APS Abstracts of Presentations

Banana leaves as a substitute for carnation leaves in characterizing Fusarium spp.
S. S. NAVI (2), A. G. Girish (1), R. P. Thakur (1), X. B. Yang (2)
(1) ICRISAT, Patancheru, P.O., A.P. 502 324, India; (2) Plant Pathology Dept., Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
Phytopathology 96:S83

A study was made for a potential substitute to carnation leaves agar medium, which is usually essential in characterizing Fusarium spp. For the reason that carnation leaves are not always available in some regions, an alternative easily accessible to plant pathologists working on Fusarium is needed. In this context, two potential fumonisins producing Fusarium isolates from India; IC 8 (F. proliferatum) and IC 31 (F. verticillioides) and an isolate IC 107 with unknown identity that were isolated from molded sorghum panicle at ICRISAT were used. A total of six media were tried to culture and characterize the isolates for colony morphology, pigmentation and for microscopic structures. Of which, one medium was 1.5% agar sprinkled with commercially available sterile carnation leaves (CLA) and another medium was 1.5% agar sprinkled with shade dried, steam sterilized banana leaf bits (BLB) of 1–1.5 cm × 0.5–1 cm. Of the six media, there were significant similarity between 1.5% CLA and 1.5% BLB. Apart from observing similarities in characteristics of the three Fusarium isolates, BLB appeared more cost-effective compared with commercially available carnation leaves. Our results suggest that BLB may be a potential substitute for CLA in places where banana (Musa spp.) leaves are easily accessible to plant pathologists working on Fusarium spp.

return to top