Effect of culture media on radial growth and fructification of ophiostomatoid fungi isolated from bark beetles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2026-0001Keywords:
bark beetles, culture media, ophiostomatoid fungi, radial growthAbstract
Ophiostomatoid fungi are important associates of bark beetles (Scolytinae) and cause sapstain and tracheomycosis in trees. We examined the growth and fructification of seven species from the genera Ophiostoma, Graphilbum, Leptographium, and Grosmannia, isolated from bark beetle species of the genera Ips, Orthotomicus, and Pityogenes collected from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Ten isolates were cultivated on water agar (WA), malt extract agar (MEA), MEA with tyrosol (T), and MEA with vitamins (biotin, thiamine, pyridoxine) to determine the optimal medium for growth and fructification. Radial growth varied significantly among media and isolates. The fastest radial growth was observed on MEA supplemented with tyrosol at 0.5 µL per 250 mL (T0.5). Fructification of Ophiostoma minus and Leptographium piceaperdum was significantly higher on the nutrient-poor WA, MEA with tyrosol, and vitamin-enriched MEA than on plain MEA. The results highlight the importance of medium composition for fungal fructification and provide a basis for optimizing fungal development under different conditions.
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