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Thermolability of Dormant and Germinated Monilinia fructicola and Rhizopus stolonifer Spores. W. L. Smith, Jr., Research Plant Pathologist, Market Quality Research Division, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland 20705; Margaret Blomquist, Former Biological Laboratory Technician, Market Quality Research Division, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Phytopathology 60:866-868. Accepted for publication 18 December 1969. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-866.

Exposure of dormant Monilinia fructicola spores to 52-C broth for 120 sec prevented subsequent germination of these spores at 21 C. Shorter exposures to 52 C or exposures in 49 C broth for 60 and 120 sec greatly reduced subsequent germination. Rhizopus spores survived these temperatures better than Monilinia spores. Germinated spores of both genera were killed more quickly and at lower temperatures than the dormant spores. Hot broth treatments caused changes in the morphological characteristics of germinated Rhizopus, but not those of germinated Monilinia spores.