Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi using fungicides and host plant defense inducers under drought conditions: A case-study of flowering dogwood

Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Neupane ◽  
Lisa Alexander ◽  
Fulya Baysal-Gurel

Phytophthora cinnamomi is considered one of the most destructive pathogens of ornamental crops. Different fungicides and host plant defense inducers were tested for their efficacy in managing Phytophthora root rot in drought conditions. In this study, the drought conditions were maintained by evaluating the moisture holding capacity of the pine bark in a 10.2 cm nursery container. Four controls and nine different treatments were used in two trials for this greenhouse study. All treatments were drench applied as a preventative or curative treatment. Seedlings were artificially inoculated with P. cinnamomi. Regular irrigation was carried out using overhead irrigation for one month after inoculation. Irrigation was regulated by drip irrigation after the first month. A moisture level of 15-18% of total moisture holding capacity was maintained using the gravimetric method throughout the drought period. Physiological parameters of the seedlings were recorded a week after seedlings were drought stressed. In both trials of preventative and curative treatments, all treatments were able to suppress the disease significantly except Orkestra Intrinsic. Orkestra Intrinsic had a disease severity statistically similar to the inoculated and stressed control in trial 1 of the curative treatment. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and leaf moisture potential were significantly greater in seedlings treated with Subdue MAXX, Signature Xtra and Empress Intrinsic in both trials of preventative and curative treatments. Effective quantum yield of Photosystem II was significantly lower in the inoculated stressed control in both trials of preventative and curative treatments. Net chlorophyll content through the SPAD meter showed higher values for Subdue MAXX treated seedlings compared to the non-inoculated non-stressed controls in trial 1 as both a curative and preventative application. In trial 2, Subdue MAXX and Signature Xtra were the best curative treatments, whereas Empress Intrinsic, Interface and Subdue MAXX were the best preventative treatments for higher chlorophyll content. This case study will help growers perform successful management of Phytophthora root rot in woody ornamental crops during drought or water deficit conditions.

Plant Disease ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (7) ◽  
pp. 1703-1711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Brown ◽  
Fulya Baysal-Gurel ◽  
Jason B. Oliver ◽  
Karla M. Addesso

During flooding events in nurseries, Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands often causes damage that leads to complete crop loss. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of fungicides, biofungicides, and host plant defense inducers for preventive and curative control of Phytophthora root rot on flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) seedlings exposed to a simulated flood event of 1, 3, or 7 days. In two greenhouse trials, preventive (7 days before flooding) or curative (1 day after flooding) drench treatments were applied to dogwood seedlings artificially inoculated with P. cinnamomi. The plants were flooded by maintaining standing water for 1, 3, or 7 days. After the trials, plant growth data (total plant weight, root weight, plant height, and plant width) were recorded, and root systems were assessed for disease severity using a scale of 0 to 100% of roots affected, and subsamples were plated on PARPH-V8 medium to determine the percent recovery of the Phytophthora pathogen. Plants preventively treated with Subdue MAXX had reduced disease severity relative to the nontreated, inoculated plants (positive control) flooded 1, 3, or 7 days in both trials. Pageant Intrinsic and Segovis treatments also had lower disease severity than the positive control at all flooding durations in trial two, but not trial one. In trial one, preventive and curative treatments of Orkestra Intrinsic had reduced disease severity compared with the positive control at 1 and 3 days of flooding, whereas curative treatments of Empress Intrinsic and Tartan Stressgard also were effective at 1 and 3 days of flooding in trial one. The host plant defense inducers (Aliette 80 WDG, Signature Xtra, and Actigard) were inconsistent and ineffective at reducing disease severity when applied as preventive or curative treatments. Preventive treatments of the biofungicides RootShield Plus+and MBI-110 had consistently lower disease severity than the positive control at 1 day of flooding but not 3 or 7 days of flooding. Potentially, growers can use information from this study to manage Phytophthora root rot during flooding or in areas of the nursery that often experience high soil moisture levels.


2011 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brantlee Spakes Richter ◽  
Kelly Ivors ◽  
Wei Shi ◽  
D. M. Benson

Wood-based mulches are used in avocado production and are being tested on Fraser fir for reduction of Phytophthora root rot, caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Research with avocado has suggested a role of microbial cellulase enzymes in pathogen suppression through effects on the cellulosic cell walls of Phytophthora. This work was conducted to determine whether cellulase activity could account for disease suppression in mulch systems. A standard curve was developed to correlate cellulase activity in mulches with concentrations of a cellulase product. Based on this curve, cellulase activity in mulch samples was equivalent to a cellulase enzyme concentration of 25 U ml–1 or greater of product. Sustained exposure of P. cinnamomi to cellulase at 10 to 50 U ml–1 significantly reduced sporangia production, but biomass was only reduced with concentrations over 100 U ml–1. In a lupine bioassay, cellulase was applied to infested soil at 100 or 1,000 U ml–1 with three timings. Cellulase activity diminished by 47% between 1 and 15 days after application. Cellulase applied at 100 U ml–1 2 weeks before planting yielded activity of 20.08 μmol glucose equivalents per gram of soil water (GE g–1 aq) at planting, a level equivalent to mulch samples. Cellulase activity at planting ranged from 3.35 to 48.67 μmol GE g–1 aq, but no treatment significantly affected disease progress. Based on in vitro assays, cellulase activity in mulch was sufficient to impair sporangia production of P. cinnamomi, but not always sufficient to impact vegetative biomass.


Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 1171-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Benson ◽  
L. F. Grand ◽  
C. S. Vernia ◽  
T. R. Gottwald

In 1999, 19 plots of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) with a disease focus were established in commercial plantings grown for Christmas tree production in the mountains of five western North Caro-lina counties. Progress of Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi as estimated by mortality was followed in each plot over 3 to 4 years in an attempt to understand dispersal of inoculum. Slope, aspect, and field production age at the time plots were established were recorded. Rainfall estimated from National Weather Service stations each growing season also was recorded. The relationship of site parameters and rainfall to dispersal and disease was investigated. Disease incidence and mortality were assessed in June and September each year for 3 or 4 years depending on plot. Phytophthora root rot as estimated by mortality counts over time in a logistic regression model progressed in only five of 19 plots over 3 years. None of the site parameters correlated with mortality data, although slightly more disease was found in plots with a north aspect. Rainfall was below normal in the 3 years of the study and did not correlate with mortality in any year. Lack of disease progress in the majority of plots was attributed to drought conditions in the region. In the five plots where mortality increased over time, spatial analysis suggested an aggregated pattern of diseased plants. Aggregation was apparent but not very strong among nearest neighbors, but was considerably stronger among groups of trees within a local area. This aggregation within groups was stronger when larger group sizes were examined by beta-binomial analysis. A spatial analysis by distance indices method (SADIE) indicated the presence of secondary clusters occurring several meters away from the main focus. A stochastic model also was employed that indicated a combination of spatial processes were likely involved, specifically a tendency toward spread within a local area, but not necessarily to the nearest neighboring trees, combined with an influence of background inoculum that could not be accounted for within local areas and may have come from external sources. Thus, all sources of inoculum including infected planting stock, inoculum in soil, infected trees, and contaminated equipment were equally important in epidemics of Phytophthora root rot in Fraser fir and dispersal of P. cinnamomi.


Plant Disease ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (12) ◽  
pp. 2560-2570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry E. Weiland ◽  
Carolyn F. Scagel ◽  
Niklaus J. Grünwald ◽  
E. Anne Davis ◽  
Bryan R. Beck ◽  
...  

Rhododendrons are an important crop in the ornamental nursery industry, but are prone to Phytophthora root rot. Phytophthora root rot is a continuing issue on rhododendrons despite decades of research. Several Phytophthora species are known to cause root rot, but most research has focused on P. cinnamomi, and comparative information on pathogenicity is limited for other commonly encountered oomycetes, including Phytophthora plurivora and Pythium cryptoirregulare. In this study, three isolates each of P. cinnamomi, P. plurivora, and Py. cryptoirregulare were used to inoculate rhododendron cultivars Cunningham’s White and Yaku Princess at two different inoculum levels. All three species caused disease, especially at the higher inoculum level. P. cinnamomi and P. plurivora were the most aggressive pathogens, causing severe root rot, whereas Py. cryptoirregulare was a weak pathogen that only caused mild disease. Within each pathogen species, isolate had no influence on disease. Both P. cinnamomi and P. plurivora caused more severe disease on Cunningham’s White than on Yaku Princess, suggesting that the relative resistance and susceptibility among rhododendron cultivars might be similar for both pathogens. Reisolation of P. cinnamomi and P. plurivora was also greater from plants exhibiting aboveground symptoms of wilting and plant death and belowground symptoms of root rot than from those without symptoms. Results show that both P. cinnamomi and P. plurivora, but not Py. cryptoirregulare, are important pathogens causing severe root rot in rhododendron. This study establishes the risks for disease resulting from low and high levels of inoculum for each pathogen. Further research is needed to evaluate longer term risks associated with low inoculum levels on rhododendron health and to explore whether differences among pathogen species affect disease control.


Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 661-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Benson ◽  
L. F. Grand

A survey of Fraser fir Christmas trees in North Carolina for incidence of Phytophthora root rot was conducted during 1997 and 1998. Field sites (7- to 13-year-old trees) and nursery transplant beds (4- to 5-year-old trees) selected at random were surveyed based on foliar symptoms of Phytophthora root rot. Field sites were surveyed with a random transect method (>3,000 trees/field) or by counting all trees (<3,000 trees/field). Overall, incidence of Phytophthora root rot averaged 9% over the 58 field sites sampled, with a range of 0 to 75%. No relationship was found between number of years Fraser fir had been planted in the field site and disease incidence. Disease incidence did not increase as field sites were rotated through second or third crops of Fraser fir. Phytophthora spp. were recovered from 1.8% of asymptomatic trees sampled from 58 field sites across the state. P. cinnamomi accounted for 91% of the Phytophthora isolates recovered. In nursery transplant beds where a systematic sampling procedure was used, incidence of diseased trees averaged 2%, with a range of 0 to 12% across 16 locations. Recovery of Phytophthora spp. averaged 1.2% from root samples collected from 50 asymptomatic seedlings at each location. Isolates collected from the field and nursery transplant beds were grown on cornmeal agar incorporated with 0, 1, 1.25, 10, or 100 μg a.i. metalaxyl/ml. All 166 isolates of P. cinnamomi tested were sensitive to metalaxyl at 1 or 1.25 μg a.i. metalaxyl/ml. Although incidence of Phytophthora root rot has not increased in the state compared to a survey done in 1976 to 1977, the disease continues to limit production of Fraser fir in North Carolina.


2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Benson ◽  
J. R. Sidebottom ◽  
J. Moody

Fungicides were evaluated for control of Phytophthora root rot for five growing seasons in two field plantings of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) affected by Phytophthora cinnamomi in western North Carolina. At the first site, which had a fairly well-drained soil, treatment programs with Aliette (5 lb/100 gal, three applications per year), Subdue Maxx (3.7 fl oz/1.15 gal/1000 ft2, two applications per year), and Subdue GR (5.75 lb/1000 ft2, two applications per year) maintained low rates of mortality (< 10%) for three growing seasons, whereas tree mortality in the untreated plots reached 13 and 37% by the second and third growing seasons, respectively. At the second site, which was in a flood plain, disease did not develop during the first 2.5 years, even in untreated control plots. However, mortality increased rapidly following several high-rainfall events, but none of the fungicides had any effect on disease development. Apparently, at least under conditions not overly conducive to the disease, the fungicide treatment programs can delay the onset of high mortality rates caused by P. cinnamomi in Fraser fir for up to three growing seasons. Accepted for publication 23 February 2006. Published 31 March 2006.


1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 618-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled A. El-Tarabily ◽  
Melissa L. Sykes ◽  
Ipek D. Kurtböke ◽  
Giles E. St. J. Hardy ◽  
Aneli M. Barbosa ◽  
...  

Three polyvalent Streptomyces phages were used to isolate four Micromonospora species (M. carbonacea, M. chalcea, M. purpureochromogenes, and M. inositola) from mine-site rhizosphere soils in Western Australia. Streptomyces violascens was isolated using selective isolation techniques from the same soils. The Micromonspora spp. were examined for their ability to produce cellulases. Micromonospora carbonacea, M. chalcea, and M. purpureochromogenes, which were found to produce the enzyme, caused lysis of Phytophthora cinnamomi hyphae. Glasshouse trials showed that the use of the cellulase-producing M. carbonacea isolate, in conjunction with the antibiotic-producing S. violascens isolate, had a synergistic effect on the suppression of the Phytophthora root rot and in promoting growth of Banksia grandis. The importance of using a number of antagonists with different antagonistic abilities to control plant pathogenic fungi is discussed. Keywords: biological control, Micromonospora carbonacea, Streptomyces violascens, cellulases, Phytophthora cinnamomi.


HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal de Silva ◽  
Keith Patterson ◽  
Craig Rothrock ◽  
Ron McNew

Phytophthora root rot is a severe disease on blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in poorly drained soils. Little is known about how mulching and frequent waterlogging affect disease severity in blueberries. Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands was grown on rice hulls, which were incorporated into the soil at the rate of 10% (v:v). Waterlogging conditions were imposed for 48 hours 1 week after planting on mulched and nonmulched blueberry plants at weekly, biweekly, and monthly intervals for a total of 3 months. Control plants were not subjected to flooding. The severity of Phytophthora root rot increased with time. Significant linear relationships were found between flooding interval and disease severity rating of shoot, percentage of root infection, and shoot and root dry weights of plants. Disease symptoms were minimal in control plants, but shoot disease rating and percentage of root infection were high in mulched and nonmulched plants that were flooded every week. Shoot and root dry weights were higher in 1997 than in 1996. In 1996, mulched plants had higher shoot dry weights than did nonmulched plants. Disease incidence was higher with weekly and biweekly flooding than with monthly or no flooding. However, mulching did not affect root infection.


Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabe O. Sacher ◽  
Carolyn F. Scagel ◽  
E. Anne Davis ◽  
Bryan R. Beck ◽  
Jerry E. Weiland

Phytophthora root rot is a destructive disease of rhododendron, causing substantial losses of this nursery crop in infested field and container production areas. Historically, Phytophthora cinnamomi was considered the main causal agent of the disease. However, a recent survey of soilborne Phytophthora species from symptomatic rhododendrons in Oregon revealed that P. plurivora is more common than P. cinnamomi and that several other Phytophthora species may also be involved. We investigated the ability of the five most abundant species from the survey to cause root rot: P. plurivora, P. cinnamomi, P. pini, P. pseudocryptogea, and P. cambivora. Three to four isolates were selected for each species from across six Oregon nurseries. Media of containerized Rhododendron catawbiense ‘Boursault’ was infested with single isolates in a randomized complete block design in a greenhouse. Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. pini, and P. plurivora rapidly caused ≥ 90% incidence of severe root rot while P. pseudocryptogea caused more moderate disease with 46% incidence of severe root rot. Phytophthora cambivora failed to produce enough inoculum and was used at a lower inoculum density than the other four species, but occasionally caused severe root rot (5% incidence). No differences in virulence were observed among isolates of same species, except for one isolate of P. plurivora that caused less disease than other P. plurivora isolates. This study demonstrates that all five Phytophthora species, which were representative of 94% of the survey isolates, are capable of causing severe root rot and plant death, but that not all species are equally virulent.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document