Effects of solar treatment on germination of sclerotia (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) and on other soil mycoflora

Summary Only 10% of sclerotia germinated in a tarpcovered plot after 45 days of treatment while 50% of sclerotia germinated in the control plot. However, complete inhibition of sclerotia germination was not achieved. The maximum temperature recorded was 53°C, after 45 days of treatment in a tarped plot at 1 cm depth. The incidence of Acrophialophora fusispora, Aspergillus spp., Spicaria sp., and Trichoderma viride increased in soil after 45 days of the solar treatment.