Abstract
Soil solarisation reduced the viability of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum which were buried in the soil at a depth of 10 cm in three field trials (Lincoln 1997, 1998; Blenheim 1998). Solarisation for 8 weeks (Lincoln and Blenheim 1998) had a greater effect than for 4 weeks (Lincoln 1997). Sclerotial viabilities in solarised plots were reduced to 52% (Lincoln 1997), 8% (Lincoln 1998), and 0% (Blenheim 1998) compared to 95, 53, and 89% for non‐solarised plots, respectively. Average maximum temperatures recorded for solarised plots over the trial periods ranged from 33 to 35°C, temperatures were c. 8–10°C lower in non‐solarised plots. The potential for using soil solarisation to reduce levels of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia in New Zealand horticultural soil is discussed.