Release and Dispersal of Conidia and Ascospores of Valsa leucostoma

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Abstract
Release and dispersal of conidia and ascospores of V. leucostoma were studied. Conidia were trapped during rains occurring in all seasons; ascospores tended to be most common in the spring. Ascospores were water-borne (released during rain or other wetness) or airborne (released following rain or other wetness). There was no evidence for any nonwater-borne release of conidia. Increasing time and/or temperature between rains and a high rate of rainfall were correlated with increasing numbers of conidia subsequently caught. Conidia were dispersed by wind-blown rain. The distance of dispersal was correlated with the mean wind velocity during the rain. Either conidia or ascospores were able to cause infection. Conidia, however, were 10 to over 4000 times more common than water-borne ascospores. Pycnidia generally form during the 1st yr after infection. The ascostromata do not form until 2 or 3 yr later. Since prune [Prunus domestica] orchards generally are pruned on a yearly basis to remove dead or excess wood, conidia probably serve as the major inoculum.

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