粉红螺旋聚孢霉67-1短链脱氢酶基因CrSdr功能研究

本研究从实验室前期构建的粉红螺旋聚孢霉67-1寄生核盘菌转录组中获得1个差异表达的短链脱氢酶编码基因CrSdr。实时荧光PCR定量监测显示,菌核诱导下24 h时CrSdr基因的表达水平提高4倍。通过基因敲除与回补研究其功能结果表明,CrSdr敲除后对菌株的生长没有影响,但产孢量比野生菌株提高了43.2%,并且对NaCl、KCl和山梨醇引起的渗透压胁迫更为敏感。敲除突变株对番茄灰霉病菌、大豆菌核病菌和黄瓜枯萎病菌的拮抗作用明显减弱（P<0.05）,对核盘菌菌核的寄生能力由野生型菌株的4级降为2级,温室对菌核病的防效降低了50.5%,基因回补后生防作用恢复,表明短链脱氢酶基因在粉红螺旋聚孢霉寄生及生防过程中起着重要的作用。本研究将为揭示粉红螺旋聚孢霉菌寄生机制奠定基础,并对高效植病生防真菌菌剂的研发具有一定的指导意义。     

影响盾壳霉寄生核盘菌菌核的几个生态因子的分析

 在室内测定了盾壳霉(Coniothyrium minitans)对不同寄主上的核盘菌(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)菌核的寄生致腐作用,研究了温度、含水量和土壤类型等生态因子对核盘菌菌核的寄生致腐作用的影响,通过检测土壤的呼吸速率探讨了它在土壤中定殖与核盘菌菌核的关系。结果表明:盾壳霉能寄生致腐核盘菌属所有供试菌株的菌核;寄生致腐菌核的最适温度是20℃,最适相对含水量为50%~60%;盾壳霉在供试的8种土壤中均能寄生致腐菌核,对它们的pH值要求不严格,但土壤类型影响其寄生致腐速度;在土壤中添加菌核和菌核提取液都可不同程度地刺激它的生长。     

食菌核葚孢霉--一种有潜力的菌核病生防菌

食菌核葚孢霉是土壤中一种专门寄生于多种核盘菌科真菌菌核上的重寄生菌。本文简要介绍了该菌的形态、分类、生物学特性、对菌核的侵染过程和作为一种生防菌所具备的特点及存在问题。认为及时开展有关该菌的研究对我国各类作物上菌核病的防治具有重要的意义。     

粉红螺旋聚孢霉高效生防菌株的筛选与评价

粉红螺旋聚孢霉Clonostachys rosea是一种重要的植物病原生防真菌。本研究测定了不同地理来源的42株粉红螺旋聚孢霉菌株对核盘菌Sclerotinia sclerotiorum菌核的寄生能力,以及菌株几丁质酶和β-1,3-葡聚糖酶的活性,同时测定了不同菌株对番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea的拮抗作用以及对番茄果实灰霉病的防治效果。结果表明,不同来源的粉红螺旋聚孢霉菌株对核盘菌菌核均有一定的寄生能力,45.2%的菌株寄生能力达到4级,β-1,3-葡聚糖酶和几丁质酶活性与其寄生能力呈极显著正相关。研究发现,粉红螺旋聚孢霉菌株对番茄灰霉病菌有一定的拮抗作用,抑制率最高可达78.4%;HN-56、STG-21-1、GS6-1等菌株对离体番茄果实灰霉病的防效达到75%以上,显示出良好的生防潜力。本研究为丰富植物真菌病害生防资源和高效粉红螺旋聚孢霉生防制剂的研发奠定了基础。     

核盘菌菌核围微生物群落分析及其对盾壳霉重寄生的影响

 重寄生真菌盾壳霉(Coniothyrium minitans)是核盘菌的一种生防菌,它通过寄生核盘菌菌核,减少初侵染来源,从而达到防病效果。但在田间自然土壤中,核盘菌菌核围微生物对盾壳霉寄生菌核的影响还不清楚。本研究对核盘菌菌核围微生物进行了分离鉴定,并评估了菌核围细菌对盾壳霉重寄生的影响。结果表明,不同取样时间和不同深度的核盘菌菌核围土壤中,均存在可培养微生物富集的“菌核围效应”,即菌核围土壤中可培养细菌数量和真菌数量均高于非菌核围土壤。从菌核围土壤中共分离获得了253株细菌和180株真菌,并对其中的代表菌株进行了分子鉴定,发现假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)是菌核围细菌的优势种群,青霉属(Penicillium)是菌核围真菌的优势种群。通过平板对峙,从菌核围细菌中筛选到25个菌株对核盘菌有拮抗活性,22个菌株对盾壳霉具有拮抗活性。砂皿寄生菌核试验证实,7株菌核围细菌对盾壳霉寄生菌核有显著的抑制作用。核盘菌菌核围细菌对盾壳霉重寄生的抑制作用,可能是导致盾壳霉田间生防效果不稳定的原因之一。     

拟康宁木霉T-51菌株生物学特性及其生物防治潜力

为进一步扩宽拟康宁木霉Trichoderma koningiopsis T-51菌株的生防应用范围,该研究测定T-51菌株菌丝生长、产孢和分生孢子萌发的最适温度、光照和碳氮源条件及其对灰葡萄孢Botrytis cinerea菌核的重寄生能力和对12种植物病原真菌的生防潜力。结果表明,拟康宁木霉T-51菌株在26℃下菌丝生长最快,生长速度达到2.5 cm/d,在20℃光照条件下产孢量最大,达到1.64×109个/皿,26～28℃光照条件下适宜T-51菌株分生孢子萌发;供试氮源中硫酸铵和硝酸铵适宜T-51菌株菌丝生长、产孢和分生孢子萌发,供试碳源中葡萄糖和可溶性淀粉适宜T-51菌株菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发,果糖和乳糖适宜T-51菌株产孢;T-51菌株能够重寄生灰葡萄孢菌核,当分生孢子悬浮液浓度为1×108个/mL时,重寄生效果最好;T-51菌株对核盘菌属Sclerotinia和丝核菌属Rhizoctonia植物病原真菌重寄生能力较强,对镰刀菌Fusarium spp.、暹罗刺盘孢菌Colletotrichum siamense、桃褐腐病菌Monilinia fructicola和稻瘟菌Mag...     

盾壳霉对核盘菌的拮抗作用研究

系统研究了菌核重寄生菌盾壳霉对核盘菌的拮抗作用,结果表明:盾壳霉可在核盘菌菌落上寄生,使核盘菌菌丝消解、原生质泄露,并抑制菌核的形成;而且盾壳霉提前6d接种,其分泌的抗生物质还可抑制核盘菌菌丝生长,并产生明显抑菌带。盾壳霉孢子液喷雾处理也证明:盾壳霉分生孢子即可在核盘菌子囊盘(柄)上萌发、寄生,使子囊盘(柄)萎缩枯死,而且还可以在核盘菌菌落上萌发、寄生,消解破坏菌丝体、抑制的菌核形成。     

核盘菌菌核萌发多样性的研究

在15、20、25和28℃条件下培养核盘菌菌核,再在20℃下诱导菌核萌发,结果将不同来源的50个菌株分成5类:①菌核易进行菌丝型萌发;②4种温度下形成的菌核均易进行子囊盘型萌发;③高温(25和28℃)下形成的菌核进行子囊盘萌发,而低温(15或20℃)下形成的菌核则不易萌发;④15℃下形成的菌核易产生子囊盘,而其它温度下形成的菌核都不能萌发;⑤4种温度下形成的菌核都不能萌发。5类菌株各占2％、6％、22％、6％和64％。对第2、3类菌株而言,形成菌核时温度越高,菌核越易萌发。进一步分析说明菌核萌发多样性和菌株来源有一定的关系。对其中3个菌株的21个单子囊孢子后代菌核萌发特性的研究结果表明,菌核萌发特性具有遗传稳定性。这说明核盘菌菌株间菌核萌发习性存在着明显的多样性,且具有遗传稳定性,可用于研究这一病菌的群体结构。     

抑制向日葵核盘菌菌核形成的生防菌S-16的鉴定及其生防作用研究

本研究从内蒙古包头市萨拉齐向日葵根围土壤中分离得到1株生防细菌 S-16,拮抗试验表明,菌株S-16能够显著抑制向日葵核盘菌的菌丝生长。显微镜观察发现,核盘菌菌丝生长点附近出现明显的异常分枝和囊泡状畸形,并且在距菌株S-16一定范围内核盘菌不能形成菌核。培养基内添加1%的菌株S-16发酵滤液能够有效抑制向日葵核盘菌菌核的形成。室内生测表明,2＆#215;106 cfu/mL浓度的菌株S-16菌液在离体叶片及幼苗上对向日葵菌核病的防效分别为94.62%和94.21%。通过细菌形态特征和生理生化反应,并结合API鉴定和16S rDNA序列分析,将菌株S-16鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis。     

高温低氧对菌核存活率和土壤微生物组成的影响

核盘菌Sclerotinia sclerotiorum可引起多种重要经济作物的菌核病,造成严重损失。降低土壤中菌核数量是防治该病害的关键。本研究分析了土壤类型、土壤温度、水分含量和氧气水平对核盘菌菌核萌发率的影响,并通过高通量测序分析了相应处理对土壤微生物组成及丰度的影响。研究发现湿润条件下,35℃低氧处理2~4周可导致土壤中核盘菌菌核100%死亡。测序结果表明,处理4周后土壤中微生物的群落结构发生了显著变化。其中15℃正常氧水平条件下,菌核周围木霉菌属Trichoderma的丰度显著增加,35℃正常氧水平芽孢杆菌属Bacillus和篮状菌属Talaromyces相对丰度显著提高,而低氧条件下狭义梭菌属Clostridiumsensu stricto 1、11、12丰度显著提高。这一发现为通过调控土壤微生态防控作物菌核病提供了依据。     

Germination of Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum Sclerotia Under Various Soil Moisture and Temperature Combinations

ABSTRACT Sclerotial germination of three isolates each of Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum was compared under various soil moisture and temperature combinations in soils from Huron and Salinas, CA. Sclerotia from each isolate in soil disks equilibrated at 0, -0.03, -0.07, -0.1, -0.15, and -0.3 MPa were transferred into petri plates and incubated at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C. Types and levels of germination in the two species were recorded. Petri plates in which apothecia were observed were transferred into a growth chamber at 15 degrees C with a 12-h light-dark regime. All retrievable sclerotia were recovered 3 months later and tested for viability. Soil type did not affect either the type or level of germination of sclerotia. Mycelial germination was the predominant mode in sclerotia of S. minor, and it occurred between -0.03 and -0.3 MPa and 5 and 25 degrees C, with an optimum at -0.1 MPa and 15 degrees C. No germination occurred at 30 degrees C or 0 MPa. Soil temperature, moisture, or soil type did not affect the viability of sclerotia of either species. Carpogenic germination of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia, measured as the number of sclerotia producing stipes and apothecia, was the predominant mode that was affected significantly by soil moisture and temperature. Myceliogenic germination in this species under the experimental conditions was infrequent. The optimum conditions for carpogenic germination were 15 degrees C and -0.03 or -0.07 MPa. To study the effect of sclerotial size on carpogenic germination in both S. minor and S. sclerotiorum, sclerotia of three distinct size classes for each species were placed in soil disks equilibrated at -0.03 MPa and incubated at 15 degrees C. After 6 weeks, number of stipes and apothecia produced by sclerotia were counted. Solitary S. minor sclerotia did not form apothecia, but aggregates of attached sclerotia readily formed apothecia. The number of stipes produced by both S. minor and S. sclerotiorum was highly correlated with sclerotial size. These results suggest there is a threshold of sclerotial size below which apothecia are not produced, and explains, in part, why production of apothecia in S. minor seldom occurs in nature.     

山东省不同地区蔬菜菌核病菌对四霉素的敏感性

采用菌丝生长速率法测定了四霉素对采自山东省不同地区不同蔬菜作物的151株菌核病菌的毒力作用,同时比较了其对蔬菜菌核病菌不同生育阶段的抑制活性,并通过离体叶片法评价了四霉素对蔬菜菌核病的防治效果。结果表明:菌核病菌对四霉素比较敏感,敏感性频率呈单峰正态分布,151株病菌菌丝生长的平均EC₅₀值为 (0.29 ± 0.01) μg/mL,该值可作为蔬菜菌核病菌对四霉素的敏感基线。此外,经四霉素处理后,该病菌的菌核数量以及干重明显降低,菌核明显变小;2 μg/mL的处理对菌核萌发的抑制率达到100.00%。 离体黄瓜叶片接种试验表明,四霉素对菌核病具有较好的保护和治疗效果,且保护作用较为显著。在质量浓度为20 μg/mL时,四霉素对该病的防效显著高于对照药剂多菌灵和异菌脲。因此,四霉素具有防治蔬菜菌核病的潜在价值,可进一步通过田间试验验证其应用效果。     

Interactions between Coniothyrium minitans and Sclerotinia minor affect biocontrol efficacy of C. minitans

Coniothyrium minitans, marketed as Contans, has become a standard management tool against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in a variety of crops, including winter lettuce. However, it has been ineffective against lettuce drop caused by S. minor. The interactions between C. minitans and S minor were investigated to determine the most susceptible stage in culture to attack by C. minitans, and to determine its consistency on S minor isolates belonging to four major mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs). Four isolates of S. minor MCG 1 and 5 each from MCGs 2 and 3 and one from MCG 4 were treated in culture at purely mycelial, a few immature sclerotial, and fully mature sclerotial phases with a conidial suspension of C. minitans. Sclerotia from all treatments were harvested after 4 weeks, air dried, weighed, and plated on potato dextrose agar for recovery of C. minitans. S. minor formed the fewest sclerotia in plates that received C. minitans at the mycelial stage; C. minitans was recovered from nearly all sclerotia from this treatment and sclerotial mortality was total. However, the response of MCGs was inconsistent and variable. Field experiments to determine the efficacy of C. minitans relative to the registered fungicide, Endura, on lettuce drop incidence and soil inoculum dynamics were conducted from 2006 to 2009. All Contans treatments had significantly lower numbers of sclerotia than Endura and unsprayed control treatments, and drop incidence was as low as in Endura-treated plots (P > 0.05). Although the lower levels of lettuce drop in Contans treatments were correlated with significantly lower levels of sclerotia, the lower levels of lettuce drop, despite the presence of higher inoculum in the Endura treatment, was attributable to the prevention of infection by S. minor. A useful approach to sustained lettuce drop management is to employ Contans to lower the number of sclerotia in soil and to apply Endura to prevent S. minor infection within a cropping season.     

Occurence of sclerotinia stem rot of fenugreek caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia trifoliorum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. sclerotiorum</Emphasis> in Tunisia

Fenugreek is an annual leguminous crop grown for hay and grains in Tunisia. It is also considered a valuable rotation crop with cereals. Sclerotinia rot was observed in production fields since 2010. The survey conducted in 2013 revealed that the incidence of diseased plants varied between 5 and 20%. The identification of isolates of Sclerotinia obtained from fenugreek plants with symptoms of stem rot was determined using morphological and molecular criteria. The size, shape and abundance of sclerotia in potato dextrose agar (PDA) cultures were used to classify isolates as S. sclerotiorum or S. trifoliorum. A comparison of colony diameter on PDA after 24, 48 and 72 h at 25 °C, showed that one isolate grew faster (36 mm/day) than the other 10 isolates (14.8 mm/day). There was a significant difference in sclerotial size between the fast and the slow growing isolates, but there was no significant difference in the number of sclerotia produced after 3 weeks on PDA. Two of the slow growing isolates exhibited ascospore dimorphism, whereas the fast growing isolate did not. PCR amplification with the primer pair ITS5/ITS4 produced a fragment of 560 base pairs from the fast growing isolate and 1000 base pairs from all of the slow growing isolates. The ITS sequences of the fast growing isolate had 100% homology with S. sclerotiorum, whereas those of the slow growing isolates had 100% homology with S. trifoliorum. Isolates of both species were pathogenic on fenugreek seedlings in the greenhouse assay and there was no significant difference in the percentage of dead plants two weeks after inoculation between the two species.     

Effect of inoculum type and timing of application of Coniothyrium minitans on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: influence on apothecial production

The effects of different inocula of the mycoparasite Coniothyrium minitans on carpogenic germination of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at different times of year were assessed. A series of three glasshouse box bioassays was used to compare the effect of five spore-suspension inocula of C. minitans , including three different isolates (Conio, IVT1 and Contans), with a standard maizemeal–perlite inoculum. Apothecial production, as well as viability and C. minitans infection of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia buried in treated soil, were assessed. Maizemeal–perlite inoculum at 10⁷ CFU per cm³ soil reduced sclerotial germination and apothecial production in all three box bioassays, decreasing sclerotial recovery and viability in the second bioassay and increasing C. minitans infection of sclerotia in the first bioassay. Spore-suspension inocula applied at a lower concentration (10⁴ CFU per cm³ soil) were inconsistent in their effects on sclerotial germination in the three box bioassays. Temperature was an important factor influencing apothecial production. Sclerotial germination was delayed or inhibited when bioassays were made in the summer. High temperatures also inhibited infection of sclerotia by C. minitans . Coniothyrium minitans survived these high temperatures, however, and infected the sclerotia once the temperature decreased to a lower level. Inoculum level of C. minitans was an important factor in reducing apothecial production by sclerotia. The effects of temperature on both carpogenic germination of sclerotia and parasitism of sclerotia by C. minitans are discussed.     

Long-Term Biosanitation by Application of Coniothyrium minitans on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-Infected Crops

ABSTRACT The effect of the fungal mycoparasite Coniothyrium minitans applied as a spray to crops infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (causal agent of white mold) on contamination of soil with S. sclerotiorum sclerotia was studied in a 5-year field experiment. Sclerotial survival also was monitored during two subsequent years, when the field was returned to commercial agriculture. In a randomized block design, factorial combinations of four crops and three treatments were repeated 10 times. Potato (Solanum tuberosum), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), carrot (Daucus carota), and chicory (Cichorium intybus), which are all susceptible to S. sclerotiorum, were grown in rotation. Plots were treated with C. minitans or Trichoderma spp. or were nontreated (control). Crops were rotated in each plot, but treatments were applied to the same plot every year. After 3 years during which it showed no effect on sclerotial survival, the Trichoderma spp. treatment was replaced by a single spray with C. minitans during the fourth and fifth years of the trial. The effect of treatments was monitored in subsequent seasons by counting apothecia as a measure of surviving S. sclerotiorum sclerotia and scoring disease incidence. Trichoderma spp. did not suppress S. sclerotiorum, but C. minitans infected at least 90% of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia on treated crops by the end of the each season. C. minitans lowered the number of apothecia compared with the other treatments during the second year after the bean crop. C. minitans reduced the number of apothecia by approximately 90% when compared with the control and Trichoderma spp. treatments and reduced disease incidence in the bean crop by 50% during the fifth year of the trial, resulting in a slightly higher yield. In 1993, but not 1994, a single spray with C. minitans was nearly as effective at reducing apothecia as three sprays (monitored in 1995). The final population size of sclerotia in soil at the end of the 7-year period was lower in all C. minitans plots than at the beginning of the trial, even in plots where two highly susceptible bean crops were grown during the period. The results indicate that the mycoparasite C. minitans has the potential to keep contamination of soil with sclerotia low in crop rotations with a high number of crops susceptible to S. sclerotiorum.     

Formation of Sclerotia and Aflatoxins in Developing Cotton Bolls Infected by the S Strain of Aspergillus flavus and Potential for Biocontrol with an Atoxigenic Strain

ABSTRACT Aspergillus flavus can be divided into the S and L strains on the basis of sclerotial morphology. On average, S strain isolates produce greater quantities of aflatoxins than do L strain isolates. Sclerotia of the S strain were observed in commercial seed cotton from western Arizona. Greenhouse tests were performed to better define sclerotial formation in developing bolls. Eight S strain isolates were inoculated into developing bolls via simulated pink bollworm exit holes. All eight isolates formed sclerotia on locule surfaces, and seven of eight isolates produced sclerotia within developing seed. Boll age at inoculation influences formation of sclerotia. More sclerotia formed within bolls that were less than 31 days old at inoculation than in bolls older than 30 days at inoculation. Frequent formation of sclerotia during boll infection may both favor S strain success within cotton fields and increase toxicity of A. flavus-infected cottonseed. Atoxigenic A. flavus L strain isolate AF36 reduced formation of both sclerotia and aflatoxin when coinoculated with S strain isolates. AF36 formed no sclerotia in developing bolls and was more effective at preventing S strain isolates than L strain isolates from contaminating developing cottonseed with aflatoxins. The use of atoxigenic L strain isolates to prevent contamination through competitive exclusion may be particularly effective where S strain isolates are common. In addition to aflatoxin reduction, competitive exclusion of S strain isolates by L strain isolates may result in reduced overwintering by S strain isolates and lower toxicity resulting from sclerotial metabolites.     

Quantitative Aspects of Infection of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sclerotia by Coniothyrium minitans – Timing of Application, Concentration and Quality of Conidial Suspension of the Mycoparasite

White mould disease leads to production of sclerotia, which subsequently survive in soil and may be responsible for future epidemics. The effect of the mycoparasite Coniothyrium minitans in decreasing survival of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was studied. Infection of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum by C. minitans can be achieved by a single conidium. Under optimal conditions, 2 conidia per sclerotium produced 63% of the maximum infection (ca. 90%) of sclerotia produced by up to 1000 conidia. Similar results were observed on the infection of stem pieces infected by S. sclerotiorum. In field trials, application of conidial suspensions of C. minitans to a bean crop soon after white mould outbreak led to a higher percentage of sclerotial infection than later applications. Ninety per cent infection of sclerotia was obtained within 3 weeks of application by C. minitans suspensions in the range of 5 × 10⁵ and 5 × 10⁶ conidia ml^–1 at 1000 l ha^–1. The concentration of the conidial suspensions and the isolate used were of less importance. The result was marginally affected by the germinability of the conidia (75% against 61% infected sclerotia at 91% and 16% viability of isolate IVT1, respectively). Less apothecia of S. sclerotiorum developed in soil samples collected after 2 months from plots sprayed immediately after disease outbreak than from those treated 11–18 days later. It is concluded that a suspension of 10⁶ conidia ml^–1 in 1000 l ha^–1 (= 10¹² conidia ha^–1) sprayed immediately after the first symptoms of disease are observed, results in > 90% infection of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum. The infection of sclerotia, which prevents their carry-over, occurs within a broad range of inoculum quality.     

Forecasting Sclerotinia Disease on Lettuce: A Predictive Model for Carpogenic Germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sclerotia

ABSTRACT A predictive model for production of apothecia by carpogenic germination of sclerotia is presented for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The model is based on the assumption that a conditioning phase must be completed before a subsequent germination phase can occur. Experiments involving transfer of sclerotia from one temperature regime to another allowed temperature-dependent rates to be derived for conditioning and germination for two S. sclerotiorum isolates. Although the response of each isolate to temperature was slightly different, sclerotia were fully conditioned after 2 to 6 days at 5 degrees C in soil but took up to 80 days at 15 degrees C. Subsequent germination took more than 200 days at 5 degrees C and 33 to 52 days at 20 degrees C. Upper temperature thresholds for conditioning and germination were 20 and 25 degrees C, respectively. A predictive model for production of apothecia derived from these data was successful in simulating the germination of multiple burials of sclerotia in the field when a soil water potential threshold of between -4.0 and -12.25 kilopascals (kPa) was imposed. The use of a germination model as part of a disease forecasting system for Sclerotinia disease in lettuce is discussed.     

A method for inducing apothecia from sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

An isolate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum from oilseed rape was grown on sterilized wheat grain for 3 weeks at 20 C, followed by 4 weeks at 4^oC. Harvested sclerotia were buried 1 cm deep in compost in plastic containers and kept at 10^oC until apothecial stipes appeared (c. 6 weeks). When these dishes were placed under near-UV light (14 h/day) at 22^oC, apothecia matured in 5 days. The method also induced apothecia from sclerotia of 35 other isolates of S. sclerotiorum obtained from 17 different hosts.