PRODUCTION OF COLLETOTRICHUM-TRUNCATUM FOR USE AS A MYCOHERBICIDE - EFFECTS OF CULTURE, DRYING AND STORAGE ON RECOVERY AND EFFICACY

Colletotrichum truncatum (Schwein.) Andrus and Moore NRRL 13737 (= NRR L 18434) is a fungal plant pathogen which shows promise as a bioherbic ide against the troublesome weed Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rydb. ex A. W. Hill. previous studies showed similar amounts of spores were produc ed/ml of medium in liquid and solid-state fermentations. In this study , Colletotrichum truncatum spores were produced in liquid (LC), solid/ vermiculite (SV), and solid/perlite-cornmeal-agar (SP). After drying a t room temperature with flowing air, SV and SP retained the most viabi lity. Each product was then stored at 4-degrees, 15-degrees, and 25-de grees-C. All three products stored at 4-degrees-C and SP stored at 15- degrees-C retained highest viability. Efficacy based upon assays utili zing numbers of viable spores showed SV and SP spores incited more sev ere disease symptoms than LC spores.