Tolerance of Faba Bean Plants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis>) to Partial Defoliation

Throughout the development of plants, certain biotic and abiotic phenomena can occur which reduce not only the photosynthetic area, but also the growth, depending on the stage of plant development. Responses by plants to defoliation depend on species, the timing of agricultural practices and the intensity level of defoliation. An experiment was carried out in Tunja, Colombia under greenhouse conditions, in order to evaluate the tolerance of faba bean plants (Vicia faba) to partial defoliation. Every week material was removed along each newly emerged leaflet to simulate 50% defoliation. Another group was grown with the entire leaf area to function as a control. As a result of partial defoliation, the specific leaf area, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate and total biomass were reduced, but the leaf weight ratio was increased. In addition, the pattern of dry matter partitioning was altered so that the amount of biomass accumulated was reduced in the roots, but increased in the leaves. Additionally, the partially defoliated plants showed the ability to partly restore the removed leaf area. In this way it could be inferred that the plants of Vicia faba present a moderate capacity to tolerate early defoliation during the vegetative phase.     

Fruit Quality and Yield in Partially Defoliated Strawberry Plants in the Tropical Highlands

The partial loss or reduction of leaf area is a wide-spread occurrence in the plant life cycle, caused e.g. by herbivory, stress or pathogen attack. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of partial defoliation on fruit production and quality in strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch. cv. Chandler). Plants were grown in a greenhouse in Tunja, Colombia, in hydroponics with an aerated nutrient solution. As leaves emerged, one or two leaflets were removed from each compound leaf, to attain 38 % and 67 % reduction of leaf area. Control plants grew intact, without defoliation. Fruit yield and fruit quality characteristics were evaluated for each plant. The pH, total soluble solids, ratio of total soluble solids to fruit juice acidity, fruit yield, fruit mass and size, and the ratio of leaf area/fruit yield were reduced drastically in defoliated plants. Leaf area reduction in excess of 38 % adversely affected physical and chemical characteristics of strawberry fruit, which did not meet marketing criteria.     

Effect of Azospirillum and Azotobacter Species on the Performance of Cherry Tomato under Different Salinity Levels

Abiotic stress has a negative impact on plant physiology, influencing the overall growth and development of plant crops. Saline stress is one of the most serious environmental issues limiting crop plant production. Biofertilizers are reparative elements used in soil to increase tolerance to salinity and drought stress. We investigated the effect of salinity stress on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cherry tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum cerasiforme) with biofertilizer application 0, 15 and 30 days after transplanting in this study. After different days of transplantation, different levels of salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150?mM) were used with biofertilizer (Azospirillum sp. and Azotobacter sp.) application (0, 15 and 30 days). The salinity (150?mM NaCl) significantly affected the studied variables, which were recorded with minimum levels of leaf area (52.42?cm²), root length (6.54?cm), fresh root weight (13.64?g), yield (6.52 tons/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (36.11?mg/m²) and maximum levels of total soluble solids (TSS, 8.87 °Brix). Control samples had higher leaf area (58.35?cm²), root length (15.23?cm), fresh root weight (17.86?g), yield (9.39 tons/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (44.09?mg/m²), and lower TSS (7.93 °Brix). Plants that received biofertilizer (15 days after transplanting) had higher plant height (73.41?cm), stem diameter (0.74?cm), leaf area (61.16?cm²), root length (15.35?cm), fresh root weight (18.38?g), root dry matter (60.41%), yield (10.43?t/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (42.55?mg/m²), fruit dry matter content (10.12?g), pH 4.52, and TSS (9.30 °Brix). The minimum plant height (51.33?cm), stem diameter (0.55?cm), leaf area (49.60?cm²), root length (7.04?cm), fresh root weight (12.76?g), root dry matter (42.16?g), yield (5.15 tons/ha), leaf chlorophyll content (35.18?mg/m²), fruit dry matter content (6.59?g), pH 4.27 and TSS (7.55 °Brix) were recorded in plants with no application of biofertilizer. The present study revealed that most growth and quality variables were negatively affected by salinity except for TSS, which showed positive effect with application of 150?mM of NaCl. Biofertilizer application at 15 days significantly influences the quantitative and qualitative attributes of cherry tomato under different levels of salinity.

     

Prolonged Waterlogging Reduces Growth and Yield in Broccoli Plants (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

The crop of broccoli in tropical regions is of great importance among flowering vegetables; however, the yield of this crop is severely impacted by climatic variations that can cause floods. In Tunja, Colombia, a study was carried out under greenhouse conditions in which the tolerance of broccoli plants to prolonged waterlogging was evaluated. One group of plants were kept under waterlogging conditions until most of them showed severe symptoms of chlorosis while another group was grown under regularly drained and watered soil conditions as a control. Waterlogging caused the death of 20% of the plants, reduced the height of the plants by 42.9%, the thickness of the stem by 42.1%, the foliar area by 87%, the chlorophyll content in the leaves by 96.6%, and the total dry weight per plant by 79.9%. The absolute and relative growth rates decreased by 80 and 24.4%, respectively. Waterlogging also prevented flower production and caused a 23.7% increase in the accumulation of biomass in roots but reduced it by 24.5% in leaves. Likewise, the net assimilation rate fell 72.3% when waterlogged and the values of allometric variables which express growth were altered by this stressor. Consequently, it can be inferred that these plants have a low tolerance to waterlogging; however, the most severe impact caused by waterlogging was the inability of plants to develop flowers. The lack of flowers is devastating due to their economic and commercial importance of broccoli, and they are the primary justification for the cultivation of these plants.

     

The Efficacy of Grafting on Alkali Stressed Watermelon Cultivars Under Hydroponic Conditions

The goal of the present study was to determine whether grafting of watermelon on gourd rootstocks could improve alkalinity tolerance and to investigate the physiological and morphological response mechanisms of the grafted plants under different pH levels. The experiment was carried out in a climate chamber to investigate growth, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf area, stem length, shoot and root dry weight, root length, electrolyte leakage, leaf mineral composition, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Two watermelon cultivars (Crimson tide, CT, and Crisby) were grafted onto three commercial Cucurbita maxima?×?C. moschata hybrid rootstocks under climate-chamber conditions (Strong tosa, ST, Ercole and Nun 9075). The grafted seedlings were transplanted onto 8?L continuously aerated pots containing nutrient solution with two different pH levels (8.5 and 6.5) and replicated three times. The results showed that in both grafted and non-grafted plants, there was a substantial reduction in shoot and root biomass production at high pH levels. At high pH level, the significantly highest leaf area, stem length, SPAD, concentration of P, Ca, S and Mn in leaf tissues were recorded in graft combination ‘Crisby/Ercole’, whereas the significantly highest concentration of Fe in leaf tissues, shoot dry weight were recorded in graft combination ‘Crisby/Nun 9075’. Moreover, at high pH, the significantly highest concentration of Mg and Cu in shoot under high pH levels was significantly found in graft combination of ‘CT/ST’. These results suggest that the use of interspecific Cucurbita maxima?×?C. moschata hybrid rootstocks can improve crop performance in watermelon plants under alkaline conditions.

     

Compensation in seasonal leaf area dynamics and leaf longevity after defoliation in Buddleja davidii

Buddleja davidii is a major invasive weed and its success is attributed to its ability to recover rapidly following defoliation. To quantify the impacts of defoliation on seasonal leaf area dynamics, we measured rates of leaf area growth and loss on cohorts of leaves on control plants and on plants that were defoliated by 66% repeatedly at monthly intervals throughout two growing seasons. The rate of leaf area growth was closely related to cumulative air temperature, but the maximum rate for the defoliated plants in the first season was 2.2 times that of the control plants. This compensational leaf growth resulted in 52% greater total emergent leaf area, attributable to increased node production (34%) and leaf size (35%), compared with control plants. Leaf longevity during the first growing season in the defoliated plants was 12% greater than that in the control plants. During the second season, the degree of compensation was greatly reduced, attributable to reduced leaf size in defoliated plants compared with the control. Total emergent leaf area over both seasons in the defoliated treatment exceeded control values by only 15%. The impact of leaf loss on the vigour in this invasive shrub may, in the short term, be less significant than would be predicted. However, the impacts of continued defoliation are likely to increase markedly in subsequent years. The study provides the basis for modelling leaf area dynamics and plant growth in response to defoliation associated with biocontrol release programmes.     

Effect of the relative time of emergence on the growth allometry of Galium aparine in competition with Triticum aestivum

The impact of the relative time of emergence on the growth allometry of Galium aparine L. (cleavers) in competition with Triticum aestivum L. (spring wheat) was studied in a greenhouse experiment. The hypothesis that changes in growth allometry, particularly in the leaf area/height ratio, caused by a shift in the relative time of emergence, could lead to plants overcoming the competition or to competitive suppression was tested. The plant height, dry weight, total leaf area and vertical distribution were analyzed during the first 83 days of growth. The late emergence of G. aparine substantially influenced the growth dynamics for the dry weight and total leaf area. The dynamics of height growth were affected only following a significant delay in G. aparine emergence. The ratio of dry weight to total leaf area was almost unaffected by the competition. By contrast, the allometric relationship between the plant height and total leaf area was highly sensitive to the relative time of emergence. The results suggest that height is the most important growth trait for the plants to resist increasing competition. Even though the plants responded to competition with elongation, the physiological costs linked with “shade avoidance” caused reductions in the dry weight and leaf area growth that resulted in the total suppression of the late‐emerging individuals, in particular when their emergence was >10 days after that of the crop.     

Factors influencing infection of eucalypts by Cylindrocladium pteridis

The pattern of Cylindrocladium pteridis adhesion, germination and penetration in eucalypt leaves was assessed using scanning electron microscopy. The effects of inoculum concentration, leaf wetness period, plant age and branch position of cylindrocladium leaf blight and defoliation severity were assessed in greenhouse studies using two Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla hybrid clones. Penetration occurred through stomata, and there was no difference in the number of penetrations between young and old leaves. Percentage leaf area with lesions and defoliation increased with the increase in inoculum concentration (1 × 10² to 10⁵ conidia mL⁻¹), duration of leaf wetness period (6 to 48 h) and plant age (60 to 180 days). Branch position in plants also significantly affected the percentage leaf area with lesions and defoliation, the latter variable being significantly higher at the stem base. The highest values of lesion area were also observed on leaves at the stem base in both clones. The Pearson correlation between defoliation and leaf area with lesions was significant in all experiments ( r  > 0·9) indicating a high association between these two variables.     

Growth,Fiber and Nitrogen Content in Sisal Plants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Furcraea</Emphasis> sp) Under NaCl Salinity

Soil contains water and nutrients necessary for the development of cultivated plants and serves as a substrate and support in terrestrial ecosystems. For reasons inherent to the nature of soil, salt content can considerably limit the growth of plants. With the implementation of salinity-tolerant crops, saline soils can be transformed into productive and sustainable areas. In Tunja, Colombia, a trial was developed to quantify the changes in growth, water intake, fiber, nitrogen and chlorophyll content in Furcraea hexapetala plants exposed to NaCl saline conditions. Plantlets obtained from bulbs were grown in an aerated nutrient solution under greenhouse conditions. Measurements of 30, 60 or 90?mmol NaCl was added to the nutrient solution and control plants were left without addition of salt. As a consequence of salinity, leaf area, leaf area ratio, water uptake, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, fiber content, dry matter, chlorophyll and nitrogen content in leaves were reduced. The accumulation of dry matter in leaves, stem and roots was especially affected when the plants were exposed to 90?mmol of NaCl. Accumulated dry matter increased in the stems, but reduced in the leaves. These results suggest that plants of Furcraea hexapetala can tolerate up to 60?mmol of NaCl (4.9?dS?m^?1) without substantially affecting the parameters that determine the growth or the fiber content in the leaves.     

黑果枸杞茎叶生长及其生态化学计量特征对灌水施肥的响应

在石羊河中游田间条件下,通过灌水和施肥调节黑果枸杞生长。测定不同时期黑果枸杞茎、叶生长量及其化学计量学特征变化,分析器官水平生长速率与化学计量学特征的关系,验证生态化学计量学理论"生长速率假说"。灌水施肥显著促进了茎长、基径和叶片长、宽及叶干重的生长(P<0.05),而茎长、基径、叶面积和叶干重的相对生长速率与对照之间无显著差异。各处理下黑果枸杞新梢C含量及C∶N、C∶P随生育期进程呈增加趋势,而N、P及N∶P呈降低趋势;灌水和施肥处理后茎C含量及C∶N、C∶P、N∶P低于对照,茎N、P含量高于对照。各处理叶片C、N、P含量在生育期内呈降低趋势,而C∶N、C∶P及N∶P呈增加趋势;灌水和施肥后叶片C含量及C∶N、C∶P、N∶P低于对照,叶片N、P含量高于对照。茎C含量及C∶N、C∶P显著高于叶片(P<0.05),而N、P含量及N∶P显著低于叶片(P<0.05)。生长速率假说认为,生物个体的生长速率与体内的N∶P、C∶P具有负相关关系,与N、P含量呈显著的正相关关系。各处理黑果枸杞茎、叶的生长速率与其N、P含量及C∶P、N∶P总体相关性不显著。表明施肥灌水调节下黑果枸杞茎叶生长及化学计量学特征不支持生长速率假说。     

不同移栽深度结合一次性双层施肥对烤烟生长及产量品质的影响

从施肥技术和栽培措施两者相结合角度,通过大田试验对不同移栽深度结合一次性双层施肥对烤烟生长及产量品质的影响进行了研究.结果表明:壮苗一次性双层施肥9叶移栽能够促进烤烟生长发育,提高前期根系活力,增加根系一级侧根数目、根系干物质、烟株株高、茎围、有效叶片效、单株有效叶面积、地上部烟株干重和地上部干物质积累速率.与对照相比,壮苗一次性双层施肥9叶移栽烟叶产量增加145.5 kg/hm2,产值增加2 130元/hm2,烟叶均价增加0.46元/kg;同时,烟碱和总氮含量比对照下降了0.41%,总糖含量提高了1.57%,总糖/蛋白质和氮/碱比更趋协调.     

Weekly defoliation controls,but does not kill broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.) is a troublesome weed that predominantly grows in pastures and grassland. We hypothesised that frequent defoliation of Rumex will, over time, result in a reduction in root weight and leaf area, to the point where the impact on grass production is negligible. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we conducted three experiments. The objective of the first experiment was to perform a preliminary test of the hypothesis, using potted plants growing in the controlled conditions of a glasshouse. This experiment showed a rapid decline in leaf growth in plants that were defoliated weekly. The objective of the second experiment was to test the hypothesis in realistic outdoor conditions while still being able to collect detailed plant growth information. This experiment confirmed the findings of the glasshouse experiment and provided evidence that leaf growth ceased as a result of a dwindling supply of carbohydrate reserves in the root. Defoliated plants did not exhibit increased mortality. Finally, the objective of the third experiment was to test the hypothesis in a commercial pasture where normal field operations, specifically grass harvesting (three times) and slurry injection (twice), were performed. The results of this experiment were consistent with the results of the other two experiments. We conclude that weekly defoliation, maintained for three or more months, is an effective method to control (reduce the impact on grass production), but not kill, R. obtusifolius in pasture.     

Barley yield losses due to defoliation of upper three leaves either healthy or infected at boot stage by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrenophora teres</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">teres</Emphasis>

This paper evaluates, in the greenhouse and under natural conditions, barley yield losses due to defoliation treatments of the upper three leaves either healthy or infected at the boot stage by Pyrenophora teres f. teres. Defoliation was assumed as a loss of a similar leaf area caused by net blotch disease severity of 100%. Contribution to grain yield was defined herein as a difference between defoliation treatments and a treatment where plants lost all their upper three leaves. In contrast, yield losses referred to differences in yield between defoliations and the control. In the greenhouse, removal of the antepenultimate leaf did not affect any yield component. For main stems, defoliating upper three leaves reduced grain yield by 30% and this was mainly due to flag leaf removal. These losses were similar to those induced by net blotch disease under natural conditions, but were of 42% for all tillers. Grain yield losses due to disease severity were not equivalent to the defoliation effect of a similar healthy leaf area. On the other hand and for a significant contribution to grain yield, flag leaf was dependent on the presence of the other two leaves. Inoculation and defoliation of 21 cultivars induced similar grain yield losses of 32%. However, biotic stress reduced by 40% the contribution of their upper three leaves. Under field conditions, yield losses were not significant until barley plants lost more than one upper leaf and flag leaf contribution was equivalent to that of the remaining leaves. Characteristic roots, defined as leaf coefficients for plant performance, were 0.13, 0.06 and 0.01 for the flag, penultimate and antepenultimate leaves, respectively. Because antepenultimate leaves become trivial at the boot stage, we propose that coefficients of the remaining leaves should be used when modelling yield losses due to barley foliar diseases.     

Effects of Irrigation Water in Different Salinity on Yield and Quality Parameters of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Plant

Salinity affects many areas in our country and around the world, resulting in dramatic reductions in plant yields. In this study, the plant yield, some plant quality parameters, and soil salinity in the plant root area were investigated by irrigating tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) with different salinity irrigation waters. The experiment was carried out in pots in 4 replicates according to the randomized plot design. Six different salinity of irrigation water applications were applied in the experiment (S0?=?0.38 dS m^?1, S1?=?2 dS m^?1, S2?=?5 dS m^?1, S3?=?8 dS m^?1, S4?=?11 dS m^?1, S5?=?15 dS m^?1). According to the data obtained at the end of the research, as the salinity of irrigation water increased, plant length, leaf width, leaf length, leaf dry weight and leaf number decreased. It was determined that there was a certain increase in nicotine content in the face of the decrease of all examined physical parameters in irrigation water increase. In addition, the salinity values in the plant root zone soils and the salinity values in the outlet (drainage) water have also increased. Salinity threshold value of the tobacco plant was determined to be 2.04 dS m^?1. With an increase in salinity by one unit, there was a 7.1% decrease in leaf dry weight. It was determined that the tobacco plant is vulnerable to salinity based on the data collected.

     

Photosynthesis,transpiration and plant growth characters of different potato cultivars at various densities of Globodera pallida

Plants of four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars were grown in pots in a greenhouse at five densities ofGlobodera pallida between 0 and 300 eggs per gram of soil. Photosynthesis and transpiration of selected leaves were measured at 30, 37, 49 and 60 days after planting. Stem length was recorded at weekly intervals. Plants were harvested 70 days afteer planting and various plant variables were determined.At 30 days after planting, when second and third stage juveniles were present in roots, both photosynthesis and transpiration rates were severely reduced byG. pallida. In the course of time these effects became less pronounced. Water use efficiency was reduced byG. pallida between 30 and 49 days, but not at 60 days after planting. The results suggest independent effects ofG. pallida on stomatal opening and on photosynthesis reactions. There were no consistent differences among cultivars in the response of leaf gas exchange rates and water use efficiency to nematode infection. Reduction of photosynthesis byG. pallida appeared additive to photosynthesis reduction due to leaf senescence.Total dry weight was reduced by 60% at the highestG. pallida density. Weights of all plant organs were about proportionally affected. Shoot/root ratio was not affected and dry matter content was reduced. Stem length and leaf area were most strongly reduced during early stages of plant-nematode interaction. The number of leaves formed was only slightly reduced byG. pallida, but flowering was delayed or inhibited. Reduction of total dry weight correlated with reduction of both leaf area and photosynthesis rate. Leaf area reduction seems the main cause of reduction of dry matter production. Tolerance differences among cultivars were evident at 100 eggs per gram of soil only, where total dry weight of the intolerant partially resistant cv. Darwina was lower than that of the tolerant partially resistant cv. Elles and of the tolerant susceptible cv. Multa. The tolerance differences were not correlated with leaf photosynthesis and transpiration. Apparently these processes are not part of tolerance of plants.     

Application of Trichoderma harzianum Strain KABOFT4 for Management of Tomato Bacterial Wilt Under Greenhouse Conditions

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is a very important pathogen that causes bacterial wilt of tomato (BWT). Biological control of plant diseases is a critical tool for protecting the environment from chemical pollution. Twenty-five isolates of the genus Trichoderma were obtained from a healthy tomato root. Of the 25 isolates, KABOFT4 showed highly antagonistic activity that controlled the growth of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm7) under in vitro conditions. The 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene and internal transcribed spacer identified the isolate as Trichoderma harzianum KABOFT4. The effect of this isolate as a soil drench and/or foliar application on bacterial wilt under greenhouse conditions was studied. The germination percentage of tomato seed treated with KABOFT4 increased by 36.7% compared to infected seed treated with only the pathogen Cmm7. Under greenhouse conditions, tomato seedlings treated with KABOFT4 as a soil drench, foliar and soil treatment, and foliar treatment had a 61.3, 26.7, and 40% reduced disease severity relative to the infected control, respectively. All treatments had a positive effect on tomato plants that presented as greater vegetative growth and accumulation of dry matter. The best fresh and dry weight was recorded when plants were treated with KABOFT4 as a soil and foliar application. Tomato plants treated with KABOFT4 also had increased total phenol and flavonoid contents in inoculated and non-inoculated plants compared to untreated plants. Under greenhouse conditions, T. harzianum strains can be used as an environmentally friendly way to manage the most economically important tomato disease. The results showed that a native endophytic strain of T. harzianum was a potent biocontrol agent against C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. Application of this strain to tomatoes in the greenhouse resulted in a decrease in disease severity and an increase in crop biomass.

     

Effects of inoculum concentration, wetness duration and plant age on development of early blight (Alternaria solani) and on shedding of leaves in tomato plants

Effects of inoculum concentration, wetness duration and plant age on the development of tomato early blight were evaluated in relation to host susceptibility under controlled environmental conditions. The main effect of early blight was premature defoliation, which was linearly related to the percentage of leaf area showing symptoms. As ln(inoculum concentration, conidia mL⁻¹) increased from 6·2 to 11·5, the percentages of leaf area affected and of defoliation increased linearly. Four h of leaf wetness after inoculation were sufficient to initiate the disease on plants of hybrid Skala RZ but not on those of cv. Rio Rojo, for which at least 6 h leaf wetness were needed. As wetness duration increased up to 24 h, there was an increase in the percentage leaf area showing symptoms and in the percentage of defoliation, but thereafter there was no significant increase in either parameter. Tomato plants were susceptible to Alternaria solani at all growth stages, but susceptibility increased as plants matured. There were no significant differences in susceptibility between tomato cultivars and hybrids.     

甘蓝蚜取食对结球甘蓝生长和产量的影响

在温室条件下研究了甘蓝蚜取食对结球甘蓝生长及叶球产量的影响。当甘蓝在莲座后期至结球初期被大量吸食后,绝大部分外叶卷曲变形,到结球中期外叶加外茎的重量及叶面积显著下降,但叶球的鲜重、干重及大小均未受到影响。蚜虫大量取食使甘蓝的叶球占全株的相对比重显著增加,同时也使叶球含水量略有上升。     

Effect of Iron Excess on Growth of Sisal Plants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Furcraea hexapetala</Emphasis>)

In order to evaluate the effect of excess iron on the growth of sisal (Furcraea hexapetala) plants, an experiment was carried out in Tunja, Colombia, under greenhouse conditions. The plants were grown in a substrate in which 100, 150, 200 and 300?ppm of Fe were added. Control plants were provided without the addition of iron. The Chlorophyll Content Index, dry matter, and root to shoot ratio were gradually reduced as the Fe content in the substrate increased. Leaf area, relative growth rate, absolute growth rate, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area were significantly reduced with the higher doses of Fe. In addition, dry matter partitioning was altered in relation to the control plants and a lower allocation of dry matter in the roots of plants exposed to the higher Fe content was observed. Sisal plants are moderately tolerant to the excess Fe, however when exposed to 300?ppm of the metal, growth is drastically reduced.     

Effects of bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) epidemics on host dynamics of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Epidemics of bean rust ( Uromyces appendiculatus ) and their effects on host dynamics of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) were studied in three controlled greenhouse experiments, with and without fungicide sprays, on two susceptible bean cultivars, Dufrix and Duplika. Bean plants were artificially inoculated with a suspension of 10⁵ U. appendiculatus urediniospores mL⁻¹ water and temporal disease progress, as well as host growth dynamics (leaf size and defoliation), were monitored on a leaflet basis in comparison with non-inoculated plants, which were sprayed with deionized water. Progress curves of bean rust, expressed as the proportion of leaf area occupied by pustules (uredinia), or as the proportion occupied by total lesion area (= halo areas + pustule area), were well described by logistic functions with maximum disease levels clearly lower than 1. Bean rust epidemics substantially affected host growth by reducing the total leaf area formed by 17·4–35·6% and 35·3–46·2% compared with healthy plants for cvs Dufrix and Duplika, respectively. Fungicide sprays mitigated the negative effect of bean rust, leading to a gain in leaf area of 17–21% compared with unsprayed plants in both cultivars in two experiments, while in another experiment, disease control had no effect in Dufrix, but a clear effect in Duplika. In addition to the growth depression, bean rust also led to pronounced losses of leaf area as a result of reduced leaf size (leaf shrivelling) and accelerated defoliation.