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Pathogen

Microdochium nivale

Overview

Scientific name

Microdochium nivale

Genus

Microdochium

EPPO code

MONGNI

Common name

Pink snow mold

Synonyms

Fusarium nivale

Description

Results are often expressed as Microdochium spp, as morphology of M. nivale can overlap with M. majus

Examine the plates after 7 days of incubation in an appropriate growth chamber, looking for relatively fast growing colonies, expressing felted aerial mycelium that is white to very pale pink, and the reverse of the colony should be colourless to light orange. When incubating in the dark, the colonies are often white, and if exposed to daylight or nUV for 24 hrs, then a salmon pink/orange colour should develop. Conidial spores may be present, forming sporodochia and seen as a pale orange mass. Microconidia are absent. Macroconidia are small, 1-3 septate, curved with blunt terminal cells that are indistinguishable from one another. The basal cell may be notched, but is never foot-shaped (Nelson et al, 1983). Size: 10-30 x 2.5-5 um (Booth, 1971). Conidial morphology is variable with overlap between M. nivale and M. majus. Microconidia and chlamydospores are absent. 

 

Images of Microdochium nivale

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.
click for more information

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.

Image credits: Angela Thüringer, AT

The images show Microdochium nivale on wheat after 7 days of growth. Typically the mycelium is quite flat, white, and very small waterdrops are seen in the mycelium when you look very close. Typically the mycelium grows around the roots and sprout.


sterilisation: 1% NaOCl 10 min | growth time: 7 days | temperature: 20 +/-2C | lighting: darkness | plate size: 90mm | agar: PDA ( Merck)

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.
click for more information

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.

Image credits: Angela Thüringer, AT

The images show Microdochium nivale on wheat after 7 days of growth. Typically the mycelium is quite flat, white, and very small waterdrops are seen in the mycelium when you look very close. Typically the mycelium grows around the roots and sprout.


sterilisation: 1% NaOCl 10 min | growth time: 7 days | temperature: 20 +/-2C | lighting: darkness | plate size: 90mm | agar: PDA ( Merck)

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.
click for more information

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.

Image credits: Nicole Calliou, CA

Colony is potentially Microdochium nivale or Microdochium majus, DNA testing not done to differentiate. Light pink coloration of colony when grown in fluorescent + NUV light. Colony shows orange sporodochia. Colony grew despite incubation at above-optimum temperature for Microdochium spp.


sterilisation: 1% NaOCl 4 min | growth time: 5 days | temperature: 25C -/+2C | lighting: 3:1 (fluorescent:nUV), within 2 ft of light | plate size: 100mm | agar: PDA ( Neogen) |
DNA testing: None

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.
click for more information

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.

Image credits: Nicole Calliou, CA

Colony is potentially Microdochium nivale or Microdochium majus, DNA testing not done to differentiate. Light pink coloration of colony when grown in fluorescent + NUV light. Colony shows orange sporodochia. Colony grew despite incubation at above-optimum temperature for Microdochium spp.


sterilisation: 1% NaOCl 4 min | growth time: 5 days | temperature: 25C -/+2C | lighting: 3:1 (fluorescent:nUV), within 2 ft of light | plate size: 100mm | agar: PDA ( Neogen) |
DNA testing: None

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.
click for more information

Microdochium nivale on Triticum spp.

Image credits: Nicole Calliou, CA

Colony is potentially Microdochium nivale or Microdochium majus, DNA testing not done to differentiate. Light pink coloration of colony when grown in fluorescent + NUV light. Colony shows orange sporodochia. Colony grew despite incubation at above-optimum temperature for Microdochium spp.


sterilisation: 1% NaOCl 4 min | growth time: 5 days | temperature: 25C -/+2C | lighting: 3:1 (fluorescent:nUV), within 2 ft of light | plate size: 100mm | agar: PDA ( Neogen) |
DNA testing: None