Sclerotinia Blight of Soybean Caused by Sclerotinia minor and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. P. M. Phipps, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Tidewater Research and Continuing Education Center, Suffolk, VA 23437. D. M. Porter, Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tidewater Research and Continuing Education Center. Plant Dis. 66:163-165. Accepted for publication 29 April 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-163.

In August 1978, Sclerotinia blight of soybean was found in southeastern Virginia where soybean and peanut are major field crops. Sclerotinia minor was identified as the cause of blight in all but one soybean field, where S. sclerotiorum was the cause of disease. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that both species of the fungus were virulent on soybean and peanut. Because of the sporadic incidence of Sclerotinia blight of soybean, the disease is believed to have little or no effect on soybean yield. The continued intercropping of soybean and peanut may increase its occurrence on both hosts.

Keyword(s): Arachis hypogaea, Glycine max.