A search for anthracnose resistant cashew cultivars in Mozambique

Dwarf and common cashew (Anacardium occidentale) genotypes were screened separately for resistance against anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). Disease incidence was assessed on emerging leaves over three consecutive crop seasons in Mocuba, Meconta and Pebane districts of northern Mozambique. Evaluation the disease using leaf incidence is presented as a new field method for screening cashew genotypes resistant to anthracnose. It is fast, precise and consistent in ranking cultivars over several tree seasons. Seasonal, cultivar and disease incidence means were compared using Fishers' LSD test. The method enabled the differentiation of highly infected cultivars from those consistently tolerant across seasons and locations. No a single clone with a high level of resistance was identified out of 229 entries. However, hierarchical tables of clonal sensitivity ranked clones 1.12PA, 12.8PA and 1.18PA as tolerant and 11.9PA and 2.3BG as susceptible among the dwarfs. Among the common genotypes, clones NA7, MB77, 1.5R and MCH-2 ranked tolerant and IM1 and MU3 susceptible. Tolerant clones were therefore recommended to be used in the national cashew breeding program for further development of cashew cultivars with durable resistance to anthracnose. Further, clones such as 2.5VM, 1EM, MB75 and others that revealed incidence consistency over seasons can be used as susceptibility or tolerance standards in screening trials.     

Agronomic and economic assessment of intensive pest management of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Two common production constraints of dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Ontario are annual weeds and anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum). Dry bean is not considered a competitive crop and weed interference can result in substantial yield losses, while anthracnose is considered one of the most devastating diseases in dry bean production. A study conducted in Ontario Canada, examined the effect of two herbicide programs on weed management, thiamethoxam insecticide treatment on plant enhancement and three fungicide programs on anthracnose development in a navy bean cv. ‘OAC Rex’. The premium herbicide program (s-metolachlor + imazethapyr) reduced percent weed ground cover relative to the economic herbicide program (trifluralin) in five of six locations. Thiamethoxam increased emergence and vigour at only one location, which contradicts reported benefits of thiamethoxam on plant health. The herbicide or thiamethoxam treatments did not affect anthracnose disease severity, visible seed quality, net yield or economic return. The fungicide seed treatment was often superior to the untreated control, for a number of the parameters measured. The application date of the foliar fungicide, relative to the onset of disease, varied between site-years. This dramatically influenced the fungicide’s effectiveness. Foliar fungicides increased seed quality and net economic return compared to the control when applied prior to disease development. The combination of fungicide seed treatment followed by a foliar fungicide provided the largest reduction in anthracnose severity.     

Response of progeny bred from Bolivian and North American cultivars in integrated management systems for leaf spot of peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

Early and late leaf spot (caused by Cercospora arachidicola and Cercosporidium personatum, respectively) are major yield-reducing diseases of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the southeastern U.S. Effective suppression of both early and late leaf spot, collectively called ‘leaf spot’, can be reached with integrated disease management (IDM) systems utilizing peanut cultivars with moderate levels of resistance to these pathogens. A Bolivian landrace cultivar, Bayo Grande, and a series of progeny breeding lines were evaluated under two IDM systems consisting of various reduced application fungicide regimes and/or tillage treatments in field experiments over two years. In the absence of fungicides or when averaged across fungicide regimes, Bayo Grande and breeding lines had better leaf spot resistance when compared to cultivars Georgia Green, MDR-98 and C-99R in all experiments across years. The addition of three or four fungicide applications to Bayo Grande and several of the breeding lines suppressed leaf spot to levels similar to those genotypes and Georgia Green under the full regime. Conservation tillage reduced the need for fungicides in most genotypes in both years. Yields were higher for Bayo Grande and the breeding lines compared to Georgia Green in three of the four experiments across years. When compared across genotype, yields were greatest for the full season fungicide regime, except in 2002 when yields were similar for all treatments. Leaf spot severity was reduced in conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage in most varieties in the absence of fungicides. However, yields tended to be lower in conservation tillage treatments than in conventional tillage. Under conservation tillage, yields of Bayo Grande and two of the breeding lines were negatively impacted in one year and were overall lower in the other year. Several of these new Bolivian-derived genotypes show promise for use in a reduced fungicide and/or conservation tillage IDM system with the potential to lessen fungicide use compared to standard production practices while maintaining low leaf spot levels and high yields.     

Effect of pre-harvest calcium chloride applications on fruit calcium level and post-harvest anthracnose disease of papaya

Anthracnose disease of papaya, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz, can cause extensive postharvest losses. The goal of this research was to use pre-harvest calcium applications to reduce anthracnose disease. Six pre-harvest foliar calcium sprays were applied biweekly to papaya trees in experimental orchards at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Additional in vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to test the effect of calcium on fruit calcium content, spore germination, mycelial growth and disease severity. Calcium chloride at 1%, 1.5% and 2.0% concentrations significantly decreased spore germination. Calcium content of papaya fruit was significantly increased by calcium sprays at a concentration of 2.0% in 2012 and 2013. In vivo studies showed that increasing calcium content in fruit by calcium sprays at 1.5 and 2.0% concentrations significantly reduced anthracnose incidence of fruits during five weeks storage at 12 ± 2 °C, and delayed initiation of disease symptoms by four weeks.     

Fungicide and cultivar effects on the development and temporal progress of wheat blast under field conditions

The epidemiology of wheat blast, caused by the Triticum pathotype of Pyricularia oryzae, is poorly understood, making it very difficult to manage. We reported on the individual and combined effect of host resistance and fungicide application for managing wheat blast disease on spikes. Two field experiments (Exp. 1 and Exp. 2) were conducted in a region of Brazil where blast is not known to be endemic to evaluate its development as influenced by fungicide and host resistance. Plots of wheat cultivars BR-18 (partially resistant) and Guamirim (susceptible) were either treated with the fungicide epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin or left non-treated, and then inoculated with a spore suspension of P. oryzae at mid-anthesis. Spike blast incidence and severity, quantified at regular intervals after inoculation, increased over time, and fungicide and cultivar had statistically significant effects (P < 0.005) on both measures of disease and their temporal rates of progress. Relative to Guamirim-non-treated, BR-18-non-treated (resistance alone) led to 44 and 64% control of final incidence and severity, respectively, in Exp. 1, and 3 and 49% control, respectively, in Exp. 2. Guamirim-treated (fungicide alone) led to 65% control of incidence and 77% control of severity in Exp. 1, and 64% control of incidence and 95% control of severity in Exp. 2. For both incidence and severity, fungicide and resistance alone also reduced the temporal rate of progress relative to the susceptible non-treated. However, the greatest overall efficacy was observed when resistance and fungicide were combined, with over 70 and 90% control of final incidence and severity, respectively, and over 75% reduction in the temporal rate of spike blast progress. Based on percent control, the integrated effect of resistance and fungicide was additive for incidence, severity, and their temporal rates of progress, demonstrating the value of combining the two strategies to manage spike blast.     

US-8 and US-11 genotypes ofPhytophthora infestans from potato and tomato respond differently to commercial fungicides

Isolates ofPhytophthora infestans collected in Canada in 1997 from both potatoes and tomatoes, were tested on potato leaf discs for their response to an equal active ingredient concentration (10 μg a.i./mL) of the following commercial fungicides: Acrobat MZ (Dimethomorph and Mancozeb), Ridomil Gold (metalaxyl-m), Dithane (Mancozeb), Curzate (Cymoxanil), Bravo (Chlorothalonil), and Tattoo C (Propamocarb and Chlorothalonil). Relative percent leaf infection values, estimated on fungicide-treated vs fungicide-free leaf discs, were compared among isolates from the US-8 and US-11 genotypes isolated from the two host plants. Based on an equal concentration of each fungicide’s active ingredients, variations in relative percent leaf infection were recorded between US-8 and US-11 genotypes, and between potato and tomato isolates within each genotype. Bravo and Tattoo C used with similar active ingredients concentrations were the most inhibitory to all groups of isolates. Dithane and Ridomil Gold provided uniform low inhibition againstP. infestans when tested on potato leaf discs. The different behavior ofP. infestans isolates from potato vs tomato suggests that management of late blight in these two important crops must take such differences into consideration. In particular, the nature and concentration of the fungicides to be applied must take into account any information available about genotypes present on each crop.     

Age-related susceptibility of strawberry leaves and berries to infection by Podosphaera aphanis

Powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera aphanis, is a major disease of strawberry worldwide. The importance of the disease varies with production system (June bearing vs day neutral) which could be explained in part by the concurrent presence of susceptible leaves or berries and abundant airborne inoculum. Age-related susceptibility was studied by inoculating strawberry leaves and berries at different growth stages of the June bearing cultivar Jewel and the day neutral cultivar Seascape. On eight occasions in 2007, five plants of each cultivar were inoculated with dry conidia using a settling tower. There was a significant effect of leaf and berry growth stage on the susceptibility, which decreased exponentially as leaves or berries aged to reach almost zero when the leaves were completely expanded or the berries at the pink stage at the time of inoculation. The proportion of maximum mildew severity as a function of leaf or berry growth stage was predicted using non-parametric regression (R² = 0.96–0.97). The predicted values were validated with data collected in fields or tunnels naturally infected by P. aphanis. There was a linear relation between predicted and observed proportion of maximum mildew severity (R² = 0.95–0.99). The results of this study showed that timing fungicide sprays based on periods of high leaf and berry susceptibility should greatly improve management of strawberry powdery mildew.     

Potassium phosphite for control of downy mildew of soybean

Downy mildew of soybean, caused by Peronospora manshurica, is widely spread throughout Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of potassium phosphite to control this disease. Field experiments were conducted during the growing season of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 in the state of Parana in southern Brazil. The experimental design consisted of completely randomized blocks in a factorial arrangement (4 × 2) with four replications. Four rates of potassium phosphite (0, 375, 750 and 1500 g P₂O₅ + K₂O ha⁻¹) were applied at two growth stages, V6 (fifth trifoliolate leaf) and R2 (full flowering), followed by one or two applications of pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole (66.5 + 25 g a.i. ha⁻¹) at R3 (pod development) or R2 and R5.1 (10% of pod filling), mainly for the control of Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) and powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa). Field experiments were conducted to quantify the severity of downy mildew on leaves, nutrient content in leaf tissue (N, P and K), leaf area index (LAI), yield and seed weight. The maximum severity of downy mildew was observed at a growth stage of R5.3 (50% of pods were ripe), with 14% and 46% of the leaf area affected in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, respectively. Also it was detected some effect of phosphite on Asian rust control but it was mostly in the trial of 2007/08 when the epidemic was very low (9.7-21.8% of severity). There was a linear reduction in the severity of downy mildew and a significant improvement in the LAI with an increase in the rate of phosphite applied. During the 2006/2007 growing season, a significant yield improvement was observed due to the application of the highest rate of phosphite. Two fungicide applications following phosphite application significantly improved the control of Asian soybean rust and powdery mildew, yield and seed weight when compared to a single fungicide application.     

Evaluation of a disease forecast model for peach leaf curl in the Prefecture of Imathia,Greece

Disease forecasting models assist producers in estimating the likely appearance of disease in their crops and in the selection and timing of preventative applications. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a weather-driven model for predicting infection by Taphrina deformans in different peach-growing areas. In 12 peach-growing areas in the Prefecture of Imathia, Greece, and over two years, the timing of initial infections differed depending on differences in the microclimate (mainly in temperatures and leaf wetness). There was a difference up to 9 days in the date of disease onset predicted by differences in the microclimate between regions. The model accurately predicted the observed differences in date of first symptom appearance. There was also a good correlation between predicted risk and observed disease severity. In addition, differences were observed among areas in the level of risk and the intensity of symptoms with a trend that areas at higher risk having a higher intensity of symptoms. The second objective of this study was to investigate advantages arising from using the model for scheduling fungicide applications against peach leaf curl. In five years of trials, the use of the model reduced the number of sprays compared to conventional spray program while achieving similar level of control. The simple rule of "spray one day before first forecasted rain after bud break" also gave good results. Trials were set up in order to determine the risk threshold for spraying based on model predictions. The results indicated that spraying only when the predicted risk was between 40 and 60 (over a maximum of 100) might be the most effective rule, but further investigations should be conducted to clarify the relationship between the predicted risk, actual peach leaf curl incidence and, more importantly, yield in order to determine the time when fungicide sprays are economically justified.     

Integrated management of Ascochyta blight (Didymella fabae) on faba bean under Mediterranean conditions

Integrated disease management options (two sowing dates, three fungicides and 3–6 faba bean genotypes) in managing Ascochyta blight affecting faba bean were evaluated for three cropping seasons (2006/07–2008/09) in northern Syria for their effects on disease parameters, seed infection and dry seed yield. The combined results of the three seasons on disease parameters showed that sowing dates significantly affected final disease severity and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC); faba bean genotypes significantly affected final disease severity, rate of disease development and AUDPC. The highest AUDPC (255% days) was observed in early than late planted (168% days) faba bean genotypes. The mean AUDPC of faba bean genotypes ranged from 189% days on genotype 1053–1325 to 234% days on ILB-1814. Only faba bean genotypes and fungicides showed significant interactions in affecting final disease severity and AUDPC. Fungicide sprays significantly affected mean percent pod infection and rate of disease development but not mean percent seed infection. Faba bean genotypes showed significant differences in dry seed yield and the yield ranged from 1.7 t ha⁻¹ in cv. Ascot to 2.4 t ha⁻¹ in faba bean genotype 945-105. Improved varieties with Ascochyta blight resistance are not currently released and available for farmers in northern Syria and the integration of early planting (November–December) with one foliar fungicide spray at vegetative stage can help to reduce Ascochyta blight severity, pod and seed infections. Chlorothalonil and azoxystrobin are widely used fungicides to manage Ascochyta blights on food legumes in many countries and one of them could be used depending on their availability and costs to managing faba bean Ascochyta blight in Syria and other Mediterranean type environments.     

茶树炭疽病的研究进展

茶树炭疽病是茶树主要叶部病害之一,特别是南方湿度大、高山云雾多的茶园发生尤为严重。本文介绍了茶树炭疽病的症状、发病规律、发生分布情况与病原种类、病原菌鉴定技术、发病及危害和防治措施等方面的研究进展,结合理论研究与实际应用,为炭疽病的抗性茶树品种选育及病害防治提供参考。     

Races of Colletotrichum graminicola pathogenic to maize in Brazil

Anthracnose caused by the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola (Ces.) Wilson is the most important disease of maize in Brazil, especially in no-tillage without crop rotation. In this system, maize debris from earlier plantings increases the fungal inoculum potential over time. The use of genetic resistance is the most appropriate and advantageous strategy for anthracnose control. However, the effectiveness and durability of this practice depends on knowledge concerning the genetic variability of C. graminicola. In this study, fifteen maize genotypes were tested against 190 single spore of C. graminicola collected from infected leaves of maize plants cultivated in seven different Brazilian ecogeographic areas. Five races of C. graminicola were identified, and eleven maize genotypes were susceptible to all isolates. Results indicated that both the number of pathogen isolates and the number of genotypes to be tested are pivotal for an accurate identification of C. graminicola races. This is the first study showing the occurrence of C. graminicola races in Brazil.     

阿米西达对芒果炭疽病的防治

进行了室内药剂对芒果炭疽病菌的毒力测定及2 a大田喷药防治芒果炭疽病的试验。结果表明,阿米西达具有很好的抑制产孢和孢子萌发的能力,在芒果刚抽嫩稍或花穗抽出3 cm时,每隔7-10 d喷150-200μg·mL-1阿米西达SC可有效地控制芒果叶片炭疽病的为害程度,防效达44.84％-87.06％;同时还可减少炭疽病的潜伏侵染菌量,并减轻果实贮藏期间的病情。      

Genotype X environment interactions in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Genotype X environment interactions were estimated for several traits in potato from a combined analysis of 11 genotypes grown at 3 locations for 2 years. Genotype X location X year and Genotype X location interactions were significant for the majority of the traits studied. Yield, reducing sugar content, dry matter content, leaf area, plant height and starch content should be tested over multiple locations and years in order to separate the genotype × environment interaction components from the total genotypic variance.     

Economics of foliar fungicides for hard red winter wheat in the USA southern Great Plains

Grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the southern Great Plains are often reduced by the presence of foliar diseases. This study was conducted to determine whether the application of foliar fungicides is an economically optimal management strategy. The effects of fungicide treatment on commercially available hard red winter wheat varieties with differing levels of genetic resistance (i.e., resistant, intermediate, and susceptible) to foliar diseases were investigated at two locations, Apache and Lahoma, OK, USA, for the harvest years 2005–2012. Two fungicides were rotated between the two locations and applied at approximately Feekes growth stage 9–10.5. When averaged across years, plots to which fungicide was applied generated greater average net returns than plots that did not receive fungicide for susceptible varieties at Apache, and for resistant, intermediate, and susceptible varieties at Lahoma. However, foliar fungicide application was not economical in every year at either location suggesting fungicide use should be reassessed each year given that profitability depends on year specific yield potential, prices, and foliar disease conditions. At both locations high disease incidence occurred in all but one site-year when the average March through May relative humidity exceeded 65%. Additional research would be required to determine the relationship between weather, including relative humidity, and disease incidence, and to develop an economic threshold for treatment decision aid.     

多菌灵·氟硅唑防治贡柑炭疽病田间药效试验

为评价复配药剂37%多菌灵·氟硅唑可湿性粉剂防治贡柑炭疽病的效果及其对贡柑的安全性,连续两年进行了37%多菌灵·氟硅唑可湿性粉剂防治贡柑炭疽病的田间药效试验。试验结果表明,37%多菌灵·氟硅唑可湿性粉剂有效成分用量148、185和246.7 mg/L对贡柑炭疽病有较好的防治效果,施药3次后10 d调查,2014年的防治效果分别为71.90%、79.48%和90.16%,2015年分别为65.09%、76.18%和87.36%,该药剂值得在生产上推广应用。     

Effect of planting date,fungicide timing and cultivar susceptibility on severity of narrow brown leaf spot and yield of rice

Narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is caused by Cercospora janseana (Racib). O. Const. (Synonyms: Cercospora oryzae Miyake, Passalora janseana Racib. U.). Experimental studies were conducted at Rice Research Station, Louisiana State University, and Agricultural Center, Crowley, to manage NBLS by fungicide application of propiconazole at different growth stages of rice cultivars having different susceptibility levels to NBLS in different planting dates. Results of these studies revealed that April (early) had less NBLS severity as compared to May (late) planting. Very susceptible cultivars, CL131 and Cheniere, had the highest and resistant cultivars, Della and Presidio, had the lowest NBLS severity at both the planting dates. Propiconazole application significantly reduced the NBLS severity in comparison to untreated. Fungicide application at panicle initiation was the most effective time to manage NBLS on the very susceptible and susceptible cultivars at both planting dates. NBLS on moderately susceptible cultivars was best managed by applying fungicide either at panicle initiation or early boot stage in early planting but panicle initiation was the best time to apply fungicide in late planting. Resistant cultivars did not need fungicide in April planting but did need in May planting. Rice yield was determined to be higher in April than May planting. Fungicide application at early boot stage protected the yield by 9.4% in April planting and 34.2% when applied at panicle initiation in May. Susceptible cultivar, Cheniere, exhibited the greatest yield and resistant cultivars had lowest yield in both the planting dates regardless of its susceptibility level to NBLS. Yield of very susceptible to susceptible cultivars was reduced in late planting but no effect was observed on yield of moderately susceptible and resistant cultivars.     

坦桑尼亚腰果病虫害种类及其防治

在坦桑尼亚腰果主产区对腰果病虫害进行了系统的调查,发现为害腰果的病害12种,害虫24种。其中主要病害有白粉病、叶果回枯病和炭疽病,主要害虫有棉角盲蝽和安氏角盲蝽。还对坦桑尼亚主要腰果病虫害防治提出了相应的防治措施。     

Genotype × environment interactions for herbage yield of perennial ryegrass sward plots in Ireland

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is by far the most widely sown grass species in Ireland. Genotype × environment (G × E) interactions are a frequent occurrence in herbage yield evaluations. The objectives were to determine (i) the nature and relative magnitudes of the pertinent G × E interaction variance components for dry matter yield of perennial ryegrass sward plots in Ireland and (ii) the optimal allocation of replicates, locations and years in a testing programme. Sixteen perennial ryegrass cultivars were sown at six locations throughout Ireland between 2000 and 2004. Plots from each sowing were harvested for 2 consecutive years under a simulated mixed grazing and conservation management programme. The largest component of the G × E variance was generally genotype × location × year emphasizing the need for evaluation of genotypes across locations and years to adequately characterize genotypes for differences in yield. Relative differences among genotypes from year to year and location to location were due mainly to changes in genotype rankings. Weather was estimated to have a greater effect on annual variation in herbage yield than age of stand. The optimum allocation of resources for a testing programme was estimated at four replicates per location, and either two locations and 3 sowing years or three locations and 2 sowing years with 2 harvest years for each sowing year. The most appropriate option depends on the relative importance of time vs. financial resources.     

Efficacy and timing of application of fungicides for plum rust control in Turkey

Little information is available regarding the efficacy and timing of modern fungicides for the control of plum rust. In this study, modern fungicides, including triazoles, strobilurins, and benzimidazoles, and a classic fungicide (chlorothalonil) were tested under both greenhouse and field experiments. Excellent disease control was obtained by the pre-inoculation application of all fungicides in the greenhouse experiments. However, only triazoles (tebuconazole, difenoconazole, flusilazole and hexaconazole) were effective when applied up to 6 or 7 days after inoculation. Unexpectedly, strobilurins (azoxystrobin and trifloxystrobin) and benzimidazoles (thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim) were not effective when applied at any time after inoculation. In field experiments, early-season fungicide applications effectively inhibited primary infections; however, these applications provided no apparent benefit in preventing secondary infections and premature leaf fall later in the season. All fungicides provided better control over the season and significantly reduced premature leaf fall when applied immediately after rust pustules (uredinia) were first observed. It is suggested that all fungicides tested in this study can be used for plum rust control. Disease monitoring data indicated that disease severity remained low throughout May but dramatically increased in early June. Mid-May is evidently the best time to initiate fungicide sprays against rust on plums; the spray should be applied before or when rust pustules are first observed and when rust is present at low severity.