Plant Disease (2006) 90, 1395-1398

H.Q. Xue, R.G. Upchurch and P. Kwanyuen (2006)
Ergosterol as a quantifiable biomass marker for Diaporthe phaseolorum and Cercospora kikuchii
Plant Disease 90 (11), 1395-1398
Abstract: The relationship between ergosterol content and biomass was determined for the soybean fungal pathogens Diaporthe phaseolorum (Cooke and Ellis) Sacc. var. sojae, causal agent of Phomopsis seed decay, and Cercospora kikuchii (Matsumoto and Tomoy.), causal agent of leaf blight and purple seed stain. Biomass was manipulated by varying incubation period, and ergosterol was quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Fungal dry mass was linearly correlated with ergosterol content (r2 = 0.90, P < 0.05 for D. phaseolorum, and r2 = 0.95, P < 0.01 for C. kikuchii). In vitro ergosterol content of fungi was 3.16 µg/mg for D. phaseolorum and 2.85 µg/mg for C. kikuchii. Ergosterol content of inoculated seed was qualitatively correlated with observed seed colonization by both pathogens. Soybean variety had a significant effect on fungal colonization by D. phaseolorum and ergosterol content. Results show that ergosterol content can be used to quantify colonization of soybean seed by both pathogens.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Diaporthe sojae	Soybean (Glycine max)
	Cercospora kikuchii	Soybean (Glycine max)