Effect of Water Potential on Germination of Verticillum dahliae microsclerotia

Abstract

The effects of osmotic and matric potentials on the microsclerotial germination of Verticillium dahliae was examined at room temperature in 1% water agar amended with sodium chloride and polyethylene glycole. Treatments consisted of 6 levels of osmotic and matric potentials (0, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9, -1.2, and -1.5 MPa) laid out as factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Decreasing matric potential reduced germination, whereas the osmotic potential increased germination up to -0.6 MPa but any further increase caused it to decline. It was concluded that the matric potential is a more limiting factor than the osmotic potential for the germination of V. dahliae microsclerotia.