Author
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Goates, Blair |
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MERCIER, J. - AGRAQUEST, INC., DAVIS, C |
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Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2007 Publication Date: 7/1/2007 Citation: Goates, B., Mercier, J. 2007. Mortality of Tilletia spp. teliospores caused by volatiles from the biofumigant fungus Muscodor albus.. Phytopathology. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Volatiles produced by the fungus Muscodor albus inhibit or kill numerous fungi. The effect of these volatiles was tested on teliospores of the smut fungi Tilletia horrida, T. indica, and T. tritici which cause kernel smut of rice, Karnal bunt of wheat, and common bunt of wheat, respectively. Ten grams of dry M. albus/rye grain formulation was mixed with 10 ml of water in a cup which was placed in a 9.0-L plastic container along with i) teliospores freshly plated on agar to induce germination, ii) dry loose teliospores, and iii) intact sori, and then incubated at 22 C for 5 days, which is the approximate time required for teliospore germination. Teliospores of all three species on agar were killed when fumigated for 5 days as evidenced by the failure of teliospore germination for several weeks afterwards. When T. tritici on agar was fumigated only during the initial 48 h of incubation, viability was reduced by 73% to 99%. Dry loose teliospores lost some viability, but there was little effect on teliospores within intact sori. It appears that M. albus has potential as a seed treatment for controlling seedling-infecting smuts where infection is initiated by germinating teliospores prior to seedling emergence. This is being pursued. The volatiles appear to be inefficient for post harvest control of teliospores under the conditions used in these experiments. |
