Effect of various carbon and nitrogen sources on the growth and sporulation of Claviceps microcephala

Abstract

The carbon and nitrogen nutrition ofClaviceps microcephala, isolated from the ear heads ofPennisetum typhoides, was studied at 24°C for 20 days at pH 6.0. Out of forty-one carbon compounds tested, the pathogen showed excellent growth on dextrose, sucrose, pectin and methyl alcohol; good on mannose, fructose and maltose; fair on galactose, cocount oil and isopropyl alcohol; and poor or no growth on rest of the carbon compounds. Out of thirty-three nitrogenous compounds tested, the pathogen showed excellent growth on casein hydrolysate, yeast extract, asparagine, peptone, proline, glutamic acid and aspartic acid; good on ammonium nitrate and ammonium oxalate; fair on ammonium chloride, ammonium sulphate, arginine mono HCl and ammonium phosphate; and poor or no growth on rest of the nitrogen compounds. In general, compounds which supported best mycelial growth of C. microcephala yielded its excellent sporulation and vice versa.