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Techniques

A Cesium Chloride Flotation Technique for the Isolation of Verticillium dahliae Microsclerotia from Soil. Y. Ben- Yephet, Division of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel; Y. Pinkas, Division of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. Phytopathology 66:1252-1254. Accepted for publication 9 March 1976. Copyright © 1976 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-66-1252.

A quantitative technique for the isolation of a low level of microsclerotia of Verticillium dahliae from loess soil in Israel is described. Cesium chloride water solution (1:1, w/v) was found suitable for the separation of microsclerotia from soil particles due to its high specific gravity, low viscosity, and low toxicity toward V. dahliae microsclerotia. Repeated determination of microsclerotia in naturally infested soils at various localities showed high uniformity. The number of viable microsclerotia recovered from soil per number of microsclerotia introduced × 100 was about 55%.