Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

(Lib.) de Bary (1884)

Sclerotinia disease

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a polyphagous, fungus widely distributed throughout the world. It is able to infect tobacco, both in a nursery and the field. It is not considered a serious pathogen of tobacco, except in some countries like Brazil and Germany, where it causes severe epidemics in the nurseries.

In France, unlike the situation encountered some years ago, it occurs frequently in nurseries, especially in floating seedbeds and in the field. It seems the prevalence of this pathogen on tobacco is increasing in France.