Vegetative growth and conidium production by Monilinia oxycocci in vitro

• Published in: Mycologia Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 9 - 16
• Main Authors: Sanderson, Peter G., Jeffers, Steven N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01-01-2001; Mycological Society of America
• Subjects: Biochemistry/Physiology; Conidia; cottonball; cranberry; Experimentation; Fungi; Juices; Monilinia oxycocci; Mycelium; Phytopathology; Plants; Sclerotiniaceae; Spores; Sporulation; Vaccinium macrocarpon; Vegetative growth
• ISSN: 0027-5514; 1557-2536
• DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2001.12061274

The effects of various natural agar media, light, and temperature on mycelium growth of and conidium production by Monilinia oxycocci were examined in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Vegetative growth and sporulation were affected differentially by these factors. Optimum vegetative growth and formation of stromata occurred on potato dextrose agar at 20-24 C in the dark. The minimum and maximum temperatures for mycelium growth were 4 and 32 C, respectively. Production of conidia was best on V8 juice agar. The greatest numbers of conidia were produced at 16 C, but abundant conidium production was most consistent at 20 C. The influence of light on sporulation was inconsistent among trials and differed among media and isolates. However, on V8 juice agar at 20 C, production of conidia was most abundant in the dark. In general, considerable variability occurred with M. oxycocci throughout the study-among replicates of individual isolates, among isolates within a trial, and among trials with the same isolates. The highly variable nature of M. oxycocci in vitro appears to be an inherent characteristic of this plant pathogenic fungus.