Abstract
A dual culture system for growing grape powdery mildew, Uncinula necator, in vitro on its host, Vitis vinifera, is described. Investigations focused on: 1) establishing conditions for rooting and maintaining axenic grapevine shoot cultures, 2) obtaining pure cultures of powdery mildew, and 3) identifying permissive conditions for the germination and development of the fungus in vitro. A Murashige and Skoog medium containing 3% sucrose, 1% agar, but no hormones or vitamins, promoted healthy root and shoot development on all varieties tested. To permit optimal spore germination, the relative humidity in vitro was reduced by growing the plants in 50 mL Erlenmeyer flasks placed inside one-quart glass jars. Plants were inoculated with a pure culture of conidia obtained by surface sterilizing infected leaves and allowing new conidiophores and conidia to grow out in a sterile environment. Successful cultures of powdery mildew were established on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin blanc, and Zinfandel shoots growing in vitro. Conidia produced in vitro retained the ability to infect the excised leaves of greenhouse-grown vines.
- Received November 1983.
- Copyright 1984 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture
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