Abstract: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a worldwide and necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungi with a wide host-range. Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused in soybean and rapeseed by S.sclerotiorum has caused huge economic losses to agricultural production. The pathogenic mechanism of S.sclerotiorum is complicated,  which not only has a necrotrophic phase that directly kills cells,  but also includes a short biotrophic phase that needs to suppress plant immunity. S.sclerotiorum has a wide variety of pathogenic factors,  including key regulatory factors that mediate the formation of infection structure or stress resistance,  hydrolytic enzymes that degrade plant cell components,  oxalic acid,  effector that induce plant cell death or inhibit plant immunity,  etc. We have reviewed the infection model of S.sclerotiorum, summarized  the roles of various pathogenic factors,  especially effector proteins,  in the pathogenesis of S.sclerotiorum. Combined with the latest research,  we have prospected the new pathogenic mechanism of S.sclerotiorum,   providing theoretical basis for the prevention and control of crop Sclerotinia diaease.

Key words: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, pathogenic mechanism, pathogenic factor, effector proctein