Showing papers on "Leaf spot published in 2008"

Studies on leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera and its impact on secondary metabolites.

Abstract: During an investigation of the disease profile of Withania somnifera, it was observed that leaf spot is the most prevalent disease. Repeated isolations from infected leaf tissues and pathogenicity tests showed the association of fungal pathogen identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler. Scanning electron microscopy showed various histological changes in the leaf tissues of infected plants. A decrease in total content of reducing sugars (20%) and chlorophyll (26.5%) was observed in diseased leaves whereas an increase was noticed in proline (25%), free amino acids (3%) and proteins (74.3%). High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of secondary metabolites viz. withanolides, withaferin-A and total alkaloids of the diseased leaves vis-a-vis control revealed reduction in withaferin-A and withanolides contents by 15.4% and 76.3% respectively, in contrast to an increase in total alkaloids by 49.3%, information hitherto unreported in W. somnifera.

Survival, Dispersal, and Primary Infection Site for Cercospora beticola in Sugar Beet.

Abstract: Cercospora beticola survives as stromata in infected crop residue. Spores produced on these survival structures serve as primary inoculum during the next cropping season. This study was conducted to determine how long C. beticola can survive at different soil depths, the mechanism of inoculum dispersal, and the primary infection site in sugar beet. Longevity of C. beticola was studied over a 3-year period under field conditions at Fargo, ND. C. beticola-infected leaves were placed at depths of 0, 10, and 20 cm and retrieved after 10, 22, and 34 months. Survival of C. beticola inoculum declined with time and soil depth. Inoculum left on the soil surface, 0 cm in depth, survived the longest (22 months) compared with that buried at 10 cm (10 months) and 20 cm (10 months). C. beticola dispersal from the primary source of inoculum was studied in the field for three growing seasons. Sugar beet plants were surrounded with plastic cages with and without ground cover, or exposed with and without ground cover. Significantly higher disease severity was observed on exposed plants than caged plants with or without ground cover, suggesting that wind was the major dispersal factor for C. beticola inoculum. The primary infection site by C. beticola was determined in a greenhouse study. Leaves, roots, and stems of healthy sugar beet plants were inoculated with C. beticola. Cercospora leaf spot symptoms were observed only on plants that were leaf inoculated, suggesting that the leaf was the primary infection site for C. beticola.

Effects of Soil Type, Source of Silicon, and Rate of Silicon Source on Development of Gray Leaf Spot of Perennial Ryegrass Turf

Abstract: Silicon amendments have been proven effective in controlling fungal diseases of various crops. However, effects of silicon amendments on gray leaf spot (Magnaporthe oryzae) of perennial ryegrass are not known. Studies were conducted in controlled-environment chambers and microplots where perennial ryegrass pots were buried among perennial ryegrass turf to determine the effects of silicon amendments on gray leaf spot development. Plants were grown in two soil types: peat:sand mix (soil Si = 5.2 mg/liter) and Hagerstown silt loam (soil Si = 70 mg/liter). Both soil types were amended with two sources of silicon-wollastonite and calcium silicate slag-at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 metric tons/ha and 0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, 6, and 12 metric tons/ha, respectively. Nine-week-old perennial ryegrass was inoculated with M. oryzae. Gray leaf spot incidence and severity were assessed 2 weeks after inoculation. Gray leaf spot incidence and severity of perennial ryegrass significantly decreased by different rates of wollastonite and calcium silicate slag applied to both soils under both experimental conditions. Tissue silicon content increased consistently with increasing amount of silicon in the soils, while disease incidence decreased consistently with increasing tissue silicon content in all four soil and source combinations under both experimental conditions. These findings suggest that silicon amendments may be utilized in integrated gray leaf spot management programs on perennial ryegrass.

Isolation and characterization of antagonistic bacteria against bacterial leaf spot of Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Abstract: Aims: To investigate the inhibition potential of leaf-associated bacteria against the pathogen of bacterial leaf spot of Euphorbia pulcherrima. Methods and Results: Seven out of 200 bacterial strains were effective antagonists by in vitro screening and the two strains PAB241 and PAB242 significantly reduced the disease incidence and severity as foliar treatments of E. pulcherrima. The two effective strains, PAB241 and PAB242, were both identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by a polyphasic approach including phenotypic feature, carbon source utilization profile, fatty acid methyl esters and analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence. In addition, the suspensions of B. amyloliquefaciens PAB241 and PAB242 showed antibacterial activities against the pathogen of bacterial leaf spot of E. pulcherrima under different treatments. Conclusions: The leaf-associated bacteria, B. amyloliquefaciens PAB241 and PAB242, markedly inhibited the growth of X. axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola under different treatments and protected E. pulcherrima from pathogen infection in growth chamber conditions. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study that showed B. amyloliquefaciens from plant leaves was a potential bactericide against bacterial leaf spot of E. pulcherrima.

Management, Survival Strategies, and Host Range of Colletotrichum acutatum on Strawberry

Abstract: Colletotrichum spp. are broad-range pathogens, meaning that many species can infect a single host and a single species can infect diverse hosts. For example,Colletotrichum acutatumJ.H. Simmonds affects a wide range of crops, causing disease symptoms on apple, almond, anemone, citrus, lupin, peach, pecan, strawberry, and others, whereas Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. (Penz. & Sacc.) can affect many of the previous hosts as well. Anthracnose is one of the major fungal diseases of strawberry occurring worldwide. In Israel, the disease is caused primarily by the species C. acutatum. The pathogen causes irregular leaf spot, bud rot, petiole and stolon necrosis, and black spot on fruit. The pathogen is most destructive when it causes root necrosis and crown rot, which usually kill the plants in nurseries and transplants in the field. To maintain a disease-free crop, nuclear and foundation stock material, as well as field nurseries, must be routinely monitored and tested for presence of the pathogen. Strawberry cultivation using plasticulture as an overhead cover of the crop can significantly control anthracnose disease incidence by reducing inoculum spread and infection, both in nurseries and in production fields. C. acutatum from strawberry can survive on several cultivated plant species, such as pepper, eggplant, tomato, bean, and weed species, without causing disease symptoms. This indicated that they may serve as a potential inoculum reservoir for strawberry infection between seasons. Although C. acutatum survives in soil under certain conditions, no specific resting structures have been observed indicating that the pathogen does not behave as a typical soilborne fungus.

Alternaria brassicae produces a host-specific protein toxin from germinating spores on host leaves.

Abstract: Spore suspensions of Alternaria brassicae, the causal agent of gray leaf spot in Brassica plants, were incubated on the leaves of cabbage (B. oleracea) and spore germination fluid (SGF) wa...

A hypothesis on physiological alterations during plant ontogenesis governing susceptibility of winter barley to ramularia leaf spot

Abstract: The occurrence and epidemic spread of ramularia leaf spot (RLS) caused by Ramularia collo-cygni was studied with relation to the plant age-dependent alterations in the antioxidative defence systems in the leaves during mature stages of field-grown winter barley. The breakdown of enzymatic activities of dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase in the two uppermost fully expanded leaf layers correlated well with a decrease in the pool of the non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione. The general decline in the antioxidative systems occurred between 31 May and 8 June after ear emergence stages and preceded the first visible symptoms of RLS. The activities of peroxidases corresponded to an increase in phenolics and lignification which seemed to enhance the infectivity of the fungus rather than to protect the plant. The first R. collo-cygni conidia were trapped in the field about 4 weeks before the latent infection was first detected by ELISA, and 5 weeks before the first disease symptoms became visible. Both the counts of airborne conidia and the weather data recorded between April and June suggest that neither inoculum nor the weather conditions are limiting factors for infection by R. collo-cygni at earlier growth stages of barley. It is concluded that the relatively late development of RLS in the field in mid June is governed by the significant degradation of the antioxidative protection systems in the leaves of barley at the onset of ripening stages, rather than by environmental factors or the availability of airborne inoculum.

Trichoderma as a potential biocontrol agent for Cercospora leaf spot of sugar beet

Abstract: Leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora beticola Sacc. (class Ascomycota, ord. Dothideales, fam. Mycosphaerellaceae) is the most destructive foliar disease of sugar beet. Commercial varieties are partially resistant and require repeated fungicide applications to obtain adequate protection levels; this has a high environmental impact and a risk of selecting resistant pathogen strains. A way of reducing chemical inputs could be to use biocontrol agents to replace or supplement fungicide treatments. A well-known class of biological control agents is represented by the fungi belonging to the Trichoderma genus (class Ascomycota, ord. Hypocreales, fam. Hypocreaceae), but there is a lack of information about its behaviour towards C. beticola. This study reports the evaluation of several Trichoderma isolates as possible biocontrol agents of this pathogen. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo assays led to the selection of two Trichoderma isolates characterised by their ability to reduce pathogen sporulation and antagonism towards the pathogen or competence for sugar beet phyllosphere. Repeated foliar applications of the liquid culture homogenate preceded by a single treatment of difenoconazole in 2 year trials under natural inoculum in field reduced the disease incidence and pathogen sporulation from the necrotic spots. An increase in sugar yield was also obtained by means of isolate Ba12/86-based treatments, perhaps due to induced resistance effects.

Resistance to multiple leaf spot diseases in wheat

Abstract: Tan spot (TS), Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB), and Septoria tritici blotch (STB) are three major leaf spot diseases of wheat worldwide. Host plant resistance (HPR) is one of the main components in the management of these diseases in wheat. The objective of this study was to identify new sources of resistance to TS (races 1 and 5), SNB, and STB. A total of 164 wheat genotypes developed by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico were individually evaluated for TS, SNB and STB in spring and fall of 2006 in the greenhouse. Two experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Each replicate consisted of 164 wheat genotypes planted in cones with three seedlings/genotype in each cone and disease reaction was assessed for each race or pathogen at the two- to three-leaf stage. Based on the disease reactions, three wheat genotypes were resistant to both TS and SNB, while 13 genotypes were resistant to TS and STB. Similarly, 13 genotypes were resistant to both SNB and STB. In addition, four wheat genotypes were highly resistant to TS, SNB, and STB. These results suggest that the resistant genotypes identified in this study possess high levels of resistance to multiple leaf spot diseases and could be valuable sources for wheat improvement programs.

Expression of the bacteriophage T4 lysozyme gene in tall fescue confers resistance to gray leaf spot and brown patch diseases

Abstract: Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is an important turf and forage grass species worldwide. Fungal diseases present a major limitation in the maintenance of tall fescue lawns, landscapes, and forage fields. Two severe fungal diseases of tall fescue are brown patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, and gray leaf spot, caused by Magnaporthe grisea. These diseases are often major problems of other turfgrass species as well. In efforts to obtain tall fescue plants resistant to these diseases, we introduced the bacteriophage T4 lysozyme gene into tall fescue through Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. In replicated experiments under controlled environments conducive to disease development, 6 of 13 transgenic events showed high resistance to inoculation of a mixture of two M. grisea isolates from tall fescue. Three of these six resistant plants also displayed significant resistance to an R. solani isolate from tall fescue. Thus, we have demonstrated that the bacteriophage T4 lysozyme gene confers resistance to both gray leaf spot and brown patch diseases in transgenic tall fescue plants. The gene may have wide applications in engineered fungal disease resistance in various crops.

Nigrospora sphaerica Causing Leaf Spot and Twig and Shoot Blight on Blueberry: A New Host of the Pathogen

Abstract: Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) have recently become an important alternative crop in different ecological regions of Argentina. In surveys, a new disease characterized by leaf spots and twig and shoot blight has been observed on plants cultivated in Arrecifes, Mercedes, and San Pedro (provinces of Buenos Aires) and Concordia (province of Entre Rios) since July 2004. Spots initially appear brown, circular, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, and irregularly distributed on the leaves and they eventually coalesce. Fruiting twig and shoot blight developed from the tips toward the base. Affected plants of cvs. O'Neal and Reveille were distributed randomly in the field and with a low incidence (average of 2%). The objective of this work was to identify the causal agent of this disease. Symptomatic plant material was surface disinfested with 0.2% NaOCl for 1 min and 70% ethanol for 1 min, washed once with sterile distilled water, blotted dry with paper towels, and plated on potato dextrose agar. Colonies were initially w...

The emergence of cereal fungal diseases and the incidence of leaf spot diseases in Finland

Abstract: Fungal plant pathogens causing cereal diseases in Finland have been studied by a literature survey, and a field survey of cereal leaf spot diseases conducted in 2009. Fifty-seven cereal fungal diseases have been identified in Finland. The first available references on different cereal fungal pathogens were published in 1868 and the most recent reports are on the emergence of Ramularia collo-cygni and Fusarium langsethiae in 2001. The incidence of cereal leaf spot diseases has increased during the last 40 years. Based on the field survey done in 2009 in Finland, Pyrenophora teres was present in 86%, Cochliobolus sativus in 90% and Rhynchosporium secalis in 52% of the investigated barley fields. Mycosphaerella graminicola was identified for the first time in Finnish spring wheat fields, being present in 6% of the studied fields. Stagonospora nodorum was present in 98% and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in 94% of spring wheat fields. Oat fields had the fewest fungal diseases. Pyrenophora chaetomioides was present in 63% and Cochliobolus sativus in 25% of the oat fields studied.

Comparative analysis of multiple disease resistance in ryegrass and cereal crops

Abstract: Ryegrass (Lolium spp.) is among the most important forage crops in Europe and Australia and is also a popular turfgrass in North America. Previous genetic analysis based on a three-generation interspecific (L. perenne × L. multiflorum) ryegrass population identified four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance to gray leaf spot (Magneporthe grisea) and four QTLs for resistance to crown rust (Puccinia coronata). The current analysis based on the same mapping population detected seven QTLs for resistance to leaf spot (Bipolaris sorokiniana) and one QTL for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis) in ryegrass for the first time. Three QTLs for leaf spot resistance on linkage groups (LGs) 2 and 4 were in regions of conserved synteny to the positions of resistance to net blotch (Drechslera teres) in barley (Hordeum vulgare). One ryegrass genomic region spanning 19 cM on LG 4, which contained three QTLs for resistance to leaf spot, gray leaf spot, and stem rust, had a syntenic relationship with a segment of rice chromosome 3, which contained QTLs for resistance to multiple diseases. However, at the genome-wide comparison based on 72 common RFLP markers between ryegrass and cereals, coincidence of QTLs for disease resistance to similar fungal pathogens was not statistically significant.

Disease Progress of Early Leaf Spot and Components of Resistance to Cercospora arachidicola and Cercosporidium personatum in Runner-Type Peanut Cultivars

Abstract: This study assessed components of resistance for three runner-type peanut cultivars to infection by Cercospora arachidicola (Ca) and Cercosporidium personatum (Cp), the causal organisms of early leaf spot and late leaf spot, respectively Resistance components were compared to disease resistance observed in the field A field study monitored the progression of leaf spot incidence and severity in peanut cultivars Georgia Green, Georganic, and DP-1 Time of disease onset (TDO) and temporal epidemic rate (rate) were estimated for incidence with the logistic model, and for severity with the linear model Early leaf spot was the predominant disease in the field Estimates of TDO were 9 d later for DP-1 than for Georgia Green, based on incidence models, and 6 and 7 d later for Georganic and DP-1 than for Georgia Green, respectively, based on severity models Incidence progression rate was highest for Georganic in 2002 and Georgia Green in 2003, while severity progression rate was highest for Georgia Gr

Screening for Resistance to Leaf Spot Diseases of Spinach

Abstract: The entire U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) germplasm collection (338 accessions) and 22 commercial cultivars were evaluated for resistance to leaf spot caused by Stemphylium botryosum in a greenhouse trial with two replications in 2004. The resistant and susceptible accessions identified as well as the 22 commercial cultivars were included in a second test in 2005 with four replications to confirm the results. No genotype was completely resistant (immune) to the disease. However, there were significant differences in disease incidence (percent of plants with leaf spot) and severity (percent diseased leaf area) among the genotypes tested. Two accessions from Turkey, PI 169685 and PI 173809, consistently had low disease incidence and severity ratings. Two Spinacia tetrandra and four Spinacia turkestanica accessions screened in these public germplasm tests were all susceptible. None of the commercial cultivars tested consistently had low disease incidence or severity. There was no significant correlation between disease incidence/severity and leaf type (smooth, semisavoy, or savoy). In addition to the public germplasm evaluated, 138 proprietary spinach genotypes (breeding lines and cultivars) were obtained from seed companies and screened along with 10 accessions from the USDA germplasm collection for resistance to Stemphylium leaf spot and Cladosporium leaf spot (caused by Cladosporium variabile) in a greenhouse in both 2004 and 2005. Significant differences in severity of leaf spot were observed among the genotypes for both diseases. For each disease, there was a significant positive correlation in severity ratings of the genotypes between the 2004 and 2005 trials. Information on the relative resistance (or susceptibility) of the spinach germplasm evaluated in this study should be useful for plant breeders to develop leaf spot-resistant cultivars.

Evaluation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) cultivars grown in Eastern Europe and progress in breeding for resistance to angular leaf spot (Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans)

Abstract: Increased occurrence of cucumber angular leaf spot, Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans, has caused significant losses in cucumber, Cucumis sativus, yield in Poland in recent years. These losses necessitated evaluation of the level of resistance in cucumber cultivars of mainly Polish breeding, cultivated in Eastern Europe, and initiation of a breeding programme for resistance to this disease. Screening for resistance was performed on 84 cucumber accessions under growth chamber conditions using a highly aggressive strain of P. syringae pv. lachrymans. Most of the screened accessions were either susceptible or displayed intermediate resistance. The screening resulted in the identification of five F1 hybrid cultivars moderately resistant to angular leaf spot. The identified F1 hybrids were self-pollinated up to the F4 generation. Individuals resistant to angular leaf spot were identified. These individuals can be used as a source of resistance to angular leaf spot in future breeding efforts.

Management of Leaf Spot Diseases of Peanut With Prothioconazole Applied Alone or in Combination With Tebuconazole or Trifloxystrobin

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted in Tifton and Plains, GA in 2001–2007 to determine the efficacy of prothioconazole on early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and late leaf spot (Cercosporidium personatum) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea). In five of six experiments, application of one or both rates (0.18 and 0.20 kg ai/ha) of prothioconazole in sprays 3–6 (chlorothalonil at 1.26 kg ai/ha in sprays 1, 2, and 7) provided leaf spot control superior to tebuconazole (0.23 kg ai/ha) in a similar regime, and superior to chlorothalonil at 1.26 kg ai/ha applied full season (seven times) in four of six experiments. In a similar series of six experiments, application of 0.085 kg ai/ha of prothioconazole + 0.17 kg ai/ha of tebuconazole provided better leaf spot control than tebuconazole (0.23 kg ai/ha) applied in regimes similar to those described above. Leaf spot control with prothioconazole + tebuconazole was similar to chlorothalonil applied at 1.26 kg ai/ha full season in five of eight experiments, but was less effective in the remaining three experiments. Fungicide effects on yield were inconsistent, but in all experiments, yield response with either rate of prothioconazole was similar to or greater than that obtained with 0.23 kg ai/ha tebuconazole on the same schedule. In a third series of four experiments, full-season (seven sprays) application of mixtures of prothioconazole at 0.063 kg ai/ha with trifloxystrobin at 0.063 kg ai/ha gave similar or better leaf spot control than chlorothalonil full season.

First report of a Pestalotiopsis sp causing leaf spot of blueberry in China

Abstract: In August 2006, leaf spots were observed on half-high blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) in a plant nursery in Dalian, China. The symptomatic potted 1-year-old blueberry plants were located in parts of a plant nursery with poor ventilation. The primary symptom was a leaf spot, 0.4 to 0.8 cm in diameter, with brown margins that enlarged and coalesced. Mycelium grew from symptomatic and green leaf tissue removed from the margin of a necrotic leaf spot. Plant tissues were surface disinfested with 0.1% mercuric chloride for 3 min and 70% ethyl alcohol for 30 s before plating onto potato dextrose agar. The resulting colonies were white with a regular margin and a rough surface. The cultures were covered with black and globular acervuli with a diameter of 100 to 200 μm. The base of each conidiophore was swollen and globose with phialides growing from the apical end. Mature conidia were straight to fusiform, measuring 19.0 to 27.5 × 6.3 to 9.2 μm, and five-celled with the three middle cells brown and darker than the end cells. The apical cell was triangular and hyaline with three simple setulae that were 17.2 to 29.7 μm long. The base cell terminated in a point 4.0 to 8.6 μm long. Koch's postulates were fulfilled for the fungus by spray inoculating two healthy young plants with 2 × 105 conidia per ml of sterile distilled water. As a control, two similar plants were sprayed with sterile water. Plants were placed inside plastic bags to maintain humidity and incubated in a growth chamber at 26°C under fluorescent light for 14 h and at 20°C in darkness for 10 h. After 3 days, the plastic bags were removed and plants were maintained under the same conditions. More than 20 days after inoculation, symptoms on inoculated plants were similar to those previously described in the nursery. Control plants did not show any symptoms. Cultures isolated from the lesions were similar to those isolated previously from plants in the nursery. The morphological descriptions and measurements were similar to Pestalotiopsis clavispora (1). The 5.8S subunit and flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of rDNA and partial β-tubulin gene were amplified from DNA extracted from single-spore cultures using the ITS1/ITS4 and T1/Bt2b primers (2) respectively, and sequenced (GenBank Accession Nos. EF119336 and EF152585). The ITS sequences were most similar to the ITS regions of P. clavispora TA-8 (98%; GenBank Accession No. AY924264), P. clavispora TA-6 (98%; GenBank Accession No. AY924263), and P. clavispora PSHI 2002 Endo 389 (96%; GenBank Accession No. AY682929). The partial β-tubulin gene sequence was identical to Pestalotiopsis sp. isolate PSHI 2004 Endo 86 (100%; GenBank Accession No. DQ657901). The morphology and sequence data support the identity of the causal fungus as P. clavispora. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of a Pestalotiopsis sp. causing a disease of blueberry in China. References: (1) E. F. Guba. Monograph of Monochaetia and Pestalotia. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1961. (2) W. Tao et al. Mol. Cell Biol. 27:689, 2007.

Corynespora leaf spot of scarlet sage caused by Corynespora cassiicola

Abstract: A leaf spot disease of scarlet sage (Salvia splendens Sellow ex J.A. Shultes) found in Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures was demonstrated to be caused by Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei based on inoculation experiments, and morphological identification of the pathogenic fungus. Isolates of C. cassiicola from cucumber, green pepper, and hydrangea were also pathogenic to scarlet sage leaves. Although the isolates from cucumber, green pepper, and hydrangea were pathogenic to scarlet sage leaves, the scarlet sage isolate was not pathogenic to cucumber, green pepper, hydrangea, eggplant, tomato or soybean.

Effectiveness of acibenzolar-S-methyl, fungicides and antibiotics for the control of brown eye spot, bacterial blight, brown leaf spot and coffee rust in coffee

Abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), combined or not combined with fungicides and antibiotics for the control of brown eye spot (Cercospora coffeicola) and bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae) in coffee seedlings, and ASM combined with conventional fungicide application schedules for the control of coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and brown leaf spot (Phoma costarricencis) under field conditions in two coffee crops in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. ASM protected coffee seedlings against C. coffeicola when applied at the rates of 2.5 and 5 g of active ingredient per hectolitre of water (g a.i. hL -1 ) providing 34-55% of disease control, and against bacterial blight, when applied at the rates of 2.5, 10 and 20 g a.i. hl -1 , with 38-57% of disease control. Tebuconazole (100 g a.i. hL -1 ) and azoxystrobin (10 g a.i. hL -1 ) showed the best results for brown eye spot control. Oxytetracycline + streptomycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride, oxytetracycline + metallic copper, copper oxychloride and mancozeb + copper oxychloride also controlled bacterial blight in levels similar to those shown by ASM. In the field experiments, all fungicide application schedules tested, cyproconazole (December, February, April), epoxiconazole (December, March), tetraconazole (December, February, April), cyproconazole (December, February) and azoxystrobin (January, March) were effective for coffee rust control and provided partial control of brown leaf spot. The results also showed that for all experiments, there was no synergistic effect of the combination of ASM with azoxystrobin, cyproconazole or cupric fungicides.

Pathologic and taxonomic analysis of leaf spot and tar spot diseases in a tropical dry to wet monsoon ecosystem of lowland Burma

Abstract: Foliar diseases due to ascomycetes and/or their anamorphs are described comprising 158 leaf spot and 43 tar spot diseases across a spectrum of some 69 host-plant families in tropical, dry to wet, north to south, lowland, central Burma. Families Moraceae, Arecaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae, and Poaceae are especially most often attacked. Attack frequency is associated with family size, and the overall diversity of pathogens with the structural complexity of their host. Phenomena, patterns, and concepts pertaining to these ailments are discerned and discussed involving species of Anthostomella, Cochliobolus/Bipolaris, Pyrenophora/Drechslera, Phyllachora and Rhytisma in particular. A host index is included. Collections are held in Herbariums IMI and UC (=LAM).

Use of Resistant Cultivars and Reduced Fungicide Programs to Manage Peanut Diseases in Irrigated and Nonirrigated Fields.

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the response of several peanut cultivars to standard and reduced-input fungicide programs under production systems which differed in the duration of crop rotation, disease history within a field, or in the presence or absence of irrigation. Effects on early leaf spot (caused by Cercospora arachidicola), late leaf spot (caused by Cercosporidium personatum), and southern stem rot (caused by Sclerotium rolfsii), pod yields, and economic returns were assessed. Standard fungicide programs were similar for both sets of experiments and included applications of pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, azoxystrobin, or chlorothalonil. Reduced-fungicide programs, comprising combinations of the aforementioned fungicides, resulted in two and four applications for the cultivar and irrigation experiment, respectively. Two additional programs (a seven-spray chlorothalonil and a nontreated control) were included in the cultivar experiment. Fungicide programs provided adequate levels of leaf spot suppression, and stem rot incidence was similar among fungicide programs within the two management systems. In the cultivar experiment, returns were significantly lower for the reduced program compared with the full program and seven-spray chlorothalonil program; however, they were significantly higher than the nontreated control. Significant differences in leaf spot, stem rot, and yield were observed among cultivars in both experiments. Overall, leaf spot intensity was lowest for the cvs. Georgia-03L and Georgia-01R and greatest for Georgia Green and Georgia-02C. Georgia-03L, Georgia-02C, and AP-3 consistently had lower incidence of stem rot than the other cultivars. Pod yields for all cultivars were equivalent to or greater than Georgia Green in both experiments; however, the performance of reduced-fungicide programs was inconsistent.

Diseases of Leucaena species

Abstract: Diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, a possible virus and nematodes have been recorded on Leucaena leucocephala and at least seven other Leucaena species throughout the tropics. Most diseases are caused by fungi and include leaf spots, gummosis, pod rots, root and collar rots, stem cankers, anthracnoses, damping‐off, rusts and shoot and twig blights. The most important diseases are considered to be Camptomeris leaf spot (CLS) (Camptomeris leucaenae) gummosis and various root and pod rots. Although not a lethal disease, CLS can cause serious forage dry matter and quality losses. Gummosis is regarded as the most important disease of L. leucocephala in India and Sri Lanka, but further work is urgently required on its pathology and economic importance. Root rots caused by Ganoderma species, Fusarium species, Pseudolagar‐obasidium leguminicola and Pirex subvinosum kill L. leucocephala trees throughout Asia and Australia. Pod rots caused by Fusarium species are of major concern not only because of their...

Integrated Management Of Key Diseases Of Cotton and Rice

Abstract: The major diseases of cotton and rice and the most suitable control measures are reviewed. Practical issues related to the identification of a disease based on symptoms and presence of pathogens are shown, as they have utmost importance for successful management. The main concepts for Integrated Disease Management are discussed, together with the technologies advocating the combination of a variety of control measures, including the conservation of existing natural defense system, crop rotation, intercropping, and cultivation of pest-resistant varieties. Cotton diseases considered include seedling diseases, bacterial blight, Alternaria leaf spot, grey mildew and leaf spots caused by Myrothecium, Cercospora, Helminthosporium, Macrophomina, stem canker, late season Phoma blight, rust (Phakopsora gossypii), leaf crumple, Cotton Leaf Curl Virus, Tobacco Streak Virus, root rot, Verticillium and Fusarium wilts, new wilt or parawilt, boll rots and lint diseases. Rice diseases reviewed include rice blast, brown spot, bacterial leaf blight and leaf streak, sheath blight, sheath rot, Fusarium wilt or “Bakanae”, stem rot, Tungro Virus, false smut and post-harvest diseases.

First Report of Aspergillus niger as a Plant Pathogen on Zingiber officinale from India.

Abstract: Zingiber officinale Rosc., belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is medicinally important. It is commonly known as ginger and has been extensively cultivated for many centuries for use as a spice and traditional medicine in India. During a survey in September of 2007, leaves of Z. officinale showed a necrotic leaf spot disease on a plant growing in Kolhapur, India. Symptoms of the disease appeared as small (10 to 15 mm), rectangular to irregular, yellow spots on the leaves that covered a major area of the leaf when severe. The infection caused defoliation. Symptomatic leaves were collected and isolations from infected leaves were made on Czapek's Dox agar supplemented with streptomycin sulfate (30 mg/l). Plates were incubated at 28 to 30°C for 6 to 7 days. The fungal colonies were colorless to pale on the reverse side and covered with a dense layer of dark brown-to-black conidial heads. Conidia were globose to subglobose (3.5 to 5.0 μm in diameter), dark brown to black, and rough walled. 16S rRNA of isolates was amplified and sequenced (EMBL Accession No. AM941157) and compared with sequences of known Aspergillus species obtained from GenBank. The closest matches (99% identity) were with A. niger. On the basis of morphological and molecular approaches, the pathogen was confirmed as A. niger. Of five isolates, AN-5 was used for pathogenicity study. Koch's postulates were satisfied after reisolating the fungus from leaves inoculated with a conidial suspension that showed symptoms (6 days after inoculation) similar to the lesions observed on the leaves collected from Z. officinale. The tests were repeated three times in the greenhouse. Healthy, potted Z. officinale plants were grown in isolation after artificial inoculation with a suspension of spores (10,000 conidia per ml), which was prepared in 100 ml of sterile distilled water and then sprayed on the abaxial and adaxial surface of leaves. Noninoculated plants served as controls. These results confirmed the pathogenicity of A. niger on Z. officinale. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. niger causing a disease on ginger (1). Reference: (1) G. N. Dake. J. Spices Aromatic Crops. 4:40, 1995.

Incidences of Leaf Spots and Blights on Kiwifruit in Korea

Abstract: Various kinds of leaf spots and blights were found in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) orchards on 2006 in Korea. Disease incidences were quite variable between open-field and rain-proof shelter. Rate of diseased leaves was recorded as about 70% at open-field orchards in late season but use of rain-proof vinyl shelters alleviated the disease incidences by 20%. Angular leaf spots appeared at early infection stage on June and several other symptoms were also recognized as the disease developed afterward. On September, brown leaf blights were the most frequent, followed by grayish brown ring spots, silvering gray leaf blights, zonate leaf blights, dark brown ring spots and angular leaf spots at open-field orchards. Four fungal species were frequently isolated from the disease symptoms. Phomopsis sp. was the most predominant fungus associated with the leaf spot and blight symptoms on kiwifruit, followed by Glomerella cingulata, Alternaria alternata and Pestalo-tiopsis sp. Phomopsis sp. was commonly isolated from angular leaf spots, silvering gray leaf blights, and zonate brown leaf blights. G. cingulata, A. alternata and Pestalotiopsis sp. were isolated from grayish brown ring spots (anthracnose), brown ring spots and zonate dark brown leaf blights. Typical symptoms appeared on the wounded and unwounded leaves, which were inoculated by each of Phomopsis sp., G. cingulata, and Pestalotiopsis sp., but A. alternata caused symptoms only on the wounded leaves.

Leaf and pseudobulb diseases on Bifrenaria harrisoniae (Orchidaceae) caused by Phyllosticta capitalensis in Brazil

Abstract: New leaf spot and pseudobulb diseases caused by Phyllosticta capitalensis are reported for the first time on the orchid Bifrenaria harrisoniae.