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Quantitative Detection of Propagules of Cephalosporium gramineum in Soil. M. V. Wiese, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823; A. V. Ravenscroft, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823. Phytopathology 63:1198-1201. Accepted for publication 29 March 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1198.

A selective medium was developed which permitted the quantitative detection of propagules of Cephalosporium gramineum in natural soil. Essential to the recovery of this relatively slow-growing fungus in the presence of numerous other faster-growing soil microorganisms was the proper balance of wheat leaf extract and copper sulfate in an agar-base medium. Characteristic sporulating colonies of C. gramineum were countable within 4-7 days after dilutions of naturally infested soil were applied directly to the medium. Gram quantities of naturally infested field soil yielded up to 30,000 propagules of C. gramineum. The propagules were typical free conidia of C. gramineum, or of its sporodochial stage, Hymenula ceralis.