Comparison of ultrastructure and chemical components of cell walls of certain plant pathogenic fungi

Hyphal walls and, where possible, sclerotial walls of the plant pathogenic fungi Sclerotium cepivorum, S. rolfsii, S. tuliparum, Sclerotinia narcissicola, S.fructigena and Rhizoctonia solani have been examined by electron-microscope techniques and analytical methods, including X-ray diffraction, infrared absorption spectroscopy and paper chromatography. Infrared data, sugar analysis of hydrolysates and lytic experiments indicate that the composition of the walls of S. tuliparum differs markedly from that of other species of Sclerotium but is similar to Rhizoctonia. The other Sclerotium species are similar in wall composition to the species of Sclerotinia investigated.