Sclerotinia minor avances fruiting and reduces germination in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Sclerotinia minor Jagger is a promising biocontrol agent for dandelion in turfgrass. When a flowering dandelion population was treated with S. minor, flowering accelerated to the fruiting stage within 4 days. This developmental response was 4-5 days earlier than in the control, untreated plants and was not observed in herbicide-treated plants. Seeds obtained from the fungal-treated plants were smaller, lighter and their germination rate was reduced by 48.4 and 47.3% for spring and fall applications, respectively. S. minor was not detected in dandelion seeds from the fungal-treated plants. In addition to effective control of mature (flowering) dandelions, seeds dispersed by dying plants have reduced germination and are not transferring S. minor off target.