The control of bubble diseases and cobweb disease of mushrooms with prochloraz

Fungicides were compared for the control of the mushroom pathogens Verticillium fungicola (dry bubble disease), Mycogone perniciosa (wet bubble disease) and Hypomyces rosellus (cobweb disease). Prochloraz, applied as a manganese complex, consistently gave significantly greater control of a benomyl-resistant strain of V. fungicola. Captafol gave some reduction in disease. Benomyl, thiabendazole and prochloraz all gave significant control of M. perniciosa and H. rosellus. Prochloraz residues in mushrooms were measured by gas chromatography after extraction in acetone and purification by means of solvent partition, When pure prochloraz was added to homogenized mushroom tissue, 77–98% was recovered by this procedure. The residue levels in sporophores from crops treated with prochloraz were low, Prochloraz appears to be an effective fungicide for the control of the major fungal pathogens of the mushroom crop, particularly where benzimidazole-resistant strains of V. fungicola occur.     

A qualitative host-pathogen interaction in the Theobroma cacao-Moniliophthora perniciosa pathosystem

The aim of this study was to test whether resistance of clones of Theobroma cacao (cocoa) varied between isolates of Moniliophthora (formerly Crinipellis ) perniciosa , the cause of witches' broom disease. Developing buds of vegetatively propagated T. cacao grown in greenhouses in the UK were inoculated with 16 000 spores of M. perniciosa per meristem in water, under conditions where water condensed on the inoculated shoot for at least 12 h after inoculation. The proportion of successful inoculations varied between clones and was inversely correlated with time to symptom production or broom formation. A specific interaction was demonstrated among three single-spore isolates of M. perniciosa and the clone Scavina 6 (SCA 6) and a variety of susceptible clones. Isolates Castenhal-I and APC3 were equally likely to infect SCA 6 and the other clones, but isolate Gran Couva A9 never infected SCA 6, although it was as virulent on the other clones. The interaction was maintained when the wetness period was extended to 70 h. Offspring of SCA 6 × Amelonado matings were all susceptible to both Castenhal-I and GC-A5, with no evidence of greater variability in susceptibility to GC-A5 than Castanhal-I. This suggests recessive inheritance of a single homozygous factor conferring resistance to GC-A5, from SCA 6. The progenies were slightly more susceptible to Castanhal-I than GC-A5. The implications for managing the disease are discussed.     

Pathogenicity of Leptosphaeria maculans Isolates on a Brassica napus-B. juncea Recombinant Line

ABSTRACT The Brassica napus-B. juncea recombinant line (MX), resistant to Leptosphaeria maculans, was produced by interspecific crosses and bears one gene (Jlm1) from the B. juncea B genome. We investigated whether this new resistance was race specific by characterizing protection against a large sample of L. maculans isolates. The pathogenicity of 119 isolates of L. maculans comprising 105 A-group isolates and 14 B-group isolates was studied at the cotyledon stage under controlled conditions using the MX line, the susceptible B. napus cultivar Westar, and the resistant B. juncea cultivar Picra. All but one of the isolates were pathogenic on 'Westar'. Only 3 of the 105 A-group isolates caused very mild symptoms on 'Picra'. Two of these strains were isolated from the MX line and the other from Sinapis arvensis. The other 102 strains caused hypersensitive-type responses. Most B-group isolates were pathogenic on 'Picra'. There were differences in pathogenicity among A-group isolates tested on the MX line, whereas all B-group isolates were pathogenic on this line. A-group isolates obtained from the MX line were more frequently pathogenic on the MX line than those obtained from B. napus cultivars. One isolate from S. arvensis infected the MX line. These results suggest that the resistance of the MX line is unlikely to be durable. Thus, the new resistance gene Jlm1 should probably be used in association with other sources of resistance, in plant breeding schemes, to prevent the breakdown of this resistance.     

不同基质和覆土栽培条件下双孢蘑菇中吡虫啉和咪鲜胺残留差异影响

为了明确吡虫啉和咪鲜胺在双孢蘑菇Agaricus bisporus不同栽培基质中的消解规律,采用在工厂化双孢蘑菇栽培覆土中拌料施药、培养料中喷药两种施药方式开展田间试验,运用QuEChERS净化前处理技术结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)分析,检测了吡虫啉和咪鲜胺在双孢蘑菇栽培基质和子实体中的残留.结...     

Molecular Fingerprinting Suggests Two Primary Outbreaks of Witches' Broom Disease (Crinipellis perniciosa) of Theobroma cacao in Bahia, Brazil

Crinipellis perniciosa (Stahel) Singer is the causal agent of witches' broom disease in the Sterculiaceae, Solanaceae, and Bixaceae families. The disease is endemic to the Brazilian Amazon, and was first reported infecting Theobroma cacao (cocoa) in the State of Bahia, Brazil, in 1989. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses were performed on 46 isolates of C. perniciosa from cocoa that were collected from 15 counties in Bahia and the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 258 RAPD loci from 20 primers and three mixed primers were analyzed. Of these loci, 108 (42%) were polymorphic, with an average of 4.7 polymorphic loci per primer produced. Genetic similarities were estimated using Nei and Li's index and UPGMA clustering. Bootstrap analysis divided the phenogram into four significantly different clusters: two groups contained isolates from Ariquemes and from Ouro Preto, Rondônia, and the other two separated the isolates from Bahia into two major groups of C. perniciosa, classified as Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2). The two groups of isolates from Bahia differed for their genetic similarity with the isolates from the Brazilian Amazon. The geographic distribution of the groups in Bahia suggests two independent focal points of introduction. Ongoing programs to screen for resistant cocoa genotypes should consider both groups of isolates.     

Green Mold Diseases of Agaricus and Pleurotus spp. Are Caused by Related but Phylogenetically Different Trichoderma Species

ABSTRACT Producers of champignon (Agaricus bisporus) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) are facing recent incidents of green mold epidemics in Hungary. We examined 66 Trichoderma strains isolated from Agaricus compost and Pleurotus substrate samples from three Hungarian mushroom producing companies by a polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic test for T. aggressivum, sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 and (selectively) of the fourth and fifth intron of translation elongation factor 1alpha (tef1alpha), and restriction fragment length polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA. Seven Trichoderma species were identified: T. aggressivum f. europaeum (17 isolates), T. harzianum (three isolates), T. longibrachiatum (four isolates), T. ghanense (one isolate), T. asperellum (four isolates), T. atroviride (nine isolates), and a still undescribed phylogenetic species, Trichoderma sp. DAOM 175924 (28 isolates). T. aggressivum f. europaeum was exclusively derived from A. bisporus compost, whereas Trichoderma sp. DAOM 175924 exclusively occurred in the substrate for Pleurotus cultivation. Sequences of the latter strains were co-specific with those for Trichoderma pathogens of P. ostreatus in Korea. The widespread occurrence of this new species raises questions as to why infections by it have just only recently been observed. Our data document that (i) green mold disease by T. aggressivum f. europaeum has geographically expanded to Central Europe; (ii) the green mold disease of P. ostreatus in Hungary is due to the same Trichoderma species as in Korea and the worldwide distribution of the new species indicates the possibility of spreading epidemics; and (iii) on mushroom farms, the two species are specialized on their different substrates.     

七种杀菌剂对蘑菇褐腐病菌的药效及对双孢蘑菇的安全性评价

采用菌丝生长速率法测定了7种杀菌剂对蘑菇褐腐病菌Mycogone perniciosa Magn.的室内毒力及其中5种杀菌剂对双孢蘑菇Agaricus bisporus的室内安全性,并通过田间小区试验评价了其中6种杀菌剂对蘑菇褐腐病的药效及对双孢蘑菇的安全性。室内测定结果表明:多菌灵、咪鲜胺、噻菌灵、百菌清、苯醚甲环唑及戊唑醇对蘑菇褐腐病菌的毒力均较强,EC50值分别为0.036 9、0.024 5、0.296、0.136、0.036 0和0.058 1 mg/L,福美双毒力较弱,EC50值为88.0 mg/L;多菌灵和百菌清对双孢蘑菇较安全,苯醚甲环唑、戊唑醇及福美双对其有药害风险。田间试验结果表明:按有效成分质量分数计,50%多菌灵可湿性粉剂（WP）250、500和1 000 mg/kg,50%咪鲜胺锰盐WP 333、266和200 mg/kg,75%百菌清WP 375 mg/kg对蘑菇褐腐病的防效较好,且对双孢蘑菇生长无显著影响;而采用43%戊唑醇悬浮剂（SC）143.3、86.0 mg/kg防治褐腐病时,双孢蘑菇的减产率分别为20.54%和13.19%,采用10%苯醚甲环唑可分散粒剂（WG）33.3 mg/kg时,减产率为4.73%,表明这2种杀菌剂对双孢蘑菇的安全性较差,不宜用于防治蘑菇褐腐病;50%福美双WP 1 000 和 500 mg/kg均会造成蘑菇出菇推迟,而166.7 mg/kg的防效较差,因此也不宜用于防治蘑菇褐腐病。     

黄瓜花叶病毒三个毒株对烟草细胞内防御酶系统及细胞膜通透性的影响

 用黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)PE、M和Xb3个毒株接种烟草(品种K₃₂₆)后,按时间顺序测定与细胞防御系统有关的酶活性和受侵细胞膜通透性变化:1)苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL):Xb毒株侵染初期导致酶活性明显升高、后期下降,M毒株导致酶活性一直保持在较高水平,而PE毒株则导致酶活性下降。2)过氧化物酶(POD):PE和M毒株均导致酶活性升高,Xb毒株影响不大。3)超氧化物歧化酶(SOD):Xb和M毒株导致酶活性前期升高、后期活性下降,PE毒株引起酶活性前期略微升高、后期下降。4)多酚氧化酶(PPO):Xb毒株导致发病前期酶活性急剧升高、后期降低,M毒株导致酶活性初期降低、后期回升,PE毒株导致酶活性升高。5)受侵细胞在发病初期的膜通透性均低于正常水平,不同毒株引起的膜透性变化与症状的严重度均有独特的规律。3个毒株的侵染均可引起细胞内可溶蛋白浓度的改变。     

Comparison of Crinipellis perniciosa isolates from Brazil by ERIC repetitive element sequence-based PCR genomic fingerprinting

Fifty isolates of Crinipellis perniciosa originating from Theobroma cacao , Heteropterys acutifolia and Solanum lycocarpum , from six states within Brazil, were characterized through ERIC-PCR, representing the first application of this method for molecular characterization within C. perniciosa . Phenetic analysis of banding patterns revealed a separation of isolates on the basis of host of origin, with T. cacao -derived isolates showing only a 0·2 similarity level to a cluster comprising the isolates from H. acutifolia and S. lycocarpum . Considerable intraspecific variability was observed within C. perniciosa isolates from T. cacao , with distinct groups observed correlating with geographical origin. Given that a number of isolates from T. cacao from the Amazon region grouped with isolates from Bahia state, this work discusses the possibility that current C. perniciosa populations pathogenic on T. cacao in Bahia originated from the Amazon region, rather than from alternative host plants.     

侵染苣荬菜的中国胜红蓟黄脉病毒及伴随的卫星基因组结构特征

杂草是菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒的重要中间寄主,常富集多种该属病毒及其卫星病毒。2014年,在云南红河常见杂草苣荬菜Sonchus arvensis上出现了疑似菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒病症状。利用克隆、测序和生物信息学分析技术对其所含病毒进行分离鉴定,结果从1株病样中共获得了两条菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒全序列、两条β卫星全序列和一条α卫星全序列。序列分析显示,两条菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒全序列与中国胜红蓟黄脉病毒相似性最高,分别为99%和96%,确定为中国胜红蓟黄脉病毒的分离物。两条β卫星全序列与赛葵黄脉β卫星相似性最高,为97%,确定为赛葵黄脉β卫星的一个分离物。α卫星全序列与中国番茄黄化曲叶α卫星相似性最高,为86.3%,是中国番茄黄化曲叶α卫星的一个分离物。这是菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒病害复合体在中国侵染苣荬菜的首次报道。     

Occurrence of potyvirus and potexvirus infections in black bryony (Tamus communis) in Devon, UK

Leaf samples of black bryony (Tamus communis L.) from Devon, UK, showing various virus-like symptoms contained potyvirus-like particles (normal length c. 790 nm) and cytoplasmic cylindrical (pinwheel) inclusions. In immunoelectron microscopy, particles of most samples reacted with antiserum to dioscorea greenbanding mosaic virus, a potyvirus isolate from Dioscorea rotundata in Togo which is related to yam mosaic virus from the Ivory Coast. Potyvirus particles were not transmitted by sap or aphids (Myzuspersicae) from infected black bryony to black bryony seedlings or Nicotiana benthamiana. One sample from a symptomless plant of black bryony contained a potexvirus which formed massed virion aggregates in the cytoplasm of cells of black bryony, Nicotiana benthamiana and N. megalosiphon. Virions of the potexvirus (normal length 553 nm) contained a coat protein with an apparent molecular weight of 27.7 kd. The potexvirus differed from an Italian potexvirus isolate from black bryony by a serological differentiation index of 4 and gave only weak or no reactions with 23 other antisera to potexviruses, including dioscorea latent virus. The potexvirus caused systemic symptoms in only a few host plants and could be transmitted back to black bryony in which it caused no symptoms. It is provisionally named tamus latent virus.     

Fungicide control of mushroom cobweb disease caused by Cladobotryum strains with different benzimidazole resistance profiles

The benzimidazole fungicides thiabendazole and carbendazim, and the imidazole fungicide prochloraz-Mn, were tested for their efficacy in controlling cobweb disease of mushrooms caused by two Cladobotryum isolates. Isolate 202A was benzimidazole-sensitive in vitro and cobweb growth on the casing was well controlled by both benzimidazole fungicides in cropping experiments. Carbendazim also controlled the development of spotting symptoms much more effectively than thiabendazole. A second isolate (192B1) was benzimidazole-resistant and was highly resistant to thiabendazole in vitro but it showed some sensitivity to carbendazim in vitro at moderate to high concentrations. Despite this, carbendazim did not control disease symptoms in cropping experiments, confirming that isolate 192B1 is cross-resistant to other benzimidazole fungicides. Both isolates showed some sensitivity to prochloraz-Mn in vitro. This fungicide gave between 45% and 65% control of cobweb growth on the casing caused by either 202A or 192B1 but gave no control of spotting symptoms. Reducing the fungicide application volume did not give enhanced disease control. The emergence of benzimidazole resistance reduces the value of benzimidazoles in the control of mushroom pathogens. However, the lack of effective alternatives means they continue to have utility in cases where pathogens are still sensitive but this requires regular monitoring of pathogen populations for resistance.     

Sources of Verticillium fungicola on a commercial mushroom farm in England

From 1979 to 1981 Verticillium fungicola, a pathogen to Agaricus bisporus, was detected in 47 out of 485 samples of baled peat and in one out of 126 samples of bagged limestone arriving at an isolated mushroom farm in the UK. The pathogen was not detected in 875 samples of water, soil, mushroom spawn or spawned compost. Casing (a mixture of peat and limestone) prepared and used on the farm contained detectable V. fungicola in 25 out of 108 samples. The primary sources of V fungicola were thus the two constituents of casing, especially peat.
Secondary sources of V. fungicola were numerous and included symptomless and diseased mushrooms, pickers and other staff, floors and doors and the principal pests (sciarid flies and mites).
Viable airborne spores of V. fungicola were detected with an Andersen sampler in farm buildings at all stages in crop production. The spore load increased with the age of the crop. Few airborne spores were detected immediately outside affected buildings, and very few at the farm entrance 30 m away. There was no evidence that V. fungicola reached the farm from the surrounding air. despite substantial soil disturbance nearby.
Selective media for V. fungicola are described.     

An isolate of Wheat streak mosaic virus from foxtail overcomes Wsm2 resistance in wheat

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is an economically important pathogen of wheat (Triticum aestivum) causing major yield losses in regions where severe infection occurs. To detect the presence of any new virus or new WSMV isolates, green foxtail (Setaria viridis) plants exhibiting virus-like symptoms were sampled in a summer-fallowed wheat field at the Agricultural Research Center-Hays, Kansas State University, Hays, Kansas. These plants were tested serologically for four wheat viruses: WSMV, Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV), High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV) and Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV). Among 38 plant samples exhibiting virus-like symptoms, 29 contained WSMV as indicated by ELISA. Four isolates from samples with relatively strong reactions were transferred to healthy wheat seedlings by mechanical inoculation in a growth chamber for pathogenicity testing. Three isolates were avirulent to a wheat variety RonL, which contains Wsm2, a gene providing temperature-sensitive resistance to currently prevalent isolates of WSMV. However, one isolate, KSH294, was able to infect RonL and showed more virulence on two other varieties/lines containing Wsm2. Further sequence and phylogenetic analysis of KSH294 confirmed that this isolate displays a sequence homology with WSMV, but has sequence differences making it distinct from previously identified WSMV isolates included in the phylogenetic analysis.     

Biological control of green mould on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agaricus bisporus</Emphasis> by a native <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> strain from mushroom compost

Fifty bacterial isolates obtained from compost were tested in vitro against the causal agents of green mould in Agaricus bisporus. Isolate B-38 which induced 48.08% in vitro growth inhibition of T. harzianum T54 and 52.25% of T. aggressivum f. europaeum T77 was identified as Bacillus subtilis, based on 16S rDNA sequence and used in mushroom growing room experiments. B. subtilis B-38 did not decrease mycelial growth rate of Agaricus bisporus A15 in mushroom compost in glass tubes. After applying prochloraz-manganese, B. subtilis B-38 and B. subtilis QST 713, no significant differences in BE values among treatments were found concerning both total yield and the weight of healthy mushrooms. Statistical analyses showed that only inoculation significantly influenced the healthy mushroom yield. In plots inoculated with T. harzianum T54 disease incidence was significantly lower after treatments with prochloraz-manganese (11.81%), B. subtilis QST 713 (12.26%) and B. subtilis B-38 (14.19%) compared to the control (28.16%), as well as in plots inoculated with T. aggressivum f. europaeum T77 11.88%, 12.2% and 15.03%, respectively, in comparison with the control (23.47%). Statistically significant differences were not found among the efficacy values of tested bio-fungicides based on B. subtilis and the commercial fungicide prochloraz-manganese suggesting the use of B. subtilis B-38 and B. subtilis QST 713 as good alternatives to chemical fungicides.     

Assessing resistance to Crinipellis perniciosa using cocoa callus

Callus cultures from cocoa clones reported to have different susceptibilities to Brazilian isolates of Crinipellis perniciosa , causal fungus of witches' broom disease, including Catongo (susceptible). Scavina-6, CAB 64 and CAB 67 (resistant) were inoculated with basidiospores of C. perniciosa and the subsequent development of mycelia was assessed. Generally, on Catongo callus, mycelium similar to that found in green brooms (parasitic type), developed abundantly but on callus from Scavina-6 and the two CAB clones, mycelial growth was relatively poor and tended to be similar to that in dry brooms and on agar media (saprotrophic type). There was often considerable variation in fungal development on individual callus cultures from the same clone, but there was an overall consistency between successive experiments in ranking the callus material in terms of fungal development. However, growth of isolates from Colombia and Trinidad was similar on callus from Scavina-6 which in the field is known to reac differentially to these two isolates. Experiments with isolates from Colombia indicated that inoculum from basidiocarps produced on brooms which were kept for long periods in cabinets to induce fruiting had a decreased ability to colonize callus.     

Susceptibility and resistance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">maritima</Emphasis> to foliar rub-inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beet necrotic yellow vein virus</Emphasis>

Four lines (designated MR0, MR1, MR2, and M8) from 13 accessions of Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima were selected on the basis of phenotypes produced after foliar rub-inoculation with Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). The susceptible phenotype developed bright yellow local lesions, whereas the resistant phenotype had symptoms ranging from no visible lesions to necrotic lesions at the inoculation site. MR1 and MR2 lines had a resistant phenotype depending on the isolate and the MR0 line was susceptible to all isolates of BNYVV tested. The M8 line was highly susceptible; the virus spread systemically and caused severe stunting. These plant lines will be useful for distinguishing BNYVV isolates having different pathogenicities, especially those controlled by RNA3 and/or RNA5.     

Adaptation to fungicides in Monilinia fructicola isolates with different fungicide resistance phenotypes

The ability to develop fungicide resistance was assessed in Monilinia fructicola isolates with different fungicide sensitivity phenotypes by adapting mycelium and conidia to increasing concentrations of selective fungicides and UV mutagenesis. Results showed that adaptation to Quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicide azoxystrobin and sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide propiconazole was more effective in conidial-transfer experiments compared to mycelial-transfer experiments. DMI-resistant (DMI-R) isolates adapted to significantly higher doses of azoxystrobin in both, mycelial- and conidial-transfer experiments compared to benzimidazole-resistant (BZI-R) and sensitive (S) isolates. Adaptation to propiconazole in conidial-transfer experiments was accelerated in BZI-R isolates when a stable, nonlethal dose of 50 microg/ml thiophanate-methyl was added to the selection medium. One of two azoxystrobin-resistant mutants from DMI-R isolates did not show any fitness penalties; the other isolate expired before further tests could be carried out. The viable mutant caused larger lesions on detached peach fruit sprayed with azoxystrobin compared to the parental isolate. The azoxystrobin sensitivity of the viable mutant returned to baseline levels after the mutant was transferred to unamended medium. However, azoxystrobin resistance recovered quicker in the mutant compared to the corresponding parental isolate after renewed subculturing on medium amended with 0.2 and 1 microg/ml azoxystrobin; only the mutant but not the parental isolate was able to adapt to 5 microg/ml azoxystrobin. In UV mutagenesis experiments, the DMI-R isolates produced significantly more mutants compared to S isolates. All of the UV-induced mutants showed stable fungicide resistance with little fitness penalty. This study indicates the potential for QoI fungicide resistance development in M. fructicola in the absence of a mutagen and provides evidence for increased mutability and predisposition to accelerated adaptation to azoxystrobin in M. fructicola isolates resistant to DMI fungicides.     

同位素内标法检测灭蝇胺及其代谢物三聚氰胺在双孢蘑菇子实体和覆土中的残留

采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱内标法检测灭蝇胺及其代谢物三聚氰胺在双孢蘑菇 Agaricus bisporus 子实体和覆土中的残留量,以及两者在双孢蘑菇工厂化栽培中的变化规律。样品经 V (甲醇) : V (水) = 4:1混合溶液提取,MCX固相萃取柱净化,HILIC 色谱柱分离,超高效液相色谱-串联质谱测定,三聚氰胺-13C同位素内标法定量。结果表明:灭蝇胺和三聚氰胺的检出限均为0.001 mg/kg。在0.02~1 mg/kg添加水平下,灭蝇胺在双孢蘑菇子实体和覆土样品中的回收率为86%~102%,相对标准偏差 (RSD) 为2.7%~5.3%;三聚氰胺在子实体和覆土样品中的回收率为98%~103%,RSD为1.5%~2.4%。在有效成分为1、10、50和250 mg/kg施药水平下,灭蝇胺消解规律符合一级反应动力学,在覆土中的平均半衰期为31.3 d。在覆土中灭蝇胺会转化为三聚氰胺,第2潮蘑菇采摘结束后,覆土中灭蝇胺的转化率为8.58%~13.87%。在施药水平较高 (50、250 mg/kg) 时,灭蝇胺和三聚氰胺在第1潮菇中的残留量高于在第2潮菇中的,其最高检出量灭蝇胺为2.36 mg/kg,三聚氰胺为1.75 mg/kg。综合考虑环境和产品安全,建议灭蝇胺的使用量不宜超过50 mg/kg。     

Effects of pre- and post-emergence weed harrowing on annual weeds in peas and spring cereals

To assess the effects of timing and frequency of weed harrowing on weed abundance and crop yield, different pre- and post-emergence weed harrowing sequences were applied to spring cereals and peas in field experiments performed during 2003 and 2004 in Sweden. Post-emergence harrowing was performed at crop growth stages 2–3 and 5–6 true leaves respectively. The best weed control was obtained by a combination of pre- and post-emergence harrowing, but these treatments also caused yield losses of 12–14% in spring cereals, while no yield losses were observed in peas. Pre-emergence weed harrowing treatments alone or combined with weed harrowing shortly after crop emergence proved to be most effective against the early emerging annual weed species Sinapis arvensis and Galeopsis spp. Post-emergence harrowing alone in peas had no effect on S. arvensis . The late emerging annual weed species Chenopodium album and Polygonum lapathifolium were most effectively controlled when pre-emergence weed harrowing was combined with one or two weed harrowing treatments after crop emergence.