A new disease of strawberry was found in Tochigi Prefecture in 1988 and 1991. The base of petioles near the soil surface which changed initially into water-soaked appearance was covered with white and silky mycelia with sclerotia similar to mustard seeds in size. Fungul isolates obtained from the diseased strawberry were pathogenic to 7 species of plants including strawberry, tomato and chinese chive. Colonies of the isolates on PDA medium were white, rich in aerial mycelial strands. Clamp connections were observed on hyphae of the isolates. Sclerotia were nearly spherical and 0.9-2.1mm in diameter. The pathogenic fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. on the basis of these morphological and pathological characteristics.