Cm. Brasier et Tm. Stephens, TEMPERATURE-GROWTH RESPONSES DISTINGUISH THE OPC AND OPH SIBLING SPECIES WITHIN OPHIOSTOMA-PICEAE, Mycological research, 97, 1993, pp. 1416-1418
The temperature-growth relationships of a range of isolates representi
ng the recently identified OPC and OPH sibling species within Ophiosto
ma piceae were studied. Most OPC isolates grew significantly faster th
an OPH isolates on 2% Oxoid malt extract agar (MEA) between 17.5 and 2
7.5 degrees C, but between 27.5 degrees and 30 degrees growth rates of
all OPC isolates studied declined rapidly in contrast to those of OPH
isolates. The upper limit for growth of OPC isolates of MEA was ca 35
degrees, whereas that for OPH isolates was ca 31 degrees. A simple gr
owth test at 32 degrees on MEA will discriminate between most isolates
of the two species, and can be used as a supplementary aid to their i
dentification.