Germination of Oospores of Pythium mamillatum in Response to Exudates from Living Seedlings

Abstract

THE exudation of chemical substances from roots of higher plants, and the effect of these substances in increasing general microbial activity in the immediate vicinity of roots growing in soil (that is, the rhizosphere effect), have now been fairly well established. Nevertheless, the possible function of these exudates in the etiology of root disease, bringing about the germination of spores or propagules of root-infecting fungi resting in the soil, has received less attention than it undoubtedly merits. The recent interest shown in this subject^1,2 has prompted me to make a preliminary report of some similar studies now in progress with oospores of Pythium mamillatum Meurs.