VIEW ARTICLE

Ecology and Epidemiology

Changes in Conidia of Monilinia fructicola in Response to Incubation Temperature. Douglas J. Phillips, Plant pathologist, Market Quality and Transportation Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fresno, CA 93747; Phytopathology 72:1281-1283. Accepted for publication 8 April 1982. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1982.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-72-1281.

Incubation at 15, 20, or 25 C caused differences in the size, percentage germination, and aggressiveness of 2-wk-old conidia from two isolates of Monilinia fructicola cultured on potato-dextrose agar. The volumes of M. fructicola conidia were largest at 15 C and smallest at 25 C. The percentage germination was lower on water agar for spores produced at 25 C than for those produced at 15 C but were approximately equal on peach agar. The temperature at which spores were produced influenced their capacity to initiate rot on peach fruit. Three days after inoculation the size of lesions on wounded fruit was largest for conidia from 15 C, intermediate for conidia from 20 C, and smallest for conidia from 25 C. Similar results were found when fruit was inoculated without wounding.