Southern blight

The fungus Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii is characterized by the production of vigorous mycelium. When the mycelium is young it is white; later it darkens. There are many sclerotia. They are round and their diameter varies from 0.4 to 2 mm. They can be dispersed via water, agricultural tools, and contaminated seeds. The favourable conditions for the development of the pathogen are temperatures between 25 and 30 ºC, relative humidity of over 90%, and a soil pH of under 7. The ideal pH range for germination is between 2.6 and 4.4, but it can occur between 2.6 and 7.7. Very humid soils favour development of the fungus. In the anamorphic form it does not produce spores or fruiting bodies; it only forms hyphae. In addition, germination is induced by the presence of volatile compounds emanating from crop residues in the soil, organic material without suppressive effect, since the fungus needs to grow saprophytically on organic substrate before acting as a pathogen. Injuries make a host more susceptible, but it can invade via direct penetration, generally close to the surface of the stem. In favourable conditions, the sclerotia can germinate in two forms, hyphal or eruptive, causing infection in the plants. The sclerotia can survive in the soil for a minimum of a year. The telemorphic phase corresponds to the basidiomycetes Athelia rolfsii, but this is rarely observed. The fruiting bodies are asexual and there are no spores, forming dark brown or black sclerotia which are rounded, irregular, or compact. The sclerotia have a resistance structure resulting in longevity of more than five years in the soil, in a dry environment. Both the sclerotia and the mycelium are a source of inoculum, as the fungus can survive saprophytically in agricultural debris in the form of mycelium, which then forms the sclerotia.