Cold Predisposition of Dormant Peach Twigs to Nodal Cankers Caused by Leucostoma spp.

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Abstract
Flower bud mortality in selected peach [Prunus persica] cultivars was correlated with a sequence of low temperatures from -17 to -25.degree. C when dormant twigs were collected in midwinter and so exposed. In repeated trials, samples frozen at various low temperatures contracted a significantly higher number of nodal cankers compared with nonfrozen field samples when artificially inoculated with the canker fungi, L. cincta and L. persoonii. Among field samples of 3 peach cultivars collected in late winter, those showing higher incidence of flower bud mortality also showed increased susceptibility to artificially induced nodal cankers. Water leachates of frozen flower buds greatly influenced conidial germination of L. cincta and germ tube growth of both L. cincta and L. persoonii. Winter-killed flower buds predispose peach twigs to nodal cankers, which may develop into perennial cankers.

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