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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120852
Title: ACTIVITY OF THE FUNGUS COLLETOTRICHUM FRAGARIAE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF INFECTION IN STRAWBERRY

Author
item SHETTY, REENA - UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS
item CURRY, KENNETH - UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS
item Smith, Barbara

Submitted to: Mississippi Academy of Sciences Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Colletotrichum species infect strawberry plants and cause anthracnose. The focus of this study is the pre-infection and the early states of infection. Lesions developed on the uppermost portion of the youngest petiole on plants sprayed with spores of fragariae. The appressoria observed in surface view are difficult to find in cross section. Some epidermal cells as seen in cross section within a lesion show a distinct pattern of granulation. We have not been able to confirm if this granulation pattern is correlated with the macroscopic dark lesions. Occasionally plant lesions in areas other than the youngest petiole have been observed. Preliminary evidence suggests that most spores on most areas of otherwise susceptible plants do not germinate. Occasionally a germ tube or immature appressorium is observed which suggests that further study is warranted. There is an increasing body of evidence that many fungi previously thought to be strictly saprophytic or pathogenic might exist as symptomless endophytes. Endophytes are fungi previously though to be strictly saprophytic or pathogenic might exist as symptomless endophytes. Endophytes are fungi that complete their life cycle within the host and remain symptomless during the vegetative phase of parasitism. This suggests that looking for Colletotrichum in an endophytic phase in strawberry would not be unreasonable.