Latent infection of peach caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum acutatum

Attached, immature peach fruits were mist-inoculated in the held with isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides or Colletotrichum acutatum. beginning approximately 2 weeks before pit hardening and at regular intervals throughout the growing season until harvest. Immature fruits inoculated with either species initially remained symptomless or developed small, necrotic lesions that did not enlarge. Treatment with paraquat revealed the frequent presence of latent infections. Infections were not found in the noninoculated controls. Up to 100% of fruits inoculated with C. gloeosporioides developed anthracnose symptoms when mature. Inoculation with C. acutatum resulted in up to 83% of the fruits developing symptoms at maturity. Inoculation date did not influence symptom development. Peach fruit may be infected with either C. acutatum or C. gloeosporioides early in development and remain symptomless until maturity.