Fungi associated with the pistillate flowers of white oak (Quercus alba L.) and their effect on pollen germination

Three genera of the Fungi Imperfecti (<u>Alternaria</u>, <u>Cladosporium</u> and <u>Epicoccum</u>) were isolated in high frequency from the pistillate flowers of white oak. These genera occur worldwide and although several species of each genera are parasitic on crop plants, they are primarily saprophytic in the forest ecosystem. Of the three genera, only <u>Cladosporium</u> is parasitic on <u>Q. alba</u>, causing a leaf mold. Several other genera of fungi were isolated in low frequency from the oak flowers. Included in this group were <u>Penicillium</u>, <u>Pestalotia</u>, <u>Curvularia</u>, <u>Pyrenochaeta</u>, <u>Nigrospora</u> and <u>Fusarium</u>. The effect of fungal spores on pollen germination was investigated. Suspensions of pollen grains and fungi spores were cultured in Van Tieghem cells. Pollen germination <u>in vitro</u> was significantly enhanced by <u>Cladosporium</u> and <u>Epicoccum</u>, but unaffected by <u>Alternaria</u>.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Forestry and Forest Products

Department dc:contributor.department

Forestry and Forest Products

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1977

Author dc:creator

• Kolpak, Michael Xavier

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54867

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/54867