Epidemiology of Cladosporium allii and Cladosporium allii-cepae, leaf blotch pathogens of leek and onion.

Conidia of Cladosporium allii and C. allii-cepae germinated over the temperature range 2–30°C on agar with optimal responses at 15–20°C (C. allii) and 20°C (C. allii-cepae). Conidia of both fungi germinated in water and at c. 100% relative humidity (r.h.) but not at lower humidities on leaf and glass slide surfaces. Germination was more rapid when spores were applied dry to agar or leaves than when applied in water or nutrient solution. More lesions developed when conidia of C. allii-cepae were deposited dry on onion leaf discs or leaf surfaces than when they were applied suspended in water. Conidia of both fungi required 18–20 h at c. 100% r.h. to germinate and infect when applied dry to leaves. Damaging the leaves or the addition of nutrients to the leaf surface increased the incidence of infection by C. allii-cepae compared to controls. Inoculated onion bait plants placed out-of-doors developed infection after at least 17 h at c. 100% r.h. or with leaf wetness. Similar conditions were necessary for infection of bait plants exposed in onion and leek crops infected by C. allii-cepae and C. allii respectively. Disease development and spread of infection occurred at different rates over the same period in two different cultivars of leeks, with spore concentrations increasing in proportion to disease. Spore numbers in the air fell considerably when infected leeks were ploughed under.     

Powdery mildew of tobacco (Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.): Susceptibility of proximal and distal parts of leaves from different stalk positions on intact and topped field plants in relation to free amino nitrogen and carbohydrate content*

The area covered by visible mycelium of E. cichoracearum on the upper surface of leaves 4, 8, 12 and 16 of tobacco plants in field plots in Rhodesia was expressed as percentages of the proximal and distal halves at weekly intervals. Free amino nitrogen and carbohydrate in discs from proximal and distal halves of the same leaves were analysed when each leaf was expanding rapidly and was not infected, and several weeks later, when the rate of expansion had slowed down and there was slight infection. On two other occasions, similar leaf discs were inoculated with conidia, to measure the percentage germination and hyphal length from individual conidia after incubation for 2–3 days at constant temperature and humidity; duplicate discs were chemically analysed. Leaves were not susceptible until at least 6 weeks after they had emerged from the bud. Soluble carbohydrate increased and free amino nitrogen decreased during the change from resistance to susceptibility. Proximal parts of leaves were usually infected first; they initially contained less amino nitrogen and soluble carbohydrate than distal parts. All parts of the leaf seemed to be equally susceptible later, when there were no differences in their amino nitrogen or soluble carbohydrate. Upper leaves of intact plants had more natural infection than those from corresponding leaves from topped plants. More conidia germinated on discs from them and produced longer hyphae. The discs from intact plants contained less free amino nitrogen and more soluble carbohydrate than those from topped plants. The accuracy of visual assessments of susceptibility was, generally, confirmed by measurements of percentage germination and length of hyphae from individual conidia on leaf discs. Regressions of hyphal length on leaf composition showed that susceptibility was apparently related inversely to free amino nitrogen and water content and directly to insoluble carbohydrate per unit dry matter.     

Replication of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) DNA in agroinoculated leaf discs from selected tomato genotypes

The leaf disc agroinoculation system was applied to study tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) replication in explants from susceptible and resistant tomato genotypes. This system was also evaluated as a potential selection tool in breeding programmes for TYLCV resistance. Leaf discs were incubated with a head-to-tail dimer of the TYLCV genome cloned into the Ti plasmid ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens. In leaf discs from susceptible cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum) TYLCV single-stranded genomic DNA and its double-stranded DNA forms appeared within 2–5 days after inoculation. Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) efficiently transmitted the TYLCV disease to tomato test plants following acquisition feeding on agroinoculated tomato leaf discs. This indicates that infective viral particles have been produced and have reached the phloem cells of the explant where they can be acquired by the insects. Plants regenerated from agroinfected leaf discs of sensitive tomato cultivars exhibited disease symptoms and contained TYLCV DNA concentrations similar to those present in field-infected tomato plants, indicating that TYLCV can move out from the leaf disc into the regenerating plant. Leaf discs from accessions of the wild tomato species immune to whitefly-mediated inoculation,L. chilense LA1969 andL. hirsutum LA1777, did not support TYLCV DNA replication. Leaf discs from plants tolerant to TYLCV issued from breeding programmes behaved like leaf discs from susceptible cultivars.The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field and Vegetable Crops     

A Comparison of the Disease Reactions of Stems and Detached Leaves of Soil and in vitro Grown Plants and Regenerants of Oilseed Rape to Leptosphaeria maculans and Protocols for Selection for Novel Disease Resistance

Protocols for selecting plant tissues of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus subsp. oleifera) with resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans by either stem or leaf inoculation of both soil and in vitro grown plant material are described. The stem inoculation procedure gave good correlation (r = 0. 92) between the 50 day stem disease scores of eight out of nine cultivars of soil grown winter oilseed rape inoculated with isolate 41A4 of L. maculans and the N. A. B. esistance ratings or resistance data from field trials. The exception was the cultivar Liradonna. Inoculation of stems of five cultivars with isolates 41A4, 433 and 478 indicated a range of isolate virulence 478 > 41A4 > 433. This was the inverse of that observed in leaf inoculations. Application of the stem inoculation procedure to in vitro shoot cultures allowed differentiation of resistant and susceptible cultivars, including the cultivar Liradonna, after 20 days incubation at 20°C. The protocol was also applicable to plantlets regenerated from thin cell layer explants grown in vitro. Inoculations with isolate 433 allowed the differentiation of resistant, intermediately resistant and susceptible leaf material of soil grown plants, when leaf discs from young leaves were incubated on water agar supplemented with BAP (1 × 10^?5 M) at 25°C for 10 days. Intermediately resistant leaves were resistant after 10 days and susceptible after 15 days of incubation. Leaves of shoot cultures grown in vitro were more susceptible than the corresponding soil grown material. However, inoculation of old leaves with isolate 41A4 (an isolate of less virulence on leaves than 433) distinguished the cultivars after 15 days of incubation. These protocols allow the accurate assessment of resistance to L. maculans at the stem or leaf level and are of use in traditional as well as in vitro selection programmes.     

Host and environmental effects on the infection of maize by Puccinia sorghi. I. Prepenetration development and peneration

Germination of urediniospores of Puccinia sorghi on leafves and on ager was sminilar over the range 5–25°C, being greatest at 15°C, At this temperature, maximum germination was attained withing 5 h. Germination on cover slips started at around 99% r. h. and increased with of humidity. Urediniospore germination was not affected by leaf age. In generalk, proportionally more spores germinated on the abaxial than on the adaxial surface. Maximum germination was observed on the abxial surface of the tip portion of the leaf. The optimum temperature for infection structure formation was about 15°C, A munimum period of 3–4 h was required for the initiation of infection. Increase in appressorium and sub-stomatal vesicle formation with increase in dew perio ws observed, with the maxima being attained at about 24 h after inculation.     

Influence of Temperature, Wetness Duration, and Leaf Type on the Quantification of Monocyclic Parameters of Bean Rust

Monocyclic parameters of bean rust (Uromyces phaseoli var. typical) were quantified in growth chambers, on rwo bean cultivars for three temperatures (17, 21, and 25 °C), two types of leaves (unifoliolate and trifoiiolate leaves), and nine leaf wetness periods (0, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25 hrs). The expression of disease was greatly influenced by past-inoculation temperatures. The incubation and latent periods were shortest at 21 °C for both cultivars and leaf types. For both cultivars, trifoiiolate leaves were more susceptible than unifoliolate leaves. A wetness period of at least four hours was required for disease to occur. The maximum disease efficiency for both cultivars occurred with 22 hrs of leaf wetness at 17 °C. The disease efficiencies for temperatures of 17–29 °C and leaf wetness periods of 0–25 hrs were adequately described by a response-surface model. Because of the great influence of temperature and leaf wetness on infection, bean rust is unlikely to occur at high temperatures (> 25°C) and short leaf wetness periods (< 7 hrs).     

The biology of Peronospora viciae on pea: laboratory experiments on the effects of temperature, relative humidity and light on the production, germination and infectivity of sporangia

Germination of Peronospora viciae sporangia washed off infected leaves varied from 20% to 60%. Sporangia shaken off in the dry state gave 11–19% germination. Most sporangia lost viability within 3 days after being shed, though a few survived at least 5 days. Infected leaves could produce sporangia up to 6 weeks after infection, and sporulating lesions carried viable sporangia for 3 weeks. Sporangia germinated over the range 1–24 °C, with an optimum between 4 and 8 °C. Light and no effct. The temperature limits for infection were the same as for germination, but with an optimum between 12 and 20 °C. A minimum leaf-wetness period of 4h was required, and was independent of temperature over the range 4–24 °C. Maximum infectivity occurred after 6h leaf wetness at temperatures between 8 and 20 °C. Infection occurred equally in continuous light or in darkness. After an incubation period of 6–10 days sporangia were produced on infected leaves at temperatures between 4 and 24 °C, with an optimum of 12–20 °C. Exposure to temperatures of 20–24 °C for 10 days reduced subsequent sporulation. Sporangia produced at suboptimal temperatures were larger, and at 20 °C. smaller, than those produce at 12–16 °C. Viability was also reduced. No sporangia were produced in continuous light, or at relative humidities below 91%. For maximum sporulaiton an r.h. of 100% was required, following a lower r.h. during incubation. Oospores wre commonly formed in sporulating lesions, and also where conditons limited or prevented sporulation. The results are discussed briefly in relaiton to disease development under field conditions.     

Increased damage by western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis in chrysanthemum intercropped with subterranean clover

Suppressive effects of intercropping on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) infestations have been reported in several crops. However, this study demonstrates that in year-round chrysanthemum, Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev, undersowing with subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum L., results in an increased thrips feeding damage. In a pot experiment, performed with chrysanthemum plants (cultivars Reagan and Tiger) grown with or without subterranean clover, significantly more leaves with silver and growth damage were found in the chrysanthemum plants with subterranean clover in comparison with the monocropped chrysanthemum plants. Similarly, the degree of deformation of leaf perimeter and leaf surface was higher in the top leaves of the intercropped chrysanthemum plant. In the soil experiment (only performed with Tiger and plants were grown in the soil in the greenhouse) intercropped chrysanthemum plants suffered a higher feeding damage as well. Analysis of the relation between silver or growth damage and the thrips pressure demonstrates that at similar thrips pressure in the intercropped chrysanthemum plants suffered significantly more damage. The higher thrips pressure in the intercropped chrysanthemum only explains the differences in damage partly. Changes in the reaction of chrysanthemum plants to thrips feeding or in the behaviour of the thrips, mediated by the presence of the non-host crop, are discussed. Our explanation is that chrysanthemum plants grown with clover are more susceptible to thrips feeding than monocropped plants. We conclude that undersowing with clover does not contribute to reduce damage by F. occidentalis in year-round chrysanthemum. Also, the influence of crop diversification on a pest cannot be foreseen until the specific characteristics of each individual crop – pest system are studied.     

Resistance of roses to pathotypes of Diplocarpon rosae

Colonies of Diplocarpon rosae derived from single conidia were isolated on malt extract agar, multiplied (at 23°C) and stored (at ?20°C) on surface‐sterilised leaf discs of a universally susceptible rose, ‘Frensham’. The resistance of 16 species and cultivars of Rosa to different isolates of D. rosae was assessed using surface‐sterilised leaf discs. Four pathotypes of D. rosae were distinguished on the basis of host range. One species and one hybrid were resistant to all pathotypes. Two species and two cultivars were susceptible to all pathotypes. Four species and six cultivars were interpreted as having vertical resistance because they were strongly resistant to some but not all pathotypes. Only species and hybrids of the section Cinnamomeae were resistant to the pathotype identified as CW1 whereas only roses of other origins were resistant to the pathotype DA2.     

A comparison of inoculation techniques for assessment of germplasm susceptibility to Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) disease of wheat

Three inoculation techniques for Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) disease of wheat were compared: 1) boot inoculation - injection of inoculum with a hypodermic syringe into the boot; 2) spray inoculation - inoculum sprayed at growth stages between heading and anthesis, and 3) cotton wool inoculation - small pieces of cotton wool saturated in inoculum placed either inside the floret or between the spikelet and rachis. Each inoculation technique was assessed using susceptible cultivars to determine the optimum inoculum concentration, the ideal plant growth stage and the humidity requirements for successful infection.
Boot inoculation did not require high humidity and gave reliable infection with low secondary sporidia concentrations (1000–10 000/ml). The ideal plant growth stages for inoculation were early-boot and mid-boot. Spray inoculation required high secondary sporidia concentrations (50 000/ml) and 48 h of high humidity, but infection was initiated over a range of growth stages throughout heading and anthesis. Cotton wool inoculation gave low levels of infection at growth stages throughout heading and anthesis, even with high secondary sporidia concentrations (100 000/ml).     

Effects of environmental factors on growth of lesions on field bean leaves infected by Botrytis fabae

Chocolate spot lesions increased in size only slowly when the relative humidity of the air was below 66%. Following a lag phase immediately after infection the rate of increase was linear and proportional to humidity between c. 70% and 100% r.h. Lesions on leaflets kept at 70% r.h. for 8 h and at 100% r.h. for 16 h/day increased in size at only 27% of the rate of those at continuous 100% r.h. The optimum temperature for lesion growth was between 15 and 22 °C, the minimum <4 °C and the maximum c. 30 °C. Humidity did not interact with temperature between 10 and 20 °C. Neither light intensity nor a film of water over the leaves affected lesion growth. These findings are discussed in relation to meteorological data and field observations. The possible mechanisms whereby humidity affects lesion growth did not appear to be related to CO₂ and O₂ concentrations nor to the overall water potential of the leaf. Preliminary evidence is presented for the production of phytotoxins within lesions.     

Laboratory experiments on sugar-beet downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa)

The optimum conditions for Peronospora farinosa betae to produce spores were temperature 8–10 °C and relative humidity 90 % or more, but many spores were produced between 5 and 20 °C and between 80 and 90 % R.H. Most spores were formed in darkness after leaves were exposed to light for 6–8 h. Spores survived exposure to 60 % R.H. for up to 5 days, but were soon killed by temperatures above 20 °C. The germination capacity of spores collected from the field was often very small, but this could not be related to the weather. Most seedlings were infected when inoculated at the growing point and incubated in a saturated atmosphere between 3 and 15 °C for at least 8 h.     

Time course of photosynthetic temperature acclimation in Carex eleocharis Bailey

Abstract Photosynthetic temperature acclimation in Carex eleocharis has been demonstrated in a previous study in which warm grown (35/15°C) plants were shown to have photosynthetic temperature optima approximately 14°C higher than cool grown (20/15°C) plants (Monson, Littlejohn & Williams, 1983). The current study examined the time course of this acclimation by determining photo-synthetic temperature optima as a function of time, of cool grown plants moved to warm growing conditions. Leaves which had developed under cool conditions were capable of an upward adjustment of 6–8°C of their optimum photosynthetic temperature within a time span of 6–14 d. For greatest photosynthetic temperature acclimation it was necessary for leaves to form and develop entirely under warm conditions. These leaves exhibited a 14–15°C upward adjustment of their optimum temperature for photosynthesis within 20–31 d since moving plants from cool to warm growing conditions. Thus, the time course of this acclimation is of short enough duration to be significant during the growing season and presumably contributes toward the ability of this species to maintain active growth during the cool and warm portions of the growing season. It is also noted that the plant with its capacity to form new leaves, has a much wider acclimation capacity than any single leaf.     

Influence of Temperature and Light Conditions on Germination,Growth and Conidiation of Oidium neolycopersici

The effect of temperature and light conditions (spectral quality, intensity and photoperiod) on germination, development and conidiation of tomato powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici) on the highly susceptible tomato cv. Amateur were studied. Conidia germinated across the whole range of tested temperatures (10–35°C); however, at the end‐point temperatures, germination was strongly limited. At temperatures slightly lower than optimum (20–25°C), mycelial development and time of appearance of the first conidiophores was delayed. Conidiation occurred within the range of 15–25°C, however was most intense between 20–25°C. Pathogen development was also markedly influenced by the light conditions. Conidiation and mycelium development was greatest at light intensities of approximately 60 μmol/m² per second. At lower intensities, pathogen development was delayed, and in the dark, conidiation was completely inhibited. A dark period of 24 h after inoculation had no stimulatory effect on later mycelium development. However, 12 h of light after inoculation, followed by continuous dark, resulted in delayed mycelium development and total restriction of pathogen conidiation (evaluated 8 days postinoculation). When a longer dark period (4 days) was followed by normal photoperiod (12 h/12 h light/dark), mycelium development accelerated and the pathogen sporulated normally. When only inoculated leaf was covered with aluminium foil while whole plant was placed in photoperiod 12 h/12 h, the intensive mycelium development and slight subsequent sporulation on covered leaf was recorded.     

The significance of temperature during sporulation on the biology of pycnidiospores of Mycosphaerella ligiilicola

The germination, infectivity and survival of pycnidiospores obtained from cultures of Mycosphaerella ligulicola grown at 15 and 26 °C were compared. Spores formed at 26° (‘26° spores’) were less able to germinate at low relative humidities and showed a narrower temperature range for maximum germination after 6 h. At high spore densities 26° spores showed self-inhibition of germination and, over a range of lower densities, growth of their germ tubes was checked, which resulted in lower infection of leaf discs compared with 15° spores in which this phenomenon did not occur. The fungus could be recovered from un-sterile compost over a longer period after inoculation with 15° spores. Only after storage at a temperature well below zero was there a difference in viability between 15° and 26° spores. It is thought that the potential advantage of producing larger numbers of spores at 26° would be realized only under optimum conditions for dispersal and infection. The smaller number of spores produced at 15° are likely to be successful under natural conditions.     

Host-Parasite Relationship in a Susceptible and a Resistant Rose Cultivar Inoculated with Sphaerotheca pannosa: I. Fungal Growth, Mechanical Barriers and Hypersensitive Reaction

Conidial germination and development of Sphaerotheca pannosa were studied on a susceptible and a resistant cultivar (rose Cardinal and rose Queen Elisabeth, respectively) in relation to the morphology of the leaf surface which was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Conidial germination was completed within 24 h in both cultivars and seemed to be higher in the resistant cultivar; fungal development, however, was stopped when the haustoria containing cells became necrotic. The only morphological difference between the leaves of the two cultivars is a thinner cuticle in rose Cardinal. Wax deposits on the leaf surface are similar; a layer of substances reacting to rhutenium red, most likely glycoproteins or protein-polysaccharide complexes, also are similar.     

The germination and the forces required to penetrate seed layers of different seedlots of three cultivars of crisp lettuce

Using 24 commercial seedlots of the lettuce cvs Ithaca, Pennlake and Saladin, the percentage germination at a range of temperatures from 20 to 35°C, and the forces required to penetrate the pericarp, the endosperm and the embryo were measured. Percentage germination declined with increasing temperature in all seedlots but there were particularly large differences between seedlots of the same cultivar at 30.0 and 32.5°C. The force required to penetrate the pericarp was on average more than twice that required to penetrate the endosperm. It is concluded that in commercial cultivars of crisp lettuce the strength of the pericarp plays a much greater role than that of the endosperm in determining germination. In all three cultivars there were significant positive correlations between seed weight and the force required to penetrate the whole seed. However only in cv. Pennlake were there significant correlations between germination at high temperature and seed penetration forces.     

Germination of Erysiphe gratninis f.sp. hordei conidia on barley leaves

Germination of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei conidia on leaves of several barley cultivars was studied in the laboratory. On both detached leaves and intact plants, within 48 h of inoculation a higher proportion of conidia had germinated on the basal and middle portions of the adaxial leaf surface than on the corresponding portions of the abaxial surface. Such differences between surfaces were not observed near the leaf tip. Similar results were obtained with all the cultivars and growth stages tested, and with five isolates of E. graminis, and are consistent with the observation that there is usually less powdery mildew on the abaxial than the adaxial surface of barley leaves. With most of the barley genotype/mildew isolate combinations tested, within 48 h of inoculation higher proportions of conidia germinated on seedlings and juvenile plants than on older plants. Inherited characteristics which affect spore germination on the leaf surface may be important factors in the development of adult-plant resistance of barley to powdery mildew, particularly in certain genotypes.     

Studies on the influence of leaf washings on infection by Mycosphaerella ligulicola

Infection of chrysanthemum leaf discs by spores of Mycosphaerella ligulicola was increased in the presence of concentrated leaf washings obtained from five plant species tested. On separation of leaf washings by dialysis the residue stimulated infection and caused aggregation of hyphae on leaf and cellophane surfaces. In the presence of the diffusible fraction an extensive branching network of hyphae developed but there was no increase in infection except in the presence of the chrysanthemum diffusate. Infection of leaf discs of certain plants normally resistant to M. ligulicola occurred in the presence of concentrated leaf washings. Leaf washings from a resistant variety of chrysanthemum had the same effects as those from a susceptible variety. An extract of chrysanthemum leaves was less effective in stimulating infection than was a leaf washing. Defined nutrient media and potato extract stimulated infection but caused the development of different growth habits on leaf surfaces. The active components of the dialysis residue of chrysanthemum leaf washings were heat-stable but apparently volatile. Eluates from strips of certain regions of paper chromatographs of leaf washings and potato extract caused increased infection together with development of characteristic growth habits of the fungus on the leaf.     

Effect of relative humidity,temperature and fungicide on germination of conidia of Cercospora canescens caused the Cercospora leaf spot disease in mungbean

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the impact of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on conidial germination, nuclear position and effect of important fungicides on growth and conidial germination of Cercospora canescens. Germination of conidia was observed at RH range 92–100% at 5–35°C. Significant interaction between temperature and RH indicated that higher humidity and high temperature promoted quick germination both in the presence and absence of free moisture. Although in absence of free moisture at 92–95% RH higher temperatures 25–35°C promoted quick evaporation of moisture and no conidial germination. Number of germtube was increased significantly at the optimum temperature 25–30°C and higher humidity (98–100%). But higher temperature 25–35°C with lower RH did not support the conidial germination. This finding is very important for disease forecasting using meteorological data. The spray of Carbendazim as contact fungicide may not be useful since it is not effective against the conidia of C. canescens. Triadimefon did not inhibit the conidia germination but completely inhibited mycelium development at 50 μg/ml. Propriconazole inhibited both conidia germination and mycelial development. Therefore, Propiconazole may be taken as protective as well as curative spray. In non-systemic fungicide, Copper oxychloride gave anticipated result by inhibiting both conidial germination and mycelium development. Therefore, copper oxychloride can be used as protectant fungicides for Cercospora leaf spot caused by C. canescens.