Protective and curative efficacy of prothioconazole against isolates of Mycosphaerella graminicola differing in their in vitro sensitivity to DMI fungicides

BACKGROUND: Septoria leaf blotch is the most important disease of wheat in Europe. To control this disease, fungicides of the 14α‐demethylase inhibitor group (DMIs) have been widely used for more than 20 years. However, resistance towards DMIs has increased rather quickly in recent years. The objective of this study was to evaluate, on plants and under controlled conditions, the protective and curative efficacy of the DMI fungicide prothioconazole against three current isolates of M. graminicola, chosen to belong to different DMI‐resistant phenotypes. Fungicide efficacy was assessed by visual symptoms and by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: With a protective fungicide application, prothioconazole was always effective against each isolate. This was in accordance with the EC₅₀ results. However, curative efficacy differed between the isolates. It remained at a good level, between 60 and 70% against one isolate, whereas it was strongly affected by late applications from 7 days post‐inoculation with the two other isolates. CONCLUSION: A protective application of prothioconazole in wheat crops could be the best strategy to keep a high efficacy against Septoria leaf blotch. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Quantifying the effects of fungicides and disease resistance on greenhouse gas emissions associated with wheat production

A method is presented to quantify the net effect of disease management on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per hectare of crop and per tonne of crop produce (grain, animal feed, flour or bioethanol). Calculations were based on experimental and survey data representative of UK wheat production during the period 2004–06. Elite wheat cultivars, with contrasting yields and levels of disease resistance, were compared. Across cultivars, fungicides increased yields by an average of 1·78 t ha^?1 and GHG emissions were reduced from 386 to 327 kg CO₂ eq. t^?1 grain. The amount by which fungicides increased yield – and hence reduced emissions per tonne – was negatively correlated with cultivar resistance to septoria leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola, anamorph Septoria tritici). GHG emissions of treated cultivars were always less than those of untreated cultivars. Without fungicide use, an additional 0·93 Mt CO₂ eq. would be emitted to maintain annual UK grain production at 15 Mt, if the additional land required for wheat production displaced other UK arable crops/set aside. The GHG cost would be much greater if grassland or natural vegetation were displaced. These additional emissions would be reduced substantially if cultivars had more effective septoria leaf blotch resistance. The GHGs associated with UK fungicide use were calculated to be 0·06 Mt CO₂ eq. per annum. It was estimated that if it were possible to eliminate diseases completely by increasing disease resistance without any yield penalty and/or developing better fungicides, emissions could theoretically be reduced further to 313 kg CO₂ eq. t^?1 grain.     

Are azole fungicides losing ground against Septoria wheat disease? Resistance mechanisms in Mycosphaerella graminicola

There has been a recent rapid decline in the efficacy of some, but not all, azole fungicides in controlling the Septoria leaf blotch pathogen of wheat, Mycosphaerella graminicola. Hans J. Cools and Bart A. Fraaije ask the question: can widespread resistance to all azoles develop in this pathogen? Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prevalence and Control of Septoria Leaf Blotch in the Aegean Region1

While a number of common wheat diseases are well controlled in Turkey, Septoria leaf blotch (due to Septoria tritici ) has been gaining in importance in Turkey since 1967, when the Mexican wheat varieties were first imported. Surveys in six locations in the Aegean Region in April-May 1975–1977 showed that S. tritici was common throughout the region. In 1978, trials with four fungicides (mancozeb, benomyl, carbendazim in two formulations) in eight combinations showed that threefold treatment with benomyl was most effective. However, a better economic return was obtained with two applications of Derosan. The first application can usefully be combined with normal weed control.     

Effect of Fungicides on Septoria nodorum and Wheat Green Leaf Area1

Fungicides applied at different growth stages were compared for the control of wheat glume blotch, caused by Septoria nodorum (Berk.) Berk. In glasshouse and small-scale field tests, 11 commercially used fungicides, when applied to fully emerged wheat ears, cv. Hobbit, gave only partial control of ear infection by spores applied immediately after spraying. They gave better control of infection of leaves by a similar inoculum. Larger field trials, moreover, indicated better foliar and ear disease control from fungicide applications made before ear emergence, compared with those applied later. In another field trial, nine fungicides were applied to replicated plots of winter wheat, cultivars Atou and Hobbit at GS 31, GS 39, GS 55 or GS 71. On five occasions from anthesis (25 June) until 30 July disease was assessed and green leaf area measured. The trial was harvested on 22 August 1980. Significantly greater yields and grain weights were obtained from plots sprayed with fungicide at GS 39 than from those sprayed at any other time or left unsprayed. Treatments made before symptoms of infection by S. nodorum developed (i.e. before GS 55) prolonged the duration of green leaf areas during the post-anthesis period. Grain weight and yield increases were related closely to the duration of green leaf area above 75 96, but not to the amount of green leaf area at any single assessment nor to the subsequent degree of disease development. The data on which this abstract is based form part of a continuing research programme, the results of which will be published in full at a later date. Full details on the 1980 results referred to above appear in the Annual Report of Long Ashton Research Station (1980).     

Sensitivity of Mycosphaerella graminicola (anamorph: Septoria tritici) to DMI fungicides across Europe and impact on field performance

Since the occurrence and spread of resistance to quinone outside inhibitors (QoI) in Mycosphaerella graminicola in the early 2000s in Europe, demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) form the backbone for control of Septoria leaf blotch. European monitoring studies, carried out by various research institutes and DMI manufacturers, have shown a shift of the European M. graminicola population towards increased ED₅₀ values for DMI fungicides. Populations of M. graminicola consist of very heterogeneous isolates within a region, and even within a field, in terms of DMI sensitivity. Sensitivity to DMIs is influenced by the haplotype of CYP51, the target of DMIs. New CYP51‐haplotypes have emerged and the frequency of less sensitive haplotypes in Europe has increased in recent years. Studies with efflux transporter inhibitors showed that not only CYP51, but also enhanced efflux, may play a role in the DMI sensitivity response. Sensitivity studies with 5 DMIs registered for Septoria leaf blotch control indicated that sensitivity of isolates to the 5 DMIs is heterogeneous and the overall correlation of sensitivity to the different DMIs is poor. A key requirement for sustainable control and resistance management of Septoria leaf blotch is therefore the continued availability of different DMIs.     

Effect of foliar diseases of wheat on the physiological processes affecting yield under semi-arid conditions

The effects of Septoria leaf blotch (caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola) and leaf rust (caused by Puccinia recondita ) on the physiological processes affecting yield were studied under semi-arid conditions in Israel. In the absence of water stress, photosynthetic activity decreased as the rate of disease development increased. Transpirational activity was reduced in leaves infected by Septoria leaf blotch, but intensified in leaves with slight leaf rust infections (0.5-5% severity). When leaf rust seventy exceeded 5%, the transpirational water loss declined. Both diseases were associated with a decrease in the maximum rate of grain-weight accumulation, but did not affect the duration of weight accumulation. An inverse linear relationship between disease and final grain weight was observed. Under conditions of water stress, photosynthetic activity of leaves slightly infected by Septoria leaf blotch (1-5"., severity) was greater than that of uninfected leaves. Severely infected leaves (" 25% severity) photosynthesized the least. Both diseases were associated with a decrease in the maximum rate of grain weight accumulation, but the duration of accumulation was longer in tillers with a slow rate of disease development than in uninfected tillers. The relationship between disease and final grain weight in these cases was parabolic; yield was increased at low levels of infection. Theoretical explanations and practical implications of these phenomena are presented and discussed.     

Yield Reduction in Wheat in Relation to Leaf Disease From Yellow (tan) Spot and Septoria Nodorum Blotch

Yellow or tan spot (caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and septoria nodorum blotch (caused by Phaeosphaeria nodorum) occur together and are a constraint to wheat yields in Australia. Recently, higher crop yields and lower fungicide costs have made fungicides an attractive management tool against these diseases. Yield-loss under different rates of progress of yellow spot and septoria nodorum blotch was examined in four experiments over three years to define the relationship between disease severity and yield. In these experiments, differences in disease were first promoted by inoculations either with P. tritici-repentis-infected stubble or aqueous spore suspensions of P. nodorum. Disease progress was further manipulated with foliar application of fungicide. The pattern of disease development varied in each year under the influence of different rainfall patterns. The inoculation and fungicide treatments produced differences in disease levels after flag leaf emergence. The infection of yellow spot or septoria nodorum blotch caused similar losses in grain yield, ranging from 18% to 31%. The infection by either disease on the flag or penultimate leaf provided a good indication of yield-loss. Disease severity on flag leaves during the milk stage of the crop or an integration of disease as area under the disease progress curve on the flag leaves based on thermal time explained more than 80% variance in yield in a simple regression model. The data provided information towards the development of disease management strategies for the control of septoria nodorum blotch and yellow spot.     

Influence of aldicarb on root lesion nematodes, leaf disease and root rot in wheat and barley

The effects of aldicarb on populations of root lesion nematodes (primarily Pratylenchus penetrans ) and on grain yields of spring barley and wheat were examined in the field over 3 years, 1981*83. The incidence of barley net blotch ( Pyrenophora teres ), wheat leaf blotch ( Leptosphaeria nodorum ), and common root rot ( Cochliobolus sativus ) was also recorded in 1982 and 1983. Aldicarb treatments reduced the size of root lesion nematode populations in soil and roots in all years, except in the mid-season soil sample in 1983. The severity of leaf disease was decreased only in 1982, but the incidence of root rot was not significantly affected by the nematticide. Although aldicarb increased cereal grain yields by approximately 15% there was no significant relationship between numbers of root lesion nematodes in roots and soil and fungal disease symptoms on barley and wheat.     

The combined effects of multiple diseases and climatic conditions on thousand kernel weight losses in winter wheat

Thousand kernel weight (TKW) is a yield component associated with grain quality. It is reported in the literature that TKW is significantly influenced by varieties, agro-ecological conditions and disease indices, but the influence of their interactions on TKW loss has rarely been taken into consideration. The main objective of this study was to examine the combined effects of multiple diseases and climatic conditions on TKW losses in winter wheat. Leaf rust, powdery mildew, and Septoria tritici blotch were considered biotic predictor variables in regression models explaining TKW losses. Monthly averages of temperature, relative humidity and total rainfall in May and June in the 2006–2013 growing seasons were used as abiotic predictor variables. The results of this study indicated a significant low positive correlation between yield loss and TKW loss in the two varieties. TKW losses were less influenced by leaf rust, powdery mildew, and Septoria tritici blotch than yield losses. The significant influence of the interaction between variety and the environmental conditions on TKW loss was confirmed from the general linear model function. The results of this study indicated that factors influencing yield and yield component losses are part of the complex environment, and the relationship between them should be investigated with respect to their interactions.     

Biology and control of cephalosporium stripe of wheat

Cephalosporium stripe, caused by the fungus Cephalosporium gramineum, is the only known vascular wilt disease of small grain cereals. The pathogen causes characteristic striping of leaf blades and sheaths, but can also result in seedling death, stunting, and sterile seed heads (white heads). Cephalosporium stripe is a disease of autumn (fall)‐sown wheat, especially in cool and wet production regions. The disease is further favoured by early sowing, reduced tillage practices, low pH soils, and by frost heaving that damages roots. Infections occur almost entirely from spores produced on surface crop debris that are washed into the soil, although a low level of seed transmission can also occur. The pathogen colonizes root epidermis and cortical cells, subsequently moves into the vascular tissue, and eventually spreads throughout the entire plant. Production of fungal toxin(s) and extracellular polysaccharides probably play an important role in pathogenesis. Cultural practices such as delayed sowing, crop rotation, destruction of crop debris, liming of soil and fertilizer management all have potential to reduce the incidence of cephalosporium stripe. All of these cultural practices have negative economic impacts and/or increase soil erosion, and thus there is much interest in the development of resistant cultivars. There is potential for introgression of highly effective resistance from wild species into cultivated wheat. Genes for quantitatively inherited resistance can also be accumulated within cultivated wheat to attain moderate resistance. The continued use of cultivars with moderate resistance will probably be sufficient for long‐term control of the disease.     

PCR-based Assays to Assess Wheat Varietal Resistance to Blotch (Septoria Tritici and Stagonospora Nodorum) and Rust (Puccinia Striiformis and Puccinia Recondita) Diseases

A multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect and quantify four fungal foliar pathogens in wheat. For Septoria tritici (leaf blotch) and Stagonospora nodorum (leaf and glume blotch), the -tubulin gene was used as the target region. Diagnostic targets for Puccinia striiformis (stripe or yellow rust) and P. recondita (brown rust) were obtained from PCR products amplified with -tubulin primer sequences. Final primer sets were designed and selected after being tested against several fungi, and against DNA of infected and healthy wheat leaves. For detection of the four pathogens, PCR products of different sizes were amplified simultaneously, whereas no products were generated from wheat DNA or other non-target fungi tested. The presence of each of the diseases was wheat tissue- and cultivar specific. Using real-time PCR measurements with the fluorescent dye SYBR Green I, PCR-amplified products could be quantified individually, by reference to a standard curve generated by adding known amounts of target DNA. Infection levels for each of the diseases were measured in the flag leaf of 19 cultivars at Growth Stage (GS) 60–64 in both 1998 and 1999. The infection levels for the cultivars were ranked, and showed, with a few exceptions, a good correlation with the NIAB Recommended List for winter wheat, which is based on visual assessment of symptoms. With PCR, the presence of the different pathogens was accurately diagnosed and quantification of pre-symptomatic infection levels was possible. Although sampling and DNA detection methods need further optimisation, the results show that multiplex PCR and quantitative real-time PCR assays can be used in resistance screening to measure the interaction between different pathogens and their hosts at different growth stages, and in specific tissues. This should enable an earlier identification of specific resistance mechanisms in both early-stage breeding material and field trials.     

Fungitoxicity of bromo- and iodo-3,5-dinitrobenzoates

Esters of 2-bromo-, 4-bromo-, 2-iodo- and 4-iodo- 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acids show considerable antifungal activity in spore germination tests against Alternaria brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea, Septoria nodorum and Uromyces fabae. They act as protectant fungicides against Erysiphe graminis, Puccinia recondita and Septoria nodorum on wheat and Botrytis fabae on broad bean. The most active compounds are methyl and ethyl 4-bromo-3,5-dinitrobenzoates which give better control of wheat rust than oxycarboxin and methyl 4-iodo-3,5-dinitrobenzoate which is at least as effective as captan against Septoria leaf spot on wheat. Several of the esters are superior to captan in controlling chocolate spot on broad bean.     

Control of septoria leaf blotch of wheat and powdery mildew of barley with antitranspirant epidermal coating materials

The effect of several epidermal coating polymers (antitranspirants) on two leaf diseases, Septoria leaf blotch and powdery mildew, was studied in wheat and barley, respectively. The commercial antitranspirants ‘Wilt Pruf’ and ‘Vapor Gard’ were the most effective polymers in controlling both diseases.     

Role of Ascospores in Further Spread of QoI-Resistant Cytochrome b Alleles (G143A) in Field Populations of Mycosphaerella graminicola

ABSTRACT Strobilurin fungicides or quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) have been used successfully to control Septoria leaf blotch in the United Kingdom since 1997. However, QoI-resistant isolates of Mycosphaerella graminicola were reported for the first time at Rothamsted during the summer of 2002. Sequence analysis of the cytochrome b gene revealed that all resistant isolates carried a mutation resulting in the replacement of glycine by alanine at codon 143 (G143A). Extensive monitoring using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing revealed that fungicide treatments based on QoIs rapidly selected for isolates carrying resistant A143 (R) alleles within field populations. This selection is driven mainly by polycyclic dispersal of abundantly produced asexual conidia over short distances. In order to investigate the role of sexually produced airborne ascospores in the further spread of R alleles, a method integrating spore trapping with real-time PCR assays was developed. This method enabled us to both quantify the number of M. graminicola ascospores in air samples as well as estimate the frequency of R alleles in ascospore populations. As expected, most ascospores were produced at the end of the growing season during senescence of the wheat crop. However, a rapid increase in R-allele frequency, from 35 to 80%, was measured immediately in airborne ascospore populations sampled in a wheat plot after the first QoI application at growth stage 32. After the second QoI application, most R-allele frequencies measured for M. graminicola populations present in leaves and aerosols sampled from the treated plot exceeded 90%. Spatial sampling and testing of M. graminicola flag leaf populations derived from ascospores in the surrounding crop showed that ascospores carrying R alleles can spread readily within the crop at distances of up to 85 m. After harvest, fewer ascospores were detected in air samples and the R-allele frequencies measured were influenced by ascospores originating from nearby wheat fields.     

Characterization and pathogenicity of Septoria gaurina associated with leaf blotch disease on Gaura parviflora in China

Gaura parviflora, a flowering plant of the family Onagraceae, is regarded as an invasive plant in China, but is subject to leaf blotch disease. Based on morphological features, we identified the causal agent to be Septoria gaurina. However, the phylogenetic position of S. gaurina remains unknown. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), β-tubulin (Tub2), actin (Act), calmodulin (Cal), translation elongation factor 1-α (EF), and 28S nrDNA (LSU) nucleotide sequences indicated that the isolates belonged to the Septoria genus. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the isolates produced symptoms on the leaves of G. parviflora. These symptoms included small, water-soaked, circular lesions formed on leaves inoculated with conidial droplets, and bigger, water-soaked lesions on leaves inoculated by conidial spraying. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. gaurina as the causative agent of leaf blotch disease of G. parviflora in China.     

Decreasing azole sensitivity of Z. tritici in Europe contributes to reduced and varying field efficacy

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Septoria tritici blotch (STB; Zymoseptoria tritici) is the most important leaf disease of wheat in Northern and Western Europe. The problem of fungicide...     

Sensitivity towards DMI fungicides and haplotypic diversity of their CYP51 target in the Mycosphaerella graminicola population of Flanders

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Septoria leaf blotch, caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola, is the most important wheat disease in Northwestern Europe, and is currently...     

Update on mechanisms of azole resistance in Mycosphaerella graminicola and implications for future control

This review summarises recent investigations into the molecular mechanisms responsible for the decline in sensitivity to azole (imidazole and triazole) fungicides in European populations of the Septoria leaf blotch pathogen, Mycosphaerella graminicola. The complex recent evolution of the azole target sterol 14α‐demethylase (MgCYP51) enzyme in response to selection by the sequential introduction of progressively more effective azoles is described, and the contribution of individual MgCYP51 amino acid alterations and their combinations to azole resistance phenotypes and intrinsic enzyme activity is discussed. In addition, the recent identification of mechanisms independent of changes in MgCYP51 structure correlated with novel azole cross‐resistant phenotypes suggests that the further evolution of M. graminicola under continued selection by azole fungicides could involve multiple mechanisms. The prospects for azole fungicides in controlling European M. graminicola populations in the future are discussed in the context of these new findings. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

植物病原菌对杀菌剂多药抗性的发生现状

近年来, 随着杀菌剂在农作物病害田间防治中的大量使用, 植物病原菌的多药抗性(multidrug resistance, MDR)现象发生越来越普遍。本文综述了在草坪币斑病、灰霉病、小麦叶枯病和苹果青霉病等病害防治中, 病原菌对杀菌剂多药抗性发生的情况。以及在紫外诱导和杀菌剂离体驯化下, 致病疫霉Phytophthora infestans、立枯丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani、指状青霉Penicillium digitatum的多药抗性发生情况。分析了导致植物病原菌多药抗性产生的外排转运蛋白过表达、解毒酶代谢和靶标位点变化等相关机制, 并在此基础上提出了多药抗性预防和治理的策略, 以期为田间杀菌剂的高效利用, 延缓药剂的抗性风险提供科学参考。