Characterization of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, transmission and physiological quality in cotton seeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mycelial growth and production of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on the temperature influence, transmission, sanitary and physiological quality on cotton seeds inoculated and not inoculated with S. sclerotiorum. The mycelial growth, production and mass (weight) of sclerotia incubated for 14 days at temperatures of 15, 20, 25 and 30 ºC were evaluated. For the transmission test, sanity and physiological quality, 200 seeds per treatment were used, sowed in trays containing sterile sand. At the end of the evaluation the percentage of germination, emergence, emergence index of velocity, length and dry matter of shoots and root were obtained. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replicates. A higher rate of mycelial growth was observed under the temperature of 25 °C and a higher production of sclerotia at a temperature of 30 ° C. The highest shoot length and percentage of seedlings emerged from Gossypium hirsutum were verified in uninoculated seeds. The highest dry matter content of the G. hirsutum seedling root system was observed in seeds inoculated with S. sclerotiorum.