Abstract:
The physiological and morphological characteristics of five strains of Sclerotium rolfsii,
namely, XLL, XAl, XA2, ELI and EL2, which were identified as strains by the
aversion test, were studied. The susceptibility of five varieties of cocoyam, 'Amankani
fitaa', 'Arnankani fufuo', 'Arnankani kyirepe' and 'Amankani pa' of Xanthosoma
sagittifolium and a single variety of Colocasia antiquo rum to these strains, was also
investigated. The appearance of the strains on Potato Dextrose Agar plates was similar
and mycelial dry weights in Potato Dextrose Broth after 6 days' incubation were
statistically similar. However, extensional growth on PDA was fastest in Strains ELI
and EL2, moderate in Strains XLL and XAI and slowest in Strain XA2. Cultures of
Strain XLL produced a mean number of 185 larger and heavier sclerotia per Petri plate
whereas the remaining four strains formed 324 to 364 smaller and lighter sclerotia per
Petri plate.
