Progress in the study of pathogenic factors of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Abstract. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating soil-borne plant fungal pathogen that can infect over 600 plant species, including important economic crops such as rapeseed, soybeans, and peanuts. Sclerotinia-induced plant diseases are distributed worldwide, and the economic losses caused by sclerotinia fruiting bodies are considerable every year. This article combines relevant research results to discuss the research on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum from four aspects: the biological characteristics and harm of the fungus, the "two-stage" infection model, the roles of oxalic acid, hydrolytic enzymes, and other five pathogenic factors in the pathogenesis of Sclerotinia, and the prevention and control measures of sclerotinia fruiting body disease using traditional methods and HIGS technology.