Methods of Inoculation of Faba Bean Plants with <em>Scletotinia sclerotiorum</em>.

Different organic materials colonized by the fungus were applied, as an energy-rich inoculum, on faba bean plants cv. Polycarpe in growth chamber experiments. The organic materials used were colonized pieces of celery stems, faba bean petioles, and carrot root, blocks of cultures on potato dextrose agar and pieces of sclerotia. The inoculum was left attached to the plant stems for 48 h. After removal of the inoculum the plants were scored for disease incidence and severity. It was found that colonized pieces of carrot root produced the most uniform disease incidence and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]