Seed-colonizing microbes from municipal biosolids compost suppress Pythium ultimum damping-off on different plant species

Composts are known for their suppressive properties toward many different seed- and root-infecting pathogens and diseases. Although disease and pathogen suppression induced by composts is believed to be mediated by microbial activities, the nature of the microbial species and processes responsible for suppressiveness remain unknown. We demonstrated previously that seed-colonizing microbial consortia from leaf compost could explain the observed levels of Pythium ultimum-induced damping-off suppression on cotton. The aim of the present work was to determine whether seed-colonizing microbial consortia could explain Pythium damping-off suppression in municipal biosolids compost on three different plant species. Significant levels of disease suppression were observed on cucumber, wheat, and pea at water potentials of -2 kPa. The suppression of damping-off on cucumber and wheat could be eliminated by autoclaving the compost prior to sowing. High levels of suppressiveness were expressed both on cucumber and on wheat seed surfaces within 8 h of sowing. However, the expression of damping-off suppression on the surface of pea seeds was inconsistent and highly variable. Our results demonstrate that compost-induced suppression of P. ultimum damping-off of cucumber and wheat can be explained by the microbial consortia colonizing seeds within 8 h of sowing. These results further suggest that disease suppression in composts is related to microbial species that interact with the pathogen in its infection court and not in the bulk compost.     

Suppression of Seedling Damping-Off Caused by Pythium ultimum, P. irregulare, and Rhizoctonia solani in Container Media Amended with a Diverse Range of Pacific Northwest Compost Sources

ABSTRACT Suppression of seedling damping-off disease caused by Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani is a potential benefit of formulating soilless container media with compost. Thirty-six compost samples from Pacific Northwest commercial composting facilities were analyzed for a number of physical, chemical, and biological properties, including suppression of damping-off caused by Pythium ultimum, P. irregulare, and R. solani. The samples were produced from diverse feedstocks and composting technol ogies; this was reflected in a large degree of variability in the measured properties. When mixed with sphagnum peat moss and inorganic aggregates, 67% of the compost samples significantly suppressed P. irregulare damping-off of cucumber, 64% suppressed P. ultimum damping-off of cucumber, and 17% suppressed damping-off of cabbage caused by R. solani. Suppression of Pythium damping-off was related to the potential of compost to support microbial activity and a qualitative index of ammonia volatilization. Suppression of Rhizoctonia damping-off was not related to any one compost factor. Currently available compost products potentially could provide commercially acceptable control of damping-off caused by Pythium spp., but it is necessary to fortify composts with microbial antagonists for the control of R. solani.     

Cotton Seedling Preemergence Damping-Off Incited by Rhizopus oryzae and Pythium spp. and Its Biological Control with Trichoderma spp

ABSTRACT Planting the cotton cv. Sure-Grow 747 in cotton seedling disease plots during the 2001 growing season resulted in high levels of preemergence damping-off among the seedlings. Four cotton pathogens, Pythium aphanidermatum, P. ultimum, an unidentified Pythium sp., and Rhizopus oryzae, were isolated from diseased seed embryos and seedlings. Disease incited by the Pythium spp. could be controlled by seed treatment with Metalaxyl, but disease incited by R. oryzae could not. Seed treatment with Metalaxyl in naturally infested field soil was only partially effective; therefore, symptoms in 47% of the diseased seedlings could be attributed to R. oryzae. Susceptibility to disease appeared to be related to release in the spermosphere, by the germinating seeds, of compounds that stimulate pathogen propagule germination, because exudates from seed of the suscept Sure-Grow 747 and extracts from wheat bran induced pathogen germination and growth, whereas exudates from resistant cv. Stoneville 213 did not. However, even Stoneville 213 became susceptible when infested soil was amended with wheat bran. Seed treatment with preparations of Trichoderma virens parent, mutant, and hybrid strains gave effective biological control of preemergence damping-off. Disease control was attributable to metabolism by the biocontrol agent of pathogen germination stimulants released by the seed, because amendment of pathogen-infested soil with the propagule germination stimulants in wheat bran negated the protective effect of the seed treatment.     

Mutation of a degS homologue in Enterobacter cloacae decreases colonization and biological control of damping-off on cucumber

We have been using mutagenesis to determine how biocontrol bacteria such as Enterobacter cloacae 501R3 deal with complex nutritional environments found in association with plants. E. cloacae C10, a mutant of 501R3 with a transposon insertion in degS, was diminished in growth on synthetic cucumber root exudate (SRE), colonization of cucumber seed and roots, and control of damping-off of cucumber caused by Pythium ultimum. DegS, a periplasmic serine protease in the closely related bacterium Escherichia coli K12, is required for the RpoE-mediated stress response. C10 containing wild-type degS from 501R3 or from E. coli K12 on pBeloBAC11 was significantly increased in growth on SRE, colonization of cucumber roots, and control of P. ultimum relative to C10 containing pBeloBAC11 alone. C10 and 501R3 were similar in sensitivity to acidic conditions, plant-derived phenolic compounds, oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide, dessication, and high osmoticum; stress conditions potentially associated with plants. This study demonstrates a role for degS in the spermosphere and rhizosphere during colonization and disease control by Enterobacter cloacae. This study implicates, for the first time, the involvement of DegS and, by extension, the RpoE-mediated stress response, in reducing stress on E. cloacae resulting from the complex nutritional environments in the spermosphere and rhizosphere.     

Compost Tea as a Container Medium Drench for Suppressing Seedling Damping-Off Caused by Pythium ultimum

ABSTRACT Compost tea is being used increasingly in agricultural production to control plant diseases. However, there has been limited investigation relating disease control efficacy to various compost tea production methods, particularly compost tea produced with active aeration and additives to increase microbial population densities in compost tea. Aerated compost tea (ACT) and nonaerated compost tea (NCT), produced with or without additives, was investigated for the suppression of damping-off of cucumber caused by Pythium ultimum. Compost tea was used to drench soilless container medium inoculated with P. ultimum; effect on damping-off ranged from not suppressive to consistently suppressive depending on the method used to produce the tea. The most consistent formulation for damping-off suppression was ACT produced with kelp and humic acid additives. Producing ACT with a molasses-based additive inconsistently suppressed damping-off; evidence suggests that residual nutrients can interfere with disease suppression. Heating or diluting compost tea negated suppression. Across all compost tea samples, there was no significant relationship of bacterial populations, measured as active cells, total cells, or CFU, to disease suppression. However, for all ACT produced without the molasses-based additive, there was a threshold of bacterial population density (6 log(10) active cells per ml, 7.48 log(10) total cells per ml, or 7 log(10) CFU per ml) above which compost teas were suppressive.     

Suppression of Rhizoctonia solani on Impatiens by Enhanced Microbial Activity in Composted Swine Waste-Amended Potting Mixes

ABSTRACT Peat moss-based potting mix was amended with either of two composted swine wastes, CSW1 and CSW2, at rates from 4 to 20% (vol/vol) to evaluate suppression of pre-emergence damping-off of impatiens (Impatiens balsamina) caused by Rhizoctonia solani (anastomosis group-4). A cucumber bioassay was used prior to each impatiens experiment to monitor maturity of compost as the compost aged in a curing pile by evaluating disease suppression toward both Pythium ultimum and R. solani. At 16, 24, 32, and 37 weeks after composting, plug trays filled with compost-amended potting mix were seeded with impatiens and infested with R. solani to determine suppression of damping-off. Pre-emergence damping-off was lower for impatiens grown in potting mix amended with 20% CSW1 than in CSW2-amended and nonamended mixes. To identify relationships between disease suppression and microbial parameters, samples of mixes were collected to determine microbial activity, biomass carbon and nitrogen, functional diversity, and population density. Higher rates of microbial activity were observed with increasing rates of CSW1 amendment than with CSW2 amendments. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen also were higher in CSW1-amended mixes than in CSW2-amended potting mixes 1 day prior to seeding and 5 weeks after seeding. Principal component analysis of Biolog-GN2 profiles showed different functional diversities between CSW1- and CSW2-amended mixes. Furthermore, mixes amended with CSW1 had higher colony forming units of fungi, endospore-forming bacteria, and oligotrophic bacteria. Our results suggest that enhanced microbial activity, functional and population diversity of stable compost-amended mix were associated with suppressiveness to Rhizoctonia damping-off in impatiens.     

Factors affecting the control of Pythium ultimum damping-off of sugar beet by Pythium oligandrum

Application of Pythium oligandrum to a soil-based compost as a mycelial suspension (5 × 10² CFU g⁻¹ of dry compost) and oospore alginate pellets (10⁵ oospores/g of dry compost) controlled pre- and postemergence damping-off of sugar beet caused by Pythium ultimum to a level similar to metalaxyl seed treatment. Oospore seed treatments and aqueous suspensions of oospores applied to compost failed to control disease. Problems in the use of P. oligandrum oospore inocula for the control of damping-off were highlighted. It was shown that treatment of oospores with cellulase (20 g L⁻¹) increased germination approximately three-fold in comparison to untreated spores. Untreated and cellulase pretreated oospores were subsequently evaluated as seed treatments for their ability to control damping-off of sugar beet. The highest rate of pretreated oospores (10⁴ oospores/seed) gave levels of emergence and establishment in infested compost that were not significantly different from the uninfested controls, whereas seed treatment with untreated oospores gave no significant reduction in disease. In a trial carried out in a controlled environment to assess the effect of pH (4.5–8.0), P. oligandrum (10⁴ cellulase pretreated oospores/seed) was shown to control pre- and postemergence damping-off of sugar beet at pH 7.0 and 7.5 only.     

Biological control of damping-off of sugar beet by Pseudomonas putida applied to seed pellets

Pseudomonas putida 40RNF applied to seed pellets reduced the occurrence of Pythium damping-off of sugar beet. A density of 6 × 10⁷ 40RNF per pellet reduced Pythium damping-off from 70 to 26% when seeds were sown in artificially infested soil (250 propagules Pythium ultimum per g dry soil). The efficacy of 40RNF was dependent on its density in the seed pellet (in the range 2 × 10⁴–6 × 10⁸ per pellet) and on the number of propagules of Pythium in soil. 40RNF declined to or stabilized at approximately 1 × 10⁶ per pellet 3 days after planting, and this was independent of the inoculum density. This indicated that the crucial steps resulting in damping-off of sugar beet caused by Pythium ultimum must occur within 3–4 days of sowing. 40RNF reduced pericarp colonization by P. ultimum by 43% 48 h after planting and caused a 68% decrease in the number of sporangia of P. ultimum in the surrounding soil (0.0–5.0 mm). P. putida 40RNF also reduced pre and post-emergence damping-off (from 69.5 to 37.5%) caused by indigenous populations of Pythium species in an infested soil and this was as effective as the fungicide hymexazol (69.5 to 40%).     

Control of damping-off in cress and sugar-beet by commercial seed-coating with Pythium oligandrum

Seeds of cress and sugar-beet were coated with oospores of Pythium oligandrum using commercial seed-pelleting or film-coating procedures. Following either procedure approximately 10⁴ oospores were recovered from both seed types, achieving 75.94% of the targeted dose. Oospore germination (9.19%) was unaffected by the coating treatments. Both types of treatment reduced damping-off of cress caused by P. ultimum in artificially infested sand and potting compost and by Rhizoctonia solani in artificially infested sand. In some cases, the level of control was equivalent to fungicide drenches. In general, pelleting of P. oligandrum on cress gave better control than film-coating treatments. P. oligandrum also reduced damping-off of sugar-beet in soil naturally infested with Aphanomyces cochlioides and Pythium spp. Control was equivalent to that achieved with hymexazol fungicide seed-coating treatments and was related to the inoculum potential of A. cochlioides in the soil; neither standard hymexazol coatings nor P. oligandrum treatments gave control at high inoculum potentials. P. oligandrum was not rhizosphere competent on cress or sugar-beet.     

Differential Activity of Carboxylic Acid Amide Fungicides Against Various Developmental Stages of Phytophthora infestans

ABSTRACT Three carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides, mandipropamid (MPD), dimethomorph (DMM) and iprovalicarb (IPRO) were examined for their effects on various asexual developmental stages of Phytophthora infestans in vitro and in planta. Germination of cystospores and direct germination of sporangia were inhibited with nanomole concentrations of MPD (0.005 mug/ml) and micromole concentrations of DMM (0.05 mug/ml) or IPRO (0.5 mug/ml). A temporary exposure of 1 h to CAAs was not detrimental to germination and infectivity of sporangia or cystospores. CAAs applied to cystospores at 1 h after the onset of germination did not prevent the emergence of germ tubes, but inhibited their further growth and deformed their shape. None of the fungicides affected discharge of zoospores from sporangia or the encystment (cell wall formation/assembly) of the zoospores. Mycelium growth in solid or liquid media was inhibited with micromole concentrations. CAAs mixed with sporangia and drop inoculated onto detached leaves strongly suppressed infection. Curative application at 1 day postinoculation (dpi) required higher concentrations of CAAs than preventive application to inhibit infection and lost its effectiveness at 2 dpi. When sprayed on established late blight lesions 4 days after inoculation, CAAs reduced sporangial production in a dose-dependent manner. Trans-laminar protection of potato or tomato leaves, although achieved with higher doses, was more effective with MPD than with DMM or IPRO. Shade house studies demonstrated superior control of late blight epidemics by MPD compared with the other molecules. The data suggest that germ tube formation by cystospores or sporangia is the most sensitive stage in the life cycle of P. infestans to CAAs. Of the three CAAs, MPD had the highest intrinsic activity against spore germination. This property, together with its better trans-laminar activity, makes MPD more effective than DMM or IPRO in controlling epidemics caused by P. infestans.     

Short-term fluctuations of sugar beet damping-off by Pythium ultimum in relation to changes in bacterial communities after organic amendments to two soils

Previously, oscillations in beet seedling damping-off by Pythium ultimum, measured as area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), were demonstrated after incorporation of organic materials into organic and conventional soils. These periodic fluctuations of P. ultimum infections were cross-correlated with oscillations of copiotrophic CFU at lags of 2 to 4 days. For this article, we investigated whether bacterial communities and microbial activities fluctuated after a disturbance from incorporation of organic materials, and whether these fluctuations were linked to the short-term oscillations in AUDPC of beet seedling damping-off and bacterial populations (CFU) in soil. Soil microbial communities studied by polymerase chain reaction-DGGE analysis of 16S DNA after isolation of total DNA from soil and microbial activities measured as CO(2) emission rates were monitored daily for 14 days after addition of grass-clover (GC) or composted manure (CM) into organic versus conventional soils. Similar to our previous findings, AUDPC and density of copiotrophic bacteria oscillated with time. Fluctuations in species richness (S), Shannon diversity index (H), and individual amplicons on DGGE gels were also detected. Oscillations in AUDPC were positively cross-correlated with copiotrophic CFU in all soils. Oscillations in AUDPC were also positively cross-correlated with 19 to 35% of the high-intensity DNA fragments in soils amended with GC but only 2 to 3% of these fragments in CM-amended soils. AUDPC values were negatively cross-correlated with 13 to 17% of the amplicons with low average intensities in CM-amended soils, which were not correlated with densities of copiotrophic CFU. CO(2) emission rates had remarkable variations in the initial 7 days after either of the soil amendments but were not associated with daily changes in AUDPC. The results suggest that infection by P. ultimum is hampered by competition from culturable copiotrophic bacteria and some high-intensity DGGE amplicons, because AUDPC is cross-correlated with these variables at lags of 1 to 4 days. However, negative cross-correlations with low-intensity DNA fragments indicate that P. ultimum infection could also be suppressed by antagonistic bacteria with low densities that may be nonculturable species, especially in CM amended soil. The organic soil generally had lower AUDPC values, higher bacterial diversity, and negative cross-correlations between AUDPC and low-intensity DNA fragments (after CM amendment), indicating that specific bacteria that do not attain high densities may contribute to P. ultimum suppression in organic soils.     

Biological control of Pythium ultimum–induced damping-off by treating cress seed with the mycoparasite Pythium oligandrum

Incorporation of the aggressive mycoparasite Pythium oligandrum into a carboxymethyl cellulose-based seed coating decreased damping-off of cress seedlings by Pythium ultimum in both naturally infested soil and artificially infested sand. This effect is attributed to the germination of P. oligandrum oospores on the seed surface with subsequent generation of a protectant mycelium around the seedling.
P. oligandrum oospores survived storage periods of 10—20 weeks at zero relative humidity both on glass slides and within seed coatings. The mycoparasite also survived an 18–month burial in natural soil, probably in the form of oospores.
The implications of these observations for biocontrol of seedling diseases by P. oligandrum are discussed.     

非寄主和寄主种子分泌物对大豆疫霉活性的影响

为探寻非寄主和寄主种子分泌物中抗病信号分子,通过显微观察,采用菌丝生长速率法和离体接种法对不同种子分泌物处理后大豆疫霉Phytophthora sojae的游动孢子数、孢子囊数、游动孢子释放后残留的空囊数、成囊和未成囊的游动孢子数、萌发和未萌发的胞囊数、菌落直径、卵孢子数进行测量,并计算抑制率,明确非寄主菜豆和寄主大豆抗病品种、感病品种种子分泌物对大豆疫霉游动孢子趋化性、生长发育和侵袭力的影响。结果显示,非寄主菜豆种子分泌物不吸引大豆疫霉游动孢子,显著抑制大豆疫霉孢子囊形成、胞囊萌发和卵孢子产生,抑制率依次为97.3%、73.0%和17.5%,然后溶解胞囊,最终导致游动孢子对下胚轴侵袭力降低,抑制率为67.1%。寄主大豆种子分泌物能吸引大豆疫霉游动孢子,感病品种种子分泌物吸引力高于抗病品种。感病品种种子分泌物对大豆疫霉生长发育无显著影响,但促进大豆疫霉游动孢子侵袭力;抗病品种种子分泌物显著抑制大豆疫霉孢子囊形成、胞囊萌发和卵孢子产生,抑制率依次为86.6%、34.3%和12.8%,然后溶解胞囊,但作用强度小于非寄主菜豆种子分泌物,最终导致游动孢子对下胚轴的侵袭力降低,抑制率为24.2%。表明非寄主菜豆和寄主大豆抗病品种的种子分泌物对大豆疫霉有抑菌活性,大豆疫霉的非寄主和寄主抗病性与种子分泌物有关。     

Cyclic Lipopeptide Surfactant Production by Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 Is Not Required for Suppression of Complex Pythium spp. Populations

ABSTRACT Previously, the zoosporicidal activity and control of Pythium root rot of flower bulbs by Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 was attributed, in part, to the production of the cyclic lipopeptide surfactant massetolide A. The capacity of strain SS101 and its surfactant-deficient massA mutant 10.24 to suppress populations and root infection by complex Pythium spp. communities resident in orchard soils was assessed on apple and wheat seedlings and on apple rootstocks. Both strains initially became established in soil and persisted in the rhizosphere at similar population densities; however, massA mutant 10.24 typically was detected at higher populations in the wheat rhizosphere and soil at the end of each experiment. Both strains effectively suppressed resident Pythium populations to an equivalent level in the presence or absence of plant roots, and ultimately suppressed Pythium root infection to the same degree on all host plants. When split-root plant assays were employed, neither strain suppressed Pythium spp. infection of the component of the root system physically separated from the bacterium, suggesting that induced systemic resistance did not play a role in Pythium control. Strain SS101 only marginally suppressed in vitro growth of Pythium spp. and growth was not inhibited in the presence of mutant 10.24. When incorporated into the growth medium, the cyclic lipopeptide massetolide A significantly slowed the rate of hyphal expansion for all Pythium spp. examined. Differences in sensitivity were observed among species, with Pythium heterothallicum, P. rostratum, and P. ultimum var. ultimum exhibiting significantly greater tolerance. Pythium spp. populations indigenous to the two soils employed were composed primarily of P. irregulare, P. sylvaticum, and P. ultimum var. ultimum. These Pythium spp. either do not or rarely produce zoospores, which could account for the observation that both SS101 and mutant 10.24 were equally effective in disease control. Collectively, the results showed that (i) Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 is very effective in controlling diverse Pythium populations on different crops grown in different soils and (ii) production of the cyclic lipopeptide massetolide A does not play a significant role in disease suppression. Other, as yet undefined mechanisms appear to play a significant role in the interaction between P. fluorescens SS101 and soilborne Pythium spp. communities.     

The Use of a GUS Transformant of Trichoderma Harzianum, Strain T3a, to Study Metabolic Activity in the Spermosphere and Rhizosphere Related to Biocontrol of Pythium Damping-off And Root Rot

The activity of Trichoderma harzianum in the spermosphere and rhizosphere of different plant species was studied by use of a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) transformant (strain T3a). Hereby, direct observation of micro-habitats supporting metabolic activity of T. harzianum is reported. Germination of conidia and mycelial growth were not supported by exudates from healthy roots of various ages. Instead, growth and activity of T. harzianum depended on access to dead organic substrates such as seed coats, decaying roots, and wounds, including those caused by infecting pathogens. A correlation between the GUS activity of T. harzianum and the biomass of Pythium ultimum in infected roots was established. On the basis of our observations, we suggest that the biocontrol ability of T. harzianum involves competition with the pathogen for substrates including the seed coat, and wounded or infected root tissue.     

Studies on the mechanism of action of cymoxanil in Phytophthora infestans

Colony growth and germ tube emergence of sporangia and encysted zoospores of Phytophthora infestans were highly sensitive to cymoxanil (ED₅₀ 0.5–1.5 μg/ml), whereas differentiation of sporangia and zoospore release were insensitive at concentrations up to 100 μg/ml. Treated sporangia did not show distorted germ tubes. Oxygen consumption for glucose oxidation by germinating sporangia and zoospore motility were not inhibited at concentrations up to 100 μg/ml. Cymoxanil hardly affected the uptake of radiolabeled precursors of DNA, RNA, and protein at concentrations up to 100 μg/ml. Incorporation of [¹⁴C]phenylalanine into protein was completely insensitive. RNA synthesis as measured by [³H]uridine incorporation was differentially inhibited in the various developmental stages of the fungus. Inhibition did not occur at differentiation of sporangia, whereas at cyst and sporangial germination and mycelial growth this process was inhibited 20–45% at a concentration of 100 μg cymoxanil/ml. Endogenous RNA polymerase activity of isolated nuclei was not inhibited by cymoxanil. DNA synthesis as measured by [methyl-³H]thymidine incorporation was inhibited 20–80% at the various stages of development at cymoxanil concentrations higher than 10 μg/ml. Metalaxyl, a specific inhibitor of ribosomal RNA synthesis, inhibited [³H]uridine incorporation 40–60% at all developmental stages. The data suggest that although DNA synthesis is affected more than RNA synthesis, inhibition of both biosynthetic processes is a secondary effect. The primary mode of action of cymoxanil thus remains unknown.     

Larval Bradysia impatiens (Diptera: Sciaridae) potential for vectoring Pythium root rot pathogens

A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the capacity of Bradysia impatiens (Johannsen) larvae to ingest propagules from two strains each of Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp. and P. ultimum Trow and transmit the pathogens to healthy geranium seedlings on a filter-paper substrate in petri dishes. The capacity of fungus gnat larvae to transmit P. aphanidermatum to seedlings rooted in a commercial peat-based potting mix and germination of Pythium oospores and hyphal swellings before and after passage through the guts of larval fungus gnats were also examined. Assays revealed that Pythium spp. transmission by larval fungus gnats varied greatly with the assay substrate and also with the number and nature of ingested propagules. Transmission was highest (65%) in the petri dish assays testing larvae fed P. aphanidermatum K-13, a strain that produced abundant oospores. Transmission of strain K-13 was much lower (<6%) in plug cells with potting mix. Larvae were less efficient at vectoring P. ultimum strain PSN-1, which produced few oospores, and no transmission was observed with two non-oospore-producing strains: P. aphanidermatum Pa58 and P. ultimum P4. Passage of P. aphanidermatum K-13 through larval guts significantly increased oospore germination. However, decreased germination of hyphal swellings was observed following larval gut passage for strains of P. ultimum. These results expand previous studies suggesting that larval fungus gnats may vector Pythium spp.     

种子细菌处理防治番茄苗期病害

11984～1986年从杭州市郊黄瓜、番茄、青椒,大白菜等健苗根表及根围土壤分离得1000多株菌株,从中筛选出8个拮抗细菌防治番茄苗期病害。1986～1987年在温州市扩大试验,种子细菌处理后,能抑制发瘸率,提高出苗率拈抗效果在60％以上,最高达100％;还能促进植株生长,提高单株产量。用化学农药甲霜灵与代森锌混配处理,得到同样防治效果。     

Characteristics and pathogenicity of Pythium spp. associated with root rot of tomatoes in soilless culture in Brittany, France

Pythium species cause necrotic lesions and root rots on tomato in soilless culture. Epidemiological studies conducted in Brittany, France, revealed the precocity and the frequency of the contamination of tomato roots by these fungi, even in symptomless roots. The colonization, estimated by culture-plate methods, could reach levels as high as 10⁵ propagules/gram of root. The frequent occurrence of Pythium with filamentous non-inflated sporangia, representing 75% of the total isolates, was observed during both latent infections and necrotic phases. Those Pythium spp., grouped as Pythium F, induced variable necrotic lesions in tomato roots in soilless culture. This group, which had been overlooked previously in favour of known pathogenic species such as P. ultitnum var. ultimum , can be pathogenic to tomato plants and therefore form a component of a potential disease complex.