Isolation of Microdochium oryzae and Pinatubo oryzae from Rice Seeds and their Survival on Stored Seeds

The aim of these studies was to develop a semi-selective medium to differentiate Microdochium oryzae and Pinatubo oryzae, determine the frequency of seed infection of M. oryzae, study survival of the pathogen in stored seeds, and determine the frequency of infection of seed components. To simulate epidemics of differing intensities, panicles of rice cultivars that are susceptible (IR36) and resistant (IR42 and IR46) to M. oryzae were either non-inoculated, inoculated once, twice, or three times with a conidial suspension of M. oryzae. Both M. oryzae and P. oryzae colonies were recovered from seeds and were similar in culture. A semi-selective medium developed to detect M. oryzae seed infection rates aided in differentiating M. oryzae and P. oryzae by stimulating aerial conidiogenesis of P. oryzae. The conclusions taken from these results were: (a) seeds of IR36 had higher infection of M. oryzae than of IR42 and IR46 from plants grown in the dry season, but had lower infection of M. oryzae than of IR42 and IR46 from plants grown in the wet season; (b) M. oryzae infected seeds increased with an increase in the epidemic intensity with the highest occurring after three inoculations, the least occurring with non-inoculation, and intermediate with one, or two inoculations; (c) survival of M. oryzae decreased over time in seed lots stored at 10°C and 40% relative humidity and (d) all components of the rice seeds of IR36, IR42 and IR46 lots were infected with M. oryzae with the highest frequency in the endosperm and lemma, intermediate in the basal glumes and palea, and the least in the embryo.