title: The degree of susceptibility of nectary-inoculated cotton flowers and bolls to subsequent seed infection by Aspergillus flavus is determined at or before anthesis.
abstract: In greenhouse and field studies, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) flowers were inoculated with Aspergillus flavus at the involucral nectaries. Bolls developing from early-season flowers had significantly higher percentages of A. flavus-infected seed than did bolls from flowers formed later in the season. Seeds from bolls inoculated 2 weeks after anthesis had the same infection levels as those from flowers inoculated at anthesis. These results indicate that early-season flowers are predisposed to A. flavus infection and that the degree of susceptibility at anthesis is retained through early boll development.
authors.affiliation: Southern Regional Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, NEW Orleans, Louisiana 70179
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Klich
mesh_terms: D001231:Aspergillus flavus; D003368:Gossypium; D010935:Plant Diseases; D012621:Seasons; D012639:Seeds