Thermal inactivation of Plasmodiophora brassicae Woron. and its attempted control by solarization in the Salinas Valley of California

Thermal inactivation of resting spores of P. brassicae Woron. in glasshouse soil depended on temperature, duration of treatment, inoculum concentration, and soil moisture. At 42, 44 and 50°C, the relationship between temperature and the time for thermal inactivation plotted on a semi-log scale was linear. Treatment times up to 45 days at 30°C and 37°C did not reduce infectivity. The detection threshold in the system was 10^0·5 spores/g of soil. At all temperatures tested, inactivation was achieved more rapidly in soil infested with 10² spores/g than with 10⁶ spores/g. Heat treatment was more effective in saturated soil than in half-saturated soil. Soil temperatures in the field in the northern Salinas Valley were increased 11–14°C by tarping with clear, polyethylene plastic. The average weekly maximum temperature and minimum temperature at a 10 cm depth under tarps were 38°C and 29°C respectively. Solarization reduced disease development after a 10-week treatment but not after a 5-week treatment.     

The effect of seed-and soilborne inoculum ofColletotrichum coccodes on the incidence of black dot on potatoes

Summary Soil in a potato field naturally infested with black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) was fumigated with methyl bromide at 126 g m⁻² or left unfumigated. Potato seed tubers (cv. BP1) uninfected, lightly infected (1–25% surface affected), severely infected (26–100% surface affected) and severely infected withC. coccodes but dusted with prochloraz manganese chloride as Octave 2.5% DP at 750 g per 100 kg seed were planted in fumigated and unfumigated soil. When harvested, the incidence of black dot on the progeny of infected seed planted in unfumigated soil was twice that of progeny in fumigated soil, with progeny of uninfected seed having a 68.5 times higher disease incidence in unfumigated soil. Black dot on progeny tubers was reduced by pre-treatment of seed with prochloraz in fumigated soil only. With black dot infested fields, planting disease-free seed or treating seed with fungicides would not decrease disease on progeny tubers.     

Effects of inoculum source and irrigation on black dot disease of potatoes (Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) Hughes) and its development during storage

Summary In 1985 and 1986 plots were planted with seed tubers affected with black dot and with healthy seed inoculated or not with cultures ofColletotrichum coccodes at planting. Half the plots were irrigated from shoot emergence to the end of July. Seed tubers rotted more often when they were diseased than when they were not and rotting was increased by irrigation; by contrast, up to 18 weeks after planting irrigation decreased infection of stem-bases, roots and tubers. Tuber infection, first recorded in July, increased throughout the season and most rapidly from September, when the irrigation applied earlier increased disease. Soil-applied inoculum gave most disease in both years and tubers from healthy seed gave least in 1986 but as much as from diseased seed in 1985. Incidence and severity of black dot increased more during storage at 15°C than at 5°C and only on unwashed tubers.     

Effects of soil solarization on soil-borne populations ofPythium aphanidermatum andFusarium solani and on the potato crop in Tunisia

Summary Soil solarization by mulching with polyethylene for 60 days during summer in Tunisia, was effective in reducing dramatically to a depth of 30 cm inoculum levels ofFusarium solani (Fs) from 3,000 to 450 propagules gram⁻¹ of dry soil. Population densities ofPythium aphanidermatum (Pa) were reduced from 1,700 and 3,000 to 0.5 and 1 propagule gram⁻¹ of dry soil in the top 15 cm and at 1–30 cm depth, respectively. After a subsequent autumn potato crop, populations ofPa remained very low in the previously solarized soil whereas propagule density in non-solarized soils was similar to the initial density. Also, inoculum level ofFs increased by 40% in nonsolarized soils while it remained unchanged in solarized soils, suggesting microbial processes that prevented soil reinfestation. All the annual weeds were eradicated by solar heating but not the perennial weedConvolvulus arvensis. Potato plant growth and yields were improved in solarized plots.     

不同耕层构造对土壤硬度和含水量的影响

在吉林省中部黑土区通过构造不同类型耕层,探讨不同耕层构造对土壤硬度和含水量的影响。结果表明,各处理土壤硬度0～20 cm波动较大,21～45 cm趋于平缓。各处理平均值比较,垄作苗紧行紧土壤最紧实,其次是平作苗紧行紧和传统耕作方式（P<0.05）。土壤含水量随土壤深度的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势,0～30 cm呈增加趋势变化,31～60 cm呈降低趋势。苗紧行松处理含水量在土壤各深度均高于传统耕法,处理间差异达到显著水平（P<0.05）。苗紧行松耕作有效降低土壤硬度,提高土壤含水量,土壤结构改善,耕层土壤水气协调。     

Effects of watering potato plants before harvest and of curing conditions on development of tuber diseases during storage

Summary Plots of potato plants were watered to field capacity one day before harvest on three dates, and tubers from watered and non-watered plots were stored at 7°C and 95% RH immediately or after curing at 15°C either at 80% or 95% RH. Watering increased the severity of silver scurf after storage when tubers were not cured. Curing at 80% RH decreased the disease and amounts were similar from watered and non-watered plants. Black dot was increased by watering whereas black scurf and golding blotch were decreased.     

Association between root growth angle and root length density of a near-isogenic line of IR64 rice with DEEPER ROOTING 1 under different levels of soil compaction

DEEPER ROOTING 1 (DRO1) of rice controls the gravitropic response of root growth angle. In order to clarify the effects of DRO1 on root growth angle and root length density under different soil resistance to penetration, and to quantify the relationship between root growth angle and root length density, we assessed the root growth of Dro1-NIL (a near-isogenic line homozygous for the Kinandang Patong allele of DRO1 in the IR64 background) under upland Andosol field conditions in Japan in 2013 and 2014. The trial included three levels of soil compaction (none, moderate, and hard). Root length density at a depth of 30 to 60 cm was largest in Kinandang Patong, followed by Dro1-NIL, and was least in IR64 in both years and in all compaction treatments. Root length density at this depth decreased with hard compaction (to 70% of control) and increased with moderate compaction (to 135%). The number of roots with a deep angle (i.e. 45° to 90° from the horizontal) measured by the basket method was similar at maximum tillering and maturity stages, and its value as a proportion of the total number of roots was strongly correlated with the root length density at 30 to 60 cm in both years, which demonstrates the importance of a deep root angle for the development of deep roots. Dro1-NIL had a higher proportion of deep roots than IR64, but the difference was small under hard compaction, with a significant genotype × compaction interaction.     

Changes in soil organic carbon in a clay loam soil following ploughing and reseeding of permanent grassland under temperate moist climatic conditions

This study investigated changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) in a poorly drained clay loam soil under (i) permanent grassland (PG) over 7 years and (ii) after PG renovation over 2·5 years. The experimental area was divided into four blocks with four paddocks per block. Composite soil samples from each PG block were taken to 30‐cm depth on five occasions between 2004 and 2011. In June 2008, one paddock per block was renovated by ploughing and reseeding and sampled as above on the latter four occasions. Renovation decreased SOC (P < 0·05) by 32·2 t ha^?1 in the 2·5 years following ploughing; the difference developed almost entirely (86%) in the first four months. Renovation had no effect on above‐ground productivity, standing root and stubble phytomass or on dissolved organic matter leaching. Therefore, soil respiration was considered to be a single potential pathway responsible for the SOC loss from renovated grassland. Although a simple linear regression indicated a tendency for PG to accumulate SOC, there was no evidence of recovery in SOC to previous levels following renovation during the study period. These results could have implications for greenhouse gas inventories in countries where PG is an important land‐use type.     

轮耕对冬小麦田土壤酶活性时空变化的影响

为了解轮耕对土壤酶活性的影响,采用田间定位试验,比较和分析了秸秆还田和不还田条件下,连续3年常规耕作(3C)、1年深翻+2年常规耕作(DP2C)、2年深翻+1年常规耕作(2DPC)和连续3年深翻(3DP)处理的冬小麦田土壤酶活性时空变化特点。结果表明,秸秆还田和深翻均可提高0~40cm土层土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶的活性,其中秸秆还田后平均增幅分别为24.92%、9.20%、6.66%和11.04%,经深翻处理后平均增幅分别为5.33%、6.26%、2.02%和3.43%。随着土层深度增加,各处理土壤酶活性逐渐降低,2DPC和3DP处理相对3C处理20~40cm土层4种土壤酶活性降低幅度较小。秸秆还田配合2DPC、3DP土壤耕作处理不仅能提高酶活性,也有利于酶在土壤中均匀分布。     

HEADING DATES OF S24 PERENNIAL RYEGRASS AND SPRING TEMPERATURES

For spaced plants of Lolium perenne cv. S24 at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth, and at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge, linear relationships were obtained between the recorded heading dates and (a) mean March earth temperatures at 30 cm depth and (b) mean March plus mean April earth temperatures at 30 cm depth. The residual standard deviations were ±2.97 days and ±2.65 days, respectively, A mean March earth temperature of 8°C predicted heading on 5 May, 6° C predicted heading on 12 May, and 4°C predicted heading on 20 May. For sites with an average April temperature significantly below 8.7°C a correction of +2 days per degree mean temperature difference in April had to be applied to these dates. These equations could be used to predict dates for 50% ear emergence in swards with a 50% confidence limit of ±22 days for sites in Central and Southern England and Wales. In certain years, cold, wet weather in May appeared to delay heading considerably at two Scottish sites.     

Soil properties affected by combinations of soil solarization and organic amendment

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects on soil properties of solarization combined with rice bran additive. The treatments included control (bare soil), black polyethylene film mulch (BM), clear polyethylene film mulch (CM), rice bran mixture (RBMx), rice bran mulch (RBM), rice bran mixture and black polyethylene film mulch (RBMx + BM), rice bran and black polyethylene film mulch (RBM + BM), rice bran mixture and clear polyethylene film mulch (RBMx + CM), and rice bran and clear polyethylene film mulch (RBM + CM). Initially, 15 kg m⁻² of rice bran was applied to each treatment as the organic amendment. A cover of black or clear polyethylene film was then used to begin the soil solarization process. Approximately 49 days later, the polyethylene film was removed and five broccoli seedlings per replication were planted 6 weeks later. The combination of rice bran mixture with the clear/transparent polyethylene film mulch (RBMx + CM) raised both the mean and maximum soil temperatures over 0–30 cm of soil depth. Maximum soil temperature under the RBMx + CM treatment was the highest of all treatments (77°C) and were about 32°C greater than under the control, while it was only 52°C under RBM + BM treatment. Combining rice bran with clear/transparent polyethylene film mulch during the soil solarization process is recommended for raising soil temperatures. Further investigation over a longer period of soil solarization process with rice bran–organic amendment and polyethylene film mulch combinations is required to more accurately determine their effects on soil properties and crop production.     

Seed longevity and seedling emergence rate of Urochloa decumbens as influenced by sowing depth in a Cerrado soil

Urochloa decumbens (Signal grass) is an African grass species that is widely used in Brazil for pasture formation, and it has a high potential for invading natural areas. This study evaluated the longevity of U. decumbens seeds in the soil seed bank and the emergence rates of seedlings from different depths. In the greenhouse (natural light; ~25°C), seeds were sown at depths of 0, 1, 2 or 3 cm, in trays filled with sterile soil, to assess seedling emergence. Seeds sowed on the soil surface began to germinate 3 days after sowing. Seeds sowed at depths of 2 and 3 cm germinated 5 days after sowing. No seedlings emerged after 15 days. The seedling emergence rate was 74 ± 7% with no significant difference between sowing depths. In the field, seed longevity was evaluated by burying 60 replicates of 100 seeds at a soil depth of 2–3 cm, in a Cerrado area in the IBGE Ecological Reserve, Brasília. From September 2016 to April 2017, five samples were retrieved monthly to assess seed viability. In September, the viability was 68%, declining to 3% in October; by February, viable seeds were no longer recorded. As U. decumbens flowers in several episodes throughout the year, a soil survey may result in a misleading interpretation of the formation of a permanent soil seed bank.     

The effect of temperature on the development of wilting and on progeny tuber infection of potatoes inoculated with South African strains of biovar 2 and 3 ofPseudomonas solanacearum

Summary Potato plants, after inoculation with a South African strain of biovar 2 or a strain of biovar 3 ofPseudomonas solanacearum were grown in growth chambers at temperatures ranging from 14/16°C (dark/light) up to 25/30°C. When grown at 14/16°C or higher, plants inoculated with the biovar 2 strain developed wilting symptoms and internal symptoms on progeny tubers and the disease was transmitted by the progeny tubers. When the plants were inoculated with the biovar 3 strain, wilting symptoms developed from 18/20°C, internal symptoms on progeny tubers from 20/22°C and the disease was transmitted by progeny tubers from plants grown at 16/18°C or higher.     

A study on soil solarization and combined with fumigant application to control Phytophthora crown blight (Phytophthora capsici Leonian) on peppers in the East Mediterranean region of Turkey

Field trials conducted in the pepper growing area ( çel/Turkey) showed that solarization alone and combined with a reduced dose of methyl bromide (40 g/m²), were effective in controlling crown blight disease caused by Phytophthora capsici. Solarization was achieved by covering plots with a clear polyethylene sheet, 0.03 mm thick for 8 weeks. The temperature reached 47 °C and 35 °C at 5 cm and 30 cm soil depth, respectively, an average of 3–8 °C higher than those at equivalent depths in the untreated plots. The average incidence of the disease in solarization plus a reduced dose of methyl bromide, the recommended dose of methyl bromide, solarized and untreated plots in 1991 and 1992 were 17.6 and 13.3%; 20.8 and 16.8%; 24.1 and 19.7%; 39.8 and 42.9%, respectively. All treatments significantly reduced disease incidence.     

Ludwigia hyssopifolia emergence and growth as affected by light, burial depth and water management

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of light, seed burial depth, and flooding on germination, emergence and growth of Ludwigia hyssopifolia. Germination was strongly stimulated by light, suggesting that seeds of this species are positively photoblastic. Seeds sown on the soil surface gave the greatest percentage of seedling emergence in plastic trays, and no seedlings emerged from seeds buried in soil at depths of ≥1 cm. Intermittent or shallow flooding suppressed emergence and growth of L. hyssopifolia. Flooding to a depth of 2 cm for 4 days out of 7 days reduced seedling emergence by more than 71% and seedling dry matter by 97% compared to where the soil had not been flooded. Flooding up to a depth of 10 cm however, when delayed to 21 days after sowing, did not significantly suppress growth of this species. This study illustrates the role of seed burial by tillage and flooding as two important tools for the management of L. hyssopifolia.     

Prior weakening of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium propagules for enhancing efficiency of Brassica amendments

In a two year field study, the effect of varying intensities of sub-lethal heating on the efficiency of Brassica amendments in controlling viable populations of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f sp. cumini was determined in an arid region of India. After 30 d of dry summer exposure of pathogen infested soil, incorporation of mustard residues and oil cake (0.18% and 0.04% w/w) and then applying one irrigation caused significant reduction by 75.3–81.3% in viable counts of M. phaseolina that causes dry root rot of legumes and by 93.9% in counts of F.o. f. sp. cumini causing wilt of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) at 0–15 and 16–30 cm depths. Increasing duration of summer exposure to 60 d improved the reductions in viable propagules of M. phaseolina by 83.6–90.4% and in F.o. f. sp. cumini by 78.2–94.8% at same soil depths. At certain heat levels, reduction in viable population of Fusarium due to amendments and irrigation was greater than that recorded in Macrophomina. Significantly low levels of reduction in pathogenic propagules of Macrophomina (63.9–71.4%) and Fusarium (48.0–57.2%) under shade compared to unshaded conditions indicated that mild heating did not cause discernible weakening effect. In second season also, 89.2–91.5% and 78.5–95.8% reduction in counts of Macrophomina and Fusarium, respectively was achieved by the application of amendments after 60 d of summer exposure at 0–30 cm soil depth. These results suggested a new approach to improve the control of soil-borne plant pathogens in hot arid regions by combining prolonged sub-lethal heating, effective naturally available on-farm wastes as soil amendments and one summer irrigation.     

The influence of tuber position on periderm calcium content and its relationship to soft rot susceptibility

Summary Calcium levels in the periderm of tubers (cv. Sebago) growing in irrigated sands were influenced by the stem position at which the tuber grew, but the effect was not consistent over two seasons. Calcium levels were increased at all tuber positions by addition of calcium to soil; combined treatments of gypsum (1400 kg Ca²⁺/ha) pre-plant and calcium nitrate (37 kg Ca²⁺/ha) side dressings gave the greatest response. Percentage incidence of soft rot lesions caused byErwinia chrysanthemi pv.zeae was not influenced by periderm calcium content. The severity of infection (weight of tissue macerated within 48 h at 30°C) was significantly reduced only by the pre-plant gypsum treatment, but there was no correlation with calcium content of the periderm. Calcium levels in periderm tissue (60–208 mg Ca²⁺/100g) are within the range of published data for other cultivars and results support previous reports that the correlation between tuber susceptibility toErwinia spp. and periderm calcium content is inconsistent.     

Effect of wet incubation time and temperature on infection, and of storage time and temperature on soft rot lesion expansion in potatoes inoculated withErwinia carotovora ssp.Carotovora

Summary Infection and lesion expansion studies were carrried out on potato tubers. In the infection study, the tubers were inoculated withErwinia carotovora ssp.carotovora (Ecc) and exposed to incubation temperatures of 10–25 °C for 3–48 h of wetness. In the lesion expansion study, the tubers were exposed to 12 h of wetness at 20 °C to establish infection, and then·stored at temperatures of 4–16 °C for 15–90 d, at 95% RH. The volume of diseased tissue was determined and the data were transformed to proportion of maximum volume diseased (PVD). Infection was close to zero for 3 and 6 h wet incubation time, regardless of incubation temperature, and reached the maximum in 12 h of wetness at 20 °C. Significant lesion expansion occurred at a storage temperature of 16 °C after about 60 d of storage time. Cubic models of infection and lesion expansion potentials explained 95 and 96% of the variations in infection and lesion expansion, respectively.     

耕作措施与不同秸秆还田方式对黑土物理指标及固定态铵的影响

通过两年田间定位试验,探究深翻与旋耕处理及其不同秸秆还田条件下农田黑土耕层(0～20 cm)土壤容重、三相比和固定态铵的影响。结果表明,深翻能改善因长期旋耕造成的土壤紧实状况,显著降低20～40 cm土壤容重;秸秆还田方式对土壤容重、三相比有显著影响,影响效果由大到小依次为秸秆还田秸秆还田配施有机肥秸秆不还田处理;耕层土壤固定态铵对两种耕作处理无明显响应,对不同秸秆还田方式则具有显著响应,其中秸秆还田配施有机肥能有效增加固定态铵,秸秆还田次之;不同秸秆还田方式耕层土壤固定态铵含量与固相比呈显著负相关(R2=0.538)。深翻结合秸秆还田配施有机肥能较好地改善农田黑土土壤容重、三相比、提高固定态铵含量,可在该区域适当推广。     

Effect of Soil Temperature,Injection Depth,and Metam Sodium Rate on the Management of Verticillium Wilt of Potato

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is a primary component of the early dying complex of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the United States. Although genetic resistance to V. dahliae exists and has been incorporated into several potato cultivars, the commercial potato industry is still dominated by cultivars susceptible to the pathogen. As a result, soil fumigation with metam sodium remains an important means by which Verticillium wilt is controlled, despite its expense and potentially negative environmental impact. Recent restrictions on metam sodium use by the Environmental Protection Agency directed at reducing exposure to vapor emissions have increased the need to improve shank injection of the soil fumigant. In studies reported here, the application of metam sodium reduced the severity of Verticillium wilt, however, soil temperature at the time of injection, metam sodium injection depth, and application rate had little overall effect. In 2011, temperature at the time of metam sodium injection did not result in significant differences in any parameter evaluated. However, in 2012, soil populations of V. dahliae, wilt severity and host colonization were significantly reduced when metam sodium was applied at 4 °C compared to 13 or 15 °C. No significant differences were observed between a single or two metam sodium injection depths in any parameter evaluated across the 2 years the study was conducted. While all rates of metam sodium significantly reduced soil populations of V. dahliae compared to the non-treated control, significant differences across rates were rarely observed. Improved control of Verticillium wilt and increased yield can be achieved as a result of these studies. The effective control of Verticillium wilt can be obtained by using metam sodium at a comparatively low rate of 373 l/ha, particularly when applied at a relatively cold soil temperature of 4 °C using a single injection depth of 25 cm. The potential impact of these application modifications of metam sodium in reducing emissions and non-target exposure is discussed.