| Stem canker in blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is a disease which is widely distributed around the world and of growing importance in Chile, associated with Neofusicoccum species. The purpose of the present work was to study the effects of water activity (a w) and temperature on mycelial growth in vitro of N. arbuti, N. australe and N. parvum, obtained from blueberries with symptoms of stem canker. According to the results obtained, 25 °C was the optimum temperature for mycelial growth of N. arbuti, N. australe and N. parvum. These species presented minimal growth at 35 °C and none at 0 and 5 °C. The effect of a w on mycelial growth was significant (P≤0.001) and varied with the species of Neofusicoccum and the temperature. At 25 °C, the... |
