Effect of temperature on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de bary growth in vitro

O. Shevchuk; O. Afanasieva; S. Kryvosheiev; D. Zlenko; I. Hryhorenko

doi:10.36495/PHSS.2025.71.211-223

O. Shevchuk Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Uktraine, 33, Vasylkivska str., Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0954-1922
O. Afanasieva Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Uktraine, 33, Vasylkivska str., Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2724-2080
S. Kryvosheiev Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Uktraine, 33, Vasylkivska str., Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7921-4754
D. Zlenko Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Uktraine, 33, Vasylkivska str., Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1450-5308
I. Hryhorenko Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Uktraine, 33, Vasylkivska str., Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7709-8723

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36495/PHSS.2025.71.211-223

Keywords: white mold, cultivation conditions, temperature, mycelial growth, sclerotia formation

Abstract

Goal of this study was to determine the optimal temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of white mold, under laboratory conditions when cultivated on potato dextrose agar (PDA).

Methods. The research was conducted using laboratory, analytical, and statistical methods. The isolate used in the study was obtained from a sunflower head affected by white mold. Mycelial growth and sclerotia formation were studied across a temperature range of 5 to 30°C.

Results. It was established that the pathogen develops within the temperature range of 5—25°C, at 30°C no mycelial growth was observed. The most intensive colony growth occurred at 25°C, whereas the highest number of sclerotia formed at 20°C. The greatest sclerotial mass was recorded at 15°C. Significant differences in colony growth rate and sclerotia formation were found depending on the incubation temperature. The highest radial growth rate was observed at 20—25°C, while the lowest was at 5°C. A clear inverse relationship between temperature and sclerotia development time was observed: as the temperature decreased, growth rate slowed and sclerotia formation was delayed. Cultivation at 20°C resulted in the highest number of sclerotia, while both higher and lower temperatures reduced their quantity. In contrast, sclerotial mass was highest at 15°C, with both increased and decreased temperatures resulting in smaller sclerotia. The effect of prior low-temperature cultivation (at 5°C) on subsequent growth was also studied. The results showed that brief exposure to low temperatures did not lead to significant changes in colony growth or sclerotia formation.

Conclusion. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is capable of developing within a temperature range of 5—25°C. The optimal temperature for cultivation on potato dextrose agar in vitro is 20°C, which ensures both intensive mycelial growth and the highest number of sclerotia. These findings can be used to improve protocols for producing infection material for artificial inoculation in phytopathological studies and for studying the pathogen’s biology in the context of climate change.

References

Jahan R., Siddique S.S., Jannat R., Hossain M.M. (2022). Cosmos white rot: First characterization, physiology, host range, disease resistance, and chemical control. J. Basic Microbiol, 62, 911-929. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.202200098

Zanatta T.P., Kulczynski S.M., Guterres C.W, Meira D., Eduardo L. Ceolin E.L., … , Buffon P.A. (2019). Morphological and Patogenic Characterization of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Journal of Agricultural Science, 11, 302-313. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n8p302

Derbyshire M.C., Newman T.E., Khentry Y., Owolabi T.A. (2022). The evolutionary and molecular features of the broad-host-range plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Mol. Plant Pathol., 23, 1075-1090. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13221

Ding L.N., Li T., Guo X.J., Li M., Cao J., Xiao-Li Tan X.L. (2021). Sclerotinia stem rot resistance in rapeseed: Recent progress and future prospects. J. Agric. Food Chem., 69, 2965-2978. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c07351

Hossain M.M., Sultana F., Li W., Tran Lam-Son P., Mostofa M.G. (2023). Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary: Insights into the Pathogenomic Features of a Global Pathogen. Cells. 12, 1063. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12071063

Kyrychenko V. V., Petrenkova V.P., Cherniaieva I.M. 2009. Zakhyst soniashnyku vid khvorob i shkidnykiv. [Sunflower protection from diseases and pests]. Posibnyk ukrainskoho khliboroba. [Handbook for Ukrainian farmers], 32-38. (in Ukrainian).

Seco, M.N. et al. (Amaresan, N., Kumar, K. Eds.). (2025). Sclerotinia. Compendium of Phytopathogenic Microbes in Agro-Ecology. Springer, Cham, 749-783. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81770-0_31

Michael P.J., Rijal L.A., Bennett S.J. (2023). Temperature and isolate are important determinants of Brassica napus susceptibility to aggressive Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates. Agronomy, 13:1606 https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061606

Barbetti M.J., Banga S.S., Salisbury P.A. (2012). Challenges for crop production and management from pathogen biodiversity and diseases under current and future climate scenarios — Case study with oilseed Brassicas. Field Crops Res. 127, 225-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.021

Clarkson J., Fawcett L., Anthony S., Young C. (2014). A Model for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Infection and Disease Development in Lettuce, Based on the Effects of Temperature, Relative Humidity and Ascospore Density. PloS one, 9, e94049. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0094049

Koch S., Dunker S., Kleinhenz B., Röhrig M., A. von Tiedemann. (2007). Crop loss-related forecasting model for Sclerotinia stem rot in winter oilseed rape. Phytopathology, 97: 1186-1194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-97-9-1186

Lane D., Denton-Giles M., Derbyshire M., Kamphuis L. (2019). Abiotic conditions governing the myceliogenic germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum allowing the basal infection of Brassica napus. Australasian Plant Pathology, 48:1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13313-019-0613-0

Foley M.E., Doğramacı M., West M., Underwood W.R. (2016). Environmental factors for germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia. J Plant Pathol Microbiol, 7:379-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7471.1000379

Ayed F., Khiareddine H.J., Abdallah R.A.B., Remadi M.D. (2018). Effect of Temperatures and Culture Media on Sclerotium rolfsii Mycelial Growth, Sclerotial Formation and Germination. J Plant Pathol Microbial, 9:446. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7471.1000446

Faruk M.I., Rahman M.M.E. (2022). Collection, isolation and characterization of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, an emerging fungal pathogen causing white mold disease. J Plant Sci Phytopathol., 6: 043-051. https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001073

Vélëz H., Gauchan D.P., García-Gil M.R. (2022). Taxol and β-tubulins from endophytic fungi isolated from the Himalayan Yew, Taxus wallichiana Zucc. Front. Microbiol., 13:956855. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.956855

Jia R., Li M., Zhang J., Mandela E. Addrah M.E., Zhao J. (2021). Effect of Low Temperature Culture on the Biological Characteristics and Aggressiveness of Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia Minor. OCL. 28, 20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/ocl/2021002

Hossain M.S., Khatun F., Islam M.M. (2018). Evaluation of suitable culture media, temperature and pH for maximum growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary causing White mold of rapeseed mustard. Bangladesh J. Plant Pathol., 34 (1&2): 1-4.

Kalyankumar K., Sankaralingam A, Sevugapperumal N. (2016). Standardization of Culture Media and pH for the Rapid Growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing Head Rot Disease of Cabbage. Advances in Life Sciences, 5 (22), 10659-10661.

Prova A., Hossain M., Islam S., Akanda M. (2018). Characterization of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, an Emerging Fungal Pathogen Causing Blight in Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus). The Plant Pathology Journal, 34 (5), 367-380. https://doi.org/10.5423/PPJ.OA.02.2018.0028

Uloth M., You M., Cawthray G., Barbetti M. (2014). Temperature adaptation in isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum affects their ability to infect Brassica carinata. Plant Pathology, 64(5), 1140-1148. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.12338

Yin F., Song Z., Liu L., Liu L., Xu Q., Jiang J., …, Liu M. (2024). Sclerotinia rot of Zephyranthes candida caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor. Front. Microbiol., 15, 1414141. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1414141

Chang S.-W., Lee H.-B., Kim S.-K. (2003). Effect of temperature on sclerotia formation and viability of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing sclerotiorum rot of cryptotaenia japonica. Research in Plant Disease, 9 (1), 47-51. https://doi.org/10.5423/RPD.2003.9.1.047

Chaudhary C.S., Minnatullah M., Bharati V. et al. (2020). Physiological studies of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary causing stem rot of oilseed brassica. International Web Conference «Perspective on Agricultural and Applied Sciences in COVID-19 scenario». P. 254.