A Wound-Freezing Inoculation Technique for Evaluating Resistance toCytospora leucostomain Young Peach Trees

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Abstract
A reliable method of inoculating young peach (P. persica) trees (0.95-1.6 cm in diameter) with C. leucostoma is reported. Trees were wounded to xylem depth with an empty handheld stapling gun. The wound area was frozen with a commercial aerosol tissue-freezing product and inoculated with a suspension containing 107 pycniospores of C. leucostoma per milliliter. Cultivar susceptibility was rated by measuring the area and extension of xylem necrosis. The selection of the least susceptible and most susceptible cultivars as determined by these ratings was consistent for trials conducted for 3 yr, and agreed with previously reported field ratings. Although significant differences in susceptibility to C. leucostoma, were found, the resistance reaction was weak. Significant year and year .times. cultivar effects indicated that nongenetic influences were a major component of variability.