VIEW ARTICLE

Enzymatically Induced Germination of Oospores of Phytophthora megasperma. M. A. Salvatore, Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721; F. A. Gray(2), and R. B. Hine(3). (2)(3)Research Assistant and Professor, respectively, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721. Phytopathology 63:1083-1084. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1083.

Germination of oospores of Phytophthora megasperma consistently increased from 5% to 93% after ingestion by the land snail, Helix aspersa. Similar results were obtained using the snail enzyme complex, beta-glucuronidase/aryl sulfatase, and the snail enzyme, beta-glucuronidase. Maximum germination occurred when cultures 35 days old or older were used.