Plant Pathogenic Rust Fungi
Axenic Culture
Rusts are obligate biotrophs and are a difficult organism to work with. The study of fungi of any type relies on a microbe-free sterile working environment. If the metabolism of rust is to be studied then all contaminating organisms must be removed, and the study should take place away from the host plant. Axenic culture is a laboratory method of cultivating and growing rusts that are sterile and uncontaminated. The fungus must be grown in isolation, so the environment is sterilised first. (S)