Nutritional requirements of nematophagous fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis

Hirsutella minnesotensis is a parasite of second-stage juveniles of soybean cyst nematode,and has great potential in biocontrol.Six natural media were evaluated for growth and sporulation of 4 isolates of H.minnesotensis on agar.Meanwhile 20 carbohydrates,19 nitrogen compounds and 9 vitamins were tested for growth,sporulation and spore germination of 3 isolates of H.minnesotensis on agar plates and in liquid cultures.In general,YDA was good for growth and MEA was good for sporulation,while TSA was not good for growth and sporulation of H.minnesotensis.Melibiose was the best carbon source for aerial mycelium growth on agar,and glycogen was the best carbon source for the growth in liquid culture and spore germination on agar.Casein and peptone was the best nitrogen source for aerial mycelium growth on agar and growth in liquid culture,respectively.Most of nitrogen compounds supported spore germination of H.minnesotensis except L-Cystine,it could not be utilized by any of the isolates on agar.Vitamins showed no significant effect on the growth,sporulation and spore germination of H.minnesotensis.