Root rot of subterranean clover in the irrigation areas of south-western Western Australia

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.

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 574 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH Wong ◽  
MJ Barbetti ◽  
K Sivasithamparam

Field trials were conducted during 1982-84 to determine the severity of root rot, and the identity and pathogenicity of the fungi associated with root rot of subterranean clover at five locations in the south-west of Western Australia. At all sites, there was moderate to severe root rot and seedling emergence was greatly reduced. Pythium irregulare and Fusarium oxysporum were the fungi most frequently isolated from diseased roots. F. avenaceum, P. irregulare, P. spinosum and R. solani were highly pathogenic to subterranean clover seedlings. F. oxysporum and P. medicaginis were less pathogenic and F. acuminatum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, one isolate of M. phaseoli, and W. circinata were only weakly pathogenic. Ceratobasidium sp. (AG K), F. sulphureum, one isolate of M. phaseoli, P. coloratum, and R. cereale were non-pathogenic. This is the first record of pathogenicity of F. acuminatum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, M. phaseoli and P. spinosum on subterranean clover in Western Australia. P. clandestina was detected at all sites.


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.


1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (127) ◽  
pp. 550 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Barbetti ◽  
GC MacNish

Field experiments in 1975 and 1976 in south-western Western Australia investigated the effects of various cultivation and cultural practices on the level of root rot of subterranean clover. The treatments produced significant reductions in the levels of both tap and lateral root rot, but these reductions failed to persist beyond the second year after treatment. The best treatments were those of fallowing an area from August to March before cultivation and reseeding, or spring cultivation before sowing to oats followed by a March cultivation and reseeding.


1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1493-1496 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Juzwik ◽  
C. Honhart ◽  
N. Chong

Estimates of cylindrocladium root rot losses in three black and three white spruce compartments at five Ontario bare-root nurseries were determined through visual field assessment and seedling isolation. The causal fungus, Cylindrocladiumfloridanum Sob. & C.P. Seym., was isolated from 10–77% of the symptomatic and 0–28% of the apparently healthy seedlings in each compartment. In five compartments, estimates of mean incidence based on seedling isolations and visual assessment, were higher than those based on visual assessment alone. The percentage of living spruce (apparently healthy or symptomatic) estimated to be infected in each compartment was 0.1–32.7%. No fungus isolations were attempted from dead seedlings. Mortality in the plots in the six compartments was 0.02–17.7%. The correlation between the level of Cylindrocladium incidence and the inoculum density was significant (p < 0.01) in two compartments. The use of inoculum density to predict disease incidence warrants further investigation.


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.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Aldaoud ◽  
W. Guppy ◽  
L. Callinan ◽  
S. F. Flett ◽  
K. A. Wratten ◽  
...  

In 1995–96, a survey of soil samples from subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) paddocks was conducted across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia, to determine the distribution and the prevalence of races of Phytophthora clandestina (as determined by the development of root rot on differential cultivars), and the association of its occurrence with paddock variables. In all states, there was a weak but significant association between P. clandestina detected in soil samples and subsequent root rot susceptibility of differential cultivars grown in these soil samples. Phytophthora clandestina was found in 38% of the sampled sites, with a significantly lower prevalence in South Australia (27%). There were significant positive associations between P. clandestina detection and increased soil salinity (Western Australia), early growth stages of subterranean clover (Victoria), mature subterranean clover (South Australia), recently sown subterranean clover (South Australia), paddocks with higher subterranean clover content (Victoria), where herbicides were not applied (South Australia), irrigation (New South Wales and Victoria), cattle grazing (South Australia and Victoria), early sampling dates (Victoria and New South Wales), sampling shortly after the autumn break or first irrigation (Victoria), shorter soil storage time (Victoria) and farmer’s perception of root rot being present (Victoria and New South Wales). Only 29% of P. clandestina isolates could be classified under the 5 known races. Some of the unknown races were virulent on cv. Seaton Park LF (most resistant) and others were avirulent on cv. Woogenellup (most susceptible). Race 1 was significantly less prevalent in South Australia than Victoria and race 0 was significantly less prevalent in New South Wales than in South Australia and Western Australia. This study revealed extremely wide variation in the virulence of P. clandestina. The potential importance of the results on programs to breed for resistance to root rot are discussed. in South Australia.


Plant Disease ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 714-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravjit K. Khangura ◽  
Martin J. Barbetti ◽  
Mark W. Sweetingham

A total of 112 Rhizoctonia isolates were collected from various canola (Brassica napus) growing areas of Western Australia. Pectic enzyme electrophoresis differentiated these isolates into six distinct zymogram groups: R. solani, 54% ZG5 (AG2-1), 8% ZG6 (AG2-1), and 1% ZG9 (AG10); binucleate Rhizoctonia, 12% CZG1 (CAG1), 4% CZG4, and 6% CZG5 (AGK); and the remainder unidentified binucleate groups (15%). Binucleate groups were also confirmed by fluorescent nuclear staining and hyphal morphology. One or more isolates from each of the above zymogram groups (including four unidentified binucleate groups) and an isolate of ZG1-1 (AG8) that causes bare patch in cereals and legumes were tested for their pathogenicity on canola. Isolates of ZG5 and ZG1-1 were highly pathogenic on canola, delayed seedling emergence, and caused severe hypocotyl and root rot, respectively. ZG5 also induced postemergence damping-off. Increasing the depth of sowing from 1 to 3 cm significantly delayed seedling emergence and increased disease severity. Four unidentified binucleate isolates (WAC9316, WAC9297, WAC9307, and WAC9290) were moderately pathogenic to canola, while two isolates (WAC9307 and WAC9316) caused significant preemergence damping-off. Two CZG5 isolates were weakly pathogenic. Isolates of ZG5 and ZG1-1 were also tested for their pathogenicity on other rotational crops (narrow-leafed lupin, subterranean clover, wheat, oats, barley, and mustard) and two weed species (wild radish and annual ryegrass). ZG5 caused a severe hypocotyl rot on mustard and mild symptoms of hypocotyl rot on narrow-leafed lupin and clover, but failed to infect any of the cereal hosts, such as wheat, oats, barley, and ryegrass. In contrast, all crops tested were highly susceptible to ZG1-1 except mustard, which was only moderately susceptible. Results indicate that ZG5 is most pathogenic to crucifers and is a mildly virulent pathogen of the leguminous crops but not of cereal crops tested. ZG1-1, known to cause bare patch in legumes and cereals, also can cause severe root rot in canola. This is the first report of hypocotyl rot and pathogenicity of ZG5 on canola in Australia.


1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 671 ◽  
Author(s):  
GC MacNish ◽  
CS Fang

The effects of short chemical fallows after ryegrass pasture on rhizoctonia bare patch and root rot ofwheat were studied in 2 experiments at the Esperance Downs Research Station, 35 km north of Esperance, W.A. In 1 experiment the subterranean-clover dominant pasture was sprayed with a paraquat-diquat mixture prior to resowing with annual ryegrass at densities ranging from 3 to about 400 plants m-2. The ryegrass was allowed to grow for either 42 or 63 days prior to treatment with a desiccant herbicide (paraquat-diquat) followed by a short chemical fallow of 26 or 5 days, respectively, before sowing with wheat using minimum tillage. Some treatments were cultivated twice to 10 cm. Neither the ryegrass density nor the length of chemical fallow had any effect (P=0.05) on rhizoctonia bare patch score or incidence or severity of root rot. However, cultivation caused 76% reduction in mean patch score and a 38 and 68% reduction in mean rhizoctonia incidence and severity respectively. Yield was negatively correlated with rhizoctonia incidence and severity: each 1% increase in incidence percentage resulted in 17 kg ha-1 reduction in grain yield of wheat. In another experiment, chemical fallow periods of 66, 52, 24 or 1 day prior to sowing wheat had no effect (P= 0.05) on rhizoctonia root rot incidence.


1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (116) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
WK Anderson ◽  
RJ Parkin ◽  
MD Dovey

The effects of weather on clover scorch disease caused by Kabatiella caulivora, the effects of the disease on pasture and sheep production, and the effect of sheep stocking rate (6, 8, 10 and 12 sheep/ha) on the disease were studied in a field experiment over three seasons near Albany, Western Australia. Spraying with benlate was used to control clover scorch on some treatments. Mean temperatures during the period when symptoms of the disease increased were in the range 11-17�C. Rainfall was frequent each year during the same period. The rapid increase in disease symptoms was observed when pasture dry matter on offer was approximately 2500 kg/ha. Disease symptoms decreased during a period of water stress of the pasture. Clover scorch disease had no consistent effect on pasture or animal production except that pasture dry matter on offer in spring was reduced in the unsprayed treatments at the lower stocking rates in the second two years. Higher stocking rates (10 and 12 sheep/ha) reduced the level of clover scorch symptoms without the use of chemical control with benlate. At the period of peak scorch symptoms a stocking rate of 10 sheep/ha reduced disease incidence by 20-35% compared with 6 sheep/ha in unsprayed plots. Increased sheep stocking rates are suggested as a possible alternative to chemical control or replacement of susceptible strains of subterranean clover in grazed pasture.


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