• Organization
  Board of Directors Sponsors Annual Report 23-24 Annual Report 22-23 Annual Report 21-22 Annual Report 20-21 Annual Report 19-20 Annual Report 18-19 Annual Report 17-18 Annual Report 16-17 Annual Report 15-16 Annual Report 14-15 Annual Report 13-14 Annual Report 12-13 Annual Report 11-12 Annual Report 10-11 Annual Report 09-10 Annual Report 08-09 Annual Report 07-08 Annual Report 06-07 Office/Staff
• Research
  CPC NCRP Risk Maps Sclerotinia Initiative Research Database
• Nutrition/Recipes
  Nutrition Recipes Cooking with Canola
• Events
  Field Day Golf Scramble Annual Winter Meetings Outstanding Service Awards
• Contact Us

National Sclerotinia Initiative

The National Sclerotinia Initiative was created to minimize the devastating effects of sclerotinia (white mold or stem rot), a fungal disease affecting broadleaf plants such as canola, soybeans, sunflowers, dry edible beans, and pulses (dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas). The National Sclerotinia Initiative was established by the U.S. Canola Association, American Soybean Association, National Dry Bean Council, National Sunflower Association, and USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council. This multi-state, multi-crop research program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.

Sclerotinia generates hard, black bodies called sclerotia that can remain in the soil for many years. Under the right weather conditions, the sclerotia produce spores that spread for miles and can infect a susceptible crop. The fungus causes serious economic loss by negatively impacting crop quality and yields.