Effect of preceding crops and primary soil tillage practices on the incidence and development of sunflower white mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)

Abstract

To reduce the incidence of white mould in sunflower crops under short-rotation systems, winter wheat cultivated using the no-till system has proven to be the most effective preceding crop. Wheat does not serve as a trophic substrate for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, and ascospores ejected from apothecia formed from sclerotia remaining on the soil surface are intercepted by the dense plant canopy of the uniformly sown wheat crop, leading to a loss of spore viability.