STUDIES OF THE AGING OF CONIDIA OF MONILINIA FRUCTICOLA (WINT.) HONEY: I.GERMINATION RATES AND LONGEVITY

Abstract

Conidia of Monilinia fructicola (Wint.) Honey were stored 1–10 months at temperatures of 5°, 25°, and 35 °C. and at constant relative humidities approximating 0, 15, 45, 75, and 90%. The germination of these spores was tested on potato dextrose agar containing 6% glucose, and curves of the percentage germination against time are given for representative samples.A pronounced delay in germination developed under all conditions of storage. The rate at which this delay developed was virtually independent of the storage temperature. All spore samples gave 100% germination after 3 months but only those at 5 °C. gave; any germination after 10 months. Storage in a relative humidity of 75% gave the best preservation of spore vigor, there being evidence in other conditions of either high humidity or low humidity injury. Of the nutrient solutions tested, glucose was the only one which gave substantially better germination than water, the effect being most marked on spores stored for some months at high humidity. With glucose, such spores sometimes germinated faster than those stored at intermediate humidities.