An infection in which no symptoms are visible during the first phase of the infection. Growth of the pathogen stops soon after penetration but resumes at some later stage. For example, banana anthracnose infection (caused by the fungus Colletotrichum musae) originates in the field on unripe fruit but after penetration the fungus becomes latent as a subcuticular hypha for up to five months. The fungus resumes activity as the fruit nears maturity and typical black lesions develop on the ripe fruit. See also incubation period. |
