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Ecology and Epidemiology

Saprophytic Ability of Typhula incarnata, T. idahoensis, and T. ishikariensis. D. L. Jacobs, Former graduate student, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430; G. W. Bruehl, professor emeritus, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430. Phytopathology 76:695-698. Accepted for publication 27 January 1986. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-76-695.

Laboratory-grown sclerotia of Typhula idahoensis, T. incarnata, and T. ishikariensis germinated on the soil surface without exogenous food. All three species colonized live (green) wheat leaf tissue on the soil surface but not dead leaf or stem pieces. Live wheat leaves within the soil were colonized most aggressively by T. incarnata and least aggressively by T. idahoensis. Hyphae of all three species grew farther from sclerotia over the surface of Ritzville silt loam than over the surface of Palouse silt loam, indicating that soil type is a factor in hyphal growth on soil. When excised from the sclerotia, hyphae of all three species grew slightly on Ritzville silt loam but not on Palouse silt loam. Hyphae of T. incarnata grew farther over soil when excised from the sclerotia than the other species. These three fungi are poor saprophytes in nature and depend on parasitism for existence.