Sclerotinia blight

                                                                                                    
Sclerotinia blight (caused by Sclerotinia minor) causes significant losses in the Virginia-Carolina production area. The pathogen is most active near the soil surface under cool, moist conditions. Because they grow in close contact with the soil, peanut plants are highly vulnerable to infection, especially once a dense canopy develops. Cultivars with some resistance to Sclerotinia blight are available. To minimize the number of fungicide applications needed for Sclerotinia blight control and to increase efficacy, fungicides are applied according to disease advisories.