This variability makes it difficult to predict disease outbreaks. Within individual fields, yield loss varies depending on the percentage of plants infected and the stage of growth when infection occurs. Losses due to Sclerotinia are most severe when infection occurs at midflowering. Losses rarely exceed 20 percent. When planning future rotations, keep in mind that sunflower, dry beans, lentils, canola and crambe are very susceptible to Sclerotinia.
Potatoes are slightly susceptible.
Buckwheat and flax are reported to be susceptible, but infection is rare. Sugar beets, small grains, corn and other members of the grass family are immune. Large amounts of sclerotia are produced in canola, dry beans and lentils, and even fairly low levels of infection are a danger signfor future susceptible crops. Producers should take this information into account when planning future rotations. But even with this precaution, airborne spores may blow in from nearby fields for example, small grain fields resulting in the infection of relatively clean fields.