Fertile sporophore production of Typhula phacorrhiza in the field is related to temperatures near freezing

Abstract

Two field tests and one lab test were conducted to examine the environmental factors affecting sporophore production in Typhula phacorrhiza and to compare these results with those documented for T. ishikariensis and T. incarnata. In the 2001 lab test where lighting, soil moisture, and soil-sand media were tested in 50 mL screw-cap tubes incubated at 4 degrees C, the limiting factor for Typhula sporophore production was found to be moisture. In the fall 2001 field test, 100 sclerotia of six isolates from three Typhula spp. were placed into pots filled with a sand and soil mixture. The pots were monitored weekly, and maximum sporophore production for all six isolates and for watered and unwatered pots was observed at 11 weeks, which was soon after mean daily temperatures fell below 0 degrees C. In the second field test in fall 2003, five isolates of the three species were tested with similar procedures, but peak sporophore production was observed after 6 weeks, and again only after mean daily temperatures fell below 0 degrees C. In the field, sporophore production of T. phacorrhiza seems to require the same environmental cues as those of T. ishikariensis or T. incarnata, namely high moisture and temperatures near freezing.

Fungi Detected in the Previous Year’s Leaf Petioles of Fraxinus excelsior and Their Antagonistic Potential against Hymenoscyphus fraxineus

“…Identification of H. fraxineus was based on the presence of pseudosclerotial plates or the pathogen's anamorph (in subsample II) [16,62,64] or of apothecia formed on pseudosclerotial plates, naturally, in July-August (in subsample III). Identification of the genus Typhula was based on the presence of basidiocarps or ungerminated sclerotia [65,66].…”

“…It seems that some Typhula species are saprotrophs that contribute to decomposition of plant debris. There are, however, phytopathogenic Typhula species, T. ishikariensis and T. incarnata, which cause important diseases of cereals and grasses [65,66,123,124]. According to Yang et al [66], sporophores of most Typhula species are usually found in autumn.…”

“…There are, however, phytopathogenic Typhula species, T. ishikariensis and T. incarnata, which cause important diseases of cereals and grasses [65,66,123,124]. According to Yang et al [66], sporophores of most Typhula species are usually found in autumn. Our results support this; only sclerotia were found in spring.…”