FACTORS AFFECTING GERMINATION OF OOSPORES OF PHYTOPHTHORA-INFESTANS

When oospores from the pairing between A1 and A2 mating types of Phytophthora infestans were treated with 0.25 % KMnO4 solution for 15 min and incubated at 19-degrees-C under light on a modified S + L medium, germination commenced within 4 days and reached about 70 % after 20 days. Under these conditions, more than 25 % of oospores obtained from a 4-day-old culture germinated. To obtain a high germination rate of P. infestans oospores, light was essential during germination but not during growth and oospore formation. The optimum time for activation of oospores with 0.25 % KMnO4 was 15 to 30 min and a suitable concentration of KMnO4 for 15 min activation was 0.25 to 0.45 %.