Patterns of spread of Carrot virus Y in carrot plantings and validation of control measures

Patterns of spread of Carrot virus Y (CarVY) were examined in carrot plantings in Western Australia into which naturally occurring aphid vectors spread the virus from external infection sources. Within three field trials, CarVY ‘infector’ plants were introduced between or at different distances from carrot plantings. There was a marked decline in CarVY incidence over distance from adjacent introduced infection sources. Clusters of infected plants that enlarged and coalesced were concentrated next to such sources but, later, isolated, expanding clusters formed further away. With a small external virus source, initial spread into the edge of a planting was less extensive than with a larger source. When 15‐m‐wide fallow areas separated a CarVY source from carrot plots, spread was much slower than when the separation was only 1 m; it was also slower upwind than downwind of this source. The data collected help validate the inclusion of isolation and ‘safe’ planting distances, intervening fallow, planting upwind, prompt removal of virus sources, avoidance of side‐by‐side plantings and manipulation of planting date within an integrated disease management strategy for CarVY in carrots.     

Genotype and Planting Density Effects on Rooting Traits and Yield in Cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L,）

Root density distribution of plants is a major Indicator of competition between plants and determines resource capture from the solh This experiment was conducted in 2005 at Anyang, located in the Yellow River region, Henan Province, China. Three cotton （Gossyplum hlrsutum L.） cultivars were chosen： hybrid Btcultlvar CRI46, conventional Btcultlvars CRI44 and CRI45. Six planting densities were designed, ranging from 1.5 to 12.0 plants/m^2. Root parameters such as surface area, diameter and length were analyzed by using the DT-SCAN Image analysis method. The root length density （RLD）, root average diameter and root area Index （RAI）, root surface area per unit land area, were studied. The results showed that RLD and RAI differed between genotypes; hybrid CRI46 had significantly higher （P 〈0.05） RLD and RAI values than conventlonal cultlvars, especially under low planting densities, less than 3.0 plants/m^2. The root area index （RAI） of hybrid CRI46 was 61% higher than of CRI44 and CRI45 at the flowering stage. The RLD and RAI were also significantly different （P = 0.000） between planting densities. The depth distribution of RAI showed that at Increasing planting densities RAI was Increasingly distributed in the soil layers below 50 cm. The RAI of hybrid CRI46 was for all planting densities, obviously higher than other cultivars during the flowering and boll stages. It was concluded that the hybrid had a strong advantage in root maintenance preventing premature senescence of roots. The root diameter of hybrid CRI46 had a genetically higher root diameter at planting densities lower than 6.0 plants/m^2. Good associations were found between yield and RAI In different stages. The optimum planting density ranged from 4.50 plants/m^2 to 6.75 plants/m^2 for conventional cultlvars and around 4.0-5.0 plants/m^2 for hybrids.     

Origin of Early Attacks of Sclerotinia Stem Rot on Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus sub. sub. sp. oleifera var. biensis) in the UK

Studies in artificially infested field plots of winter oilseed rape showed that mycelia originating from both sclerotia and ascospores of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can initiate early attacks of sclerotinia stem rot. Disease symptoms appeared in early November in plots previously infested with sclerotia in September. There was a 6–7 week period from artificially inoculating plants with ascospores in October to observing disease symtoms in December. The primary sites of infection for both typesof inocula were the laminae and petioles of senescent and frost-damaged leaves. Following primary infection, mycelia of the pathogen spread by plant to plant contact, causing secondary infections of neighbouring plants. Sclerotia developed on diseased plants and high numbers were returned to the soil. The importance of these findings to the epidemiology of the disease are discussed.     

Plant population and weeds influence stalk insects, soil moisture, and yield in rainfed sunflowers

Insect infestation, soil moisture, and yield were examined in populations of≈33 140 plants/ha （low） and ≈ 40 340 plants/ha （high） of an oilseed sunflower, Helianthus annuus L, cv. ＇ Triumph 660CL＇ with two levels of weediness. Less weedy plots resulted from the application of herbicide combination of S-metolachlor and sulfentrazone, whereas more weedy plots resulted from application of sulfentrazone alone. Among the 12 weed species recorded, neither plant numbers nor biomass differed between crop plant densities. Larvae of the stalk-boring insects Cylindrocopturus adspersus （Coleoptera： Curculionidae） and Mordellistena sp. （Coleoptera： Mordellidae） were less abundant in high density sunflowers, ostensibly due to reduced plant size. However, the same effect was not observed for Dectes texanus （Coleoptera： Cerambycidae） or Pelochrista womanana （Lepidoptera： Tortricidae）, two other stalk-boring insects. Soil moisture was highest in low density and lowest in the high density sunflowers that were less weedy. Stalk circumference, head diameter, and seed weight were reduced for sunflower plants with short interplant distances （mean = 20 cm apart） compared to plants with long interplant distances （mean = 46 cm apart）. These three variables were greater in less weedy plots compared with more weedy plot〉 and positively correlated with interplant distance. Yields on a per-hectare basis paralleled those on a per-plant basis but were not different among treatments. The agronomic implications of planting density are discussed in the context of weed and insect management.     

不同群体结构夏玉米灌浆期光合特征和产量变化

大田试验以夏玉米为试料,采用裂裂区试验设计,密度设计包含75000、90000\,105000株/hm² 3个密度作为主区,每个密度处理包括: ①等行距60 cm×单株留苗,②等行距60 cm×双株三角留苗,③宽窄行距(宽行70 cm + 窄行距50 cm)×单株留苗和 ④宽窄行距×双株三角留苗共12种方式进行处理,测定光合及叶绿素荧光参数。研究不同群体结构对夏玉米灌浆期群体光合特性的影响。结果表明,在吐丝期,随着种植密度的增加,群体光合速率提高;蜡熟期以90000株/hm²最高,种植方式上表现为宽窄行大于等行距种植,双株留苗种植方式大于单株种植方式,差异均达到显著水平;随着种植密度的提高,群体内3个层次叶片最大光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)逐渐降低,种植方式基本表现为宽窄行大于等行距,留苗方式表现为双株大于单株。试验条件下,以90000株/hm²,宽窄行,双株三角留苗产量最高。     

The Spread of Epiphytic Populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria on Pepper in the Field

The spread of the epiphytic population of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and the disease it causes, bacterial leaf spot, were studied in field plots of pepper near Gainesville, Florida. In the summer of 1989, the epiphytic population of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria was dispersed to the west-northwest from point sources of diseased plants. Winds from the southeast during rainstorms were essential for the spread of bacteria in the field. In the autumn of 1989, a focus of bacterial leaf spot developed naturally near the centre of the experimental plot. The epiphytic population of X, campestris pv. vesicatoria increased sharply after a 2-day rain accompanied with strong wind. The wind was believed to be responsible for the transport of bacteria to distances 32 m from the focus. Initially in both seasons, the epiphytic populations occurred as distinct gradients from the focal sources of diseased plants. These gradients flattened over time and the disease incidence increased to near 100%, The increase in the epiphytic populations of the pathogen to > 3.0 log₁₀ (cfu cm⁻²) on healthy plants away from the foci preceded disease appearance by several weeks. Applications of cupric hydroxide plus mancozeb significantly reduced the epiphytic population of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria on pepper leaves and slowed the spread of disease in the plots.     

The incidence of rosette disease in groundnut in relation to plant density and its effect on yield

Trials are described in which the relationships between plant density, rosette disease incidence and the yield and quality of groundnuts were investigated on sprayed and unsprayed groundnut plants. During growth, the number and percentage of sprayed and unsprayed plants showing symptoms of rosette disease was significantly greater at low plant populations than at high. At harvest, in general on unsprayed plots the numbers attacked were also greater at low plant populations, but on the sprayed plots the results were inconsistent. The percentage attack at harvest was much lower on sprayed plots at all plant populations. Menazon used as a seed dressing did not affect the incidence of the disease but used as a spray it significantly reduced the amount of disease found. The spray was applied at a rate of 294 g a.i./ha, four times at 10-day intervals, the first spray being applied 10 days from germination. Spraying controlled secondary spread of the virus within the crop and appeared to reduce the severity of early attack. There was a marked improvement of yields and quality of nuts from sprayed plots. Plant density did not affect quality of the groundnuts obtained, but yields per ha were highest on both sprayed and unsprayed plots at the highest plant densities (seed rate up to 134 kg/ha).     

Effects of Planting Densities on Water Quality Improvements and Pontederia cordata’s Physiology

Various planting densities (5, 10, or 20 plants per tank) of Pontederia cordata were water-cultivated in purifying tanks to treat polluted water. Seasonal effects of the planting densities on the water quality improvement and the morphology and physiology of the plant were analyzed. Results indicated that planting densities affected the nitrogen and phosphorus removal of water, and the morphology and physiology of plants, including activity of peroxidise and catalase, content of chlorophyll and soluble protein (SP), the length of root, stem and leaf, tiller number and root density. When planting density increased from 10 to 20 plants per tank, the morphology and physiology of plants, and the nitrogen and phosphorus removal by plants improved slowly, but caused a tiller number decline in individual plants. This variation was significant in autumn, and associated with seasonal variations of plant physiology. During autumn, there were 26 tillers in each plant with 10 plants per tank, compared to 14 tillers per plant with 20 plants per tank. Increase in the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the plants for 5–10 plants per tank was 5.41 and 0.79 g kg^–1, compared to 1.17 and 0.12 g kg^–1 for 10–20 plants per tank, respectively.     

Plant density-dependent variations in bioactive markers and root yield in Australian-grown Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge

The plant density‐dependent variations in the root yield and content, and the yield of biomarkers in Australian grown Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge , a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, were investigated in a field trial involving six different plant densities. The key biomarker compounds cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and salvianolic acid B were quantified by a validated RP‐HPLC method, and the root yields were determined per plant pair or unit area. There were significant variations (p<0.05) in the root yields and contents and the yields of the biomarkers between the different plant densities. Positive linear correlations were observed between the contents of the three tanshinones, whereas negative linear correlations were revealed between the contents of the tanshinones and salvianolic acid B. The highest root yield per plant pair was achieved when the plants were grown at 45×30 cm or 45×40 cm, whereas the highest root production par unit area was obtained for a plant density of 30×30 cm. The highest contents of the three tanshinones and the most abundant production of these tanshinones per unit area were achieved when the plants were grown at 30×30 cm. However, the highest content of salvianolic acid B was found for a density of 45×40 cm, while its highest yield per unit area was obtained for densities of 30×40 cm or 45×30 cm. The findings suggest that the plant density distinctly affects the root yield and content and the yield of tanshinones and salvianolic acid B in Australian grown S. miltiorrhiza, which may be used as a guide for developing optimal agricultural procedures for cultivating this herb.     

Effects of cereal borders, admixture with cereals and plant density on the spread of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus into narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius)

In studies of virus control measures, field experiments in 1987–1991 investigated the effects of cereal and fallow borders, admixture with cereals and plant density on spread of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV) from pastures dominated by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) into plots of narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius). Virus spread was mainly monocyclic because BYMV killed infected lupin plants and between systemic movement and death there was only a brief period for BYMV acquisition and transmission to other plants by vector aphids. In plots with cereal borders, the rate and extent of BYMV spread into the lupins was decreased; at final assessment the numbers of infected plants were 43–60% less than in plots with fallow borders. Admixture with cereals also decreased the rate and extent of BYMV spread into lupin plots, numbers of infected plants being decreased by 76–96% at the time of final assessment. When lupins were sown at different seeding rates to generate a range of plant densities and weeds were removed, high densities decreased BYMV infection. The higher incidences of BYMV infection in sparse stands were attributed partly to smaller plant numbers and partly to incoming viruliferous vector aphids being more attracted to plants with bare earth around them, than to a plant canopy. BYMV infection decreased grain yield of samples from infected lupin plants by 94–100%. In plots with 34% infection and sparse stands, grain yield was decreased by about one third. Plotted progress curves for the accumulated numbers of alate aphids of the BYMV vector species Acyrthosiphon kondoi and Myzus persicae resembled those for numbers of BYMV infected plants in 1990, but in 1991 only the curve plotted for M. persicae did so. There was a 2 week delay between the curves for aphid numbers and virus counts which reflected the time taken for obvious systemic necrotic symptoms to develop in lupins.     

The effect of plant density on populations of the cabbage root fly on four cruciferous crops

To study the effects of plant density on populations of the cabbage root fly (Erioischia brassicae), cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprout and swede were each planted in plots with twenty-four concentric circles of plants at spacings ranging from 10 to 90 cm between the individual plants. Plants treated with a root drench of chlorfenvinphos and untreated plants were each sampled at ten plant densities which ranged from 1–5 to 68-3 plants/m². In the absence of insecticide, the numbers of overwintering cabbage root fly pupae produced ranged from c. four per m² at the lowest plant density to 200 per m² at the highest. The number of pupae per m² was proportional to plant density to the powers 0–98,0-77,0–69 and o-6i for the swede, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprout crops, respectively. The magnitude of each cabbage root fly population was determined mainly by plant density but also by the cultivar used as host plant. The results suggested that, in a given locality, when changing from low to high plant density crops during a growing season it should be unnecessary to apply insecticide to control cabbage root fly; conversely, a change from high to low plant densities would necessitate an extremely efficient application of insecticide.     

种植密度对冬小麦根系时空分布和氮素利用效率的影响

在大田条件下,以大穗型品种泰农18和中穗型品种山农15为材料,研究不同种植密度(泰农18:每公顷135、270、405万株;山农15:每公顷172.5、345、517.5万株)对冬小麦根系时空分布和氮素利用效率的影响.结果表明:在整个生育期,随种植密度的增加,泰农18的根长密度、根系总吸收面积和活跃吸收面积均显著增加;在生育后期,山农15的根长密度、根系总吸收面积和活跃吸收面积在种植密度为每公顷345万株时最大.泰农18的籽粒产量、氮肥吸收利用效率、氮肥偏生产力和氮素利用效率在种植密度为每公顷405万株时最高,山农15在种植密度为每公顷345万株时最高,但与种植密度为每公顷517.5万株的处理差异不显著.随种植密度的增加,冬小麦成熟期土壤硝态氮、铵态氮和无机态氮在不同土层的积累量均降低.泰农18和山农15种植密度分别为每公顷405万株和345万株时,是兼顾高产和高效利用氮素的适宜种植密度.     

Epidemiological study of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in greenhouses enables reduction of disease damage in cucurbit production

Since 2007, the tobamovirus Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) has become widespread in Israel, causing severe damage to trellised cucumber and melon in greenhouses and watermelon grown in open fields. To reduce disease damage below the economic threshold, this study focused on four objectives: (a) monitoring the patterns of virus distribution within commercial cucumber greenhouses; (b) studying the potential transmission of CGMMV by agrotechnical activities; (c) virus localization in plant tissues; and (d) searching for techniques that might be adapted for mitigating the disease in trellised cucurbit growth. The results of our surveys demonstrated the role of contaminated seeds and soil as primary inoculum sources, and secondary spread caused by agrotechnical activities. The patterns of secondary disease spread were demonstrated in a series of inoculation experiments involving contaminated knives, shears or hands on wet and dry plants, conducted under research‐greenhouse conditions. In parallel experiments using CGMMV‐specific antibody and secondary antibody conjugated to Alexa fluor 488, the viral coat protein was visualized in several plant tissues: phloem, xylem, trichomes and grasping tendrils. In addition, commercial‐greenhouse experiments were aimed at reducing the number of inoculum sources by identifying and removing infected plants from the plots (early monitoring) prior to agrotechnical activities and/or by adding intermediate medium (IM), such as virus‐free compost, to the planting pits at the planting stage. It is suggested that the use of IM combined with early monitoring, awareness of worker mobility (from contaminated structures to young planting areas) and proper sanitation (e.g. disinfection of agrotechnical tools) may reduce the yield losses caused by CGMMV below the economic threshold.     

Effect of ascochyta blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes) on yield components of single pea (Pisum sativum) plants under field conditions

Field studies were made in 1992 and 1993 to examine the yield components of pea inoculated with Mycosphaerella pinodes and those of healthy pea (sprayed with a mixture of flutriafol + chlorothalonil), in a split-plot design with the cv. Solara sown at different plant densities. Ascochyta blight was severe on leaves and on internodes of the basal part of the plants; pods had few lesions. The number and length of stems per plant were the same for diseased and healthy plants. The number of reproductive nodes and pods per stem were affected by disease only in 1993. In 1992 and 1993 respectively, disease caused reductions in the number of seeds per stem of 18% and 25%, and in seed size of 13.5% and 16.7%, compared with healthy plants. The harvest index and total biomass were lower in diseased than in healthy plants and seed yield was reduced by 40% in diseased plots. These results show a high relationship between the disease parameters (disease mean on stipules/nodes 8–18/ and on internodes/nodes 5–15/, percentages of stipules or internodes with a disease score 4, and percentage of stems encircled by lesions), plant density and yield reduction.     

The Spread of African Cassava Mosaic Virus into and within Cassava Fields

Only a small proportion of Bemisia tabaci collected in totally infected cassava fields at a site in Côte d'lvoire transmitted African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) to test plants. Nevertheless, the monthly increase in disease incidence in an experimental planting was directly related to numbers of adult whiteflies counted on plants 6 weeks earlier. In plots at different spacings, the greatest incidence of ACMV expressed as a percentage of the total stand occurred at the lowest plant density. Much speread into the spacing trial and into two other experimental plantings occurred from outside sources and followed downwind gradients. By contrast, spread from ACMV-infected sources within plantings was limited. It occurred in all directions but over distances of only a few metres. These contrasting patterns of spread are attributed to the differentbehavior of B. tabaci above and within the crop canopy. It is concluded that contamination of cassava fields in the coastal forest area of Côte d'Ivoire is due mainly to rapid spread from outside sources which leads to internal foci that contribute to some further, although limited, spread. These findings are discussed in relation to possible control strategies based on the release of healthy cuttings, dense planting and subsequent roguing. Such measures are unlikely to be effectve in the coastal forest region of Côte d'Ivoire and adjacent countriesunless varieties are grown with greater resistance to infection than those currently used.     

Density-dependent response to mycorrhizal infection in Abutilon theophrasti Medic

Summary One purpose of this study was to determine whether an increase in plant density would result in a decrease in response to mycorrhizal infection (particularly as measured by phosphorus content). Increases in plant density generally result in increases in root density in the volume of soil occupied by the plants. Root density, in turn, largely determines phosphorus uptake. If mycorrhizal plants had significantly higher effective root densities than non-mycorrhizal plants due to the fungal hyphae and thus were more thorough in exploiting a given volume of soil for phosphorus, then a given increase in root density might result in a greater proportional increase in phosphorus uptake for non-mycorrhizal plants than for mycorrhizal plants. Two experiments were performed in which mycorrhizal infection and available soil volume per plant were manipulated; one in which the number of plants within a given pot size was varied (experiment 1), and another in which single plants were grown in pots of differing volume (experiment 2). The two experiments yielded similar results but for apparently different reasons. In the first experiment, for a given increase in root density, non-mycorrhizal plants had a greater proportional increase in phosphorus uptake than mycorrhizal plants. Thus, as predicted, response to mycorrhizal infection was greatest at the lowest planting density (highest available soil volume per plant, lowest root density). In experiment 2, response to infection was also greatest at the highest available soil volume per plant (largest pot), but pot size did not influence root density. These results show that the benefit from mycorrhizal infection may be partly determined by root density and they suggest that plants either occurring in patches of contrasting root density in a given community, or occurring in different communities with inherently different root densities may differ in their reliance upon mycorrhizal fungi for phosphorus uptake.     

黄土高原土壤紧实度对蚕豆生长的影响

通过盆栽试验、连续 2年的田间小区试验和农户生产试验 ,研究了土壤紧实状况对蚕豆 (Viciafa ba)生长的影响 ,讨论了当地土壤容重较高的原因 ,并提出了改进措施 .结果表明 ,随着 0～ 7cm土层土壤容重的增加 ,蚕豆植株每株的茎与根干重降低 ,根腐病 (Fusariumspp .)引起的死亡率增加 ,种子产量减少 .田间试验条件下 ,与生长于容重为 1.5 5和 1.6 4 g·cm-3 小区内的植株相比 ,生长于容重 1.84 g·cm-3 小区内的植株每株茎与根干重可分别减少 2 7.9%和 30 .8% ,植株累计死亡率增加 2 1.0 %～ 4 8.7% ,种子产量每公顷减少 19.8% .在 8户蚕豆田中进行的多点生产试验表明 ,春季土壤容重与蚕豆幼苗的根与茎干重、秋季土壤容重与种子产量均呈显著负相关     

Root Growth of Susceptible and Resistant Potato Cultivars and Population Dynamics of Globodera rostochiensis in the Field

Globodera rostochiensis population densities and potato root growth were measured in field plots of one susceptible and two resistant potato cultivars. Root growth and nematode densities were estimated from soil samples taken at three depths between plants within the rows, three depths 22.5 cm from the rows, and at two depths midway between rows (furrows). Four weeks after plant emergence (AE), nematode densities in the rows had declined 68% in plots of the susceptible cultivar and up to 75% in plots of both resistant cultivars. Significant decline in nematode densities in the furrows 4 weeks AE occurred only in plots of the susceptible cultivar. Total decline in nematode density in fallow soil was 50%, whereas in plots of the resistant cultivars, decline was more than 70% in the rows and more than 50% in the furrows. Nematode densities increased in the rows of the susceptible cultivar but declined in the furrows. We conclude that G. rostochiensis decline or increase is correlated with host resistance and the amount of roots present at any particular site.     

Field Studies of Cross Protection with Cassava Mosaic Geminiviruses in Uganda

The effect of cassava mosaic virus disease (CMD) was compared on plants grown from cuttings that were initially virus‐free at planting and those infected with a mild strain of East African cassava mosaic virus‐Uganda (EACMV‐UG). All initially healthy plants developed CMD symptoms within 5 months of planting (MAP) at both trial sites in Uganda, although spread was more rapid at Kamuli than at Serere. Significantly (P < 0.001) higher symptom severity scores were recorded in initially healthy plants, which had average scores of 3.6 and 3.5 at Kamuli and Serere, respectively, compared with 2.8 for mildly diseased plants at each location. Severity scores of 4 and 5 were more frequent in initially healthy plants, accounting for 77 and 39% of the total infections recorded in comparison with 47 and 11% in mildly diseased plants at Kamuli and Serere, respectively. Mildly diseased plants were significantly taller than initially healthy plants 8 and 12 MAP at both locations. However, the converse was true 4 MAP although differences were significant at Serere but not at Kamuli. Mildly diseased plants yielded significantly more tuberous roots than initially healthy plants at Kamuli but not at Serere. Average total weights of tuberous roots per plant were 2.48 and 1.63 kg for mildly diseased and initially healthy plants at Kamuli and 4.46 and 4.61 kg at Serere, respectively. These results may help to explain the increased prevalence in recent years of mildly diseased plants of local CMD‐susceptible cultivars in eastern Uganda, from where these varieties virtually disappeared following the severe CMD epidemic in the 1990s. The results also provide the first field evidence of a cross protective effect of mild strains of a cassava mosaic geminivirus.     

Fungal occurrence,disease incidence and severity,and yield of maize symptomatic for seedling disease in Mississippi

A study was conducted in Mississippi from 1995 to 1997 comparing soil rhizosphere fungi isolated from Pioneer 3167 hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) planted on Brooksville silty clay and Memphis silt loam soils. Maize seedlings were collected over four sampling dates from conventional and no-tillage plots. Eleven fungal genera consisting of nineteen species were isolated from these plants; Trichoderma spp. were most frequently isolated, followed by Fusarium spp. The highest disease incidence occurred in tilled plots of the latest planting date on Brooksville silty clay when samples were collected 17 days after planting. Root disease was most severe in 1996 from seedlings planted on the last planting date in tilled plots sampled 17 days after planting. Yields were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher on Brooksville silty clay soil than on Memphis silt loam in both 1995 and 1996. Yields were highest from no-tillage plots and from maize planted on the earliest date. There was a significant correlation between incidence of root infection and disease severity. There was no correlation between the incidence of root infection and yield or between disease severity and yield at either location. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.