Journal of Environmental Biology

Influence of culture media and environmental factors on mycelial growth and sporulation of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon and Maubl

A. Saha*¹, P. Mandal¹, S. Dasgupta¹ and D. Saha*²

¹Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of North Bengal, Siliguri-734 013, India

²Department of Biotechnology, University of North Bengal, Siliguri-734 013, India

(Received: January 13, 2006; Revised received: June 15, 2006; Accepted: August 29, 2006)

Abstract: Lasiodiplodia theobromae, a common tea (Camellia sinensis) pathogen, usually does not sporulate or sporulates poorly in common media, which makes spore production difficult. In this study the effects of culture media, carbon source, nitrogen source, temperature, pH and light on mycelial growth and sporulation were evaluated. Among several carbon sources tested, glucose and sucrose were found superior for growth. Potassium nitrate supplemented media showed maximum growth amongst the tested inorganic nitrogen sources while peptone produced maximum growth among the tested organic nitrogen sources. Tea root extract supplemented potato dextrose agar medium was found to be the most suitable for mycelial growth and sporulation of L. theobromae. The fungus grow at temperatures ranging from 4⁰ to 36⁰C, with optimum growth at 28⁰C and no growth was noted at 40⁰C. There was no significant effect of different light period on growth of L. theobromae, but light enhanced sporulation. The fungus grow at pH 3.0 -8.0 and optimum growth was observed at pH 6.0.  Tea root extract supplemented potato dextrose agar medium with pH 6.0 was the most suitable for production of conidia of L. theobromae at 28⁰C.  Hence this media may be recommended for inoculum production for further studies.

Key words:   Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Camellia sinensis, Sporulation

PDF of full length paper is available with author (drishtanta@yahoo.com, sahanbu@yahoo.co.in)

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