The role of pigmentation in survival of the leaf spot fungus Cercospora beticola

SUMMARY Both germination and survival time of spores of a pigmented strain of Cercospora beticola were directly correlated with relative humidity. Pigmented cultures, under conditions of low water availability (15%) survived 242 days' continuous exposure to light (110 lx). The ability of various strains of the fungus to survive in soil was found to be influenced by pigmentation, rate of growth, inoculum ratio in the soil and the physiological state of the organism before exposure to the soil environment.