Gotta reference besides Kuo for that claim? Yes the fall the rain is important for sclerotia formation and the germination of spores to begin the mycelium running and forming sclerotia...however if you do not get adequate spring moisture and there is a drought those sclerotia are less likely to form fruit bodies and will continue to act as storage vessels waiting until the right moisture levels and temperatures exist. Those sclerotia can wait years for the right conditions to emerge.
I am in North Texas and won't be out looking for another two or three weeks at least...maybe longer.. I don't suppose they will fruit until the soil temps hit mid 50s consecutively for a few weeks without freezing at night. All the ice and snow in the last few weeks plus the freezing precip tonight lets us know it's not really time yet....but should get those sclerotia a soakin. I would not be surprised if all this late winter/early spring moisture led to a bumper crop.
I am in North Texas and won't be out looking for another two or three weeks at least...maybe longer.. I don't suppose they will fruit until the soil temps hit mid 50s consecutively for a few weeks without freezing at night. All the ice and snow in the last few weeks plus the freezing precip tonight lets us know it's not really time yet....but should get those sclerotia a soakin. I would not be surprised if all this late winter/early spring moisture led to a bumper crop.