Sclerotium rolfsii plant pathogen

Many rhizobacteria are classified as chitinolytic and, for example, Serratki marsescens, which excretes chitinase, was found to be an effective biocontrol agent against Sclerotium rolfsii (135). Similarly, Aeromonas caviae was found to reduce disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporuin, and Sclerotium rolfsii (136). There is also evidence to support the role of P-l,3 glucanase in biocontrol of soil-borne plant pathogens (137). 

How does pathogen infestation affect odor emissions and does it interfere with emissions induced by insect herbivores So far, only one study has specifically looked at this cross-effect (Cardoza et al, 2002). It showed that insect feeding (beet armyworm, S. exigua) and fungus infection (white mold, Sclerotium rolfsii) resulted in distinctly different odor blends in peanut plants, whereas plants that were simultaneously infested by these two antagonists released a mix of both blends. 

Kuhn, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary and Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.). It was demonstrated that S. sclarea essential oil had a lethal effect on five of the six pathogens tested the most susceptible microorganisms were B. cinerea and S. rolfsii (MIC between 1.3 and 1.6 mg/ml) while Fu-sarium solani was insensitive (MIC >5.4 mg/ml). The chromatographic fractions were less active compared with essential oil in toto. The most marked inhibitory action was observed with the alcohol-containing fractions. All in all, these observations indicate that further research should be done to evaluate both the synergic action of the components of the different fractions and the activity of the essential oil in toto, when applied directly to the plant species infected by the fungi, in suitable formulations. 

Sclerotium rolfsir. This often forms a white mycelium and pale yellow-brown spherical sclerotia on the external surface of kava roots and stem base. Some authors (e.g., Singh and Nambiar, 1988) consider the fungus to be pathogenic on kava. However, in pathogenicity tests, where 300 sclerotia were placed adjacent to roots of potted kava plants, the fungus killed only those plants whose roots had been severely injured prior to inoculation (Davis and Brown, 1999). Thus, S. rolfsii may play a role as a secondary pathogen of kava roots. 

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