White Mold (Timber Rot)
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameWhite Mold (Timber Rot)
DescriptionWhite mold produces a thick, cottony white growth and hard black bodies (sclerotia) on stems. Identify these 'peppercorn' structures to stop this aggressive rot.
TypeFungus
FamilySclerotiniaceae
GenusSclerotinia
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumAscomycota
SubphylumPezizomycotina
ClassLeotiomycetes
OrderHelotiales
Features
- A devastating fungal disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, attacking over 400 plant species including beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and sunflowers
- The most visible sign is a dense, white, cottony mycelial growth that appears on the stems, crowns, and fruit, especially during humid weather
- Characteristic hard, black, irregular structures called 'sclerotia' (resembling black peppercorns or mouse droppings) form on or inside infected tissues
- Causes water-soaked lesions that rapidly turn into a soft, watery rot, leading to the sudden wilting and death of the entire plant
- Infected stems may turn bleached or tan and become brittle, eventually hollowing out. Sclerotia are often found inside these hollowed stems
- The sclerotia are extremely persistent and can survive in the soil for 5-8 years, making management difficult once a field is contaminated
- The fungus thrives in cool, moist, and humid environments. It is often a problem in dense plant canopies where air circulation is poor
- Unlike many fungi, white mold does not produce airborne spores from the mycelium. Instead, it produces tiny mushroom-like structures from soil-borne sclerotia
- Prevent by ensuring wide plant spacing and avoiding overhead irrigation. Practice long crop rotations with non-host crops like corn or wheat
- Remove and destroy infected plants immediately—including the surrounding soil if in a small garden—to prevent sclerotia from returning to the earth
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificSclerotinia sclerotiorum
English (Alternate)Sclerotinia rot, Cottony rot
Hindiसफेद फफूंद (Safed phaphund)
Tamilவெள்ளை பூஞ்சை (Vellai poonjai)
Teluguతెల్ల బూజు తెగులు (Tella buju tegulu)
Malayalamവെള്ളപ്പൂപ്പ് (Veḷḷappūpp)
Kannadaಬಿಳಿ ಬೂಷ್ಟು ರೋಗ (Biḷi būṣṭu rōga)
Sanskritश्वेत-ग्लानि (Śveta-glāni)
Bengaliসাদা মোল্ড (Sada mold)
Frenchsclérotiniose, pourriture blanche
Russianбелая гниль (belaya gnil')
Spanishmoho blanco, pudrición blanda
GermanSclerotinia-Welke
