ABSTRACT
Most pathological studies require culturing a pathogen either to increase infective propagules for inoculation or to study its taxonomy and genetics. Culture medium is the major factor influencing fungal cultivation. A good culture medium supports high sporulation and low mycelial growth. The optimum temperature for vegetative growth may be different than that for sporulation; and the temperature range for sporulation generally is narrower than that for vegetative growth. The techniques used for inducing sporulation in Drechslera are applicable to many Helminthosporium. The optimum pH range for vegetative fungal growth is different and broader than the optimum for sporulation. Sometimes allowing a culture to desiccate slowly will induce sporulation. There is no universal set of conditions for culturing pathogenic fungi. Filter Paper Method developed to induce sporulation in Alternaria solani and Drechslera poae has been used for inducing the sporulation in Drechslera state of Cochliobolus sativus and Pyrenophora dictyoides.
