Studies on exudate-depleted sclerotial development in Sclerotium rolfsii and the effect of oxalic acid, sclerotial exudate, and culture filtrate on phenolic acid induction in chickpea (Cicer arietinum).

Exudate depletion from developing sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in culture caused reduced size and weight of sclerotia. Germination of exudate-depleted sclerotia was delayed on Cyperus rotundus rhizome meal agar medium when compared with that of control sclerotia. The exudate-depleted sclerotia caused infection in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) plants in a glasshouse. Different temperatures and incubation periods had no effect on the germination ability of the exudate-depleted sclerotia. Oxalic acid, sclerotial exudate, and culture filtrate of S. rolfsii induced the synthesis of phenolic acids, including gallic, ferulic, chlorogenic, and cinnamic acids, as well as salicylic acid, in treated chickpea leaves. Gallic acid content was increased in treated leaves compared with the untreated controls. Maximum induction of gallic acid was seen in both leaves treated with oxalic acid followed by exudate and leaves treated with culture filtrate. Cinnamic and salicylic acids were not induced in exudate-treated leaves. Ethyl acetate fractionation indicated that the sclerotial exudates consisted of gallic, oxalic, ferulic, chlorogenic, and cinnamic acids, whereas the culture filtrate consisted of gallic, oxalic, and cinnamic acids along with many other unidentified compounds.