First Report of Rose Bent Neck Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on Commercial Cut Roses (Rosa hybrida L.)

Cut roses are highly valuable ornamentals and their profitability depends on the flower postharvest performance. Bent neck symptoms in make them unmarketable typically related to physiological disorders, bacteria accumulation vase solution, Botrytis cinerea infection. Unusual bent were observed 4.7% of ‘Orange Crush’ from two commercial shipments, resulting complete collapse. This research was aimed determine causal agent symptoms. Following incubation a humid chamber, symptomatic evolved water-soaked lesions with presence white mycelium sclerotia development. Fungal isolations molecular characterization performed Sclerotinia sclerotiorum identified as rose neck. Therefore, when observed, S. incidence should be considered avoid possible outbreaks.