Interactions of fungicide-insecticide combinations against Rhizoctonia solani in vitro and in soil

The inhibition of mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani in vitro was strongest with pencycuron, followed by tolclofos-methyl, carboxin and thiabendazole. Against cowpea seedling rot in soil infested with R. solani, tolclofos-methyl was most effective, followed by pencycuron, thiabendazole and carboxin. Of nine insecticides tested, only parathion-methyl and quinalphos suppressed mycelial growth of R. solani in vitro, although their activity was much lower than that of the four tested fungicides. The inhibition of mycelial growth by fungicide-insecticide mixtures was antagonistic in only two out of 36 combinations; it was additive in most cases or synergistic, e.g. for most mixtures of pencycuron and insecticides. Quinalphos, applied to the soil, was the only insecticide which reduced cowpea seedling rot in soil infested with R. solani. Soil application of parathion-methyl, phorate, aldicarb or carbofuran and seed treatment with phosphamidon, monocrotophos, endosulfan or dimethoate had little or no effect on seedling rot. Carboxin gave better disease control when applied to the seed already coated with phosphamidon, monocrotophos, endosulfan or dimethoate and when carboxin-treated seeds were sown in soil treated with quinalphos, parathion-methyl, aldicarb or carbofuran. Efficacy of thiabendazole seed treatment was slightly higher in the presence of insecticides, particularly dimethoate. Pencycuron and tolclofos-methyl as seed treatment gave nearly 100% disease control both in the presence and absence of insecticides. The synergistic interactions detected between fungicides and insecticides represent interesting opportunities for the control of R. solani.     

Influence of treatment of soil with carbofuran on the subsequent performance of insecticides against cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) and carrot fly (Psila rosae)

A sandy loam soil was treated with 2·5 kg carbofuran/ha on each of five occasions between May and October 1984. In 1985, the field performance of benfuracarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlorfenvinphos and furathiocarb against cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) and carrot fly (Psila rosae) was studied in this soil and in identical but previously untreated soil by applying exponentially increasing doses of granular formulations to radish and carrots at drilling. Chlorfenvinphos reduced numbers of larvae of both pests by >90% in both soils but the performance of all the carbamates was significantly worse in the previously treated soil than in the previously untreated soil. Dazomet, a partial soil sterilant, was applied to part of the experimental area in October 1985 and the performance of aldicarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlorfenvinphos and thiofanox against cabbage root fly was assessed in 1986. The efficiency of aldicarb and chlorfenvinphos was not affected by any of the pre-treatments but that of carbofuran and carbosulfan was reduced in all the pre-treated soils, including the soil treated with dazomet. Carbofuran residues in radish were detectable only in plants grown in previously untreated soil. In laboratory incubations, a dustless base formulation of carbofuran was degraded more quickly in pre-treated than in untreated soils but a granular formulation was degraded more slowly and at a similar rate in both soils.     

Seasonal abundance of the mirids, Lygus lucorum and Adelphocoris spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) on Bt cotton in northern China

Lygus lucorum Meyer-Dür, Adelphocoris fasciaticollis Reuter and Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are important secondary insect pests in cotton fields in northern China. The seasonal dynamics of their mixed populations on a transgenic variety expressing the insecticidal Bt protein Cry1A, and a cotton line expressing proteins of Cry1A and CpTI (cowpea trypsin inhibitor gene) were compared to seasonal dynamics on similar but non-transgenic varieties from 1998 to 2001. No significant differences were detected between population densities of these bugs on unsprayed normal cotton and unsprayed transgenic cotton. However, mirid damage on unsprayed transgenic cotton was significantly higher due to a reduced number of insecticide sprays against Helicoverpa armigera compared with the number of sprays in the normal cotton. This suggests that the mirids have become key insect pests in transgenic cotton fields, and that their damage to cotton could increase further with the expansion of the area planted to transgenic cotton if no additional control measures are adopted.     

Field tests of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai aggr. as a biocontrol agent of seedling disease in several crops and Rhizoctonia root rot of sugar beet

In field studies, mean stands of crops of snapbean, field corn, pea, soybean, and squash in New York were somewhat greater from seeds treated with conidia of Trichoderma harzianum applied in a Methocel slurry than from non-treated controls; however, stands were generally poorer than those from captan-treated seed. The biocontrol agent and captan had little effect on kidney bean and sweet corn since these crops are only slightly susceptible to seedling disease caused by Pythium spp. which were present in the field. In Colorado fields also infested with Pythium spp., stands of sugar beet from T. harzianum-treated seed (Pelgel slurry) tended to be greater than those from non-treated seed and equal to those from maneb-treated seed, but differences were not significant. In Colorado, Rhizoctonia solani, cause of root rot, was also present in the soil. A combined analysis of variance of treatments across 2 years showed that a preplanting-incorporated in-row application of T. harzianum in a wheat-bran carrier or a maneb seed treatment slightly, but significantly, reduced the severity of Rhizoctonia root rot in sugar beet as compared with the non-treated control. Seed treatments with T. harzianum had little or no effect. In plots where the agent was applied to the soil, numbers of Trichoderma propagules increased 600-fold by harvest; where maneb seed treatment was used, they increased only fivefold. Densities of the agent remained the same or decreased in plots where Trichoderma was used as a seed treatment.     

Effect of pythium root rot on yield of white bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The effects of Pythium paroecandrum and P. ‘spherical’ on seed yield of white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were determined under field conditions. Fenaminosulf (Lesan) applied as a soil drench selectively suppressed Pythium populations in soil and increased seed yields by 47% in 1976 and by 33% in 1977. Fumigation of soil with DD-MIT (Vorlex), a commercial mixture of methyl isothiocyanate, dichloropropenes and dichloropropanes, reduced populations of Pythium and Fusarium in soil and increased seed yields by 79% in 1976 and by 29% in 1977. The combination of fenaminosulf and DD-MIT produced the greatest reductions in soil populations of Pythium and Fusarium and increased seed yields by 65%. Pythium paroecandrum and P. ‘spherical’ were associated with feeder-root necrosis and were the only bean-root pathogens detected at the experimental site. In this study, losses in seed yield of white bean due to Pythium root rot were estimated to be 44% in 1976 and 39% in 1977.     

Long-term approaches for the control of Striga in cereals: field management options

Farmers in Africa have limited resources to invest in Striga control practices and longer term, low-input approaches are needed. Long-term Striga control approaches focus on controlling the production of new Striga seeds and on reducing the number of seeds in the soil. Several seasons of hand weeding are required before the beneficial effect on the cereal crop can be observed. Rotations with trap crops can reduce Striga seed banks but selection of a rotation crop should be based on socio-economic factors such as market value in addition to whether or not it can stimulate Striga seeds to germinate. Striga seed banks can be readily reduced in suppressive soils. Organic matter and fertilizer additions may help induce suppressiveness. Extension of long-term Striga control approaches requires intensive interaction with farmers.     

Antifungal properties of Agapanthus africanus L. extracts against plant pathogens

Crude extracts of various Agapanthus africanus plant parts were screened in vitro against eight economically important plant pathogenic fungi. Radial mycelial growth was inhibited significantly (P<0.05) in five test organisms, while Pythium ultimum, and to a lesser extent Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata, showed a degree of tolerance. Subsequently, these crude extracts were tested in vivo in the greenhouse against Mycosphaerella pinodes, the cause of black spot or Ascochyta blight in peas. Fourth internode leaves were removed from 4-week-old pea plants, placed on moist filter paper in Petri dishes and inoculated with a M. pinodes spore suspension 30 min before and after treatment with the extracts. The control of Ascochyta blight by different concentrations of the crude extracts was measured in terms of lesion size over a 6-d period at 20 °C in a growth cabinet. All crude extracts significantly reduced lesion development caused by M. pinodes when leaves were inoculated with spores both before and after treatment with the extracts. Neither of the extracts showed any phytotoxic reaction on the leaves, even at the highest concentration applied. A combined aerial part crude extract of A. africanus was additionally evaluated against sorghum covered (Sporisorium sorghi) and loose (Sporisorium cruentum) kernel smuts under field conditions over two seasons. The extract and a standard fungicide, Thiram that served as a positive control, were applied as seed treatments 1 h after artificially inoculating separate sets of sorghum seed with smut spores. Inoculated, but untreated seeds served as a negative control. The extract reduced the incidence of both loose and covered kernel smuts significantly (P<0.05) and compared favourably with the prescribed fungicide, Thiram. Both treatments resulted in significant yield increases compared to the untreated control. From these results it was concluded that the aerial part crude extract of A. africanus possesses sufficient in vivo antifungal activity to warrant a further investigation.     

Imazapyr seed dressings for Striga control on acetolactate synthase target-site resistant maize

High herbicide levels can be localized on or near seed of acetolactate synthase (ALS) resistant maize (Zea mays). The magnesium salt of imazapyr was optimal for seed dressings (drenching, priming, and coating), for preventing field damage from parasitic Striga hermonthica (witchweed) in three seasons. Striga emerged on untreated maize from 6 to 12 weeks after planting. There was almost no Striga emergence for 3 months on imazapyr-dressed homozygous ALS-R 3245IR maize seeds. Occasional Striga that emerged and flowered formed no seed by harvest. Dust or polyvinylpyrrolidone adhesive coatings were safer in maize and as effective in Striga control as priming. Seed dressing coupled with pulling Striga escapes reduces infestation and can be used to deplete the Striga seed bank until genetic crop resistance becomes available.     

Boll size affects the insecticidal protein content in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton has been planting in large-scale for more than 10 years in China. It was observed that resistance to bollworm was reduced with the application of big-boll cultivars in China. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of boll size on the contents of CryIA insecticidal protein in boll shell and cotton seed during the course of boll development. Two experiments were conducted at the Yangzhou University Farm, Yangzhou, China. In 2004, three cultivars including Sikang 1 (small-boll), Xiangza 3 (medium-boll) and Kemian 3 (big-boll) were compared for boll shell volume and 100-seed weight from 10 to 40 days after flowering (DAF), and insecticidal protein contents in boll shell and cotton seed from 10 to 50 DAF. As expected, the differences between cultivars were significant for all the four characteristics. Cultivars with bigger boll shell volume had higher 100-seed weight but lower insecticidal protein contents in both of the boll shell and cotton seed. The correlation between boll size and boll insecticidal protein content was negative (−0.653). The correlation between 100-seed weight and cotton seed insecticidal protein content was significantly negative (−0.645). In 2005, leaf cut (LC) and square removal (SR) treatments were applied to Sikang 1 and Sikang 3. The boll shell volume and 100-seed weight were decreased by LR, but increased by SR. LC significantly enhanced and SR significantly reduced the insecticidal protein contents of boll shell and cotton seed. The correlation between boll size and boll insecticidal protein content (−0.870) and the correlation between 100-seed weight and cotton seed insecticidal protein content were both highly significant and negative (−0.841). Therefore, the results of the study indicated that the boll insecticidal protein content was significantly affected by boll size. The implications of the observed results in breeding, cultural practices and pest management were discussed.     

Integration of Pseudomonas fluorescens and acibenzolar-S-methyl to control bacterial spot disease of tomato

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria was isolated from infected tomato seedlings grown in an open field in Egypt. All the tested isolates infected tomato plants but with different degrees of disease severity. In an attempt to manage this disease, tomato seeds and/or seedlings were treated with an antagonistic local isolate of Pseudomonas fluorescens as a suspension or its formulation or acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH). When the above three treatments were applied to tomato seeds under laboratory conditions, they improved seed germination and seedlings vigour relative to control seeds treated with sterile distilled water and pathogen but P. fluorescens culture was the most effective. Under greenhouse and field conditions, combinations of the above treatments were used. All treatments significantly reduced disease severity of bacterial spot in tomato relative to the infected control. The biggest disease reduction compared to seedlings inoculated with the pathogen alone resulted from a foliar application of P. fluorescens. Combined application of P. fluorescens or its formulation with BTH reduced the pathogen population and increased seedling biomass and tomato yield relative to control seedlings.     

Air-assisted placement spraying for Stemphylium control in seed onions

A severe leaf spot disease on the flower stalks of seed onions is caused by a Stemphylium sp. which attacks the seed-stalk, weakening it and finally causing its collapse. The concept of applying a fungicide by a two-directional air-assisted placement spraying technique was investigated in the laboratory and subsequently proven in the field. It was shown that disease control was linear with the fungicide-protected area. Disease severity was reduced by 75% by the air-assisted placement spraying compared with 30% for cloud spraying. The results also indicated that the infection area was linearly proportional to the calculated seed yield.     

Controlled-release insecticide granules, compared with other soil insecticides, for use against the termite, Macrotermes natalensis Haviland, in the establishment of Eucalyptus plantations

Following the banning of DDT and dieldrin, and pending the withdrawal of other organochlorine insecticides in many countries, there is a need to find alternative treatments against termites for the establishment of Eucalyptus forestry plantations. Controlled-release granules (CRG) of carbosulfan, carbofuran and phorate were nearly as effective as chlordane emulsifiable concentrate (0·6 g a.i./tree) in reducing attack on Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden by Macrotermes natalensis Haviland. The optimum application rate of CRG formulations was 1·0 g a.i./tree mixed with the surrounding soil at planting out. Changes in granule size and release rate had no discernable effect on the efficacy of the granules, nor was there any advantage in incorporating part of the dose in the seedling planting medium. Chlorpyrifos CRG was significantly less effective in protecting the trees. There was evidence that under dry soil conditions phorate CRG was ineffective. Of 11 other non-controlled-release insecticides tested, alphamethrin suspension concentrate at 0·1 g a.i./tree was the only non-organochlorine material as effective as the CRG formulations.     

Cultural control measures to diminish sorghum yield loss and parasite success under Striga hermonthica infestation

Prospects of reducing Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. parasitism by means of cultural control measures were assessed. In a pot experiment, deep planting, the use of transplants and shallow soil-tillage, strongly delayed and reduced Striga infection of a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum cultivar. Application of all three measures combined resulted in a four-week delay in first emergence of the parasite, a reduced number of emerged Striga plants and a decimation of Striga dry weight. With the sensitive cultivar CK-60B a yield loss of 92% was reduced to 26%, whereas with the tolerant cultivar Tiemarifing application of the cultural control measures completely cancelled out a yield loss of 28%. Evaluation of these cultural measures under field conditions in Mali resulted in a strong reduction in Striga-infection level (85%). At the same time, the measures did not result in delayed first emergence of the parasite and had no beneficial effect on crop yield. It was argued that the presence of a natural Striga soil seed bank, with seeds throughout the tilth, might be an important reason for the reduced effectiveness of the proposed cultural control measures under field conditions.     

Effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars and seeding rate on yield loss from Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium aparine L. is a troublesome broadleaved weed in winter wheat fields and other winter-sown crops in Eurasia and North America. Field experiments were conducted in Havza and Kavak, Samsun-Turkey, to evaluate the effect of different densities of G. aparine on the productivity of four wheat cultivars and to determine the effects of different seeding rates of wheat cultivars on the competitive ability of G. aparine. In experiments over 3 years, the wheat cultivar Panda was taller at maturity than other cultivars at both sites. Although Bezostaja was naturally shorter than other cultivars, its height decreased less due to competition from G. aparine than other cultivars. Wheat grain yields increased with seeding rate, either in the presence or in the absence of G. aparine at both locations. Based on wheat yields the relative competitiveness of the wheat cultivars was Bezostaja>Momtchill=Panda>Kate A-l. G. aparine biomass and seed numbers were reduced by an increase in the wheat seeding rate and by cultivar effects.     

Effects of row application of insecticides at sowing on leaf miner (Pegomya betae) injury to sugar beet

Injury to the leaves of sugar-beet seedlings caused by the mining of Pegomya betae larvae was greatly decreased by applying insecticide granules in the furrow with the seed: carbofuran, carbosulfan, terbufos and aldicarb were very effective but bendiocarb was only partially effective. Carbosulfan applied as a band spray along the row was less effective than the better granule treatments, while band sprays of gamma-HCH, quinalphos and oxamyl were ineffective or even increased the incidence of damage.     

Effect of antagonistic Fusarium spp. and of different commercial biofungicide formulations on Fusarium wilt of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The ability of antagonistic Fusarium spp. to control Fusarium wilt of basil caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. basilici was tested under glasshouse conditions from 1994 to 1996. Fusarium oxysporum antagonistic strain 251/2, a protoplast fusion-derived hybrid coded FI-11 and F. moniliforme strains TF4 and TF4 RB were able to decrease (P = 0.05) the incidence of Fusarium wilt significantly. Biocontrol was consistent, especially when the antagonists were applied by mixing a talc preparation of propagules in the substrate (10⁵ CFU/ml of substrate) 1–2 weeks before sowing or at sowing. Seed coating with the biocontrol strains (10⁸ CFU/g of seed) did not generally provide sufficient disease containment, whereas the combination of substrate treatment and seed coating did not improve wilt control in comparison with substrate treatment alone. Two commercial formulations, based on antagonistic F. oxysporum strains and one containing the antagonistic strain K61 of Streptomyces griseoviridis, were generally not sufficiently effective at the tested dosages.     

Effect of herbicides and annual weeds on the yield and seed quality of lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Field research conducted over six location years has indicated that lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a poor competitor with annual weed species. Failure to control annual weeds reduced lathyrus seed yields by 54–95%, depending on the weed species present and their density. Weed competition also reduced thousand-seed weight. Preplant soil-incorporated applications of trifluralin and postemergence applications of sethoxydim controlled wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) Beav.). Trifluralin failed to control wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.), an important broad-leaved weed in western Canada, but this weed was controlled by both preplant soil-incorporated and postemergence applications of metribuzin. Lathyrus exhibited excellent tolerance to these herbicides, which are currently registered for use on high-acreage crops in Canada.     

Reduction of silver scurf on potatoes by pre- and post-storage treatment of seed tubers with imazalil

Control of silver scurf on daughter tubers was obtained by imazalil applied to seed tubers as a pre- or post-storage treatment or as a furrow treatment (at time of planting), in three field experiments. Post-storage and pre- and post-storage combination treatments provided consistent results. The most effective treatment in the first and second experiments was the combined pre- and post-storage application of imazalil. However, separate pre- and post-storage treatment also significantly reduced the incidence compared with the non-treated control. No differences were observed between dosages of 15 and 30 g a.i. of imazalil per ton of seed tubers. Although furrow treatment at planting time (1.5 1/ha) significantly reduced silver scurf incidence on daughter tubers, it was less effective than seed treatments. However, the combined treatment of pre-storage application and furrow treatment significantly reduced the disease and was more effective than the single pre-storage seed treatment. In the third experiment, a reduction of disease incidence and severity index was obtained by post-storage treatments or with the combination of pre- and post-storage applications.     

Resistance to the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius, and the probable modalities involved in wild Vigna

A large number of accessions belonging to selected wild Vigna species namely V. unguiculata subspecies dekindtiana, V. oblongifolia, and V. vexillata were evaluated using choice (DCAT) and no-choice (NCFT) laboratory feeding bioassays to determine their resistance to the pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius. The most resistant accessions belonged to V. vexillata, followed by those from V. oblongifolia, with a few outstanding exceptions from V. unguiculata. Even though the latter were the least resistant, they provided the greatest variability among the tested accessions. In the DCAT, the cultivated cowpea line, IT84S-2246, which was used as the susceptible control was always preferred for feeding by the larvae (feeding index [FI] of 1.10–2.60) than the V. unguiculata accessions (FI ranged from 0–0.52). Against the resistant control (itself belonging to V. vexillata), only a few accessions were less preferred, most of these being either V. vexillata or V. oblongifolia. Larvae lost weight on the most resistant from all three species, because they either did not feed, or fed very little. Weight gain was positively correlated with seed damage (r = 0.82, P < 0.01) and the amount of frass produced (r = 0.91, P < 0.01). Seed damage was also positively correlated with the amount of frass produced (r = 0.64, P < 0.05). On the basis of these results, we believe that both antibiosis (post-ingestive effects) and antixenosis (deterrence to boring into the pods to feed) modalities of resistance are involved. The results are discussed further in relation to the origin, domestication and use of these accessions in cowpea improvement.     

Sclerotinia and Phomopsis — two devastating sunflower pathogens

Cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is prone to many diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses, of which the most detrimental are those caused by fungi. Two of the most important fungal pathogens are Sclerotinia and Phomopsis. Within the genus Sclerotinia, both S. minor and S. sclerotiorum cause a basal stalk rot and subsequent wilt of sunflower, with S. sclerotiorum more widely distributed around the world. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum also incites a head rot and mid-stem rot of sunflower. Since Sclerotinia spp. have a very wide host range and can persist in soil as dormant sclerotia for up to 10 years, the pathogens have been extremely difficult to control with either generic resistance or fungicides. The most effective control is the use of long rotations, tolerant hybrids, and sclerotium-free seed. Gray stem spot is a relatively new disease of sunflower first observed in the early 1980s in Yugoslavia and now considered the most devastating sunflower disease in eastern Europe. Symptoms include large stem cankers and subsequent wilt. Phomopsis helianthi has been identified as one incitant of gray stem spot, but another Phomopsis species may also be involved, both in Europe and in the United States. Foliar fungicides can control gray stem spot, but the development of resistant hybrids has been much more cost-effective.