scholarly journals Insect-Transmitted Urediniospores of the Rust Puccinia punctiformis Cause Systemic Infections in Established Cirsium arvense Plants

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (8) ◽  
pp. 813-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wandeler ◽  
S. Bacher

The rust fungus Puccinia punctiformis has potential as a biological control agent for creeping thistle Cirsium arvense, because systemically infected shoots usually die before flowering. The mechanism of rust transfer as well as the spore type responsible for systemic infections have been a source of controversy. One possibility of successful transmission is the use of the weevil Ceratapion onopordi as a vector. Our results from a garden experiment show that urediniospores transmitted by the weevil are able to induce systemic infections in established thistle clones. Furthermore, the weevil origin and the date of rust treatment significantly influenced the number of rust-infected shoots. The earlier a shoot was treated, the higher the probability of rust transmission. These results challenge the current belief that teliospores passing through the soil and infecting root buds are the major cause of systemic infections in the field. Further research on biological control of creeping thistle should therefore concentrate on the application of urediniospores to enhance systemic rust infections.

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 265-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Henderson ◽  
Michael Cripps ◽  
Seona Casonato

Cirsium arvense (Californian thistle) is a problematic weed in agricultural systems throughout New Zealand and the rust fungus Puccinia punctiformis is a potential biological control agent for this weed. Puccinia punctiformis can systemically infect thistles but the movement of the pathogen in planta is not fully understood. This research determined the level of infection in planta caused by P. punctiformis at a single time point. The concentration of P. punctiformis DNA in planta was determined to ascertain the location of the fungus within naturally field-infected C. arvense. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was undertaken on above-ground symptomatic and asymptomatic C. arvense tissue at various locations within leaves (top, middle and bottom) and the main stem. All C. arvense shoots had detectable amounts of P. punctiformis but the concentration was 100× greater in symptomatic compared with asymptomatic shoots. In general, the concentration of fungus progressed up the leaves with a significant effect between locations (P<0.001). Puccinia punctiformis was found in planta but broadscale disease of C. arvense does not occur and the reason for this is unknown.


2016 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 258-262
Author(s):  
B. Smith ◽  
S.G. Casonato ◽  
A. Noble ◽  
G. Bourd?t

Californian thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a problematic weed particularly in permanent pastures The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has potential as a bioherbicide to control this weed but its variable efficacy in historical field trials suggest that there are differences in susceptibility to S sclerotiorum within the species To test this hypothesis the responses of 32 New Zealand provenances of C arvense to a foliageapplied myceliumonbarley preparation of S sclerotiorum were compared under common conditions Significant differences between provenances were found supporting the hypothesis that there is variation within C arvense in New Zealand in its susceptibility to S sclerotiorum Further work will examine differences in the efficacy of fungal isolates against different C arvense provenances


1979 ◽  
Vol 111 (9) ◽  
pp. 1059-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.P. Peschken ◽  
G.R. Johnson

AbstractThe host specificity of Lema cyanella (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its suitability as a biological control agent were investigated. The females lay an average of 1564 eggs and development from egg to adult takes 17.6 days at 25°C during the day and 20°C during the night (average about 23°C). Feeding of adults and larvae is confined to Cirsium, Carduus, and Silybum species, and according to literature records, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. is the main host. No economic plants are attacked. A colony of field collected beetles imported from Germany was infected with a Nosema disease. It is recommended that disease free L. cyanella should be released against the weed C. arvense in North America.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
M.T. Fauzi

The pathogenicity of a rust fungus (Puccinia philippinensis Syd.), on purple nutsedges (Cyperus rotundus L.). A research aimed at understanding the pathogenicity of a rust fungus (Puccinia philippinensis Syd.), a potential biological control agent of purple nutsedges (Cyperus rotundus L.) had been conducted in a glasshouse of Faculty of Agriculture the University of Mataram. These factorial experiments designed according to Randomized Completely Design (CRD) and consisted of spore density and time of application. Spore density treatments consisted of 0, 5000, 10 000, 15 000, 20 000, 25 000, or 30 000 spore/mL applied either in the morning or in the afternoon. The results showed that the higher the spore density, the higher the number of pustules formed, the higher the disese intensity, and the faster the disease progressed. Urediniospores applied in the afternoon produced more pustules, higher disease intensity, and faster disease progression compare to those applied in the morning.


Weed Science ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda S. Brosten ◽  
David C. Sands

An isolate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary collected from a Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. # CIRAR] plant in Montana proved pathogenic on Canada thistle in field trials. In addition to attacking the thistle crown and causing wilting and death of the shoots, S. sclerotiorum also infected the root system. The high percentage of thistle shoot kill (20 to 80%) after treatment, and subsequent reduction in plant thistle density the following year, demonstrated the potential of S. sclerotiorum as a biological control agent for Canada thistle in Montana.


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