Optimization of Growth Parameters for Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in Relation to Media and Temperature

Abstract

Sclerotium rolfsii is a significant soil borne phytopathogenic fungus that leads to considerable yield losses in economically important crops. This study assessed the impact of temperature and culture media on the mycelial growth, sclerotial production, and germination of S. rolfsii. In this present study six different cultural solid media viz. V-8 juice agar, Czapek Dox agar, Potato dextrose agar, Oat meal agar, Cluster bean stem extract agar and water agar were analyzed for in vitro mycelium growth were observed the best radial growth found in Oat meal agar (88.29 mm) followed by Potato dextrose agar media (85.28 mm), Czapek agar (72.24 mm), Cluster bean stem extract agar (70.23 mm) and V-8 juice agar (68.23 mm). Maximum diameter (89.40 mm) and sclerotia count (571.00 per plate) were recorded on Potato dextrose agar (Hi-media) at 30 0C and 20 days after inoculation respectively, followed by 32ºC (77.74 mm) and sclerotia count (471.00 per plate).