VIEW ARTICLE

Techniques

A Simple Device for Sampling Spores to Monitor Fungicide Resistance in the Field. N. Lalancette, Jr., Graduate research assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, Fruit Research Laboratory, Biglerville 17307; J. M. Russo(2), and K. D. Hickey(3). (2)Assistant professor, Department of Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802; (3)Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, Fruit Research Laboratory, Biglerville 17307. Phytopathology 74:1423-1425. Accepted for publication 27 June 1984. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-74-1423.

A simple device consisting of a standard-sized lipbalm tube filled with a solidified water agar core has been developed for use in field sampling of fungal spores from lesions. Spores are removed by pressing the agar surface of the core against a lesion. The top of the agar cores are sliced off, forming agar disks that are incubated in petri plates and then observed microscopically for spore germination. Incorporation of a fungicide into the agar allows for determination of resistance. The device has been used successfully for field sampling in epidemiological research as well as for monitoring fungal populations in commercial settings. Other potential uses for the device involve determination of spore production of individual lesions sampled in the field and monitoring fungicide residues on plant material.