Vol. 9, Issue 1 (2020)

Author(s):
S Balakrishnan, M Muthamilan, A Ramanathan, D Sudhakar, L Mahalingam, L Rajendran and S Parthasarathy

Abstract:
Alternaria blight is the most common and devastating disease caused by Alternaria alternata in sunflower. This fungus grows well in Yeast Peptone Agar and Carrot + Potato agar medium under in vitro conditions. The growth of the fungus was tested using ten different media. Carrot + Potato agar medium appeared to be better than other media for the growth of A. alternata. The growth characteristics of the fungus such as colour of the colony and sporulation were also different in different culture media. The colony of the fungus was dark brown in colour. Maximum sporulation of the test fungus was found on Richards agar (RA) Walksman agar (WA), Carrot medium and Carrot+potato agar medium whereas no sporulation was seen on Czapeck’s dox agar medium. Thus the present work will be useful for further investigation on the physiology of the fungus and management of the disease.