Abstract
Alternaria zinniae is a fungal pathogen of weeds in the Noogoora burr complex. The effects of environment on infection and disease development were studied quantitatively by inoculating plants of Xanthium occidentale (Noogoora burr) and Xanthium italicum (Hunter burr) in a spore settling tower and incubating them in environmentally controlled dew chambers. Leaf necrosis was greatest on both plant species after dew periods of 18 h. Forty percent of the maximum leaf necrosis was observed after dew periods of 8 h or longer. Leaf necrosis was greatest when plants were subjected to temperatures of 15–20°C during the dew period and of 25°C after the dew period. Disease resistance was increased by water stress prior to the dew period but was greatly decreased by water stress after the dew period. Given favourable conditions in the field, A. zinniae has potential to control weeds in the Noogoora burr complex.
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Nehl, D.B., Brown, J.F. Biological control of the Noogoora burr complex with Alternnria zinniae: environmental conditions favouring disease. Australasian Plant Pathology 29, 71–80 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1071/AP00014
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/AP00014