Hours Of Leaf Wetness Research Articles

Progression of Gummy Stem Blight Epidemics on Watermelon with and without Fungicide Inputs.

Gummy stem blight (GSB), caused primarily by the fungus Stagonosporopsis citrulli in the southeastern United States, affects cucurbits and is particularly destructive on watermelon. Previous epidemiological models of GSB constructed for greenhouse cucumber showed leaf wetness and temperature were the primary and secondary environmental factors, respectively, that explained epidemic progress. The objective of this study was to construct a model that predicted GSB severity on field-grown watermelon based on environmental factors. Disease and weather data from six fungicide experiments in Charleston, South Carolina, in spring and fall 1997 and fall 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 were used as inputs. Fungicide treatments were grouped into nonsprayed, protectant (chlorothalonil and mancozeb) and GSB-specific (cyprodinil, difenoconazole and fludioxonil) applications. Cumulative hours of leaf wetness was the primary explanatory variable that modeled the increase in proportion GSB severity ≥2% across all epidemics. Incorporation of temperature or other environmental variables did not improve the model. Fit of the overall model was evaluated with k-fold cross validation, where individual experiments were each excluded from the model fitting process. Slopes of predicted disease progress curves were lowered significantly compared to the nonsprayed treatments by applications of protectant fungicides. Applying GSB-specific fungicides alternated with chlorothalonil further reduced slope values. The model successfully predicted progress of GSB epidemics under different weather patterns and fungicide applications.

Seasonal progression of leaf rust in ‘Niagara Rosada’ grapevine in a biannual crop system in Brazil

Grapevine leaf rust, which is caused by the fungus Phakopsora euvitis, is an important late-season disease of ‘Niagara Rosada’ (Vitis labrusca) grapevine in Brazil. The early defoliation of plants caused by the disease impairs fruit ripening and reduces marketable yield. In a study carried out in northern Parana State, the temporal progression of grapevine leaf rust was quantified in a production system of ‘Niagara Rosada’ grapevine with two growing seasons per year: mid-summer-autumn and late winter-spring. The influence of weather-related variables on rust progression was examined through correlation analyses. It was observed that the rust was more severe in summer-autumn than in winter-spring. Significant positive linear correlations (P ≤ 0.05) were found between rust severity and rainfall (r ≥ 0.90) and average daily hours of leaf wetness (r ≥ 0.82). In addition, negative correlation was found between rust severity and temperature (r ≥ −0.84) in the mid-summer/autumn season. Mild temperatures in autumn were considered decisive for rust progression. In Brazilian tropical viticulture, management strategies for grapevine leaf rust must consider the risk of rust damage in autumn caused by temperature.

The combined effects of temperature and leaf wetness periods on soybean frogeye leaf spot intensity

The frogeye leaf spot, a disease caused by the fungus Cercospora sojina, affects soybean crops worldwide with enormous economic impact. In this study, we evaluated the combined effects of temperature and duration of leaf wetness periods on the intensity of frogeye leaf spot in soybean. Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber with cultivar Don Mario 7.0i at temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C and leaf wetness periods of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications. When soybean plants were grown at 15°C, affected leaflet area, number of lesions per leaflet and diameter of lesions could only be measured after 60 hours of leaf wetness. At the temperatures of 20 and 25°C this period was reduced to 24 hours of leaf wetness, at 30oC, we found the need for 36 hours of leaf wetness and at a temperature of 35°C, 48 hours. The optimal temperatures for disease development were 27°C for diameter and affected leaflet area and 28°C for number of lesions per leaflet with 72 hours of leaf wetness.

Efeitos da temperatura e regime de luz sobre Corynespora cassiicola e da temperatura e período de molhamento foliar no desenvolvimento da mancha-alvo em acerola

RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivos: (i) determinar, in vitro, o efeito da temperatura sobre o crescimento micelial (10 a 35oC) e a germinação de conídios (10 a 45oC) de Corynespora cassiicola ; (ii) avaliar, in vitro , o efeito do regime de luz (luz contínua, fotoperíodo de 12 h e escuro) sobre o crescimento micelial, a esporulação e a viabilidade dos esporos de C. cassiicola ; e (iii) verificar, in vivo , a influência da temperatura (20 a 30oC) e da duração do período de molhamento foliar (4 a 48 h) no desenvolvimento da mancha-alvo em folhas de acerola. As temperaturas ótimas, estimadas a partir das equações, para o crescimento micelial e a germinação de esporos foram de 30 e 29oC, respectivamente. O regime de luz não afetou o crescimento micelial e a germinação dos esporos, entretanto, luz contínua favoreceu a esporulação, e a ausência de luz durante a produção dos esporos diminuiu sua viabilidade. Houve um incremento na área das lesões da mancha-alvo em folhas de acerola conforme a temperatura aumentou até 30oC. Foram necessárias 12 h de molhamento foliar para que a infecção e as lesões ocorressem.

Decision Models for Fungicide Applications for Soybean Rust

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, can be a devastating disease to southeastern U.S. soybean (Glycine max) production. Fungicides can be applied to avoid yield loss, but growers need to know when an application will be most beneficial. To better understand and manage SBR epidemics in the southeastern U.S., fungicide application decision models were developed and validated. Application decision models were developed based on SBR presence and hours of leaf wetness or amount of cumulative rain and compared to non-treated controls and applications based on crop growth stage. The models were evaluated in 2009, 2010, and 2011. High disease pressure and conducive weather conditions in 2009 resulted in significantly greater disease severity and lower yields in non-treated plots compared to treated plots. In 2010 and 2011, low disease pressure and drought conditions resulted in no significant differences in disease severity or yields among most treatments. Results indicate two fungicide applications during early reproductive stage can reduce yield loss due to SBR, but subsequent applications need to be determined based on disease pressure, weather conditions, and crop growth stage. Accepted for publication 1 March 2015. Published 1 May 2015.

The Effect of Open-Ended High Tunnels in Western Washington on Late Blight and Physiological Leaf Roll Among Five Tomato Cultivars

A 3-year study in western Washington from 2010 to 2012 evaluated five tomato cultivars for tomato disease development and yield in open-ended high-tunnel versus open-field settings. Findings in 2010 revealed that severity of late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans (US-11), was significantly (P = 0.002) lower in high-tunnel compared with open-field experimental plots based on area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values of 0.02 versus 321, respectively. In spite of rescue foliar fungicide applications to open-field plots in 2011 and 2012, the mean number of late blight infections across cultivars was 1.8 to 30.8 compared with only 0 to 6.5 in high tunnels for these years. Furthermore, accumulated hours of leaf wetness were fewer in high tunnels than the open field each year (857 versus 1,060 in 2010, 598 versus 998 in 2011, and 885 versus 923 in 2012). Cultivar susceptibility to late blight could not be differentiated in high tunnels due to low disease pressure. However, all five cultivars proved susceptible in the open field, with 'Oregon Spring' consistently having the most lesions. In contrast, high-tunnel production contributed to an increased severity of physiological leaf roll compared with open-field production each year, and these values differed significantly (P = 0.0335 and 0.0252) in 2011 and 2012, respectively. AUDPC values for physiological leaf roll showed that Oregon Spring was significantly (P = <0.0001) less susceptible than other cultivars each year. Physiological leaf roll correlated positively (r values of 0.758 to 0. 960) and significantly (P < 0.05) with leaf wetness and air temperature in all years in both high-tunnel and open-field settings but the same was not true for relative humidity. Even with severe physiological leaf roll, high-tunnel production in 2010 resulted in significantly (P < 0.0001) greater total tomato yield than open-field production (35.0 versus 10.6 t ha-1). Although a significant interaction between production system and cultivar occurred in 2011 and 2012, tomato yield always was greater in high-tunnel than open-field plots. Open-ended high tunnels offer tomato growers a potential tool for managing late blight in western Washington while also increasing yield, and could be especially useful in organic production.

Relação entre a temperatura e o molhamento foliar no monocíclo da Sigatoka-negra

A influência da temperatura (21, 24, 27 e 30 °C) e da duração do tempo de molhamento foliar (0, 12, 24, 48 e 72 horas) na penetração do agente causal da Sigatoka-negra (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) foi quantificada em ambiente controlado. A área abaixo da curva do progresso da doença (AACPD) e a incidência foram influenciadas pela temperatura e pela duração do tempo de molhamento foliar. Foram constatadas diferenças significativas (P=0,05) nos valores da AACPD para as diferentes temperaturas, bem como verificada a interação significativa (P=0,05) entre temperaturas e o molhamento foliar. Em todas as temperaturas foi possível a observação de sintomas, entretanto, a maior AACPD foi observada em folhas inoculadas que permaneceram na temperatura de 24 e 27°C, a partir de 48 horas de molhamento foliar. Nas temperaturas de 21ºC e 30°C a incidência de Sigatoka-negra foi menor. O período de molhamento foliar mínimo para o progresso da doença foi de 24 horas. Não foram observados sintomas de Sigatoka-negra em folhas inoculados com o molhamento foliar de 0 hora e 12 horas em todas as temperaturas. As folhas assintomáticas, após 5 dias em câmara úmida apresentavam sintomas característicos de Sigatoka-negra, demonstrando que os conídios inoculados nas folhas permaneceram viáveis por um período na ausência de água livre na folha.

Variability Among Forecast Models for the Apple Sooty Blotch/Flyspeck Disease Complex.

Several disease forecast models have been developed to guide treatment of the sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) disease complex of apple. Generally, these empirical models are based on the accumulation of hours of leaf wetness (leaf wetness duration [LWD]) from a biofix at or near the phenological growth stage petal fall, when apple flower petals senesce and drop. The models recommend timing of the initial fungicide application targeting SBFS. However, there are significant differences among SBFS forecast models in terms of biofix and the length of LWD thresholds. A comparison of models using a single input data set generated recommendations for the first SBFS fungicide application that differed by up to 5 weeks. In an attempt to improve consistency among models, potential sources for differences were examined. Leaf wetness (LW) is a particularly variable parameter among models, depending on whether on-site or remote weather data were used, the types of sensors and their placement for on-site monitors, and the models used to estimate LW remotely. When SBFS models are applied in the field, recommended treatment thresholds do not always match the method of data acquisition, leading to potential failures. Horticultural factors, such as tree size, canopy density, and cultivar, and orchard site factors such as the distance to potential inoculum sources can impact risk of SBFS and should also be considered in forecast models. The number of fungal species identified as contributors to the SBFS disease complex has expanded tremendously in recent years. A lack of understanding of key epidemiological factors for different fungi in the complex, and which fungi represent the most challenging management problems, are obvious issues in the development of improved SBFS models. If SBFS forecast models are to be adopted, researchers will need to address these issues.

Efeito do inóculo, período de molhamento foliar e do estádio fenológico do feijão-caupi no desenvolvimento da mela

Web blight caused by the fungus Thanatephorus cucumeris (Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 1 IA ) is one of the most important diseases of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in the north of Brazil. There is no information about the effect of epidemiological parameters on development of the disease under controlled conditions. The aims of this work were to identify the type and inoculum concentration of R. solani, the susceptible phenological states and the leaf wetness periods for disease development in greenhouse conditions. In the first study we tested the use of mycelia fragments (mf) and sclerotia as source of inoculum; in the second experiment, the effect of different inoculum concentrations (0, 103, 104,105 and 106 mf.mL-1); in the third experiment, the effect of leaf wetness period was tested by maintaining cowpea plants at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of leaf wetness after the inoculation, and in the last experiment the effect of phenological states was tested by inoculating cowpea plants at the stages of cotyledonal leaf, trifoliate leaves, flowering and pod filling. The highest severity values of disease were observed with the plants inoculated in the flowering phenological state with 106 mf.mL-1 and six hours of leaf wetness. These parameters can be utilized to establish an inoculation methodology for R. solani on cowpea plants under controlled conditions.

Influence of Environment on Airborne Spore Concentrations and Severity of Asparagus Purple Spot.

Environmental conditions, airborne concentrations of Pleospora herbarum ascospores and conidia, and purple spot disease severity on spears and fern were monitored for 3 years in two no-till asparagus fields in Michigan. Purple spot lesion development on spears was correlated with low temperature and vapor pressure deficit and high rainfall. Low vapor pressure deficit and high rainfall were also correlated with airborne ascospore concentrations at both sites. Lesion development on the fern was favored by longer periods of leaf wetness and low vapor pressure deficit and rainfall. Daily airborne conidia concentrations were positively correlated with average temperature and the number of hours of leaf wetness per day and negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit. Airborne conidia concentrations displayed a diurnal periodicity with greater concentrations between 700 and 1300 h. The results of this study indicate that a model to predict purple spot on asparagus spears should include temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and rainfall; a model for disease on the fern should include temperature, leaf wetness, vapor pressure deficit, and rainfall.

Factors Influencing Epidemiology and Management of Blackberry Rust in Cultivated Rubus laciniatus.

The blackberry rust pathogen Phragmidium violaceum was first observed in Oregon in spring 2005 on both commercially cultivated Rubus laciniatus (Evergreen blackberry) and naturalized R. armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry). Several commercial plantings suffered severe economic losses. In 2006 to 2008, all five spore stages of this autoecious, macrocyclic rust pathogen were observed annually, and asexual perennation of the pathogen on old leaves or in leaf buds was not evident in the disease cycle. In field experiments, teliospore germination and infection by basidiospores occurred mostly during April. On potted "trap" plants exposed for periods of 1 week under dense collections of dead leaves bearing teliospores, basidiospore infection was associated with wetness durations of >16 h with mean temperatures >8°C. Trap plants placed under the bundles of collected leaves frequently developed spermagonia, whereas only 1 of 630 trap plants placed in a production field of R. laciniatus became diseased, an indication that the effective dispersal distance of basidiospores may be limited. In growth chambers programmed for constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C, a minimum of six continuous hours of leaf wetness was required for infection by urediniospores, with >9 h required for moderate infection (>4 pustules/cm2) at 15 and 20°C. With diurnal temperature regimes averaging 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25°C, urediniospore germination and infection was highest in the range of 5 to 15°C; similarly, in the diurnal environment, >9 h of leaf wetness was required to attain moderate infection. In the field, lime sulfur applied as a delayed dormant treatment significantly suppressed teliospore germination and basidiospore infection. Over two seasons, one application of myclobutanil, a demethylation-inhibitor fungicide, applied in early May near the time of spermagonial appearance provided effective suppression of the summer epidemic.

Disease on Nursery Stock as Affected by Environmental Factors and Seasonal Inoculum Levels of Phytophthora ramorum in Stream Water Used for Irrigation.

A pear bait monitoring system was used to detect and quantify Phytophthora ramorum propagules in streams that flow through woodland areas with sudden oak death in Santa Cruz County, CA from 2001 to 2007. Stream propagules were detected most frequently or occurred in highest concentrations in winter and spring. The stream propagule concentration was characterized with statistical models using temperature and rainfall variables from 2004 to 2007. The highest concentrations of propagules occurred when stream sampling was preceded by about 2 months with low maximum daily temperatures and by 4 days with high rainfall. The occurrence of propagules in streams in the summer was mostly associated with infected leaves from the native host Umbellaria californica that prematurely abscised and fell into the water. When the stream water was used for irrigating rhododendron nursery stock from 2004 to 2007, disease occurred only three times in the two wettest springs (2005 and 2006) on plants sprinkler irrigated with stream water with relatively high concentrations of propagules. Disease incidence was described with a statistical model using the concentration of infective propagules as measured by pear baiting and consecutive hours of leaf wetness measured by electronic sensors at rhododendron height. The concentration of infective propagules was significantly reduced after water was pumped from the stream and applied through sprinklers.

Modelling the progress of Asiatic citrus canker on Tahiti lime in relation to temperature and leaf wetness

The combined effect of temperature (15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C and 42°C) and leaf wetness duration (0, 4, 8 12, 16, 20 and 24 h) on infection and development of Asiatic citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri) on Tahiti lime plant was examined in growth chambers. No disease developed at 42°C and zero hours of leaf wetness. Periods of leaf wetness as short as 4 h were sufficient for citrus canker infection. However, a longer leaf duration wetness (24 h) did not result in much increase in the incidence of citrus canker, but led to twice the number of lesions and four times the disease severity. Temperature was the greatest factor influencing disease development. At optimum temperatures (25–35°C), there was 100% disease incidence. Maximum disease development was observed at 30–35°C, with up to a 12-fold increase in lesion density, a 10-fold increase in lesion size and a 60-fold increase in disease severity.

Forecasting of Lipaphis erysimi on oilseed Brassicas in India—a case study

Experiments at Bharatpur, Pantnagar, Berhampur, Mohanpur, New Delhi, S.K. Nagar, Kangra and Sriganganagar, India were sown with oilseed Brassica cultivars Varuna and an important cultivar for the area on 10 dates at weekly intervals. Data of experiments conducted previously at Hisar and Ludhiana as available in reports were also used for the study. Mustard aphid ( Lipaphis erysimi) appearance on inflorescences of the plants was positively correlated to a maximum temperature between 20–29 °C in the preceding week and also to a morning relative humidity (RH) >92% and daily mean RH of >75%. Long hours of leaf wetness and minimum temperature >5 °C also favoured aphid infestation. Regional and cultivar specific models were developed to predict the crop age at which the mustard aphid first appears on the crop, the peak number of aphids and the crop age at peak number at least 1 week ahead of first appearance of the pest on the crop. These will allow growers to apply insecticides in a more timely and effective manner. Here we report only the models that were found effective based on validation in the 2 years.

Quantificação de componentes monocíclicos da mancha angular do feijoeiro

Foram realizados experimentos em ambiente controlado, em câmaras de crescimento, com duas cultivares de feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris), Rosinha e Carioca, para a quantificação de componentes monocíclicos da mancha angular. Os componentes monocíclicos avaliados foram: período de incubação, severidade da doença e taxa de crescimento das lesões, sob as temperaturas de 6, 10, 14, 17, 21, 25, 29 e 33 ºC. Nenhum sintoma da mancha angular ocorreu em 6 e 33 ºC. A severidade da mancha angular foi elevada na faixa de temperatura entre 20 e 25 ºC e o período de incubação foi favorecido pela temperatura de 25 ºC, para as duas cultivares testadas. Esta temperatura também proporcionou a maior taxa de crescimento das lesões e estes dados foram ajustados, em função da temperatura por uma equação do primeiro grau. O efeito do período de molhamento foliar (5, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 e 54 h) na severidade da doença também foi avaliado. A severidade da mancha angular do feijoeiro aumentou com o aumento da duração do molhamento foliar até o máximo de 54 h. As variações de severidade da mancha angular do feijoeiro, em relação ao número de horas de molhamento foliar, foram explicadas pelo modelo de Richards. A função Beta-Richards explicou o efeito combinado da temperatura e da duração do molhamento foliar na severidade da mancha angular do feijoeiro para ambas as cultivares.

Quantificação de componentes monocíclicos da antracnose do feijoeiro

Foram realizados experimentos em ambiente controlado, em câmaras de crescimento, para a antracnose do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris) causada por Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, em duas cultivares, Rosinha e Carioca, para a quantificação de componentes monocíclicos. Os componentes monocíclicos avaliados foram período de incubação e severidade da doença, sob as temperaturas de 6, 10, 14, 17, 21, 25, 29 e 33 ºC. A antracnose não se desenvolveu nas temperaturas de 6 e 33 ºC. A severidade foi mais elevada a 17 ºC e o menor período de incubação ocorreu a 29 ºC, para a cv. Rosinha, e 25 ºC para a cv. Carioca. A função beta generalizada mostrou bom ajuste aos dados de temperatura. O efeito do período de molhamento foliar (5, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 e 54 h) na severidade da doença também foi avaliado. Não houve incremento na severidade da antracnose do feijoeiro para períodos de molhamento superiores a 24 h. As variações de severidade da antracnose do feijoeiro, em relação ao número de horas de molhamento foliar, foram explicadas pelo modelo de Richards. A função Beta-Richards explicou o efeito combinado da temperatura e duração do molhamento foliar na severidade da antracnose do feijoeiro para ambas as cultivares.

Environmental Factors Affecting Rose Downy Mildew and Development of a Forecasting Model for a Nursery Production System.

The effect of various environmental parameters on rose downy mildew caused by Peronospora sparsa was determined under controlled conditions and in the field. In growth chambers, optimal temperatures for infection and colonization of rose leaves were 15 to 20°C and 20 to 25°C, respectively. At optimal temperatures, infection required only 2 h of leaf wetness, although disease severity increased significantly with an increasing duration of leaf wetness up to 10 h. Infection of leaves occurred at temperatures as low as 5°C with 8 h of leaf wetness. The latent period of infection varied from 4 to 7 days. Weather and disease incidence data collected from natural field epidemics were used in the development of a predictive model of rose downy mildew. Logistic regression was used to identify those weather variables that explained the largest portion of the variation in disease incidence. The optimum regression model incorporated three weather variables calculated as cumulative totals over the previous 10 days: (i) hours of leaf wetness when temperatures were less than 20°C (positive correlation); (ii) hours between 15 and 20°C (negative correlation); and (iii) hours when temperatures exceeded 30°C (negative correlation). The simplest model, which was also a good fit, included only the 10-day cumulative number of hours of leaf wetness. The critical number of hours of leaf wetness for disease development was an average of 8.4 h per day over 10 days.

PREDICTING THE OCCURRENCE OF FIRE BLIGHT IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA

Fire blight is a serious disease of apple in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Applications of streptomycin sulfate usually begin after 10% bloom and continue every 5 days until flowering is complete, especially if humid and wet conditions persist. Several models relate the presence of Erwinia amylovora on blossoms to temperature and other meteorological factors to establish thresholds above which disease can be expected to occur. Three fire blight predictive models, Mean Temperature Line, Cougarblight, and MARYBLYT, were compared in 1999 and 2000. All models accurately predicted low fire blight potential during the susceptible bloom period when daily average temperatures were below 15.5(0)C. In 1999, rain was associated with cold temperatures and some growers eliminated several antibiotic sprays without observing disease. Later in the season, and without rainfall, disease was observed in association with a 4-day period with more than 5 h of leaf wetness per day and average daily temperatures above 15.5(0)C. Twelve and 14 h of leaf wetness were recorded on 2 of the 4 days. In 2000, fire blight was severe and infections were observed in orchards before rain occurred. Multiple infections were associated with a period of 15 days during bloom when leaf wetness developed at average daily temperatures above 15.5(0)C. Symptoms were already apparent when two rain events occurred during this time. The models accurately predicted infections based on rainfall and temperature in the San Joaquin Valley but need modification to include hours of leaf wetness. The duration of leaf wetness, which can quantify wetting periods of both rain and dew, may provide a more reliable basis for disease prediction in the relatively warm arid climate of California.

Septoria Leaf Spot of Stevia rebaudiana in Canada and Methods for Screening for Resistance

The herb Stevia rebaudiana is a potential source of low‐calorie sweeteners. In 1995, a severe leaf spot and blight was observed in stevia production fields and research plots in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. The disease was characterized by angular, shiny, olive‐grey lesions that rapidly coalesced and were often surrounded by a chlorotic halo. Leaves quickly became necrotic and often dropped off the plant. The disease progressed upwards in the foliage during the growing season. A Septoria sp. was isolated from diseased leaves. Ten isolates (five from each of the two provinces) of the Septoria sp. were compared with respect to conidial size. Across isolates, conidia lengths and widths overlapped (grand means for length and width were 71.4 μm and 1.4 μm, respectively). Conidiogenesis was holoblastic. Morphological characteristics and disease symptoms were similar to those of Septoria steviae, previously reported only from Japan. It was concluded that the Canadian isolates belonged to S. steviae. Isolates from Canada did not differ significantly from one another with respect to effects of temperature on colony growth or germination of conidia. Optimum temperatures for these parameters were between 20 and 25°C. In field trials, the pathogen was shown to successfully over‐winter in diseased leaf tissue. In order to develop procedures for identification of resistant germplasm and greenhouse screening of candidate fungicides, effects of leaf wetness period, inoculum concentration, and plant age on disease development were determined. Thirty‐six hours of leaf wetness were required for consistent development of leaf spots. Inoculum concentrations of 5 × 105 conidia/ml or more were required to produce high disease severities; 6‐week‐old plants were more susceptible than older plants. In the growth chamber, greenhouse, and field trials, germplasm selections with high levels of resistance to S. steviae were identified. This is the first report of resistance to this disease in S. rebaudiana.

Infection of linseed by Alternaria linicola; effects of inoculum density, temperature, leaf wetness and light regime

Controlled environment studies were conducted to determine the effects of inoculum density, temperature, leaf wetness and light regime on the infection of linseed by Alternaria linicola. The % cotyledons and leaves with symptoms, and the disease severity (% leaf area with symptoms) increased linearly when the inoculum density increased from 1×103 to 1×105 conidia ml−1. The first symptoms appeared on cotyledons and leaves 4 and 6 days after inoculation, respectively. Eight hours of leaf wetness were sufficient to initiate the disease at 25°C but not at 15°C, when 10-h periods of leaf wetness were required. % leaf area with symptoms was lower at 15°C than that at 25°C irrespective of the leaf wetness periods tested. Interruption of a continuous leaf wetness period by a 12-h dry period, occurring at any time between 1 and 18 h after inoculation, decreased the % cotyledons with symptoms and the disease severity, with the greatest reductions (60% and 100%, respectively) being observed when the dry period began 6 h after inoculation. A. linicola conidia were able to exploit successive 12-h periods of leaf wetness cumulatively to infect linseed plants. Disease incidence and severity were positively correlated with the dark period following inoculation, but they were negatively related to the length of the initial light period. Our findings suggest that infection of linseed by A. linicola and further development of symptoms can occur under unfavourable environmental conditions.