Table 3. Characterization of mutant strain sporulation and virulence.
| Strain | Conidial spores/mLa | Canker area (cm2)b |
| EP155 | 2.08×107±3.38×106 | 9.85±0.47 |
| Δku80 | 1.79×107±1.63×106 | 8.97±1.00 |
| EP713 | 0 | 1.27±0.52* |
| Δprodh | 1.76×106±1.65×105* | 1.78±0.85* |
| Δp5cdh | 2.51×107±1.03×106 | 1.58±0.85* |
| Δput3 | 2.27×107±2.23×106 | 9.95±0.74 |
| Δput4 | 2.36×107±3.13×106 | 10.57±0.90 |
| Δpro1 | 1.16×106±4.17×105* | 9.25±0.84 |
| Δpro2 | 1.01×105±5.65×104* | 8.99±0.51 |
| Δpro3 | 1.33×107±1.44×106 | 9.55±0.89 |
| Δcar1 | 1.67×107±3.13×106 | 9.07±1.02 |
| Δcar2 | 1.76×107±3.13×106 | 8.55±0.95 |
a
Conidiation was measured after culturing on PDA plates at 25°C for 14 days. The mean and standard deviation were calculated from three replicates. *indicates a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).
b
The virulence assays were performed on dormant chestnut stems. The inoculated stems were kept at 25°C for 30 days. The mean and standard deviation were calculated from three replicates. *indicates a statistically significant differences (p<0.05).