White mold caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary continues to threaten yield and quality and remains a stubborn, sometimes unpredictable constraint in many cropping systems. The pathogen’s broad host range and its capacity to persist for years as sclerotia mean that fields can carry risk long after visible symptoms fade. Disease development is often driven by short windows of favorable temperature and moisture that promote germination and ascospore release and dispersal, while myceliogenic infection from soil-borne sclerotia can also initiate disease directly. Yet dependable control is still undermined by durable inoculum, limited stable host resistance, variable biocontrol performance, and shrinking chemical options together with fungicide resistance risk. Here we consolidate current understanding and ongoing uncertainties around sclerotial formation and germination cues, the environmental drivers that shape epidemic onset, and the processes governing host colonization, including the roles of cell wall-degrading enzymes, oxalic acid, and redox regulation, as well as the continuing debate over necrotrophic versus hemibiotrophic phases. Management is considered from a practical perspective, covering cultural risk reduction, forecasting-guided fungicide programmes supported by resistance-management principles, and biological control strategies targeting sclerotia. Across systems, the evidence points to the same lesson: single tactics rarely remain reliable under field variability, whereas integrated packages that reduce soil inoculum and align interventions with risk are more durable. Future priorities include resolving early infection events, improving prediction of carpogenic germination under changing climates, increasing the consistency of biocontrol, and accelerating resistance breeding supported by genomic resources.

The western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is a significant maize pest in Hungary, particularly in monoculture systems. As many effective synthetic soil insecticides and seed dressings have been withdrawn, interest in environmentally friendly alternatives has grown. Among these, azadirachtin - an insecticide from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) - offers long-lasting protection and reduced risk of resistance. We conducted multi-year field trials using seed-applied azadirachtin at doses ranging from 50% (0.022 mg/seed) to 300% (0.129 mg/seed), with 100% (0.043 mg/seed) as our previously recommended rate. In fields with moderate larval pressure, doses of 125-150% (0.053-0.065 mg/seed) prevented economic loss, although minor root damage occurred. In 2022, higher doses (200% and 300%) were tested under severe infestations (modified Iowa scale 3.93-5.10). Across sites, the 200% dose (0.086 mg/seed) showed the most favourable overall performance, reducing larval numbers and root damage while providing the best overall balance of efficacy and crop safety under high infestation pressure. In contrast, the 300% dose delayed development, likely due to poor germination under drought conditions, as the oil-rich formulation hindered water uptake. These findings underscore the need to tailor dosing to local conditions. Azadirachtin seed dressing is an effective and sustainable alternative to synthetic insecticides, with the 200% dosage showing the most favourable overall balance of efficacy and crop safety under high pest pressure.