Effect of Temperature on Sclerotia Formation and Viability of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Causing Sclerotiorum Rot of Cryptotaenia japonica

Sclerotinia rot of C. japonica caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was observed throught the growing season in the vinylhouse at the Namyangiu, Yangju and Yangpyung areas. The disease was commonly occurred at late autumn after transplanting and continuously increased until spring in next year, The disease was especially severe at the Yangpyung area among three areas. Three isolates of S. sclerotiorum obtained from C. japonica in different geographic areas were evaluated for ability of sclerotia formation and viability under different temperature. Temperature for mycelial growth ranged from 5 to 3, with optimum temperature at 15~3. Sclerotia were fewer formed at low temperature, but their size was larger than that at high temperature. Small size of sclerotia was more viable than those of large size at high temperature. Based on the differences in viability of sclerotia, the relative ranks of sclerotia were in order ~2 mm > 3~4 mm > 5 mm~.