Comparison of inoculation methods for field studies on varietal response to verticillium wilt of potatoes

Verticillium albo-atrum, cultured on potato dextrose agar plates or on sterilized wheat kernels, was used to incite disease in field studies. Immediately prior to planting, seed potatoes were dipped in a spore/mycelium suspension that was prepared from agar plate cultures. A second inoculation treatment involved placing infested wheat kernels under the potato seed at planting time. Both inoculation methods resulted in verticillium wilt development. However, the inoculum suspension dip method resulted in slightly greater incidences of verticillium wilt than did the infested wheat method. Inoculation by means of a suspension dip immediately after cutting the seed resulted in more wilted plants than when seed was inoculated 24 hours or 7 days after cutting. The spore/mycelium suspension dip method is now routinely used for field studies on disease susceptibility or resistance in potato cultivars.     

Management of nitrogen and phosphorus rates does not suppress verticillium wilt in yukon gold

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization rates on the incidence of Verticillium wilt caused byVerticillium albo-atrum orV. dahliae and tuber yield in potato cv Yukon Gold was evaluated in field plots. In three years of study,V. albo-atrum caused a higher incidence of wilt symptoms (74%–100%) thanV. dahliae (5%–81%) resulting in lower marketable tuber yield. In plots infested withV. albo-atrum, tuber yield ranged from 12.3-22.8 T ha1 compared to 18.1– 31.5 T ha^-1 in plots infested withV. dahliae. Application of nitrogen above (280 kg ha^-1) or below (70 kg ha^-1) the recommended rate of 140 kg ha^-1 at planting did not suppress foliar symptoms or protect against yield loss caused by eitherV. albo-atrum orV. dahliae. Similarly, phosphorus rate adjustments did not consistently affect disease incidence regardless of the pathogen. Management of nitrogen or phosphorus fertility rates at planting does not appear to be a viable approach for suppressing Verticillium wilt in the determinant, wiltsusceptible cultivar Yukon Gold.     

Development of new bioformulations using Trichoderma and Talaromyces fungal antagonists for biological control of sugar beet damping-off disease

The aims of this study were to develop new bioformulations using Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma asperellum, and Talaromyces flavus and some organic and inorganic carriers and evaluate their effects against Rhizoctonia solani, the fungal causal agent of sugar beet seedling damping-off disease. Selected fungal isolates were first re-cultured and maintained on potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture medium. Antagonistic effects of eight isolates of the above-mentioned antagonistic fungi were then evaluated against R. solani, through volatile metabolites and non-volatile metabolites production mechanisms under laboratory conditions. In volatile and non-volatile metabolite experiments, five and seven isolates caused significant reduction in R. solani growth respectively. Based on the results of laboratory experiments, the most effective antagonistic isolates (one isolate from each species) were selected for development of nine bioformulations using peat, rice bran and talc as carriers. The effectiveness of developed bioformulations was then evaluated in controlling sugar beet damping-off disease in a greenhouse experiment where sugar beet seeds were coated with bioformulations and were sown in pasteurized field soil pre-inoculated with R. solani. Results of the greenhouse experiment 60 days after sowing showed that all bioformulations increased the number of healthy seedlings significantly (compared to the untreated control) with different rates. According to the results, the most effective bioformulation was Talc-T. harzianum followed by Peat-T. flavus, Talc-T. flavus and Rice bran-T. harzianum. In general, in both laboratory and greenhouse experiments, T. flavus was the most effective fungal antagonist followed by T. harzianum and T. asperellum. Based on the results of this study it is concluded that Trichoderma and Talaromyces employing different mechanisms might be potential biocontrol agents for controlling R. solani-induced sugar beet damping-off disease.     

Induction of soil suppressiveness to verticillium wilt of potato by successive croppings

Nine soils collected in New Jersey and Maryland were infested with microsclerotia ofVerticillium dahliae and planted with potato cv. Superior for five successive crops in the greenhouse to induce suppressiveness to Verticillium wilt. Potatoes were harvested 9–12 wk after planting and disease incidence was determined by recovery ofV. dahliae from stem segments on selective medium. Six of the nine soils had high disease incidence during the first cropping and remained conducive to Verticillium wilt throughout the experiment. Disease incidence increased in soils 3 and 9 over time, while disease incidence decreased nonlinearly in soil 1. Viability of microsclerotia buried in soil 9 for 4 wks was reduced compared to the viability of microsclerotia buried in soils 1, 3, and 6. Addition of 50 or 100 g hydrated lime/10 kg soil to soil 9 eliminated its suppressiveness to Verticillium wilt. Repeated cropping of the same soil can induce suppressiveness to Verticillium wilt. Soils exhibiting induced suppressiveness may be a source of new antagonists againstV. dahliae.     

Study of gene effects for cotton yield and Verticillium wilt tolerance in cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is a destructive disease of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The use of resistant cultivars has long been considered the most practical and effective mean of control. The aim of this work was to study the quantitative genetic basis of Verticillium wilt resistance in Upland cotton by using five genotypes and their possible crosses without reciprocals selecting simultaneously for resistance and desirable agronomic characteristics. Five cotton cultivars and 10 F1s from half-diallel crosses were analyzed for VW resistance. The seed cotton yield, the number of bolls/ plant, and boll weight were measured and Verticillium wilt index (VWI) was estimated during two crop seasons in two different sites each year always on plots with naturally infested soil. Genetic components of variance were analyzed using the Hayman model. Analysis of variance for all characters showed significant differences between genotypes, without genotype-site interaction in most cases. Both, additive genetic variance component (D) and dominance genetic variance components (H1 and H2) were presented in all characters, except for VWI. D was the most important component for boll weight and VWI. Boll weight was the most correlated character with seed cotton yield and VWI. Broad sense heritability was high for boll weight and VWI, moderate for seed cotton yield and low for bolls per plant. Narrow sense heritability was moderate for boll weight, and high for VWI.     

Erwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica infection promotes verticillium wilt development in potato in Israel

Summary The interaction betweenErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica (Eca) andVerticillium dahliae and its effect on symptom development in potato cultivars showing different degrees of resistance to them was examined over two seasons in irrigated fields in a hot, dry climate. Four cultivars were used: Cara, highly resistant to blackleg and tolerant to Verticillium wilt; Pentland Crown also resistant to blackleg but susceptible to Verticillium wilt; Désirée, moderately susceptible to blackleg but tolerant to Verticillium wilt; and Maris Bard, susceptible to both diseases. Seed tubers were inoculated with Eca immediately after harvest in Scotland, to simulate natural infection, and then planted in Israel in soil naturally infested byV. dahliae. In Verticillium tolerant cultivars, Eca infection increased the rate of colonization byV. dahliae and significantly enhanced symptom development, as assessed by suppression of plant height and wilt symptoms. This report is a portion of the Ph.D. thesis of the senior author in Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.     

Verticillium albo-atrum carried by certified seed potatoes into Washington and control by chemicals

Fifty-one percent of 110 lots of certified seed potatoes from 10 states and Canada sampled in 1968 and 30% of 134 lots from nine states and Canada sampled in 1969 were infected withVerticillium albo-atrum. Fortyone percent of the 1968 lots and 13% of the 1969 lots carried soil infested with the fungus on tuber surfaces. The dark mycelial type ofV. albo-atrum was found infecting tubers more often than the microsclerotial type, however, high propapgule populations of the microsclerotial type were present on tuber surfaces in the soil of infested lots. Over 24% of the isolates ofV. albo-atrum infecting and infesting tubers from lots of seed potatoes were pathogenic to eggplant var. Black Beauty. Captan^®, household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite), Polyram^®, Orthocide^®, and Semesan Bel^®, were effective in preventing germination of the fungus in small amounts of soil such as might be carried by infested tubers. Liquid treatments were more effective than dusts.     

Effectiveness of plant extracts on suppression of damping-off and wilt diseases of lupine (Lupinus termis Forsik)

The aim of this study was to evaluate water and organic solvent of plant extracts for protection of lupine plants against damping-off and wilt diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini, F. oxysporum f. sp. lupini Snyder & Hansen was isolated from diseased lupine roots collected from different locations of Minia, Assiut and New Valley governorates. Water leaf extracts of Calotropis procera, Nerium oleander, Eugenia jambolana, Citrullus colocynthis, Ambrosia maritime, Acacia nilotica and Ocimum basilicum and fruit extracts of C. colocynthis, C. procera and E. jambolana reduced damping-off and wilt diseases caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. lupini. Water extracts of E. jambolana leaves, C. colocynthis fruits and N. oleander leaves were the most effective ones for controlling such diseases. In contrast, A. nilotica and O. basilicum extracts were the least effective ones. Organic solvent extracts of tested plants reduced damping-off and wilt diseases than water extracts. Butanolic and ethereal extracts were highly effective in reduction of diseases than the other tested extracts. Under field conditions, during winter growing seasons 2008/09 and 2009/10, ethereal and butanolic extracts of N. oleander and E. jambolana leaves and C. colocynthis fruits significantly reduced the percentage of wilt severity as well as improved growth parameters (plant height, number of branches, pods and seeds per plant) and increased seed index, total seed yield/hectare compared with control treatment, while protein content in seeds was not effected. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that some plant extracts can be used for biocontrol of lupine damping-off and wilt diseases.     

Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii on tomato by delivering antagonistic bacteria through a drip irrigation system

In a 2-year assessment carried out on tomato crops of Central and Southern Italy, a high incidence of Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii was found. These fungal pathogens attack horticultural crops and are responsible for severe crown and stem rot. Because of technical, economical and environmental issues their chemical control is an arduous task. To find alternative and eco-compatible control methods, the effectiveness of two new antagonistic bacterial isolates (Burkholderia cepacia, T1A-2B, and Pseudomonas sp., T4B-2A), previously selected from suppressive organic amendments, were tested on tomato plants grown under both growth chamber and field conditions. The potential antagonists were compared with two commercial biofungicides, based on Bacillus subtilis (BSF4) and Trichoderma asperellum (TV1), and four synthetic fungicides (tolclofos-methyl, azoxystrobin, fosetyl-Al and fosetyl-Al + propamocarb). In 2-year field experiments carried out on tomato plants, the biocontrol bacteria as well as the other treatments were applied to the soil, proximal to the plant crowns and main roots, by means of an effective and specific system of drip irrigation. In all the experiments the novel selected biocontrol bacteria significantly reduced both incidence and severity of the diseases caused by S. rolfsii or R. solani, with results demonstrating effectiveness equal to TV1, better than BSF4 and comparable with the synthetic fungicides, except for tolclofos-methyl which was the most effective treatment. In field experiments, carried out for two consecutive years, isolate T1A-2B reduced up to 58.33% and up to 63.8% the severity of the diseases caused by S. rolfsii and R. solani respectively; whereas isolate T4B-2A gave reduction of S. rolfsii and R. solani diseases severity up to 73.2% and up to 62.7%, respectively.     

Ear rot,aflatoxin accumulation,and fungal biomass in maize after inoculation with Aspergillus flavus

Aflatoxin, a toxin produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link: Fries, occurs naturally in maize (Zea mays L.). Aflatoxin is a potent human carcinogen and is also toxic to livestock, pets, and wildlife. When contaminated with aflatoxin, the value of maize grain is markedly reduced. This investigation was conducted to compare ear rot, aflatoxin accumulation, and fungal biomass in maize single crosses with varying degrees of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation and to determine the relative importance of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) in the inheritance of resistance to ear rot, aflatoxin accumulation, and fungal biomass. Eight germplasm lines with different levels of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation were used as parents of a diallel cross. The cross was evaluated for visible ear rot, aflatoxin accumulation, and A. flavus infection in the grain. A. flavus infection was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Both GCA and SCA were significant sources of variation in the inheritance of the three traits although GCA accounted for a greater portion of the variation among single crosses. The interactions of GCA and SCA with years were highly significant for aflatoxin accumulation, but not significant for A. flavus infection. Estimates of GCA effects were highly significant for both reduced A. flavus infection and reduced aflatoxin accumulation for Mp313E, Mp715, and Mp717. Conversely, GCA effects associated with GA209 were significant for reduced levels of A. flavus infection and ear rot, but high levels of aflatoxin accumulation. Mp313E, Mp715, and Mp717 should be useful in breeding programs targeting both reduced levels of fungal infection and aflatoxin accumulation.     

Heritability of,and genotypic correlations between,aflatoxin traits and physiological traits for drought tolerance under end of season drought in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

More rapid progress in breeding peanut for reduced aflatoxin contamination should be achievable with a better understanding of the inheritance of, aflatoxin trait and physiological traits that are associated with reduced contamination. The objectives of this study were to estimate the heritability of aflatoxin traits and genotypic (r_G) and phenotypic (r_P) correlations between drought resistance traits and aflatoxin traits in peanut. One hundred-forty peanut lines in the F_4:6 and F_4:7 generations were generated from four crosses, and tested under well-watered and terminal drought conditions. Field experiments were conducted under the dry seasons 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. Data were recorded for biomass (BIO), pod yield (PY), drought tolerance traits [harvest index (HI), drought tolerance index (DTI) of BIO and PY, specific leaf area (SLA), and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR)], and aflatoxin traits [seed infection and aflatoxin contamination]. Heritabilities of A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination in this study were low to moderate. The heritabilities for seed infection and aflatoxin contamination ranged from 0.48 to 0.58 and 0.24 to 0.68, respectively. Significant correlations between aflatoxin traits and DTI (PY), DTI (BIO), HI, biomass and pod yield under terminal drought conditions were found (r_P = −0.25** to 0.32**, r_G = −0.57** to 0.53**). Strong correlations between SLA and SCMR with A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination were also found. Positive correlations between SLA at 80, 90, and 100 DAP and aflatoxin traits were significant (r_P = 0.13** to 0.46**, r_G = 0.26** to 0.81**). SCMR was negatively correlated with aflatoxin traits (r_P = −0.10** to −0.40**, r_G = −0.11** to −0.66**). These results indicated that physiological-based selection approaches using SLA and SCMR might be effective for improving aflatoxin resistance in peanut.     

Effects of Soil Flooding on the Survival of Two Potato Pathogens, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Verticillium dahliae

Results of studies on survival of sclerotia of Sclerotinia and microsclerotia of Verticillium, demonstrated that soil flooding in western Washington is a possible alternative field rotation practice for S. sclerotiorum (white mold), but not for V. dahliae (Verticillium wilt). Cone-tainer experiments in the greenhouse showed that flooding at 16.5 °C caused S. sclerotiorium sclerotia to lose viability between 12 and 24 weeks while a growth chamber experiment revealed that flooding for 18 weeks at 11 °C or 20 °C was sufficient. V. dahliae microsclerotia appeared resistant to flooding under greenhouse and field settings; recovery ranged within 5 to 10 % of the initial soil population after 6 and 12 months. Potatoes planted into field microplots either flooded or fallowed the previous summer had similar Verticillium wilt ratings and potato yield. Lack of control of V. dahliae by flooding may be due partly to relatively low soil temperatures in a cool, marine climate.     

Effect of Soil Temperature,Injection Depth,and Metam Sodium Rate on the Management of Verticillium Wilt of Potato

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is a primary component of the early dying complex of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the United States. Although genetic resistance to V. dahliae exists and has been incorporated into several potato cultivars, the commercial potato industry is still dominated by cultivars susceptible to the pathogen. As a result, soil fumigation with metam sodium remains an important means by which Verticillium wilt is controlled, despite its expense and potentially negative environmental impact. Recent restrictions on metam sodium use by the Environmental Protection Agency directed at reducing exposure to vapor emissions have increased the need to improve shank injection of the soil fumigant. In studies reported here, the application of metam sodium reduced the severity of Verticillium wilt, however, soil temperature at the time of injection, metam sodium injection depth, and application rate had little overall effect. In 2011, temperature at the time of metam sodium injection did not result in significant differences in any parameter evaluated. However, in 2012, soil populations of V. dahliae, wilt severity and host colonization were significantly reduced when metam sodium was applied at 4 °C compared to 13 or 15 °C. No significant differences were observed between a single or two metam sodium injection depths in any parameter evaluated across the 2 years the study was conducted. While all rates of metam sodium significantly reduced soil populations of V. dahliae compared to the non-treated control, significant differences across rates were rarely observed. Improved control of Verticillium wilt and increased yield can be achieved as a result of these studies. The effective control of Verticillium wilt can be obtained by using metam sodium at a comparatively low rate of 373 l/ha, particularly when applied at a relatively cold soil temperature of 4 °C using a single injection depth of 25 cm. The potential impact of these application modifications of metam sodium in reducing emissions and non-target exposure is discussed.     

Validation of tuber blight (Phytophthora infestans) prediction model

Potato tuber blight caused by Phytophthora infestans accounts for significant losses of tubers in storage. Despite research on infection and management of tuber blight, there is paucity of information on the prediction of the occurrence tuber blight or modelling of tuber infection by P. infestans under field conditions. A tuber blight prediction model was developed in New York in experiments conducted using cultivars Allegany, NY101, and Katahdin in 1998 and 1999. This model was validated using data collected from the potato cultivar Snowden in field experiments in Laingsburg, Michigan from 2000 to 2009. In both New York and Michigan experiments, disease was initiated by artificial inoculation of cultivars with a US-8 isolate of P. infestans. Mean leaf area affected ranged from 0 to 94% at New York, and 0 to 93% at Michigan. At New York and Michigan, mean tuber blight incidences ranged from 1 to 40% and 0 to 15%, respectively. In the validation of the model using data collected at Laingsburg, Michigan, the model correctly predicted tuber blight incidence in 7 out of 9 years. Comparison of observed with predicted values indicated that slopes of the regression line between observed and predicted germination and infection data were not significantly different (P > 0.3547). Correlation coefficient between observed and predicted values was high (r² > 0.65) and the coefficient of variation of the residuals of error was about 12%. Although inoculum availability is assumed in the model, incorporation of relationships of inoculum density, propagule survival in soil, and tuber blight incidence would greatly improve the prediction of tuber blight under field conditions.     

Evaluation of actinomycete isolates obtained from herbal vermicompost for the biological control of Fusarium wilt of chickpea

A total of 137 actinomycetes cultures, isolated from 25 different herbal vermicomposts, were characterized for their antagonistic potential against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (FOC) by dual-culture assay. Of the isolates, five most promising FOC antagonistic isolates (CAI-24, CAI-121, CAI-127, KAI-32 and KAI-90) were characterized for the production of siderophore, cellulase, protease, hydrocyanic acid (HCN), indole acetic acid (IAA) and antagonistic potential against Rhizoctonia bataticola, which causes dry root rot in chickpea (three strains viz. RB-6, RB-24 and RB-115) and sorghum (one strain). All of the five FOC antagonistic isolates produced siderophore and HCN, four of them (except KAI-90) produced IAA, KAI-32 and KAI-90 produced cellulase and CAI-24 and CAI-127 produced protease. In the dual-culture assay, three of the isolates, CAI-24, KAI-32 and KAI-90, also inhibited all three strains of R. bataticola in chickpea, while two of them (KAI-32 and KAI-90) inhibited the tested strain in sorghum. When the FOC antagonistic isolates were evaluated further for their antagonistic potential in the greenhouse and wilt-sick field conditions on chickpea, 45-76% and 4-19% reduction of disease incidence were observed, respectively compared to the control. The sequences of 16S rDNA gene of the isolates CAI-24, CAI-121, CAI-127, KAI-32 and KAI-90 were matched with Streptomyces tsusimaensis, Streptomyces caviscabies, Streptomyces setonii, Streptomyces africanus and an identified species of Streptomyces, respectively using the BLAST searching. This study indicated that the selected actinomycete isolates have the potential for biological control of Fusarium wilt disease in chickpea.     

Effects of crude seed extracts of Annona atemoya and Annona squamosa L. against the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni in the laboratory and greenhouse

Antifeedant, growth inhibitory and toxic effects of crude seed extracts of Annona squamosa and Annona atemoya from Fazenda Viveiro Bona, Parasisópolis – Minas Gerais, Brazil, were evaluated against the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using different bioassays. Crude methanolic seed extracts deterred feeding of third instar T. ni larvae in a leaf disc choice bioassay. A. squamosa was ∼10 times more active as a feeding deterrent than A. atemoya (DC₅₀ = 2.3 mg/ml vs. 20.1 mg/ml). A. squamosa was ∼three times more active as a growth inhibitor than A. atemoya (EC₅₀ = 38.0 ppm vs. 117.0 ppm). Methanolic seed extracts of A. squamosa and A. atemoya were toxic to third instar T. ni larvae both through topical and oral application. A. squamosa was more toxic through feeding (LC₅₀ = 167.5 ppm vs. 382.4 ppm) whereas, A. atemoya exerted greater toxicity via topical application (LC₅₀ = 301.3 μg/larva vs. 197.7 μg/larva). Both A. squamosa and A. atemoya extracts reduced leaf area consumption and larval growth in a greenhouse experiment. Our results indicate that both A. squamosa and A. atemoya have potential for development as botanical insecticides, especially for local use in Brazil.     

Evaluation of potato clones for severity of Verticillium wilt, yield and specific gravity in Maine

In 1994 and 1995, the effect of Verticillium wilt, caused byVerticillium dahliae andV. albo-atrum, on tuber yields, number and weight of U.S. No. 1 and B size tubers, and specific gravity was studied in northern Maine, an area with a short growing season. Seven clones (four resistant and three susceptible) were evaluated in a split-plot design with three replications. Clones were the whole-plot factor, and seed pieces in sub-plots were either uninoculated or inoculated with 50 ml of 4 × 10⁴ cfu/mlVerticillium spp. at planting. Individual plants were scored for Verticillium wilt symptoms before harvest on a 1= <3% wilt to 10= >97% wilt. Differences among clones for wilting and specific gravity were significant. The inoculation treatment had no effect on any of the tuber traits measured. However, there were significant clone x inoculation interactions for most tuber traits. Reductions in yield, weight and number of U.S. No. 1 potatoes, and specific gravity were greater in the Verticillium wilt susceptible clones than in the resistant clones. These results suggest that breeding clones with resistance toVerticillium spp. will reduce yield losses, while maintaining tuber size and specific gravity under disease pressure.     

The Effect of Alfalfa Residue Incorporation on Soil Bacterial Communities and the Quantity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verticillium dahliae</Emphasis> Microsclerotia in Potato Fields in the Columbia Basin of Washington State,USA

Verticillium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae, is one of the most important diseases of potato in North America. Soil incorporation of alfalfa residues prior to planting potato could be a nonchemical Verticillium wilt management tactic by reducing the number of viable microsclerotia in field soil. Verticillium dahliae microsclerotia were quantified in field soils where organic material from alfalfa was incorporated, and numbers of microsclerotia were compared to fields where alfalfa residue was not incorporated. In addition, bacterial metagenomics was utilized to characterize soils where organic material from alfalfa was or was not incorporated to determine if alfalfa residue incorporation facilitates the formation of soils that suppress or kill V. dahliae microsclerotia. The number of V. dahliae microsclerotia in soil was greater (P = 0.0003) in fields where crop residue was incorporated than fields without incorporation when chloropicrin was used as a fumigant. Conversely, the number of V. dahliae microsclerotia observed in potato plants did not differ (P = 0.4020) between fields where residues were or were not incorporated if chloropicrin was used. Alfalfa residue incorporation did not significantly alter the soil bacterial metagenome compared to fields not subject to residue incorporation in both years of study. Despite these conclusions, the method can be employed to analyze the effect of grower practices with the intent of linking a field practice to increasing soil bacterial diversity and decreasing Verticillium wilt severity on potato.     

Screening of three sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars for resistance to different virulence groups of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) under controlled conditions

The susceptibility of three sweet potato cultivars (Ipomoea batatas L.) C4, TIS 3290 and TIS 9162 was evaluated against 156 isolates of Meloidogyne spp. with the aim to include resistant/tolerant sweet potato cultivars in a crop rotation scheme for the management of root-knot nematodes. The nematode isolates corresponded to races 1, 2 and 3 of Meloidogyne arenaria (n = 7), races 1, 2, 3 and 4 of M. incognita (n = 131) and Meloidogyne javanica (n = 18). Also, the isolates of M. incognita were differentiated in virulence groups: Pepper (n = 35), Pepper-Mi (n = 25), Tomato (n = 41) and Tomato-Mi (n = 30), depending on their ability to parasitize resistant pepper and tomato cultivars. The tested isolates of M. javanica parasitized C4 and TIS 3290, but not TIS 9162, whereas M. arenaria parasitized C4 and TIS 9162, but not TIS 3290, and M. incognita was able to parasitize the three sweet potato cultivars tested. C4 was the most susceptible cultivar to all nematode species tested, especially M. incognita, TIS 3290 was the most resistant and TIS 9162 was in between (7.2, 62.9 and 26.9% of resistant plants, respectively). Susceptibility of the sweet potato cultivars showed slight variations depending on the race or virulence group of M. incognita. The results suggest that sweet potato cultivars TIS 3290 and TIS 9162 may be used as rotation crops in fields where root-knot nematodes are present, their selection depending on the Meloidogyne isolates present. The use of resistant sweet potato cultivars would be preferably combined with other management practices to avoid virulence selection in nematode isolates.     

Fertility and management practices to control verticillium wilt of the russet burbank potato

Management practices for the suppression of Verticillium wilt of Russet Burbank potato include sanitation, use of optimum sprinkler-irrigation practices, soil solarization, and an adequate soil fertility program. Among all cultural factors considered, nitrogen (N) deficiency in potato tissue was most commonly associated with the severity of Verticiilium wilt in Russet Burbank potato. Field studies have shown that increased N availability suppresses Verticiilium incidence on cv Russet Burbank while having no effect on cv Norgold Russet. Studies from both greenhouse and field show that the colonization ofV dahliae in potato stem tissue is suppressed in cv Russet Burbank when the availability of Phosphorous (P) is increased to the optimum. Following one season of cropping with Russet Burbank potato, the treatment providing the optimal N availability also suppressed the increases ofV dahliae populations in the soil during the following year of consecutive cropping. Similarly, after two seasons of continuous potato cropping, treatments with optimal P had lower soil populations ofV. dahliae in soil. Results show the suppression of Verticiilium wilt with optimal fertility. Verticiilium wilt [caused by eitherVerticiilium dahliae Kleb, (microsclerotial form) orVerticiilium albo- atrum Reinke and Berthold (dark mycelial form)] is one of the most severe diseases of potato in the United States. Potato yields, tuber size, and specific gravity may be substantially reduced by this disease, depending on severity, time of occurrence, and growing season. In Idaho and other arid growing regions of the United States, Verticiilium wilt is caused byVerticillium dahliae Kleb. Idaho field studies involving cropping practices, soil fumigation treatments, solarization, and Verticillium-resistant potato clones all support the importance ofV dahliae upon potato yield. Data from these studies show that yield losses due toV. dahliae commonly approximate 5 to 12 metric T/ha (5, 6). Table 1 illustrates the effect of several cropping practices upon relativeV dahliae populations in soil with the effects upon both disease severity and potato yield. With continuous cropping of Russet Burbank,V dahliae populations in soil increased, and yields were reduced by 18 to 19 metric Tlha when compared to locations that had been allowed to remain either weed-free and fallow or where corn had been previously cropped. It was estimated thatV dahliae was influencing yield by about 10 to 12 metric Tlha based on a regression analysis of yield as a function ofV dahliae populations in soil. Similarly, whenV dahliae was suppressed by fumigation treatments involving mixtures of dichloropropene and picfume, yields more significantly increased by 6.5 to 12 metric T/ha (5). Although many factors may influence yields, clones with higher Verticillium resistance than Russet Burbank generally out-yield Russet Burbank. Figure 1 demonstrates the effect of solarization (a technique involving the laying of clear plastic on soil for the purpose of elevating soil temperatures to killV dahliae). When Verticillium was controlled in this manner (lo), there was no significant yield difference between the Russet Burbank potato and the highly resistant A68113-4 clone. The A68113-4 clone grown in non-solarized soil out-yielded the Russet Burbank in non-solarized soil by 31 percent while the solarization treatment significantly increased yield for the Russet Burbank and A68113-4 clones by 46 and 18 percent, respectively. These yield responses were observed in a field where inoculum levels ofV dahliae were relatively low (2.10 cfulgrn of soil). With these losses, the need to develop control procedures is great and to achieve this control the need also exists to accurately evaluate the effect of treatments uponV dahliae. Our Idaho studies have routinely utilized such a procedure (9) in combination with comparisons of both disease severity and yield.