Septoria Leaf Blotch Severity Research Articles

Are innovative cropping systems less dependent on synthetic pesticides to treat Septoria leaf blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici) than conventional systems?

In recent decades, agriculture has been typified by a reliance on synthetic pesticides, with detrimental effects on human health and the environment. It has therefore become necessary to develop more sustainable pest management strategies. To meet this objective, agricultural practices within innovative cropping systems are designed to reduce synthetic pesticide inputs, while controlling pest and pathogen life cycles. However, knowledge is still needed when it comes to the ways in which consecutive growing seasons characterized by lighter synthetic pesticide inputs affect long term crop damage by pests and pathogens, and how their minimal use can cascade on the harvested yield. This article presents a longitudinal comparison, over five years, of the severity of Septoria leaf blotch and harvested yield of winter wheat cultivated with and without synthetic pesticides among one conventional and three innovative systems – low-input-, conservation-, and organic agriculture. Conventional and conservation agriculture systems showed, respectively, the highest and the lowest difference in Septoria severity between untreated winter wheat and the same crop treated with synthetic pesticides, making them the most and least chemical protection-dependent systems. The four cropping systems produced different yields, which were not significantly influenced by the reduction in synthetic pesticide input. Low-input agriculture proved to be the best trade-off between minimal synthetic pesticide use and Septoria severity, with no effect on yield. Our study provides evidence that adopting innovative cropping systems that are less dependent on synthetic pesticides, and thus contributing to a sustainable agriculture for the future, can be done without missing production targets.

Assessing the Interplay between Weather and Septoria Leaf Blotch Severity on Lower Leaves on the Disease Risk on Upper Leaves in Winter Wheat.

Septoria leaf blotch (SLB) is among the most damaging foliar diseases of wheat worldwide. In this study, data for seven cropping seasons (2003-2009) at four representative wheat-growing sites in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (GDL) were used to assess SLB risk on the three upper leaves (L3 to L1, L1 being the flag leaf) based on the combination of conducive weather conditions, simulated potential daily infection events by Zymoseptoria tritici, and SLB severity on lower leaves between stem elongation and mid-flowering. Results indicated that the variability in SLB severity on L3 to L1 at soft dough was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the disease severity on the lower leaf L5 at L3 emergence and the sum of daily mean air temperature between stem elongation and mid-flowering. Moreover, analyzing the predictive power of these variables through multiple linear regression indicated that the disease severity on L5 at L3 emergence and mild weather conditions between stem elongation and mid-flowering critically influenced the progress of SLB later in the season. Such results can help fine tune weather-based SLB risk models to guide optimal timing of fungicide application in winter wheat fields and ensure economic and ecological benefits.

Bioefficacy of microbial antagonists against Zymoseptoria tritici on wheat

From our previous research of bio-control agents of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici as an alternative to chemical control, one strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and one strain of Trichoderma harzianum showed high antagonistic potential in vitro and in vivo as a foliar treatment on potted plants under greenhouse. The present work aimed to evaluate the antagonistic potential of these two strains of microorganisms in seed treatment. The results obtained showed that the two antagonists can reduce the severity of the disease assessed at three growth stages of the two wheat cultivars. B. amyloliquefaciens I3 reduced the severity of septoria leaf blotch by 56% and 58% compared to the checks on Aguilal and Karim respectively at the flag leaf stage, while in the case of T. harzianum A, this rate was 54% on Aguilal and 55% on Karim. These results suggest that the antagonistic potential is due to a distant mechanism of action such as induced systemic resistance. The viability tests of the two antagonists on coated seeds stored at 4 °C showed that they were viable after twelve months of conservation and preserved their antagonistic potential against Z. tritici.

Minimizing Yield Losses and Sanitary Risks through an Appropriate Combination of Fungicide Seed and Foliar Treatments on Wheat in Different Production Situations

Among the fungal diseases that affect wheat in temperate growing areas, Septoria Leaf Blotch (SLB) and Fusarium head blight (FHB) result in yield and sanitary risk losses that could be minimized through appropriate fungicide applications. Furthermore, the request from policy makers and the food market to reduce the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture has driven research in the direction of performant defense strategies with a reduced spraying of pesticides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different fungicide programs on the control of SLB and FHB, as well as on the grain yield and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination of common wheat. Field experiments were carried out in 2016 and 2017 in North Italy. Two seed treatments (conventional vs. systemic) and four combinations of foliar fungicide applications (untreated control, application at the end of stem elongation, at flowering, and a double treatment at stem elongation and flowering) have been compared, according to a full factorial design, under two agronomic conditions: plowing vs. minimum tillage. Foliar sprayings at the end of stem elongation were found to be more effective in controlling SLB, while a triazole application at flowering was found to be an essential practice to reduce the FHB and DON contents. The double foliar treatment led to significant benefits, albeit only in the production situations with the highest SLB severity (e.g., in the 2017 experiment, after ploughing and the use of a conventional seed treatment). The systemic seed dressing led to a higher and prolonged STB protection, with significant canopy greenness during ripening in all the production situations. In 2017, which suffered from high disease pressure, the seed treatment with systemic fungicide led to a significant increase in grain yield (+5%), compared to the conventional one. The combination of the systemic seed treatment and the triazole application at flowering guaranteed the highest control of both SLB and FHB, maximized grain yield, and minimized DON contamination. This study provides useful information that could be used to evaluate appropriate fungicide programs, based on a combination of seed and foliar treatments, for wheat yield and sanity in distinct SLB and FHB diseases pressure scenarios.

The Effect of Foliar Fertilization with Micronutrients on Disease Severity and Mycotoxin Concentrations in the Grain of Winter Spelt (Triticum aestivum spp. spelta L.): A Case Study

The effect of mineral fertilization (NPK), foliar fertilization with micronutrients (Cu, Zn and Mn) and the NanoGro biostimulant on the severity of leaf, spike, stem base and root diseases in winter spelt cv. Schwabenkorn was evaluated in a field-plot experiment. A mycological analysis was performed and the content of Fusarium mycotoxins in grain was determined. Mineral fertilization (NPK), foliar fertilization with micronutrients and the NanoGro biostimulant exerted varied effects on the severity of Septoria leaf blotch and Septoria glume blotch, they promoted the spread of brown rust (excluding the NPK + NanoGro treatment) and inhibited the spread of black head mold (excluding the NPK treatment), eyespot and Fusarium foot and root rot (excluding the NPK + Mn treatment). Fertilization had no influence on grain yield or the content of Fusarium mycotoxins in grain. The concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEA) and fumonisins FB1 + FB2 did not exceed the maximum permissible levels (except for DON in NPK + Cu + Zn + Mn and NPK + NanoGro treatments). Throughout the experiment, ergosterol (ERG) concentrations were highest in the grain of unfertilized spelt plants.

Development and species composition of septariosis in crops of spring triticale varieties in Belarus

Septoria leaf and head blotch is the most economically significant disease of grain crops in Belarus, as it is annually observed in crops and is highly harmful. Spring triticale is a perspective crop in our country with a high yield potential and grain quality, which, as known, decreases due to diseases development. There is little information on the varieties disease susceptibility, development peculiarities and species composition of septoria blotch of spring triticale, which determined the relevance of our research subject. The paper presents the results of studies in 2015-2019 on susceptibility of spring triticale varieties Uzor, Doublet, Sadko to septoria leaf and head blotch, peculiarities of the disease development depending on weather conditions were revealed and the species composition of pathogens of septoria leaf blotch was determined. It has been determined that severity of septoria leaf blotch by the end of early – soft dough of grain stage reached 36.6 %. Based on calculation of area under the disease progress curve, no significant differences were found in severity of septoria leaf blotch depending on the variety. Severity of septoria head blotch reached 22.7 % by the end of growing season. Direct dependences of septoria leaf and head blotch development on the amount of precipitation have been established, and a close correlation between the severity of septoria head blotch and septoria leaf blotch has been revealed. The species composition of septoria leaf blotch is represented by the fungi Parastagonospora nodorum, Parastagonospora avenae f. sp. triticae and Zymoseptoria tritici. The dominant species was P. nodorum, its frequency reached 99.2 % depending on the variety and growth stage of spring triticale, the second most common fungus was P. avenae f. sp. triticae - up to 58.6 %. For the first time in our country, in-depth research has been carried out to study septoria leaf and head blotch of spring triticale, the results obtained will serve as the basis for development of a protection system.

Seed Coating with Thyme Essential Oil or Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN Strain: Conferring Septoria Leaf Blotch Resistance and Promotion of Yield and Grain Isotopic Composition in Wheat

Septoria leaf blotch (SLB) is considered one of the most devastating diseases affecting global wheat production. Biostimulant application is among the modern approaches in plant protection to overcome the impact of SLB’s fungicide resistance. In this manner, the effect of coating seeds with thyme essential oil or Paraburkholderia phytofirmansPsJN strain on SLB severity and yield components (spikes/m2, straw yield (SY), grain yield (GY) and thousand kernel weight (TKW)) were assessed under field conditions for 3 years. The effect on physiological traits and nitrogen and carbon isotope composition (δ15Ngrain, δ13Cgrain) and nitrogen and carbon content (Ngrain, Cgrain) of grains was assessed in one year of study. The increasing SLB severity decreased all yield components, increased δ15Ngrain and Cgrain content and slightly decreased δ13Cgrain as the resulting effect of Z.tritici inducing stomatal opening and leaf necrosis. Across the years, both treatments alleviated the SLB adverse impact by reducing SLB severity, increasing spikes/m2, SY, GY and TKW. Both treatments ameliorated grain quality by increasing Cgrain content and decreasing δ13Cgrain and δ15Ngrain. The difference between the performance of thyme oil or PsJN strain in terms of intensity and stability is discussed and considered to be linked to the different triggered systemic resistance and the associated amount of costs deriving from resource allocation towards defense processes.

Evaluation of disease intensity and molecular identification of Zymoseptoria tritici causing Septoria leaf blotch on wheat in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Wheat is one of the most important crops in Turkey. Production of this crop is constrained by the disease Septoria leaf blotch, which is a major bottleneck in wheat production in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. In this study, 260 different wheat fields were surveyed for the estimation of prevalence and severity of Septoria leaf blotch. Out of 100% of the total wheat crop fields, 58.91% were infected with this disease. The mean value of Septoria leaf blotch virulence was 11.62%. Out of 142 diseased wheat crop samples, 74 isolates were used for the pathogenicity test. Forty-seven isolates from Adana, 3 isolates from Mersin, 3 isolates from Osmaniye, 14 isolates from Hatay, and 7 isolates from Kahramanmaraş provinces were cultured on PDA plates. The cause of disease agent was identified based on microscopic observation of morphological structure and molecular analysis methods. Consequently, total 15 virulent isolates, 3 isolates from each province were sequenced for 5? and 3? ends of ITS of rDNA and nBLAST of the ITS sequences revealed that Zymoseptoria tritici was the agent of Septoria leaf blotch. The highest disease prevalence (87.99%) was recorded at Adana and followed by Osmaniye with 87.44%, Kahramanmaraş (43.59%), Mersin (42.68%), and Hatay (26.03%).

Quality and yield response to the control of Mycosphaerella graminicola in wheat as affected by nitrogen rate and cultivar bread-making characteristics

Septoria leaf blotch (SLB), caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola, reduces yield and grain quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by affecting the photosynthetically active area of the crop. This might influence grain protein concentration (GPC) and affect bread-making parameters. Nitrogen (N) fertilisation is required to achieve high yields in wheat; however, it may enhance the development of foliar diseases such as SLB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fungicide and N rate on SLB severity, green-leaf-area duration, grain yield and bread-making parameters in three wheat cultivars differing in bread-making characteristics. Two field experiments were conducted during 2009 and 2010 in a split-split-plot design with three fungicide treatments (triazole, triazole–strobilurin, nil) as main plots, three N fertiliser rates as subplots and three cultivars as sub-subplots. Fungicides significantly reduced the area under disease-progress curve (AUDPC) and this was associated with increased yield, which varied among cultivars. The AUDPC was lower in the higher N-rate treatments. Fungicide applications and increasing N rates extended green-leaf-area duration. GPC increased in untreated plots and it was reduced with applications of triazole–strobilurin fungicide. GPC reduction caused by this type of fungicide tended to be lower when the rate of N increased. The two cultivars with low bread-making characteristics showed a tendency to greater reductions in GPC with both fungicide types. Regarding quality variables, only tenacity and dough strength were reduced by the triazole-strobilurin fungicide. On average, for all treatments, tenacity, water absorption and dough development time were higher in the best quality group cultivars.

Plant Disease Severity Assessment-How Rater Bias, Assessment Method, and Experimental Design Affect Hypothesis Testing and Resource Use Efficiency.

The effect of rater bias and assessment method on hypothesis testing was studied for representative experimental designs for plant disease assessment using balanced and unbalanced data sets. Data sets with the same number of replicate estimates for each of two treatments are termed "balanced" and those with unequal numbers of replicate estimates are termed "unbalanced". The three assessment methods considered were nearest percent estimates (NPEs), an amended 10% incremental scale, and the Horsfall-Barratt (H-B) scale. Estimates of severity of Septoria leaf blotch on leaves of winter wheat were used to develop distributions for a simulation model. The experimental designs are presented here in the context of simulation experiments which consider the optimal design for the number of specimens (individual units sampled) and the number of replicate estimates per specimen for a fixed total number of observations (total sample size for the treatments being compared). The criterion used to gauge each method was the power of the hypothesis test. As expected, at a given fixed number of observations, the balanced experimental designs invariably resulted in a higher power compared with the unbalanced designs at different disease severity means, mean differences, and variances. Based on these results, with unbiased estimates using NPE, the recommended number of replicate estimates taken per specimen is 2 (from a sample of specimens of at least 30), because this conserves resources. Furthermore, for biased estimates, an apparent difference in the power of the hypothesis test was observed between assessment methods and between experimental designs. Results indicated that, regardless of experimental design or rater bias, an amended 10% incremental scale has slightly less power compared with NPEs, and that the H-B scale is more likely than the others to cause a type II error. These results suggest that choice of assessment method, optimizing sample number and number of replicate estimates, and using a balanced experimental design are important criteria to consider to maximize the power of hypothesis tests for comparing treatments using disease severity estimates.

Disease Severity Estimates—Effects of Rater Accuracy and Assessment Methods for Comparing Treatments

Assessment of disease severity is required for several purposes in plant pathology; most often, the estimates are made visually. It is established that visual estimates can be inaccurate and unreliable. The ramifications of biased or imprecise estimates by raters have not been fully explored using empirical data, partly because of the logistical difficulties involved in different raters assessing the same leaves for which actual disease has been measured in a replicated experiment with multiple treatments. In this study, nearest percent estimates (NPEs) of Septoria leaf blotch (SLB) on leaves of winter wheat from nontreated and fungicide-treated plots were assessed in both 2006 and 2007 by four raters and compared with assumed actual values measured using image analysis. Lin's concordance correlation (LCC, ρc) was used to assess agreement between the two approaches. NPEs were converted to Horsfall-Barratt (HB) midpoints and were compared with actual values. The estimates of SLB severity from fungicide-treated and nontreated plots were analyzed using generalized linear mixed modeling to ascertain effects of rater using both the NPE and HB values. Rater 1 showed good accuracy (ρc = 0.986 to 0.999), while raters 3 and 4 were less accurate (ρc = 0.205 to 0.936). Conversion to the HB scale had little effect on bias but reduced numerically both precision and accuracy for most raters on most assessment dates (precision, r = -0.001 to -0.132; and accuracy, ρc = -0.003 to -0.468). Interrater reliability was also reduced slightly by conversion of estimates to HB midpoint values. Estimates of mean SLB severity were significantly different between image analysis and raters 2, 3, and 4, and there were frequently significant differences among raters (F = 151 to 1,260, P = 0.001 to P < 0.0001). Only on 26 June 2007 did conversion to the HB scale change the means separation ranking of rater estimates. Nonetheless, image analysis and all raters were able to differentiate control and treated-plot treatments (F = 116 to 1,952, P = 0.002 to P < 0.0001, depending on date and rater). Conversion of NPEs to the HB scale tended to reduce F values slightly (2006: NPEs, F = 116 to 276, P = 0.002 to 0.0005; and, for the HB-converted values, F = 101 to 270, P = 0.002 to 0.0005; 2007: NPEs, F = 164 to 1,952, P = 0.001 to P < 0.0001; and, for HB-converted values, F = 126 to 1,633, P = 0.002 to P < 0.0001). The results reaffirm the need for accurate and reliable disease assessment to minimize over- or underestimates compared with actual disease, and the data we present support the view that, where multiple raters are deployed, they should be assigned in a manner to reduce any potential effect of rater differences on the analysis.

Estimating grain yield losses caused by septoria leaf blotch on durum wheat in Tunisia

Septoria leaf blotch (SLB), caused by Zymoseptoria tritici (Desm.) Quaedvlieg & Crous, 2011 (teleomorph: Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) J. Schrot.), is an important wheat disease in the Mediterranean region. In Tunisia, SLB has become a major disease of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum [Desf.] Husn.) particularly during favorable growing seasons where significant yield losses and increase of fungicides use were recorded over the last three decades. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of SLB severity on grain yield of new elite durum wheat breeding lines and to measure the relative effect of fungicide control on grain yield. Experiments were conducted during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 cropping seasons. A set of 800 breeding lines were screened for reaction to SLB under natural infection at Beja research station. To estimate the disease effect, correlation between disease severity at early grain filling stage and grain yield was performed. Results showed that susceptible varieties yield was significantly reduced by SLB. Average yield reduction was as high as 384 and 325 kg ha-1 for every increment in disease severity on a 0-9 scale in both seasons, respectively. A negative correlation coefficient varied between -0.61 and -0.66 in both seasons. Treated and untreated trials conducted during 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 showed that yield of treated plots increased by 50% on the commonly cultivated susceptible varieties. The results of this investigation suggested that septoria incidence is related to large grain yield losses particularly on susceptible high yielding cultivars. However, appropriate fungicide application at booting growth stage could be beneficial for farmers. The development and use of more effective fungicide could be sought to alleviate the disease effects and therefore could be considered as a part of the integrated pest management and responsible use strategy on septoria leaf blotch in Tunisia.

Influence of fungicide treatments on disease severity caused by Zymoseptoria tritici, and on grain yield and quality parameters of bread-making wheat under Mediterranean conditions

Zymoseptoria tritici is a major fungal pathogen which can cause serious loss in bread-making wheat. In this study, field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons to evaluate the effect of fungicide treatment (1- or 2-sprays of prothioconazole and tebuconazole) on Septoria leaf blotch (SLB) severity, wheat grain yield, hectolitre weight, crude protein and on the SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) sedimentation test. The influence of cultivar resistance on fungicide efficacy under Mediterranean conditions was also analysed. The results showed that in years drier than average, fungicide application might not be recommended as SLB severity would be low and the fungicide application itself could reduce grain yield. At high-severity of SLB, one spray of prothioconazole + tebuconazole applied between anthesis and maturation reduced disease severity by more than 50 % and increased grain yield by approximately 20 %. Fungicide treatment did not affect the quality parameters of the grain, measured as crude protein and by the SDS sedimentation test, under these experiment conditions.

A comparison between visual estimates and image analysis measurements to determine septoria leaf blotch severity in winter wheat

Methods to estimate disease severity vary in accuracy, reliability, ease of use and cost. Severity of septoria leaf blotch (SLB, caused by Zymoseptoria tritici) was estimated by four raters and by image analysis (assumed actual values) on individual leaves of winter wheat in order to explore accuracy and reliability of estimates, and to ascertain whether there were any general characteristics of error. Specifically, the study determined: (i) the accuracy and reliability of visual assessments of SLB over the full range of severity from 0 to 100%; (ii) whether certain 10% ranges in actual disease severity between 0 and 100% were more prone to estimation error compared with others; and (iii) whether leaf position affected accuracy within those ranges. Lin's concordance correlation analysis of all severities (0–100%) demonstrated that all raters had estimates close to the actual values (agreement: ρc = 0·92–0·99). However, agreement between actual SLB severities and estimates by raters was less good when compared over short 10% subdivisions within the 0–100% range (ρc = −0·12 to 0·99). Despite common rater imprecision at estimating low and high SLB severities, individual raters differed considerably in their accuracy over the short 10% subdivisions. There was no effect of leaf position on accuracy or precision of severity estimate on separate leaves (L1–L3). Pursuing efforts in understanding error in disease estimation should aid in improving the accuracy of assessments, making visual estimates of disease severity more useful for research and applied purposes.

Incidence and severity of Septoria leaf blotch in winter wheat in relation to reduced dosage of fungicides

The trials were carried out over the period 1999–2000 with a view to testing the efficacy of reduced doses of triazole fungicides on winter wheat cv. Zentos. Septoria diseases (Septoria spp.) occurred on winter wheat annually. Full and reduced dosages of fungicides were highly effective against Septoria leaf blotch at an early milk stage, especially on flag leaf. Later the efficacy of reduced dosages of the fungicides was lower, than that of full doses. Due to full dosage of fungicides we obtained a sufficient yield increase annually. The yield increase through the use of 3⁄4 reduced doses was lower. But yield increase through reduced dosage to 1⁄2 was low and insufficient.

Managing crop losses from foliar diseases with fungicides, rotation, and tillage in the Saskatchewan Parkland

The effects of three tillage systems, three crop rotations, and fungicide applications were evaluated on diseases of barley, wheat, canola and pea at Melfort, SK, from 1994 to 1998. During these years, reduced tillage did not increase crop losses due to diseases. Four-year rotations with higher proportions of broad-leaved crops and more crop diversity (i.e., canola, pea, flax, and barley) had higher yields than rotations with fewer broad-leaved crops and less crop diversity (i.e., canola, wheat, barley, and barley). However, these rotations did not influence the severity of septoria leaf blotch of wheat, net blotch of barley, the incidence of sclerotinia stem rot and blackleg of canola, or the severity of mycosphaerella blight of pea. Interplot interference may have been a factor influencing some diseases in plots, as the size was only 270 m2. Fungicide application of propiconazole on Harrington barley decreased foliar disease severity and increased yield by 23%, seed weight by 13%, and kernel plumpness by 25%. Application of azoxystrobin decreased foliar disease and increased pea yield 29% and seed weight by 7% for the pea cultivars Express and Highlight. Foliar disease severity on AC Taber wheat was reduced by application of propiconazole in 2 of 4 yr, but the yield response was very inconsistent. Similarly, AC Excel canola had inconsistent disease and yield response to applications of propiconazole and benomyl, but levels of sclerotinia stem rot and blackleg were very low in all years. These results indicate that reduced tillage will not result in significantly higher levels of disease that require fungicide inputs to maintain yield. Moving from cereal-based rotations to more diverse, broad-leaved based rotations improves the yield of cereals. However, regardless of tillage or rotation, higher yields may be obtained in barley and pea with fungicides for control of leaf spot disease in susceptible cultivars. Key words: Plant disease, rotation, tillage, fungicides, yield loss