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SclerotiniaZA Pamphlet Continued
This pamphlet was created in 2019 to be shared at Information Days.
sclerotiorum and rolfsii
Diagnostics 101: signs of the pathogen
Sclerotia - the survival of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Diagnostics 101: a brief overview of the overwintering strategy of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Who are we?

The South African Sclerotinia Research Network (SASRN) is a virtual community of practice and a research consortium aimed at finding the most appropriate management practices for local producers to control Sclerotinia diseases. In addition, the network aims to interact and communicate directly with producers to convey and distribute relevant information to enable producers to make informed decisions on preventing and managing these diseases. The SASRN was founded in 2017, through the gathering of South African researchers and industry members who have a passion for finding practical solutions to diseases caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Researchers and representatives from academia, public and private research institutions, government and industry are welcome to join the network.

our mission

This network serves as a platform for South African researchers, industry members and producers to connect and build a community to find solutions to diseases caused by Sclerotinia species on economically important crops.

pillars

  1. Foster an environment to create a local centre of excellence and expertise.
  2. Discover practical solutions for South African producers to manage diseases caused by Sclerotinia spp.
  3. Serve as a space for international collaboration on Sclerotinia research.

our history

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a prolific fungal plant pathogen, with multiple host crops of agricultural and economic importance. South African host crops of importance include soybean, sunflower and canola which make significant contributions to the South African economy.

The initial intention of this forum was to create a platform for young researchers to assist one another and share their experiences with Sclerotinia research in South Africa. However, there was significant interest from beyond the academic arena and more researchers than expected responded, thus the South African Sclerotinia Research Network (SASRN) was born, where researchers could enter into a dialogue regarding Sclerotinia in South Africa. In light of the significant interest in the SASRN, we had our inaugural meeting on the 7th of September 2017, in Pretoria. Attendees included; Grain SA, University of the Free State (UFS), University of Pretoria (UP), Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Philagro SA and Cengen. In 2018, the research projects to investigate solutions for Sclerotinia diseases of soybean and sunflower commenced

Producer-focused research is pivotal for the network and will be supported through collaborations established by the network. These collaborations promote communication between the parties involved, which prevents duplication and allows researchers to inform the industry directly of findings, and vice versa. In addition, the network is a platform where industry and academia can listen to the needs of producers to actively resolve issues through applied and directed research questions. The established community of practice will drive the communication between producers and network members