On the epidemiological evaluation of fungicide action

Abstract

When plant disease control chemicals are partially effective, an epidemiologic analysis of antifungal action may be needed. The life table method is advocated to this purpose. It permits a complete analysis of a monocyclic experiment, and it predicts the maximum relative growth rate of the fungal population in a polycyclic field situation. The life table method, which also determines age-dependent effects of disease control chemicals, can be adapted for use in computer simulation models of plant disease epidemics. An example of the life table method is given comparing a cultivar of wheat resistant to Puccinia recondita (the ‘treated’) with one susceptible (the ‘untreated’) to brown leaf rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum).