Evaluation of fungicides to control Petri disease pathogens in the grapevine propagation process

The efficacy of fourteen selected fungicides against Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum was evaluated in vitro by mycelial growth and conidial germination assays. Azoxystrobin, carbendazim and tebuconazole were the most effective fungicides against P. chlamydospora, while carbendazim and didecyldimethylammonium chloride were the most effective against P. aleophilum. An assay was also conducted with cubiet, hydroxyquinoline sulphate and didecyldimethylammonium chloride to determine their potential to prevent infections caused by these pathogens during the hydration stage in grapevine propagation. The results of this experiment demonstrated that P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum were able to infect healthy cuttings during the hydration stage and showed that didecyldimethylammonium chloride was consistently the best treatment as a disinfectant soak for grapevine cuttings. Additionally, semi-commercial trials were conducted in two grapevine nurseries to evaluate the effectiveness of several strategies with carbendazim, flusilazole and hydroxyquinoline sulphate at different nursery stages. Soaking planting material in carbendazim during the hydration stage was the most effective treatment since neither P. chlamydospora nor P. aleophilum were isolated from planting material in either nursery.     

Combined use of Streptomyces sp. A6 and chemical fungicides against fusarium wilt of Cajanus cajan may reduce the dosage of fungicides required in the field

Biological control agents offer one of the best alternatives to reduce the use of pesticides. This investigation studied the tolerance to fungicides and integrated use of the potential biocontrol agent Streptomyces sp. A6 for control of Fusarium wilt of pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan. Streptomyces sp. A6 exhibited strong tolerance towards most of the fungicides used in the study at concentrations higher than those recommended for field applications. The isolate showed enhanced growth and mycolytic enzyme production in the presence of sulphur, mancozeb, carbendazim, fosetyl aluminium and triadimefon. The fungicides mancozeb, sulphur and carbendazim were selected for further studies. Effective concentrations (EC₅₀ values) of the test fungicides that reduced Fusarium spore germination and fungal biomass by 50% were determined. Similarly, the EC₅₀ for inhibiting fungal spore germination and reducing fungal biomass to 50% by Streptomyces sp. A6 and culture filtrate (CF) were also determined. Combining the EC₅₀ dose of the culture and CF with test fungicides was found to be more effective for controlling Fusarium infection in C. cajan compared to the sum of the effects of the individual treatments. Such combined use of biocontrol agent with fungicides can reduce the dosage of toxic fungicides in agricultural fields, thereby reducing environmental risks. Tolerance and synergistic interaction of Streptomyces sp. A6 with frequently used fungicides suggested its potential in integrated pest management. To the best our knowledge, this is the first extensive study on integrated use of Streptomyces species with fungicides.     

Neonectria liriodendri sp. nov., the main causal agent of black foot disease of grapevines

Black foot disease is a serious disease of grapevine crops in most areas where vines are grown. Mainly two species of Cylindrocarpon, C. destructans and C. macrodidymum, are associated with this disease. Recent studies have revealed a tremendous molecular variation within the former but only slight molecular variation within the latter, indicating that C. destructans presents a complex of several species The present study elucidates the taxonomic status of C. destructans-like isolates associated with black foot disease of grapevines. Grapevine isolates were studied morphologically, subjected to DNA analyses of their ITS and partialβ -tubulin genes, and were mated in all combinations in vitro. Cylindrocarpon destructans strains isolated from grapevines in Europe and South Africa appeared morphologically and genetically identical, and had identical ITS and partial β-tubulin gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses placed these strains in a clade closely related but clearly distinct from other clades with C. destructans-like anamorphs obtained from various herbaceous or woody hosts. Only the ex-type strain of Cylindrocarpon liriodendri had identical sequences to strains isolated from grapevines, and could also not be distinguished by morphological characters. The grapevine isolates are therefore reidentified here as Cylindrocarpon liriodendri. Cylindrocarpn liriodendri formed perithecia in heterothallic conditions and the holomorph of this species is described as Neonectria liriodendri sp. nov. Neonectria liriodendri is genetically distinct from the ex-type strain of Neonectria radicicola, which originated from Cyclamen in Sweden. Both ex-type strains also differ from at least two other clades comprising additional C. destructans-like strains. Many of these strains originated from Panax sp., which is the host of the type of C. destructans. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that C. destructans is not the anamorph of N. radicicola and that N. liriodendri, N. radicicola and several C. destructans-like taxa may have evolved independently within the same phylogenetic species complex.Taxonomic novelty: Neonectria liriodendri Halleen, Rego& Crous sp. nov.     

Evaluation of fungicides to control circular leaf spot of persimmon caused by Mycosphaerella nawae

The efficacy of ten fungicides against Mycosphaerella nawae, the causal agent of circular leaf spot (CLS) of persimmon, was evaluated in vitro and in field experiments. Field trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to investigate the comparative efficacy of the fungicides alone or combined using alternating sequences in spray programmes based on two, three or four applications. Disease incidence was assessed by estimating the percentage of affected leaves, which included leaves showing at least one necrotic spot and defoliation. Fenpropimorph, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole and thiophanate-methyl were the most effective fungicides in inhibiting mycelial growth of M. nawae isolates (EC₅₀ < 2 ppm). In field experiments, the most effective fungicides using two spray applications were captan, chlorothalonil, mancozeb and pyraclostrobin which significantly reduced disease incidence compared with untreated plots. Regarding the number of spray applications, two applications of captan and mancozeb were less efficient than three to control the disease. However, the percentage of affected leaves provided by three applications of captan and mancozeb alone or combined with pyraclostrobin using alternating sequences in spray programmes, was not significantly different from that provided by four applications. Experimental results demonstrated that spray programmes based on three applications of these fungicides could effectively control CLS of persimmon. The advantages of spray programmes based on alternated use of strobilurins and protective fungicides are discussed.     

Superior bio-efficacy of a combined formulation of carbendazim and mancozeb in inducing defense responses in chilli seedlings against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in comparison with methyl jasmonate

The objective of this work was to investigate the efficacy of a prepackaged combined formulation, Companion (carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP), sole application of carbendazim 50% WP, manozeb 75% WP and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), an inducer of systemic acquired resistance on disease severity and their role in post-infectional defense responses in chilli seedlings against Sclerotium rolfsii. Seeds were treated for 8 h with MeJA (2.5 mM and 5.0 mM) and each of fungicides (500 ppm), and were sown in pots containing soil and fungal inocula (95:5 w/w). At 15 days after sowing maximum defense against fungal infection was exhibited by Companion comparably followed by the sole application of carbendazim and mancozeb. MeJA reduced percent mortality of S. rolfsii-infected chilli seedlings significantly as compared to the inoculated control. Assessment of peroxidase (POX) and esterase (EST) at 15 days after sowing revealed the increased activity under inoculated condition. Highest POX activity in MeJA treatments (5 mM > 2.5 mM) was followed by the Companion treatment. Highest EST activity was registered in Companion treatment. The zymogram of POX isozymes showed over-expression of POX 2 and POX 4 isoforms, and induction of POX 1 isoform in inoculated treatments. On the other hand, that of EST isozymes showed induction of EST 1 isoform in Companion, carbendazim and MeJA treatments. All EST isoforms were over-expressed in Companion-treated seedlings. Both fungicides and MeJA showed significant effects on disease severity, induction of defense enzymes and isozyme pattern in S. rolfsii-infected chilli seedlings. Contact and systemic fungicides under the experiment demonstrated differential responses. The combination formulation was superior in disease control to application of the fungicide components individually. They compared favourably with MeJA in induction of defense-related enzyme activities. All these findings are new with respect to the chilli-S. rolfsii host–pathogen interaction system, S. rolfsii representing the sclerotial basidiomycetes in particular.     

Sensitivity of Cercospora beticola isolates from Serbia to carbendazim and flutriafol

Cercospora beticola, causal agent of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) of sugar beet, is primarily controlled by fungicides. Benzimidazole and demethylation inhibiting fungicides, including carbendazim and flutriafol, have been widely used in Serbia. Since these fungicide groups have a site-specific mode of action, there is a high risk for developing resistance in target organisms, which is the most important limiting factor in Cercospora leaf spot chemical control. A rapid identification of flutriafol and carbendazim resistance can help researchers in examining the potential of different fungicide resistance management practices, as well as in selection of fungicides for use in the areas where resistance has occurred. One hundred single-conidia isolates were collected from 70 representative locations of the sugar beet production region in Serbia. Evaluation of the isolates' sensitivity was based on the reduction of mycelial growth on medium amended with 1.25 μg mL⁻¹ flutriafol and 5 μg mL⁻¹ carbendazim. Resistance to flutriafol and carbendazim was detected in 16% and 96% of the tested isolates, respectively. All isolates resistant to flutriafol were resistant to carbendazim as well, which is the first report of a double resistance to fungicides in C. beticola. Detection of the isolates resistant to flutriafol and carbendazim using Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence (CAPS) markers confirmed the results of the in vitro tests. The efficacy of carbendazim, flutriafol, azoxystrobin, and tetraconazole at commercially recommended doses was evaluated in field trials where sugar beet plants in plots were inoculated with a mixture of isolates either sensitive and/or resistant to flutriafol and carbendazim. Carbendazim and flutriafol efficacy was very low in plots inoculated with isolates resistant to these fungicides. Presented results will contribute to development of a pathogen population sensitivity monitoring strategy that could be used for an effective CLS management in the region.     

Sensitivity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to fludioxonil: In vitro determination of baseline sensitivity and resistance risk

This work determined the sensitivity of field populations of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary before exposure to the fungicide fludioxonil (= baseline sensitivity) and assessed the risk of fludioxonil resistance. The mean EC₅₀ (Effective Concentration) and Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for fludioxonil based on inhibition of mycelial growth of 120 wild-type isolates were 0.015 ± 0.005 μg/ml and <0.05 μg/ml, respectively. Positive cross-resistance was not detected between fludioxonil and benzimidazole fungicides but was detected between fludioxonil and dicarboximide fungicides which are considered as high resistance risk fungicides by FRAC, even though these fungicides have different molecular structures. By growing wild-type isolates on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing sublethal concentrations of the fungicide, we obtained four fludioxonil-resistant mutants with resistance factors (EC₅₀ resistant/EC₅₀ sensitive phenotypes) >2000. The laboratory fludioxonil mutants were less fitter than their parental isolates in terms of mycelial radial growth, pathogenicity and sclerotial production. Moreover, on PDA amended with NaCl, the laboratory fludioxonil mutants grew more slowly than their fludioxonil-sensitive parents, especially at lower concentrations of NaCl. According to the fitness of mutants and the cross-resistance between fludioxonil and dicarboximide fungicides, phenylpyrroles can be considered to pose a moderate resistance risk. In a field trial, fludioxonil provided greater control (over 90% disease control) of S. sclerotiorum than iprodione.     

戊唑醇等四种杀菌剂防治花生冠腐病应用研究

采用菌丝生长速率法和孢子萌发法分别测定了4种杀菌剂对花生冠腐病(Peanut crown rot)致病菌黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger v.Tiegh.)的毒力。结果表明:4种药剂中咪鲜胺、戊唑醇对菌丝生长表现明显的抑制作用,其EC50分别为0.01、0.03mg/L,其次为醚菌酯、多.福(1∶1),EC50依次为0.13、0.24mg/L;另外,咪鲜胺、戊唑醇、醚菌酯、多.福对花生冠腐病孢子萌发均有明显的抑制作用,其EC50依次为0.01、0.02、0.09和0.11mg/L。温室盆栽试验中,播种期、团棵期接菌后对照发病率分别为97.50%、92.50%,且四种药剂处理后的病情指数明显低于对照,防效接近或在90%以上。田间防治试验结果表明,戊唑醇在播种期、团棵期处理防效均最高,分别为80.63%和77.48%,同时,从对花生产量影响来看,团棵期比播种期施药后增产率高,其中团棵期施用戊唑醇增产率最高为7.01%。因此,建议选用戊唑醇于花生团棵期灌墩施用防治冠腐病,以减轻其危害,提高花生产量。     

Efficacy and effects on yield of different fungicides for control of wet bubble disease of mushroom caused by the mycoparasite Mycogone perniciosa

Carbendazim, iprodione, prochloraz-Mn, thiabendazole and thiophanate-methyl were tested in vitro and in vivo for their effect on Mycogone perniciosa, the mycoparasite that causes wet bubble disease of white button mushroom. In vitro experiments showed that prochloraz-Mn (ED₅₀ = 0.006–0.064 μg ml⁻¹) and carbendazim (ED₅₀ = 0.031–0.097 μg ml⁻¹) were the most effective fungicides for inhibiting the mycelial growth of M. perniciosa, while iprodione (ED₅₀ = 1.90–3.80 μg ml⁻¹) was the least effective. The resistance factors calculated for the five fungicides were between 1.4 and 2. The results obtained suggest that there is very little risk that M. perniciosa will develop resistance to the fungicides assayed. The in vivo efficacy of fungicides for control of wet bubble was studied in two mushroom cropping experiments, which were artificially infected with two doses of M. perniciosa, 10⁶ and 10⁷ spores m⁻², respectively. There was, in the low dose inoculum experiment, a very high degree of effectiveness (96.5–100.0%) with all the fungicides assayed. However, iprodione performed poorly (20.5–24.4%) compared with the other fungicides (88.7–100.0%) in the high concentration inoculum experiment. The most effective treatments for controlling wet bubble did not improve the biological efficiency of Agaricus bisporus.     

Diaporthe neotheicola,a new threat for kiwifruit in Greece

Although kiwifruit is considered as a crop with few phytopathological problems, new diseases have been identified in the last few years. This study is the first report of a shoot blight and canker disease of kiwifruit in Greece caused by the fungus Diaporthe neotheicola. The fungal species was identified based on fungal morphology and the analyses of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene regions.The pathogen caused distinct cankers on shoots of kiwifruit, while pycnidia were observed on the blighted shoots. The rate of development of D. neotheicola in vitro was reduced as temperatures increased from 25 to 30 °C, decreased from 20 to 10 °C, and was totally inhibited at 35 and 2–4 °C. The rate of conidial germination and the length of germ tube in vitro were reduced as temperatures increased from 25 to 30 °C, decreased from 25 to 10 °C, and was totally inhibited at 35 and 2–4 °C. A preliminary study on the effectiveness of the fungicides thiophanate methyl, carbendazim and tebuconazole against the development and germination of conidia of D. neotheicola and the disease symptoms was conducted. All fungicides were effective against the fungus in vitro. In addition, no canker was observed on artificially inoculated shoots treated with the fungicides. In general, the disease could be a threat for kiwifruit in Greece and its management should be investigated in the field.     

五种杀菌剂对花生褐斑病菌室内毒力的影响和田间药效

为了筛选对花生褐斑病田间防治效果好的杀菌剂,结合室内毒力测定(菌丝生长速率法和载玻片萌发法)和田间小区药效试验对四种杀菌剂与常规使用的杀菌剂多菌灵进行了比较。结果表明,室内毒力测定中,多菌灵对菌丝的抑制效果最强,抑菌率为91.4%;其余四种供试杀菌剂中以咪酰胺效果最好,抑菌率达85.6%;王铜效果最差;多菌灵对分生孢子的抑制率为60.9%,其余四种杀菌剂效果差异不显著。田间药效试验结果显示,咪酰胺2 000mg/kg对花生褐斑病的田间防治效果达60.62%,远远高于对照药剂多菌灵(15.53%)以及其它三种供试杀菌剂(王铜、爱可和戊唑醇)。此外咪酰胺比清水对照增产32.28%,也远远高于其它几种药剂。通过室内毒力试验和田间药效试验表明,田间杀菌剂防治花生褐斑病时,咪酰胺比对照药剂多菌灵具有更好的防治效果,适用于花生褐斑病重病地区。     

Control of postharvest anthracnose of banana using a new edible composite coating

Anthracnose is a postharvest disease of banana caused by the fungus Colletotrichum musae that results in major economic losses during transportation and storage. For the management of banana anthracnose, antifungal effects of Arabic gum (AG) (5, 10, 15 and 20%), chitosan (CH) (1.0%), and the combination of AG with CH were investigated in vitro as well as in vivo. CH at 1.0% and 1.5% had fungicidal effects on C. musae. AG alone did not show any fungicidal effects while the combination of 1.0% CH with all tested AG concentrations had fungicidal effects. However, the potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium amended with 10% AG incorporated with 1.0% CH showed the most promising results among all treatments in suppressing the mycelial growth (100%) and conidial germination inhibition (92.5%). In vivo analysis also revealed that 10% AG incorporated with 1.0% CH was the optimal concentration in controlling decay (80%), showing a synergistic effect in the reduction of C. musae in artificially inoculated bananas. The 10% AG incorporated with 1.0% CH coatings significantly delayed ripening as in terms of percentage weight loss, fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity. The results showed the possibility of using 10% Arabic gum incorporated with 1.0% chitosan as a biofungicide for controlling postharvest anthracnose in banana.     

Integrated management of Fusarium and Verticillum wilts of cotton in China

Fusarium and Verticillium wilts of cotton, which are widely distributed, generally occur concurrently and cause serious losses in cotton production in China. A general survey in 1982 showed that about 16% of Chinese cotton-growing regions were infested and could be demarcated into heavily, moderately and lightly infested regions. The estimated annual loss was about 100 000 tons of lint cotton. The tactics used for integrated management have been developed. Three biotypes of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum have been identified. Different virulent strains have been found in both F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum and Verticillium dahliae in different regions. Since 1951, 47 Fusarium-wilt-resistant and Verticillium-tolerant cultivars have been developed and grown in heavily infested regions. About 50% of the potential loss from cotton wilt diseases is saved annually. By using an organic solvent infusion (OSI) technique, fungicides such as carbendazim or ethylethene thiosulphonate can easily penetrate into dormant seeds; thus, a better disinfection of internal seed-borne pathogens is obtained. Seed coating treatment with a combined formulation of the systemic fungicides carbendazim and quintozene and the insecticide carbofuran provides a good integrated control of seed- and soil-borne diseases as well as of cotton aphids, thrips and soil insects at the seedling stage. More plant growth and yield of lint cotton have been obtained in comparison with the untreated control in field tests.     

Response ofColletotrichum coccodes to fungicidesin vitro

Black dot is an important disease of potato that affects all plant parts. The causal agent,Colletotrichum coccodes, is commonly found on potato tubers used for seed. Our objective was to determine thein vitro sensitivity ofC. coccodes to the fungicides maneb, thiabendazole, imazalil and CGA 173506, a phenylpyrrole. These fungicides are currently used, or are being tested for use, as potato seed treatments in the United States. All four fungicides reduced radial growth, sclerotial germination and spore germination ofC. coccodes at 10 μg/ml and higher. The fungicide concentrations that inhibited radial growth by 50% were 2 μg/ml, 5 μg/ml, 35 μg/ml, and 40 μg/ml for imazalil, CGA 173506, maneb and thiabendazole, respectively. TBZ was less inhibitory than the other three fungicides and stimulated sclerotial productionin vitro. Isolates ofC. coccodes differed in their sensitivity to maneb, thiabendazole and imazalil in radial growth, but not spore and sclerotial germination, assays. On CGA 173506, radial growth of fourC. coccodes isolates was inhibited, but these isolates produced sectors which grew normally. Germination of most sclerotia from these isolates was inhibited, but some germinated and produced normal colonies in the presence of CGA 173506. OneC. coccodes isolate was resistant to this fungicide in all assays.     

Patterns of cross-resistance to fungicides in Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) isolates from French vineyards

Field strains of Botryotinia fuckeliana were isolated from diseased grape berries which were collected at the harvest, between 1993 and 1997, from French vineyards located in Alsace, Armagnac, Bordeaux, Champagne and Loire Valley. According to the inhibitory effects of fungicides towards spore germination, germ-tube elongation and mycelial growth, several phenotypes could be characterized. Thus, two types of benzimidazole (e.g. carbendazim, thiabendazole)-resistant strains were detected; negative cross-resistance towards diethofencarb, diphenylamine and dicloran was found only in one type. Most dicarboximide (e.g. iprodione, procymidone, vinclozolin)-resistant strains were also weakly resistant to aromatic hydrocarbon fungicides (e.g. chloroneb, dicloran, tolclofos-methyl) but remained sensitive to phenylpyrroles (e.g. fenpiclonil, fludioxonil). However, in some other dicarboximide-resistant strains, resistance was observed either as being restricted to dicarboximides or as extending weakly to phenylpyrroles. Towards anilinopyrimidines (e.g. cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil), three resistant phenotypes have been identified. In the most resistant one, resistance was restricted to anilinopyrimidines, whereas in the others, resistance extended to various other groups of fungicides including dicarboximides, phenylpyrroles, sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (e.g. tolfanate, prochloraz, tebuconazole) and the hydroxyanilide derivative, fenhexamid. According to the pattern of cross-resistance, two phenotypes were characterized within these multifungicide-resistant strains. In vitro tests conducted with fenpropimorph, fenpropidin and spiroxamine, revealed the existence of strains highly susceptible to these sterol Δ¹⁴- reduction inhibitors. This property was correlated with a decreased sensitivity towards fenhexamid.     

Control of Penicillium expansum with potassium phosphite and heat treatment

Potassium phosphite (Phi) was evaluated for its in vitro activity against Penicillium expansum and for its potential long-term efficacy against postharvest blue mold infections on apple fruit. Phi amended to malt extract agar medium at 2 and 4 mg/ml completely inhibited mycelial growth and conidial germination, respectively. Conidia of P. expansum suspended for 3 min in a solution of 2 mg/ml Phi at 20 °C or heated to 50 °C germinated at 53 and 0%, respectively. Disease incidence of P. expansum on Elstar apples wounded and inoculated with a thiabendazole-resistant isolate was reduced significantly (P = 0.01) following a curative treatment with Phi at 2 mg/ml. When applied on freshly harvested unwounded Elstar apples, Phi (2 mg/ml) reduced blue mold incidence about three-fold compared to the control and was found to be as effective as thiabendazole against natural blue mold infections after six months of storage at 2 °C. Our results suggest that potassium phosphite has a potential to be part of the general management program implemented for the control of postharvest blue mold infections on pome fruits.     

Rhizoctonia seedling disease of hemp and its control

Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn was isolated from hemp (Hibiscus cannabinus) seedlings affected by damping-off disease. The fungus was highly pathogenic on artificial inoculation. There is no earlier record of this disease in Iraq. Of nine fungicides tested as seed treatment, Bavistin (carbendazim), Homai (thiram), Vitavax (carboxin), Topsin (thiophanate), Fundazol and Benlate (benomyl) gave effective control of the disease.     

Sensitivity to iprodione, difenoconazole and fludioxonil of Rhizoctonia cerealis isolates collected from wheat in China

Since the 1980s wheat sharp eyespot (WSE) caused mainly by Rhizoctonia cerealis has become one of serious diseases of wheat in China. In this study, the sensitivity of 89 R. cerealis isolates to different fungicides was evaluated using mycelial growth inhibition assays. The results showed that all R. cerealis isolates tested were sensitive to iprodione, difenoconazole and fludioxonil with mean EC₅₀ (effective concentration that results in 50% of mycelial growth inhibition) values of 0.419, 0.062 and 0.033 μg/ml, respectively. To evaluate the risk of fungicide resistance in R. cerealis, an attempt was made to induce resistant mutants in the laboratory. Although difenoconazole- and fludioxonil-resistant mutants were not obtained, we obtained seven independently iprodione-resistant (IR) mutants from 89 parental isolates. The EC₅₀ values for these IR mutants were greater than 100 μg/ml, whereas those for the original wild-type counterparts were less than 1 μg/ml. After having been subcultured on PDA for 10 generations, the IR mutants did not show any decrease in resistance to iprodione. Additionally, these IR mutants also showed resistance to fludioxonil but remained sensitive to difenoconazole. Osmotic sensitivity tests showed that the IR mutants were hypersensitive to osmotic stress generated by NaCl. Inoculation tests showed that all the IR mutants lost their ability to infect the host plant. Taken together, these results indicate that the current population of R. cerealis is sensitive to these fungicides and a fitness cost is associated with iprodione-resistant mutants of R. cerealis in both osmotic stress and pathogenicity. The information obtained in this study is useful in monitoring and managing fungicide resistance in R. cerealis populations in China.     

Effects of fungicides on eyespot in five successive crops of winter wheat in plots with different initial or fungicide-selected populations of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides

The effects on eyespot of carbendazim, prochloraz or a mixture of carbendazim and prochloraz, applied twice yearly and to the same plots in each year, were studied in five successive crops of winter wheat. Some plots were uninoculated (with a background population of the eyespot fungus, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, which was initially mainly MBC-sensitive W-type), whereas others were inoculated artificially in the first autumn of the experiment (1984) with mainly MBC-sensitive W-type, MBC-resistant W-type, MBC-sensitive R-type or MBC-resistant R-type fungus. Samples were taken in April (1985–1987) and July (1985–1989). When all inoculation treatments are considered together, carbendazim was ineffective at all sampling times after April 1985 because of its rapid selection for MBC-resistance, and increased eyespot incidence and severity in some samples. Prochloraz applied alone decreased eyespot incidence and severity at all sample times except July 1988. Where applied with carbendazim, prochloraz always decreased eyespot incidence and severity, sometimes more so than when applied alone. The control of eyespot by the fungicides was influenced by the initial populations in the first two seasons only. Carbendazim decreased eyespot incidence in 1985 only where no artificial inoculum was added (both samples) and where mainly MBC-sensitive R-type inoculum was added (April 1985). Prochloraz applied alone was ineffective in July 1985 where mainly MBC-sensitive R-type fungus was added, and, applied with carbendazim, was ineffective in July 1986 where mainly MBC-resistant fungus was added. Subsequently, the populations were unrelated to the initial populations and were mainly a result of selection by fungicides where these were applied. Although selecting for the R-type fungus and, where no carbendazim was applied, for MBC-sensitivity, prochloraz remained generally effective after repeated applications over five seasons.     

啶酰菌胺与咪鲜胺复配对核盘菌的联合毒力测定

为筛选防治向日葵菌核病的有效药剂,明确不同杀菌剂复配对核盘菌的联合毒力,测定了啶酰菌胺与咪鲜胺复配对核盘菌菌丝生长、菌核的萌发及生理代谢的影响。试验结果表明,不同比例啶·咪复配对核盘菌均有良好的抑制作用,二者复配比例为1:1时,增效系数为1.7657,增效作用最强;啶·咪复配能够有效抑制核盘菌的生长,降低菌核的萌发率和子囊盘形成率,其效果明显优于两单剂;啶·咪复配处理下,核盘菌草酸的分泌量和细胞壁降解酶的活性显著降低,核盘菌的Ss-oah1、Ss-pg1和Ss-pg3等3个致病相关基因的表达量与空白对照相比分别下调了69.90%、55.00%和71.30%。结果表明,啶酰菌胺与咪鲜胺复配,能有效抑制核盘菌的生长,降低核盘菌的致病力,是防治向日葵菌核病的有效复配药剂。