A discussion on disease severity index values. Part II: using the disease severity index for null hypothesis testing

A disease severity index (DSI) is a single number for summarising a large amount of information on disease severity. The DSI has most often been used with data based on a special type of ordinal scale comprising a series of consecutive ranges of defined numeric intervals, generally based on the percent area of symptoms presenting on the specimen(s). Plant pathologists and other professionals use such ordinal scale data in conjunction with a DSI (%) for treatment comparisons. The objective of this work is to explore the effects on both of different scales (i.e. those having equal or unequal classes, or different widths of intervals) and of the selection of values for scale intervals (i.e. the ordinal grade for the category or the midpoint value of the interval) on the null hypothesis test for the treatment comparison. A two‐stage simulation approach was employed to approximate the real mechanisms governing the disease‐severity sampling design. Subsequently, a meta‐analysis was performed to compare the effects of two treatments, which demonstrated that using quantitative ordinal rating grades or the midpoint conversion for the ranges of disease severity yielded very comparable results with respect to the power of hypothesis testing. However, the principal factor determining the power of the hypothesis test is the nature of the intervals, not the selection of values for ordinal scale intervals (i.e. not the mid‐point or ordinal grade). Although using the percent scale is always preferable, the results of this study provide a framework for developing improved research methods where the use of ordinal scales in conjunction with a DSI is either preferred or a necessity for comparing disease severities.     

Evaluating the effects of rater and subject factors on measures of association

Large‐scale agreement studies are becoming increasingly common in medical settings to gain better insight into discrepancies often observed between experts' classifications. Ordered categorical scales are routinely used to classify subjects' disease and health conditions. Summary measures such as Cohen's weighted kappa are popular approaches for reporting levels of association for pairs of raters' ordinal classifications. However, in large‐scale studies with many raters, assessing levels of association can be challenging due to dependencies between many raters each grading the same sample of subjects' results and the ordinal nature of the ratings. Further complexities arise when the focus of a study is to examine the impact of rater and subject characteristics on levels of association. In this paper, we describe a flexible approach based upon the class of generalized linear mixed models to assess the influence of rater and subject factors on association between many raters' ordinal classifications. We propose novel model‐based measures for large‐scale studies to provide simple summaries of association similar to Cohen's weighted kappa while avoiding prevalence and marginal distribution issues that Cohen's weighted kappa is susceptible to. The proposed summary measures can be used to compare association between subgroups of subjects or raters. We demonstrate the use of hypothesis tests to formally determine if rater and subject factors have a significant influence on association, and describe approaches for evaluating the goodness‐of‐fit of the proposed model. The performance of the proposed approach is explored through extensive simulation studies and is applied to a recent large‐scale cancer breast cancer screening study.     

Plant Disease Severity Estimated Visually,by Digital Photography and Image Analysis,and by Hyperspectral Imaging

Reliable, precise and accurate estimates of disease severity are important for predicting yield loss, monitoring and forecasting epidemics, for assessing crop germplasm for disease resistance, and for understanding fundamental biological processes including co-evolution. Disease assessments that are inaccurate and/or imprecise might lead to faulty conclusions being drawn from the data, which in turn can lead to incorrect actions being taken in disease management decisions. Plant disease can be quantified in several different ways. This review considers plant disease severity assessment at the scale of individual plant parts or plants, and describes our current understanding of the sources and causes of assessment error, a better understanding of which is required before improvements can be targeted. The review also considers how these can be identified using various statistical tools. Indeed, great strides have been made in the last thirty years in identifying the sources of assessment error inherent to visual rating, and this review highlights ways that assessment errors can be reduced—particularly by training raters or using assessment aids. Lesion number in relation to area infected is known to influence accuracy and precision of visual estimates—the greater the number of lesions for a given area infected results in more overestimation. Furthermore, there is a widespread tendency to overestimate disease severity at low severities (<10%). Both interrater and intrarater reliability can be variable, particularly if training or rating aids are not used. During the last eighty years acceptable accuracy and precision of visual disease assessments have often been achieved using disease scales, particularly because of the time they allegedly save, and the ease with which they can be learned, but recent work suggests there can be some disadvantages to their use. This review considers new technologies that offer opportunity to assess disease with greater objectivity (reliability, precision, and accuracy). One of these, visible light photography and digital image analysis has been increasingly used over the last thirty years, as software has become more sophisticated and user-friendly. Indeed, some studies have produced very accurate estimates of disease using image analysis. In contrast, hyperspectral imagery is relatively recent and has not been widely applied in plant pathology. Nonetheless, it offers interesting and potentially discerning opportunities to assess disease. As plant disease assessment becomes better understood, it is against the backdrop of concepts of reliability, precision and accuracy (and agreement) in plant pathology and measurement science. This review briefly describes these concepts in relation to plant disease assessment. Various advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches to disease assessment are described. For each assessment method some future research priorities are identified that would be of value in better understanding the theory of disease assessment, as it applies to improving and fully realizing the potential of image analysis and hyperspectral imagery.     

Diagrammatic scale for severity evaluation of the Eremanthus erythropappus–Puccinia velata pathosystem

Candeia (Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish), a native forest species from South America, has garnered commercial interest due to its production of essential oil that contains alpha-bisabolol. This compound is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, with approximately 80% of Brazilian production being exported. Since candeia rust (Puccinia velata) has only been reported in Brazil, little is known about its epidemiology and control. There is no methodology to quantify rust severity in candeia, justifying the elaboration and validation of a diagrammatic scale containing eight levels of disease severity based on leaf area coverage (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 16% and 32%). In a natural sampling of disease in the field, 95% of the leaves showed severity below 16%, with the remaining 5% showing severities between 16% and 32% of leaf area. Validation of the proposed diagrammatic scale was performed by assessing the results from 10 inexperienced evaluators, performing evaluations of three leaves with different severity levels. The evaluations were performed at 7-day intervals; in the first instance, severity values were assigned without the diagrammatic scale, and for the second attempt, the scale proposed in this study was used. The accuracy and precision of the severity estimates produced by each evaluator compared to the real severity was analysed by linear regression and by Lin's statistics. The reproducibility of the estimates was evaluated by analysing the coefficient of determination of linear regressions by pairs of evaluators. The scale provided adequate levels of accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility, indicating the proposed scale was a suitable method for quantifying the severity of candeia rust.     

Development and Validation of a Diagrammatic Scale to Assess the Severity of Black Rot of Crucifers in Kale

The aim of this study was to develop a diagrammatic scale to evaluate black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. compestris) severity on kale (Brassica oleraceae var. acephala) leaves. The diagrammatic scale was developed and validated with eight levels of severity, ranging from 0.19 to 48.8%. More than 95% of the leaves collected from the field showed severity levels ranging from 0.1 to 21%, and 5% of the leaves showed severities higher than 22%. The validation of the scale was performed by 10 inexperienced evaluators, and the data were analysed with two methods: linear regression and Lin's statistics. Without the scale, most evaluators overestimated disease severity, whereas the use of the scale resulted in increased precision, accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of the estimates according to both validation methods. In conclusion, the proposed diagrammatic scale proved to be useful for assessments of black rot severity in kale leaves. The scale may be of interest to researches performing studies on epidemiology or breeding for resistance.     

Effect of tissue wounding and time of soil inoculation on pepper root rot development

Five-week-old pepper plants with wounds created on stems and roots were transplanted to soils having inoculum of Phytophthora capsici incorporated for different lengths of time. Disease severity (39.99%) on root trimmed seedlings was not significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from the severity (36.24%) obtained on stem lacerated seedlings. The wound treatments did not result in significantly different rates of lesion extension per day; stem lacerated seedling had the fastest, 1.99 mm/day lesion extension rate, followed by 1.90 and 1.89 mm/day extension rates obtained on root trimmed and unwounded treatments, respectively. However, time of soil inoculation had significant effect on severity; root trimmed and stem lacerated treatments had 46.3% and 39.8% severities, respectively. Tissue wounding × time of soil inoculation interaction did not have significant effect on disease severity; stem lacerated seedlings transplanted to 1-day and 3-day inoculated soils gave highest severity (49.9%), followed by seedlings inoculated at the time of transplantation. Root trimmed seedlings inoculated at the time of transplantation had highest severity (61.1%), while the lowest severity was obtained on seedlings transplanted to 5-day inoculated soil.     

Relationship Between Ralstonia solanacearum Diversity and Severity of Bacterial Wilt Disease in Tomato Fields in China

A field survey was conducted to determine the relationship between Ralstonia solanacearum diversity and severity of bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants grown in plastic greenhouses. Both vegetative and reproductive stages of the plants were surveyed, and the symptoms were empirically categorized into five scales: 0 (asymptomatic): 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The bacterial wilt pathogen was isolated from infected plants at each disease scale; pathogenic characteristics and population densities of the bacterial strains were assessed. Two hundred and eighty‐two isolates were identified as R. solanacearum, which were divided into three pathogenic types, virulent, avirulent and interim, using the attenuation index (AI) method and a plant inoculation bioassay. Ralstonia solanacearum was detected in all asymptomatic and symptomatic tomato plants, with population numbers, ranging from 10.5 to 86.7 × 105 cfu/g. However, asymptomatic plants harboured only avirulent or interim R. solanacearum, whereas tomato plants displaying 1st or 2nd disease degree contained interim and virulent strains. Additionally, 3rd and 4th degree plants harboured only virulent strains. The disease was more severe in vegetative‐stage plants (disease severity index (DSI) 0.20) with higher total numbers of interim and virulent R. solanacearum strains than those in reproductive‐stage plants (DSI 0.12). Three pathotypes of R. solanacearum coexisted in a competitive growth system in the tomato field, and their distribution closely correlated with the severity of tomato bacterial wilt.     

Transformation of cover‐abundance values for appropriate numerical treatment ‐ Alternatives to the proposals by Podani

Abstract. Two alternatives are offered to Podani's proposals, based on the claim that Braun‐Blanquet cover‐abundance estimates cannot be properly analysed by conventional mul‐tivariate methods. 1. The ordinal transform scale, based on an extended Braun‐Blanquet cover‐abundance scale, comes close to a metric cover percentage scale after (1) the abundance values r (very few individuals), + (few ind.), 1 (abundant) and 2m (very abundant, cover < 5%) are replaced by cover percentage estimates and (2) the higher Braun‐Blanquet values, notably 4 and 5, with cover intervals 50‐75% and 75‐100%, respectively, are interpreted as estimates of considerably higher cover values than the usual visual projection on the ground (because of the position of stems and leaves in several layers). I propose the equation ln C= (OTV ?2) /a, where C= Cover%, OTV is the 1 to 9 Ordinal Transfer Value and a is a factor weighting the cover values. With this equation cover values in a geometric series are achieved for the nine values in the extended Braun‐Blanquet scale from 0.5 % (OTV 1) to 140% (OTV 9) for a= 1.415, and for a= 1.380 from 0.6 % to 160%. 2. This makes use of an earlier developed ‘optimum‐transformation’ of cover‐abundance values. For each species a frequency distribution of cover‐abundance values is determined for a large data set, i.e. of dune slack vegetation. Tiny species have low values (OTVs 1–3) with high frequencies and hardly occur with higher OTV values; here all scores are considered ‘optimal’. In dominant species OTVs 7 to 9 have the highest frequencies and only these values are considered optimal. Species with intermediate OTV ranges have optimum ranges with low‐bound OTV = 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. No species were found in the dune slack data set with a frequency distribution justifying an optimum range with low‐bound OTV = 6. For mathematically correct numerical treatments’ optimum scores’ can be converted to 1 and sub‐optimal scores to 0 in order to approach a presence/absence situation. Both alternatives are suggested to be acceptable approximations to a metric basis for numerical analyses.     

Stability analyses for estimating relative durability of quantitative resistance

Summary Experiments in which a series of host cultivars are inoculated in all combinations with a series of pathogen isolates have been used to detect specificity in the host resistance. A theoretical model of polygenic resistance involving both general and specific interactions with pathogen virulence was developed to test the abilities of statistical analyses to discriminate between host genotypes with different levels of general and specific resistance. Estimates of levels of specific resistance could be obtained in regressions of disease severity scores for each host cultivar X pathogen isolate combination vs. the virulence index of each isolate. If the virulence index was based on the mean disease severity induced by the isolate over all host cultivars, the slopes of the regression lines were correlated with the levels of specific resistance in host cultivars. If the virulence index was based on the disease severity induced by the isolate on a host cultivar with a minimum of specific resistance, the mean squares for deviations from the regression were correlated with the levels of specific resistance in host cultivars. A method was developed to consistently choose host cultivars with minimum specific resistance. The two regression analyses gave estimates of specificity in randomly generated, model genotypes of approximately equal accuracy, although the second method appeared to be more accurate when the numbers of loci controlling resistance and virulence were small. The best estimates of numbers of genes for specific resistance were obtained by calculating a rating based on mean disease severity, the mean square for deviation from the regression on the virulence index based on disease severity on the cultivar with minimum specific resistance and the slope of the regression on the virulence index based on the mean disease severity. The best estimates of proportions of resistance genes that were specific were obtained by calculating a rating based on the above deviation mean square and slope alone.Cooperative investigation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service. Journal Series Paper No. 8326 of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service     

A method to optimize precision and scale in grassland monitoring

Abstract. Methods for monitoring and survey of plant species abundance which do not account for variation in scale are often insensitive and imprecise. In monitoring, repeated observations are usually made within a fixed unit. Counts of species' presence must be made in a range of subunit sizes to accommodate the range of scales at which different species occur. A method comprising a rectangular fixed unit containing an 8 × 4 grid of square subunits has been developed and tested. Each subunit comprises a series of nested cells of increasing size, within which species are recorded cumulatively. Using this method, the concept of optimum scale is introduced. The optimum scale for a species is that for which its frequency count is closest to the midpoint. Two characteristics, sensitivity (absolute change detected) and blindness (failure to detect change in a species) were calculated for 24 plots from lowland grazing marsh which had been partially flooded between the time of two surveys. Optimum scale had greater sensitivity and lower blindness than any single scale in the majority of plots. Combining sensitivity and blindness, optimum scale was always superior. For the whole sample, optimum scale was less likely to cause Type I or Type II errors. The method is recommended for monitoring grasslands and allied plant communities in large geographical areas.     

Genetic mapping of maize streak virus resistance from the Mascarene source. I. Resistance in line D211 and stability against different virus clones

Maize streak virus (MSV) disease may cause significant grain yield reductions in maize in Africa. Réunion island maize germplasm is a proven source of strong resistance. Its genetic control was investigated using 123 RFLP markers in an F₂ population of D211 (resistant) × B73 (susceptible). This population of 165 F_2:3 families was carefully evaluated in Harare (Zimbabwe) and in Réunion. Artificial infestation was done with viruliferous leafhoppers. Each plant was rated weekly six times after infestation on a 1–9 scale previously adjusted by image analysis. QTL analyses were conducted for each scoring date, and for the areas under the disease, incidence and severity progress curves. The composite interval mapping method used allowed the estimation of the additive and dominance effects and QTL × environment interactions. Heritabilities ranged from 73% to 98%, increasing with time after infestation. Resistance to streak virus in D211 was provided by one region on chromosome 1, with a major effect, and four other regions on chromosomes 2, 3 (two regions) and 10, with moderate or minor effects. Overall, they explained 48–62% of the phenotypic variation for the different variables. On chromosome 3, one of the two regions seemed to be more involved in early resistance, whereas the second was detected at the latest scoring date. Other QTLs were found to be stable over time and across environments. Mild QTL × environment interactions were detected. Global gene action appeared to be partially dominant, in favor of resistance, except at the earliest scoring dates, where it was additive. From this population, 32 families were chosen, representing the whole range of susceptibility to MSV. They were tested in Réunion against three MSV clones, along with a co-inoculation of two of them. Virulence differences between clones were significant. There were genotype × clone interactions, and these were more marked for disease incidence than for severity. Although these interactions were not significant for the mean disease scores, it is suggested that breeders should select for completely resistant genotypes. Received: 15 June 1998 / Accepted: 30 January 1999     

Fire legacies in eastern ponderosa pine forests

Disturbance legacies structure communities and ecological memory, but due to increasing changes in disturbance regimes, it is becoming more difficult to characterize disturbance legacies or determine how long they persist. We sought to quantify the characteristics and persistence of material legacies (e.g., biotic residuals of disturbance) that arise from variation in fire severity in an eastern ponderosa pine forest in North America. We compared forest stand structure and understory woody plant and bird community composition and species richness across unburned, low‐, moderate‐, and high‐severity burn patches in a 27‐year‐old mixed‐severity wildfire that had received minimal post‐fire management. We identified distinct tree densities (high: 14.3 ± 7.4 trees per ha, moderate: 22.3 ± 12.6, low: 135.3 ± 57.1, unburned: 907.9 ± 246.2) and coarse woody debris cover (high: 8.5 ± 1.6% cover per 30 m transect, moderate: 4.3 ± 0.7, low: 2.3 ± 0.6, unburned: 1.0 ± 0.4) among burn severities. Understory woody plant communities differed between high‐severity patches, moderate‐ and low‐severity patches, and unburned patches (all p < 0.05). Bird communities differed between high‐ and moderate‐severity patches, low‐severity patches, and unburned patches (all p < 0.05). Bird species richness varied across burn severities: low‐severity patches had the highest (5.29 ± 1.44) and high‐severity patches had the lowest (2.87 ± 0.72). Understory woody plant richness was highest in unburned (5.93 ± 1.10) and high‐severity (5.07 ± 1.17) patches, and it was lower in moderate‐ (3.43 ± 1.17) and low‐severity (3.43 ± 1.06) patches. We show material fire legacies persisted decades after the mixed‐severity wildfire in eastern ponderosa forest, fostering distinct structures, communities, and species in burned versus unburned patches and across fire severities. At a patch scale, eastern and western ponderosa system responses to mixed‐severity fires were consistent.     

Genetic mapping of maize streak virus resistance from the Mascarene source. II. Resistance in line CIRAD390 and stability across germplasm

The streak disease has a major effect on maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Various genetic factors for resistance to the virus have been identified and mapped in several populations; these factors derive from different sources of resistance. We have focused on the Réunion island source and have recently identified several factors in the D211 line. A second very resistant line, CIRAD390, was crossed to the same susceptible parent, B73. The linkage map comprised 124 RFLP markers, of which 79 were common with the D211×B73 map. A row-column design was used to evaluate the resistance to maize streak virus (MSV) of 191 F_2:3 families under artificial infestation at two locations: Harare (Zimbabwe) and in Réunion island. Weekly ratings of resistance were taken and disease incidence and severity calculated. QTL analyses were conducted for each scoring date and for the integration over time of the disease scores, of incidence, and of severity. Heritability estimates (71–98%) were as high as for the D211×B73 population. Eight QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5 (two QTLs), 6, 8, and 10. The chr1-QTL explained the highest proportion of phenotypic variation, about 45%. The QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, and 10 were located in the same chromosomal bin as QTLs for MSV resistance in the D211×B73 population. In a simultaneous fit, QTLs explained together 43–67% of the phenotypic variation. The QTLs on chromosomes 3, 5, and 6 appeared to be specific for one or the other component of the resistance. For the chr3-QTL, resistance was contributed by the susceptible parent. There were significant QTL × environment interactions for some of the variables studied, but QTLs were stable in the two environments. They also appeared to be stable over time. Global gene action ranged from partial dominance to overdominance, except for disease severity. Some additional putative QTLs were also detected. The major QTL on chromosome 1 seemed to be common to the other sources of resistance, namely Tzi4, a tolerant line from IITA, and CML202 from CIMMYT. However, the distribution of the other QTLs within the genome revealed differences in Réunion germplasm and across these other resistance sources. This diversity is of great importance when considering the durability of the resistance. Received: 15 June 1998 / Accepted: 30 January 1999     

Estimation of disease severity in the NHS cervical screening programme. Part II: quantitative methods of estimating disease severity and progression potential

R. G. Blanks Estimation of disease severity in the NHS cervical screening programme. Part II: quantitative methods of estimating disease severity and progression potential Objective: This is the second of a two‐part paper exploring the use of a more quantitative approach to both cytology and histology disease severity measurements. In Part I the problem of artificial cut‐off points was discussed and a semi‐quantitative solution to the problem proposed. In Part II quantitative methods are proposed that are used to predict the estimated progression probability (EPP) to invasive cancer. Methods: Based on models derived from published data the grade number (GN) is related to the EPP to invasive cancer over the next 10 years for both cytology (CEPP) and histology (HEPP) using a look‐up table. CEPP and HEPP are then adjusted by other factors such as age, persistence, HPV result, number of cells and lesion size to obtain the adjusted CEPP and HEPP (ACEPP and (AHEPP). The two factors can be combined to produce an adjusted weighted estimated progression potential using the formula AWEPP ((ACEPP + AHEPP)/2) × AHEPP) using a two to one bias in favour of the histology. Results: As an example of the methodology consider a slide estimated as showing a 60% probability of moderate dyskaryosis (HSIL favouring CIN2) and 40% probability of mild dyskaryosis (LSIL favouring CIN1). The GN number would be 1.6 (as described in Part I) and the EPP over the next 10 years 0.78%. For a woman aged 52 years (correction factor ×2.0) with a second mildly dyskaryotic smear (correction factor ×1.25) and >50 dyskaryotic cells (correction factor 1.5) the ACEPP would be 0.78 × 2.00 × 1.25 × 1.5 = 2.9%. If the HEPP on histology was 50:50 between CIN1 and CIN2, the AHEPP can be calculated as 1.4%. The AWEPP would be ((2.9 + 1.4)/2 × 1.4) = 1.7%. The final estimate of disease progression potential based on both cytology and histology is 1.7% over 10 years. Conclusions: These quantitative approaches based on adjusted and weighted EPP provide a framework suitable for research, audit and comparison between screening centres, and for tailoring criteria for colposcopy referral and treatment. Further research is required to improve the estimates given in the paper.     

Seedling and adult stage resistance to net form of net blotch (NFNB) in spring barley and stability of adult stage resistance to NFNB in Morocco

This study was conducted to identify stable resistance to net form of net blotch (NFNB) in spring barley in Moroccan environments. Seedling resistance to NFNB was evaluated by inoculating 336 barley genotypes with two NFNB isolates LDNH04Ptt-19 and TD-10 in the greenhouse. These genotypes were evaluated for adult plant resistance to NFNB under seven environments in Morocco in 2015 and 2016. The disease severity was estimated at GS 77–87 on barley leaves using a double-digit scale. To investigate stability of resistance, 149 barley genotypes were subjected to AMMI analysis. At the seedling stage, differential responses of barley genotypes to different NFNB isolates were identified, whereas genotypes had variable stability to NFNB resistance at the adult stages. Five genotypes, AM-68, AM-95, AM-250, AM-267 and AM-322, were resistant to both NFNB isolates at the seedling stage. There were significant (p < .001) effects of genotype (G) and G × E interaction on NFNB severity for barley genotypes at the adult stage. The principal components, IPCA1 and IPCA2, accounted for 48.4% and 18.7% variation for NFNB severity, respectively. The AMMI stability values (ASVs) ranged from 0.01 to 15.5, and fifty-nine barley genotypes had stable responses (ASV ≤ 0.05) across all seven environments. Specifically, two stable genotypes, AM-187 and AM-244, had lower mean NFNB severities across all environments, suggesting a quantitative resistance in these genotypes. Divergent environmental responses of NFNB severity were measured in Sidi El Ayedi 2015 and Sidi Allal Tazi 2016, suggesting that these environments may be suitable to capture resistance to diverse pathotypes. These stable genotypes are valuable resources for introgression of both qualitative resistance and quantitative resistance to NFNB in future.     

Home and away: biogeographical comparison of species diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus vulgaris</Emphasis> communities

We examined the effects of Thymus vulgaris (common thyme) on associated vegetation in both its native and introduced range. We compared local (within-community) and landscape (among-community) species richness and community composition between thyme-dominated communities in France (native range) and New Zealand (introduced range). From 7 native sites (France) and 10 introduced sites (New Zealand), all plant species present in 20 (New Zealand, 25 in France) randomly placed 100 cm × 50 cm quadrats were recorded. Local species richness was determined by calculating mean species richness/quadrat inside and outside thyme-dominated plant communities and tested for significance with the factors of range and across sites. Landscape scale differences were determined by comparing total species richness inside and outside thyme communities across all sites from both ranges. Species differences between native and introduced thyme communities were analysed using similarity percentages. We found native range microenvironments with thyme harbour more species than microenvironments without thyme and this pattern was reversed in the introduced range with thyme decreasing local species richness. A higher percentage of shared species occurred both with and without thyme in the native range compared to the introduced range. In both ranges and across all sites (except for one) species composition of thyme-associated plant communities differed from communities without thyme. Native plant communities with thyme were more similar in species composition than plant communities without thyme, but in the introduced range species composition was most similar in plant communities without thyme. These results suggest thyme’s ecosystem engineering consequences are context-dependent. Thyme may filter out competitive species that could negatively impact local species richness in its native range, but when introduced to a disturbed landscape in a novel biogeographic region, thyme reduces local species richness.     

小麦与蚕豆间作系统氮肥调控对小麦白粉病发生及氮素累积分配的影响

通过田间小区试验,设N₀(0 kg·hm^-2)、N₁(112.5 kg·hm^-2)、N₂( 225 kg·hm^-2)、N₃( 337.5 kg·hm^-2) 4个施氮水平,研究不同施氮水平下小麦与蚕豆间作对小麦白粉病发生、植株氮含量和氮素累积分配的影响,探讨间作系统氮肥调控下小麦植株氮素含量、氮素累积分配与白粉病发生的关系.结果表明: 无论单作还是间作,施氮(N₁、N₂和N₃)均增加了小麦籽粒产量,以N₂水平下产量最高,单、间作分别为4146和4679 kg·hm^-2;施氮加重了小麦白粉病的发生与危害,N₁、N₂和N₃水平下病害进展曲线下的面积(AUDPC)分别平均增加39.6%～55.6%(基于发病率DI)和92.5%～217.0%(基于病情指数DSI),病情指数受氮素调控的影响较发病率大;施氮显著提高小麦植株氮含量(8.4%～51.6%)和氮素累积量(19.7%～133.7%),对氮素分配比例无显著影响.与单作相比,间作小麦产量平均增加12.0%;AUDPC(DI)和AUDPC(DSI)分别平均降低11.5%和30.7%,间作对病情指数的控制效果优于发病率.间作显著降低发病盛期小麦氮含量、阶段累积量和叶片中氮素分配比例(降幅6.6%～12.5%、1.4%～6.9%和9.0%～15.5%).在本研究条件下,兼顾控病效果和产量效应,小麦施氮量不应超过225 kg·hm^-2.     

Influence of N-fertilization and Fungicide Strategies on Fusarium Head Blight Severity and Mycotoxin Content in Winter Wheat

Nitrogen (N) fertilization and fungicide applications are still subject to discussion concerning the influence on Fusarium head blight (FHB) and related mycotoxin accumulation. Field studies were made in 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 to investigate the effect of two N‐rates and 11 plant protection treatments on FHB severity and the content of FHB‐related mycotoxins, namely deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) under conditions of natural infection. The treatments applied can be summarized as (i) an integrated approach using a decision support system, (ii) the use of two plant strengtheners, Bion^® (benzo [1,2,3]thiadiazole‐7‐carbothioic acid S‐methyl‐ester, BTH) and a compound based on the biomass of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, (iii) the use of plant strengtheners in combination with a broad‐spectrum fungicide and (iv) common fungicide strategies against foliar diseases. Fusarium infections as well as the analysed mycotoxins were observed at low levels in both years. Disease severity was significantly increased by conventional N‐fertilization only in 2001. Neither FHB severity nor mycotoxin accumulation was significantly influenced by any of the treatments, although treatments without fungicides appeared to lead to lower disease severities. In 2002, there was a tendency towards higher disease severities when common fungicide strategies were applied. Mycotoxin contamination was found in grain samples from both years. In 2001 DON was mainly traceable, whereas in 2002 ZEA was also detected. Mycotoxin contamination was influenced by N‐fertilization rather than by the treatments. In 2001, the DON content was significantly increased due to the conventional N‐supply. Our results indicate that less intensive fungicide strategies, including plant strengtheners, are no worse than common fungicide strategies under conditions of low FHB severity and mycotoxin accumulation. Immoderate N‐fertilization however, can increase mycotoxin levels significantly even under conditions unfavourable for Fusarium spp.     

Spatial and temporal dynamics of blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber var. azul) wilt in Jalisco Mexico

Tequila is a Mexican alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation and distillation of the blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber var. azul) stem. This crop is affected by a wilt associated mainly with Fusarium oxysporum. This disease can produce considerable yield losses. Little is known about the spatial and temporal behaviour of blue agave wilt. In this work, the spatial and temporal dynamics of the disease in commercial blue agave plantations in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, were analysed. Four fields of approximately 1 ha were selected in the municipalities of Arandas and Magdalena, in which disease assessments were carried out over a year of evaluation. Each plant was categorized based on a scale with four severity classes (healthy plant, severity class 1, severity class 2 and severity class 3). Maps of disease distribution were made. The spatial pattern was analysed by means of four indicators of spatial variation for binomial data; the spatial and temporal variation was analysed by means of transition matrices. An aggregate spatial pattern was observed in all fields. The transitions in severity classes were not completely unidirectional; some plants showed symptom remission between the date of first and second disease assessment, while others remained at their original severity. Severity class 1 occurred most frequently in Arandas fields (from 12.9% to 40.3%). There was a notable increase in wilt severity to class 2 in the Magdalena fields (from 4% to 50.6%). The rates of disease development towards severity class 3 are low and do not suppose a significant loss for the crop; nevertheless, the rates of disease development towards the wilt severity class 2 do put in risk the health of the crop and the availability of the raw material for the making of tequila.