A novel approach to the establishment of dual cultures of pearl millet and Sclerospora graminicola

Abstract

Dual cultures were successfully established using malformed florets of pearl millet infected with Sclerospora graminicola, the downy mildew pathogen. A higher proportion (86%) of calli from malformed florets formed dual cultures on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium with 2 mg l⁻¹ of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), compared to shoot tips (25%). Fungal mycelium covered the entire surface of the callus within 30 days of placement of explants on the MS medium with 2 mg l⁻¹ of 2,4-D. The infected calli also differentiated and produced plantlets when transferred to MS medium without 2,4-D.