Induction of sporulation in plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Spore morphologies are a major character in fungal taxonomy, although many isolates are not able to sporulate on common artificial media. This article reviews the effect of nutrition, host tissue, and light on fungal sporulation in artificial media. A trial experiment using 42 strains that failed to sporulate on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and half-strength PDA after 3 months is reported. Five strategies (1/10-strength PDA, CaCO&inf>3&/inf> water agar, pine needle medium, mulberry agar, and near-ultraviolet light irradiation) were applied to induce these strains to sporulate, with an overall success rate of 62%. Pine needle medium was the most successful method, which induced sporulation of 40% of recalcitrant strains. © 2012 Copyright 2012 Mycological Society of China.