A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR THE INDUCTION OF SPORULATION IN ALTERNARIA-TRITICINA INCITANT OF LEAF-BLIGHT OF WHEAT

A simple and reliable technique for the sporulation of Alternaria trit icina was developed to produce inoculum for field inoculation. The tec hnique, based on the principle of wounding mycelium, involved shaking colonized wheat grains with water followed by incubation at a temperat ure of 25 +/- 2 degrees C. Four to six crops of spores were harvested by this technique in succession. Fully colonized grains could be store d for 2 weeks at 25 +/- 2 degrees C and may be used for subsequent spo re production. The proposed technique, which was found cost effective in comparison with other known methods, was also found suitable for th e sporulation of A. solani.