"Tomato anthracnose is a serious disease of processing es caused by the ' and is a threat to tomatoes grown in . To minimize the mold count in processed tomato products, processors impose a strict limit on the amount of anthracnose acceptable on the raw product. ... The fungus survives the winter as seedlike structures called and as threadlike strands called e in infested tomato debris. In late spring the lower leaves and fruit may become infected by germinating sclerotia and spores in the soil debris. Infections of the lower leaves of tomato plants are important sources of spores for secondary infections throughout the growing season. Senescent leaves with early s and leaves with injury are especially important spore sources because the fungus can colonize C. coccodes and produce new spores in these wounded areas."