Improved methods for use in studies on Phytophtohora cinnamomi Rands and other Phytophthora species

Abstract

A satisfactory method was devised for obtaining large numbers of active zoospores of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Aerial mycelium from cultures grown on a pea agar medium is placed in non-sterile soil extracts for periods of up to 48 hours. This method has proved more consistent and provided larger numbers of zoospores than other methods tried. Seedlings of blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) have proved to be a very convenient host plant for infection studies with P. cinnamomi. Blue lupin seedlings used as a selective bait were more efficient than the apple technique in soil isolation tests for P. cinnamomi and were also found suitable for isolation of several other species of Phytophihora.