Effect of Water Potential on Germination of <em>Verticillum dahliae</em> 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.