Abstract
A novel method for the production of basidiocarps from the mycelia ofCrinipellis perniciosa is described. This involved the colonization of a bran-vermiculite medium with pure culture of the fungus, prior to application of a peat-based casing. Basidiocarp production was induced by hanging the cultures in a cabinet where they were subjected to a daily cycle of wetting and drying. The method was successfully and reproducibly used to fruit isolates of all four known biotypes of the fungus within 10–16 weeks of inoculation.
References
Bastos, C.N. & Andebrhan, T., 1987.In vitro production of basidiospores ofCrinipellis perniciosa (Stahel)Sing., the causative agent of witches' broom disease of cocoa (Theobroma cacco L.). Transactions of the British Mycological Society 88: 404–409.
Brownlee, H.E., Hedger, J.N. & Scott, I.M., 1990. Host extracts cause morphological variation in germ-tubes of the cocoa pathogen,Crinipellis perniciosa. Mycological Research 94: 543–547.
Elliott, T.J., 1985. Spawn-making and Spawns. In: P.B. Flegg, D.M. Spencer & D.A. Wood (Eds), The biology and technology of the cultivated mushrooms. John Wiley and Sons, London, U.K., p. 131–140.
Evans, H.C. & Bastos, C.N., 1980. Basidiospore germination as a means of assessing resistance toCrinipellis perniciosa (witches' broom disease) in cocoa cultivars. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 74: 525–536.
Flegg, P.B. & Wood, D.A., 1985. Growth and Fruiting. In: P.B. Flegg, D.M. Spencer & D.A. Wood (Eds), The Biology and technology of the cultivated mushroom. John Wiley and Sons. London, U.K., p. 141–177.
Griffith, G.W., 1989. Population structure of the cocoa pathogenCrinipellis perniciosa (Stahel) Sing. Ph.D. thesis, University of Wales.
Hedger, J.N., Pickering, V. & Aragundi, J.A., 1987. Variability of populations of the witches' broom disease of cocoa (Crinipellis perniciosa). Transactions of the British Mycological Society 88: 533–546.
Merchan, V.M., 1979. Formación en medios de cultivo de basidiocarpos deCrinipellis perniciosa. Ascolfi Informa (Colombia) 5: 54–56.
Pickering, V. & Hedger, J.N., 1987. Production of basidiocarps of the witches' broom pathogenCrinipellis perniciosa inin vitro culture. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 88: 404–406.
Purdy, L.H. & Dickstein, E.R., 1990. Basidiocarp development on mycelial mats ofCrinipellis perniciosa. Plant Disease 74: 493–496.
Purdy, L.H., Trese, A.T. & Aragundi, J.A., 1983. Proof of pathogenicity ofCrinipellis perniciosa toTheobroma cacao by using basidiospores produced inin vitro cultures. Revista Theobroma (Brazil) 13: 157–163.
Rocha, H.M. & Wheeler, B.E.J., 1982. Water balance as an important factor in basidiocarp production byCrinipellis perniciosa, the causal fungus of cocoa witches' broom. Proceedings of the Eighth International Cocoa Research Conferences, 1981, Cartagena, Colombia. Cocoa Producers' Alliance, Lagos, Nigeria. p. 381–368.
Rocha, H.M. & Wheeler, B.E.J., 1985. Factors influencing the production of basidiocarps and the deposition and germination of basidiospores ofCrinipellis perniciosa, the causal agent of witches' broom disease on cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Plant Pathology 34: 319–328.
Stahel, G., 1919. Contribution to the knowledge of Witchbroom disease. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 9: 167–176.
Suarez, C., 1977. Growth ofCrinipellis perniciosa (Stahel)Singerin vivo andin vitro. Ph.D. thesis, University of London.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Griffith, G.M., Hedger, J.N. A novel method for producing basidiocarps of the cocoa pathogen Crinipellis perniciosa using a bran-vermiculite medium. Netherlands Journal of Plant Pathology 99, 227–230 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974667
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974667