Effects of crop species, crop cultivars and isolates of Verticillium dahliae on the population of microsclerotia in the soil, and consequences for crop yield

Abstract

In a micro-plot experiment the development of the inoculum density of Verticillium dahliae in soil was studied and consequences for yields of potato cvs Element, Ostara, Astarte, and Mirka, faba bean, flax, pea, barley, sugar beet and onion were evaluated. In May 1991, 75-litre containers were filled with sterile soil. Soil was infested with 2 or 200 microsclerotia per g of a potato isolate or a faba bean isolate of V. dahliae . The same crop species and cultivar was grown on the same plot in 1991 and 1992. For flax, a non-pulled crop was compared with a pulled crop. Fallow plots were included as a control. In 1993, potato cv. Element was grown on all plots. During 3 years the soils were sampled, and the soil inoculum densities were assessed by plating the soil on a semi-selective medium.In 1991, yield differences in dry matter per plot between isolates were only significant for potato cv. Element (lower yield when infected with potato isolate), and potato cv. Astarte, faba bean, and sugar beet (lower yield when infected with faba bean isolate). In 1992, isolates and infestation levels did not affect the dry matter yields per plot. In 1993, haulm dry matter yield per plot of potato cv. Element was affected by the isolate, the inoculum density and the crop grown in the previous years. Plots previously cropped to potato cvs Element, Astarte and Mirka gave the lowest dry matter yields in 1993.No decrease of inoculum density occurred under any crop species or cultivar grown. Increase of inoculum densities was significant for potato cvs Element, Ostara, Astarte, and faba bean at the low initial soil infestation level. At the high initial soil infestation level the effect of crop species and cultivar on the inoculum densitiy depended on the isolate used. Potato cultivars seemed to be more susceptible to potato isolate than to faba bean isolate and faba bean seemed to be more susceptible to faba bean isolate than to potato isolate. Removing flax culms from the field diminished the increase of the inoculum density in treatments infested with potato isolate at a high level.In 1993, the concentration of microsclerotia in the haulm debris was positively related to the inoculum density in the soil, and the haulm dry matter yield was negatively related to the inoculum density in the soil.

Efficacy of Talaromyces flavus Alone or in Combination with other Antagonists in Controlling Verticillium dahliae in Growth Chamber Experiments

“…1) inferred that the efficacy depends on the relative densities of pathogen and antagonist, A considerable amount of biocontrol propagules is introduced into soil when T. flavus-treated crop residues are ploughed under at the end of the growing season. With lO' microsclerotia per g aerial stem and a haulm dry weight of 6,8 g m-as has been recorded for potato cultivar 'Element' (Mol, 1996), a colonization level of 10% of the microsclerotia by T. flavus will result in about three r,^fli'U5-colonized microsclerotia per cm' soil. The colonized microsclerotia might perform as initial centres of growth for T. flavus in the next growing season and inactivate other microsclerotia present in the soil, Adams and Fravel (1990) showed the potential of this approach when they established control of Sclerolinia minor after spraying the antagonist Sporidesmium sclerotivorum onto plants.…”

Spatial Pattern of Verticillium dahliae Microsclerotia and Cotton Plants with Wilt Symptoms in Commercial Plantations

“…dahliae in soil is known to vary within and between seasons. For example, inoculum density was lower in the spring than in the fall in potato fields [ 27 , 28 ]. Although the density of microsclerotia decreased in cotton field soils during spring and summer, infested plant debris at harvest that was released to the soil in fall likely to increased inoculum density [ 29 , 30 ].…”

Integrated Management of Verticillium Wilt of Cacao

“…Thus, replanting in areas previously affected by VW should be avoided unless the site has lain fallow for an extended period. However, since V. dahliae can survive up to 14 years in the field under non-host cropping (Mol et al, 1996), this is generally not a viable option. Detection of V. dahliae in soils before plantation is advised.…”