Cultural Techniques and Conditions Influencing Growth and Sporulation ofCercospora zeae-maydisand Lesion Development in Corn

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Abstract
Sporulating cultures of C. zeae-maydis were obtained routinely by homogenizing freshly isolated or stored cultures in water, dispensing the homogenate on V-8 juice agar, and incubating the plates under a diurnal fluorescent light regime for 14 days. Sporulation was good on decoction media made from green or senescent corn leaves and on V-8 juice agar but was poor on potato-dextrose agar. Constant light inhibited conidial germination, mycelial growth and sporulation. The optimum temperature range for germination and growth was 22-30.degree. C. Cultures of the fungus could be stored successfully for at least 23 mo. at 4.degree. C on several media. Lesion development on corn plants was obtained by misting inoculated plants for 3 s every 4 min between 20:00 and 10:00 h each day for 2 wk. Lesion development in the greenhouse was greater in June-Aug., when the greenhouse was kept at 22-28.degree. C by wetpad cooling, than during the other months.

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