Nutritional requirements for the fungus Alternaria alternata

Abstract

A strain of Alternaria alternata (ALT A) was tested using different sources of C, N and vitamins in order to find a medium for its growth and sporulation. The mycelial growth was evaluated for seven days after sowing and the sporulation on the tenth day of incubation. Among various C, N and vitamins compounds tested, highest mycelial growth was achieved with maltose and glucose (C), NH₄Cl (N) and biotin, with an average ratio of 0.75 cm/day. Sporulation reached highest values with galactose and arabinose (5.0 x 10³ and 4.1 x 10³ conidia mL^-1, respectively). Others vitamins and N compounds did not influence the growth and sporulation.