The effect of hail protection nets on Glomerella leaf spot in ‘royal Gala’ apple

In commercial apple orchards in southern Brazil, it is common to avoid hail damage by covering the trees with nets. This study was carried out to assess the effects of both black and white hail netting on the temporal dynamics of Glomerella Leaf Spot disease (GLS) in a commercial ‘Royal Gala’ apple orchard in a high-altitude region of southern Brazil during two growing seasons (2003/2004 and 2004/2005). Apple trees on M9 rootstock, trained to a slender spindle and with a spacing of 5.5 m × 3 m, were left uncovered (control) or covered with black or white hail netting. The incidence and severity of GLS were quantified biweekly from October to February by evaluating 100 leaves distributed randomly on four medium-height branches per plant on each 12 replications per treatment. Disease progress curves were constructed from the data and the epidemics were compared by using four epidemiological measures: the beginning of symptom appearance (BSA), the time to reach the maximum disease intensity (TRMDI), the maximum value of disease severity (Y_max), and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The highest intensity of GLS was observed in the plants under the black hail netting. Significant reductions in BSA and TRMDI and significant increases in Y_max and AUDPC were found among treatments in both growing seasons. However, no significant differences of GLS were found between the white hail netting and the control in either growing season.     

First report of tobacco root rot caused by Gelasinospora reticulata

In August 2012, a new tobacco root disease was observed in a number of tobacco fields in Shi-Ka Village, Pianbai Town, Youyang County of Chongqing City, China. The disease incidence varied from 10% to 40%, and the seedling mortality ranged from 50% to 80%. Affected tobacco plants developed symptoms characterized by a progressive yellowing and wilting of leaves, brown or black streaks in the stems, and root necrosis that eventually lead to the death of the plant. In this study, we were able to confirm field observations in the greenhouse using fungal isolates. The seedling mortality rate under artificial inoculation was 100%. The results of a pathogenicity test and morphological studies as well as rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin sequence analyses indicated that the disease was caused by Gelasinospora reticulata. This is a novel root rot disease on tobacco caused by this pathogen.     

The use of reflective mulch to reduce the incidence of watermelon mosaic virus in Western Australia

Watermelon mosaic virus has caused losses in cucurbits in the last 8 years in the Gascoyne River district of Western Australia. Neither insecticides nor oil sprays have reduced the incidence of this disease. In three trials, plants mulched with reflective (aluminium) polythene were less infected (by 21%, 30% and 72%) than were those given a control treatment; yield increases of watermelons ranged from 77% to 270%. Black polythene mulch also reduced the incidence of virus and increased yield, but to a lesser degree. In all experiments the disease incidence rose more slowly in the mulch plots: this effect contributed greatly to the observed increase in yield.     

开封地区花生病毒病及流行规律研究

1988—1991四年调查说明,花生矮化病毒(PSV.)引起普通花叶病害,花生条纹病毒(PStV)引起轻斑驳病害是开封花生两种主要病毒病。PSV通过花生种传,测定自花生普通花叶病株收集近4000粒种子,PSV种传率0.025％。刺槐花叶树是花生上PSV另一个初浸染源。PSV开封刺槐分离物(R_3、R_4)在鉴别寄主上反应和血清学性质上和PSV-Mi相一致,但引起花生病害症状较PSV—Mi轻。开封市农科所一带刺槐花叶病树率平均30.7％。四年病害流行程度差异显著。1988和1991年花生生长季雨量少,蚜虫发生量大,分别为PSV严重和中度流行年。1989和1990年雨水较多,蚜虫发生少,病害显著减轻。     

Relationship between leaf injury and colonization of cabbage by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Mechanical and insect feeding injuries of cabbage provided sites for ingress by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In field studies, injuries sustained by hitting cabbage heads with a blunt object penetrated several leaf layers and were readily infected by S. sclerotiorum. Incidence of Sclerotinia rot ranged from 15 to 36% infected plants in the hitting treatment. Disease incidence was low (0–5%) when wounds were created by allowing lepidopterous larvae (the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae L., the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni Hubner) to feed on cabbage leaves. The incidence of colonization of lepidopterous larvae feeding sites by S. sclerotiorum was greater in greenhouse studies (5–60% infected feeding sites) than in field studies. In greenhouse studies, disease incidence was significantly greater in plants receiving hitting injuries than tearing injuries. There was little evidence of inoculation day or injury day effects. Colonization frequency of tissue injured mechanically was similar whether wounds were inoculated immediately or 4 days later. Plants that were incubated in a dry environment developed fewer infections than plants held in a moist environment. Inoculated plants that were not injured did not develop disease.     

Failure of metalaxyl to eradicate late blight on potatoes (cv. Green Mountain)

Eradication of potato late blight with metalaxyl was examined in field studies from 1980 to 1983. In 1980 disease outbreak and subsequent progression were late and moderate. In 1981 and 1983, they were early and moderate to severe, while in 1982 the disease became established later in the season but developed rapidly and resulted in moderate to severe damage to foliage. There were no significant differences in foliar disease severity among metalaxyl treatments. While treated plots generally showed significantly less foliar damage throughout the season than untreated plots, except in 1983, the reduction in foliar damage in September was only 30–50% in 1980, 10–20% in 1981, 20–30% in 1982, and less than 10% in 1983. Sporulation of the pathogen occurred readily on infected leaves of both treated and untreated plants. There were no significant differences in yield, but application of metalaxyl to foliage significantly reduced the incidence of late blight tuber rot.     

大豆花叶病毒（SMV）流行的产量损失及其模型预测

网室接种和田间调查测定SMV引致大豆的产量损失证明,SMV侵染大豆植株愈是在生育早期产量损失愈重。盛花期以后发病的植株产量损失显著减小,鼓粒初期的病株几乎无产量损失。SMV不同毒株引致的产量损失显著不同,强毒株的侵染,引致感病品种的产量损失平均超过弱毒株的40％。根据不同初侵染水平的30组SMV流行与产量损失数据,采用逐步回归分析,建立了准确度较高的产量损失预测多点模型和单点模型。根据损失测定,大豆盛花期的SMV病株率低于3％可控制SMV流行所造成的产量损失。     

Attempts to extend seed potato production in Israel to new areas at high altitudes

Summary Attempts were made to grow seed potatoes in the Gilboa mountains and central Golan Heights both at ca 500 m altitude. The activity of winged aphids was low between May and September, the period suitable for growing seed potatoes. Potato virus X (PVX) and potato virus Y (PVY) were rare. The highest incidence of potato leaf roll (PLRV) was 17% at Gilboa and 5% at Nov (central Golan). In both areas, spindle sprout was a severe problem in progeny tubers and it was associated with a purple top syndrome, probably caused by a mycoplasma, that appeared during growth. Activity of the probable vector, the leafhopperHyalesthes obsoletus, ceases in the Golan after June. Delaying planting until the end of May or later reduced the incidence of purple top and spindle sprout to nil. Both were reduced by Temik treatment and by covering the plots with netting but not by treatments with Rogor and Croneton. All three chemicals reduced PLRV incidence. Therefore, delayed plantings and insecticides may reduce purple top, spindle sprout and PLRV. This work was partly supported by funds of BARD 339-80.     

橡胶树灵芝茎腐病病原菌鉴定及其生物学特性测定

在海南省澄迈等地的橡胶树林地发现一种新的茎腐病,由灵芝属的一种木腐菌侵染橡胶树活立木的茎干引起,株发病率约为1%~2%,田间发生茎腐病的断干橡胶树植株,新抽枝条上的叶片失绿,无光泽,变黄后脱落,后期树冠稀疏,生长不良、枯枝,病树茎干木质部组织白腐,重病植株整株枯死。对该病害的病原菌进行致病性测定、形态学特征鉴定,并建立ITS、LSU和SSU多基因系统发育树。结合形态学鉴定和多基因系统发育树鉴定结果,海南橡胶树灵芝茎腐病的病原菌鉴定为南方灵芝[Ganoderma austral (Fr.) Pat.]。生物学特性测定结果表明,该菌的菌丝最适生长条件为：温度30 ℃,pH 6.0,黑暗条件,马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂（PDA）培养基培养。     

Productivity and persistence of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth)

A field trial measured effects of the head smut fungus Ustilago bullata Berk, on forage productivity of prairie grass ( Bromus willdenowii Kunth). Simulated swards containing different proportions of U. bullata infected and non infected plants were established in the autumn, and sward and plant parameters were measured over the following 15 months. Total herbage produced from swards containing only non-infected plants was 27.3 t ha⁻¹, while that from totally infected swards was 14.6 t ha⁻¹. Infected plants produced fewer and lighter tillers than non-infected plants when both were growing together in swards. Almost all the U. bullata infected plants died during an epidemic of bacterial wilt disease (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. graminis (Egli, Goto and Schmidt) Dye), while most of the'non-infected plants survived. The deleterious effects of U. bullata on individual plant productivity affected sward productivity only when the proportion of infected plants in swards was greater than 50%. Plants not infected with U. bullata compensated for low productivity and death of infected plants by producing large numbers of tillers.     

Control of brown rot of stone fruits by brief heated water immersion treatments

The effectiveness of brief (30 or 60 s) immersion in water at 24, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 °C was evaluated for the control of brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, on California-grown peaches, nectarines, and plums. Inoculated fruits were treated and either stored at 20 °C for 5 days or at 0 °C and 95% RH for 30 days followed by 5 days at 20 °C to simulate commercial marketing conditions. Immersion in water at 55 °C for 60 s or at 60 °C for 30 or 60 s significantly reduced both decay incidence and severity among the remaining wounds that developed the disease. Water temperatures of 65 °C or higher were phytotoxic and caused moderate to severe surface injuries. Immersion in water at 60 °C for 60 s was effective for plums and it reduced the incidence of brown rot from more than 80% among control fruit to less than 2%. In nectarines, this treatment reduced decay incidence from 100 to less than 5% on fruit stored at 20 °C and from 73 to 28% on cold-stored fruit. Therefore, brief immersion in heated water can be an effective approach to manage postharvest brown rot of stone fruits, especially for the organic fruit industry.     

Management of fusarium basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae) on shallot through fungicidal bulb treatment

Fusarium basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae is an economic disease of shallot. Field experiments were conducted at Debre Zeit during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons to determine effective fungicides and their method of application for the management of fusarium basal rot of shallot. The field was naturally infested with F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae and treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design in four replications. Five fungicides, Mirage 50 WP, Folicur 25 EC, Seed plus 30 WS, Penncozeb 80 WP and Ridomil Gold 68 WG were evaluated as seed bulb dressing and bulb dip treatments against basal rot in the field and storage. Bulb dressing with Mirage, and dip treatment in Seed plus reduced the disease incidence by 40% and 43%, respectively over control. These fungicides also resulted in a significant reduction in severity, basal rot affected cull bulbs on shallot. Bulb rot during three months of storage on concrete ground floor and on wire mesh shelves was also reduced by seed bulb treatment over control. The highest increase in yield was obtained from bulb dressing with Mirage (42%) and Seed plus (45%) and from bulb dip treatment in Seed plus (44%) over control. Fusarium basal rot caused 45% loss in yield and 12-30% of bulb loss in the storage. The study showed that basal rot of shallot can be managed effectively by seed bulb dressing or dip treatment in Mirage or Seed plus.     

15种药剂对芦笋茎枯病病原菌的毒力测定

通过菌丝生长法对芦笋茎枯病进行15种药剂的室内筛选实验，以期为该病害的大田防治提供参考。综合分析结果表明：50%多菌灵、75%百菌清和70%甲基托布津的EC50和EC95最小，抑菌效果最好；2%嘧啶核苷悬浮剂和20%噻菌铜的EC50和EC95最大。通过对药剂抑菌效果和使用成本的分析，生产上使用50%多菌灵、75%百菌清、70%甲基托布津、25%阿米西达、50%异菌脲、80%代森锰锌和30%爱苗防治芦笋茎枯病。     

Effect of soil solarisation and mouldboard ploughing on black dot of potato, caused byColletotrichum coccodes

Summary Preplant soil solarisation and mouldboard ploughing to a depth of 30 and 60 cm respectively were evaluated in two field experiments for the control ofColletotrichum coccodes causing black dot of potato. Solarisation reduced disease incidence by 45% when tarping was done for eight weeks and temperatures reached 56°C in the top 5 cm of soil. With a six week tarping period and lower maximum temperature (50°C) the reduction in disease was a nori-significant 25%. Mouldboard ploughing to a depth of 30 cm reduced black dot by 34% and was twice as effective as ploughing to a depth of 60 cm.     

马铃薯脱毒试管苗二次结薯的产量试验

为解决生产中存在的马铃薯脱毒试管苗生产成本高、生产微型薯繁殖系数低、造成微型薯价格居高不下的难题,本研究选用两个马铃薯品种(抗疫白和润者),在防虫温室收获完微型薯后,把植株再移栽到网棚,株行距20 cm×60 cm,继续使其结薯,进行二次收获。结果其产量远高于第一次收获生产微型薯的产量,因此大大提高了种薯生产效率。     

Environmental factors influencing aphid transmission of potato virus Y and potato leafroll virus

Summary The effect of temperature, relative humidity (RH) and light on aphid transmission of potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leafroll virus (PLRV) was studied using as vectorsMyzus persicae Sulz. andAphis gossypii Glov. Host susceptibility was enhanced by 48 h pre-inoculation exposure at 25°C and by 48 h post-inoculation exposure to 30°C. High RH (80%) in both pre- or postinoculation phases enhanced host susceptibility. Continuous fluorescent light (4000 lux) did not alter the rate of transmission of either virus. High RH (80–90%) and high temperature (25–30°C), when combined, increased virus transmission by 30–35%. Transmission rates were reduced by nearly 50% if RH was maintained at 50% in either of the two phases even if the temperature was 25 or 30°C. Both viruses were acquired by aphids earlier (13–20 days after inoculation) when the source plants were incubated at 25 or 30°C. Most virus was transmitted from plants inoculated with PVY 13 to 16 days and with PLRV 15 to 20 days previously. Transmission rates of PVY were enumerated from symptom expression on test plants and by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) whereas those of PLRV were enumerated from symptom expression alone.     

华南特色大棚对夏季菜心栽培的影响

为解华南特色大棚种植蔬菜的优势,以露地栽培为对照,研究了防雨棚和防虫网棚对夏季菜心栽培的影响。结果表明:防雨棚和防虫网棚栽培可缩短菜心生育期、增加单株重、提高产量、提高菜心含水量、减少粗纤维含量、明显减少虫害。防虫网棚和防雨棚在夏季栽培菜心具有显著的优势,防雨棚除虫害防治上稍差于防虫网以外,菜心的生长势、产量、品质等均优于防虫网棚。     

三亚春季豇豆防虫网覆盖栽培小气候研究初报

研究了三亚春季防虫网覆盖栽培对豇豆生长小气候环境（温度、光照强度、湿度）的影响。结果表明：防虫网覆盖栽培能降低豇豆生长环境的温度，减弱光照强度，对空气湿度影响小。     

Mosaic Virus Symptoms in Potato Crops and the Occurrence of Growth Cracking in Tubers

Infection of potato plants by viruses causing mosaic symptoms may result in a reduction in crop yield, depending on severity of symptoms and incidence. In 2004 and 2007, an investigation was undertaken to examine the relationship between plants with mosaic symptoms and the occurrence of growth cracking in daughter tubers. Samples of pairs of plants affected by mosaic symptoms and plants with no symptoms were collected from nine potato crops, of which seven were cv. Estima, containing at least 20% mosaic-affected plants. Growth cracking was more prevalent on mosaic-affected plants of cv. Estima than on plants with no symptoms. The incidence of growth cracking was much greater on plants showing mosaic symptoms caused by a mixed infection of Potato virus A and Potato virus V together than on symptomatic plants infected by either virus alone. The presence of virus in plants with no symptoms did not affect the incidence of tubers affected by cracking. In a crop of the advanced selection Blue Tzar, plants with mosaic symptoms caused by Potato virus Y ^N produced more tubers with cracking than plants with no symptoms. Growth cracking did not occur in the one sampled crop of cv. Désirée infected by Potato virus A.