Weed Science, ( ISI ), Volume (50), No (50), Year (2002-10) , Pages (628-633)

Title : Effects of nitrogen availability and spore concentration on the biocontrol activity of Ascochyta caulina isolates in Chenopodium album. ( Effects of nitrogen availability and spore concentration on the biocontrol activity of Ascochyta caulina isolates in Chenopodium album. )

Authors: Reza Ghorbani , Scheepens PC , Zweerde WV , Leifert C , Mcdonald J , Seel W ,

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Abstract

Common lambsquarters is an annual weed of many important crops. Ascochyta caulina is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes necrotic lesions on the leaves and stems of common lambsquarters. The objective of the present study was to estimate the effect of plant N supply on the biocontrol activity of A. caulina isolates against common lambsquarters. In greenhouse experiments replicated groups of common lambsquarters plants raised with different N supplies were sprayed with various isolates and concentrations of A. caulina 3 wk after planting. Height, number of leaves, total leaf area, fresh and dry weight, and tissue N concentration of common lambsquarters 4 wk after emergence increased significantly with increasing N supply. Disease development was positively related to increasing plant tissue N and also to increasing spore concentration. Fungal spore concentration also had a positive effect on the plant tissue N percentage. Ascochyta caulina isolate W90-1 caused a greater dry weight reduction in common lambsquarters than isolates I-001 and NW-6 did.

Keywords

, Biological control, bioherbicide, dose response, mycoherbicide, spore inocula.