膜下滴灌水肥调控对玉米生长和水肥利用的影响

针对汾河灌区农业生产中施肥量大,水肥利用效率低的问题,通过研究滴灌条件下不同水肥供应对春玉米生长、干物质累积、分配、转运和产量及水肥利用的影响,为合理的水肥调控措施提供参考。在山西省水利水电科学研究院节水高效示范基地进行大田滴灌试验,设置3个灌水水平,即W_1:60%ETc、W_2:80%ETc、W_3:100%ETc(ETc为作物蒸发蒸腾量); 3个施肥水平(N-P_2O_5-K_2O),即F_1:100-50-50 kg·hm~(-2)、F2:170-75-75 kg·hm~(-2)、F_3:240-100-100 kg·hm~(-2)。结果表明:除产量构成要素外,施肥单因素对其它各指标影响有统计学意义,株高、叶面积指数、干物质累积和产量均随灌水和施肥量的增加而增加,水肥交互作用对产量和灌溉水利用效率影响不显著;高水(W3)处理比低水(W1)处理籽粒分配比例高4%,高肥(F_3)处理比低肥(F1)处理籽粒分配比例高4.64%; W_3F_3处理产量最大为12 474.34 kg·hm~(-2),比W_1F_1处理增产38.36%,W_2F_2处理比W_3F_3处理减产5.2%,但节水528 m~3·hm~(-2),节肥120 kg·hm~(-2)。灌溉水利用效率随灌水量增加而降低,随施肥量增加而升高,肥料偏生产力随灌水量增加而增加,随施肥量增加而降低; W_2F_2处理产量灌溉水利用效率为5.61 kg·m~(-3),比W_3F_3处理高18.9%,产量偏肥料生产力为37.05 kg·kg~(-1),比W_3F_3处理高30.7%。综合高产、高效和节水、节肥等因素,灌水量为80%ETc,施肥量NP_2O_5-K_2O 170-75-75 kg·hm~(-2)为最优灌溉施肥模式。     

不同灌水量对膜下滴灌冬马铃薯生长及水分利用效率的影响

通过田间试验,设置1350 m3·hm~(-2)、1650 m3·hm~(-2)、1950 m3·hm~(-2)、2250 m3·hm~(-2)4个灌水量和1个常规沟灌为对照,研究膜下滴灌对马铃薯的生长、产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明:膜下滴灌马铃薯生长发育快,株高、单株茎叶鲜重、单株结薯数、单株块茎鲜重高于常规沟灌,膜下滴灌较沟灌增产6 416.08 kg·hm~(-2),增产21.29%,水分利用率高79.5 kg·hm~(-2)·mm-1。膜下滴灌下不同灌水量马铃薯水分利用率随灌水量增加呈降低趋势,产量和耗水量随灌水量增加而增加,滴灌1950 m3·hm~(-2)的产量最高,为39 732.0 kg·hm~(-2),当灌水量增加到2250 m3·hm~(-2)时,产量较滴灌1950 m3·hm~(-2)处理的下降6 624.5 kg·hm~(-2),下降16.67%。从产量提高和节水方面考虑,在生育期间有效降雨量在70 mm左右时,灌水量在1650~1950 m3·hm~(-2)较为适宜。     

滴灌量对北疆复播大豆生长、生理特征和产量的影响

在大田滴灌条件下,通过设置W_1(3 000 m3·hm~(~(-2)))、W_2(3 600 m3·hm~(~(-2)))、W_3(4 200 m3·hm~(-2))、W_4(4 800 m3·hm~(-2))4个灌溉量处理,研究了滴灌量对复播大豆叶面积指数(LAI)、叶绿素含量(SPAD值)、光合速率、蒸腾速率等光合参数、干物质积累及产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,复播大豆的LAI、SPAD值在整个生育期内均表现为W_3W_4W_2W_1。从开花期至鼓粒期,叶片的光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)均随着滴灌量的增加呈现"先增后降",但叶片胞间CO2浓度(Ci)的变化却"先降后增"。全生育期单株干物质呈"S"形变化趋势;干物质最大积累速率(Vm)、快增期的持续时间(Δt)及干物质总量均以W_3处理最高。产量以W_3处理最高,为3 741.23 kg·hm~(-2),较W_1、W_2和W_4处理分别高出30.42%、13.98%和8.44%,差异达显著水平(P0.05)。灌溉水利用效率(IW_UE)在W_1、W_2、W_33个灌溉处理之间差异不显著,但均显著高于W_4处理。在本试验条件下,北疆复播大豆的最适滴灌量为4 200 m3·hm~(-2)。     

滴灌水氮运筹对南疆春小麦根系生长及产量的影响

以南疆地区春小麦新春6号为供试材料,采用土柱栽培法,通过滴灌开展水、氮两因素控制性试验,滴施纯氮量设N_0(不施氮肥)、N_1(69 kg·hm~(-2))、N_2(172.5 kg·hm~(-2))和N_3(276 kg·hm~(-2))4个水平,滴灌水量设W_1(2 250 m~3·hm~(-2))、W_2(3 000 m~3·hm~(-2))、W_3(3 750 m~3·hm~(-2))和W_4(4 500 m~3·hm~(-2))4个水平,共16个水氮组合处理。结果表明:扬花期是滴灌春小麦根系生长的高峰期,有64.52%～76.90%的根系干质量和76.39%～82.47%的根长分布在0～40 cm土层中。适当增施水氮能有效促进根系生长并提高产量,其中扬花期N_3W_3、N_2W_3、N_3W_2处理的根干质量、根干质量密度、根长、根长密度、根系直径和根系表面积较高,分别为123.0～148.3 mg、97.07～117.03 g·m~(-3)、14 405.8～16 490.8 mm、1.14～1.30 cm·cm~(-3)、0.3267～0.3365 mm和14 245～17 624 mm~2,其产量也达到8 695.7～9 966.1 kg·hm~(-2)的较高水平。N_3W_4处理的根系各项指标虽然较高,但蜡熟期下降过快,表明水氮过高对延缓根系衰亡不利。水氮对根系生长及产量具有显著的互作效应,且水分效应高于氮素效应。通过分析,本地区较适宜的水、氮供应范围分别为3 750～4 500 m~3·hm~(-2)和172.5～276 kg·hm~(-2),当施氮量259.4 kg·hm~(-2)、滴灌量3 793.4 m~3·hm~(-2)时产量可达最高为9 142.9 kg·hm~(-2)。     

地埋滴灌对紫花苜蓿耗水、产量及水分生产率的影响

为了探索地埋滴灌紫花苜蓿的最佳灌水量和滴灌带埋设深度,采用田间试验设置15.0、22.5 mm和30.0 mm三种灌水水平与10、20 cm和30 cm三种滴灌带埋设深度处理,研究灌水量、滴灌带埋深对紫花苜蓿耗水量、产量及水分生产率的影响。结果表明:地埋滴灌紫花苜蓿耗水量、产量和水分生产率均随灌水量的增加而显著增加(P0.01),均随滴灌带埋深的增加先增大(P0.01)后减小(P0.05);总生长季紫花苜蓿总耗水量为400~500 mm,总产量为7 500~12 000 kg·hm~(-2),水分生产率为1.80~2.50 kg·m~(-3)。建议地埋滴灌紫花苜蓿采用滴灌带埋深为20 cm,灌水定额为22.5~30 mm,灌水周期5~7 d的灌溉制度。     

不同灌水下限对膜下滴灌棉花土壤水盐运移和产量的影响

通过2014年在新疆巴州灌溉试验站开展的棉花膜下滴灌大田试验,在各生育期选取不同的灌水下限,设置4个水平的灌水量处理(处理A、B、C、D分别为425 mm·30次~(-1)、345 mm·22次~(-1)、545 mm·18次~(-1)、595mm·16次~(-1)),研究不同灌水下限对膜下滴灌棉花土壤水盐运移规律、盐分分布及积累特征的影响,并对土壤水盐运移规律、分布特征及棉花产量进行评价。试验以TRIME-T3管式TDR监测土壤含水率指示灌水,初步得出:不同灌水下限影响棉花的田间灌水及产量,灌水下限定的高时(处理A、B),灌水频率增加,增大了田间耗水量且滴灌土壤水分水平运动距离和范围有限,对盐分的淋洗效果一般;灌水下限较低时(处理C、D),次灌水量大,灌溉定额增加,综合控盐效果较好,棉花产量较高。基于不同灌水下限对膜下滴灌棉花生育期内的生长有显著影响,对棉花产量有一定的影响,B处理(345 mm·22次~(-1))可获得最高的灌溉水生产效率为1.79 kg·m~(-3),D处理(595 mm·16次~(-1))可获得最大籽棉产量为6 630 kg·hm~(-2)。     

微咸水膜下滴灌对土壤水盐分布及加工番茄产量的影响

为探明微咸水膜下滴灌对土壤水盐分布及加工番茄生长和产量的影响,通过大田小区试验,设置灌水矿化度和灌水定额两个因素,其中3个灌溉水矿化度水平分别为S1:1 g·L~(-1)、S2:3 g·L~(-1)和S3:5 g·L~(-1),3个灌水定额分别为W1:305 m~3·hm~(-2)、W2:458 m~3·hm~(-2)和W3:611 m~3·hm~(-2),来进一步寻求适宜本地区加工番茄生长的微咸水膜下滴灌灌溉制度。结果表明:覆膜微咸水滴灌条件下土壤含水量垂直方向的变化趋势表现为0～20 cm土层随深度增加含水量逐渐降低、20～100 cm土层随深度增加含水量逐渐增大、60～100 cm范围内土层剖面含水量最大的分布规律;土壤含盐量随着灌水矿化度的增大而增加,且随着灌水量的增加土壤盐分逐渐向水平距滴灌带35 cm处聚集。灌水矿化度超过3 g·L~(-1)时加工番茄株高、茎粗均受到一定程度的抑制作用,但对产量影响不大。本文通过试验得出:灌水定额为611 m~3·hm~(-2)、矿化度为1 g·L~(-1)处理为本地区最佳微咸水膜下滴灌处理,加工番茄生长健壮且产量最高,达到127 613.2 kg·hm~(-2);同时认为,在我国淡水资源比较缺乏的新疆地区可以考虑采用灌水定额458 m~3·hm~(-2)和灌水矿化度3～5 g·L~(-1)的微咸水对盐分中等敏感的加工番茄进行灌溉。     

灌水量对全膜垄作沟灌玉米产量及水分利用效率的影响

针对河西灌区水资源紧缺的问题,探索玉米合理的灌溉量,以期指导区域玉米合理灌溉。通过在石羊河流域设置不同的灌水量梯度,研究不同灌水量对全膜垄作沟灌玉米产量及水分利用效率,以及土壤含水率、产量要素的影响。结果表明:全膜垄作沟灌玉米灌水量从4 500 m~3·hm~(-2)增加到4 725 m~3·hm~(-2)、4 950 m~3·hm~(-2)时,产量并没有随着灌水量的增加而增加,灌水量增加到5 175 m~3·hm~(-2)时,在水分利用效率没有降低的情况下,产量相对于4 500、4 725 m~3·hm~(-2)和4 950 m~3·hm~(-2)处理明显增加11.46%、8.39%和8.54%,其中果穗长度、穗粒数和百粒重平均增加4.88%、3.27%和4.31%是其产量增加的主要原因。对于土壤含水率,玉米需水盛期的7月16日至8月3日,5 175 m~3·hm~(-2)处理显著高于其他三个处理,而灌浆期各处理间则差异不显著。与播前期相比,收获期土壤含水率降低层主要集中在20~80 cm土层,土层贮水量平均降低6.72 mm,且各处理0~110 cm土层贮水量差异并不明显。因此,本研究表明5 175 m~3·hm~(-2)为石羊河流域全膜垄作沟灌条件下的适宜灌溉量,但灌浆中后期的最后一次灌水应考虑适当降低灌水量。     

水氮调控对轻度盐化土滴灌棉花根系生长的影响

为探讨轻度盐渍化地区不同水氮配比对滴灌棉花根系生长的影响,本文基于轻度盐胁迫下水氮耦合试验,确定轻度盐渍化农田棉花种植的合理水氮组合。采用当地主栽棉花品种"农丰133",开展轻度盐胁迫(4～5 g·kg~(-1))及滴灌条件下水氮二因素三水平桶栽试验,研究3个施氮水平:300、600 kg·hm~(-2)和900 kg·hm~(-2)尿素(分别标记为N1、N2和N3),3个灌水水平:2 750、3 750 m~3·hm~(-2)和4 750 m~3·hm~(-2)(分别标记为W1、W2和W3)对滴灌棉花根系生长的影响。结果表明:轻度盐胁迫下,灌水和施氮产生的交互作用对棉花根表面积和根平均直径有显著影响,根表面积和根平均直径均随灌溉定额或施氮量的增加而减小。灌水量和施氮量对棉花0～20 cm土层根体积调控作用不明显。轻度盐化土滴灌棉花根表面积、根平均直径及根体积垂直方向主要分布在0～30 cm土层,且随土层深度的增加逐渐降低;水平方向主要分布在滴头下方。灌溉定额3 750 m~3·hm~(-2),尿素施用量600 kg·hm~(-2)有利于轻度盐化土滴灌棉花根系生长,在各处理间棉花产量最高,为5 854.5 kg·hm~(-2)。     

灌水定额对食葵耗水特征和产量的影响

为研究不同灌水定额对食葵产量及其构成因素的影响并探究其耗水规律,筛选适宜的灌溉制度,设定5个不同的灌水定额,分别为300、375、450、525、600 m~3·hm~(-2),研究了不同灌水定额对食葵产量及其构成因素和耗水指标影响的同时,为弥补大田试验分析直观性不足,在生长、果实品质、产量和耗水等指标的基础上,利用MAGA-PPC模型综合且客观评价了田间试验结果。研究表明:不同灌水定额影响食葵耗水规律,食葵耗水量、耗水强度、耗水模数和作物系数随着灌水定额增加而增大,525～600 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额下耗水量、耗水强度、耗水模数和作物系数最大。在现蕾期和成熟初期,525～600 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额对食葵耗水量、耗水强度和作物系数影响更大。300 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额下食葵耗水量先呈现出减少趋势现象。食葵盘径、产量和水分利用效率随着灌水定额的增加而增大,525 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额下产量最大(4 781.86 kg·hm~(-2)),且水分利用效率较大(14.37 kg·mm~(-1)·hm~(-2)),525 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额更适合当地食葵农田灌溉。MAGA-PPC模型评价结果表明,525 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额有利于北疆地区食葵节水增产。综上表明,建议保证食葵现蕾期和成熟初期给水量充足,选用525 m~3·hm~(-2)灌水定额。     

Epidemiology and simulation of population development of Sitobion avenae in winter wheat

The epidemiology ofSitobion avenae and its natural enemies in winter wheat was studied in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Immigration was important until the end of flowering. The alate immigrants had apterous offspring. These became the driving force in population growth. Their offspring were mostly alatae which usually left the field. A model of the epidemic was developed. Quantitative relations between the aphids and their environment were obtained from literature or established in laboratory trials. The model simulated population development and population composition from the beginning of June till the population peak at the end of June or early in July. Because quantitative data on relations between aphids and their natural enemies and pathogens are scarce, and since the knowledge on wing formation is still limited, the population collapse could not be predicted. In the future, prognosis over a period of three weeks seems possible.Samenvatting De toenemende betekenis van graanbladluizen (vooralSitobion avenae) gepaard gaande met een sterke toename van het gebruik van insecticiden op granen maakte verbetering van de prognose over het schadelijk optreden wenselijk. Door gedetailleerde tellingen in het veld (Fig. 1–7) werden gegevens verkregen over het verloop van de epidemie en het optreden van natuurlijke vijanden in 1975, 1976 en 1977.Een immigratieperiode tot in de bloei kon worden vastgesteld. Daarna lijkt de aantrekkelijkheid van het gewas voor alate luizen te verminderen. De alate immigranten krijgen aptere nakomelingen. Deze vormen de stuwende kracht van de populatiegroei. De nakomelingen van apteren zijn merendeels alaat. Zij verlaten het gewas.Een model van de populatieontwikkeling gedurende de epidemie werd opgesteld. De relatiediagrammen Fig. 9 en 10 laten groei en ontwikkeling vanS. avenae en een predator (Syrphus corollae) zien. Kwantificering van de betrekkingen werd mogelijk door literatuurgegevens en laboratoriumexperimenten.Met het model kon de populatieontwikkeling vanS. avenae vanaf begin juni tot aan de populatiepiek in 1975, 1976 en 1977 vrij goed worden gesimuleerd (Fig. 12). Ook de populatieopbouw kon worden gesimuleerd (Fig. 14). De teruggang van de populatiedichtheid blijkt moeilijker te voorspellen door het ontbreken van gegevens over natuurlijke vijanden.Het lijkt waarschijnlijk dat in de toekomst met het model een prognose over de piek van de bladluispopulatie circa 3 weken tevoren mogelijk zal zijn.     

Tumours of Begonia and some other ornamentals,induced by Corynebacterium fascians

In 1975 many tumours were observed in plants ofBegonia Schwabenland grown in Aalsmeer. Submersion of the roots ofNicotiana megalosiphon seedlings in a homogenate of tumorous tissue, induced tumours after two weeks. Short periods of submergence yielded results similar to those obtained after longer periods. Tumour homogenates lost their infectivity after ten min at 50°C. Aphids transmitted the infectious agent.Treatment with propylene oxide did not inhibit infectivity completely. Filtration through a 450 nm filter removed the infectious agent.Tobacco tumor virus or a viroid could not be isolated. Cultures ofCorynebacterium fascians, isolated from tumours ofN. megalosiphon were highly infectious and induced tumours in healthyN. megalosiphon andBegonia. Tumorous tissue homogenates ofPelargonium zonale, Dahlia sp.,Gladiolus sp., andLilium sp. also caused tumours inN. megalosiphon, from whichC. fascians was isolated. It was not possible to produce tumours inN. megalosiphon with homogenates from roses with symptoms of bud proliferation.Samenvatting In 1975 werden vele tumoren waargenomen inBegonia Schwabenland op Aalsmeerse bedrijven (Fig. 1). De infectiositeit van tumorweefsel kon goed en snel worden vastgesteld door de wortels van zaailingen vanNicotiana megalosiphon in een homogenaat van tumorweefsel te dompelen. Tumoren ontstonden na twee weken, de eindbeoordeling geschiedde na een maand (Fig. 2). Ook verschillende andereNicotiana spp.,Melilotus officinalis (Fig. 3) enPisum odoratum (Fig. 4) werden aangetast.Bij de infectiositeitstoets gaven zeer korte dompeltijden even goede resultaten als langere (Tabel 1). Infectieus sap verloor zijn infectievermogen na 10 min verhitting bij 50°C. Bladluizen brachten de smetstof over. Propyleenoxide verminderde de infectiositeit wel, doch onderdrukte deze niet totaal. Bij filtratie door een 450 nm filter bleef het infectieuse agens op het filter achter. Het tumor-inducerende agens was ook aanwezig in die delen van planten met tumoren welke gezond leken en het ging voor een gering deel over met zaad (Tabel 2).Uit tumoren konden wij geen tabakstumorvirus of een viroïde isoleren. Culturen vanCorynebacterium fascians, geïsoleerd uit tumoren vanN. megalosiphon bleken zeer infectieus en veroorzaakten tumoren inN. megalosiphon enBegonia. Homogenaten van tumorweefsel vanPelargonium zonale, dahlia (Fig. 5), gladiool (Fig. 6) enLilium Mid Century Hybrid Enchantment (Fig. 7) veroorzaakten ook tumoren opN. megalosiphon, waaruitC. fascians werd geïsoleerd. Met sap van kroeskopzieke rozen konden wijN. megalosiphon niet besmetten.     

Nematicidal Activity of Chrysanthemum coronarium

Organic amendments and green manure are potential alternatives to the harmful chemical control means currently used against plant-parasitic nematodes. In this work, Chrysanthemum coronarium was applied to the soil as a green manure to control the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica. Chrysanthemum coronarium significantly reduced nematode infection of tomato roots and improved plant-top fresh weight, both in the greenhouse and in microplots. Other green manures, derived from Anthemis pseudocotula, wild chickpea (Cicer pinnatifidum), Geranium spp. and wheat, were not as effective as C. coronarium. Chrysanthemum coronarium, retained its nematicidal activity even when applied as a dried material. Only mature C. coronarium plants, in their flowering stage, exhibited nematode control activity, but the green plant parts were more effective than the flowers. An aqueous extract of C. coronarium exhibited in vitro, nematostatic activity towards M. incognita and M. javanica second-stage juveniles and inhibited their hatching from eggs and egg-masses; its nematostatic activity was expressed also against other phytonematode species such as Heterodera avenae and Pratylenchus mediterraneus, but did not affect the beneficial entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae.     

Inactivation of soil-borne plant pathogens during small-scale composting of crop residues

Samples of heavily infested crop residues were incorporated in static compost heaps (2.5–4.6 m³) of the Indore type. Temperature increased to 50–70°C within 6 days depending on the type of crop residues used and the location within the heap. The heat phase (>40 °C) lasted 2–3 weeks and was followed by a c. 5-months maturation phase (<40 °c).=" among=" the=" 17=" pathogens=" tested,=">Olpidium brassicae and one of the four formae speciales ofFusarium oxysporum that were tested survived composting, but also their inoculum was greatly reduced.Survival during specific phases of composting was studied by incorporation and retrieval of samples at various stages of the process.F. oxysporum f. sp.melonis was completely inactivated andO. brassicae andPlasmodiophora brassicae were almost completely inactivated during the short heat phase. The three pathogens survived the long-lasting maturation phase without loss of viability. Heat evolved during composting was found to be the most important factor involved with sanitation of crop residues. The possible involvement of fungitoxic conversion products and microbial antagonism is discussed.     

浅黄恩蚜小蜂和丽蚜小蜂对温室白粉虱的寄生潜能分析

浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia GiraultDodd和丽蚜小蜂Encarsia formosa Gahan是防治粉虱类害虫的优势寄生蜂,通过生命表技术方法分析了2种寄生蜂对温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum(Westwood)的防治潜能。结果表明,丽蚜小蜂在羽化第3天和第10天出现2次寄生高峰,占其总寄生量的13.7%和8.0%,在2次高峰之间逐日寄生粉虱数量比较平稳,单雌逐日平均产雌数保持在10.6~13.4头,10 d后寄生量呈明显的下降趋势;而浅黄恩蚜小蜂羽化10 d内逐日寄生粉虱量变化不大,单雌逐日产雌数稳定在4.2~5.4头,羽化14 d后寄生量呈明显下降趋势。丽蚜小蜂和浅黄恩蚜小蜂的R0、T、rm、λ值分别为171.5、18.0、0.2854、1.3303和61.6、16.2、0.2544、1.2897;粉虱若虫充足时,丽蚜小蜂平均单雌寄生若虫数是浅黄恩蚜小蜂的2.7倍,而后者平均单雌取食若虫数为60.6头,明显高于前者42.7头,总的来看,丽蚜小蜂通过寄生和取食杀死粉虱总量220.8头,明显高于浅黄恩蚜小蜂的127.9头。表明在应用寄生蜂防治温室白粉虱时,单独释放丽蚜小蜂比浅黄恩蚜小蜂显示出更好的防治潜能。     

Diagnostics,genetic diversity and pathogenic variation of ascochyta blight of cool season food and feed legumes

Molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed to differentiate the Ascochyta pathogens that infect cool season food and feed legumes, as well as to improve the sensitivity of detecting latent infection in plant tissues. A seed sampling technique was developed to detect a 1% level of infection by Ascochyta rabiei in commercial chickpea seed. The Ascochyta pathogens were shown to be genetically diverse in countries where the pathogen and host have coexisted for a long time. However, where the pathogen was recently introduced, such as A. rabiei to Australia, the level of diversity remained relatively low, even as the pathogen spread to all chickpea-growing areas. Pathogenic variability of A. rabiei and Ascochyta pinodes pathogens in chickpea and field pea respectively, appears to be quantitative, where measures of disease severity were based on aggressiveness (quantitative level of infection) rather than on true qualitative virulence. In contrast, qualitative differences in pathogenicity in lentil and faba bean genotypes indicated the existence of pathotypes of Ascochyta lentis and Ascochyta fabae. Therefore, reports of pathotype discrimination based on quantitative differences in pathogenicity in a set of specific genotypes is questionable for several of the ascochyta-legume pathosystems such as A. rabiei and A. pinodes. This is not surprising since host resistance to these pathogens has been reported to be mainly quantitative, making it difficult for the pathogen to overcome specific resistance genes and form pathotypes. For robust pathogenicity assessment, there needs to be consistency in selection of differential host genotypes, screening conditions and disease evaluation techniques for each of the Ascochyta sp. in legume-growing countries throughout the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of pathotype diversity and aggressiveness within populations is important in the selection of resistant genotypes.     

Effects of the saprophytic leaf mycoflora on growth and productivity of winter wheat

The effects of the saprophytic mycoflora and its interference with cereal aphids on growth and yield of winter and spring wheat was studied in field experiments in 1980, 1981 and 1982.Yields varied between 5000 and 8000 kg dry matter of kernels per ha. The effect of the saprophytic mycoflora on yield was determined in different treatments: A) no control measures against cereal aphids and saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, B) no control of cereal aphids, control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, C) control of cereal aphids and control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, D) control of cereal aphids and stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora and E) control of cereal aphids, no control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi nor stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora.Considerable differences in top densities of saprophytic mycoflora (10 times as large in A and D as in B and C) were determined. The consequences of these differences for the growth and productivity of wheat were minor. A negative effect of saprophytic mycoflora on the yield could not be detected in 1981 and 1982, whereas a small positive significant effect was found in 1980. This stimulation may have been due to competition between necrotrophic fungal pathogens and saprophytic mycoflora. As a result of favourable weather conditions necrotrophic fungal pathogens were very numerous in 1980 and could form an important yield reducing factor. Yield levels may effect the importance of the necrotrophic and saprophytic mycoflora as yield reducing factors. Additionally, in the presence of aphid honeydew captafol was found to be relatively ineffective against saprophytic fungi.     

Identification and pathogenicity of Pythium species causing damping-off of kidney bean

Five Pythium species (Pythium irregulare, P. mamillatum, P. myriotylum, P. spinosum and P. ultimum var. ultimum) were isolated from the hypocotyls and roots of kidney bean plants with damping-off from a commercial field and from experimental plots that have undergone either continuous cropping with kidney bean or rotational cropping with arable crops. In inoculation tests, all five Pythium species were pathogenic to kidney bean. This is the first report of damping-off of kidney bean caused by Pythium species; we named this disease damping-off of kidney bean. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession numbers AB291811, AB291944 and AB291945.     

Survey of Bacterial and Fungal Seedborne Diseases in Imported and Domestic Potato Seed Tubers

Potato seed tubers are imported to Israel from northern Europe and planted in spring; tubers harvested early from the spring crop are used as seed for the autumn crop. Although only seed lots registered as certified are imported, a previous survey (1984–1994) indicated that most imported lots were affected by latent or active infections caused byErwinia carotovora,Streptomyces scabies, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp. andSpongospora subterranae. The survey was extended until 1998, and included additional pathogens:Ralstonia solanacearum,Helminthosporium solani, Colletotrichum coccodes andVerticillium dahliae. Most of these pathogens were also monitored in domestic seed tubers, and are reported for the first time. Brown rot was not observed in any of the imported lots. Blackleg and soft rot caused byErwinia spp. were detected in most of the imported lots; however, less than 7% of the lots were contaminated at high levels, while approximately 65% were contaminated at moderate levels. Common scab was detected in most of the imported lots; 51% of the imported lots were contaminated at moderate or high levels, whereas only 6.5% of the domestic seed lots were contaminated at these levels. Black scurf was detected in most of the imported lots; on average, 47.3%, 44.2% and 1.4% of the lots were contaminated at low, moderate and high levels, respectively, and only 7.1% were disease-free. In contrast, most of the domestic lots were either disease-free (45.4%) or had a low disease incidence (37.3%). Only 16.7% of the lots were moderately infected and 0.2% were highly contaminated. Silver scurf was observed in most of the imported lots during all years of the survey, with no differences among the producing countries; on average, 22.7%, 66.1% and 7.5% of the lots were contaminated at low, moderate and high levels, respectively, and only 3.7% were disease-free. Most of the domestic lots (76%) were disease-free and only 6.6% were infected at moderate or high levels. Black dot was observed in a considerable portion of the shipments from Holland during all years of the survey, particularly in 1998, when 34% of the lots were infected. The shipments from France and Germany were infected at low levels, except in 1998, when 19% and 11% of the lots, respectively, arrived infected. In shipments from Scotland and Ireland low incidences of the disease were observed in 1994 and 1995. In the domestic lots, black dot incidence was low (<2.4%) except in 1996, when 11% of the lots were infected.V. dahliae was monitored only in domestic seed tubers. The incidence of disease-free lots was 56–64%, whereas in 20–30% of the lots the level of infection was <5%, and in 6–16% of the lots the level was >5%. The survey findings demonstrate transmission of seedborne pathogens; most of these pathogens can become established in the soil and eventually cause severe outbreaks of disease in potatoes grown in Israel. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 16, 1999.     

Identification,incidence and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium proliferatum</Emphasis>on ornamental palms in Spain

During a survey conducted from 1998 to 2002, Fusarium proliferatum was found associated with young and adult palms belonging to the genera Chamaerops, Phoenix, Trachycarpus and Washingtonia showing symptoms of wilt and dieback. The fertility and toxicological profile of 36 strains representing different locations and hosts were studied. All of them except two, which were infertile, belonged to mating population D. Both mating types (MATD-1 and MATD-2) were isolated from the same host species, showing a high potential of genetic recombination in the field. Additionally, eight strains were fertile once crossed as female. Toxin analysis showed differences in the ability of strains to produce fumonisin B₁, moniliformin, beauvericin, fusaric acid and fusaproliferin. Only 17 of them produced all the toxins analyzed. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on Phoenix dactylifera and P. canariensis using nine F. proliferatum Spanish strains and two reference strains from Saudi Arabia. Eight months after inoculation all strains caused disease, with palms showing lesions on the bases of leaves and development of wilt symptoms similar to those originally observed in affected plants. This is the first report on the occurrence of F. proliferatum on P. dactylifera in Spain and also the first report of this pathogen on C. humilis, P. canariensis, P. reclinata, T. fortunei, W. filifera and W. robusta.