VIEW ARTICLE

Ecology and Epidemiology

Effect of Temperature, pH, Light, and Desiccation on Teliospore Germination of Tilletia indica. J. L. Smilanick, Research associate, Crops Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Logan, UT 84322; J. A. Hoffmann(2), and M. H. Royer(3). (2)Research plant pathologist, Crops Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Logan, UT 84322; (3)Research plant pathologist, Plant Disease Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Frederick, MD 21701. Phytopathology 75:1428-1431. Accepted for publication 7 June 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-75-1428.

Maximal germination (55- 60%) of teliospores of Tilletia indica from both Mexico and India occurred after 3 wk of incubation at 15- 20 C in continuous light (30 μE·m^-2·s^-1, cool-white fluorescent) over a pH range of 6.0- 9.5. Germination rate and maximum was similar on soil, soil extract agar, and water agar. The promycelia of teliospores germinating under 2 mm of soil or agar were incapable of reaching the surface; presumably, they could not release the wheat floret-infecting sporidia which are necessary to complete the life cycle. Teliospore germination resumed unhindered after a 1- or 3-wk interruption by freezing (- 5 C) or desiccation. Teliospores collected from newly mature wheat spikes germinated poorly (<10%), but increased to 40- 60% over a 4-mo period.