Effect of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Germination and Germ Tube Development ofMycosphaerella fijiensisvar.difformis

Conidia (three isolates) and ascospores (one isolate) of Mycosphaerella fijiensis var. difformis germinated at 20-35 C. Germination followed a quadratic response function on temperature (R 2 =0.90-0.98), with an estimated optimum at 26.5 C. Maximum germination was observed in free-water and decreased at lower relative humidities (RH). Conidia germinated over a wider range of RH (92-100%) than ascospores (98-100%).Ascospores germinated earlier than conidia. The highest number of germ tubes per conidium was at 25 C for two isolates and at 30 C for the third isolate in free-water after 24 h (...)