Insight into the mechanism of conidial germination of the powdery mildew mycoparasite Ampelomyces quisqualis

Conidia of Ampelomyces quisqualis are able to infect powdery mildew but they must be supplied with exogenous nutrients before they are able to germinate. In the present study, conidia of three genetically different strains of A. quisqualis were stimulated by different carbon and nitrogen sources and results showed nutritional supplements at various concentrations enhanced the hyphal growth and conidial germination of A. quisqualis. These stimulators induced early swelling of conidia and enhanced early germ tube branching leading to increase the mycoparasitic activity of the fungus