Volatiles released from sweet potato storage root tissue infected by different sweet potato storage root pathogens stimulated eruptive germination of sclerotia ofSclerotium rolfsiibut did not influence the direction of hyphal growth on agarose. Volatiles from healthy sweet potato storage root tissue did not affect percent hyphal or eruptive germination of sclerotia ofS.rolfsiibut stimulated directional growth of hyphae toward the healthy tissue. In laboratory experiments, the frequency of infection of sweet potato stem segments byS.rolfsiion the surface of natural soil was increased when sclerotia were incubated in the presence of decaying sweet potato storage root tissue. Incidence of sclerotial blight lesions on sprouts in plant beds was increased in the presence of roots infected byFusarium solaniorErwinia chrysanthemi. Volatiles from decaying sweet potato mother roots may predispose sweet potatoes to sclerotial blight.