Variation in oxalic acid production and mycelial compatibility within field populations of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

This study was aimed at detecting mycelial compatibility groups and variations in oxalic acid production in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. For this purpose, 121 isolates of this plant pathogen recovered from lettuce, soybean and sunflower field crops, and grouped in 46 MCGs were tested for their ability to release oxalic acid and other organic acids to the medium. Oxalic acid production on liquid media was measured spectrophotometrically and release of organic acids was estimated by isolate abilities to discolour solid media amended with bromophenol blue. There were significant differences among MCGs in both oxalic acid and organic acids releasing, ranging the mean production of oxalic acid between 18 and 110 μg oxalic acid mg⁻¹ dry wt. When isolates were grouped by their hosts, those obtained from soybean presented the highest release of oxalic acid (71 μg oxalic acid mg⁻¹ dry wt), while those from sunflower showed the highest release of other acids to the medium. Solid medium discoloration was not correlated with oxalic acid concentration in liquid medium (Spearman R=−0.085; P=0.126).