Spatial and temporal characteristics of dicarboximide‐resistant strains of Monilinia fructicola and brown rot incidence in stone fruit

Abstract

The spatial and temporal distribution of dicarboximide‐resistant strains of Monilinia fructicola were investigated in six peach and nectarine orchard blocks in 1987–89 using a dispersion index (Lloyd's Patchiness Index, LPI), and spatial, temporal and spatio‐temporal autocorrelation analyses (Moran's Coefficient, I). The LPI values indicated that resistant strains were aggregated in all blocks in all years. Spatial correlations were not significant beyond one quadrat for any spatial proximity pattern in five of six blocks. Thus the spread of resistant strains was mostly restricted to the vicinity of the original focus. An absence of significant temporal correlation between years in five of the six blocks indicated poor persistence of resistant strains at specific locations. Only one significant temporal correlation was detected at one block and this could have arisen by chance. Significant spatio‐temporal correlation was not detected, suggesting that there was no focus expansion or carry‐over of resistant strain inoculum from the previous sampling date. Spatial, temporal and spatio‐temporal autocorrelation analyses were consistent with previously reported laboratory results that resistant strains had not acquired all the necessary characteristics to remain in, or dominate, field populations. The spatial pattern of brown rot incidence was investigated at one block in a separate study in 1988 and 1989. There were no significant spatial correlations for brown rot incidence in 1988 for any of the spatial proximity patterns analysed. In 1989, however, significant correlations indicated ellipsoid aggregates of brown rot orientated along the orchard rows.