The objective of this work was to test different kinds of sugar for the extraction of ascospores of M. cannonballus. The ascospores of this ascomycete involved in melon (Cucumis melo) collapse can be recovered from soil by a physical method using a gradient of sucrose (50% concentration). The use of commercial sucrose represents a high cost per sample. This is the reason for research into a cheaper substitute sugar. In this work, we compared dextrose, commercial cane sugar and dessert sugar. Average ascospores/g of soil recovered with all these sugars were not statistically different, using the Tukey Test (P=0.05). The use of commercial cane sugar is recommended for its efficacy and low cost in every sample (R$ 0.042).
Cucumis melo; melon collapse; inoculum level; soilborne
