SURVIVAL OF SINGLE-BASIDIOSPORE ISOLATES OF RHIZOCTONIA PRATICOLA AND RHIZOCTONIA SOLANI

Twenty randomly selected single-basidiospore isolates from each of Rhizoctonia praticola and R. solani differed considerably in their tolerance to CO2, competitive saprophytic activity, and ability to survive within precolonized substrate segments incubated in soils with or without pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) or oat straw. With a few exceptions, isolates possessing high saprophytic activity also possessed high tolerance to CO2 and high surviving ability in precolonized substrate. Several single-spore isolates of R. solani possessed higher ability for saprophytic survival in organic matter and lower CO2-sensitivity than their parent culture. Survival of single-basidiospore isolates in precolonized substrate segments was greater in unamended soil or soil amended with oat straw than in soil treated with PCNB. Mature oat straw reduced surviving ability of several isolates, whereas it increased surviving ability of others above that observed in unamended soil. The isolates whose surviving ability was increased by oat straw were mostly those possessing high saprophytic activity in unamended soil. Saprophytic activity and virulence of all isolates tested declined with time. Rate of decline of virulence was much more rapid for weak than strong saprophytes.