Epidemiological Studies of Blueberry Anthracnose Disease Caused byColletotrichum gloeosporioides

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Abstract
Epidemiological studies of blueberry anthracnose disease caused by C. gloeosporioides were conducted in a commercial highbush blueberry field (cv. Jersey) at Grand Junction, [Michigan, USA], in 1978 and 1979. Conidia of C. gloeosporioides were collected in rainwater runoff from diseased bushes from the bud swell through the harvest stages of growth. Conidia were associated with diseased fruiting wood, blossoms, and rotting fruit. Maximum numbers of conidia apparently coincided with probable natural fruit infection periods as predicted by in vitro conidial germination studies. Such incidents occurred from the green fruit through the harvest growth stages. Inoculation of swelling flower buds, blossoms and immature fruit, both on mature branches of ''Jersey'' bushes in the field and on potted 3-4 yr old bushes (cv. Bluecrop and Berkeley) with 106 conidia/ml sterile distilled water, resulted in apparently healthy fruit that later developed a rapid anthracnose decay after harvest. Inoculations performed prior to and during bloom also caused a severe blossom blight. The pathogen overwintered in blighted fruiting wood which it entered via blighted blossom clusters or, perhaps, rotting fruit pedicels.

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