Apple valsa canker (AVC), caused by Valsa mali, is one of the most important diseases of apple trees in China. AVC occurred severely along with cold winter or cold spring. However, the effect of lower temperature on V. mali is poorly understood. This study evaluated the influence of lower temperature pretreatment of V. mali on the infection of apple twigs and leaves. The results showed that exposing V. mali to lower temperatures (between -10°C and 10°C) for more than 18 h significantly increased the disease severity of apple leaves and twigs, with a higher lesion area ratio (LAR), lesion length, and disease incidence (DI) than that at 25°C. In addition, cold treatment ranging from -5°C to 10°C promoted colony growth. Meanwhile, the relative expression of four cell wall degrading enzyme (CWDE)-related genes pretreated at -5°C and 5°C were significantly higher than that at 25°C. The results indicated that the virulence of V. mali mycelium is sensitive to lower temperatures. After sensing lower temperature changes, V. mali can adjust its infection of apple trees by regulating the expression of pathogenicity gene and growth rate. Spring has very frequent temperature changes, and V. mali is highly invasive in this season. Therefore, more attention should be paid in spring to protecting apple trees from infection of V. mali, by reducing pruning wound formation in spring and applying protective agents to pruning wounds in time.
Keywords: Valsa mali; apple valsa canker; infection; lower temperature.