The isolates were cultured on yeast malt agar (YMA; Sigma
Aldrich, St Louis, MO) to which 0.1 % stock antibiotics was
added. The stock antibiotic solution consisted of 0.02 g each
of tetracycline, streptomycin and penicillin, dissolved in
10 ml sterile, distilled water, filter-sterilized through a 0.2 mm
filter (Nalgene Disposable Filterware, Nalge Nunc International
Rochester, NY); from this, 1 ml was added per litre of
medium. The cultures were approximately one-month old
when used, and a germination test was conducted before inoculating
the plants. For the test, a low concentration of conidia
was suspended in 0.1 % Triton X-100 (Sigma Aldrich) and
from this stock a 15 ml aliquot was plated on 2.5 % Noble agar
(Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD). The aliquot was spread with
a sterile glass rod onto the medium surface and incubated in
the dark at 25 2 C for 24 h after which 25 % lactophenol