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ABSTRACT
The sporulation competence of regenerated sclerotia, induced by slow desiccation (less than 36 h) has been investigated quantitatively. Sclerotia obtained from plasmodia immediately following the growth period retained their ability to germinate after one year's storage. Germinated plasmodia sporulated following illumination on 1.5% agar plates: sporulation was dependent on sclerotial size and the length of illumination period. If sclerotia derived from 2-da dark-starved plasmodia were germinated, a low sporulation frequency was obtained; 3-da dark-starved plasmodia failed to sporulate. Illuminated plasmodia could be induced to form sclerotia if desiccation occurred prior to nodule formation. Sclerotia derived from Plasmodia illuminated just after growth and then regenerated, sporulated in darkness on 1.5% agar. Sporulation frequency was proportional to the length of illumination and size of Sclerotium. The effect of slow desiccation on the determination of plasmodial differentiation is also discussed.