Cumulative and residual effects of different potato cropping system management strategies on soilborne diseases and soil microbial communities over time

Soilborne potato diseases and soil microbial community characteristics were evaluated over 8 years in different potato cropping systems designed to address specific management goals of soil conservation, soil improvement and disease suppression. Results were compared to a standard rotation and non‐rotation control in field trials in Maine. Standard rotation consisted of barley underseeded with red clover, followed by potato (2‐year). Soil‐conserving system (SC) featured an additional year of forage grass and reduced tillage (3‐year, barley/timothy–timothy–potato). Soil‐improving system (SI) added yearly compost amendments to SC, and the disease‐suppressive system (DS) featured crops with known disease‐suppressive capability (3‐year, mustard/rapeseed–sudangrass/rye–potato). Systems were established in 2004, evaluated with and without irrigation, and actively managed until 2010, with potato also planted in 2011 and 2012 to examine residual effects. All rotations reduced soilborne diseases black scurf and common scab, and increased yield after one rotation cycle (3 years), but diseases increased overall after two rotation cycles. DS maintained lower soilborne disease levels than all other rotations, as well as high yields, throughout the study. Cropping system effects became more pronounced after multiple cycles. SI system and irrigation both resulted in higher yields, but also higher levels of soilborne disease. Cropping system and irrigation effects were significant even after systems were no longer maintained. Soil microbial community data showed significant changes associated with cropping system, and differences increased over time. Cropping system strategy had significant and lasting effects on soil microbiology and soilborne diseases, and can be used to effectively enhance potato production.     

Effect of host and non‐host crops on Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spore concentrations and clubroot of canola

Plasmodiophora brassicae, causal agent of clubroot of crucifers, poses a serious threat to Canadian canola production. The effects of fallow (F) periods and bait crops (clubroot‐susceptible canola (B) and perennial ryegrass (R)) on clubroot severity and P. brassicae resting spore populations were evaluated in five sequences: R–B, B–R, R–F, B–F and F–F. Both host and non‐host bait crops reduced clubroot severity in a subsequent crop of a susceptible canola cultivar compared with fallow. Resting spore and P. brassicae DNA concentrations decreased in all treatments, but were lowest for the R–B and B–R bait crop sequences. In addition, two studies were conducted in mini‐plots under field conditions to assess the effect of rotation of susceptible or resistant canola cultivars on clubroot severity and P. brassicae resting spore populations. One study included three crops of susceptible canola compared with a 2‐year break of oat–pea, barley–pea, wheat–wheat or fallow–fallow. The other study assessed three crops of resistant canola, two crops of resistant canola with a 1‐year break, one crop of resistant canola and a 2‐year break, and a 3‐year break with barley followed by a susceptible canola. The rotations that included non‐host crops of barley, pea or oat reduced clubroot severity and resting spore concentrations, and increased yield, compared with continuous cropping of either resistant or susceptible canola. Growing of a susceptible canola cultivar contributed 23–250‐fold greater gall mass compared with resistant cultivars.     

Exploring soil bacterial communities in different peanut-cropping sequences using multiple molecular approaches

Soil bacterial communities have significant influence on soilborne plant pathogens and, thus, crop health. The present study focuses on ribotyping soil bacterial communities in different peanut-cropping sequences in Alabama. The objective was to identify changes in microbial assemblages in response to cropping sequences that can play a role in managing soilborne plant pathogens in peanut. Four peanut-cropping sequences were sampled at the Wiregrass Research Station, Headland, AL in 2006 and 2007, including continuous peanut, 4 years of bahiagrass followed by peanut, peanut-cotton, and peanut-corn-cotton. Soil sampling was done at early and mid-season and at harvest. Bacterial community structure was assessed using ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) combined with 16S rRNA cloning and sequencing. RISA results indicated >70% dissimilarities among different cropping sequences. However, 90% similarities were noticed among replicated plots of the same cropping sequences. Cropping sequences and time of soil sampling had considerable effect on soil microbial community structure. Bahiagrass rotation with peanut was found to have the highest bacterial diversity, as indicated by a high Shannon Weaver Diversity index. Overall, higher bacterial diversity was observed with bahiagrass and corn rotations compared with continuous peanut. The bacterial divisions Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinomycetes were the predominant bacterial phyla found in all peanut-cropping sequences. The Proteobacteria taxa in these soils were negatively correlated with the abundance of members of division Firmicutes but, conversely, had a significant positive correlation with Gemmatimonadetes taxa. The prevalence of the division Actinomycetes was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of members of division Verrucomicrobia. These results indicate complex interactions among soil bacteria that are important contributors to crop health.     

不同轮作方式对马铃薯土壤酶活性及微生物数量的影响

在连续种植2年马铃薯的土壤上进行不同轮作方式田间试验,探讨轮作方式对马铃薯土壤酶活性及土壤微生物数量的影响。试验结果表明:与对照(裸地)相比,小麦-豌豆-马铃薯轮作时土壤过氧化氢酶活性有增加的趋势;豌豆-马铃薯-豌豆轮作条件下,土壤的蔗糖酶活性提高,且在马铃薯成熟期提高幅度最大,为47.95%。轮作条件下土壤多酚氧化酶活性低于连作;轮作方式不同,土壤脲酶活性变化明显,在马铃薯块茎膨大期,豌豆-马铃薯-豌豆轮作方式的土壤脲酶活性比小麦-马铃薯-小麦高14.73%。马铃薯块茎膨大期根区土壤微生物数量测定结果显示:随着连作年限的增加,细菌数量及微生物总量降低,真菌数量升高了54.66%;小麦-豌豆-马铃薯轮作后,土壤中的细菌、放线菌数量最高,分别为6.40×106CFU·g-1和2.22×106CFU·g-1。     

陕西省渭北旱原种植制度的研究

通过“八五期间试验，在渭北旱原：（１）优势作物是红薯和花生。干旱年、平水年二者均有较高经济效益。玉米的种植，生育期降雨不足４００ｍｍ时不可种植。烤烟，棉花效益不好，近年不宜扩大。中药材具有一定开发潜力；（２）对作物产量影响较大的处理是麦草覆盖、增施农肥和豌豆轮作等项措施；（３）本试验水分生产率最高、耗水系数最低的轮作制是：玉米→玉米→玉米和（小麦＋绿豆）→（玉米＋大豆）→小麦。在不同轮作制同一个周期里，玉米生产潜力最大（干旱年例外），其次依次是小麦豌豆，油菜，绿豆和大豆；（４）蒸发量最大是（小麦＋绿豆）→（玉米＋大豆）→小麦，最小是玉米→玉米→五米和麦草覆盖等轮作处理。夏收后在休闲期，以麦草覆盖增补水最多，油菜裸露地最少；（５）油菜、莞豆是理想的肥地作物，应予推广。     

娃娃菜不同轮作模式下根际土壤微生物群落多样性特征

为探明不同作物与娃娃菜轮作后的效果，在宁夏南部山区进行定位试验，采用高通量测序技术，结合土壤理化性质及酶活性，比较分析了娃娃菜-西兰花(CMB)、娃娃菜-大葱(CMG)、娃娃菜-洋葱(CMO)、娃娃菜-土豆(CMP)和以娃娃菜连作(CCC)为对照的5个处理的微生物多样性，旨在筛选出适宜与娃娃菜轮作的作物，为从栽培模式选择角度缓解或避免娃娃菜连作障碍提供理论依据。试验结果表明：与连作相比，轮作马铃薯土壤硝态氮含量最高为12.8 mg·kg^-1,轮作大葱土壤速效磷含量最高为75.74 mg·kg^-1,但不同轮作模式下速效钾和有机质含量有所下降。轮作马铃薯土壤的碱性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶与轮作洋葱土壤的过氧化氢酶、脲酶显著低于娃娃菜连作和轮作其他作物。细菌丰度在属水平上的结果表明轮作导致大部分有益细菌属丰度升高，如贪铜菌属(Cupriavidus)、鞘脂单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)、柄杆菌属(Caulobacter)等，有害菌及其他部分未分类功能作用菌属丰度降低，如伯克氏菌(Burkholderiaceae)、黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium...     

Farm Management Effects on Rhizosphere Colonization by Native Populations of 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol-Producing Pseudomonas spp. and Their Contributions to Crop Health

ABSTRACT Analyses of multiple field experiments indicated that the incidence and relative abundance of root-colonizing phlD+ Pseudomonas spp. were influenced by crop rotation, tillage, organic amendments, and chemical seed treatments in subtle but reproducible ways. In no-till corn plots, 2-year rotations with soybean resulted in plants with approximately twofold fewer phlD+ pseudomonads per gram of root, but 3-year rotations with oat and hay led to population increases of the same magnitude. Interestingly, tillage inverted these observed effects of cropping sequence in two consecutive growing seasons, indicating a complex but reproducible interaction between rotation and tillage on the rhizosphere abundance of 2,4-diacetlyphloroglucinol (DAPG) producers. Amending conventionally managed sweet corn plots with dairy manure compost improved plant health and also increased the incidence of root colonization when compared with nonamended plots. Soil pH was negatively correlated to rhizosphere abundance of phlD+ pseudomonads in no-till and nonamended soils, with the exception of the continuous corn treatments. Chemical seed treatments intended to control fungal pathogens and insect pests on corn also led to more abundant populations of phlD in different tilled soils. However, increased root disease severity generally was associated with elevated levels of root colonization by phlD+ pseudomonads in no-till plots. Interestingly, within a cropping sequence treatment, correlations between the relative abundance of phlD and crop stand or yield were generally positive on corn, and the strength of those correlations was greater in plots experiencing more root disease pressure. In contrast, such correlations were generally negative in soybean, a difference that may be partially explained by difference in application of N fertilizers and soil pH. Our findings indicate that farming practices can alter the relative abundance and incidence of phlD+ pseudomonads in the rhizosphere and that practices that reduce root disease severity (i.e., rotation, tillage, and chemical seed treatment) are not universally linked to increased root colonization by DAPG-producers.     

The influence of crop rotation and soil tillage on seed population dynamics of A vena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana

The dynamics of seed populations of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Nyman in plots maintained under different crop rotations and tillage systems was studied over a 5-year period. The seed reserves buried in the soil were practically depleted during this period by using any of the three cropping systems evaluated. No significant differences were found between using a continuous barley rotation with annual application of herbicides and using a barley:fallow rotation with herbicides applied only as needed. The decline in seed populations was not affected by the tiliage system used during the fallow period (ploughing or no tillage). The tillage practices used in the various treatments, combined with the variable seed output from each treatment, resulted in different vertical distribution of the seeds in the soil profile. Shallow cultivation resulted in an accumulation of seeds in the upper soil layers; in contrast, a large proportion of the seeds were buried and maintained below 15 cm in the ploughed treatments. Although the seed distribution patterns produced by the various tillage systems had an effect on seedling recruitment, the largest changes in this parameter were associated with the different cropping sequences. Four times more seedlings were recruited in years under barley cropping than in those under fallow.     

西北黄土区主要作物茬口对土壤理化性质和冬油菜农艺性状的影响

为了探讨不同茬口对土壤肥力及后茬油菜产量的影响,以休闲田为对照,研究了西北黄土区冬油菜、马铃薯、玉米、冬小麦、春小麦、蚕豆等6种主要农作物茬口土壤耕作层肥力效应及其对后茬白菜型冬油菜产量和农艺性状的影响,结果表明：（1）不同作物茬口土壤养分含量总体表现为越冬作物>休闲田>春播作物,除固氮作物蚕豆茬口碱解氮含量较高外,冬油菜茬口土壤营养各项指标、土壤微生物种群结构及土壤物理性状均显著优于其它作物茬口,其有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾含量分别比休闲田增加32.6%、12.1%,5.9%、7.2%、11.6%、99.8%、44.2%,其次为蚕豆、冬小麦茬口和休闲田,玉米和春小麦茬口肥力状况较差;与休闲田相比,冬油菜、冬小麦和蚕豆茬口耕层（0~20 cm）土壤容重分别降低10.14%、5.80%和5.80%,而冬油菜茬口土壤总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度和田间持水量分别提高7.33%、4.12%和5.65%,马铃薯、玉米、春小麦茬口均有不同程度下降,冬小麦与蚕豆茬口无明显差异;（2）前茬对白菜型冬油菜农艺性状的影响主要表现在株高、根量、全株角果数、角果粒数及千粒重等指标,其中蚕豆茬口白菜型冬油菜比休闲田增产4.50%,冬小麦茬口与休闲田相当,而马铃薯、玉米、春小麦、冬油菜茬口分别较休闲田减产11.05%、15.04%、16.27%、21.14%。白菜型冬油菜的最佳前茬是豆类作物,休闲田和冬小麦茬口次之,但白菜型冬油菜连作可能会产生自毒作用或病害加重,从而造成显著减产。     

Cultivation factors influencing spraing in potato-a statistical analysis

In an attempt to study the effects of cultivation factors on the incidence of spraing in potato, on the presence of tobacco rattle tobravirus (TRV) and potato mop-top furovirus (PMTV), and on the densities of trichodorid nematodes in field soils, a statistical analysis was conducted based on field records provided by a Swedish potato crisp industry. The factors studied were crop rotation, precipitation (irrigation inclusive), planting time, fertilization, plant-available P, K and B, soil texture and soil pH. The data were collected for 1979-1987, representing 50 farms (198 fields) in southern Sweden. A correlation was found between TRV infectivity in the autumn and planting time of the potato crop. Thus, late planting was correlated with lower frequency of TRV. By ANOVA test of 5 years of preceding crops, a possible spraing increase was indicated when numbers of potato or barley crops increased in the crop rotations. A possible spraing decrease was indicated when the share of wheat increased. High incidence of spraing, and high densities of trichodorid nematodes, were both correlated with low values of plant-available potassium, K_AL, in soil.     

Effect of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne fungal diseases of potato

Effects of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne pathogens and on the performance of potato were investigated in five field experiments. Rotations differed in cropping frequency of potato and in crop sequence.Incidence of stem canker caused byRhizoctonia solani was strongly influenced by the cropping frequency of potato and not by crops with which the potato was alternated in the rotation. Cropping frequency of potato also affected the occurrence of black scurf, but less pronounced than for stem canker. The antagonistVerticillium bigutatum slightly reducedR. solani (black scurf) in plots on sandy soil continuously cropped with potato. Incidence of stem canker was also strongly affected by granular nematicides applied to the soil, nitrogen level and the cultivar grown.     

Effect of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne fungal diseases of potato

Effects of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne pathogens and on the performance of potato were investigated in five field experiments. Rotations differed in cropping frequency of potato and in crop sequence.Incidence of stem canker caused byRhizoctonia solani was strongly influenced by the cropping frequency of potato and not by crops with which the potato was alternated in the rotation. Cropping frequency of potato also affected the occurrence of black scurf, but less pronounced than for stem canker. The antagonistVerticillium bigutatum slightly reducedR. solani (black scurf) in plots on sandy soil continuously cropped with potato. Incidence of stem canker was also strongly affected by granular nematicides applied to the soil, nitrogen level and the cultivar grown.Stem infections byVerticillium dahliae depended on the cropping frequency of potato, by the crop with which the potato was alternated in the rotation and by the density and virulence of endoparasitic nematodes, especiallyMeloidogyne spp.Crop rotation had no effect at all on incidence of common scab on tubers, whereas the effect of cropping frequency of potato on netted scab was highly significant. When cultivars were grown susceptible to both scab types, netted scab supressed common scab.     

Interactions between the tillage system and crop rotation on the crop yield and weed populations under arid conditions

Field experiments were conducted in Iran in order to determine the interactions between the tillage system and crop rotation on weed seedling populations and crop yields from 2002 to 2005. No tillage, shallow tillage and deep tillage were the main plots and three crop sequences comprising continuous wheat (W‐W), wheat–canola–wheat–canola (C‐W) and wheat–safflower–wheat–safflower (S‐W) were the subplots. Bromus japonicus, Carthumus lanatus, Polygonum aviculare, Lolium temulentum and Avena ludoviciana were found to be the dominant species. The initial weed population in 2002 was estimated at 65 seedlings per m² and B. japonicus (～35 seedlings per m²) was the most abundant species, followed by A. ludoviciana and L. temulentum. The dominant weed species mostly did not favor the combination of S‐W and C‐W with any tillage type. For the B. japonicus population, S‐W in combination with moldboard plowing indicated the lowest seedling population. In conclusion, the crop sequence in combination with tillage would help to control troublesome weed species. Safflower and canola were determined to be effective in reducing the grass weeds. The inclusion of these crops in rotation also increased the total revenue of the cropping systems because of the higher sale price of canola and safflower.     

Effect of mixed and single crops on disease suppressiveness of soils

ABSTRACT The effect of mixed cropping on disease suppressiveness of soils was tested for two cropping systems, Brussels sprouts-barley and triticale-white clover. Disease suppressiveness of field soils was evaluated in bioassays for the soilborne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini, and Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. For both cropping systems, mixed cropping did not enhance disease suppressiveness of the soils. In some cases, soil cropped to barley alone was significantly more suppressive to F. oxysporum f. sp. lini than soils cropped to Brussels sprouts or the mixture of Brussels sprouts and barley. Analyses of the diversity of the indigenous bacterial and fungal microflora by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of amplified 16S- and 18S-rDNA fragments, respectively, revealed, in most cases, no significant differences between mixed and mono-cropped soils. In conclusion, in this study, mixed cropping of soils with Brussels sprouts and barley or with triticale and white clover did not enhance microbial diversity or disease suppressiveness of soils to three different soilborne plant pathogens.     

Relation between cropping frequency of peas and other legumes and foot and root rot in peas

The relation between the frequency of legume crops in a rotation and the root rot severity in pea was examined in a field survey. Additionally, greenhouse experiments were performed with soil samples from legume rotation trials or from farmers' fields. The frequency of pea crops in current rotations proved to be much less than the recommended value of one in six years. The correlation between pea root rot and the number of years that pea or other legumes were not grown on the field under consideration (called crop interval) was weak. Root rot severity correlated better with the frequency of peas or legumes in general over a period of 18 years, but the frequency still explained only a minor fraction of the variation in disease index. Some experimental data pointed to the occurrence of a highly specific pathogen microflora with continuous cropping of only one legume species, but this phenomenon probably does not occur in farmers' fields. In field samples, root disease index for pea correlated well with that for field bean. The survival of resting structures of pathogens such asAphanomyces euteiches probably explains why the frequency of legume cropping has a higher impact than crop interval on root disease incidence. Pea-free periods and legume frequencies have a poor predictive value for crop management purposes.     

Predicting longer-term changes in weed populations under GMHT crop management

The UK Farm Scale Evaluations (FSE) compared the effects on biodiversity of management of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) crops and conventional crops over the shorter term. We simulated population changes over seven 4-year rotations (28 years) for weeds in crop rotations that included cereals and spring-sown GMHT and conventional oilseed rape and beet, using FSE data and assuming the continuation of the weed management systems practised in the FSE. The weed density dependence that was modelled integrated change caused by population dynamics and farmers’ responses to changes in weed density. Predicted weed seed populations decreased under conventional management and at a greater rate under GMHT. Total seed densities were lower for GMHT cropping by a factor of 0.7–0.8. The predicted distributions of weeds had more fields with lower weed densities under GMHT cropping. Such changes could affect animal populations on farmland, depending on the scale of uptake of GMHT crop cultivars.     

Potential of combined biological control agents to cope with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora parasitica,</Emphasis> a major pathogen of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choisya ternata</Emphasis>

The Cook Agronomy Farm of Washington State University is a long-term precision agriculture study site. Since 2000, the farm has been in various three-year no-till rotations with winter wheat, spring wheat, and various rotation crops such as barley, canola, peas, lentils, and chickpea. The spatial distribution of root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) and their relationships with soil and terrain variables were studied by collecting soil samples at 127 and 124 geo-referenced points in two 12-ha fields during the spring of 2010 and 2011, respectively. Pratylenchus spp. were detected in more than 85% of the sampled locations in both fields. Nematode densities spatially mapped using ArcGIS software occurred in an aggregated pattern. Previous rotation crops had no effect on the spatial distribution. Classification and regression tree analysis (CART) using soil and terrain variables, and nematode density, explained 61 and 34% of the variability associated with nematode density in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Soil edaphic factors, such as organic matter, were stronger predictors of nematode populations than rotation effects.     

黄土高原不同轮作次序对土壤有机质和有效态微量元素分布的影响

对长武县十里铺村长期定位试验旱地土壤,用重铬酸钾容量法对土壤有机质进行测定,用DTPA浸提-原子吸收法对有效态微量元素进行测定,研究不同轮作次序对土壤有机质和有效态微量元素分布的影响。结果表明,土壤有效态微量元素的分布除受微量元素总量的影响外,还与作物的轮作次序有关。不同轮作次序土壤有机质均呈现先减小后增大的趋势,有效铁由上到下持续增加,有效锰和有效锌呈现上高下低的趋势,有效铜的分布趋势是由上到下先增加后缓慢减少。粮草轮作体系80~100 cm土层有机质含量在11.08~11.89 g·kg~(-1)之间,粮豆轮作体系该土层含量为11.04~11.72 g·kg~(-1)之间。粮草轮作系统中3年小麦的土壤有效铁和有效锰含量较低,种植苜蓿和马铃薯可以提高土壤有效锰含量,连续种植小麦和连续种植苜蓿土壤有效锌和有效铜含量出现下降的趋势。粮豆轮作系统中小麦+糜子茬口土壤有效铁含量较高,小麦茬口的土壤有效锰含量最低,比小麦+糜子茬口和豌豆茬口的含量平均低7.73%~30.55%。粮草轮作系统中土壤有效态微量元素的含量高于粮豆轮作系统,在80 cm以上土层,两个轮作系统中土壤有效态微量元素的含量差异较大,在该土层以下,两个系统间的差异减小。     

马铃薯根系分泌物组分对不同种植模式的响应

作物根系分泌物与作物连作障碍密切相关,为寻求减小作物连作障碍的途径,在轮作(大豆-马铃薯)、固定间作(马铃薯/大豆)和马铃薯连作3种种植模式下,分离鉴定了马铃薯根系分泌物的主要组分。结果表明:与轮作处理相比,固定间作和连作处理马铃薯根系分泌物种类分别增加了13.79%和17.24%,烷烃类物质的相对含量分别增加了52.17%和52.60%,酸类物质的相对含量分别增加了65.41%和14.79%。连作处理马铃薯根系分泌物中鉴定出乙胺、N-乙基吗啉和邻苯二甲酸二丁酯的相对含量分别为1.46%、2.87%和5%,而在轮作和间作处理中均未检测到。与轮作处理相比,间作和连作处理N,N-二乙基乙酰胺相对含量分别高出123.29%和47.95%,棕榈酸相对含量分别高出23.18%和40.0%,硬脂酸相对含量分别高出27.36%和39.80%。说明大豆-马铃薯轮作可有效降低马铃薯根系分泌物组分的种类和含量。因此,生产实践中,可通过大豆-马铃薯轮作克服因某一种马铃薯化感物质累积而造成的毒害作用。     

Effect of cropping system on composition of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia</Emphasis> populations recovered from canola and lupin in a winter rainfall region of South Africa

Rhizoctonia spp. anastomosis groups (AGs) associated with canola and lupin in the southern and western production areas of the Western Cape province of South Africa were recovered during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons and identified using sequence analyses of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions. The effect of crop rotation systems and tillage practices on the recovery of Rhizoctonia spp. was evaluated at Tygerhoek (southern Cape, Riviersonderend) and Langgewens (western Cape, Moorreesburg) experimental farms. Isolations were conducted from canola planted after barley, medic/clover mixture and wheat, and lupin planted after barley and wheat, with sampling at the seedling, mid-season and seedpod growth stages. In the 2006 study, 93.5% of the Rhizoctonia isolates recovered were binucleate and 6.5% multinucleate; in 2007, 72.8% were binucleate and 27.2% were multinucleate. The most abundant AGs within the population recovered included A, Bo, I and K, among binucleate isolates and 2-1, 2-2 and 11 among multinucleate isolates. Crop rotation sequence, tillage and plant growth stage at sampling all affected the incidence of recovery of Rhizoctonia, but certain effects were site-specific. The binucleate group was more frequently isolated from lupin and the multinucleate group from canola. AG-2-1 was only isolated from canola and AG-11 only from lupin. This study showed that important Rhizoctonia AGs such as AG-2-1, 2-2 and 11 occur in both the southern and the western production areas of the Western Cape province and that crop rotation consistently influences the incidence and composition of the Rhizoctonia community recovered from the cropping system.