Suppression of Brown Spot Disease of Cultivated Chrysanthemum by Manipulating Phototropic Response of Conidium Germ Tubes of Septoria obesa

An antagonistic effect between the UV-blue (shorter than 500 nm) and red (longer than 600 nm) wave regions on the induction of phototropic response in conidium germ tubes has been demonstrated in the fungus Septoria obesa, the causal organism of brown spot disease of cultivated chrysanthemum. Phototropic response of conidium germ tubes was dependent on the ratio of the fluence rates between negative phototropism-inducing UV-blue wave region and positive phototropism-inducing red wave region. Elimination of the UV wave region shorter than 390 nm by an ultraviolet absorbing vinyl film significantly reduced the negative phototropic response of conidium germ tubes and suppressed the invasion of the fungus through the stomata. Thus, a manipulation of the phototropic response of conidium germ tubes by controlling light quality resulted in the suppression of brown spot disease of cultivated chrysanthemum.