Germination of deep-frozen Tilletia indica teliospores
Teliospores of Tilletia indica (EPPO A1 organism) have been previously reported to lose viability when stored at -18° C for 12 weeks. A joint Indian and Danish research project was designed to confirm this previous report.
Teliospores of T. indica were subjected to deep-freezing at -18° C for variable durations of 4 to 20 weeks. It was found that deep-freezing does not prevent the germination of teliospores of T. indica and that, therefore, this method cannot be applied to control seedborne inoculum of T. indica.
Sources
Chahal, S.S.; Mathur, S.B. (1992) Germination of deep-frozen Tilletia indica and Tilletia barclayana teliospores.
FAO, Plant Protection Bulletin 40, 31-35.