Systems approaches in epidemiology and plant disease management

This contribution to Zadoks’ liber amicorum reviews the developments in quantitative epidemiology during the last decades. It elucidates the progress in this field and shows how empirical crop protection with many phenomenological aspects transformed into a science-based (inter) discipline. The availability of experimental tools and the rapid development and introduction of computers enabled the application of systems approaches which stimulated a revolution in thinking and caused a considerable improvement of strategic and tactical decision making in crop protection. Zadoks played a crucial role in that development.     

Nonparametric tests in plant disease epidemiology: characterizing disease associations

ABSTRACT Nonparametric tests are suited to many statistical applications, including experimental design, regression, and time series analysis, for example. Often these tests are thought of as alternatives to their parametric counterparts when certain assumptions about the underlying population are questionable. Although suited for this scenario, there are a number of nonparametric tests that fill unique niches in the analysis of data, for example, characterizing interspecific associations. Quantifying the degree of association between two or more pathogens or diseases at a defined spatial scale is essential to gain a thorough understanding of disease dynamics, generate testable hypothesis behind the mechanisms that cause association, and is often necessary in modeling applications. In this paper, nonparametric approaches to characterizing interspecific associations will be covered. Specifically, I will address the use of rank correlation coefficients and the development of a randomization procedure for testing the Jaccard index of association against a null model.     

A perspective on the measurement of time in plant disease epidemiology

The growth and development of plant pathogens and their hosts generally respond strongly to the temperature of their environment. However, most studies of plant pathology record pathogen/host measurements against physical time (e.g. hours or days) rather than thermal time (e.g. degree-days or degree-hours). This confounds the comparison of epidemiological measurements across experiments and limits the value of the scientific literature.     

Surfactants in plant disease management: A brief review and case studies

In plant disease management, surfactants are generally used in combination with pesticides to facilitate delivery of the pesticide chemicals to the target sites in plants, vectors, or pathogens. Their intended use is rarely for direct effect on plant pathogens. However, trends in recent studies have revealed an appreciable increase in their use for direct management of plant diseases. In this paper, we briefly review the progress made in the use of surfactants for disease management, as adjuvants and when applied for direct effect. We carried out experiments to evaluate the effect of selected synthetic surfactants (Cohere, Kinetic, Silwet-77, and Induce) on powdery mildew in squash and bacterial spot in tomato. Results from this study showed that the effect of surfactants on these pathogens is dependent on the type of plant pathogen or disease. All tested surfactants exhibited in vitro bactericidal activity against Xanthomonas perforans, a causal pathogen of bacterial spot of tomato. In the greenhouse, Cohere significantly reduced disease severity of powdery mildew in squash compared to the untreated control. Cohere also showed promise in field trials against bacterial spot of tomato, but the other surfactants tested promoted this disease. Our studies demonstrate the importance of evaluating surfactants for their use in management of plant diseases both for direct effect and as adjuvants in tank mix.     

Understanding banana bunchy top disease epidemiology in Burundi for an enhanced and integrated management approach

This study on the epidemiology of banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) was carried out in the context of small‐scale farms in Burundi for an integrated management approach. Banana trials were established in farmers’ fields comparing different plot locations, while spatial and seasonal occurrence of aphid vectors was evaluated at three different altitudes. In addition, serological tests were performed on banana leaf samples to confirm the presence and titre of the virus. The results showed that BBTD incidence varied among banana cultivars and locations. Nine months after plot establishment, BBTD incidence ranged from 21·8% to 56·4% in plots within affected fields, while a range of 0–12·3% was reported in plots located between 5 and 30 m away from affected banana fields. Aphid numbers were highest in the dry season. These aphids were able to acquire and transmit the virus irrespective of altitude. A mean incubation period of 21 and 84 days was observed at low (780 m a.s.l.) and high (2090 m a.s.l.) altitude, respectively. Thus, a holistic approach, taking into account banana cultivar, plot location, disease‐free planting material and regular field sanitation, should be promoted for long‐term BBTD management.     

Comparative epidemiology of zoosporic plant pathogens

Loss of zoospores has happened independently several times in different phylogenic lines and has, it is claimed, no major phylogenetic significance. But whether or not, how, and under which conditions plant pathogens retain the ability to produce motile asexual spores has fundamental importance from an ecological and epidemiological perspective. Recent molecular investigations of the early evolution of fungi and oomycetes are shedding light on the issue of zoospore loss in organisms able to cause plant diseases. Zoospore loss may have accompanied the development of new forms of dispersal adapted to the terrestrial environment, or the simplification processes which often follow the shift to parasitic or biotrophic life-forms. In this review we consider hybridisation events between Phytophthora species, long distance dispersal of oomycetes, sporangia and zoospore survival, direct and indirect infection processes and newly observed sporulating structures. These aspects are all relevant features for an understanding of the epidemiology of zoosporic plant pathogens. Disease management should not be based on the presumption that the zoosporic stage is a weak link in the life cycle. Oomycete plant pathogens show remarkable flexibility in their life cycles and ability to adapt to changing environmental circumstances.

Significant plant virus diseases in India and a glimpse of modern disease management technology

India has a diverse agroclimate representing tropical, subtropical and temperate climates with zones ranging from average to high in temperature, humidity and rainfall; from low to scarce rainfall in deserts to cold to very cold plains and upland areas. Thus it is the home of one of the richest flora and fauna in the world. For pests and pathogens, too, tropical and subtropical climates are ideal for growth and development. A majority of the world’s fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, oil seed crops, fiber crops, sugarcane, spices, and ornamentals are cultivated in India. Virus diseases and their vectors are also in abundance. Since ancient times, virus-like diseases and management practices have been known in India. This knowledge has now been revived and adopted in organic farming, especially for medicinal and aromatic plants. Current trends for extensive and intensive agriculture, open international agricultural trade, and thus food security and sustained economy have brought new challenges in the fight against virus diseases. In this changing scenario, current diseases of significance are caused by begomoviruses, badnaviruses, cucomoviruses, potyviruses, ilarviruses in crops such as vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, fiber crops, and sugarcane. Variability in the viruses is also common. Briefly reviewed here is the positive effect of an isolate of Rice necrosis mosaic virus; when artificially inoculated on jute and mesta fiber crops enhanced their fiber contents. Diseases of significance, e.g., leaf fleck disease of sugarcane, citrus yellow mosaic disease, banana bunchy top, banana bract mosaic, mungbean yellow mosaic, mosaic in chrysanthemum, gladiolus and orchids are also discussed. Efficient, reliable diagnostic tools have been developed and used extensively. Some of the advanced laboratories have been accredited for virus indexing under the National Certification System for tissue-cultured plants. International standards for phytosanitary measures have been promulgated, and a mandatory nodal agency is in place for the conservation and exchange of germplasm; a Containment Level-4 facility to examine incoming transgenics and a fully equipped laboratory to intercept virus-infected plant material are functional. A National Agricultural Biosecurity System will soon be in place. All these measures are essential to protect agricultural systems and to compete in the international agriculture market. Continued vigilance, disease mapping and adopting the latest technology are required to practice sustainable agriculture.     

Fitting and testing spatio-temporal stochastic models with application in plant epidemiology

We propose and illustrate a likelihood-based method for fitting spatio-temporal stochastic models for the spread of a plant disease to experimental observations. The models considered are individual-based, with members of the population occupying discrete sites on a two-dimensional lattice. The disease is assumed to be characterized by presence/absence, and infection of susceptible individuals by infected individuals is represented as a stochastic process. The method described can be applied to estimate parameters in models of this kind when observations consisting of temporal sequences of disease maps are available. The use of measures of spatial aggregation as measured from simulated and real epidemics is proposed as a means of assessing the relative merits of alternative models for the spread of a disease. To illustrate the technique we fit and compare two models, which differ in the relationship between infective pressure and distance, to observations of an epidemic of citrus tristeza virus (CTV). It is demonstrated that a model in which this relationship is a power-law is superior to one which uses a negative exponential and the importance of model choice for the design of control strategies is discussed briefly.     

植物病害分子流行学概述

 本文概要地介绍了植物病理学新研究领域——植物病害分子流行学的基本概念、进展和在几个主要方面的研究实例。分子生物技术在病原鉴定方面得到了广泛应用;定量的分子生物技术在测定病菌初侵染源方面显示出特有的快速、准确的优势;分子流行学应用分子生物技术监测病害和病原菌群体的动态,克服了传统流行学方法的弱点;作为有力的补充,分子生物技术正在用于探讨和推测病原菌远距离传播的路径,并注重研究病原菌群体的时、空动态变化,病原菌的长期进化,以及与病害发展的关系;病原群体的竞争将得到更深入的研究以揭示其变化是如何导致植物病害大流行;应用分子流行学手段,植物抗病性的鉴定将大大加速和简化;病害防治策略的制定将具有更科学的依据。宏观与微观研究手段的结合将越来越显示其在植物病害流行学研究中的巨大潜力。     

Ontogenic resistance and plant disease management: a case study of grape powdery mildew

ABSTRACT A fundamental principle of integrated pest management is that actions taken to manage disease should be commensurate with the risk of infection and loss. One of the less-studied factors that determines this risk is ontogenic, or age-related resistance of the host. Ontogenic resistance may operate at the whole plant level or in specific organs or tissues. Until recently, grape berries were thought to remain susceptible to powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) until late in their development. However, the development of ontogenic resistance is actually quite rapid in berries, and fruit become nearly immune to infection within 4 weeks after fruit set. Our objective was to determine how and at what stage the pathogen was halted in the infection process on ontogenically resistant berries. Adhesion of conidia, germination, and appressorium formation were not impeded on older berries. However, once berries were approximately 3 weeks old and older, few germlings were able to form secondary hyphae. Ontogenically resistant berries responded rapidly to infection by synthesis of a germin-like protein that had been previously shown to play a role in host defense against barley powdery mildew. On susceptible berries, cell discoloration around penetration sites indicated the oxidation of phenolic compounds; a process that was followed by localized cell death. However, the pathogen was still able to infect such cells prior to their death, continue secondary growth, and thereby colonize young berries. Formation of papillae was not involved in the differential resistance mechanism of older berries. In susceptible berries, papillae formed frequently at infection sites but did not always contain the pathogen, whereas in resistant berries, the pathogen was always halted prior to the formation of papillae. The host defense, which conditions ontogenic resistance, operates in the earliest stages of the infection process, in the absence of gross anatomical barriers, prior to the formation of a functional haustorium and prior to the development of a conspicuous penetration pore. We also found that diffuse powdery mildew colonies that were not visible in the field predisposed berries to bunch rot by Botrytis cinerea, increased the levels of infestation by spoilage microorganisms, and substantially degraded wine quality. Our improved understanding of the nature, causes, and stability of ontogenic resistance in the grapevine/ powdery mildew system has supported substantial changes in how fungicides are used to control the disease. Present applications are more focused on the period of maximum fruit susceptibility instead of following a calendar-based schedule. This has improved control, reduced losses, and in many cases reduced the number of fungicide applications required to suppress the disease. Particularly where fungicides are deployed in a programmatic fashion and ontogenic resistance is dynamic, there may be equivalent improvements to be made in other hostpathogen systems through studies of how host susceptibility changes through time.     

Epidemiology of bacterial ring rot of potato in plant and soil–consequences for disease management

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In five field experiments, carried out from 2002 to 2004, the infestation of potato plants and the contamination of soil with Clavibacter michiganensis...     

Molecular epidemiology of cassava mosaic disease in Madagascar

Cassava is the staple food for hundreds of millions of people in Africa but its cultivation is seriously constrained by cassava mosaic disease (CMD) in Madagascar, and in Africa in general. This study identified the cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMGs) involved in CMD in Madagascar and their associated epidemiological characteristics from countrywide surveys. Molecular characterization of CMGs in Madagascar revealed an unprecedented diversity and co‐occurrence of six viruses: African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCV), East African cassava mosaic Kenya virus (EACMKV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV), South African cassava mosaic virus (SACMV) and the recently described Cassava mosaic Madagascar virus (CMMGV). Distinct geographical distributions were observed for the six viruses. While ACMV was more prevalent in the central highlands, EACMV and EACMKV were prevalent in lowlands and coastal regions. Both EACMCV and SACMV occurred in almost all the localities visited. PCR diagnosis revealed that mixed infection (up to four co‐infected viruses) occurred in 21% of the samples and were associated with higher symptom severity scores. Pairwise comparisons of virus associations showed that EACMCV was found in mixed infections more often than expected while ACMV and SACMV were mostly found in single infections. A greater abundance of whiteflies was observed in lowland and coastal areas. Nevertheless, infected cuttings remain the primary source of CMD propagation (95%) in Madagascar.     

Innovative approaches to exploit host plant metabolites in malaria control

Malaria is the most important vector‐borne disease in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Recent reports indicate that the levels of malaria‐associated mortality and morbidity in SSA have remained the same. Malaria vectors have modified their feeding behavior in response to the selective pressure from indoor‐based interventions, and there is emerging malaria parasite resistance to artemisinin‐based combination therapies. These challenges have created an altered malaria landscape, especially within local scales in some malaria‐endemic countries in SSA. To address these challenges, complementary new strategies are urgently required for malaria control. This paper argues that to develop the next generation of vector and chemotherapeutic tools for malaria control, especially based on natural products with novel modes of action, a better understanding of mosquito bioecology and, more importantly, plant sugar feeding is needed. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

敢管善管努力开创植物检疫工作新局面

建昌县是葫芦岛市的玉米生产大县,全县耕地面积5.93万hm2,常年玉米种植面积3.73万hm2左右,总产约25万t.2005～2008年实施国家粮食丰产科技项目,示范区玉米0.67万hm2,平均667 m2产量550kg.