VIEW ARTICLE

Effects of Mechanical Injury, Fungi, and Soil Temperature on Peanut Seed Decay in Soil. D. K. Bell, Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Coastal Plain Station, Tifton 31794; Phytopathology 64:241-243. Accepted for publication 23 September 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-241.

Sound and mechanically damaged peanut seed were planted in nontreated and autoclaved field soil infested with nine species of fungi. Three soil temp regimes were maintained (29 C for 20 days, 24 C for 10 days raised to 29 C for 10 days, and 18 C for 10 days raised to 29 C for 10 days). Stands were significantly reduced in all treatments with damaged seed. Cylindrocladium crotalariae reduced stands more in nontreated, than in autoclaved, soil. The reverse occurred with Pythium myriotylum and Sclerotium rolfsii. All other fungi were similarly virulent within seed damage categories in both soils. The fungi tended to maintain similar relationships in effects on stand at the 29 and 24 to 29 C regimes; however, the relationship changed at 18 to 29 C. Seedling emergence was delayed due to the initially low soil temp in the latter regime. Sclerotium rolfsii was the most destructive fungus at the two higher temp, but was less so at 18 to 29 C.