Microhumidity Chamber for Quantitative Inoculation of Attached Corn Leaves with Fungal Pathogens

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Abstract
A technique is described by which fungal spores can be deposited in a defined area on the surface of a corn leaf. This is accomplished by placing inoculum in cylindrical wells cut in a clear acrylic plastic sheet that rests on the upper leaf surface. Spores of the corn pathogens Colletotrichum graminicola and Helminthosporium maydis were uniformly distributed over the inoculation surface, and symptoms characteristic of each disease developed as expected. Infection occurred and symptoms developed without the addition of a wetting agent to the spore suspension. Applications of the technique are discussed.