Stimulation of teliospore germination in smut fungi

Abstract

Preheating and heated teliospore extracts have been found to be stimulatory to germination of the teliospores of ten different smut fungi used in this study. The effect is mostly on the percentage of germination. Maximum per cent of spore germination was observed at higher concentrations of glucose and sucrose solutions. The percentage of germination of spores of the species included was more in sucrose than in glucose. Most of the vitamins of B-complex groups stimulated the initiation of germ tube. Many of the growth regulators tried, except 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid have a stimulatory effect on teliospore germination. Higher percentage of teliospore germination was noticed in the case of gibberellic acid, followed by indole 3-acetic acid, beta-indole butyric acid and alphanaphthalene acetic acid. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, furfural, fumaric acid, oxalic acid and citric acid were also stimulatory, in that order.