Activity of fungistatic compounds from soil

Propagules of many fungi do not germinate in soil unless provided with nutrients. According to the nutrient deprivation hypothesis, soil microflora prevent germination by acting as a sink for nutrients that leak from fungal propagules. Alternatively, soil microflora may produce germination inhibitors. In this study, fungistatic activity diffused from soil into agarose blocks and was quantified by percentage of germination of Cochliobolus victoriae conidia incubated on the blocks. The blocks were kept sterile and separate from soil by placement either on polycarbonate membranes with 0.2-μm pores (diffusion assay) or on glass (volatile assay) (...)