The presence and spectrum of light influences the in vitro conidia production of Mycosphaerella fijiensis causal agent of black Sigatoka

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Contents Vol 38(5)

doi:10.1071/AP09036

The presence and spectrum of light influences the in vitro conidia production of Mycosphaerella fijiensis causal agent of black Sigatoka

Leonardo Sepúlveda ^A ^B, Luz Estella Vásquez ^A, Clara Inés Paniagua ^A ^C, Dalia Echeverry ^A ^B, Cesar Augusto Hernández ^C, Esperanza Rodríguez ^A, Luis Fernando Restrepo ^D, Rafael Arango ^A ^E ^F

^A Unidad de Biotecnología Vegetal UNALMED – CIB, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Carrera 72 A No. 78 B–141, Medellín, Colombia.
^B Universidad de Antioquia, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Calle 67 No. 53–108, Medellín, Colombia.
^C Escuela de Ciencias Agrarias, Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid, Carrera 48 No. 7–151, Medellín, Colombia.
^D Escuela de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Carrera 75 No. 65–87, Medellín, Colombia.
^E Escuela de Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional, Carrera 64 Calle 65, Medellín, Colombia.
^F Corresponding author. Email: rafaelarango@une.net.co





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Australasian Plant Pathology 38(5) 514–517 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AP09036
Submitted: 16 January 2009 Accepted: 25 May 2009 Published online: 17 August 2009

Abstract

Black Sigatoka caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis is the most important leaf disease affecting bananas and plantains in the world today. Conidia constitute one of the forms by which the disease is spread. Although light has been described as an important factor for conidial production in M. fijiensis, no detailed studies have been conducted. In a series of in vitro experiments, the production of conidia in different culture media and with different photoperiods and light spectra was assessed. Results showed that the best media for conidia production were potato dextrose agar and V8 juice agar + 0.2 g/L CaCO₃. Light (1500 l×) was required for conidial production and the light spectrum used significantly influenced the number of conidia produced, with red light having the greatest positive effect.

Keywords: photoconidiation.