Genetic Structure of Peruvian Populations of Phytophthora infestans

ABSTRACT Isolates of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans (n = 327) from the central to southern Peruvian Andes were systematically collected in 1997 to 1999 and analyzed to determine the pathogen's population structure at its host's center of diversity. No isolates of the A2 mating type were detected. Cluster analysis of DNA fingerprinting data indicated that the collection consisted of five major groups that were interpreted to be clonal lineages. Two of the lineages (US-1 and EC-1) have been previously described, and three (PE-3, 5, and 6) are described here for the first time. Collections from three areas in the central Peruvian Andes, including two key sites used in an international potato breeding program, consisted of isolates of the EC-1 lineage, which has been reported to dominate the pathogen population in Andean countries to the north of Peru. The collections from Cusco and Puno were more diverse. More than one lineage was detected in 10 of the 20 fields sampled in Cusco. Data on virulence, metalaxyl sensitivity, and band data for allozymes, mitochondrial DNA, and ipiB1 suggested that PE-3 may have been produced through recombination events between US-1 and EC-1. Restriction fragment length polymorphism and amplified fragment length polymorphism marker data were not consistent with this hypothesis.     

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Genetic Structure of Phytophthora infestans from Tomato and Potato in the Del Fuerte Valley

ABSTRACT The temporal and spatial patterns of Phytophthora infestans population genetic structure were analyzed in the Del Fuerte Valley, Sinaloa, Mexico, during the crop seasons of 1994 to 1995, 1995 to 1996, and 1996 to 1997 by geographical information systems. Isolates of P. infestans were obtained from infected tissue of tomato and potato collected from two areas: (i) where both potatoes and tomatoes are grown, and (ii) where only tomatoes are grown. The isolates were characterized by mating type, allozymes at the glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and peptidase loci, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) fingerprint with probe RG57, metalaxyl sensitivity, and aggressiveness to tomato and potato. The results suggest presence of an asexual population with frequent immigrations from outside the valley. There was a shift of mating type in the population from predominantly A2 to completely A1 in this period. The co-occurrence of mating types was restricted to very few fields in the area around Los Mochis where tomato and potato crops are grown. Genotype variation based on allozyme analysis and mating type was low with only one genotype affecting both crops each year. The genotypes affecting both crops were the only genotypes highly aggressive to both tomato and potato in laboratory aggressiveness tests and the only genotypes widespread on both the tomato and potato crops in the valley each year. These predominant genotypes were highly resistant to the fungicide metalaxyl. Data on metalaxyl sensitivity indicate that allozyme analysis can discriminate between sensitive and resistant isolates in the Del Fuerte Valley. RFLP analysis with the probe RG57 gives further discrimination of genotypes within an allozyme genotype. In the 1995 to 1996 season, four different RFLP genotypes were found within an allozyme genotype. However, there were five other dilocus allozyme genotypes that could not be further split by RFLP analysis in 1995 to 1996 and 1996 to 1997 seasons. Spatial analysis of genotypes suggests that each season individual fields near Los Mochis became infected with one or more genotypes, but only a single genotype, aggressive on both potato and tomato, occurred south and east to the Guasave area.     

Oospore Production of Phytophthora infestans in Potato and Tomato Leaves

ABSTRACT Fungal, host, and environmental factors affecting sexual reproduction of Phytophthora infestans in planta were studied. Intact and detached leaves were coinoculated with sporangia of various combinations of A(1) and A(2) mating-type isolates; leaves were incubated under various conditions, and oospore production was estimated microscopically within whole, clarified leaflets. Some A(1) + A(2) isolate combinations were more reproductive than others, whereas some potato genotypes better supported oospore formation than others. Tomato usually supported more oospore formation than potato. To induce oospore formation, A(1) and A(2) sporangia were usually mixed at a 1:1 ratio. Ratios of 1:19 to 19:1, however, also allowed abundant production of oospores. Optimal temperatures for sexual sporulation ranged from 8 to 15 degrees C, but oospores also were produced at 23 degrees C. Oogonia developed 5 to 6 days after sporangial coinoculation, and oospores developed after 8 to 10 days. Light had little effect on oospore formation in both tomato and potato leaves provided that initial lesions were established under photoperiodic conditions. Although A1 and A(2) sporangia usually were mixed before inoculation on leaves to obtain oospores, we found that discrete A(1) and A(2) lesions produced on opposite sides of the midvein of tomato leaves also induced oospore formation in the midvein and adjacent tissues. Oospores also formed when the two halves of the leaves were cut and separated at 3 days after sporangial coinoculation, which corresponded with the appearance of late blight lesions. The continuous supply of moisture to infected leaves was essential to oospore production. No oospores or oogonia formed in severely diseased plants kept at 50 to 80% relative humidity. Such plants did allow some oospore formation when kept continuously wet for 2 weeks in plastic boxes or tents. Detached leaves floated on water supported the highest sexual sporulation. Under optimal conditions of wetness and temperature, as many as 100 oospores per mm(2) of tissue were observed.     

Host Specificity of Phytophthora infestans on Tomato and Potato in Ecuador

ABSTRACT Sixty Ecuadorian isolates of Phytophthora infestans from potato and 60 isolates from tomato were compared for dilocus allozyme genotype, mitochondrial DNA haplotype, mating type, and specific virulence on 11 potato R-gene differential plants and four tomato cultivars, two of which contained different Ph genes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) fingerprints of subsamples of isolates from each host were compared by using RG57 as the probe. All potato isolates had the allozyme genotype, haplotype, and mating type of the clonal lineage EC-1, which had been previously described in Ecuador. With the same markers, only one isolate from tomato was classified as EC-1; all others belonged to the globally distributed US-1 clonal lineage. RFLP fingerprints of isolate subsets corroborated this clonal lineage classification. Specific virulence on potato differentials was broadest among potato isolates, while specific virulence on tomato cultivars was broadest among tomato isolates. Some tomato isolates infected all tomato differentials but no potato differentials, indicating that specific virulence for the two hosts is probably controlled by different avirulence genes in P. infestans. In two separate experiments, the diameters of lesions caused by nine isolates from potato and 10 from tomato were compared on three tomato and three potato cultivars. All isolates produced larger lesions on the host from which they were isolated. No isolates were found that were highly aggressive on both tomato and potato. We conclude that there are two different populations of P. infestans in Ecuador and that they are separated by host.     

Aggressiveness and Competitive Fitness of Phytophthora infestans Isolates Collected from Potato and Tomato in France

ABSTRACT To test the hypothesis that host-related differences in the genotypic composition of populations of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans can be explained by differential pathogenicity, the aggressiveness of isolates of the pathogen collected in France from potato and tomato was measured on detached leaflets of potato (cv. Bintje) and tomato (cv. Marmande). A preliminary trial with four isolates (two each from potato and tomato) showed that lesion appearance and development were similar for each isolate in detached leaflets and in whole plant tests in growth cabinets. Isolates collected from tomato were more pathogenic to tomato than isolates collected from potato. This was particularly the case for isolates belonging to the A2 mating type. Isolates originating from potato had a higher infection efficiency and a higher sporulation capacity on this host, but they induced lesions that generally spread more slowly than those caused by isolates from tomato. Extensive variation for components of aggressiveness on potato, and to a lesser extent on tomato, was observed in collections of isolates from each of the two hosts. Competition experiments between one potato isolate and one tomato isolate in field plots of the susceptible potato cv. Bintje clearly demonstrated the higher competitive fitness of the potato isolate on its host of origin. Therefore, differential pathogenicity to potato and tomato certainly contributes to the differentiation between P. infestans populations present on potato and tomato in France; however, additional factors, possibly related to survival ability or random genetic drift, are probably also involved and may explain the persistence of weakly pathogenic isolates in these populations.     

Lithuanian Populations of Phytophthora infestans Revealed a High Phenotypic Diversity

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - This is the first characterisation of Lithuanian populations of Phytophthora infestans with mating type and virulence on a differential set of 11 R genes...     

Diversity of Phytophthora infestans from Poland

A collection of 96 Polish isolates of Phytophthora infestans sampled in the years 2006, 2008 and 2009 were analysed using phenotypic and genotypic markers. Mating type, virulence, resistance to metalaxyl, mitochondrial haplotype and polymorphism at 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were determined. The majority of isolates were of the A1 mating type, mitochondrial haplotype Ia and sensitive to metalaxyl. Virulence factors against potato R genes R1, R3, R4, R7, R10 and R11 were present in most isolates. Genotyping using SSR markers revealed high genetic diversity within the Polish P. infestans population. Amongst the 96 isolates 66 unique genotypes were identified, 49 of which were observed only in single isolates. Eight isolates of the genotype 13_A2 lineage that has been reported in other parts of Europe were also found in Poland. The implications of these results are discussed.     

The Population Structure of Phytophthora infestans from the Toluca Valley of Central Mexico Suggests Genetic Differentiation Between Populations from Cultivated Potato and Wild Solanum spp

ABSTRACT The population structure of Phytophthora infestans in the Toluca Valley of central Mexico was assessed using 170 isolates collected from cultivated potatoes and the native wild Solanum spp., S. demissum and S. xendinense. All isolates were analyzed for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) multi-locus fingerprint genotype. Isolate samples were monomorphic for mtDNA haplotype because all isolates tested were of the Ia haplotype. A total of 158 multilocus AFLP genotypes were identified among the 170 P. infestans isolates included in this study. P. infestans populations sampled in the Toluca Valley in 1997 were highly variable and almost every single isolate represented a unique genotype based on the analysis of 165 AFLP marker loci. Populations of P. infestans collected from the commercial potato-growing region in the valley, the subsistence potato production area along the slopes of the Nevado de Toluca, and the native Solanum spp. on the forested slopes of the volcano showed a high degree of genetic diversity. The number of polymorphic loci varied from 20.0 to 62.4% for isolates collected from the field station and wild Solanum spp. On average, 81.8% (135) of the AFLP loci were polymorphic. Hetero-zygosity varied between 7.7 and 19.4%. Significant differentiation was found at the population level between strains originating from cultivated potatoes and wild Solanum spp. (P = 0.001 to 0.022). Private alleles were observed in individual isolates collected from all three populations, with numbers of unique dominant alleles varying from 9 to 16 for isolates collected from commercial potato crops and native Solanum spp., respectively. Four AFLP markers were exclusively found present in isolates collected from S. demissum. Indirect estimation of gene flow between populations indicated restricted gene flow between both P. infestans populations from cultivated potatoes and wild Solanum hosts. There was no evidence found for the presence of substructuring at the subpopulation (field) level. We hypothesize that population differentiation and genetic isolation of P. infestans in the Toluca Valley is driven by host-specific factors (i.e., R-genes) widely distributed in wild Solanum spp. and random genetic drift.     

Population Genetic Structure of Phytophthora infestans in Ecuador

ABSTRACT The population genetic structure of Phytophthora infestans in Ecuador was assessed from 101 isolates collected from 1990 to 1992 and 111 isolates collected in 1993. All isolates were analyzed for mating type and allozyme genotype. Both samples were dominated (>95%) by a clonal lineage (EC-1) defined from neutral markers: 90/100 genotype for glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 96/100 genotype for peptidase, A1 mating type, and a previously unreported nuclear DNA fingerprint. The remaining isolates belonged to the US-1 clonal lineage, which has a worldwide distribution. Isolates in the 1993 sample were analyzed for virulence and metalaxyl sensitivity. All representatives of EC-1 had complex patho-types, with three pathotypes representing >60% of the collection. There was variation for metalaxyl sensitivity. There was no evidence for geographical substructuring on the basis of neutral markers, but there was evidence for limited substructuring based on metalaxyl sensitivity and specific virulence. We hypothesize that EC-1 has been recently introduced to Ecuador.     

Adaptation of Phytophthora infestans to Partial Resistance in Potato: Evidence from French and Moroccan Populations

ABSTRACT The use of partially resistant cultivars should become an essential component of a sustainable management strategy of potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans. It is therefore important to determine to what extent P. infestans populations can be selected for increased aggressiveness by potato cultivars with different levels of partial resistance. To this end, we sampled P. infestans populations from France and Morocco, chosen as locations where late blight occurs regularly but which differ in the distribution of potato cultivars. Cross-inoculation experiments were used to determine the aggressiveness of all populations to potato cvs. Bintje (prevalent in France but not grown in Morocco) and Désirée (popular in Morocco but cultivated to a very small extent in France). French populations were more aggressive on cv. Bintje than on cv. Désirée, irrespective of the site they were sampled from. Their aggressiveness increased between early and late samplings, suggesting that both cultivars selected for increased aggressiveness during epidemics. By contrast, Moroccan populations were more aggressive on Désirée, regarded as partially resistant in Europe, than on Bintje, highly susceptible under European conditions. These data indicate that P. infestans populations adapt to locally dominant cultivars, irrespective of their resistance levels, and can therefore overcome polygenic, partial resistance. This adaptive pattern may render partial resistance nondurable if not properly managed.     

Oospore Formation by Phytophthora infestans in Potato Tubers

ABSTRACT The ability of Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of potato and tomato late blight, to produce oospores in potato tuber tissue was studied in the field and under laboratory conditions. In 1998 and 2000 field experiments, the canopy of potato cvs. Alpha and Mondial, respectively, were coinoculated with A1 + A2 sporangia of the fungus, and the infected tubers collected at harvest were examined for the presence of oospores. In 1998, only 2 of 90 infected tubers had oospores, whereas none of the 90 tubers examined in 2000 had any oospores. In the latter experiment, infected tubers kept in storage up to 12 weeks after harvest had no oospores. Artificial co-inoculations of whole tubers with A1 + A2 sporangia resulted only rarely in the formation of oospores inside the tubers. Co-inoculations of potato tuber discs taken from dormant tubers 0 to 16 weeks after harvest failed to support any oospore production, whereas discs taken from sprouting tubers of >/=18 weeks after harvest allowed oospores to form. Tuber discs showed enhanced oospore formation when treated before inoculation with either sugars, amino acids, casein hydrolysate, beta-sitosterol, or chloroethylphosphonic acid. In contrast, reducing airflow into the petri dishes where potato tuber discs were incubated reduced the number of oospores produced. The number of oospores produced in tuber tissue was lower compared with that in leaf tissue regardless of the origin of isolates used. The data show that the ability of Phytophthora infestans to produce oospores in potato tuber tissue is very limited and increases with tuber aging.     

中国不同地区致病疫霉遗传多样性的RAPD分析

 本文应用RAPD技术检测了我国主要马铃薯产区致病疫霉的遗传分化情况及不同地区菌株间的亲缘关系。用筛选出的10个随机引物对1997-2001年间采自我国9省市的82株及3株来自日本的致病疫霉DNA进行了PCR扩增,获得了79条谱带,其中多态性标记75条,占95%。根据扩增结果,运用UPGMA分析,获得了表现菌株间亲缘关系的树状图。菌株间的最大遗传距离为0.5,以距离0.3为阈值,可将供试菌株划分为10个组(RG1-10)。结果发现:A1交配型菌株群体内的差异大于A1和A2菌株群体之间的;RAPD分组与菌株的地理来源、交配型及对甲霜灵的敏感性无明显相关性。研究结果显示,来自中国北方甘肃、内蒙、吉林、黑龙江地区的菌株与一些来自云南、四川等西南地区的菌株亲缘关系相近。病原菌随种薯的迁移可能是导致这种现象的原因之一。     

Tomato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in Uganda

A survey on the tomato late blight situation and current practices for disease management was carried out in Uganda using an informal structured questionnaire approach. Ten districts from different agroclimatic zones were selected for the survey. Phytophthora infestans isolates from tomatoes were obtained from the zones and only the A1 mating type was recovered. Tomato cultivation is practised year-round. The major commercial varieties grown, Moneymaker, Marglobe, Heinz and Roma, were susceptible to late blight. Late blight and bacterial wilt ( Pseudomonas solanacearum ) were the major diseases, with bollworm ( Helicoverpa armigera ) and thrips ( Thrips spp .) the major insect pests. Fungicides, mostly mancozeb, were the predominant control method used by farmers. Sanitation is practised by some farmers, but only in association with fungicides, to control late blight. Plant nutrition is not perceived as playing a major role in late blight management. Problems associated with pesticides and poor marketability were identified as major constraints to tomato production in Uganda.     

Phytophthora infestans Produces Oospores in Fruits and Seeds of Tomato

ABSTRACT Tomato fruits at the mature green stage coinoculated with A1 + A2 sporangia of Phytophthora infestans, the late blight causal fungus, showed abundant oospores in the vascular tissues, pericarp, columella, and placenta. Oospores were also formed on the surface of fruits kept in moisture-saturated atmosphere. Occasionally, oospores were enclosed between the epidermal hairs of the seed coat. In a few seeds, oospores were detected inside the embryo. The data suggest that blighted tomato fruits may carry a large number of oospores, thus making them a threatening source of blight inoculum. Such fruits may also release airborne oosporic inoculum that may introduce recombinant genotypes within a growing season. Although Phytophthora infestans is seedborne in tomato, to our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of oospores in tomato seeds. Whether such tomato seeds produce blighted seedlings remains to be shown.     

Populations of Phytophthora infestans in Israel Underwent Three Major Genetic Changes During 1983 to 2000

ABSTRACT In this survey, 799 isolates of Phytophthora infestans collected from potato crops in Israel during 1983 to 2000 were analyzed for mating type and sensitivity to metalaxyl, and 324 were analyzed for race structure. The A(2) mating type, first recorded in 1983, fully dominated the pathogen population from 1983 until 1991 (9 years). It was thereafter replaced by the A(1) mating type, which dominated the population during 1993 to 2000. Metalaxyl-resistant isolates were first recorded in 1982. During 1983 to 1991, the majority of the isolates were resistant. Isolates with intermediate sensitivity (I) to this fungicide were first observed in 1993, when both A(1) and A(2) mating types occurred in the population. The proportion of I isolates gradually increased, reaching 39 to 41% in 1997 to 1998, and then declined to approximately 15% in 1999 to 2000. Pathogenicity to nine potato differential cultivars was determined for 80 potato isolates collected in 1983 to 1991, to 11 potato differentials in 173 isolates collected in 1993 to 1998, and in 71 potato isolates collected in 1999 to 2000. The first population was composed of 5 races with race 1,3,4,7,8,10 predominating (76%), the second population was composed of 19 races with race 1,3,4,7,8,10,11 predominating (63%), and the third population exhibited 42 (34 new) races with no single predominating race. RG-57 DNA fingerprinting and allozymes loci assays of 23 isolates revealed that isolates collected during 1984 to 1986 belonged to the PO-57 lineage, whereas those collected during 1997 to 1999 belonged to the RFO-39 lineage. Among isolates collected during 1993 to 1995, two unreported DNA fingerprinting patterns were found. Severe late blight epidemics occurred in tomato crops during 1998 to 2000. Of 35 tomato isolates, 28 were A(1) and only 7 were A(2). Of these tomato isolates, 94% were sensitive to metalaxyl. Almost every isolate had a different race structure on the 11 potato differentials. When inoculated onto three tomato differential cultivars, tomato isolates showed a virulence much more enhanced than potato isolates. The data suggest the Israeli population of P. infestans has passed through three major genetic changes during the past 18 years: in 1983, 1993, and 1999. The recent change included host specialization to tomato.     

Environmental and Genetic Factors Influencing Self-Fertility in Phytophthora infestans

ABSTRACT Phytophthora infestans is generally regarded as heterothallic-requiring physical proximity of two individuals of different mating type (A1 and A2) for oosporogenesis. Recent reports of limited selfing in young cultures of this oomycete stimulated us to investigate factors contributing to the phenomenon. The ability to produce oospores rapidly (within 2 weeks) in pure, single individual cultures (self-fertility) was tested in 116 individual isolates. The 116 isolates were from geographically diverse locations (16 countries) and were genetically diverse. Mating type and growth medium were the most prominent factors in determining if an isolate would be self-fertile. The majority of A2 isolates (45 of 47 tested) produced oospores when grown on a 50:50 mixture of V8 and rye B medium. In contrast, the majority of A1 isolates (65 of 69 tested) did not produce oospores on this medium. None of the 116 isolates produced oospores when grown on rye B medium (with no V8 juice). Further tests on representative A1 and A2 isolates revealed that oatmeal agar, tomato juice agar, and V8-juice agar all induced the A2 mating type isolate to produce oospores but did not induce the A1 mating type isolate to produce oospores. Calcium carbonate and pH did not alter the self-fertile oospore production in either A1 or A2 mating type isolates. For in vivo tests, the application of fungicide to potato or tomato leaf tissue either before or after inoculation did not stimulate any individual isolate (one A2 and one A1 isolate) to produce oospores in infected tissue. However, in all of the controls for all experiments (in vivo and in vitro), many oospores were produced rapidly if both strains grew in physical proximity.     

Detecting Migrants in Populations of Rhizoctonia solani Anastomosis Group 3 from Potato in North Carolina Using Multilocus Genotype Probabilities

ABSTRACT The relative contribution of migration of Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 3 (AG-3) on infested potato seed tubers originating from production areas in Canada, Maine, and Wisconsin (source population) to the genetic diversity and structure of populations of R. solani AG-3 in North Carolina (NC) soil (recipient population) was examined. The frequency of alleles detected by multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, heterozygosity at individual loci, and gametic phase disequilibrium between all pairs of loci were determined for subpopulations of R. solani AG-3 from eight sources of potato seed tubers and from five soils in NC. Analysis of molecular variation revealed little variation between seed source and NC recipient soil populations or between subpopulations within each region. Analysis of population data with a Bayesian-based statistical method previously developed for detecting migration in human populations suggested that six multilocus genotypes from the NC soil population had a statistically significant probability of being migrants from the northern source population. The one-way (unidirectional) migration of genotypes of R. solani AG-3 into NC on infested potato seed tubers from Canada, Maine, and Wisconsin provides a plausible explanation for the lack of genetic subdivision (differentiation) between populations of the pathogen in NC soils or between the northern source and the NC recipient soil populations.     

Involvement of Iron and Ferritin in the Potato–Phytophthora infestans Interaction

This work shows that the infection of potato (Solanum tuberosum) detached leaves by the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans, was drastically reduced by adding deferoxamine, an exogenous iron chelator. Reactive oxygen species in leaves inoculated with P. infestans were also reduced after adding deferoxamine. A leaf ferritin cDNA fragment was obtained by PCR and used as probe for screening a tuber cDNA library. A cDNA (named StF1) encoding the iron-storing potato ferritin was cloned. StF1 is 915 bp in length and has an open reading frame of 230 amino acids that contains the information for the mature 28 kDa subunit of potato ferritin. StF1 was used as probe in northern blot hybridizations to analyze expression of the ferritin gene. In leaves, ferritin mRNA accumulated in response to pathogen attack. In tubers, ferritin mRNA increased upon treatment with the elicitor eicosapentaenoic acid. These results suggest that iron plays a role in the potato-P. infestans interaction.     

Persistence of Complex Virulences in Populations of Phytophthora infestans in Western Washington

ABSTRACT Isolates of Phytophthora infestans, collected from bittersweet, hairy nightshade, petunia, potato, potato vine, and tomato in western Washington, 1998 to 1999, were evaluated for virulence complexity as well as mating type, metalaxyl insensitivity, allozymes of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and peptidase, and DNA fingerprint with the RG57 probe. Results were compared with those from similar collections made in the same region during the 1990s. Generally, virulence complexity was high for most of the isolates regardless of year, genotype, or host. No marked shift in virulence complexity was evident for the populations studied, and unnecessary virulences were maintained. During 1998 and 1999, isolates of the US-8 and US-11 genotypes had 4 or more virulence factors. US-8 isolates averaged 8.2 and 9.3, whereas US-11 isolates averaged 5.4 and 6.3 virulence factors. The frequency of US-8 isolates that were sensitive to metalaxyl ranged from 5% in 1998 to 72% in 1999. All of the US-11 isolates tested in 1998 and 1999 were insensitive to metalaxyl. From 1996 to 1999 on potato, the recovery of US-8 increased, whereas the recovery of US-11 decreased. No evidence of new genotypes or sexual recombination was found. Western Washington was a desirable location for screening germ plasm for durable resistance to late blight due to the high frequency and persistence of complex virulences.     

Quantifying the Rate of Release and Escape of Phytophthora infestans Sporangia from a Potato Canopy

ABSTRACT A means for determining the rate of release, Q (spores per square meter per second), of spores from a source of inoculum is paramount for quantifying their further dispersal and the potential spread of disease. Values of Q were obtained for Phytophthora infestans sporangia released from an area source of diseased plants in a potato canopy by comparing the concentrations of airborne sporangia measured at several heights above the source, with the concentrations predicted by a Lagrangian Stochastic simulation model. An independent estimate of Q was obtained by quantifying the number of sporangia per unit area of source at the beginning of each sampling day by harvesting diseased plant tissue and enumerating sporangia from these samples. This standing spore crop was the potential number of sporangia released per area of source during the day. The standing spore crop was apportioned into time segments corresponding to sporangia concentration measurement periods using the time trace of sporangia sampled above the source by a Burkard continuous suction spore sampler. This apportionment of the standing spore crop yielded potential release rates that were compared with modeled release rates. The two independent estimates of Q were highly correlated (P = 0.003), indicating that the model has utility for predicting release rates for P. infestans sporangia and the spread of disease between fields.