Substrate surface influences upon germination of Colletotrichum truncatum conidia

Substrates influenced germination of conidia of the mycoherbicide, Colletotrichum truncaturn. Very few ( 70%) were induced to germinate when incubated on firm agar. The percentage of germinated conidia increased as agar firmness increased. Not all solid substrates equally influenced germination. Over 50% of the conidia germinated on chromatography paper, cellulose acetate filter, or on hard (plastic cover slip) substrates. In contrast, germination was relatively poor on cellulose nitrate filter and glass cover slips. Some natural substrates of dissimilar texture (wood, live plant leaf) produced good germination. Lower 0, levels or limited gas exchange for submerged conidia did not prevent germination because many conidia germinated while submerged on or between firm substrates. Subjecting conidia to motion during incubation between glass cover slips favored germ tube production rather than appressoria formation. Evidence suggests a positive germination response of C. truncatum conidia to solid substrates that occurs prior to the well-documented thigmotropic response of germ tubes of germinated conidia.