ARS | Publication request: Effect of water potential on sclerotial production by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in a culture medium

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2008
Publication Date: July 27, 2008
Citation: Melouk, H.A., Brown, M., Ju, H.J., Hunger, R., Conway, K. 2008. Effect of water potential on sclerotial production by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in a culture medium [abstract]. Phytopathology 98(6):S104. Available: http://www.apsnet.org/meetings/2008/abstracts/a08ma535.htm.

Technical Abstract: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes Sclerotinia blight on peanut. Potato dextrose agar medium was prepared and adjusted to various water potentials (-0.4 to -3.4 MPa) using NaCl. Petri plates (9-cm dia) each containing 15 ml of medium were inoculated with a 4-mm agar plug of S. sclerotiorum. Plates were incubated at 25 C in darkness for 3 weeks, and then were allowed to dry by un-covering the plates for 2 weeks at 24+2 C. Sclerotia were removed from the semi-dry medium by using a camel hair brush. Sclerotial mass (g) from each plate was determined. Sclerotial weights from cultures grown at -0.9, -1.4, -1.9, -2.4, and -3.4 MPa were significantly (P=0.05) increased from 3 to 8 fold when compared with those grown at -0.4 MPa. Data from this study suggest that water stress enhances the ability of S. sclerotiorum to produce more sclerotia for its survival.