Effects of Soil Moisture and Temperature on the Survival of Colletotrichum acutatum. D. M. Eastburn, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. W. D. Gubler, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis 95616. Plant Dis. 76:841-842. Accepted for publication 14 February 1992. Copyright 1992 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-76-0841.

Sections of strawberry petioles inoculated with Colletotrichum acutatum were buried in unsterilized soil and subjected to a range of soil temperatures (10, 25, and 40 C) and soil moistures (flooded, moist [10.6%], and dry). Sections were recovered weekly and assayed for the presence of C. acutatum. Survival of C. acutatum was highest under cool, dry soil conditions. Survival decreased with increases in both soil temperature and moisture.