Predicting field diseases caused by <i>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</i> : A review

Predicting diseases caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in field crops remains difficult, and published literature is largely inconsistent finding significant relationships with environmental agronomic factors for various life stages of the fungus. A scoping review was performed to synthesize current quantitative insights into role environment on cycle S. between fungus final disease expression under conditions. For most variables, showed a wide range responses ranging from closely related (high correlations or r2 values) not at all. The effects were often moderated year, location and/or presence another variable such as irrigation, soil type, row spacing cultivar. Studies that based analysis more nuanced understanding pathogen biology rather than looking only linear tended find stronger associations variables. Yield consistently negatively associated levels, but cultivar, planting density all important determinants yield. Suggestions improvement future research predictive model development are discussed.