Sclerotium rolfsii에 의한 수세미오이 흰비단병

Sclerotium rot of sponge gourd occurred at the experimental field of Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in August 2010. The infected fruits showed water-soaked and rot symptoms. White mycelial mats spread over lesions, and then sclerotia were formed on fruit and near soil line. The sclerotia were globoid in shape, 1?3 mm in size and white to brown in color. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation on PDA was 30oC and the hyphal width was 4?8 ?m. The typical clamp connections were observed in the hyphae of the fungus grown on PDA. On the basis of mycological characteristics, ITS rDNA sequence analysis, and pathogenicity to host plants, this fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of sclerotium rot on sponge gourd caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.