Relative Susceptibility of Peach Cultivars to Fungal Gummosis ( Botryosphaeria dothidea)

Abstract

Peach fungal gummosis, incited by Botryosphaeria dothidea(Moug.:Fr.) Ces. & De Not., significantly depresses growth and yield on susceptible peach [ Primus persica(L.) Batsch] cultivars. Little is known about the relative susceptibility of commercially important peach cultivars utilized in the southeastern United States. A trellis system equipped with an automated misting system was used to deliver inoculum from infected peach prunings to peach trees planted beneath the trellis. Peach prunings inoculated with B. dothideawere placed on the trellis wires above the newly planted trees. Intermittent misting of the trellis occurred during May and June of the first year, after which the inoculum source were removed. Disease severity was evaluated in November of the following growing season after visible symptoms developed. Significant variation in disease susceptibility was detected across the cultivars tested. Of the 25 cultivars tested, 'Summergold' was the most susceptible and 'Redskin' the least.