VIEW ARTICLE

Free and Bound Microsclerotia of Verticillium albo-atrum in Soils. L. J. Ashworth, Jr., Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Berkeley 94720; O. C. Huisman(2), D. M. Harper(3), and L. K. Stromberg(4). (2)(3)Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Berkeley 94720; (4)University of California, Agricultural Extension Service, Fresno 93702. Phytopathology 64:563-564. Accepted for publication 6 November 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-563.

The numbers of viable microsclerotia of Verticillium albo-atrum were determined in undistrubed soil profiles and in adjacent profiles immediately following rototillage. Rototillage forced release into soil of microsclerotia bound in intact debris of infected cotton plants. All viable microsclerotia were essentially free in moist soil, at depths of 20-30 cm, approximately one year after cotton plants were disked into soil. But up to 90% of the viable microsclerotia in essentially air dry soil were still bound in infected plant debris after the same length of time.