Cx. Hong et Tj. Michailides, Mycelial growth, sporulation, and survival of Monilinia fructicola in relation to osmotic potential and temperature, MYCOLOGIA, 91(5), 1999, pp. 871-876
The effects of osmotic potential (Psi) and temperature on mycelial growth,
sporulation, and survival of Monilinia fructicola were determined using pot
ato-dextrose agar (PDA) amended with KCI and sucrose. Comparatively, KCl fa
cilitated the sporulation and sucrose facilitated the mycelial growth and s
urvival of the fungus. Optimal mycelial growth occurred at -1 MPa and 25 C
and sporulation at -3 MPa and 20 C. Sporulation decreased more rapidly than
mycelial growth as osmotic potential and temperature became less conducive
. Significant interactions between osmotic potential and temperature were o
bserved on affecting the mycelial growth and sporulation. Monilinia fructic
ola did not grow in PDA amended with KCl at Psi < -11 MPa (20 and 25 C), -9
MPa (15 and 30 C), or -7 MPa (10 C) after 6-d incubation; it also did not
grow in PDA amended with KCl at Psi < -11 MPa nor in PDA amended with sucro
se at Psi < -13 MPa even after 60-d incubation at any temperatures tested.
Monilinia fructicola survived water stress better at low temperatures than
at high temperatures. These results could help in understanding the ecology
and epidemiology of brown rot of stone fruit and in development of integra
ted disease management strategies.