Conditions for pycnidial production and spore formation by Ampelomyces quisqualis

Abstract

On Czapek agar medium, the optimum temperature for spore germination and pycnidia formation by Ampelomyces quisqualis was 20 and 25 °C, respectively. Inoculation of Czapek agar medium with a spore concentration of 106 or 107/mL significantly increased pycnidia formation as compared with medium inoculated with 104 or 105 spores/mL. In shaken cultures, spore formation in potato dextrose broth (PDB) was higher than in the broth of bran extract and glycerol, aspargine, Czapek, Joham, and synthetic Mucor media. On PDB, pycnidia were formed in hard black aggregates. Spore production in fermentors was similar to that in shaken cultures. The omission of glucose from PDB caused a great increase in the number of spores formed. Also, PDB prepared with the broth of 100 g (instead of the usual 200 g) peeled potatoes/L was effective in spore formation and maintained spore infectivity as high as in controls. It seems that the broth of boiled potatoes is a simple, efficient, and nonexpensive medium for mass production of infective A. quisqualis spores. Key words: Ampelomyces quisqualis, pycnidial production, spore formation, biological control, powdery mildew.