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Cytology and Histology

Sclerotium Germination and Histopathology of Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi on Highbush Blueberry. R. D. Milholland, Professor of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607; Phytopathology 67:848-854. Accepted for publication 31 January 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-848.

Germ tubes from mature ascospores penetrated succulent blueberry leaves either directly through the epidermis or indirectly through stomates. The fungus hyphae in the leaf, flower, and fruit tissues grew both intra- and intercellularly and caused cellular collapse and necrosis. The stigmatic tissue that surrounds the stylar canal appeared to be the primary tissue through which the fungus entered the ovary. Sclerotium morphology, germination and apothecium development also were studied. Mature sclerotia required chilling below 7 C for a minimum of 900 to 1,200 hr for normal apothecium development.