The effects of amino acids on the growth and sporulation of Verticillium dahliae

Abstract

Conidial and dry weight production of Verticillium dahliae varied greatly depending on the amino acid used as the nitrogen source in Czapek's–Dox medium. Variable fungal growth was also noted when mixtures of amino acids were used and growth was dependent on the type and concentration of each amino acid in the mixture. Similar variation was obtained when sugar maple (Acer saccharum) sap was amended with individual amino acids. These results are examined in relation to the reported variation in the amino acid content of host xylem sap and in relation to verticillium wilt development.