Methods of assessment celery leaf spot (Septoria apiicola) in relation to fungicide evaluation

Six criteria for evaluating fungicides for control of celery leaf spot (Septoria apiicola) were compared. Two of these criteria consisted of yield measurements, of which marketable yield gave better statistical separation of the fungicides than gross yield. Of the other four criteria, assessment of leaf spot on a whole-plot basis was the most valuable. Overall disease rating on individual intact plants, rating of each petiole and numbers of diseased petioles per plant were less useful assessment criteria.     

Comparison of fungicides for control of leaf spot (Septoria apiicola) of celery

Of twenty-one fungicides tested at recommended rates of application for their effectiveness in controlling leaf spot of celery grown in Ireland on peat and on a clay-loam soil, three formulations containing fentin acetate with maneb and formulations of fentin hydroxide and fentin chloride were most effective. Benomyl was superior to the other non-tin fungicides tested and, at moderate disease levels, it resulted in marketable yields of celery equal to those recorded after treatment with the organotin compounds. Generally, the organotin compounds and benomyl were followed in descending order of effectiveness by copper oxychloride, captafol, Daconil 2787 and maneb. None of the fungicides tested in the three seasons caused visible symptoms of phytotoxicity and, on disease-free celery in 1969, none had a significant effect on yield.     

Celery leaf spot: sources of inoculum

The relative importance of infected celery seed, infected leaf debris in the soil, and infected wild celery, in the incidence of Septoria leaf spot in cultivated celery has been investigated. Infection can be caused when the sole source of inoculum is viable spores on the seed surface; such spores are considered to be the main cause of disease outbreaks. Of all the seed samples examined, 93% were infected by Septoria spp. In untreated seed samples, 40% carried viable spores which survived for up to 15 months on seed stored in the laboratory, and for longer periods on seed stored at -20d? C. However, ageing of seed is not recommended as a commercial control measure. The fungus was not found in seed embryos or endosperms but mycelium was present in pericarps and testas. Unconfirmed evidence suggests that in favourable circumstances new spores might be produced in old seed-borne pycnidia.     

Interaction of Daylength and Applied Gibberellins on Stem Growth and Leaf Production in Three Varieties of Celery

Pressman, E. and Negbi, M. 1987. Interaction of daylength andapplied gibberellins on stem growth and leaf production in threevarieties of celery.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 968–971. Exogenous application of gibberellins (GAs) stimulated stemlength. The extent of this stimulation was less in long photoperiods,as long days (LD) or as long nights interrupted by night breaks(NB), than it was in short days (SD). Long photoperiods increasedthe length and erectness of leaves and reduced leaf number.Similar morphological changes were stimulated by applied GAs,which were more effective on plants grown in SD than on thosein LD. It is suggested that long photoperiods cause these morphologicalchanges via the production or metabolism of endogenous GAs,but it is not clear how endogenous GAs interact with the appliedones. Key words: Daylength, gibberellins, stem growth, leaf production, celery     

Host range of Cercospora apii and C. beticola and description of C. apiicola, a novel species from celery

The genus Cercospora is one of the largest and most heterogeneous genera of hyphomycetes. Cercospora species are distributed worldwide and cause Cercospora leaf spot on most of the major plant families. Numerous species described from diverse hosts and locations are morphologically indistinguishable from C. apii and subsequently are referred to as C. apii sensu lato. The importance and ecological role that different hosts play in taxon delimitation and recognition within this complex remains unclear. It has been shown that Cercospora leaf spot on celery and sugar beet are caused respectively by C. apii and C. beticola, both of which are part of the C. apii complex. During this study we characterized a new Cercospora species, C. apiicola, which was isolated from celery in Venezuela, Korea and Greece. The phylogenetic relationship between C. apiicola and other closely related Cercospora species was studied with five different gene areas. These analyses revealed that the C. apiicola isolates cluster together in a well defined clade. Both C. apii and C. beticola sensu stricto form well defined clades and are shown to have wider host ranges and to represent distinct species.     

Effect of Plant Type on the Persistence of Beauveria bassiana

Field evaluation of isolate MK 2001 of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, revealed conidia persistence and infectivity up to 26 days on foliage of lettuce and celery, two crops with substantial plant differences. Plants were treated at a rate of 100 ml/cage at a concentration of 1×10⁸ conidia/ml. The number of colony-forming units (CFU) recovered immediately after treatments from discs sampled on lettuce and celery leaves were not significantly different, due to similar foliar coverage of conidia by application. Significant differences were observed between both host plants during the 26 days of the field trial. The number of CFUs recovered on lettuce was significantly higher than that on celery leaves. However, for each host plant, there were no significant differences either between lettuce external leaves and internal leaves or between celery canopy and bottom leaves. An in vitro pathogenicity test carried out on Lygus lineolaris adults fed with leaf discs harvested from treated cages resulted in a high pathogenicity of B. bassiana isolate MK 2001. The mortality immediately after treatment did not differ from the death counts taken every other day for 26 days. However, efficacy was significantly different between both plants. Mortality was 91% on lettuce and 78% on celery, 7 days post-treatment. This study highlighted that plant type must be taken into account in foliar application of B. bassiana.     

Virus diseases of celery in England

Abnormal celery plants (Apium graveolens) with symptoms typical of virus infection were collected from 28 farms in Cambridgeshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk; six different diseases were found. The causal viruses from three of these were isolated and partially characterised. Cucumber mosaic virus was quite common, but usually symptomless; it had no effect on the growth of four celery cultivars in field trials. Celery virus 036 was serologically related to western celery mosaic virus, had a host range apparently confined to Umbelliferae, and was very common in the Fens, causing ringspot symptoms in some cultivars and a loss in yield of up to 24%. This disease was much less severe than that caused by an American isolate of western celery mosaic virus in glasshouse comparisons. Celery virus 065 (an unidentified isometric virus, 28–30 nm in diameter) was less common, had a very wide host range, and caused stunting, necrosis, and chlorotic flecking in all cultivars with a loss in yield of up to 45%. Of the remaining three diseases, celery yellow spot was common; the causal agent was transmitted by mechanical inoculation, but very inefficiently, and although yield losses were not determined accurately, they were thought to be insignificant. While plants with symptoms typical of celery yellow net and celery strap leaf diseases were often found, no viruses could be isolated from them, despite repeated attempts.     

Effects of cyromazine and abamectin on the leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis and its parasitoid, Diglyphus isaea in celery

Field trials were conducted for 2 yr on celery (Apium graveolens L.) to determine the effects of two translaminar insecticides (abamectin and cyromazine) on the agromyzid leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), and the eulophid parasitoid, Diglyphus isaea Walker. Abamectin and cyromazine were applied once early in the growing season by spray or drip application. Yellow sticky traps and leaf samples were used to monitor population levels; a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer was used to monitor cyromazine residues within the celery plants during 1 yr. Spray applications of abamectin and cyromazine significantly reduced larval leafminers and D. isaea. Contrary to grower practices, application of cyromazine by drip irrigation systems had minor effects on larval leafminer and D. isaea as compared to spray application. Cyromazine residues in the plants treated by spray application declined sharply after 1 wk, and no residues were detected 2 wk after application; less than 0.05 ppm cyromazine residues were detected in plants treated by drip application. Implications of these results on management practices are discussed.     

The Effect of Mechanically Induced Stress on the Growth of Cauliflower, Lettuce and Celery Seedlings

Brushing cauliflower, lettuce and celery seedlings with paperfor 1.5 min each day for 11–13 d, 10–12 d or 21–28d, respectively resulted in smaller, more compact, plants thanthe unbrushed controls. In all three species shoot fresh anddry weights and leaf area were reduced following brushing. Incauliflower and celery the largest growth reduction was in petiolelength. In lettuce, which has no discernible petioles, the reductionin leaf length caused by brushing was proportionally greaterthan the reduction in leaf width. Brushing reduced hypocotyllength in cauliflowers and to a lesser extent in lettuce. Petioleand hypocotyl thickness was reduced in cauliflower, whereashypocotyl thickness was increased in lettuce following brushing.Brushing increased leaf thickness in cauliflower, celery andto a lesser extent in lettuce and increased the percentage drymatter content of lettuce shoots. The weight of chlorophyllper fresh weight of leaf tissue increased following brushingin celery and lettuce and declined in cauliflowers. Root length and the number of branches per root system werereduced in all three species following brushing. Root dry weightwas reduced and the root:shoot dry weight ratio was increasedin lettuce, reduced in celery and unaffected in cauliflowers. There were different patterns of response to brushing, the reductionin leaf weight being greatest in the youngest leaf of cauliflowerand least in the youngest leaf of lettuce and celery. Growthresponses to brushing were seen several days after brushinghad ceased, noticeably in leaves which were barely visible atthe time of brushing. It is suggested that growth retardation of cauliflowers, lettuceand celery, induced by mechanical stress such as brushing mayprove valuable as a means of ‘conditioning’ theseedlings to withstand both the physical and physiological stresseswhich occur at and during transplanting. Brassica oleracea, cauliflower, Lactuca sativa L., lettuce, Apium graveolens L., celery, mechanical stress, shoot growth, root growth, chlorophyll     

The Effects of Mechanically-induced Stress on Water Loss and Drought Resistance in Lettuce, Cauliflower and Celery Seedlings

Lettuce, cauliflower and celery seedlings brushed with paperfor 1–5 min each day for several days, were smaller thanunbrushed control seedlings, and, most notably with lettuce,recovered less well from periods of drought. One reason forlowered drought resistance may have been an increased transpirationrate per unit leaf area measured in brushed seedlings comparedto controls. Further experiments with lettuce seedlings showeda greater density of stomata on the leaf surface of brushedseedlings compared with untreated ones.     

Interactions between seed priming treatments and nine seed lots of carrot, celery and onion. II. Seedling emergence and plant growth

Samples of three seed lots of each of three cultivars of carrot, celery and onion were primed in polyethylene glycol solution for two weeks at 15 °C. Seedling emergence was recorded in the field for carrot and onion and in the glasshouse for celery. Compared to the untreated control, priming increased the percentage seedling emergence in certain poorly-emerging seed lots of carrot and celery, but had no effect on onion. Mean emergence times were reduced by priming in all seed lots, by 3–5, 5–8 and 3–9 days in carrot, celery and onion respectively. The largest effects occurred in the slowest-emerging seed lots. There were significant interactions between priming and seed lots within cultivars in carrot and celery and between priming and cultivars in celery and onion. Priming generally reduced the spread of emergence times, but the effects were not statistically significant in carrot. Drying back the primed seeds had no effect on percentage emergence in onion, but reduced it (compared to primed seed which had not been dried-back) in certain carrot and celery seed lots. Primed and dried-back seeds emerged later than primed seeds, by up to 1·5, 2·6 and 2·6 days in carrot, celery and onion respectively. The spread of emergence times was generally larger for primed and dried-back seeds than for primed seeds, but the differences were not always statistically significant. Plant fresh weights were recorded 9, 7 and 12 wk after sowing for carrot, celery and onion, respectively. In each species, mean plant weight was inversely related to seedling emergence time; thus plants grown from primed seed were always heavier than the controls, by up to 33%, 182% and 47% in carrot, celery and onion respectively.     

Influence of strobilurin compounds on the development of Puccinia horiana

The effectiveness of 5 strobilurin fungicides: Acanto 250 SC, Amistar 250 SC, Discus 500 WG, Signum 33 WG, Zato 50 WG and Score 250 EC (triazole-standard) in the control of Puccinia horiana was tested on chrysanthemum cv. Melba Blane. Number of pustules per leaf was observed before treatment, as well as 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Additionally, after 4 weeks, their influence on plant growth, size of pustules and eventually phytotoxicity were assessed. Plants were sprayed preventively and curatively 4 times at weekly intervals. In preventive programme after 4 weeks of investigations, average of about 1.5 spot per leaf was recorded on control plants. Disease symptoms did not appear on chrysanthemums protected by fungicides Signum 33 WG at concentration 0.18% and Zato 50 WG at concentration 0.015%. In case of the other tested fungicides only sporadically pustules on single leaves were noticed (over 95% of them were browned, dried and crumbled). On control plants more than 46% of leaves was infected but in case of the other investigated fungicides it was only 3-7%. Diameter of spots on plants protected with: Score 250 EC, Acanto 250 SC and Discus 500 WG was similar as on the leaves of control plants. On plants protected with Amistar 250 SC the diameter of pustules was significantly lower than on control plants. In curative programme after 4 weeks of tests, leaves of control plants had about 4 spots per leaf. On leaves sprayed with Score 250 EC at concentration 0.05% there were 4 times less spots than on control plants. Chrysanthemums treated with tested strobilurin fungicides had about 2 times less pustules than on control plants. Diameter of spots on control plant leaves was 3.6 mm and was similar as on chrysanthemums protected with tested fungicides. On leaves of control plants all pustules were active without visible changes or damage but in case of the investigated fungicides almost 100% of them were browned, dried and crumbled. After 4 weeks of experiment, a measured height of control plants was about 125 mm and was similar to the height of plants protected with tested fungicides except Signum 33 WG, which stimulated plant growth. None of tested compounds showed phytotoxic effect.     

锌肥对日光温室西芹硝酸盐及营养品质研究

利用日光温室西芹不同锌水平的试验,研究了以氮,钾肥作基肥时,不同锌水平对西芹的硝酸盐累积,营养品质及产量的影响,结果表明,当施用硫酸锌30kg/hm2,西芹的产量达到最高,而硝态氮含量与CK相比,叶片和叶柄分别降低28．6％和29．5％,施用锌肥可以提高Vc的含量,对可溶性糖的影响不大。     

Biological Control of Groundnut Late Leaf Spot and Rust by Seed and Foliar Applications of a Powder Formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Glasshouse and field trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of a talc-based powder formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain Pf1 in controlling groundnut leaf spot ( Cercosporidium personatum ) and rust ( Puccinia arachidis ). Seed treatment with the talc-based powder formulation of the bacterium alone effectively reduced the severity of leaf spot and rust. When the treated seeds were sown in soil, the antagonist moved to the rhizosphere and multiplied well in it. Foliar application with the powder formulation effectively controlled the groundnut leaf spot and rust. P. fluorescens multiplied well in the phyllosphere after foliar application of powder formulation. Combined application of the P. fluorescens formulation to seed and foliage effectively controlled leaf spot and rust, and increased the pod yield in greenhouse and field tests.     

施氮和去除子叶对大叶桃花心木幼苗叶片硝酸还原酶活性的影响

研究了热带落叶乔木大叶桃花心木(Swietenia macrophylla)在施氮和去除子叶后幼苗叶片的硝酸还原酶活性(NRA)变化。结果表明,在非施氮(对照)条件下,NRA随着幼苗叶片的发育先升高后降低;施氮后幼苗叶片NRA在各取样时期(除35 d外)均显著高于非施氮处理(P<0.05),并随着取样时期的延续,叶片NRA逐渐降低。在幼苗发育的不同时期去除子叶,4周后,叶片NRA均显著升高(P<0.05)。     

荷兰芹胚性愈伤组织诱导及胚状体发生与内源IAA和ABA关系的初步研究

分析了荷兰芹胚性愈伤组织发生的条件, 对Co²⁺作用下胚状体形成与培养物内源IAA和ABA 的关系做了研究。结果表明, 荷兰芹下胚轴胚性发生能力随其相对位置而异, 自下而上逐渐提高。提高2, 4-D 浓度有利于胚性愈伤组织的诱导, 水解酪蛋白对胚性能力的表达没有显著影响。在胚状体发生过程中, 添加Co²⁺显著降低培养物内源IAA 和ABA 水平, 并提高胚状体诱导率。其中对照组IAA 有一个峰值, ABA 有两个峰值;实验组ABA 变化趋势与对照组相似, 而IAA 则始终没有峰值出现。Co²⁺对IAA 和ABA 的抑制机制可能有所不同。     

Effect of kinetin and abscisic acid on the distribution of 2-amino (1-14C) isobutyric acid in leaves of Zea mays

2-Amino (1-¹⁴C) isobutyric acid (AIB) was applied to the leaf tips of thirteen-day-old primary leaves of Zea mays L. cv. Goldprinz. Simultaneously, the leaves were treated in the basal region with solutions of kinetin (KN), abscisic acid (ABA) and mixtures of both hormones. The distribution of the radioactive material was determined after 72 h. Treatment with KN caused an accumulation of radioactive material at the point of application (KN spot). In comparison to controls, the leaf zones between the KN spot and the leaf tip contained lower amounts of radioactive material. Treatment with ABA caused a pattern of distribution opposite to that induced by KN. The ABA point of application (ABA spot) was depleted of radioactive material, whereas the leaf area between the ABA spot and the leaf tip showed enhanched levels of radioactive AIB. The effect of ABA was reduced by application of ABA and KN in equimolar amounts. The results are discussed in relation to the possible role of ABA in hormone-directed transport processes.     

Characterization of Rhizoctonia solani associated with Sore Shin and Leaf Spot Symptoms on Tobacco in Zimbabwe

The relationship between Rhizoctonia solani isolates derived from leaf spot and sore shin symptoms on tobacco was characterized by determining nuclear number, hyphal diameter, anastomosis grouping (AG) and pathogenicity. The leaf spot isolates had significantly more nuclei per cell, and wider hyphae than the sore shin isolates. Anastomosis pairings with known tester strains confirmed the leaf spot isolates to be AG 3, and the sore shin isolates to be AG 4. Pathogenicity testing indicated that the leaf spot isolates were pathogenic to all parts of the plant, whereas the sore shin isolates tended to form lesions on stems only.     

Methods for assessment of light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae) on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in the UK

Light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae) was assessed as % plants with light leaf spot, % leaves with light leaf spot or % leaf area with light leaf spot in winter oilseed rape field experiments done at different sites (Rothamsted, Hertfordshire; Boxworth, Cambridgeshire; near Aberdeen, Scotland), with different cultivars (e.g. Bristol and Capitol), different fungicide treatments, on plants sampled at different dates. Regression analyses on data from these experiments showed that there were consistently good relationships between % leaves with light leaf spot and % plants with light leaf spot for plants sampled during the autumn and winter, until the % plants with light leaf spot approached 100%. The slopes and positions of regression lines were sometimes affected by cultivar, fungicide treatment or sampling date, but not by site. The relationship between % leaf area with light leaf spot (square root-transformed) and % leaves with light leaf spot was less consistent than that between % leaves with light leaf spot and % plants with light leaf spot and was sometimes affected by cultivar, fungicide treatment or sampling date but not by site. The relationship between % leaf area with light leaf spot (square root-transformed) and % plants with light leaf spot was also inconsistent and was sometimes affected by cultivar, fungicide treatment, sampling date and site.