VIEW ARTICLE

Cytology and Histology

Production of Haustoria by Sporidesmium sclerotivorum in Sclerotia of Sclerotinia minor. Suzanne Bullock, School of Botany, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2033, Australia; P. B. Adams(2), H. J. Willetts(3), and W. A. Ayers(4). (2)(4)Soilborne Diseases Laboratory, Plant Protection Institute, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705; (3)School of Botany, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2033, Australia. Phytopathology 76:101-103. Accepted for publication 9 August 1985. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1986. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-76-101.

Sclerotia of Sclerotinia minor were inoculated with the mycoparasite Sporidesmium sclerotivorum and sampled 15, 20, 30, and 40 days later. Light and transmission electron microscope observations revealed large numbers of hyphae in the extracellular matrix of the sclerotia and intracellular structures in cortical and medullary hyphae. These intracellular structures are interpreted as haustoria of the mycoparasite, and their possible role in the degradation of sclerotia is discussed.