The efficiency of adjuvants combined with flupyrsulfuron-methyl plus metsulfuron-methyl (Lexus XPE) on weed control.

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests on a selection of weeds (Viola arvensis, Polygonum persicaria, Chamomilla recutita, Chenopodium album, Veronica persicaria, Alopecurus myosusroides) to investigate the efficiency of flupyrsulfuron-methyl plus metsutfuronmethyl (Lexus XPE) in combination with different adjuvants. The efficiency of the herbicide improved in combination of adjuvants. The level of phytotoxicity of the adjuvants-herbicide treatments appllied varied among the different weed species.

Study of the aggressiveness of Rhizoctonia solani isolates.

This paper presents an in vitro test to screen the pathogenicity of different Rhizoctonia solani isolates on a host range. The level of aggressivity of the different isolates was different for several host plants tested. There were significant differences between the crops and the isolates tested. In general, the disease level was higher on beans, lettuce and cabbage. In carrot and rye grass the level of infection was lower for the isolates of R. solani tested. The potato isolates of R. solani were less aggressive than the isolates coming from maize, fodder beet and sugar beet. The R. solani isolates were also biochemically characterized by pectic zymograms: the isolates Rs0401 (from maize) and Rs0504 (from sugar beet) belong both to the anastomosis group AG2-2.

Suppression of Fusarium wilt by combining green compost and Trichoderma hamatum.

Fusarium wilts, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, are important diseases of horticultural and agricultural crops and lead to significant yield losses. The pathogen infects the roots and colonizes the vascular tissue, leading to wilting and finally death of the plant. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of amendment of green compost and a Trichoderma hamatum strain against Fusarium wilt of radish. The substrate effects and the effect of a Trichoderma strain were tested in a potting soil bioassay. The tested composts lowered the disease level and had a positive influence on the plant yield (fresh weight and dry weight). Nothwithstanding, only a small dosis effect of the amendment was observed. In the presence of the tested Trichoderma hamatum strain no significant lower disease level was observed. Furthermore, a minor effect on plant yield (fresh weight and dry weight) was observed compared to the amendment with only green compost. Maybe the pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strain and the Trichoderma strain competed for nutrients, iron could be a limiting factor. One possible approach to improve biological control may be the application of combinations of biocontrol agents.

Environmental impact of adjuvants in crop protection.

The overall performance of chemical and biological plant protection products is enhanced by the use of adjuvants in the formulation (formulation adjuvants) or in the spray tank (spray adjuvants). Both types of adjuvants aim to stabilize the formulation, to improve the efficiency of the active ingredients and to reduce application and environmental risks. As an important part of the formulation, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the environmental impact and toxicology of adjuvants can not always be considered as inert. However, little is known of their impact as part of plant protection products compared with the active substances. Therefore an experimental framework is needed as a tool for a consistent environmental legislation.

Diversity of the Phytophthora infestans population in Flanders, Belgium.

A total of 94 isolates of Phytophthora infestans were collected from disease outbreaks in commercial potato crops and private gardens in 2002 and 2003. The isolates were recovered successfully from single lesions of diseased potato foliage. Not from all isolates pure cultures were obtained due to contaminations with Fusarium species and bacteria. The structure of the population was analysed phenotypically. Characteristics of the isolates included in vitro growth rate, mating type, in vitro sensitivity to the phenylamide fungicide metalaxyl-M and allozyme genotype at glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi) and peptidase (Pep) loci. Significant differences in in vitro growth rate were observed among the 52 isolates by comparing the main radial growth of the isolates after 7 days. Forty seven from the isolates tested were the Al mating type. Only one isolate was characterized as A2 mating type. Isolates with sensitive, intermediate and resistant responses to metalaxyl-M were detected in the populations. Forty isolates had a growth of less then 40 % at 5 ppm metalaxyl-M. Three isolates had a growth of less then 40 % at 100 ppm metalaxyl-M. Eight isolates had a growth of more then 40 % at 5 and 100 ppm metalaxyl-M. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was used to examine Gpi and Pep banding pattern of the population of P. infestans attacking potato in Flanders. All the isolates tested produced the 100/100 Gpi isozyme electromorph. Five different allozyme genotypes of the Pep loci were identified: 92/92, 96/96, 100/100, 92/100, 83/100.

A mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. with modified control of aspartate kinase by threonine.

Mutagenesis and subsequent selection of Arabidopsis thaliana plantlets on a growth inhibitory concentration of lysine has led to the isolation of lysine-resistant mutants. The ability to grown on 2 mM lysine has been used to isolate mutants that may contain an aspartate kinase with altered regulatory-feedback properties. One of these mutants (RL 4) was characterized by a relative enhancement of soluble lysine. The recessive monogenic nuclear transmission of the resistance trait was established. It was associated with an aspartate kinase less sensitive to feedback inhibition by threonine. Two mutants (RLT 40 and RL 4) in Arabidopsis, characterized by an altered regulation of aspartate kinase, were crossed to assess the effects of the simultaneous presence of these different aspartate kinase forms. A double mutant (RLT40 x RL4) was isolated and characterized by two feedback-desensitized isozymes of aspartate kinase to, respectively, lysine and threonine but no threonine and/or lysine overproduction was observed. Genetical analysis of this unique double aspartate kinase mutant indicated that both mutations were located on chromosome 2, but their loci (ak1 and ak2) were found to be unlinked.