title: [Effects of temperature, relative humidity and pH on germination of chalkbrood fungus, Ascosphaera apis spore].
abstract: Studies on the effects of environmental temperature, relative humidity and pH-value on the germination of Ascosphaera apis spore at the stages of activation, enlargement and germ-tube production showed that the germination was found to be independent of temperature within the range of 15-40 degrees C was and 25-40 degrees C, respectively at the stage of activation and enlargement, but closely correlated with the temperature within the range of 25-37 degrees C at the stage of germ-tube production, with the optimum range of 31-35 degrees C. Relative humidity below 80% inhibited spore germination. pH value within the range of 5-7.8 did not affect the spore germination significantly, but pH < 5 reduced the enlargement and germ-tube production drastically. The results indicated that A. apis is a highly specialized pathogen for the life in honeybee larvae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Apiculture, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002. lq.fz@sohu.com
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020036:Onygenales / Q000502:physiology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature