The Effect of Spore Germination and Development on Plate Counts of Fungi in Soil

Abstract

SUMMARY: Spores of Didymella lycopersici and of six soil fungi were introduced separately into small quantities of soil spread in a film over a microscope slide. Direct observations were made, following which the soil from the slides was used for plate counts at stages before and after spore germination, when mycelium had developed, and after fruiting. It was found that as soon as spores germinated numbers obtained by plating decreased in the case of four of the seven fungi tested and did not increase as mycelial development progressed but reflected immediately the occurrence of sporulation.