Role of conifer litter in ecology of Fusarium: stimulation of germination in soil in conifer forest soils

Abstract

Water extracts of ponderosa pine, sugar pine, white fir, and coast redwood litter stimulated the germination of macroconidia and chlamydospores of Fusarium oxysporum. Germination of chlamydospores of F. oxysporum, F. oxysperum f. sp. vasinfectum, F. solani, and F. soiani f. sp. phaseoli was also enhanced in conifer soils, and reached 95 to 98%. When ponderosa litter extract was compared with 1% glucose and 2.5% asparagine solutions on chlamydospores of F. oxysporum in soil, greater germination was obtained with the litter extract. But in conifer soils, the germination generally resulted in the production of abnormal germ tubes that lysed rapidly before new chlamydospores were formed. It is postulated that germ tube lysis of such a large proportion of the population may account, in part, for the general absence of Fusarium spp. in conifer forest soils in California.

Citation

Tousson, T.A.; Menzinger, W.; Smith, R.S. 1969. Role of conifer litter in ecology of Fusarium: stimulation of germination in soil in conifer forest soils. Phytopathology. 59(10): 1396-1399.