Studies on Graminicolous Species of Phyllachora Fckl. I. Ascospores - their liberation and germination

The process of ascospore liberation is a moderately active one. Discharged ascospores collect on the host leaf surface in white, glutinous masses and are believed to be dispersed by rain splash. Ascospores of all species examined germinated in 2-12 hr at 14°C under laboratory conditions, but there were indications that the process was more rapid in the field. The pattern for spore germination and appressorium formation was similar for the six species studied. Each ascospore produced a single germ tube which, in 2-6 hr after germination began, formed an appressorium initial in the form of a swelling at its apex. Appressoria were completely developed 6-12 hr later. The process of appressorium development is described for species of Phyllachora for the first time. The swelling at the apex of the germ tube extended back along the germ tube towards the ascspore. In some species, e.g. P. cornispora, the entire germ tube was converted into an appressorium which consequently was sessile. In other species, such as P. parilis, only approximately half of the germ tube developed into appressorium. In P. parilis, temperatures greater than 26°C inhibited appressorium formation. Instead of producing appressoria, germ tubes continued to grow and became long and flexuous. Germination did not occur at temperatures of 30°C or greater. Evidence suggested that while contact with a surface was not necessary to initiate appressorium formation, contact with a grass leaf surface was required for appressoria to develop normally. The morphology of appressoria of individual species of Phyllachora was usually variable when these structures developed in vitro but constant and distinct when they developed on the host. Among the species examined three basic morphological types of appressoria were recognized.