Thirdly, field rot can occur during December, January and February. This will initially appear as a small pale green, soft lesion on the fruit surface. These infections are usually associated with floral tissues adhering to the fruit. Continuously wet conditions will allow this rot to progress and cause fruit drop. Life Cycle Sclerotia are special structures formed by this fungus within cavities of infected blossoms and on the surface of infected fruit.
Sclerotinia allow the fungus to survive in the soil through the winter months.
Dry conditions at the soil surface will delay apothecia emergence. Apothecia can survive for several days or weeks depending on the prevailing environmental conditions, and can be revived with rainfall, after being dry and shrivelled. Ascospores are the primary inoculum for all Sclerotinia infections and disease. The process of spore release from apothecia is called 'puffing' . This active ejection of ascospores enables them to travel the short distance from the orchard floor into turbulent air.