Abstract
This paper deals with the change of the pathogenicity of Gibberella lateritium (Nees) Snyder et Hansen by passing through mulberry stems, and on the pectic enzymes-production of the fungus mycelium.
1) Generally, this fungus enters the mulberry stem through the injuries of stem surface in autumn and develops little by little during the dormant season. 45 mulberry stems (9 mulberry stems, 5 times) were used for comparing the pathogenicity of 3 strains of the fungus. The inoculation places of the 3 strains on mulberry stems were determined following the Latin square arrangement as shown in Fig. 1. The pathogenicity of the strains was represented approximately measuring area of lesions (average values of products of length (mm) and width (mm) of lesions). In order to compare the pathogenicity of strains between different inoculation groups, strain No. 1 was used as a check in every inoculation group, because of the relatively invariable pathogenicity of strain No. 1.
2) Some strains of Gibberella lateritium increased the pathogenicity clearly by passing through the living mulberry stem, but not the others.
3) The increase in pathogenicity of the causal fungus by passing through the mulberry stem did not reduce completely by culturing the fungus on potato decoction agar for about 12 months. However, the fungus did not increase their pathogeni-city additionally by passing twice through living mulberry tree.
4) The pectinase-production of this fungus strains in culture solution (modified glucose-aspara-gine culture solution) did not parallel the pathogenicity, but the pectase-production (the amount per mg of hyphae) ran parallel with the pathogenicity.