent watering, even with low water volumes applied, also increased the carpogenic germination.
white mold; innoculum; Phaseolus vulgaris; irrigation