In vitro growth and germination of phylloplane fungi in atmospheric sulphur dioxide

Abstract

Sporobolomyces spp. and Cryptococcus spp. colony size and spore germination of filamentous phylloplane fungi were studied in chamber fumigation experiments exposed to 0.05–0.2 p.p.m. SO₂ for 24 h at 10 and 20°C. Lower temperature and higher SO₂ concentration decreased the colony size of Sporobolomyces and Cryptococcus spp. Percentage spore germination of Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum and Fusarium culmorum was unaffected by SO₂ concentration, although germ-tube extension markedly decreased. Both percentage spore germination and germ-tube length of Verticillium lecanii and Cladosporium herbarum were significantly reduced by 0.1 and 0.2 p.p.m. SO₂, particularly at 20°.