Athelial stage induction in sclerotium rolfsii by Cyperus rotundus

摘要

Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. (teleomorph Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu and Kimbrough) is a devastating soil-borne pathogen in the tropics and subtropics, with a staggering host range of more than 500 plant species. The sexual stage (athelial stage) of S. rolfsii is infrequent in nature and is not readily induced in culture (Punja, 1987). Many workers reported basidial stage formation in cultures of S. rolfsii; however, in all these reports, the time required for basidiocarp induction was from 2 weeks to several months. But the method described by Singh et al. (1996) can induce athelial stage of S. rolfsii in cultures in 5 approx 6 days where rhizome of Cyperus rotundus was the chief inducer. In the present study several isolates of S.rolfsii were tested for their ability to produce athelial stage using dried/fresh rhizome powder and leaves of Cyperus rotundus in various ways.