Effects of flower removal on the development of theSclerotinia/Botrytiscomplex of tobacco

摘要

Removal of flower heads markedly decreased infection of tobacco bySclerotiniaandBotrytis. Infection was correlated with the density of corollas falling on to the leaves; a greater proportion of those falling from axillary shoots than of those falling from apical shoots incited the diseases. It was not possible to determine whether differences in varietal susceptibility arose from differences in leaf susceptibility or from differences in the ability of the corollas to carry the diseases. Any change in agronomic practice which tended to extend the life of corollas on the plant could lead to increased incidence of these diseases.