STUDIES ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ELSINOE VENETA
A study was made of the effect of certain nutritional and environmental factors on the growth and pigmentation of the mycelium, the sporulation, and the germination of the conidia of a "convoluted" isolate of Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.) Jenkins, the fungus responsible for the anthracnose disease of raspberries. This isolate utilized with varying degrees of efficiency various mono-, oligo-, and polysaccharides as well as certain organic alcohols as its sole source of carbon for growth. Either a nitrate, ammonium, amino, or imidazole nitrogen compound supported the fungus in culture. Maximum growth of the mycelium occurred in the presence of soluble starch and asparagine, whereas optimum sporulation of the conidia was obtained on media containing potato starch and sodium nitrate. In general, the production of conidia was markedly reduced on media favorable for excessive vegetative growth. Both a decrease in the volume of the medium and in the concentration of either a specific nutrient or of total nutrients adversely influenced the production of mycelium. Temperatures above 30 °C. and below 21 °C. decreased the percentage germination of conidia and restricted the growth of the fungus. Growth and sporulation occurred over a wide range of pH values. The optimum initial pH for both growth and sporulation was 4.0. E. veneta produced conidia and grew as well in continuous darkness as in alternate diffuse light and darkness. Young potted raspberry plants growing in the greenhouse, when inoculated with conidia produced in culture, developed typical anthracnose lesions on the canes.