Vigour control, an integrated approach to cane, pest and disease management in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

The first flush of young canes of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) was removed at different dates in spring, using the contact herbicide dinoseb. In comparison with untreated plots, cane removal increased fruit yield, controlled excessive cane vigour, and improved the health status of vegetative canes in a plantation infested by raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi). At the end of the growing season vegetative canes on treated plots were shorter and thinner, and sustained less physical injury than those on untreated plots. Access to the fruit at harvest was also improved. Reduced competition between fruiting and vegetative canes increased yield in the year of treatment by an average of 35%. Yield was not affected by date of cane removal, but growth of replacement cane was reduced below optimum when first flush cane was removed after mid-May. The later the canes were removed, the less was the incidence of pest and diseases. Cankers and lobate vascular lesions (‘patches’) resulting, respectively, from the feeding of first and second generation midge larvae (with associated fungi) affected fewer canes in treated than in untreated plots. Significantly fewer live larvae of R. theobaldi were recovered in the following winter from soil in plots treated on or after 11 May than from untreated plots. The main effect of vigour control on R. theobaldi and midge blight was that replacement canes provided fewer egg-laying sites (natural splits) than did the first flush canes on untreated plots. The incidence of spreading vascular lesions (‘stripes’) attributed to Leptosphaeria coniothyrium infecting either physical wounds (cane blight) or midge feeding wounds (midge blight) was substantially less in treated than untreated plots. Cane botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) and spur blight (Didymella applanata) were also less common in treated plots. Interactions between vigour control and pest and disease incidence are discussed in relation to the efficient management of cv. Glen Clova in eastern Scotland.     

Resistance to raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi) and its association with wound periderm in Rubus crataegifolius and its red raspberry derivatives

Rubus parviflorus, R. odoratus and F₂ plants from the cross R. crataegifolius x R. idaeus were resistant to the raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi) when exposed to the pest in an insectary or in the field. Histological studies of R. crataegifolius and one of its hybrids with R. idaeus showed that resistance was associated with a wound periderm of suberised and lignified cells. These cells were formed from the primary cortex and phelloid cells of the polyderm as a rapid response to the occurrence of natural splits and wounds which are the oviposition sites of R. theobaldi. In the hybrid, new tissues from this wound periderm prevented the peeling of the mature primary cortex, thereby precluding serious midge attack, and resulted in a reticulate appearance on the cane surface, a distinctive cane feature useful for identifying resistant segregates.     

Interrelationship between the raspberry cane midge, Resseliella theobaldi (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its parasitoid, Aprostocetus epicharmus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

The raspberry cane midge Resseliella theobaldi (Barnes) is one of the most important pests of cultivated red raspberry Rubus idaeus L. throughout Europe. For the last 50 years several studies have been made on the biology, life cycle and control of the pest. Some data can also be found on its natural enemies, but among these species only the chalcidoid Tetrastichus inunctus Nees turned out to be important in controlling raspberry cane midge populations. However, this species name is now ambiguous as the type is lost. In the present study, Aprostocetus epicharmus Walker was the chalcidoid species that parasitized the larvae of the raspberry cane midge, and its biology seems to be very similar to that of T. inunctus. It is therefore probable that the eulophid species earlier referred to as T. inunctus in the literature is A. epicharmus. Besides discussing this problem, particular consideration and detailed data are given on the biology and life cycle of A. epicharmus in relation to R. theobaldi. Different factors having effect on the population dynamics of both species are also discussed as results of a survey on several red raspberry cultivars, carried out in Hungary between 2002 and 2005.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for cane splitting in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Cane splitting, a normal feature of raspberry growth, can lead to plant infestation by cane midge followed by fungal infection, with losses in yield of up to 50 % if left untreated. The extent of splitting in the Latham × Glen Moy reference mapping population was assessed over six years and in three environments and quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified across linkage groups (LG) 2, 3, 5 and 6. Cane splitting QTL on LG 3 and 5 co-locate with QTL for plant vigour. The cane splitting QTL on LG 6 is associated with the QTL for resistance to root rot caused by Phytophthora rubi. Broad-sense heritability for cane splitting ranged from 25.6 % in 2007 to 49.1 % in 2008 in this population. Season and environment were also found to influence cane splitting in this population. Several genes involved in general plant growth and in defence responses lie within these QTL. This is a first step towards identifying the genetic basis of cane splitting in raspberry and the development of genetic markers for use in raspberry breeding programmes.     

Effect of some fungicides on the yield of grass swards

When benomyl, drazoxolon, thiabendazole or zineb were applied as soil drenches to established grassland drazoxolon reduced the incidence of rhizoplane fungi. Benomyl and thiabendazole significantly increased yield at one harvest but only benomyl had a significant effect on total yield. When benomyl was applied at monthly intervals from March to July significant increases in total yield were obtained with the June applications which also significantly increased yield at the first harvest in the following year. Repeated applications from March to July also had a significant residual effect on total yield. Yield increases were not significantly affected by increasing the benomyl level from 2.5 to 5.0 g/m².     

Fungi on red raspberry from lesions associated with feeding wounds of cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi)

Two types of vascular lesion are described from the base of canes in plantations infested by raspberry cane midge ( Resseliella theobaldi ); (1) brown lobate lesions ('patches') confined to midge feeding areas, (2) brown lesions spreading proximally and distally from the point of infection ('stripes'). Either or both types of lesion may be presented in individual canes. Isolations from (1) produced principally Fusarium avenaceum ; isolations from tissues where (1) and (2) are contiguous gave Leptosphaeria coniothyrium and F. avenaceum ; isolations from (2) arising from old cane stub wounds in the absence of midge gave L. coniothyrium .
The important secondary role of fungi in the midge blight complex is confirmed, but the involvement of L. coniothyrium in the complex is unclear because it also infects stub wounds on midge-infested canes.     

Influence of benomyl on photosynthetic capacity in soybean leaves

This investigation was performed to study the influence of benomyl on photosynthetic pigments and enzymes in soybean leaves. Chlorophyll and pheophytin levels were reduced by benomyl 45 days after greening. These results indicate that chlorophylla andb, and pheophytin must be controlled by benomyl. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that 50 and 14.5 kD polypeptides represented as the large and small subunits of rubisco. In the both of these subunits, the band intensity of the control was significantly higher than that after benomyl treatment, indicating that these two subunits are affected by benomyl. Benomyl strongly inhibited both the activity and content of rubisco as its concentration was gradually increased. However, it remains unclear whether this reduction of rubisco level was due to a reduced level of rubisco activase. Two major polypeptides of 46 and 42 kD were identified as rubisco activase subunits by SDS-PAGE. The intensity of these two bands was shown to be higher in the control than after benomyl treatment. These results indicate that the rubisco decrease resulting from increased benomyl concentrations was caused by rubisco activase. A significant decrease in both the activity and content of rubisco activase by benomyl was also observed. These results suggest that the decrease in rubisco level caused by benomyl is accompanied by a decrease in both the activity and content of rubisco activase.     

The control of wet bubble disease of mushrooms caused by Mycogone perniciosa

In experiments on the control of Mycogone perniciosa there was a good relationship between yield, disease incidence and the rate of benomyl applied to the casing. Casing treatment controlled the disease irrespective of time of inoculation. Benomyl controlled the disease in all experiments and good results were also achieved with thiophanate methyl and to a lesser extent with thiabendazole. Bioassay of sporophores showed the presence of an inhibitory substance from benomyl and thiophanate methyl treatments even after 6 wk of cropping.     

Cane blight (Leptosphaeria coniothyrium) in mechanically harvested red raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Leptosphaeria coniothyrium, the cane blight pathogen, was the fungus most commonly isolated from vascular lesions developing from mechanical harvester wounds on first-year red raspberry canes. When inoculated to scalpel wounds, it induced similar lesions which were later associated with bud failure and cane death as were infected wounds on machine damaged canes. Cane resistance increased from May until August, inoculations later than July inducing only small lesions and rarely causing bud failure.     

Predicting spring oviposition by raspberry cane midge from accumulated derived soil temperatures

An accumulated soil temperature model is described which calculates the first oviposition date for overwintered populations of the raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi). The model uses values for mean 10 cm soil temperature, derived from daily maximum and minimum air temperatures and 10 cm soil temperature at 0900 GMT. It was developed by minimising the variation between observed dates for the start of oviposition over an 8-yr period and accumulated air or soil temperature, using a series of base temperatures. The best fit was obtained with soil temperatures accumulated above a base temperature of 4°C. Oviposition was predicted to start when the daily accumulated soil temperature reached 339°C days above a base temperature of 4°C. Field observations and model predictions suggested that emergence and oviposition dates were influenced by the direction of the slope of raspberry plantations. To compensate for this, an empirical correction has been incorporated into the model to advance or retard the predicted oviposition date by adjusting the estimated maximum soil temperature to allow for aspect. The geographical variation between dates for first oviposition was simulated by running the model for nine meteorological sites in the UK in 1985 and 1986.     

Field testing of BACTICIDE®, PHYTOVERM® and CHITINASE for control of the raspberry midge blight in Siberia

Three products based on compounds of biological origin were tested for their ability tocontrol the raspberry midge blight in theSiberian region of Russia. Bacillusthuringiensis subsp. israelensis(BACTICIDE^®) and Streptomycesavermitilis metabolites (PHYTOVERM^®) were used against Thomasiniana theobaldi (ageneral member of the midge blight) andCHITINASE was used against fungi (mainly Didymella applanata) associated with T. theobaldi. The BACTICIDE^®(0.2%) and PHYTOVERM^® (0.2%) sprays caused a 2-fold decrease in midge blight severity and the sameeffect was obtained with chemical insecticides.The CHITINASE (1%) spray caused a 4-folddecrease in the severity of midge blight. Inaddition, CHITINASE and PHYTOVERM^®caused a significant suppression of theindependent spur blight. These studies form thebasis for further evaluation of ecologicallysafe control of the raspberry midge blight.     

The incidence of benomyl tolerance in Verticillium fungicola, Mycogone perniciosa and Hypomyces rosellus in mushroom crops

Of the 229 isolates of Verticillium fungicola examined 63 % were found to show some benomyl tolerance and 53% were very tolerant having EDg, values in excess of 50 ppm. There was a tendency for the tolerant isolates to have a slower growth rate than the sensitive ones on unamended potato dextrose agar (PDA) and forty-five isolates (19 %) showed growth stimulation at 5 ppm benomyl. No major differences were found in ten isolates of V. fungicola tested on benomyl, thiabendazole and thiophanate methyl agars or of twelve isolates compared on benomyl and carbendazim hydrochloride agars. Tolerant isolates of V. fungicola and higher levels of crop loss were linked in the east and north of the country but not in the south-east. Tolerance was not found in sixty-six isolates of Mycogone perniciosa or twenty-four of Hypomyces rosellus. Benomyl was used on 89 % of the farms in the survey either applied to the casing (34%) or as a spray (55 %) or both (10%).     

Pollen germination, tube growth and morphology, and microtubule organization after exposure to benomyl

The inhibitory effects of benomyl on pollen tube growth have received little attention, particularly at the microscopic and immunohistochemical levels. Pollen germination and tube growth in the presence of benomyl were evaluated in Tradescantia virginiana to investigate the effects of this fungicide on pollen germination rate, tube growth and morphology, and microtubule (Mt) organization. Benomyl was incorporated in germination media at 0,480, 600 or 720 mg 1⁻¹. Inhibition of pollen germination, cytoplasmic streaming, and tube elongation were associated with benomyl treatments. Benomyl also induced abnormal pollen tube morphology and Mt organization. Compared to controls, Mts in the treated tubes were characteristically fewer in number, fragmented, sinuous and increasingly disorganized. At the two highest benomyl concentrations, Mts were considerably fewer or absent in apical/subapical regions of the pollen tubes. This work verifies that benomyl incorporated into germination media at concentrations lower than recommended field rates inhibit pollen germination and tube growth, and that the effects are associated with alterations of Mt organization.     

Field experiments in the control of Verticillium dahliae and Heterodera rostochiensis on potatoes

Potatoes were grown in soil infested with Verticillium dahliae and Heterodera rostochiensis and treated with methyl bromide, aldicarb or benomyl. Successive crops were grown in subsequent years on the same plots but without further treatment. Largest yields in the year of treatment were from plots fumigated with methyl bromide but in the second crop benomyl-treated plots yielded most. Neither methyl bromide nor aldicarb affected yields from trie third crop. After lifting the first crop, soil from plots treated with methyl bromide or benomyl contained less V. dahliae than that from plots receiving aldicarb or nothing. Soil was also less infective after the second crop following methyl bromide fumigation, but not the third. Plots treated with methyl bromide or aldicarb contained many fewer H. rostochiensis than untreated plots after the first crop, slightly less after the second and equal numbers after the third crop. H. rostochiensis were also fewer in benomyl-treated plots than in untreated after the first crop, but, surprisingly, were fewest after the second crop. The increased yield after applying benomyl to soil seems to depend more on its effect on H. rostochiensis than on V. dahliae. Fumigating with methyl bromide decreased common scab and black scurf on progeny tubers but increased infections by Oospora pustulans.     

Suppression of microtubule dynamics by benomyl decreases tension across kinetochore pairs and induces apoptosis in cancer cells

We found that benomyl, a benzimidazole fungicide, strongly suppressed the reassembly of cold-depolymerized spindle microtubules in HeLa cells. Benomyl perturbed microtubule-kinetochore attachment and chromosome alignment at the metaphase plate. Benomyl also significantly decreased the distance between the sister kinetochore pairs in metaphase cells and increased the level of the checkpoint protein BubR1 at the kinetochore region, indicating that benomyl caused loss of tension across the kinetochores. In addition, benomyl decreased the intercentrosomal distance in mitotic HeLa cells and blocked the cells at mitosis. Further, we analyzed the effects of benomyl on the signal transduction pathways in relation to mitotic block, bcl2 phosphorylation and induction of apoptosis. The results suggest that benomyl causes loss of tension across the kinetochores, blocks the cell cycle progression at mitosis and subsequently, induces apoptosis through the bcl2-bax pathway in a manner qualitatively similar to the powerful microtubule targeted anticancer drugs like the vinca alkaloids and paclitaxel. Considering the very high toxicity of the potent anticancer drugs and the low toxicity of benomyl in humans, we suggest that benomyl could be useful as an adjuvant in combination with the powerful anticancer drugs in cancer therapy.     

Resistance to Didymella applanata in red raspberry and some related species

When raspberry canes were inoculated in summer with a mycelial inoculum of Didymella applanata resistant genotypes developed relatively small lesions which produced few fruiting bodies in the following spring. Scores of the frequency of these fruiting bodies provided the best discrimination between genotypes. Very strong resistance was found in R. pileatus, R. occidentalis and R. coreanus and in hybrids of these species with red raspberry. Hybrids with R. crataegifolius were less resistant. Resistance was also found in Malling 1473/35, a derivative of red raspberry cv. Chief, and in red raspberry segregates with gene H which determines cane pubescence. Both the expression of resistance and the ranking of resistance sources for their resistance was similar for D. applanata to that reported for Botrytis cinerea.     

A comparison of fungicides for the control of raspberry spur blight

Effective control of raspberry spur blight (Didymella applanata) and increased crop yields in the following season were obtained in a plantation of cv. Mailing Jewel with a programme of four or five sprays commencing when the new canes first appeared. Treatments were applied at 14-day intervals and continued until c. 2 wk before harvest. Thiram (0.16% a.i), benomyl (0.025% a.i.), dichlofluanid (0.10% a.i.) and captan (0.10% a.i.) gave good control of the disease but as benomyl and dichlofluanid were also effective in controlling powdery mildew (Sphaero-theca macularis) and Botrytis cinerea on the berries these fungicides appear to be the most suitable.     

The effect of sprays of thiophanate–methyl on cane diseases and yield in red raspberry, with particular reference to cane blight (Leptosphaeria coniothyrium)

Spur blight (Didymella applanata), cane botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) and cane blight (Leptosphaeria coniothyrium) were studied in two consecutive seasons in unsprayed raspberries and in plots sprayed with thiophanate-methyl in the first season alone, (a) twice pre-harvest, (b) twice post-harvest, or (c) twice pre- plus twice post-harvest. Pre-harvest, but not post-harvest sprays, gave moderate control of both spur blight and cane botrytis; both diseases occurred mainly on the lower halves of canes, the latter being the less common. Cane blight occurred at the base of canes where they were wounded by old cane stubs. In the first year it was severe; 37% of canes died before harvest in the unsprayed plots. The three spray programmes all decreased cane death due to cane blight and they all increased yield by c. 45% even in those plots sprayed post-harvest where spur blight was severe and not controlled. Clearly this last disease, despite its high incidence, had no effect on potential yield in this experiment. In the second year cane blight was common but less severe and the incidence of its lesions was reduced similarly by all programmes, but only 4% of canes died in control plots. Analysis of the potential yield and the sizes of lesions caused by L. coniothyrium in canes inoculated at fortnightly intervals in the previous year showed that potential yield loss occurred only when lesions girdled canes. A bimodal distribution in the lesion sizes, measured by length or girdling, indicated some endogenous control of lesion development which might explain the marked differences in the effect of cane blight on potential yield in two seasons.     

Occurrence of strains of Colletotrichum coffeanutn resistant to methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate (carbendazim) and chemically-similar compounds

Certain strains of Colletotrichum coffeanum (the causal fungus of coffee berry disease) which developed in coffee plots sprayed in 1973 and 1974 with carbendazim formulations Bavistin and Derosal and with Folicidin (cypendazol) were resistant to these fungicides and also to Benlate (benomyl). Strains resistant to cypendazol developed in plots sprayed with benomyl but these were not resistant to benomyl itself. There were also indications of strains resistant to carbendazim amongst the population of saprophytic species (C. acutatum and C. gloeosporoides) colonizing coffee bark. Resistant isolates of C. coffeanum in culture produced colour variants by sectoring more frequently than normal isolates. These sectors were equally pathogenic to coffee berries and their growth was slightly enhanced on media containing carbendazim.     

The effect of fungicides on field populations of Aphis fabae and on the infection of the aphids by Entomophthoraceae

Numbers of Aphis fabae on spring-sown field beans were little affected by weekly applications of the systemic fungicides benomyl or tridemorph or the non-systemic captafol, manocozeb or maneb. Benomyl diminished the mortality of aphids caused by Erynia neoaphidis but not that caused by other species of entomophthoraceous fungi. The other fungicides failed to affect consistently the proportion of aphids infected by any fungus.