Effect of light on conidial formation in several anthracnose fungi

Effect of light on conidial formation of Colletotrichum panacicola, C. gloeosporioides, C. runcatum and C. nicotianae was examined on potato dextrose agar on which each conidial suspension was seeded. The light source was Mitsubishi day light fluorescent lamps wi th an intensity of 100-120 ft-c at the colony surface. The treatments were (i)constant light, (ii) constant darkness, and (iii) alternating light (11hr.) and darkness {13hr.) at . With the exception of C. nicotianae, constant light gave the greatest sporulation over that obtained in the other two treatments; there were on significant differences in number of sporulation between under constant darkness and alternating light and darkness. C. nicotianae resulted in maximum. inter mediate and minimum sporulation under alternating light and darkness. constant darkness and constant light, respectively. These differences were statistically significant at level. C. truncatum and C. nicotianae produced abundant conidia in the entire test; C. gloeosporioides was intermediate, and C. panacicola was the least. Differences in number of sporulation due to light. organisms. and t he interaction of these two were all statistically significant.