Sensitivity of fungi from cereal roots to fluquinconazole and their suppressiveness towards take-all on plants with or without fluquinconazole seed treatment in a controlled environment

The take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici , was highly sensitive to fluquinconazole ( in-vitro EC₅₀ 0·016–0·018 mg L⁻¹), a fungicide developed for use as a seed treatment to control take-all, and to prochloraz (EC₅₀ 0·006 mg L⁻¹). Fungi of other genera that were commonly isolated from cereal roots were sensitive in varying degrees to prochloraz but were relatively insensitive (e.g. Fusarium culmorum , EC₅₀ > 20 mg L⁻¹) or slightly sensitive (e.g. Epicoccum purpurascens , EC₅₀ 0·514 mg L⁻¹) to fluquinconazole. Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis and G. cylindrosporus , weak parasites that can protect roots against take-all, and an unnamed Phialophora sp., all closely related to the take-all fungus, were highly or moderately sensitive to fluquinconazole. Alternaria infectoria and E. purpurascens were most consistently effective in suppressing development of take-all on pot-grown wheat plants dual-inoculated with G. graminis var. tritici and the nonpathogen. Take-all was decreased more on dual-inoculated wheat plants grown from seed treated with fluquinconazole or fluquinconazole plus prochloraz than when only an antagonistic fungus ( A. infectoria , E. purpurascens , Fusarium culmorum or Idriella bolleyi ) or a seed treatment was applied. These fungi were less effective in combination with seed treatments on barley. Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis and G. cylindrosporus , tested on wheat, suppressed take-all only in the absence of fungicides. It is suggested that the performance of seed treatment containing fluquinconazole against take-all may in some circumstances be enhanced by its partial specificity for the take-all fungus.     

Sensitivity of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa to demethylation-inhibiting fungicides in Ontario, Canada, after a decade of use

In late 2003, nine populations of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa in Ontario Canada (seven of which had been previously sampled in early 1994, prior to the registration of sterol demethylation-inhibiting (DMI) fungicides for turf disease control in Canada) were sampled and tested for sensitivity to propiconazole. Four of the nine populations had not been treated with DMI fungicides during the intervening years, and isolates from these locations were sensitive to propiconazole (geometric mean EC₅₀ values of 0·005–0·012 µ g mL⁻¹, compared with 0·005–0·008 µ g mL⁻¹ for the original 1994 populations). Among the five populations from 2003 that had been exposed to DMI fungicides, mean EC₅₀ values were significantly greater, ranging from 0·020 to 0·048 µ g mL⁻¹. A significant correlation of determination was found between estimated number of fungicide applications and log EC₅₀ ( R ² = 0·832, P  = 0·0001), and the equation predicted that 42·3 applications of propiconazole would be needed to bring a sensitive population (EC₅₀ < 0·01  µ g mL⁻¹) to a resistant level (EC₅₀ > 0·10  µ g mL⁻¹). Fungicide sensitivity vs. duration of fungicide efficacy was also tested, and it was found that isolates with decreased sensitivity were able to more quickly overcome the inhibitory effects of fungicide application, reducing the duration of control from 3 weeks to 2 weeks.     

Sensitivity to cymoxanil in populations of Plasmopara viticola in northern Italy

In 1993, control failures were reported on grapevine in northern Italy under severe downy mildew pressure after postinfection application of cymoxanil in mixtures with copper or mancozeb. A monitoring survey was started immediately in Piedmont (north-western Italy) in order to determine the sensitivity of populations of Plasmopara viticola to cymoxanil from those vineyards where the fungicide was not controlling the disease satisfactorily. In 1994 and 1995, monitoring surveys were extended to north-eastern Italy, where cymoxanil mixtures were not performing as well as in the past. Sampled populations were tested on detached leaf discs and on whole potted plants under controlled conditions. In 1993, 12 populations, sampled in Piedmont, showed MIC values (minimum inhibitory concentration) varying from 10 to more than 100 mg L⁻¹ cymoxanil. With a baseline reference population having a MIC value of 3 mg L⁻¹, resistance factors ranged from 3 to more than 30. In 1994, 17 populations out of 27 sampled in Trentino (north-eastern Italy) showed MIC values of 100 mg L⁻¹ or higher and in 1995, 32 populations out of 38 showed the same behaviour. In similar experiments, the MIC values of populations from nontreated plots were between 3 and 10 mg L⁻¹. In whole potted plant tests, populations with MIC values higher than 200 mg L⁻¹ in a leaf disc test were not controlled by 500 mg L⁻¹ of cymoxanil. The results of our study suggest that resistance to cymoxanil in P. viticola may contribute to a lack of disease control in Italian vineyards.     

Control of Penicillium expansum by plant volatile compounds

Nine plant volatiles were tested for their activity in vitro and in vivo against Penicillium expansum , the cause of blue mould of pear. In vitro spore germination and mycelial growth assay showed a consistent fungicidal activity by trans -2-hexenal, carvacrol, trans -cinnamaldehyde and citral, while hexanal (-)- carvone, p -anisaldehyde, eugenol and 2-nonanone exhibited a progressively lower inhibition. trans -2-Hexenal was the best inhibitor of conidial germination [MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) = 24·6  µ L L⁻¹; ED₅₀ = 10·2  µ L L⁻¹], while carvacrol was the best inhibitor of mycelial growth (MIC = 24·6  µ L L⁻¹; ED₅₀ = 9  µ L L⁻¹). The four most active compounds in in vitro studies were tested in vivo as fumigants against blue mould on pear cv. Conference. Best control was achieved by trans -2-hexenal vapour treatments (12·5  µ L L⁻¹) when applied over a 24-h period, beginning 24 h after inoculation. In contrast, carvacrol (12·5–200  µ L L⁻¹), and trans -cinnamaldehyde (50–400  µ L L⁻¹) were ineffective and citral (200  µ L L⁻¹) showed only slight effect.     

Fungicide sensitivity in Swedish isolates of Phaeosphaeria nodorum

This is the first report of variability in sensitivity of Phaeosphaeria nodorum to the fungicide azoxystrobin, and also reports on sensitivity to propiconazole, prothioconazole and cyprodinil. An in vitro sensitivity test of 42 isolates from five Swedish winter wheat fields, collected in 2003–2005, was performed on malt extract agar amended with six concentrations of each fungicide. Four isolates collected during the early 1990s, before azoxystrobin had been commercially used in agriculture, were used as references. Fragments of DNA from 231 isolates, including the reference isolates, were sequenced for the genes of cytochrome b and CYP51 in search for amino acid substitutions known to cause loss of sensitivity to strobilurins and triazoles, respectively. The majority of the P. nodorum isolates possessed the amino acid substitution G143A, associated with loss of sensitivity in fungi to strobilurins, except in one field where only half of the isolates had the substitution. The EC₅₀ values varied between 0·66 mg L⁻¹ to estimations far above 1000 mg L⁻¹, with an estimated median value of 366 mg L⁻¹. The EC₅₀ values of the reference isolates ranged from 0·02 to 80·72 mg L⁻¹. The P. nodorum population is still sensitive to propiconazole, prothioconazole and cyprodinil, even though some isolates varied in sensitivity to triazoles. Part of the CYP51 gene, a possible target for triazole sensitivity, was sequenced but no nonsynonymous substitutions were found.     

Plant sensitivity to atrazine and chlorsulfuron residues in a soil-free system

The sensitivity of 22 major crops, pastures and weeds from the north-east grain region of Australia to atrazine and chlorsulfuron residues was determined in a glasshouse using a soil-free bioassay system. A logistic equation was fitted to the seedling fresh weights as a function of the logarithm of herbicide concentration by non-linear regression and used to calculate the doses for 10%, 30% and 50% inhibition of seedling growth (ID₁₀, ID₃₀ and ID₅₀). The ID₅₀ for atrazine ranged from 0.03 to 0.04 mg a.i. L^–1 for Salvia reflexa Hornem. and barley to 1.47 mg a.i. L^–1 for sorghum. The ID₅₀ for chlorsulfuron ranged from 0.19 to 0.21 μg a.i. L^–1 for lucerne and snail medic to 102 μg a.i. L^–1 for wheat. Based on ID₅₀ values measured, the predicted responses of each species to a range of concentrations of atrazine and chlorsulfuron were classified into four categories ranging from no damage to severe damage. These sensitivity data will assist in planning cropping sequences in soils previously treated with atrazine or chlorsulfuron.     

Occurrence of Corynespora cassiicola isolates resistant to boscalid on cucumber in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

A total of 651 isolates of cucumber corynespora leaf spot fungus ( Corynespora cassiicola ) collected from cucumber in Japan, either with (438 isolates) or without (213 isolates) a prior history of boscalid use, were tested for their sensitivity to boscalid by using a mycelial growth inhibition method on YBA agar medium. Additionally, seven isolates of C. cassiicola obtained from tomato, soybean, eggplant (aubergine) and cowpea in different locations in Japan were tested before boscalid registration. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 50% effective concentration (EC₅₀) values for 220 isolates from crops without a prior history of boscalid use ranged from 0·5 to 7·5 μg mL⁻¹ and from 0·04 to 0·59 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Two hundred and fourteen out of 438 isolates collected from ten cucumber greenhouses in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, which received boscalid spray applications showed boscalid resistance, with MIC values higher than 30 μg mL⁻¹. Moreover, resistant isolates were divided into two groups: a moderately resistant (MR) group consisting of 189 isolates with EC₅₀ values ranging from 1·1 to 6·3 μg mL⁻¹, and a very highly resistant (VHR) group consisting of 25 isolates with EC₅₀ values higher than 24·8 μg mL⁻¹. MR isolates were detected from all ten greenhouses, but VHR isolates were detected from only three. As a result of fungus inoculation tests which used potted cucumber plants, control failures of boscalid were observed against resistant isolates. Efficacy of boscalid was remarkably low against VHR isolates in particular. This is the first known report on boscalid resistance in Japan.     

Crude extract of the cyanobacterium, Hapalosiphon sp., causes a cessation of root elongation and cell division in several plant species

The phytotoxic activities of the crude extract from the cyanobacterium, Hapalosiphon sp., on the initial growth and root cell division of several plant species were investigated. Although the germination percentages of the plants were not affected by the extract, their root and shoot growth were remarkably suppressed, depending on the extract concentrations. Roots were more sensitive to the extract than shoots and the sensitivity, determined by the I₅₀ concentrations between the susceptible and tolerant species, differed by 5 and 11 times in dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants, respectively. The mitotic index for wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Norin 61) root cells was not affected, but the mitotic index for onion ( Allium cepa L. cv. Raputa II) was reduced with the increasing concentration of the extract. In the onion root meristem, the number of cells in prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase were decreased significantly with 6 g DW L⁻¹ (g dry weight of algae L⁻¹). This suggests that the extract might inhibit the processes regulating the entry of cells into mitosis.     

Sensitivity of Phytophthora infestans to flumorph: in vitro determination of baseline sensitivity and the risk of resistance

The sensitivity of 127 Phytophthora infestans isolates to flumorph was determined in 2003 and 2004. The isolates originated from two geographical regions and showed similar levels of sensitivity in both years. Baseline sensitivities were distributed as a unimodal curve with EC₅₀ values for growth of mycelia ranging from 0·1016 to 0·3228  µ g mL⁻¹, with a mean of 0·1813 (± 0·0405) µ g mL⁻¹. There was no cross-resistance between flumorph and metalaxyl. Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the risk of P. infestans developing resistance to flumorph. Mutants resistant to metalaxyl or flumorph were obtained by treating mycelium of wild-type isolates with ultraviolet radiation. Metalaxyl-resistant mutants were obtained with a high frequency and exhibited resistance factor values (EC₅₀ resistant/EC₅₀ sensitive phenotypes) of more than 100, while flumorph-resistant mutants were obtained at much lower frequencies and had very small resistance factors (1·5–3·2). There was cross-resistance between flumorph and dimethomorph, but not with azoxystrobin or cymoxanil. Most flumorph-resistant mutants showed decreases in hyphal growth in vitro and in sporulation both in vitro and on detached leaf tissues. These studies suggested that the risk of resistance developing was much lower for flumorph than metalaxyl. However, as P. infestans is a high-risk pathogen, appropriate precautions against resistance development should be taken.     

A rapid reliable test for screening aryloxyphenoxy- propionic acid resistance within Alopecurus myosuroides and Lolium spp. populations

A reliable seedling bioassay was developed and tested for the rapid screening for resistance to aryloxyphenoxypropionic (APP) herbicides in Alopecurus myosuroides and Lolium spp. populations. It is based upon the difference in coleoptile length of resistant and susceptible A. myosuroides and Lolium seedlings, respectively, exposed to fenoxaprop-P acid and diclofop acid solution for 6 days in a plastic box. A 6 mg L⁻¹ fenoxaprop-P acid solution was selected as the best concentration for a reliable screening of resistant biotypes within A. myosuroides populations. At this concentration, coleoptile lengths of susceptible and resistant seedlings were shorter and longer than 10 mm respectively. Similarly, resistant seedlings within Lolium populations were easily detected at 10 mg L⁻¹ diclofop acid. At this concentration, coleoptile lengths of susceptible and resistant seedlings were shorter and longer than 20 mm respectively. For both populations, the coleoptile length distributions appear to discriminate between two kinds of APP-resistant biotypes (highly and slightly resistant).     

In vitro somatic growth and reproduction of phenylamide-resistant and -sensitive isolates of Phytophthora erythroseptica from infected potato tubers in Idaho

Pink rot of potato, most commonly caused by Phytophthora erythroseptica , is a major field and post-harvest problem in southern Idaho, USA, particularly since 1998 when isolates resistant to the phenylamide fungicide metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam) were detected. Isolates of P. erythroseptica were collected from infected tubers in 2001 and 2002 from six Idaho counties and tested for resistance to metalaxyl-M on amended agar. Metalaxyl-M resistant (MR) and metalaxyl-M-sensitive (MS) isolates were identified in six counties; 160 isolates were highly resistant, seven moderately resistant and 57 sensitive to metalaxyl-M with mean EC₅₀ values of 182, 23 and 0·5 mg L⁻¹ ai metalaxyl-M, respectively. Mycelial growth rates and oospore production in agar were assessed for 20 MS and 20 MR isolates at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. Growth rates of MR isolates were between 2·5 and 3·1 times greater ( P  < 0·05) than those of MS isolates at 10, 15, 20 and 25°C, and oospore production was between 6·8 and 20·5 times greater ( P  < 0·0001) for MR than for MS isolates at the same temperatures. Colony growth in V8 broth at 18°C was greater for MR than MS isolates ( P  < 0·0032). However, zoospore production at 18°C was greater for MS than for MR isolates ( P  < 0·0109), and zoospore production m m ⁻¹ of colony circumference was also greater for MS than for MR isolates, 14 191 and 9959, respectively ( P  = 0·0109). Sexual reproduction of MR isolates in nature may be greater than MS isolates, but MS isolates may be more asexually fit based on the fitness parameters studied.     

Antifungal vapour-phase activity of allyl-isothiocyanate against Penicillium expansum on pears

The fungitoxicity of allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC) vapour against Penicillium expansum , the causal agent of blue mould on pears (cvs Conference and Kaiser), was evaluated. The best control of blue mould was obtained by exposing fruits for 24 h in a 5 mg L⁻¹ AITC-enriched atmosphere, the extent of control depending on the inoculum density. Lesion diameter was inversely related to AITC concentration. In treated fruits the percentage of infected wounds increased with conidial concentration, with fewer than 20% affected at 1 × 10³ conidia mL⁻¹ to almost 80% at 1 × 10⁶ conidia mL⁻¹. In comparison, >98% of wounds were infected in untreated fruits irrespective of conidial concentration. AITC treatments were effective up to 24 h after inoculation for Conference and 48 h for Kaiser. AITC treatments also controlled a thiabendazole-resistant strain of P. expansum , reducing the incidence of blue mould by 90% in both cultivars. The use of AITC produced from pure sinigrin or from Brassica juncea defatted meal may be an economically viable alternative to synthetic fungicides against P. expansum .     

Sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea from vegetable greenhouses to boscalid

Between 2004 and 2006, 228 isolates of Botrytis cinerea from two regions in China were characterized for baseline sensitivity to boscalid, a new active ingredient that interferes with succinate ubiquinone reductase in the electron transport chain. The isolates showed similar sensitivity in different years and regions. Baseline sensitivities were distributed as unimodal curves with mean EC₅₀ values of 1·07 (± 0·11) and 0·42 (± 0·05) mg L⁻¹ for inhibition of mycelial growth and conidial germination, respectively. Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the risk of development of resistance to boscalid. Boscalid-resistant mutants were obtained by UV-treatment at lower frequencies and with smaller resistance factors than pyrimethanil-resistant mutants. All boscalid-resistant mutants were also significantly more sensitive to Qo inhibitors than their wild-type parents and showed reduced sporulation in vitro and pathogenicity on aubergine leaves. The results suggested that the risk of resistance developing for boscalid was lower than for pyrimethanil. However, as B. cinerea is a high-risk pathogen, appropriate precautions against resistance development should be taken. Synergism between the activity of boscalid and that of kresoxim-methyl was observed.     

Prohexadione-calcium induces sunflower (Helianthus annuus) resistance against the root parasitic weed Orobanche cumana

Prohexadione-calcium (PHDC) is a plant growth retardant that inhibits gibberellin biosynthesis and transiently alters the spectrum of flavonoids and their phenolic precursors. In this study, root chamber and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of PHDC on Orobanche cumana seed germination and induction of sunflower resistance to this root parasitic weed. Root chamber experiments indicated that PHDC did not interfere with the progress of Orobanche seed germination, but retarded O. cumana tubercle formation and development. In pot experiments, control of O. cumana by PHDC depended on its dose, method of application and sunflower cultivar. In sunflower cv. HA89, PHDC at 10 mg LS⁻¹ (litre soil) as two drenches or at 1 m m as two foliar sprays significantly reduced the total number and dry matter of O. cumana without influencing flower, leaf and root development. In sunflower cv. Albena, PHDC at 20 and 30 mg LS⁻¹, but not at 10 mg LS⁻¹, as two drenches significantly reduced O. cumana infection. Sunflower cv. HA89 was less susceptible to O. cumana and more inducible by PHDC than sunflower cv. Albena. The biochemical analysis of root extracts revealed a significantly higher accumulation of free phenolics in sunflower cv. HA89 after PHDC soil drench, but not in Albena. No significant lignification was observed after PHDC treatments. The results suggest that PHDC reduces O. cumana infection in sunflower by inducing host resistance, not by directly interfering with the parasite. Free phenolics play an important role in sunflower response to the parasite.     

Characterization of aryl acylamidase activity from propanil-resistant barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv.)

The enzyme, aryl acylamidase, was characterized in propanil-susceptible and propanil-resistant barnyardgrass with respect to kinetic parameters, the effects of inhibitors, and the levels of activity in dark- and light-grown tissues. The enzyme reaction in the resistant tissue preparation proceeded linearly with time over a 5 h time course, while activity in the susceptible tissue preparation was 2- to 4-fold lower and the activity tended to decrease after 2 h. The apparent K_m values were 62.1 mmol L⁻¹ and 3.1 mmol L⁻¹ for the enzyme activity in the susceptible and resistant tissue preparations, respectively. Two herbicides (anilofos and piperophos), previously shown to synergize propanil injury against the resistant biotype, were found to be potent inhibitors of the in vitro aryl acylamidase activity.     

A semiselective medium for the isolation of Acidovorax valerianellae from soil and plant debris

Bacterial black spot of corn-salad ( Valerianella locusta ) caused by Acidovorax valerianellae appeared in France in the beginning of the 1990s. The disease is now widespread in the main area of corn-salad production and is responsible for high depreciation and significant economic losses every year. A semiselective medium is described for the detection of the bacterium in various environments and to identify primary sources of inoculum. The medium TSAV (tryptic soy broth, 3 g L⁻¹, agar 15 g L⁻¹, 5-fluorouracyl 5 mg L⁻¹, novobiocin 5 mg L⁻¹, propiconazole 5 mg L⁻¹) increased chances of obtaining cultures of A. valerianellae from naturally infested soil and from root-debris. Using TSAV, the pathogen was detected in root-debris up to 39 days after the harvest of a diseased crop. As only a few days usually separates harvest from the next sowing date, soil is likely to be an important source of inoculum for the next crop.     

Characterization of reactive oxygen species-involved oxidative damage in Hapalosiphon species crude extract-treated wheat and onion roots

Crude extract-induced oxidative damage using the cyanobacterium, Hapalosiphon sp., was investigated in wheat seedlings ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Norin 61) and onion seedlings ( Allium cepa L. cv. Raputa II). The analysis of root cell viability or cell death using Evans blue uptake showed that the root-tip cells of wheat and onion lost viability after 24 h and 48 h treatment with 3 g dry weight (DW) L⁻¹ of the crude extract, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was induced in the roots of both species and the shoots of onion, whereas no increase in lipid peroxide formation was observed in the wheat shoots. In onion, the degree of random DNA fragmentation increased with the increasing concentration of the extract and laddering of the DNA was observed with 6 g DW L⁻¹ of the extract, but no apparent DNA ladder formation occurred in the wheat. Pretreatment for 1 h with the NADPH oxidase inhibitors, diphenyleneidonium or imidazole, reduced the crude extract-induced root cell death in both species. From the results, we suggest that the Hapalosiphon sp. crude extract might enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which causes membrane lipid damage and fragmentation of the DNA of plant cells, resulting in cell death and growth inhibition. The crude extract-mediated phytotoxic damage might be caused by ROS, triggered by NADPH oxidase.     

Effects of benzothiadiazole and acetylsalicylic acid on β-1,3-glucanase activity and disease resistance in potato

Benzothiadiazole (BTH), as Bion WG50, and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) treatments of potato foliage of field- and glasshouse-grown potato plants were compared for control of two foliar diseases, early blight ( Alternaria solani ) and powdery mildew ( Erysiphe cichoracearum ). The effect of these treatments on harvested tubers wound-inoculated with the dry rot fungus ( Fusarium semitectum ) was also evaluated. BTH (50 mg a.i. L⁻¹) gave almost complete control of both foliar pathogens on inoculated glasshouse-grown plants and reduced the severity of leaf spotting diseases (mainly early blight) in the field. BTH (100 mg a.i. L⁻¹) and ASA (400 mg a.i. L⁻¹) reduced the severity of dry rot in field-grown tubers in some post-harvest wound-inoculated treatments but not others and a similar reduction occurred with tubers inoculated post-harvest from BTH-treated plants grown under glasshouse conditions. BTH treatment increased β-1,3-glucanase activity in leaves > stem > tubers > stolons but not in roots. Increased enzyme activity was recorded for up to 45 days post-treatment.     

A qualitative quick-test for detection of herbicide resistance to tribenuron-methyl in Papaver rhoeas

A qualitative seed-based method useful for the detection of resistance to the herbicide tribenuron-methyl in Papaver rhoeas L. is described. Seeds were germinated on 35 mL of a 1.3% agar medium containing 2 g KNO₃ L^–1 in 8.5 cm Petri dishes in a growth chamber under 20 μmol s^–1 m^–2 of fluorescent light. When 0.24 μM tribenuron-methyl or more was added, growth in susceptible plants stopped after the cotyledon stage and they turned chlorotic. The resistant plants continued developing new leaves. The same effect was achieved when 0.2 g gibberellin (GA₃) L^–1 and 7.68 μM tribenuron-methyl or 0.5 g GA₃ L^–1 and 61.44 μM tribenuron-methyl were added. Germination percentage rose with gibberellin in the presence or absence of the herbicide. Plants developed rapidly, with only about 14 d needed to finish the test but sometimes root growth was reduced because of the addition of gibberellin. In the absence of gibberellin but in the presence of the herbicide, plants grew more slowly and developed smaller leaves with a 17-d evaluation period requirement. The test was validated with pot experiments in a greenhouse and also with field trials. The best combination was found to be 0.2 g GA₃ L^–1 and 7.68 μM tribenuron-methyl, assuring homogenous germination and testing of dormant seeds but avoiding root inhibition associated with too much gibberellin.     

Host–parasite relationships of Meloidogyne incognita on spinach

Host–parasite relationships in root-knot disease of spinach caused by Meloidogyne incognita race 1 were studied under glasshouse conditions. Nematode-induced mature galls were large and usually contained one or more females and egg masses with eggs. Feeding sites were characterized by the development of giant cells containing granular cytoplasm and many hypertrophied nuclei. The cytoplasm in these giant cells was aggregated alongside the thickened cell walls. Stelar tissues within galls appeared disorganized. The relationship between initial nematode population density ( P _i) in a series from 0–128 eggs and second-stage juveniles per cm³ soil and growth of spinach cv. Symphony F₁ seedlings was tested under glasshouse conditions. A Seinhorst model [ y = m  + (1 −  m ) z ^P–T ] was fitted to fresh top- and total plant-weight data for inoculated and control plants. Tolerance limits ( T ) of spinach cv. Symphony F₁ to M. incognita race 1 for fresh top and total plant weights were 0·25 and 0·5 eggs and second-stage juveniles per cm³ soil, respectively. The minimum relative values for fresh top and total plant weights were zero in both cases at P _i ≥ 32 eggs and second-stage juveniles per cm³ soil. Root galling was least at low initial population densities and greatest at 16 eggs and second-stage juveniles per cm³ soil. Maximum nematode reproduction rate was 33·1-fold at the lowest P _i.