What Is White Mold?
White mold, or sclerotinia, is a plant disease caused by fungal infection. The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the most common culprit, but some other Sclerotinia species also infect plants. White mold is also sometimes called stem rot, stalk rot, wilt, or head rot. The fungus is most common in temperate climates, though it can grow in a wide variety of ecological environments. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most successful plant pathogens, and it affects some of our most important food crops. White mold can infect about 408 different broadleaf plant species, including soybeans, sunflowers, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas, and canola. Many weeds, including thistle and wild mustard, are vectors for the disease. Sclerotinia can be introduced into a healthy crop in many ways. In addition to being spread by infected weeds and other plants, white mold can be spread into adjacent crops through soil, wind, and irrigation water or rainwater. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has an overwintering
