VIEW ARTICLE

Dissemination and Survival of Colletotrichum trifolii Under Field Conditions. F. L. Lukezic, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802; Phytopathology 64:57-59. Accepted for publication 14 June 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-57.

Colletotrichum trifolii can persist from one harvesting season to the next in debris on the surfaces of protected alfalfa harvesting equipment. The fungus was able to survive in alfalfa stems for only 100 days under field conditions. This suggests that under Pennslyvania conditions, infected plants can be important sources of secondary inoculum, but may not be important as a source of primary inoculum. Anthracnose was shown to be important in predisposing the infected plants to winter injury.