Passive heat treatment of sweet basil crops suppresses white mould and grey mould

Sweet basil white mould (BWM, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and grey mould (BGM, Botrytis cinerea) are important diseases in Israel and other basil‐growing regions. The impact of microclimate on BWM and BGM and on plant sensitivity to these diseases was studied. Disease incidence was evaluated in three field experiments, each consisting of 10–12 polyethylene‐covered tunnels. BWM and BGM incidences were correlated with air temperature, relative humidity (RH) and soil temperature data. The incidence of BWM was negatively correlated with high (above >25 or >30 °C) air temperatures, RH > 50% and RH > 75% and high (>21 or >24 °C) soil temperatures. BGM incidence was negatively correlated with high (>25 °C) air temperatures and high (>21 or >24 °C) soil temperatures, and positively correlated with RH >65% or >75%. Shoots harvested from plants grown in the walk‐in tunnels were inoculated with S. sclerotiorum or B. cinerea under controlled conditions. Severity of BWM and BGM on those shoots was negatively correlated with tunnel air temperatures of >25 and >30 °C and soil temperatures >18 °C. Thus, high temperatures were related to reduced disease incidence and to reduced sensitivity to the pathogens. Experiments involving potted plants revealed that heating only the root zone suppresses canopy susceptibility to BWM and BGM. These findings indicate that the effect of high greenhouse temperatures involves an indirect systemic effect that renders the host less susceptible to disease. This effect was also observed in harvested shoots that were no longer at the high temperatures, and the effect was systemic.     

Meta‐analytic modelling of the incidence–yield and incidence–sclerotial production relationships in soybean white mould epidemics

White mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is a destructive disease of soybean worldwide. However, little is known of its impact on soybean production in Brazil. A meta‐analytic approach was used to assess the relationship between disease incidence and soybean yield (35 trials) and between incidence and sclerotia production (29 trials) in experiments conducted in 14 locations across four seasons. Region, site elevation and season included as moderators in random‐effects and random‐coefficients models did not significantly explain the variability in the slopes of the incidence–yield relationship. The Pearson's r, obtained from back‐transforming the Fisher's Z estimated by an overall random‐effects model, showed that incidence of white mould was moderately and negatively correlated with yield (r = ?0.76, P < 0.0001). A random‐coefficients model estimated a slope of ?17.2 kg ha^?1%^?1, for a mean attainable yield of 3455 kg ha^?1, indicating that a 10% increase in white mould incidence would result in a mean yield reduction of 172 kg ha^?1. White mould incidence and production of sclerotia were strongly and positively correlated (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001). For every 10% increase in white mould incidence, 1 kg ha^?1 of sclerotia was produced. The relationship between disease incidence and production of sclerotia was stronger in southern regions and at higher elevation. In the absence of management, economic losses associated with white mould epidemics, assuming 43% incidence in 22% of the soybean area, were estimated at approximately US $1.47 billion annually within Brazil.     

Spatial characteristics of white mould epidemics and the development of sequential sampling plans in Australian bean fields

To improve sampling efficiency and precision in the assessment of white mould (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) disease incidence on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), the spatial characteristics of epidemics were characterized in 54 linear transects in 18 bean fields during 2008–2010 in northern Tasmania, Australia. The incidence of diseased pods and plants was assessed prior to harvest. Distributional and correlation‐based analyses indicated the incidence of diseased pods was characterized by a largely random pattern at the individual plant scale, with some patches of similar disease levels on pods occurring at a scale of 1·5 m or greater. Collectively, these results suggested epidemics may be dominated by localized sources of inoculum. Sequential sampling approaches were developed to estimate or classify disease incidence above or below provisional thresholds of 3, 5 and 15% incidence on pods near harvest. Achieving prespecified levels of precision by sequential estimation was possible only when disease incidence on pods was greater than approximately 4% and sampling was relatively intense (i.e. 10 pods evaluated on each of at least 64 plants). Using sequential classification, correct decisions on disease status were made in at least 95% of independent validation datasets after assessment of only 10·1–15 plants, depending on classification threshold and error rates. Outcomes of this research provide the basis for implementing more efficient sampling and management strategies for this disease in Australian fields.     

Temporal Progression of Bean Common Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas Campestris pv. phaseoli) in Sole and Intercropping Systems

The effects of four planting patterns of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (bean only, maize–bean (MB), sorghum–bean (SB), and maize–bean–sorghum (MBS)) and four cropping systems (sole cropping, row, mixed, and broadcast intercropping) on the temporal epidemics of bean common bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli were studied. The experiments were conducted during two consecutive spring and summer seasons in 1999 and 2000 in replicated field experiments. The Gompertz model described disease progress curves better than the logistic model. Intercropping delayed epidemic onset, lowered disease incidence and severity, and reduced the disease progress rate. The type of cropping system and planting pattern affected CBB incidence and severity at initial, final and overall assessments and also affected the rate of disease development. Statistical significance of treatment interactions based on disease assessments was found for incidence in all four experiments and for severity in three experiments. A slower disease progress rate and lower incidence and severity occurred on beans planted with maize or sorghum in row, mixed and broadcast intercropping than on bean planted alone. Incidence was reduced 36% and severity 20% in intercropping compared to sole cropping. The built-in disease delay and the slowing of the disease progress rate could provide protection for beans from severe CBB epidemics in intercropped systems. Variation between years appeared to be related to relative humidity (RH).     

Host‐induced gene silencing in the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic fungus that causes a devastating disease called white mould, infecting more than 450 plant species worldwide. Control of this disease with fungicides is limited, so host plant resistance is the preferred alternative for disease management. However, due to the nature of the disease, breeding programmes have had limited success. A potential alternative to developing necrotrophic fungal resistance is the use of host‐induced gene silencing (HIGS) methods, which involves host expression of dsRNA‐generating constructs directed against genes in the pathogen. In this study, the target gene chosen was chitin synthase (chs), which commands the synthesis of chitin, the polysaccharide that is a crucial structural component of the cell walls of many fungi. Tobacco plants were transformed with an interfering intron‐containing hairpin RNA construct for silencing the fungal chs gene. Seventy‐two hours after inoculation, five transgenic lines showed a reduction in disease severity ranging from 55·5 to 86·7% compared with the non‐transgenic lines. The lesion area did not show extensive progress over this time (up to 120 h). Disease resistance and silencing of the fungal chs gene was positively correlated with the presence of detectable siRNA in the transgenic lines. It was demonstrated that expression of endogenous genes from the very aggressive necrotrophic fungus S. sclerotiorum could be prevented by host induced silencing. HIGS of the fungal chitin synthase gene can generate white mould‐tolerant plants. From a biotechnological perspective, these results open new prospects for the development of transgenic plants resistant to necrotrophic fungal pathogens.     

Molecular,morphological and pathogenic diversity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) fields in Argentina

White mould, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is one of the most threatening fungal diseases occurring across major bean production regions worldwide. In Argentina, under favourable weather conditions, up to 100% seed yield losses occur on susceptible common bean cultivars. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of S. sclerotiorum isolates from six dry bean fields in the main production area of Argentina by means of molecular, morphological (mycelium colour, number and pattern of sclerotia distribution) and pathogenic approaches. Among 116 isolates analysed, high genotypic and morphological variability was observed. A total of 52 mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) and 59 URPs (universal rice primers) molecular haplotypes were found. All the MCGs were location specific, while only 12% of the URP haplotypes were shared among locations. The molecular analysis of variance revealed a significant differentiation among populations, with higher genetic variability within the populations analysed than among them. The aggressiveness of the isolates towards bean seedlings was assessed in the greenhouse. Most of the isolates were highly aggressive, while no variation among locations was observed. The information generated in the present study provides, for the first time, information on the variability of S. sclerotiorum associated with white mould in the main common bean production area in Argentina. In addition, the findings suggest the occurrence of both clonal and sexual reproduction in the populations analysed. This work contributes to the development of sustainable management strategies in bean production aimed to minimize yield losses due to white mould.     

Biocontrol of sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) of soybean using novel Bacillus subtilis strain SB24 under control conditions

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a major disease of soybean in Canada. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate potential effectiveness of cell suspensions, cell‐free culture filtrates and broth cultures of Bacillus subtilis strain SB24 for suppression of SSR. The SB24 cell suspensions and cell‐free culture filtrates significantly reduced mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum by 50 to 75% and suppressed sclerotial formation by > 90%. The severity on soybean was negatively correlated (r < ?0·84, P < 0·01) to the concentrations of cell suspension, cell‐free culture filtrate and broth culture applied. The cell suspension and broth culture preparations significantly (P < 0·01) reduced SSR severity by 45 to 90% at concentrations ranging from 5 × 10⁶ to 10⁹ CFU mL^?1. The most effective concentration was 5 × 10⁸ CFU mL^?1 for all three preparations, reducing the severity by 60 to 90%. The B. subtilis SB24 was most effective in reducing disease severity when applied ≤ 24 h before plant inoculation with S. sclerotiorum and a significant effectiveness was observed up to 15 days after plant inoculation. The population density of B. subtilis on soybean leaves decreased by 1·5 to 2·5 log units over 15 days under field conditions, and by 0·8 log units over 5 weeks under control conditions. The decrease in population density was significantly correlated with rainfall in the field (r < ?0·93, P < 0·01), suggesting that the biocontrol bacteria may be washed away by rain.     

Biological control of sclerotinia stem rot of canola using antagonistic bacteria

Stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a major fungal disease of canola worldwide. In Australia the management of stem rot relies primarily on strategic application of synthetic fungicides. In an attempt to find alternative strategies for the management of the disease, 514 naturally occurring bacterial isolates were screened for antagonism to S. sclerotiorum. Antifungal activity against mycelial growth of the fungus was exhibited by three isolates of bacteria. The bacteria were identified as Bacillus cereus (SC‐1 and P‐1) and Bacillus subtilis (W‐67) via 16S rRNA sequencing. In vitro antagonism assays using these isolates resulted in significant inhibition of mycelial elongation and complete inhibition of sclerotial germination by both non‐volatile and volatile metabolites. The antagonistic strains caused a significant reduction in the viability of sclerotia when tested in a greenhouse pot trial with soil collected from the field. Spray treatments of bacterial strains reduced disease incidence and yielded higher control efficacy both on inoculated cotyledons and stems. Application of SC‐1 and W‐67 in the field at 10% flowering stage (growth stage 4·00) of canola demonstrated that control efficacy of SC‐1 was significantly higher in all three trials (over 2 years) when sprayed twice at 7‐day intervals. The greatest control of disease was observed with the fungicide Prosaro^® 420SC or with two applications of SC‐1. The results demonstrated that, in the light of environmental concerns and increasing cost of fungicides, B. cereus SC‐1 may have potential as a biological control agent of sclerotinia stem rot of canola in Australia.     

Reduction of Botrytis cinerea sporulation in sweet basil by altering the concentrations of nitrogen and calcium in the irrigation solution

Current measures for suppressing grey mould ( Botrytis cinerea ) on sweet basil rely on fungicide applications and climate control. In this study, the nitrogen and calcium concentrations in the standard irrigation solution (7·2 and 1·3 m m , respectively) were varied in a series of experiments conducted in pots and large containers. Treatments differed in the N or Ca concentrations supplied, and effects on host response were determined in detached stem segments, individual plants and plots. Effects of the two elements on grey mould incidence, lesion size and rate of disease progression were erratic and rarely significant, but decreasing the concentration of N and increasing the concentration of Ca in the irrigation solution decreased sporulation of B. cinerea . In some cases, however, altering the standard irrigation solution resulted in significantly lower yields. Analyses of mineral contents in the shoots suggested that yields were not impaired when N content in the shoots was not reduced below 2·9% and Ca content was not raised above 1·3%. These findings were used to compose a modified irrigation solution containing half of the N (3·6 m m ) and double of the Ca (2·55 m m ) concentrations in the standard irrigation solution. The modified irrigation solution significantly reduced sporulation of B. cinerea without affecting crop yield.     

Quantitative Aspects of Infection of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sclerotia by Coniothyrium minitans – Timing of Application, Concentration and Quality of Conidial Suspension of the Mycoparasite

White mould disease leads to production of sclerotia, which subsequently survive in soil and may be responsible for future epidemics. The effect of the mycoparasite Coniothyrium minitans in decreasing survival of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was studied. Infection of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum by C. minitans can be achieved by a single conidium. Under optimal conditions, 2 conidia per sclerotium produced 63% of the maximum infection (ca. 90%) of sclerotia produced by up to 1000 conidia. Similar results were observed on the infection of stem pieces infected by S. sclerotiorum. In field trials, application of conidial suspensions of C. minitans to a bean crop soon after white mould outbreak led to a higher percentage of sclerotial infection than later applications. Ninety per cent infection of sclerotia was obtained within 3 weeks of application by C. minitans suspensions in the range of 5 × 10⁵ and 5 × 10⁶ conidia ml^–1 at 1000 l ha^–1. The concentration of the conidial suspensions and the isolate used were of less importance. The result was marginally affected by the germinability of the conidia (75% against 61% infected sclerotia at 91% and 16% viability of isolate IVT1, respectively). Less apothecia of S. sclerotiorum developed in soil samples collected after 2 months from plots sprayed immediately after disease outbreak than from those treated 11–18 days later. It is concluded that a suspension of 10⁶ conidia ml^–1 in 1000 l ha^–1 (= 10¹² conidia ha^–1) sprayed immediately after the first symptoms of disease are observed, results in > 90% infection of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum. The infection of sclerotia, which prevents their carry-over, occurs within a broad range of inoculum quality.     

Impacts of applied Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the dynamics of a Cirsium arvense population

A field experiment was conducted from October 1992 to March 1997 in a sheep‐grazed pasture in Canterbury, New Zealand, to determine the effects of the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the long‐term dynamics of a population of Cirsium arvense. The pathogen was applied in mid‐spring either once or in three consecutive years when the C. arvense shoots were vegetative rosettes, using a granular, mycelium‐on‐wheat preparation that lodged on the C. arvense leaves, stems and in the leaf axils. The single application caused disease in the C. arvense that was confined to the application year. The disease resulted in a temporary (17 months) reduction in population size through initial mortalities among treated shoots and resultant reductions in root growth, adventitious root bud, subterranean shoot and, subsequently, aerial shoot population sizes. The soil seedbank was 80% lower in the treated plots than in the control plots in the first year. Seedlings were never found. The annually repeated application of S. sclerotiorum did not result in the expected continuing decline in the C. arvense population relative to the control population.     

Possibilities for integrated control of winter oilseed rape diseases in Latvia

The sowing area of winter oilseed rape in Latvia has been rapidly increasing during the last 10 years, therefore oilseed rape diseases have become an important risk factor. The present paper reports 4‐year data (2008–2011) on different fungicide application systems (including forecasting systems) tested in field trials in Central Latvia. The development of stem canker (Leptosphaeria spp.) and white stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) was evaluated depending on fungicide application schemes. Stem canker was found to be a widespread disease, and coexistence of both L. maculans and L. biglobosa was established in Latvia. There was no epidemic of white stem rot observed during the investigation period (incidence of disease was only 0.7–4.5%). Application of fungicides significantly (P < 0.05) decreased severity of stem canker. However, substantial differences between different treatments were not detected. Yield of oilseed rape fluctuated at about 4.5 tonnes ha^?1, and use of fungicides did not increase the yield. It was found that DaCom Plant Plus program had overestimated the risk of white stem rot in years with low disease pressure, whereas the Swedish model of forecasting, based on the risk‐point system, had produced acceptable forecasts.     

Evaluation of compost amendments for suppressiveness against Verticillium wilt of eggplant and study of mode of action using a novel Arabidopsis pathosystem

The induced resistance potential of eleven compost samples that originated from four different countries (Greece, France, Netherlands and Israel) and were manufactured from various raw materials, was evaluated in an Arabidopsis thaliana–Verticillium dahliae pathosystem under greenhouse conditions using a novel Plexiglas chamber. Five out of eleven composts tested showed significant disease suppressiveness compared to the control treatment; three composts exhibited disease severity equal to the control, while in the other three composts, disease severity was higher than the control treatment. Two of the tested composts that showed strong or medium suppressiveness were further evaluated under field conditions against Verticillium wilt of eggplant. Neither of them significantly reduced disease severity or resulted in higher fruit yield in a semi-commercial field test although they could induce a systemic resistance response in the greenhouse. However, as a consequence of a growth-promoting effect, one of the compost samples tested in the field resulted in a significant yield increase compared with the other.     

Integration of partial resistance,plant density and use of fungicide for management of white mould in common bean

In-row plant densities have not been studied for common beans with type II growth habit and contrasting reactions to white mould. Advanced breeding lines with partial resistance or susceptibility to white mould were combined with 4, 7, 10 or 13 plants m⁻¹ and with or without fungicide at a constant between-row spacing of 0.5 m in five sprinkler-irrigated field trials conducted during the autumn–winter season in Brazil. White mould pressures in the trials covered the whole range from zero to moderate/high (46–60% of white mould severity index). In all trials, means of white mould incidence, severity and yield did not vary significantly between 7 and 13 plants m⁻¹ for the partially resistant line, regardless of the fungicide levels. For the susceptible line, 13 plants m⁻¹ increased white mould incidence and severity under moderate disease, regardless of the fungicide levels, and decreased yield compared with 10 plants m⁻¹ when fungicide was applied twice under moderate/high disease pressure. For the susceptible line, 7 or 10 plants m⁻¹ maximized yield in all trials, with or without fungicide applications. The results suggest that the current recommendation of 11–13 plants m⁻¹ could be used for type II beans with partial resistance to white mould in either a conventional or organic system. For susceptible genotypes, 7–10 plants m⁻¹ seems to be the most appropriate in-row plant density. This study may improve the recommendation of in-row plant density for type II beans cultivated under white mould pressure.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulocladium atrum</Emphasis> as a biological control agent for white mold of bean caused by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</Emphasis>

Field studies were conducted near Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, in 2001, 2004 and 2005 to determine the efficacy of the antagonistic fungusUlocladium atrum for control of white mold of bean caused bySclerotinia sclerotiorum. Results of the 3 years of field trials showed that, compared with the untreated control, foliar application of a spore suspension ofU. atrum (300 ml m⁻² of 10⁶ spores ml⁻¹ suspension) significantly reduced incidence and severity of white mold, increased seed yield and reduced contamination of bean seed by sclerotia ofS. sclerotiorum. The level of control of white mold observed in the treatment ofU. atrum was similar to that of the mycoparasitic fungusConiothyrium minitans, but lower than the fungicide treatments of Ronilan (vinclozolin) at the rate of 1200 g ha⁻¹ per application in 2001, or Lance (boscalid) at the rate of 750 g ha⁻¹ per application in 2004 and 2005. The potential for use ofU. atrum as a biological control agent for sclerotinia diseases is discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 12, 2006.     

Impact of time between field application of Bacillus subtilis strains SB01 and SB24 and inoculation with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the suppression of Sclerotinia stem rot in soybean

This study evaluated the impact of time between the application of cell suspensions or cell-free filtrates of Bacillus subtilis strains SB01 or SB24 on soybean plants under field conditions and inoculation with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on their effectiveness for suppression of S. sclerotiorum. The results showed that the cell suspensions of two strains provided greater effectiveness than the cell-free filtrates, but the suppression effectiveness decreased as the time between application in the field and S. sclerotiorum inoculation increased. The B. subtilis cell suspensions applied on soybean leaves for up to 10 days under field conditions were able to provide a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in disease severity by approximately 20–90% at 5 days after the S. sclerotiorum inoculation. When rated 15 days after S. sclerotiorum inoculation, plants treated with bacterial cells for ≤6 days reduced Sclerotinia stem rot severity by 15–70%. Most effectiveness was provided by the cell suspensions present on soybean leaves for <3 days under field conditions, which significantly (P < 0.01) reduced disease severity by 40–70% over 15 days. In comparison, the cell-free filtrates remaining on leaves for <6 days significantly (P < 0.01) reduced disease severity during the first 5 days after the inoculation, while the best cell-free filtrate treatments were those with ≤1-day intervals, which significantly (P < 0.01) reduced disease severity by 10–40% during 15 days after the inoculation. The effectiveness of B. subtilis was reduced when it rained after application.     

Assessing the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</Emphasis> in France

White mould caused by the ascomycete Sclerotinia sclerotiorum affects the production of many economically important crops. The incidence of this disease has recently increased in France, especially in melon crops, which were not affected much in the past. One possible explanation for this situation is the emergence of strains with particular characteristics, including increased aggressiveness to melon. To test this hypothesis, 200 isolates of S. sclerotiorum were collected from six host crops (bean, brassica oilseed rape, carrot, lettuce, melon, witloof chicory) in different regions. They were genotyped with 16 microsatellites markers. A subsample of 96 isolates were assessed for their aggressiveness on melon leaves. Overall, the isolates from melon did not show higher aggressiveness on melon leaves than those which originated from other host plants. Moreover, the melon isolates did not present distinctive genetic characteristics in comparison with those from other crops and shared several of the 128 identified multilocus haplotypes with isolates collected from carrot, witloof chicory and oilseed rape. Furthermore the Bayesian analysis of the genetic structure indicated that the host plant is not a structuring factor of the three genetic clusters identified, and it suggested instead the occurrence of an isolation-by-distance process. Possible consequences of these results for the management of white mould and alternative hypotheses to explain the recent changes in disease incidence are presented.     

Development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peronospora parasitica</Emphasis> epidemics on radish as modelled by the effects of water vapour saturation deficit and temperature

Epidemics of Peronospora parasitica are strongly affected by temperature and air moisture, and the interaction of these factors. Because a significant percentage of radish plants are grown in greenhouses, it may be possible to influence epidemics by altering the greenhouse climate. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that epidemics of P. parasitica can be modelled by the effects of air temperature and moisture in the greenhouse. Such a model could then be used to analyse greenhouse climate control strategies with regard to managing downy mildew. Five radish crops were grown under greenhouse conditions with set-points for heating and ventilation intended to obtain favourable conditions for disease development during the first part of the growing cycle. Subsequent to this first phase, unfavourable conditions were set until harvest. Disease incidence was measured once a week until the radishes reached marketable size. In addition, experiments were carried out in growth chambers in which inoculated plants were subjected to air temperatures between 8 and 27°C, and disease incidence and sporulation intensity were measured. Data from these two experiments were then used to estimate model parameters. In this model, the interactions of air temperature (T) and water vapour saturation deficit (SD) were adequately described by a multiplicative relationship. The simulated epidemics by the fitted model were highly correlated with the observed epidemics (r = 0.91, R ² = 0.83, n = 29). Parameter estimates indicated that T of ca. 20°C and SD < 0.03 hPa resulted in the highest rates of disease development and that the rate was zero when SD > 2.0 hPa. Both experimental data and simulations showed that epidemics of P. parasitica can be effectively controlled by managing the greenhouse climate.     

The control of sclerotinia stem rot on oilseed rape (Brassica napus): current practices and future opportunities

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a major disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). During infection, large, white/grey lesions form on the stems of the host plant, perturbing seed development and decreasing yield. Due to its ability to produce long‐term storage structures called sclerotia, S. sclerotiorum inoculum can persist for long periods in the soil. Current SSR control relies heavily on cultural practices and fungicide treatments. Cultural control practices aim to reduce the number of sclerotia in the soil or create conditions that are unfavourable for disease development. These methods of control are under increased pressure in some regions, as rotations tighten and inoculum levels increase. Despite their ability to efficiently kill S. sclerotiorum, preventative fungicides remain an expensive gamble for SSR control, as their effectiveness is highly dependent on the ability to predict the establishment of microscopic infections in the crop. Failure to correctly time fungicide applications can result in a substantial cost to the grower. This review describes the scientific literature pertaining to current SSR control practices. Furthermore, it details recent advances in alternative SSR control methods including the generation of resistant varieties through genetic modification and traditional breeding, and biocontrol. The review concludes with a future directive for SSR control on oilseed rape.