Desarrollo morfológico temprano de esclerocios por Sclerotinia sclerotiorum en presencia de bicarbonato de potasio

Abstract

Resumen. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum es un patóge-no de suma importancia económica que causa grandes pérdidas en varios cultivos. Controlar este patógeno es difícil porque forma estructuras de resistencia llamadas esclerocios que pueden mantenerse viables en el suelo por muchos años. Este estudio evaluó el desarrollo morfológico de los primordios de esclerocios de S. sclerotiorum utilizando la téc-nica de Riddell, y diferentes concentraciones de Abstract. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a pathogen of great economic importance that causes significant losses in various crops. Control of the pathogen is difficult since this fungus forms resistant sclerotia that can survive in the soil for many years. This study evaluated the morphological development of S. sclerotiorum sclerotium primordia by using the Riddell technique, and different concentrations of potassium bicarbonate (KHCO 3 ). The formation of primordia began from hyphae. However, as the concentration of KHCO 3 increased, morphological changes were observed in the initiation phase of the sclerotia, as well as in the inhibition of their development when using a 50 mM concentration of KHCO 3 . This chemical compound modifies the morphology and inhibits the development of sclerotia in their initial stages; hence it may offer potential as an alternative to synthetic fungicides for the control of plant diseases caused by S. sclerotiorum.