Hirsutella thompsonii, a fungal pathogen of mites. I. Biology of the fungus in vitro |
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Authors: | R KENNETH T I MUTTATH U GERSON |
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Institution: | Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel |
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Abstract: | Hirsutella thompsonii, a moniliaceous fungus pathogenic to mites, grew and sporulated on sterilised wheat bran. The effects of environmental factors were studied on the fungus grown on potato-dextrose-agar (PDA). The fungus was mesothermophilic. Growth, sporulation and conidial germination were best at 25o-30 oC. Conidia kept at 37 oC for 5 days on PDA died, but those held at 5 oC germinated upon a subsequent removal to 25 oC. Almost all conidial germ tubes survived an 8 h exposure to 3–5% r.h. and to 60% r.h., but subsequently the former grew poorly at 100% r.h. H. thompsonii sporulated equally well in continuous darkness or light, and produced typical chlorinous to light olive-green mycelium and conidia under all conditions. A 2 h exposure of naked mycelium and conidia (which have melanised walls) to u.v. irradiation failed to kill the fungus. |
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