Mycelial growth and sporulation of Apoharknessia eucalyptorum on different culture media

Abstract

Apoharknessia eucalyptorum was first described in 2017 and identified on leaves of Eucalyptus dunnii in Southern Brazil. However, information about in vitro cultivation for complementary studies is lacking. In the present study, leaves of E. dunnii were inoculated to demonstrate the pathogenicity of A. eucalyptorum, and growth and sporulation were evaluated at temperatures of 15, 20, and 25°C on four culture media: malt extract agar (MEA); potato dextrose agar (PDA); V8 juice agar (V8); and bean dextrose agar (BEAN), under constant lighting. Apoharknessia eucalyptorum caused leaf blight on the inoculated leaves. The best conditions for mycelial growth were at 25°C on PDA, BEAN and MEA. Considering sporulation, optimal conditions were 25°C for all tested media and 20°C for PDA and BEAN. Colony characteristics changed with temperature; at 15°C colonies formed a fluffy mycelium, whereas at 25°C mycelium spread across the medium forming dark margins lined by dirty-white mycelium and conidia. The conditions indicated for in vitro growth and sporulation of A. eucalyptorum are the culture media MEA, PDA and BEAN at 25°C