Impact of Different Preplant Cultural Treatments on Survival of Phytophthora nicotianae in Soil.

During the life of a citrus planting, the population of Phytophthora pathogens can build to significant levels in orchard soil. A study was initiated to examine the impact of some nonchemical cultural practices on survival of P. nicotianae, the most prevalent Phytophthora sp. in Arizona citrus groves, in soil formerly planted to citrus. In three trials over a 3-year period, P. nicotianae could not be detected at a depth of 10 cm after soil naturally infested with the pathogen was subjected to a dry summer fallow period of at least 31 days in the desert southwest region of Arizona. The mean temperature of soil at this depth during these trials ranged from 37 to 39°C. Furthermore, in two of these trials, after summer dry fallow periods of 38 and 45 days, the pathogen could not be detected at a depth of 15 to 20 cm and was detected in only one of 19 soil samples at a depth of 25 to 30 cm. In comparison, the pathogen was recovered from a high proportion of soil samples subjected to a dry winter fallow period or maintained in the greenhouse and planted with a seedling of citrus, alfalfa, or irrigated without the presence of any plant, where mean temperature of soil ranged from 15 to 30°C. In regions with a hot and dry summer climate, a dry summer fallow treatment of soil after removal of an existing citrus planting and before establishment of a new grove could provide a rapid and relatively inexpensive means of lowering the population of P. nicotianae to virtually nondetectable levels to at least a depth of 30 cm.

Factors Affecting the Development of Wood Rot on Lemon Trees Infected with Antrodia sinuosa, Coniophora eremophila, and a Nodulisporium sp.

Brown heartwood rot, which often is found in branches within lemon groves in southwestern Arizona, is caused by two basidiomycete fungi, Antrodia sinuosa and Coniophora eremophila. Another fungus, a species of Nodulisporium, has been recovered from small, dying lemon tree branches with an internal white wood rot. Studies were conducted from 1999 through 2002 to compare the extent of wood decay caused by these fungi (i) on lemon tree branches at different times of the year, (ii) on different types of citrus, (iii) on some desert woody perennial plants, and (iv) on lemon tree branches treated with selected fungicides. The mean length of wood decay columns recorded in lemon tree branches inoculated with A. sinuosa, C. eremophila, and the Nodulisporium sp. during the time periods of November to January, February to April, May to July, and August to October was 2.9, 4.7, 13.3, and 15.2 cm, respectively. There was a significant linear correlation between the length of wood decay columns and air temperature for all three pathogens. The mean length of wood decay columns for all time periods in branches inoculated with A. sinuosa, C. eremophila, and the Nodulisporium sp. was 11.8, 5.8, and 9.6 cm, respectively. In two trials, wood decay columns were significantly greater on Lisbon lemon tree branches inoculated with A. sinuosa compared with those on Marsh grapefruit and Valencia orange trees inoculated with the same pathogen. Wood decay in the presence of the Nodulisporium sp. was greater on branches of lemon compared with grapefruit trees in two trials and on lemon compared with orange trees in one of two trials. With the exception of C. eremophila on creosote bush, each of the three wood rot pathogens caused some wood decay in branches of velvet mesquite, salt cedar, Mexican palo verde, and creosote bush, four common desert perennials found in southwestern Arizona. Compared with nontreated but inoculated lemon trees, the length of wood decay columns in branches inoculated with A. sinuosa, C. eremophila, and the Nodulisporium sp. in the presence of propiconazole was reduced by 79, 94, and 92%, respectively, and, in the presence of azoxystrobin, was suppressed by 71, 80, and 89%, respectively. Current management guidelines focus on minimizing branch fractures and other nonpruning wounds in conjunction with early detection and removal of infected branches before the onset of the increased wood decay development period extending from May to October.

Influence of Soil Temperature and Moisture on Eruptive Germination and Viability of Sclerotia of Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum.

The effect of soil temperature and moisture on eruptive germination and viability of sclerotia of Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum in field soil was examined. In two trials at constant temperatures, the proportion of sclerotia of both pathogens that germinated in wet soil ( ≥-0.02 MPa) tended to decrease as soil temperature increased from 15 to 40°C, with no germination of sclerotia of S. minor and S. sclerotiorum detected after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively, at 40°C. In contrast, after 1 to 4 weeks in dry soil ( ≤-100 MPa) at 40°C, germination of sclerotia of S. minor and S. sclerotiorum ranged from 28 to 55% and 42 to 77%, respectively. In field trials, the germination rate of sclerotia of S. minor and S. sclerotiorum after 2 to 8 weeks in irrigated soil on the surface or buried at a depth of 5 cm was significantly lower than that for sclerotia maintained in dry soil at the same depths. On the other hand, after burial at a depth of 10 cm, germination of sclerotia in irrigated and dry soil did not differ significantly after 2 to 8 weeks for S. minor and after 2, 4, and 8 weeks for S. sclerotiorum. For both pathogens, germination of sclerotia from 2 to 8 weeks in irrigated soil with a mean temperature of 32°C was significantly lower than that for sclerotia in irrigated soil with a mean temperature of 26°C. In microplot trials conducted in July and August, no sclerotia of S. minor and S. sclerotiorum germinated after 2 and 3 weeks, respectively, after recovery from flooded soil with mean soil temperatures ranging from 30 to 33°C. A flood irrigation is often applied to fields for salt management during July or August in the Yuma lettuce production region. Results from these studies suggest that maintaining this flooding event for 2 to 3 weeks in fields with a history of lettuce drop caused by S. minor and S. sclerotiorum could significantly reduce the population of viable sclerotia.

Activity of Boscalid, Fenhexamid, Fluazinam, Fludioxonil, and Vinclozolin on Growth of Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum and Development of Lettuce Drop.

Sclerotinia drop is a major disease of lettuce caused by two soilborne fungi, Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum. Fungicides such as dicloran (Botran), iprodione (Rovral), and vinclozolin (Ronilan) are currently available in the United States to manage this disease. Studies were conducted to investigate the relative effect of some new fungicides, including boscalid, fenhexamid, fluazinam, and fludioxonil, in comparison with vinclozolin, on growth of S. minor and S. sclerotiorum in agar plate tests as well as control of lettuce drop in the field. At a rate of 0.001 µg/ml, all tested compounds only suppressed mycelial growth of either pathogen from 0 to 20%. At 0.01 µg/ml, mycelial growth of S. minor was reduced 82 to 84% by fludioxonil and fluazinam and only 1 to 16% by boscalid, fenhexamid, and vinclozolin. At the same rate, mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum was reduced 78% by fluazinam and from 0 to 12% by boscalid, fludioxonil, fenhexamid, and vinclozolin. At 0.1 µg/ml, all tested chemistries except vinclozolin inhibited mycelial growth of S. minor from 70 to 98%, whereas growth of S. sclerotiorum was suppressed 95 to 99% by fludioxonil and fluazinam, significantly less (40 to 47%) by boscalid and fenhexamid, and not at all by vinclozolin. At a rate of 1.0 µg/ml, all tested fungicides reduced mycelial growth of S. minor and S. sclerotiorum from 87 to 100% and 77 to 100%, respectively. Mycelial growth emerging from sclerotia of S. minor was reduced from 98 to 100% by all fungicides tested at a rate of 1.0 µg/ml, whereas growth from sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum was suppressed from 90 to 96% by fenhexamid, fludioxonil, fluazinam, and vinclozolin. In lettuce plots infested with S. minor, boscalid and fluazinam provided the highest level of disease control, significantly greater than that achieved with fenhexamid, fludioxonil, and vinclozolin. In the presence of S. sclerotiorum, the highest degree of disease suppression occurred with application of fluazinam, fludioxonil, and vinclozolin, whereas the least effective compound was fenhexamid. Boscalid and fluazinam were more effective against lettuce drop caused by S. minor than disease caused by S. sclerotiorum.

Suppression of Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot on Pepper Plants Treated with Acibenzolar-S-Methyl.

The fungicide mefenoxam is registered for the control of Phytophthora blight of peppers caused by Phytophthora capsici. Isolates of the pathogen that are insensitive to mefenoxam, however, have been detected in some locations. Consequently, alternative methods are needed to control Phytophthora blight of peppers. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ABM, Actigard) is a chemical activator of plant disease resistance that has potential for the management of Phytophthora blight of peppers. The effect of foliar applications of ABM on the development of root and crown rot on pepper plants grown in the greenhouse and inoculated with Phytophthora capsici or in soil naturally infested with the pathogen was evaluated. Inhibition of stem canker development on pepper cvs. Bell Tower and AZ9 after four treatments with ABM (75 µg/ml) was significantly greater than on plants receiving a single application of the chemical. Stem canker length on Bell Tower or AZ9 peppers was inhibited by 93.2 to 97.2% and 87.4 to 92.4% when plants were inoculated with P. capsici at 1 or 5 weeks, respectively, after the fourth application of ABM. Survival of chile pepper plants grown in field soil naturally infested with P. capsici was significantly increased by three foliar applications of ABM (75 µg/ml) compared with nontreated plants in all three trials when pots were watered daily and in two of three trials when pots were flooded for 48 h every 2 weeks. When soil was flooded every 2 weeks to establish conditions highly favorable for disease development, plants treated once with mefenoxam (100 µg/ml) survived significantly longer than those treated with ABM. On the other hand, when water was provided daily without periodic flooding to establish conditions less favorable for disease development, plant survival between the two chemicals was not different in two of three trials. Length of survival among chile pepper plants treated twice with 25, 50, or 75 µg/ml of ABM and grown in soil infested with P. capsici was not different. This work indicates that ABM could be an important management tool for Phytophthora root and crown rot on pepper plants.

Comparative Ability of Six Fungicides to Inhibit Development of Phytophthora Gummosis on Citrus.

The activity of the registered fungicides fosetyl-Al and metalaxyl (subsequently replaced with mefenoxam by the manufacturer) was compared with other potentially useful compounds, azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, fluazinam, and zoxamide, for suppression of canker development on citrus bark after inoculation with Phytophthora citrophthora or P. nicotianae. The number of sweet orange trees on which cankers developed after inoculation with P. citrophthora and the average size of cankers when present were lower on plants treated with dimethomorph, fosetyl-Al, or metalaxyl compared with nontreated trees and those treated with azoxystrobin or fluazinam. When bark removed from treated trees was inoculated with P. citrophthora on the cambium surface at 5, 30, or 60 days after treatment (DAT), inhibition of lesion development on bark strips treated with dimethomorph, fosetyl-Al, or metalaxyl was significantly greater than that detected on bark treated with azoxystrobin, fluazinam, or zoxamide. When inoculated with P. nicotianae at 5 or 30 DAT, reduction of lesion size on bark strips treated with dimethomorph, fosetyl-Al, or metalaxyl was significantly greater than that detected on bark treated with azoxystrobin or fluazinam. Inhibition of lesion development by zoxamide was significantly less than that observed with metalaxyl at 5 DAT on bark inoculated with P. nicotianae; however, at 30, 60, and 90 DAT there was no significant difference in the performance of either fungicide. Reduction of lesion growth on the cambium surface compared with outer bark surface, when inoculated with P. citrophthora, did not differ significantly from 5 to 30 DAT for bark tissue treated with azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, fosetyl-Al, or metalaxyl. Among the nonregistered fungicides tested, dimethomorph provided the best level of Phytophthora gummosis control on citrus.

Comparison of Five Fungicides on Development of Root, Crown, and Fruit Rot of Chile Pepper and Recovery of Phytophthora capsici from Soil.

The activity of five fungicides, azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, fluazinam, fosetyl-Al, and metalaxyl (subsequently replaced with mefenoxam by the manufacturer), was compared for effects on the development of root, crown, and fruit rot of chile pepper and on recovery of Phytophthora capsici from naturally infested soil. When inoculated with zoospores, plants survived longer and shoot and root fresh weights were greater for plants drenched with metalaxyl at 10 µg/ml than for plants treated with the same rate of azoxystrobin or dimethomorph. At 100 µg/ml, the duration of plant survival was greater for dimethomorph and fluazinam than for azoxystrobin; however, shoot and root growth did not differ. In soil naturally infested with P. capsici, survival and growth of shoots and roots for plants treated with dimethomorph at 100 µg/ml were greater than for those treated with the same rate of azoxystrobin or fluazinam. The most effective compounds for inhibition of lesion development on stems and fruit were mefenoxam at 1,200 µg/ml and dimethomorph at 480 µg/ml. Recovery of P. capsici from soil treated with each of the five tested compounds was significantly less than that recorded for soil not receiving a fungicide. The potential and relative value of azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, fosetyl-Al, and fluazinam as chemical management tools for Phytophthora blight on chile pepper, in addition to metalaxyl (replaced with mefenoxam), has been demonstrated.

First Report of Stem and Crown Rot of Garbanzo Caused by Sclerotinia minor in the United States and by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Arizona.

In March 2000, plants began to die within two garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L.) fields about 48 km apart in southwestern Arizona. Initial symptoms included wilting of leaves and stem necrosis on individual branches, followed by entire plant necrosis and death. White mycelium was present on plant stems near the soil surface. In one field, small black irregularly shaped sclerotia (1 mm in diameter) were present on the infected stem surface along with the white mycelia, whereas in the other field the associated sclerotia were of similar shape but larger (5 to 6 mm in diameter). Isolation from diseased garbanzo stem tissue from the respective fields yielded Sclerotinia minor, which produced small sclerotia when cultured on potato-dextrose agar and S. sclerotiorum, which produced the typical larger sclerotia of this species. To fulfill Koch's postulates, healthy plants and associated soil from a garbanzo field with no evidence of infection by Sclerotinia were removed with a shovel and transferred into a series of 8-liter plastic pots. After transporting back to the laboratory, some of the plants were inoculated by wounding stems with a 5-mm-diameter cork borer, placing an agar disk containing either S. minor or S. sclerotiorum onto each wound, securing the agar disk to the stem with plastic tape, then incubating the plants at 25°C for 7 days. Control plants were treated similarly except that agar disks did not contain Sclerotinia. Stems inoculated with S. minor or S. sclerotiorum developed symptoms of wilt and necrosis, including the appearance of white mycelium and sclerotia on the stem surface, whereas control plants remained healthy. S. minor or S. sclerotiorum were recovered from garbanzo stems inoculated with the respective species of the pathogen. Sclerotinia leaf drop, which can be caused by S. minor or S. sclerotiorum on lettuce in Arizona, had been observed in both fields previously. Garbanzo fields in Arizona usually are watered by furrow irrigation. Disease was most severe in areas of the garbanzo fields that were heavily irrigated with resultant wetting of tops of plant beds. Proper management of irrigation water and avoidance of establishing a garbanzo planting in fields following lettuce could help reduce future losses from these pathogens. S. minor previously had been reported as a pathogen on Cicer arietinum from the island of Sardinia (2); however, this is apparently the first report of the pathogen on garbanzo other than in Sardinia. S. sclerotiorum has been reported as a pathogen on this host in several countries including the United States (California) (1) but not previously in the state of Arizona. References: (1) I. W. Buddenhagen, F. Workneh, and N. A. Bosque-Perez. Int. Chickpea Newsl. 19:9-10, 1988. (2) F. Marras. Rev. Appl. Mycol. 43:112, 1964.

Impact of Azoxystrobin, Dimethomorph, Fluazinam, Fosetyl-Al, and Metalaxyl on Growth, Sporulation, and Zoospore Cyst Germination of Three Phytophthora spp.

In vitro activity of azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, and fluazinam on growth, sporulation, and zoospore cyst germination of Phytophthora capsici, P. citrophthora, and P. parasitica was compared to that of fosetyl-Al and metalaxyl. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) values for)inhibition of mycelial growth of the three pathogens usually were lowest for dimethomorph and (metalaxyl, ranging from <0.1 to 0.38 µg/ml. However, the 90% effective concentration (EC90) levels for dimethomorph always were lower than the other four tested compounds, with values ranging from 0.32 to 1.6 µg/ml. Mycelial growth of P. capsici, P. citrophthora, and P. parasitica was least affected by azoxystrobin and fluazinam, with estimated (EC90) values >3,000 µg/ml. Reduction of sporangium formation by P. capsici, P. citrophthora, and P. parasitica in the presence of dimethomorph at 1 µg/ml was significantly greater than that recorded for the same concentration of azoxystrobin, fluazinam, and fosetyl-Al. For the three species of Phytophthora, zoospore motility was most sensitive to fluazinam (EC50 and EC90 values of <0.001 µg/ml) and (least sensitive to fosetyl-Al, with (EC50 and EC90 values ranging from 299 to 334 and 518 to 680 µg/ml, respectively). Germination of encysted zoospores of P. capsici, P. citrophthora, and P. parasitica was most sensitive to dimethomorph (EC50 and EC90 values ranging from 3.3 to 7.2 and 5.6 to 21 µg/ml, respectively), intermediate in sensitivity to fluazinam (EC50 and EC90 from 18 to 108 and 67 to >1,000 µg/ml, respectively) and metalaxyl (EC50 and EC90 from 32 to 280 and 49 to 529 µg/ml, respectively), and lowest in sensitivity to azoxystrobin and fosetyl-Al (EC50 and EC90 from 256 to >1,000 µg/ml). The activity of azoxystrobin, dimethomorph, and fluazinam on one or more stages of the life cycle of P. capsici, P. citrophthora, and P. parasitica suggests that these compounds potentially could provide Phytophthora spp. disease control comparable to that of the established fungicides fosetyl-Al and metalaxyl.

Resistance to Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica and Nursery Characteristics of Several Citrus Rootstocks.

Studies were conducted to compare existing and potential citrus rootstocks with respect to resistance to root rot and gummosis caused by Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica in greenhouse and growth chamber experiments and horticultural performance under simulated nursery conditions. Depending upon rootstock and experiment, mean root weights resulting from inoculation with P. citrophthora were 27 to 96% lower than the comparable controls. In similar experiments with the same rootstocks, inoculation with P. parasitica resulted in root weights that were 38 to 95% less than weights of the noninoculated controls. During 1994 or 1995, mean root weight reduction compared with noninoculated plants among Citrus macrophylla, rough lemon, C. volkameriana, and Sunki mandarin × Flying Dragon trifoliate (62-109-19) attributable to P. citrophthora and mean root weight reduction among C. macrophylla, C. volkameriana, rough lemon, Sacaton citrumelo, Sunki mandarin × Flying Dragon trifoliate (62-109-19), African shaddock × Rubidoux trifoliate, and Shekwasha mandarin × English trifoliate attributable to P. parasitica were significantly less than those recorded for all other tested rootstocks. Rootstocks that sustained a low percentage of root weight reduction generally experienced a low percentage of shoot weight reduction and survived longer as well. In evaluation of resistance to gummosis, depending on rootstock and experiment, the mean length of stem lesions caused by P. citrophthora on rootstocks ranged from 0.2 to 25.0 mm, whereas values for P. parasitica ranged from 0.2 to 18.5 mm. Stem lesions smaller than 5 mm in length were recorded for 21 and 14 of 36 different rootstocks inoculated with P. citrophthora and P. parasitica, respectively. On the other hand, P. citrophthora and P. parasitica caused stem lesions of at least 10 mm in length on 8 and 16 citrus rootstocks, respectively. Desirable nursery characteristics, including vigorous growth, minimal branching, and high leaf chlorophyll content, were demonstrated most prominently by Gomiri rough lemon, C. volkameriana, and Benton citrange, and to a lesser degree by some other rootstocks. Possible factors that could account for inconsistent classification of some citrus rootstocks as susceptible or resistant to Phytophthora root rot and gummosis are discussed.

Distribution and Seasonal Population Dynamics of Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica in Arizona Citrus Orchards and Effect of Fungicides on Tree Health.

The distribution and seasonal population dynamics of Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica within citrus orchards in southwestern and central Arizona were determined over a multiple-year period. In central Arizona, P. citrophthora alone, P. parasitica alone, or both pathogens together were recovered from 7, 37, and 41% of sampled orchards, respectively, whereas in the southwestern production area, the same pathogens alone or in combination were recovered from 17, 50, and 17% of sampled orchards, respectively. For a 6-year period, the average population density of P. parasitica in southwestern Arizona was 16.7 propagules/g of dry soil. For 2 of 3 years, the population density of P. citrophthora at the 10-cm soil depth was significantly higher in the spring than in the preceding winter or the following autumn season. There were no significant seasonal multiple-year differences in population levels of P. parasitica. Propagule densities of both pathogens, as well as root densities, generally decreased as soil depth increased from 10 to 60 cm. No consistent significant correlation was detected between propagule density of either pathogen and soil temperature or soil moisture at the time of collection. A multiple-year treatment program with fosetyl-Al or metalaxyl resulted in significantly healthier tree canopies and higher root densities compared to nontreated trees; however, population densities of P. citrophthora and P. parasitica did not differ significantly when nontreated trees were compared to those receiving fungicide treatments.