Induction of Basidia and Morphological Comparison Among Isolates of Athelia (Sclerotium) Rolfsii

Abstract

Sclerotium rolfsii is a widespread sclerotial fungus that causes leafand stem blights of a large number of plants. Infrequently its teleomorph, Athelia rolfsii, has been found in nature or induced to form under laboratory conditions. Laboratory induction of the teleomorph of such isolates has often proven difficult or impossible. As a result there are numerous isolates of S. rolfsii for which the teleomorph stage is unknown or uncertain. We undertook a number of experiments on a large variety of isolates to test the impact of several environmental factors on teleomorph induction in S. rolfsii, and compared morphological features of each teleomorph induced to determine if they were all, in fact, Athelia rolfsii. A corn-leaf-culture method is recommended for rapid, dependable teleomorph production. We conclude that all isolates of the teleomorph stage we induced were A. rolfsii.