ChileanJAR

An strong attack of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. was detected in bean fields located in the V Region, Chile, during January, 1987. The total affected area was over 150 ha. The disease presented unequal distribution, with large areas of dead plants, together with small plants showing wilt and chlorosis, with a white cottony mycelium and light-brown spherical sclerotia, in the roots llnd collar zone. The plants attacked when adults and that failed to die, produced scarce fruits and smaller seeds than normal plants. The diagnosis of S. rolfsii was carried out isolating the fungi on PDA, and their pathogenicity was determined inoculating healthy bean seedlings, under greehouse conditions. Although this is the first report of this pathogen attacking a wide area, S. rolfsii has been reported previously in Chile, in other crops.