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Ecology and Epidemiology

Dispersal of Airborne Spores of Boll-Rotting Fungi and the Incidence of Cotton Boll Rot. D. E. Sanders, Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; J. P. Snow, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Phytopathology 68:1438-1441. Accepted for publication 2 May 1978. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-1438.

A Kramer-Collins Spore Sampler was operated in cotton fields at several locations in Louisiana during 1974 and 1975 to monitor the spore dispersal of boll-rotting fungi. Conidia of Alternaria gossypina, Curvularia spp., Diplodia gossypina, Fusarium spp., and Helminthosporium gossypii were counted in hourly samples taken over 24-hr periods at intervals throughout the season. Spore counts increased soon after the onset of flowering, with peak spore catches approximately 50 days later. Spore numbers decreased rapidly after the peak periods of spore dispersal. The first rotted bolls were observed soon after the time of peak spore catches. With the exception of Alternaria, most spores were detected at night.