Studies in the physiology, genetics and pathology of Colletotrichum phomoides (Sacc.) Chester, the cause of tomato anthracnose

Anthracnose of tomato was first described by Chester in 1891. It has been of economic importance to the growers of canning tomatoes nearly ever since. Anthracnose is cause by Colletptrochum phomoides (sacc.) Chester which appears to have different physiologic and morphologic forms. There is evidence that it is a soil organism but this remains to be definitively proved. The organism has a broad pH range and different isolates show different temperatures opimums but about the same temperature range for growth. The organism does not show the “dual phenomenon” but does sector frequently. Sectors are morphologically different from the parent mycelium and offers an explanation as to the origin of different strains of the organism.