Effect of clover-free rotations upon the severity of root rot and yield in regenerating subterranean clover pastures

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti

In two field trials, complete removal of subterranean clover for one season, or in particular two seasons, significantly reduced tap and lateral root disease in the immediate following year in which subterranean clover was allowed to regenerate. By the second season of regeneration these effects were either small or absent. Subterranean clover removal had greater effect on reducing lateral root disease than tap root disease in regenerating pastures. There were often large increases in plant size in regenerating pastures following complete removal of subterranean clover for one season or, in particular, two consecutive seasons. This effect also persisted poorly beyond the first season of regeneration. The losses in terms of subterranean clover herbage and seed yield during the period of subterranean clover removal were not offset by subsequent benefits from root disease reductions, as there was no corresponding increase in total herbage production. Subterranean clover removal had a variable effect upon the per cent subterranean clover v. grass ratio in regenerating pastures. Removal of subterranean clover for short periods (1 or 2 years) as an agronomic practice does not appear to be useful in overcoming root rot problems associated with this species in the high (> 750 mm) rainfall zone, the zone where severe root rot most frequently occurs in Western Australia.

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (121) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti

Investigations were carried out in south-western Western Australia in 1977-78 to assess the relationship between dry weights of subterranean clover tops and roots and the severity of root rot. An inverse relationship was established between the severity of rotting of the tap root system and the plant top and the root dry weights. There was no relationship between the severity of root rot of the lateral root system and the plant top and root dry weights.


2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiernan A. O'Rourke ◽  
Tim T. Scanlon ◽  
Megan H. Ryan ◽  
Len J. Wade ◽  
Alan C. McKay ◽  
...  

Pasture decline is considered to be a serious challenge to agricultural productivity of subterranean clover across southern Australia. Root disease is a significant contributing factor to pasture decline. However, root disease assessments are generally carried out in the early part of the growing season and in areas predominantly sown to permanent pastures. For this reason, in spring 2004, a survey was undertaken to determine the severity of root disease in mature subterranean clover plants in pastures located in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. DNA-based soil assays were used to estimate population density in the soil of a variety of soil-borne pathogens known to commonly occur in the Mediterranean-type environments of southern Australia. The relationships between severity of disease on tap and lateral roots and root diameter, root length, nodulation, and total rainfall were determined. The survey showed, for the first time, that severe root disease is widespread in spring across the wheatbelt of Western Australia. There was a positive correlation between rainfall and tap root disease, and between tap root disease and average root diameter of the entire root system. Despite the high levels of root disease present across the sites, the DNA of most root disease pathogens assayed was detected in trace concentrations. Only Pythium Clade F showed high DNA concentrations in the soil. DNA concentrations in the soil, in particular for Phytophthora clandestina and Rhizoctonia solani AG 2.1 and AG 2.2, were higher in the smaller autumn sampling in 2006. This study suggests that the productivity of subterranean clover-based pastures is severely compromised by root rot diseases throughout the growing season in the wheatbelt of Western Australia.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. You ◽  
I. T. Riley ◽  
K. Sivasithamparam ◽  
M. J. Barbetti

Surveys were conducted for annual Medicago spp. (medic) pastures in the grain belt of south-west Western Australia during spring 1996 and winter–spring 1997 to determine the relationship of rainfall, cultural practices, soil and plant nutrients, and seedling survival with severity of root disease and numbers of parasitic nematodes. Medic pasture was sampled on 116 farms. Most pastures consisted of a single medic variety, viz. Serena, Santiago, Cyprus, or Caliph, whereas about 33% of sites had mixed varieties. Regression analyses showed that high rainfall and application of phosphorus fertilisers were correlated with increased severity of rot in medic tap roots. Crop history and medic variety were not related to the level of root rot. Numbers of Pratylenchusin medic roots were not correlated with the level of tap or lateral root rot, medic variety, rainfall, or with the application of insecticide, fertilisers, or herbicides. Soil with relatively high levels of P, NO3-, or Fe was associated with an increased level of tap root rot. Soils with high pH were associated with reduced tap root rot. Soils with relatively high K were related to severe lateral root rot, whereas relatively high levels of P in soil were associated with reduced lateral root rot. Plants with high levels of tap root rot showed low levels of Mg, whilst low levels of Ca and NO3– in tissues were related to high levels of lateral root rot. High levels of tap root rot were associated with relatively high levels of total N, K, and S, Cu, Zn, Mn, and NO3- in plant tissues. Plants with relatively high levels of lateral root rot had relatively high levels of Cu in shoots. Of the 116 annual Medicago pastures sampled, only 1% had adequate Mg content and only 19% had adequate Ca content. However, 83% had higher than adequate levels of Cu, 70% had higher than adequate levels of Mn, and all samples showed more than adequate levels of chloride. Experimental sites of M. polymorpha cv. Serena at 6 farms showed that the percentage survival rate of seedlings was negatively correlated with the severity of tap and lateral root rot in the previous year. These results indicate that in the farms surveyed there is a serious threat to annual medic pastures from root rot fungi. The severity of the disease was partly determined by soil conditions and cultural practices.


2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiernan A. O'Rourke ◽  
Megan H. Ryan ◽  
Tim T. Scanlon ◽  
Krishnapillai Sivasithamparam ◽  
Martin J. Barbetti

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is a key pasture legume across southern Australia and elsewhere. Decline in subterranean clover pastures was first recognised in Australia during the 1960s and manifests as an increase in weeds and a decrease in desirable legume species. While both root disease and poor nutrition contribute to subterranean clover pasture decline, the relationships between root disease and nutrition have not been determined. The objective of this study was to define these relationships. Field experiments were undertaken to determine the nutritional and pathogen status of soils and subterranean clover from three Western Australian field sites. Subsequently, controlled environment experiments were undertaken to determine the relative severities of tap and lateral root disease and growth of plants when soil cores taken from these three field sites were amended with a complete nutrient solution or a range of individual macro- or micronutrient treatments. Application of a ‘Hoaglands’ complete nutrient solution decreased the severity of tap root disease by an average of 45% and lateral root disease by 32%. Amendment with K alone reduced the severity of tap root disease an average of 32%; while the application of N alone reduced the severity of tap root disease by 33% and lateral root disease by 27%. Application of Hoaglands, K, N or Zn increased shoot and root dry weight, while Mo only increased shoot dry weight. This is the first report to show that mineral nutrients can substantially ameliorate root disease in subterranean clover. The results demonstrate that while root disease limits plant growth, improvement in the nutritional status of nutrient-impoverished soils can significantly reduce root disease. There is significant potential to incorporate nutrient amendments into an integrated and more sustainable approach to better manage root disease and to increase productivity of pasture legumes where soils are inherently nutrient deficient in one or more nutrients.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Simpfendorfer ◽  
T. J. Harden ◽  
G. M. Murray

The interaction between 29 isolates of Rhizobium and the in vitro growth of 3 strains of Phytophthora clandestina was investigated to determine the potential of these bacteria as biological control agents against root rot of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). The biological control activity of Rhizobium on the severity of root disease in seedlings was also investigated under glasshouse conditions. Thirteen of the 29 Rhizobium isolates caused significant reductions in the hyphal growth of the 3 P. clandestina isolates examined. Inoculation of seedlings with Rhizobium trifolii reduced the severity of root disease by 14–58% with corresponding increases in dry matter production of 20–73%. These results indicate that Rhizobium species have potential as biological control agents against the root rot of T. subterraneum seedlings caused by P. clandestina.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Foster ◽  
Ming Pei You ◽  
Brett Nietschke ◽  
Nick Edwards ◽  
Martin J. Barbetti

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) is an important pasture legume in many regions of Australia, and elsewhere. A survey was undertaken in 2014 to define the levels of soilborne disease and associated pathogens in annual subterranean clover pastures across southern Australia. Most of the 202 samples processed had very severe levels of taproot rot disease (disease index 60–80%) and extremely severe lateral root rot disease (disease index 80–100%). A complex of soilborne root pathogens including Aphanomyces trifolii, Phytophthora clandestina, and one or more of Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium spp. was found responsible for severe pre- and post-emergence damping-off and root disease. This is the first study to highlight the high incidence of A. trifolii across southern Australian pastures and the first to highlight the existence of natural synergistic associations in the field between Rhizoctonia and Pythium spp., Pythium and Fusarium spp., Pythium spp. and A. trifolii, and P. clandestina and A. trifolii. Nodulation was generally poor, mainly only in the 20–40% nodulation index range. There was no relationship between rainfall zone and tap or lateral root disease level, with root disease equally severe in lower (330 mm) and higher (1000 mm) rainfall zones. This dispels the previous belief that severe root disease in subterranean clover is an issue only in higher rainfall zones. Although overall the relationship between tap and lateral root disease was relatively weak, these two root-disease components were strongly positively expressed within each pathogen’s presence grouping, providing explanation for variability in this relationship across different field situations where soilborne root disease is a major problem. Most producers underestimated the levels and effect of root disease in their pastures. This study established that tap and lateral root diseases are widespread and severe, having devastating impact on the feed gap during autumn–early winter across southern Australia. Severe root disease was independent of the highly variable complex of soilborne pathogens associated with diseased roots, geographic location and rainfall zone. It is evident that soilborne root diseases are the primary factor responsible for widespread decline in subterranean clover productivity of pastures across southern Australia. Implications for disease management and options for extension are discussed.


1983 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. O. Tayo

SUMMARYIn two field trials in 1982, the seeds of pigeon pea (cv. Cita-1) were planted at three configurationsof0·6 x 0·2m;0·4 x 0·3 m and 0·35 x 0·35m(on 14 April and 24 June)giving the same projected population density of 83 000 plants/ha for each configuration, in order to evaluate the best planting configuration for maximum productivity of the crop.In the first trial, the 0·35 x 0·35 m configuration developed the highest magnitude of vegetative characters whilst the 0·4 x 0·3 m configuration had the highest number of seed-bearing pods, although seed yield was similar in all the treatments. In the second trial, the 0·4 x 0·3 m configuration developed the highest magnitude of growth and yield characters and thereby out-yielded the other two configurations.The results show that in the early planting of pigeon pea, population density per se is most important in determining seed yield whereas planting configuration also becomes important in late planting where plant size is reduced as a consequence of the prevailing local conditions.


1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (92) ◽  
pp. 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti ◽  
GC MacNish

Investigations in 1974 identified the fungi associated with the roots of subterranean clover at four irrigated sites at Wagerup, Western Australia. Two of these sites had previously had a disease problem, two were apparently healthy. A range of fungi were isolated, including Pythium irregulare, P. debaryanum, P. acanthicum, P. middletonii, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia spp. There was a more rapid buildup of Pythium spp. population following the initial irrigation, and an overall lower incidence of Fusarium spp., at the diseased sites. The incidence of Rhizoctonia spp. was usually low and variable at all sites. Disease index ratings rose more rapidly for diseased sites. No association was proven between disease incidence and soil water potential. The three most frequently isolated fungi; viz. P. irregulare, P. acanthicum, and F. oxysporum, were all shown to be capable, under the conditions of this investigation, of producing high levels of tap and lateral root rot, and of causing reductions in seedling emergence. In some cases the levels of both tap and lateral root rot were increased, and the plant emergence decreased, by the application of two or more fungi in combination in comparison with application of a single fungus. Overall P. irregulare was the most pathogenic of the fungi tested.


1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti

In field trials conducted in Western Australia during 1982-84, fungicides were screened for their efficacy in controlling cercospora disease (caused by Cercospora zebrina) in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). Benomyl and carbendazim gave the best disease control. Smaller disease reductions were obtained with bitertanol, chlorothalonil, propiconazol and thiophanate methyl, while captafol, prochloraz and triadimefon were ineffective. Rates as low as 150 g (a.i.)/ha of benomyl or carbendazim were effective sprayed either in August or in September. Spraying both in August and September gave a better result in only 1 trial, and there was little additional disease control from increasing rate of application of either of the fungicides to 275 g (a.i.)/ha. Disease control from fungicides resulted in seed yield increases up to 68%.


1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti ◽  
K Sivasithamparam

Subterranean clover was exposed to two levels of inoculum of millet seed colonized by Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium oxysporum, Phoma medicaginis, Phytophthora clandestina, Pythium irregulare, or Rhizoctonia solani within pasteurized and unpasteurized field soil from sites with (root rot site) and without (virgin site) a history of subterranean clover root rot at Augusta, W.A., with the aim of establishing their pathogenicity in the presence of other soil organisms including resident pathogens. Introduction of F. avenaceum (2.5% w/w), P. clandestina (0.5 and 2.5%), P. irregulare (0.5 and 2.5%), or R. solani (0.2 and 1.0%) increased damage to tap and lateral roots of subterranean clover in pasteurized and unpasteurized root rot and virgin soils. All fungi tested, with the exception of P. medicaginis (2.0 and 10.0%) or P. medicaginis (2.0 and 10.0%) and F. oxysporum (0.5 and 2.50%), caused reduction of seedling survival in pasteurized root rot and virgin soils respectively. When the soil was unpasteurized, all fungi except F. oxysporum (2.5%) and P. medicaginis (2.0 and 10*0%) in virgin soil, but only P. irregulare (2.5%) or R. solani (0.2 and 1.0%) in root rot soil, reduced seedling survival. In unpasteurized soils plant dry weight was reduced by P. clandestina (2.5%), P. irregulare (0.5 and 2.5%), or R. solani (0.2 and 1.0%) in root rot and virgin soils, but F. oxysporum (0.5%) reduced plant size only in the root rot soil. Within pasteurized soil all fungi, with the exception of P. medicaginis (2.0 and 10.0%) in virgin soil and F. avenaceum (2.5%), P. irregulare (0.5 and 2.5%), or R. solani (0.2%) in root rot soil, caused reduction in plant size. P. clandestina, P. irregulare or R. solani, in particular, and to a lesser extent, P. avenaceum, are capable of causing serious damage to subterranean clover in natural soil.


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