Effects of Melampyrum extracts on the growth of axenic cultures of Cronartium flaccidum and Peridermium pini

Abstract

For 3–6 months, mycelial colonies cultured from 5 isolates of each of two pine stem rusts (Cronartium flaccidum and Peridermium pini) were grown on nutrient-rich agar supplemented with Melampyrum extracts. Non-autoclaved extracts of M. pratense significantly reduced the growth of P. pini. The growth of C. flaccidum isolates was slightly stimulated after the second month of incubation but after that was inhibited during incubation months 4–6. We observed considerable variation in colony growth, a significant component of which was explained by incubation time, isolate, growth medium and their interaction. Rust species (C. flaccidum or P. pini) was not an important factor in growth variation. While sterilized extracts of M. pratense, M. sylvaticum and M. nemorosum did not significantly affect growth, colonies of C. flaccidum were slightly stimulated, whereas colonies of P. pini were slightly inhibited. Generally, isolates of P. pini grew better and showed a slower rate of degeneration than C. flaccidum on all media.