Consumption of aphid honeydew,a wheat yield reduction factor,by phyllosphere yeasts under field conditions

Aphid honeydew on wheat leaves can affect host physiology directly and can stimulate infection by necrotrophic pathogens. The role of naturally occurring saprophytes on wheat flag leaves in removing aphid honeydew was examined in five field experiments at different locations in the Netherlands in 1987 and 1988. Aphid populations, saprophyte populations and aphid honeydew were measured weekly. Diseases were monitored at 1–4 week intervals.In the control treatment, sprayed with water, the naturally occurring saprophytes consumed the honeydew almost completely, except in one experiment in which the aphid population increased very rapidly. In the treatments in which the saprophytes were reduced by the broad-spectrum fungicide maneb in 1987 and with maneb alternated with anilazin in 1988, honeydew accumulated. The observed honeydew consumption by the naturally occurring saprophytic population is ascribed mainly to pink and white yeasts (Sporobolomyces spp. andCryptococcus spp., respectively).Additional treatments showed, that in the presence of the naturally occurring saprophytes the yield loss per aphid-infestation-day was lower than when the saprophytes were inhibited by fungicides, showing that yeasts can reduce the detrimental effect of aphid honeydew in wheat.     

Interaction between phyllosphere yeasts, aphid honeydew and fungicide effectiveness in wheat under field conditions

Aphid honeydew can reduce fungicide effectiveness against necrotrophic pathogens of wheat under controlled conditions. In 1988 and 1989, field experiments were carried out at different locations in The Netherlands, to assess the interference of honeydew with fungicide effectiveness under field conditions, and to establish whether honeydew consumption by naturally occurring saprophytes could prevent this effect. Different combinations of chemicals were used to create differences in saprophytic population densities and aphid populations, which were expected to result in differences in the amount of honeydew and other nutrients on the leaves. In two of the experiments, Septoria nodorum was the only necrotrophic pathogen present; in the other two the only necrotroph was S. tritici . On several sampling dates, the effect of the fungicides was significantly enhanced by addition of insecticide, most often when the saprophytes were reduced by maneb/anilazine. This effect of insecticide is ascribed to prevention of interference of honeydew with fungicide activity, and not to a direct effect of insecticide, as insecticide alone had no effect on necrosis. On the basis of the fact that interference of honeydew with fungicide activity was most apparent when saprophytic population densities were reduced, it is concluded that the naturally occurring saprophytes can generally prevent the effect of honeydew. The same interactions are likely to occur between other nutrients and fungicides, and it is therefore argued that the naturally occurring saprophytes should be protected by elimination of harmful chemicals.     

Role of Fungicides in Maximizing Grain Yield of Barley1

Application of fungicides to cereals normally increases grain yield, this usually being accounted for by control of well-defined diseases. Sometimes, however, yield increases are obtained when apparently trivial amounts of defined diseases are present or when their control seems insufficient to explain the observed benefit. Explanation for these ← unexpected → increases have been sought in: a) control of ← weak → pathogens or organisms not considered pathogenic but which may accelerate leaf senescence, and b) direct effects of fungicides on the plant's physiology. Whatever the precise explanation in individual instances, we may ask whether there is some general relationship linking fungicidal action, plant growth and yield. In barley, recent studies of controlled epidemics of powdery mildew have shown: a) that there is a strong correlation between severity and duration of mildew and reduction in green leaf area (GLA) integrated over time; b) that the grain yield of plants is highly correlated (r values often approaching unity) with values of GLA integrated for the period from seedling emergence to anthesis. The data also show that retranslocation of stored carbohydrate, produced before anthesis, plays an important role in grain filling, and indicate that mildew post anthesis may have little effect on yield. The main implication of these studies is that, in barley, fungicide treatments which increase GLA prior to anthesis are likely to enhance yield. Evidently this may be achieved by different means (control of pathogens, including ← weak → pathogens, or by directly extending the functional life of leaves); the end result, in terms of grain yield, will, however, be the same.     

Effect of fungicides on the complex of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> species and saprophytic fungi colonizing wheat kernels

Fusarium head blight of wheat, often associated with mycotoxin contamination of food and feed is caused by various Fusarium species. The efficacy of fungicide sprays for the control of the disease and mycotoxins varies from being highly effective to even increasing mycotoxin levels. The potential role of antagonistic fungi in this variability was investigated assessing sensitivity of Fusarium species and saprophytic fungi colonizing wheat kernels to fungicides. Saprophytes were tested for their antagonistic activity to the prevalent Fusarium species Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, and Fusarium poae. Fungal isolates from mature winter wheat kernels were Alternaria alternata, Arthrinium sp., Aspergillus niger, Epicoccum sp., Microdochium spp., Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma sp. In dual culture A. niger, R. oryzae and Trichoderma hamatum were more effective in reducing mycelial growth of Fusarium species than Microdochium majus; A. alternata and Epicoccum sp. were ineffective because of slow growth rates. Saprophytic fungi were sensitive to triazoles; however, prothioconazole and tebuconazole had stronger effects on mycelial growth of Fusarium species. ED₅₀ values also indicated significant differences in the sensitivity of Fusarium species to triazoles (range 0.1–1.7 mg l⁻¹). Azoxystrobin and fluoxastrobin were largely ineffective in inhibiting in vitro growth of Fusarium spp.; sensitivity of the other fungi was generally lower, except for M. majus which was highly sensitive. Due to differences in fungicide sensitivity among Fusarium spp. and ear-colonizing fungi antagonistic to Fusarium spp. fungicides are likely to modify the balance within the mycoflora of wheat ears which may also affect the mycotoxin contamination of grain.     

Comparative Analysis of the Role of Substrate Specificity in Biological Control of Botrytis Elliptica in Lily and B. Cinerea in Cyclamen with Ulocladium Atrum

Biological control of Botrytis spp. by the fungal antagonist Ulocladium atrum is based on their interaction in plant tissue. U. atrum is effective against B. cinerea in commercial cyclamen crops but not effective against B. elliptica in lily crops. Based on the necrotrophic nature of the Botrytis spp. and the saprophytic nature of U. atrum it is hypothesised, and experimentally confirmed, that the interaction between Botrytis spp. and U. atrum, resulting in a biocontrol effect, only takes place in necrotic plant tissue. The role of necrotic tissue in the epidemiology of B. cinerea in cyclamen and B. elliptica in lily was found to be different. Removal of symptomless senescing leaves resulted in a significant reduction of the area under the disease severity progress curve (AUDPC) for B. cinerea in cyclamen but had no effect on the disease severity in lily. U. atrum applications significantly reduced B. cinerea AUDPC values in cyclamen but were less efficient than the removal of senescing leaves. In lily, disease severity was not affected by applications of U. atrum. It is concluded that necrotic cyclamen tissue, not killed by B. cinerea, plays an important role in the onset of disease. Colonisation of this tissue by U. atrum prevents saprophytic colonisation of those leaves by B. cinerea. In contrast, conidia of B. elliptica directly infect healthy lily leaf tissue. U. atrum applications aimed at blocking the infection pathway from a saprophytic base are therefore not effective against B. elliptica. Control options based on competitive interactions in and around B. elliptica lesions resulted in a reduced production of conidia by B. elliptica but proved ineffective against disease development. The potential of U. atrum as a biocontrol agent against Botrytis spp. and possibly against other necrotrophs appears to be determined by the competitive saprophytic ability of the antagonist in mutual substrates of pathogen and antagonist and by the role of these substrates in disease epidemiology.     

The effect of pollen on the fungal leaf microflora of Beta vulgaris L. and on infection of leaves by Phoma betae

Studies were made on the leaf-inhabiting fungus flora of two plots of flowering sugarbeet. Flowers were removed from plants of one plot as they appeared. Changes in the numbers of micro-organisms on leaves were recorded by leaf washing and leaf homogenization techniques, and were found to follow closely the changes in numbers of pollen grains seen on cleared leaf discs. The main colonizers, grouped into pink yeasts, white yeasts,Cladosporium spp. andAureobasidium pullulans, were all influenced by the natural presence of pollen and reached high numbers on leaves in the plot bearing flowers. Rainfall was not found to influence numbers of pollen grains or micro-organisms greatly, but high temperature led to isolation of smaller numbers of pink and white yeasts. Recovery of populations was swift after hot weather, and may be linked with the high contamination of fieldcollected sugarbeet pollen by components of the microflora. The spectrum of fungi growing from washed leaf discs differed qualitatively from assessments made by washing and homogenization.Rye pollen stimulatesPhoma betae to aggressive infection of sugarbeet leaves on which, due to the prevention of a natural pollen deposit, the development of the leaf microflora is meagre. Sugarbeet plants in both plots were inoculated with conidia ofP. betae with or without added rye pollen. The presence of a dense microflora, associated with a high natural pollen deposit, reduced the incidence of aggressive infection normally stimulated by the addition of rye pollen to inoculum.     

Asymptomatic weeds are frequently colonised by pathogenic species of Fusarium in cereal‐based crop rotations

Several Fusarium species cause harmful cereal diseases, such as fusarium head blight and crown rot, which, during pathogenesis, may result in significant grain yield and quality losses. Several species of agricultural weed are believed to be alternative and reservoir hosts for Fusarium spp.; however, studies have not comprehensively evaluated those weed species in cropping systems that may harbour these fungi. The objective of this study was to determine weed species in cereal‐based crop rotations that are asymptomatically colonised by Fusarium spp. We sampled all species of weed present in fields that were managed under six different crop sequences in 2015 and 2016. The study yielded 2326 single‐spore isolates of Fusarium spp. derived from various organs of asymptomatic weeds. Isolates were identified morphologically and then confirmed using PCR with species‐specific primers and/or sequencing of tef1α gene fragments. Isolates of nine Fusarium spp. were obtained from 689 of the 744 individuals collected that represented 56 weed species. Each weed species harboured at least one species of Fusarium, and >80% were colonised by 3–9 Fusarium spp. In total, we identified 27 dicotyledonous weed species that were previously undocumented as Fusarium hosts and 251 new weed × Fusarium species combinations were revealed. Consequently, there is a greater risk of negative Fusarium impacts on cereal crops than was previously thought. We suggest effective weed management and inversion soil tillage may help mitigate these impacts.     

Reaction of saprophytic bacteria from potato peel extracts and plant pathogenic bacteria in ELISA with antisera to Erwinia chrysanthemi (serogroup O1Ha)

The specificity of two antisera raised to whole cells ofErwinia chrysanthemi (Ech), serogroup O₁H_a, was studied in double antibody sandwich (DAS-) ELISA with 100 strains of different plant pathogenic bacteria (PPB), including 39 Ech strains, and of one of these antisera with 900 saprophytic bacteria isolated from extracts of potato peelings of Dutch seed potatoes grown in several production areas.All tested European Ech strains from potato reacted positively while no reactions were observed with any of the other plant pathogenic bacterial species. Two saprophytes (A254 and A256), both identified as pectinolyticPseudomonas fluorescens species, cross-reacted strongly with polyclonal antibodies against Ech. Non-specific reactions were found in DAS-ELISA with 16 saprophytes. The detection limits for the individual saprophytes varied between c. 10⁵ and 10⁹ cells.ml^–1. The non-specific reactions were also found with monoclonal antibodies (mca 2A4) against a proteinase K resistent epitope of Ech and with antisera against other plant pathogens including an antiserum against potato virus Y^N. The non-specific reactions were observed in DAS-ELISA, but not in Ouchterlony double diffusion or immunofluorescence colonystaining, whereas A254 and A256 reacted in all tests, but only with antibodies against Ech. When in making dilution series potato peel extracts were used instead of phosphate buffered saline with 0.1% Tween 20, the 14 non-specifically reacting saprophytes only reacted at concentrations of 10⁹ cells.ml^–1 or higher. Only one of these 14 saprophytes was able to multiply on injured potato tuber tissue.In contrast to most saprophytic strains, the saprophytes A254 and A256 reacted strongly in ELISA in dilutions series made with potato peel extracts. A256 was able to grow on potato tuber tissue but only under low oxygen conditions; A254 did not grow at all on potato tissue.Defatted milk powder or bovine serum albumin added to the dilution buffer for the enzymeconjugated antibodies, drastically reduced the non-specific reactions, but not the reactions with A254 and A256.To reduce the cross-reaction with A254, an Ech antiserum was absorbed with A254. This resulted in a substantial drop in antibody reaction with the homologous antigen in Ouchterlony double diffusion.     

Bioassays using detached tobacco leaves to determine the sensitivity of Peronospora tabacina to fungicides

Two bioassay methods are described which use detached tobacco leaves to measure the sensitivity of Peronospora tabacina to systemic fungicides. Tobacco leaves (13–15 cm²), treated with fungicides before or after detachment from the plant, were inoculated with sporangia in water drops and, after incubation in beakers and Petri plates, the disease severity and/or production of sporangia was determined 4–7 days after treatment with the fungicides. Of 15 systemic fungicides applied to detached leaves, eight N-phenylamides at 0.066?1.0 μg ml^?1 controlled blue mould; metalaxyl was the most effective fungicide. Isolates of P. tabacina, collected in the field from tobacco plants grown in soil treated with metalaxyl, were not resistant to the fungicide applied to detached leaves prior to inoculation. The fungicide, applied to leaves before detachment, was used to measure the efficacy of five systemic N-phenylamide fungicides sprayed on the basal and unsprayed distal portions of the leaves. Blue mould was controlled on the basal portion of the leaf by all the fungicides at 0.66?1.0 μg ml^?1, but it required the application of 3–30 times more chemical on the basal portion to achieve comparable blue mould control on the distal part of the leaf.     

Effect of acibenzolar-S-methyl, strobilurins and other fungicide treatments on phylloplane fungi of crops

Strobilurins, broad-spectrum fungicides used to control various diseases, may also inhibit the growth of nontarget fungi in the natural environment. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) is a plant activator; however, the effect of ASM on the growth of microflora on the leaf surface is not clear yet. ASM, strobilurins and other fungicides were sprayed on Japanese pear and cucumber plants in the field. Variations in the morphological characteristics and rDNA-ITS nucleotide sequence of isolated phylloplane fungi were evaluated. The isolation frequency of Alternaria spp., Aureobasidium spp., Cladosporium spp. and Myrothecium spp. on Japanese pear leaves treated with kresoxim-methyl and polycarbamate was lower than on nontreated pear leaves. Moreover, the frequency of Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Epicoccum spp. and Fusarium spp. on leaves of two cucumber cultivars treated with azoxystrobin, triflumizole and mancozeb was lower than the frequency of fungal isolation on nontreated cucumber leaves. The effect of ASM on fungal isolation frequency was not significantly different from that on nontreated pear or cucumber leaves. The fungal genera observed and isolation frequency on the leaves treated with polycarbamate, azoxystrobin, triflumizole and mancozeb tended to be reduced compared to the no-spray treatment.     

Interactions of fungicides and leaf saprophytes

Phylloplane micro-organisms may metabolise substances present on the leaf surface, they may interact with leaf pathogens and they may be involved in the process of senescence. The effects of fungicides on many leaf saprophytes are, however, largely unknown. Studies under both field and laboratory conditions have indicated that wide spectrum protectant fungicides, such as captan, captafol and zineb, are as effective against the saprophytic flora as they are against plant pathogens. If the leaf surface microflora is restricted by fungicides then antagonism towards pathogens will also be reduced, but beneficial results may ensue if the microbial impact on senescence is lessened. Field trials with barley have demonstrated that it is possible to delay senescence by using fungicide sprays.     

A diagnostic medium for the semi-selective isolation and enumeration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas axonopodis</Emphasis>pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">vignicola</Emphasis>

A semi-selective medium for isolation of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plant and soil samples was developed. Twelve carbon and five nitrogen sources were tested with four strains of X. axonopodispv.vignicola, and 25 antibiotics were screened against saprophytes. -cellobiose (10g) was selected as the optimal carbon source. Among the antibiotics, cefazoline inhibited growth of most of the saprophytes with little effect on strains of the pathogen. ,-methionine enhanced growth of X. axonopodispv.vignicola. Boric acid along with ammonium chloride suppressed growth of Pseudomonas fluorescens. The semi-selective medium designated as cefazoline-cellobiose-methionine (CCM) medium contained K₂HPO₄ 1.34g, KH₂PO₄ 0.4g, MgSO₄ 0.3g, H₃BO₃ 0.2g, NH₄Cl 1.0g, -cellobiose 10g, cycloheximide 0.2g, ,-methionine 1.0g, cefazoline 10mg and agar 14g per l of water (pH 7.2). Colonies of X. axonopodispv.vignicola on CCM medium were whitish, round, raised and 0.2–1.8mm in diameter 96h after incubation. CCM medium generally inhibited growth of Pantoea agglomerans, Bacillus subtilis and saprophytes isolated from cowpea leaves. Colonies of Pseudomonas fluorescens and a saprophytic bacterium, which were not completely suppressed by CCM, could be differentiated from X. axonopodispv.vignicola by their smaller size and different color. The CCM medium proved useful for isolation of X. axonopodispv.vignicola from cowpea plant and soil samples. This is the first report of a semi-selective medium developed for detection of X. axonopodispv.vignicola.     

Pesticides and the Honey Bee

Abstract

In wheat fields, irrigated with treated sewage water, the performance of six herbicides: bromoxynil/MCPA; bentazon/ dichlorprop; diclofop‐methyl; tralkoxydim; pendimethalin and bromophenoxim; and some their combinations were assessed at two different locations around the city of Riyadh. The common weeds include: Lolium spp.; Phalaris spp.; Avena spp.; Malva spp.; Chenopodium spp. and others. The best weed control treatments were: bentazon/dichlorprop followed by bromoxynil/MCPA for the broad‐leaved, and diclofop‐methyl followed by tralkoxydim for the grassy weeds. The combinations of bromoxynil/MCPA with either pendimethalin or tralkoxydim were far more effective against the broad‐leaved weeds, and significantly improved the wheat growth and yield, compared with the single treatments. However, bromoxynil/MCPA combination with diclofop‐methyl was less effective against the grassy and broad‐leaved weeds than each of them. Bromophenoxim showed an effective control of the whole weeds, with appreciable improvement in the wheat growth and yield.     

Some Consequences of Cereal Monoculture on Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) Arx & Olivier and the Take-all Disease1

Studies were made of isolates of Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) Arx & Olivier var. tritici J. Walker from different length crop sequences of wheat and barley following permanent grassland. Studies were done on the influence of cropping intensity of soils, natural and steam disinfested, on disease expression from added inoculum. Efforts were also made to detect interactions between isolates and soils from the same and different cropping sequences. Investigation of variability in the pathogen related to virulence and specificity as well as to saprophytic traits. In general, mean virulence of isolates increased up to the point where approximately peak disease levels occurred in the field, and diminished subsequently. Host specificity of isolates from a monospecies system was also pronounced at this point whereas it was not evident in the first 2 crops; it did not increase further after the 5th or 6th cereal of a single species. There was evidence of loss of competitive saprophytic ability in isolates from long sequences as against those from 1st, 2nd and 3rd crops after permanent pasture. A differential sensitivity response from Gliomastix murorum (Cda.) Hughes var. felina (Marsh) Hughes was observed with isolates from 1 to a 3 year sequence compared with isolates from sequences of 4 to 8 years. Isolates from a 1st to a 3rd crop restricted colony growth of G. murorum in culture whereas those from 4th to the 8th cereal were overgrown by this fungus. Isolates from the 1st cereal after grass darkened considerably with age, those from a 2nd less so and those from a 3rd successive crop remained almost totally hyaline; those from longer sequences darkened considerably but were very variable for this trait. The influence of soil from more intensively cropped cereal sequences, which was destroyed by steam disinfestation, was to depress disease levels from applied inoculum. This soil inhibitory effect set in between the first and 3rd cereal.     

The survival and saprophytic competitive ability of the Botrytis spp. antagonist Ulocladium atrum in lily canopies

In 1995, conidia of Ulocladium atrum were applied to a canopy of green lily (Lillium spp.) leaves in order to investigate its survival, colonisation of artificially induced necrotic leaf tissues and competitive ability against Botrytis spp. and naturally occurring saprophytes. U. atrum conidia density cm^-2 at the top and middle canopy levels was not significantly different following application of the antagonist with a propane powered backpack sprayer. In repeat experiments, conidia density on leaves at the lower canopy level was 18% to 20% of that deposited onto leaves at the top of the lily canopy. There was a significant (P < 0.001) linear decline of U. atrum conidia over time and after 21 days conidia density had declined by up to 73%. Germination of U. atrum on green leaves in the field reached a maximum of 81%, seven days after antagonist application. Conidial viability, measured as germination potential, declined slightly (100% to 88%) after seven days exposure to field conditions but there were no further changes in the germination potential even after 21 days of field exposure. The germination potential was not affected by canopy level. The ability of surviving U. atrum conidia to colonise necrotic tissues, artificially induced with paraquat, was measured. U. atrum colonisation was consistently highest on necrotic leaves at the top level of the canopy and consistently lower on leaves from the bottom canopy level. Necrotic leaf colonisation by U. atrum decreased over time from 51% (necrosis induced immediately after antagonist application) to 21% when necrosis was induced 21 days after antagonist application. A significant (P < 0.001) linear relationship (R² = 0.713) between colonisation of necrotic tissues and conidia density prior to induction of necrosis was detected. When necrosis was induced immediately after antagonist application, U. atrum outcompeted commonly occurring saprophytic Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp. The ability of U. atrum to significantly reduce colonisation by Alternaria spp. was maintained for up to 21 days. Botrytis spp. did not occur in these field experiments. It was concluded that U. atrum had the ability to survive and persist in the phyllosphere for up to 21 days in the field and provided further evidence that U. atrum has the necessary survival characteristics to be a successful biological control agent of Botrytis spp.     

Control of seed-borne pathogens on legumes by microbial and other alternative seed treatments

Greenhouse trials were carried out in order to test the efficacy of different seed treatments as alternatives to chemicals against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum cause of anthracnose on bean and Ascochyta spp. cause of Ascochyta blights on pea, respectively. Resistance inducers, commercially formulated microorganisms, non-formulated selected strains of different microorganisms (fungi, bacteria and yeasts) and plant extracts were applied as dry or liquid seed treatments on naturally infested seeds. Seedling emergence and disease incidence and/or severity were recorded. Almost all seed treatments turned out to be ineffective in controlling the Ascochyta infections, which is in line with the literature stating that these pathogens are difficult to control. The only alternative treatments that gave some control of Ascochyta spp. were thyme oil and a strain of Clonostachys rosea. The resistance inducers tested successfully controlled infections of bean by C. lindemuthianum. Among the formulated microorganisms, Bacillus subtilis-based formulations provided the best protection from anthracnose. Some strains of Pseudomonas putida, a disease-suppressive, saprophytic strain of Fusarium oxysporum and the mustard powder-based product Tillecur also proved to be effective against bean anthracnose. However, among the resistance inducers as well as among the other groups, certain agents caused a significant reduction of plant emergence. Different alternative seed treatments can therefore be used for the control of C. lindemuthianum on bean, while on pea only thyme oil and a strain of Clonostachys rosea showed some effectiveness against Ascochyta spp.     

Defining the resistance risk of the new powdery mildew fungicide quinoxyfen

The new powdery mildew fungicide quinoxyfen belongs to the novel quinoline class of chemistry. Although its biochemical mode of action is unknown, quinoxyfen does not act in the same way as other cereal fungicides. It is a systemic protectant which inhibits the early stages of mildew infection on a wide range of crops, and provides season-long protection from a single early-season spray applied around GS 31. The base-line sensitivity profile of quinoxyfen was defined for barley powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei) from over 340 field isolates collected from different parts of the UK from 1991 onwards. Sensitivities ranged from <0·0001→0·16 mg litre^-1 with a mean of 0·003 mg litre^-1. Current work is extending the base-line sensitivity studies to wheat powdery mildew (E. graminis f.sp. tritici), and includes isolates from European trials, but so far this new data set has shown no differences from barley powdery mildew. Quinoxyfen-resistant mutants were generated in the laboratory, and some similar resistant strains were obtained from treated field crops. These laboratory and field strains were always defective, in some way, for sporulation and, curiously, all required the presence of quinoxyfen for survival in culture. Attempts to generate resistant mutants that sporulated normally were unsuccessful. These studies suggested that the resistance risk for quinoxyfen is low. The recommended anti-resistance strategy accompanying introduction of quinoxyfen avoids seed treatments and late-season applications. Instead, a single early (GS 31) treatment using either pre-formulated mixtures or alternating with a fungicide with different mode of action is recommended. This strategy will be supported by continued monitoring of wheat and barley powdery mildew. ©1997 SCI     

Experiments with isoproturon for the control of weeds in winter cereal crops

Isoproturon controlled Phalaris spp., Lolium spp., Avena sterilis L. and Papaver rhoeas L. in winter cereal crops, the dosages applied being in accordance with the different texture of the soils on which the herbicide was tested in the province of Toledo (Spain). The competitive effects of the weeds, particularly Avena sterilis were ascertained on a range of cereal parameters, not only those influencing yield, but also the grain weight/straw weight ratio. The influence of climatic and edaphic conditions on the efficiency of the herbicide was also investigated.     

Multiparametric analysis of diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> isolates from Israel

The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea, known as the causal agent of gray mold, is ranked second for its phytopathological global-impact. The disease is controlled by cultural means and fungicides, however, these techniques have variable effect on different fungal isolates due to the plasticity of the pathogen populations. Here we studied and characterized the genetic and virulence associated variability of B. cinerea isolates from different sources. Starting from initial survey of 31 B. cinerea isolates, collected from seven hosts in different locations of Israel, we have focused on 10 isolates that exhibited potential phytopathogenic variability. Two genetic markers (microsatellite) Bc1 and Bc7, were able to differentiate between these isolates. Our analysis demonstrates significant variability in saprophytic growth rate, necrotrophic growth rate on tomato leaves and stems, and in the incidence of infection on leaves of whole plants. Following the observation of significant correlation between saprophytic growth rate, and necrotrophic growth on leaves, we have studied normalized (by saprophytic growth) virulence. Utilization of normalized necrotrophic growth rate enabled to indicate on the presence of virulence mechanisms other than growth rate, for several isolates. Exploration of this direction illustrated variability in resistance to paraquat (associated with resistance to oxidation), which was associated with high and low superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene expression for selected isolates showing high or low paraquat resistance, respectively. Finally, we have used unsupervised learning (clustering analysis) to explore patterns in the multivariable space, which demonstrated two modes of pathogenicity in the tested B. cinerea isolates.     

Chrysanthemum White Rust1

Since its introduction from South-east Asia into several western European countries, chrysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana) has become a serious problem for chrysanthemum growers. This rust is easily spread, by spores and infected plant material, and chemical control is laborious. Some EPPO countries are still able to prevent its establishment. Other EPPO countries, with a ← settled → white rust condition, have developed an inspection system which enables them to keep the disease at a low level. The approach in both situations is discussed.