Control of potato late blight using controlled-release granules containing ofurace

In an attempt to reduce or eliminate the need for spraying to control potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, investigations were made on the use of controlled-release granules containing the systemic fungicide ofurace. The granules when mixed with sand and buried in soil released the fungitoxicant for about 100 days. When the granules were applied in furrows at planting, protection of potato plants (cv. Maris Bard), assessed by inoculation of detached leaflets with P. infestans, lasted for between 85 and 100 days. Application of the granules when the plants were earthed up 48 days after planting did not result in better late-season protection, possibly due to poorer uptake of the fungitoxicant by the plants at this time. Chemical analysis of leaves from plants that had received in-furrow treatment indicated that ofurace at 0.2–0.5 μg g^?1 fresh weight was needed to confer protection from late blight.     

Late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont) De Bary) development from potato seed-pieces treated with fungicides

Fungicides were applied as seed-piece treatments to control potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, US8, A2 biotype in controlled environment and field experiments. Efficacy of seed treatments for controlling late blight was examined under three disease development regimes simulated by artifical inoculation; (a) seed-borne infection, (b) transmission of infection resulting from spread during the seed-cutting operation, and (c) infection of foliage by aerial inoculation. Emergence of plants from the seed-borne infection was uniformly low (<40%) in controlled environment and field experiments. In controlled environment experiments some of the plants that emerged from fungicide-treated seed-pieces were infected with late blight. Following exposure of tuber surfaces to P infestans, emergence rates from seed-pieces treated with formulated products that included mancozeb in the formulation were comparable to the untreated and non-inoculated control in controlled environment and field experiments. Plants that emerged from non-inoculated seed-pieces treated with fungicides that contained active ingredients known to be effective against foliar late blight had lower percentage foliar infection after inoculation than the untreated control. Leaves close to the base of the stem had fewer infections than leaves attached at the mid region of the main stem, 14 days after inoculation, in some of the controlled environment studies. In contrast, field experiments conducted under conditions conducive to late blight development showed that none of the seed treatments applied to late blight-free seed-pieces delayed the onset and severity of late blight infection. In potato production areas at risk of early season late blight, seed treatments applied to healthy seed may confer limited protection against late blight between planting and the first scheduled applications of prophylactic foliar fungicides. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Activation of defence responses to Phytophthora infestans in potato by BABA

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is one of the most devastating diseases of the potato crop. Resistance breeding and current fungicides are unable to control the rapidly evolving P. infestans and new control strategies are urgently needed. This study examined mechanisms of dl ‐β‐aminobutyric acid (BABA)‐induced resistance (IR) in the potato–P. infestans system. Leaves from two cultivars that differ in their degree of resistance, Bintje and Ovatio, were analysed after foliar treatment with BABA. Rapid activation of various defence responses and a significant reduction in P. infestans growth were observed in leaves treated with BABA. In the more resistant cultivar, Ovatio, the activation was both faster and stronger than in Bintje. Microscopic analysis of leaves treated with BABA revealed induction of small hypersensitive response (HR)‐like lesions surrounded by callose, as well as production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Molecular and chemical analyses revealed soluble phenols such as arbutin and chlorogenic acid and activation of PR‐1. These results show a direct activation of defence responses in potato, rather than priming as reported for other plant species. They also show that the efficiency of BABA‐IR differs between cultivars, which highlights the importance of taking all aspects into consideration when establishing new methods for disease management.     

Toxicity of propamocarb to the late blight fungus on potato

Propamocarb (Previcur-N; propyl-[3-dimethylamino-propyl] carbamate-monohydrochloride) was testedin vivo against 32 field isolates ofPhytophthora infestans from six countries. Fungicide dosages required to achieve 90% control of the blight ranged between 676 and 1530 ppm a.i. in potted potato (cv. ‘Alpha’) plants and between 1135 and 2648 ppm in potato tuber slices. Isolates from Israel were less sensitive to the fungicide than isolates from Europe or North America. Toxicity of propamocarb was not related to resistance or sensitivity to phenylamide fungicides (e.g. metalaxyl). Nevertheless, most metalaxyl-resistant isolates from Israel were less sensitive to propamocarb than most metalaxyl-sensitive isolates from this country. Monocyclic epidemics conducted with the 20 Israeli isolates in the field showed that 1081–2012 ppm of the fungicide was required to achieve 90% control of the disease. Laboratory experiments revealed that the fungicide was poorly active against sporangial germination and had a limited curative efficacy. It exhibited a translaminar translocation in leaves but a poor acropetal or basipetal systemicity from foliage. Propamocarb + mancozeb mixtures (1:1, v/w) were synergistically effective in controlling the blight. Growers in Israel use tank mixtures of propamocarb (Dynone) and mancozeb to combat late blight in potato fields where phenylamide-resistant isolates ofP. infestans are prevalent.     

Inhibition of Botrytis cinerea growth and suppression of botrytis bunch rot in grapes using chitosan

Chitosan inhibited growth of Botrytis cinerea in liquid culture and suppressed grey mould on detached grapevine leaves and bunch rot in commercial winegrapes. Germination of B. cinerea was completely inhibited in malt extract broth containing chitosan at concentrations greater than 0·125 g L^?1. However, treated conidia were able to infect detached Chardonnay leaves and pathogenicity was not affected, even after incubation for 24 h in chitosan at 10 g L^?1. When added after conidial germination, chitosan inhibited B. cinerea growth and induced morphological changes suggestive of possible curative activity. The effective concentration of chitosan that reduced mycelial growth by 50% (EC₅₀) was 0·06 g L^?1. As a foliar treatment, chitosan protected detached Chardonnay leaves against B. cinerea and reduced lesion diameter by up to 85% compared with untreated controls. Peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activities were also induced in treated leaves. In vineyard studies, Chardonnay winegrapes exhibited 7·4% botrytis bunch rot severity at harvest in 2007 after treatment with an integrated programme that included chitosan sprays from bunch closure until 2 weeks preharvest, compared with 15·5% in untreated controls and 5·9% with fungicide treatment. In the following season, botrytis bunch rot severity was 44% in untreated Chardonnay at harvest and the integrated programme (21%) was less effective than fungicides (13·8%). However, in Sauvignon blanc winegrapes, the integrated and the fungicide programme each reduced botrytis bunch rot severity to 4% and were significantly different from the untreated control (11·5%). This study provides evidence that suppression of botrytis in winegrapes by chitosan involves direct and indirect modes of action.     

Synergistic interaction between BABA and mancozeb in controlling<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> in potato and tomato and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoperonospora cubensis</Emphasis> in cucumber

Spray mixtures consisting of the plant activator BABA (DL-3-aminobutyric acid) and the protectant fungicide mancozeb were significantly more effective than BABA or mancozeb alone in controlling late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potato and tomato and downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) in cucumber. A mixture composed of 5 parts BABA and 1 part mancozeb (w/w, a.i.) exhibited a higher synergy factor than the 1+1 or the 1+5 (BABA + mancozeb) mixtures. No synergistic interaction was detected between BABA plus mancozeb in controlling sporangial or cystospore germination, nor mycelial growth ofP. infestans in vitro. The results showed enhanced effect of mancozeb in BABA-induced plants, suggesting, therefore, that lower dosages of this fungicide may be sufficient to control late blight or downy mildew under field conditions. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 15, 2003.     

Evidence for selection pressure from resistant potato genotypes but not from fungicide application within a clonal Phytophthora infestans population

Insight into pathogen population dynamics provides a key input for effective disease management of the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Phytophthora infestans populations vary from genetically complex to more simple with a few clonal lineages. The presence or absence of certain strains of P. infestans may impact the efficacy of fungicides or host resistance. Current evidence indicates that genetically, the Irish populations of P. infestans are relatively simple with a few clonal lineages. In this study, P. infestans populations were genetically characterized based on samples collected at the national centre for potato breeding during the period 2012–16. The dominance of clonal lineages within this P. infestans population was confirmed and the potential selection pressure of fungicide treatment (2013–15) and host resistance (2016) on this clonal P. infestans population was then investigated. It was found that fungicide products did not notably affect the genetic structure of sampled populations relative to samples from untreated control plants. In contrast, samples taken from several resistant potato genotypes were found to be more often of the EU_13_A2 lineage than those taken from control King Edward plants or potato genotypes with low resistance ratings. Resistant potato varieties Sarpo Mira and Bionica, containing characterized R genes, were found to strongly select for EU_13_A2 strains.     

硼调控干旱胁迫下马铃薯生长发育及抗性的生理机制

为了探讨叶面喷施硼（Na2B4O7·10H2O溶液）对马铃薯植株在干旱胁迫下生长发育及抗性的影响及其生理机制,在甘肃省景泰县条山集团马铃薯种植基地,对中度干旱和轻度干旱处理的两垄地,每隔3m进行一个硼浓度（Na2B4O7·10H2O）喷施处理,浓度依次为0、10、20、30、40、60 g·L-1,每个浓度（3 m长）的喷施量为166．7 ml。结果表明：叶面喷施硼相对增加了干旱胁迫下马铃薯的块茎产量及生物量,使干旱胁迫下叶片含水量和色素含量下降幅度减小;叶面喷施硼还从整体上表现为抗氧化酶活性的提高,并抑制了超氧阴离子产生速率的增加。通过去花与不去花植株生长发育的比较,发现去花后马铃薯植株地上部分重和地下部分重均有所下降,但施硼相对提高了块茎产量及地下部分重。可见,叶面喷施硼能促进马铃薯植株在干旱胁迫下的生长发育,提高其抗旱性及块茎产量,且这种变化可能与其促进光合产物向地下部分输送密切相关。     

Identification and characterization of RB-orthologous genes from the late blight resistant wild potato species Solanum verrucosum

Late blight, caused by the oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, is a devastating disease of potatoes and tomatoes. A key long-term management strategy for combating this disease is to develop potato cultivars with high levels of durable resistance through identification and integration of major resistance genes. The RBgene, cloned from the Mexican diploid potato species Solanum bulbocastanum, confers broad-spectrum resistance to potato late blight. Here, we have determined the late blight resistance phenotypes of eight accessions of Solanum verrucosum, another wild diploid potato species, using greenhouse inoculations and discovered variability among the accessions. While most accessions were resistant, one accession was notably more susceptible. Transcribed orthologs of the RB gene from the eight S. verrucosum accessions were cloned using a homology-based PCR approach. Sequence analysis revealed that the RB^ver orthologs share up to 83.5% nucleotide identity with RB^blb. Stable introduction of the RB ortholog from late blight resistant S. verrucosum PI275260 into susceptible S. tuberosum confers resistance to P. infestans. Interestingly, this functional RB^ver ortholog contains an insertion of a complete leucine rich repeat when compared to RB^blb, and differs from the RB^ver ortholog from a susceptible accession at only four amino acid residues.     

Inheritance of resistance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum nigrum</Emphasis> to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

Solanum nigrum, black nightshade, is a wild non-tuber bearing hexaploid species with a high level of resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Colon et al. 1993), the causal agent of potato late blight, the most devastating disease in potato production. However, the genetic mode of resistance in S. nigrum is still poorly understood. In the present study, two S. nigrum accessions, 984750019 (N19) and #13, resistant (R) and susceptible (S), respectively, to three different isolates of P. infestans, were sexually crossed. The various kinds of progeny including F1, F2, F3, and backcross populations (BC₁; F1 × S), as well as two populations produced by self-pollinating the R parent and S parent, were each screened for susceptibility to P. infestans isolate MP 324 using detached leaf assays. Fifty seedling plant individuals of the F1 progeny were each resistant to this specific isolate, similarly to the seedling plants resulting from self-pollination of the resistant R parent. Thirty seedling plants obtained from self-pollination of the S parent were susceptible. Among a total of 180 F2 plants, the segregation ratio between resistant and susceptible plants was approximately 3: 1. Among the 66 seedling plants of the BC₁ progeny originating from crossing an F1 plant with the susceptible S parent, there were 26 susceptible and 40 resistant plants to P. infestans. The segregation patterns obtained indicated monogenic dominant inheritance of resistance to P. infestans isolate MP 324 in S. nigrum acc. 984750019. This gene, conferring resistance to P. infestans, may be useful for the transformation of potato cultivars susceptible to late blight.     

Phenotypic and genotypic variation in Michigan populations of Phytophthora infestans from 2008 to 2010

Severe potato and tomato late blight epidemics in Michigan since 2008 prompted characterization of Phytophthora infestans isolates from the region. From eight counties in Michigan, 124 isolates were collected from infected potato and tomato plants from 2008 to 2010 and characterized using ‘classical’ markers and microsatellites. The classical markers included mating type, Gpi allozyme, mitochondrial DNA haplotype, sensitivity to metalaxyl‐M and tuber pathogenicity. All isolates from 2008 to 2010 were A2 mating type and Ia mtDNA haplotype (124 isolates), 105 isolates had Gpi profile 100/122, 17 isolates had the profile 100/100/111 and the remaining two isolates had 100/111/122. Sensitivity to metalaxyl‐M, expressed as EC₅₀ for mycelial growth in vitro, ranged from <0·1 to 91 μg mL^?1, where 95 and 96% of isolates were classified as either sensitive or intermediate in 2008–2009 and 2010 respectively. The metalaxyl‐M sensitivity and dominant Gpi profile were typical of clonal lineage US‐22, first isolated in 2008 in North America from tomato plants. Tuber pathogenicity, characterized as severity of tuber late blight, was also variable among isolates; however, isolates were less aggressive than previous genotypes present in Michigan, such as US‐8. Microsatellites (simple sequence repeats; SSRs) revealed a shift in the population, characterized by two clusters differentiated over time. These results suggested displacement of the US‐8 genotype by US‐22 from 2008 to 2010 in Michigan. Continuous tracking of changes within P. infestans populations provides evidence of genetic shifts due to migration, prompting modification of management strategies based on the phenotypic characteristics of causal genotypes.     

Induced resistance in potato to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytphthora infestans</Emphasis>—effects of BABA in greenhouse and field tests with different potato varieties

We have investigated to what degree induced resistance with β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) can protect potato from late blight infection under Swedish field conditions and if synergistic interactions occur if BABA is applied in combination with a commonly used fungicide, Shirlan. In greenhouse experiments we also investigated the durability of BABA induced resistance, the dose-response relationships in susceptible (Bintje) and partially resistant (Ovatio, Suberb) cultivars and effects of combined applications of BABA and fungicides. We found a clear effect of BABA on P. infestans infection of greenhouse grown potato plants. The lesion sizes were reduced by on average 40–50% compared to untreated control. However, this effect lasted for only 4–5 days after BABA treatment and then the efficacy was lower. When BABA was given in combination with the fungicides it appeared to have an additive effect both in greenhouse and field experiments. Higher concentrations of BABA gave a stronger protective effect. The partially resistant cultivars Ovatio and Superb reacted to lower concentrations of BABA where no effect was found in susceptible Bintje. According to our field data, 20–25% reduction of the fungicide dose in combination with BABA gave on average the same result on late blight development as full dose Shirlan alone; while reduced dose of Shirlan alone sometimes resulted in less effective protection. Our results indicate that induced resistance could be used in practice in combinations with fungicides in order to reduce the amount of toxic compounds under north European conditions.     

Characterization of tuber blight‐suppressive soils from four provinces of the Ecuadorean Andes

Late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is a threat to potato‐cropping systems worldwide. In the Ecuadorian Andes, despite a high late blight incidence in foliage, tuber blight is rare. In this work, the hypothesis that Ecuadorian Andean soils are naturally suppressive to P. infestans tuber infection was evaluated. Soils from four potato‐growing regions were assessed for disease suppressiveness by determining the effects of soil heat treatment on P. infestans sporangia and their ability to infect potato slices after 1, 8, 15 and 30 days of exposure to soils. Tuber infection after inoculation with P. infestans‐infested soils was consistently lower during the evaluation period compared with heat‐treated soils. Fresh, untreated soils affected germination and viability of P. infestans sporangia in a site‐dependent manner. In addition, the effect of heat treatment on soil bacterial communities was assessed through terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rDNA gene region. Heat treatment disrupted bacterial community composition, and a subset of terminal restriction fragments (TRF) was either positively or negatively correlated with tuber infection. Bacterial TRF negatively correlated with tuber infection corresponded in fragment size to taxa with known ability to inhibit pathogens and promote plant growth. Finally, bacterial isolates obtained from untreated soils, which inhibited P. infestans growth in vitro, represented 22–47% of isolates recovered, and matched classes predicted by the TRFs. This work represents a first step in understanding the mechanisms behind the low incidence of tuber blight in Andean potato‐cropping systems.     

Mobility of oxathiapiprolin in and between tomato plants

BACKGROUND

Oxathiapiprolin (OXPT; FRAC code 49) is a new piperidinyl-thiazole isooxazoline anti-oomycete fungicide that targets oxysterol-binding proteins. The fungicide is known to translocate acropetally from root to shoot to protect plants against fungal attack.

RESULTS

OXPT is ambimobile. It can also translocate basipetally from shoot to root. OXPT exhibits an unprecedented capacity for trans-plant protection. When two tomato plants are grown in one pot, and one is treated with OXPT (on the stem, leaves or apex), while the other plant and soil surface are adequately covered, both plants become protected against late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans.

CONCLUSION

Trans-plant systemic protection induced by OXPT involves translocation of the fungicide from the shoot of the treated plant to its root, exudation into the soil and uptake by the root of the neighboring untreated plant to protect it against the disease. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analyses confirmed the occurrence of OXPT in root exudates of OXPT-treated tomato plants in quantities sufficient to protect detached tomato leaves and intact plants against P. infestans. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Baseline and differential sensitivity of Peronophythora litchii (lychee downy blight) to three carboxylic acid amide fungicides

Downy blight, caused by Peronophythora litchii, is an important disease of lychee (litchi) plants in China. The in vitro sensitivities of various asexual stages of P. litchii to the three carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides dimethomorph, flumorph and pyrimorph were studied with four single‐sporangium isolates. None of the three fungicides affected zoospore discharge from sporangia, but they strongly inhibited mycelial growth (mean EC₅₀ values of 0·075, 0·258 and 0·115 mg L^?1, respectively); sporangial production (mean EC₅₀ values of 0·085, 0·315 and 0·150 mg L^?1, respectively); germination of cystospores (mean EC₅₀ values of 0·140, 0·150 and 0·645 mg L^?1, respectively); and germination of sporangia (mean EC₅₀ values of 0·203, 0·5 and 0·743 mg L^?1, respectively). As mycelial growth was the most sensitive stage to dimethomorph and pyrimorph, it was chosen to test baseline sensitivities to the three fungicides. In 2007, from 131 isolates collected in Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, 127, 116 and 113 isolates were used to establish baseline sensitivity for dimethomorph, flumorph and pyrimorph respectively. Isolates from different provinces exhibited similar baseline sensitivity to the same fungicide. Baseline sensitivities to dimethomorph, flumorph and pyrimorph were distributed as unimodal curves, with mean EC₅₀ values of 0·082 (± 0·01), 0·282 (± 0·047), and 0·115 (± 0·032) mg L^?1, respectively. This information will serve as a baseline for tracking future changes in sensitivities of P. litchii populations to these three CAA fungicides.     

Inhibition by aluminum of mycelial growth and of sporangial production and germination inPhytophthora infestans

Mycelial growth on clarified V8 agar of the potato late blight pathogenPhytophthora infestans was inhibited when either aluminum chloride (AlCl₃, 6 H₂O) or aluminum sulfate (Al₂(SO₄)₃, 18 H₂O) was added to the culture medium at concentrations of 2.5–100 mg.l^–1 Al³⁺. Toxicity of Al³⁺ varied among the fiveP. infestans isolates tested, but toxicity of sulfate and chloride salts was similar for a given isolate. Overall sporangial production was affected in all five isolates by both Al³⁺ forms. Al³⁺ also decreased sporangial germination at concentrations equal to or greater than 10 mg.l^–1 in two isolates. These data support the hypothesis of aluminum toxicity as a major factor in soil suppressiveness toP. infestans.     

The novel elicitor COS‐OGA enhances potato resistance to late blight

Phytophthora infestans is the causal agent of potato late blight. This pathogen is usually controlled by fungicides, but new European regulations have imposed changes in crop protection management that have led to a search for alternative control measures. The induction of plant defence responses by elicitors is a promising new strategy compatible with sustainable agriculture. This study investigated the effect of eliciting a defence response in potato against P. infestans using a formulation of the COS‐OGA elicitor that combines cationic chitosan oligomers (COS) and anionic pectin oligomers (OGA). Trials were conducted under greenhouse conditions to assess the ability of COS‐OGA to control P. infestans. The results showed that three foliar applications with this elicitor significantly increased potato protection against late blight in controlled conditions. The activation of potato defence genes was also evaluated by RT‐qPCR during these trials. Two pathogenesis‐related proteins, basic PR‐1 and acidic PR‐2, were rapidly and significantly up‐regulated by the elicitor treatment. Therefore, these results suggest that the COS‐OGA elicitor increases the protection of potato against P. infestans and that this protection could be explained by an increase in the expression of potato defence genes rather than by biocide activity.     

SSR assessment of Phytophthora infestans populations on tomato and potato in British gardens demonstrates high diversity but no evidence for host specialization

Phytophthora infestans populations can differ in composition as a result of host specialization on tomato and potato hosts. In Great Britain many amateur gardeners grow outdoor tomatoes but there is little or no commercial tomato production outdoors. This study analysed isolates of P. infestans from British gardens with 12 multiplexed simple sequence repeat markers that are used to monitor the disease on commercial potato crops. Samples of P. infestans from tomato hosts were collected in 3 years and from potato in 1 year from across Great Britain. Seven previously unreported clonal lineages were detected in garden populations and higher frequencies of unique clonal lineages (28–40%) were present compared with populations from British commercial potato crops reported elsewhere. Garden populations had a lower proportion (11–48% less) of the most common lineages (13_A2 and 6_A1) that together made up at least 86% of the commercial potato populations during the sampling period. Host species accounted for only 2·0% of molecular variance detected between garden potato‐ and tomato‐hosted samples. No significant difference in clonal lineage composition was found between host species in Great Britain and this could be due to the whole P. infestans population overwintering on potato. British garden populations on both hosts were much more diverse than those on commercial potato crops; this finding may be influenced by less frequent fungicide use by gardeners and a higher diversity of unsprayed susceptible potato cultivars, enabling metalaxyl‐sensitive and less aggressive genotypes to survive in gardens.     

Chemical late blight control in Sweden1

The climatological conditions for attack of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans vary considerably in different parts of Sweden. This is due to the fact that the country is long from south to north covering 14 degrees of latitude from 55 to 69°. One important factor for blight development in Sweden is that potato production is dominated by cultivars susceptible to P. infestans. Approximately 80% of table potatoes are of cvs Bintje and King Edward VII. Cultivars with race-specific resistance such as Bellona, Ukama and Provita are attacked in the whole country. During recent years, many experiments have been carried out to investigate possible reductions in the usage of chemical agents for late blight control. These experiments include choice of fungicide, number of applications, dose rates and treatments according to blight warning systems.