ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate a spore preservation method capable of maintaining Prospodium tecomicola urediniospore viability for a long time. Treatments for the preservation of collected spores were storage under the following conditions: i) dried leaves at room temperature; ii) refrigerator at 4ºC; iii) refrigerator inside a desiccator with 8.6 M KOH solution; iv) freezer at -20ºC; v) silica gel dehydration and storage in a refrigerator at -4°C; vi) silica gel dehydration and storage in a freezer at -20ºC. Spore viability assessments were conducted before storage and after 15, 57, 85, and 127 days of storage. The treatment that maintained the best germination potential of spores was silica gel dehydration at 4°C, keeping it above 5% from 15 to 85 days after storage, while silica gel dehydrated spores stored at -20ºC obtained up to 2.5% germination at 127 days.
Keywords
ipê rust; spore germination; silica gel
