Germination of Macrophomina phaseoli sclerotia as effected by Pinus lambertiana root exudate

Abstract

The germination of sclerotia of Macrophomina phaseoli was found to be less than 5% in soil. The germination of sclerotia on silica gel, silica gel plus soil leachate, or potato dextrose agar was found to be in excess of 90%. Germination in soil could be increased to over 50% by the addition of natural or synthetic sugar pine root exudate. The amino acid fraction of the synthetically prepared root exudate was most effective in increasing sclerotial germination.