VIEW ARTICLE

Techniques

Effects of Isolation Techniques and Media on the Differential Isolation of Fusarium species. Marcia P. McMullen, Graduate research assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105; Robert W. Stack, associate professor, Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105. Phytopathology 73:458-462. Accepted for publication 28 September 1982. Copyright 1983 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-73-458.

Three isolation techniques, plating sieved debris, plating root pieces, and soil plating were tested in conjunction with three isolation media (Martin's rose bengal, Komada, and Nash-Snyder) for recovery of Fusarium spp. from soil. Comparisons among isolation techniques and media were based on recovery of 2,057 isolates representing 17 species plus two varieties of Fusarium. Recovery of individual species of Fusarium was dependent on the type of isolation technique used, but generally was not dependent on the medium used. There were significant interactions between isolation techniques and media. Diversity indices of the Fusarium spp. recovered were highest with the debris technique and with Martin's rose bengal medium. Determination of the presence and abundance of a Fusarium spp. in soil is dependent on appropriate isolation procedures.