The Pathogen – Sclerotinia

Despite the continued interest of mycologists and plant pathologists, the taxonomic position of the economically important, plant pathogenic species of Sclerotinia has remained unresolved. Over 250 species of diverse relationships, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic, have been assigned to the genus Sclerotinia with consequent controversy and confusion over generic limits (Kohn, 1979a). Attempts to delimit the pathogenic species assigned to the genus using a few traditional characters have resulted in recognition of too many or too few species in relation to what is now known about the biology and micro-anatomy of this group to satisfy the practical need of the plant pathologist to name the pathogen in hand. Examination of type specimens of preserved material as well as observation of living isolates in the light of micro-anatomical and cultural characters employed by contemporary discomycotina taxonomists has resulted in the delimitation of plant pathogenic species of Sclerotinia in the revised and more limited circumscription of the genus presented.