Size, shape and intensity of aggregation of take-all disease during natural epidemics in second wheat crops

Point pattern analysis (fitting of the beta-binomial distribution and binary form of power law) was used to describe the spatial pattern of natural take-all epidemics (caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici ) on a second consecutive crop of winter wheat in plots under different cropping practices that could have an impact on the quantity and spatial distribution of primary inoculum, and on the spread of the disease. The spatial pattern of take-all was aggregated in 48% of the datasets when disease incidence was assessed at the plant level and in 83% when it was assessed at the root level. Clusters of diseased roots were in general less than 1 m in diameter for crown roots and 1–1·5 m for seminal roots; when present, clusters of diseased plants were 2–2·5 m in diameter. Anisotropy of the spatial pattern was detected and could be linked to soil cultivation. Clusters did not increase in size over the cropping season, but increased spatial heterogeneity of the disease level was observed, corresponding to local disease amplification within clusters. The relative influences of autonomous spread and inoculum dispersal on the size and shape of clusters are discussed.     

Sensitivity of fungi from cereal roots to fluquinconazole and their suppressiveness towards take-all on plants with or without fluquinconazole seed treatment in a controlled environment

The take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici , was highly sensitive to fluquinconazole ( in-vitro EC₅₀ 0·016–0·018 mg L⁻¹), a fungicide developed for use as a seed treatment to control take-all, and to prochloraz (EC₅₀ 0·006 mg L⁻¹). Fungi of other genera that were commonly isolated from cereal roots were sensitive in varying degrees to prochloraz but were relatively insensitive (e.g. Fusarium culmorum , EC₅₀ > 20 mg L⁻¹) or slightly sensitive (e.g. Epicoccum purpurascens , EC₅₀ 0·514 mg L⁻¹) to fluquinconazole. Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis and G. cylindrosporus , weak parasites that can protect roots against take-all, and an unnamed Phialophora sp., all closely related to the take-all fungus, were highly or moderately sensitive to fluquinconazole. Alternaria infectoria and E. purpurascens were most consistently effective in suppressing development of take-all on pot-grown wheat plants dual-inoculated with G. graminis var. tritici and the nonpathogen. Take-all was decreased more on dual-inoculated wheat plants grown from seed treated with fluquinconazole or fluquinconazole plus prochloraz than when only an antagonistic fungus ( A. infectoria , E. purpurascens , Fusarium culmorum or Idriella bolleyi ) or a seed treatment was applied. These fungi were less effective in combination with seed treatments on barley. Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis and G. cylindrosporus , tested on wheat, suppressed take-all only in the absence of fungicides. It is suggested that the performance of seed treatment containing fluquinconazole against take-all may in some circumstances be enhanced by its partial specificity for the take-all fungus.     

Quantification of within‐season focal spread of wheat take‐all in relation to pathogen genotype and host spatial distribution

Within season gradient of wheat take‐all was measured in field experiments according to line or random sowing host spatial distribution, and two Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) isolates (G1i and G2i), representative of the G1 and G2 genotype groups in terms of aggressiveness. Root disease incidence and severity were assessed at six dates from early March to late June on plants located at regular distances from the inoculum sources. Simple models relating disease intensity at different levels of hierarchy fitted observed data well, and indicated a strong disease aggregation both within and among plants. Disease severity on source plants placed nearby the inoculum source increased over time, ranging from 5 to 46% at the first assessment, and from 55 to 98% at the last assessment, being in general larger for G2i than G1i. In line‐sown plots, disease progressed steadily along the line but did not extend beyond 20 cm, seldom reaching the neighbour line. Disease rarely reached 25 cm in the direct‐seeded crop stands. These results indicate that Ggt intensifies but does not spread to a large extent during a cropping season. Distance from the source, pathogen genotype and assessment date had a significant effect on disease severity according to mixed model analyses, disease spread being larger for G2i than G1i. However, no significant effect of host spatial distribution could be detected. Yield loss within 20 cm of the source plant ranged between 20 and 40%, and was not significantly affected by pathogen genotype or host spatial distribution.     

Effects on growth of wheat plants of isolates of Gaeumannomyces/Phialophora-complex fungi in different conditions of soil moisture, temperature, and photoperiod

The effects on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Mario) of nine isolates of the Gaeumannomyces/Phialophora complex, ranging from non-pathogenic to pathogenic, were studied under different conditions of soil moisture, soil temperature, and photoperiod in growth chambers which simulated different autumn weather conditions. The experimental conditions were based on data (e.g. temperature) from representative sites (loamy sand, Muencheberg, Northeast Germany) collected in the last three decades. The results of seedling inoculation tests for four non-pathogenic isolates were partly in agreement with results from field trials done over 4 years. One non-pathogenic G. graminis var. tritici isolate (G 33) increased consistently dry weight of shoots in the simulation, and grain yield in field experiments. For non-pathogenic isolates, warm temperatures with moderate soil moisture most often stimulated plant growth, with less effect in cold dry soil conditions. The decrease in seedling growth caused by pathogenic isolates was influenced only slightly by temperature changes, but was often enhanced by increased soil moisture.     

The effect of single, binary, and tertiary combination of few plant derived molluscicides alone or in combination with synergist on different enzymes in the nervous tissues of the freshwater snail Lymnaea (Radix) acuminata (Lamark)

The effect of single, binary, and tertiary combination of few plant derived molluscicides alone or in combination with synergist on different enzymes (acetylcholinesterase—AChE, lactic dehydrogenase—LDH, and acid/alkaline phosphatase—ACP/ALP in the nervous tissue of the freshwater snail Lymnaea acuminata were studied. Sublethal in vivo 24 h exposure to 40 and 80% of LC₅₀ of Azadirachta indica oil (AI), oleoresin of Zingiber officinale (OL), Cedrus deodara oil (CD), Allium sativum (AS), and Polianthes tuberosa (PT) bulb powder singly, their binary combination of AI + OL, AS + CD, AS + PT, CD + OL, CD + PT, OL + PT, and tertiary combination of these binary combinations with the synergist piperonyl butoxide (PB) or MGK-264 significantly altered the activity of these enzymes. Tertiary combination with PB or MGK was very effective. Combination of CD + PT + MGK was more effective against AChE whereas, the combination of CD + OL + PB, CD + AS + PB, and CD + PT + PB were more effective against LDH, ACP, and ALP, respectively.