Comparative Performance of Fungicides in Management of Phytophthora Root Rot on Boxwood

Nursery growers rely on fungicides to manage root rot disease of boxwood caused by Phytophthora nicotianae and P. cinnamomi. Repeated use of the same fungicide may lead to the fungicide resistance. In this study, fungicides pyraclostrobin + cyazofamid (Empress + Segway), ametoctradin + dimethomorph (Orvego), ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with pyraclostrobin (Orvego alt Empress), ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin (Orvego alt Orkestra), and oxathiapiprolin (Segovis) were evaluated for their efficacy in managing Phytophthora root rot under greenhouse conditions in Tennessee. One-year-old container-grown boxwood ‘Green Velvet’ plants were inoculated with P. nicotianae or P. cinnamomi. The first applications of fungicide treatments were made preventatively as a drench 48 h before pathogen inoculation. Following inoculation, four applications of fungicide treatments were performed on a 14-day intervals. Initial and final plant height and width were measured. Total plant fresh weight and root fresh weight were measured at the end of the trials, and plants were evaluated for root rot severity (0% to 100% roots affected) and pathogen recovery. All fungicides significantly reduced root rot severity and pathogen recovery of P. nicotianae and P. cinnamomi. Ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with pyraclostrobin (Orvego alt Empress) provided similar protection against P. cinnamomi to that of a single application of ametoctradin + dimethomorph (Orvego) or oxathiapiprolin (Segovis). For P. nicotianae, ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with pyraclostrobin + fluzapyroxad (Orvego alt Orkestra) was found to be as effective as a single application of either ametoctradin + dimethomorph (Orvego) or oxathiapiprolin (Segovis) in one of the two trials. Effects of fungicides on plant growth such as height, width, total, and root fresh weight were not significant. These findings will be useful to nursery growers in selecting the right fungicide program for the management of root rot disease of boxwood caused by P. nicotianae and P. cinnamomi

Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids: Possible Control Measure for Soilborne and Foliar Plant Pathogens

The purpose of this study was to evaluate fire ant venom alkaloids and an alarm pheromone analog against several plant pathogens, including Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora nicotianae, P. cryptogea, Pseudomonas syringae, Phytopythium citrinum, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotonia rolfsii, Xanthomonas axonopodis, and X. campestris. All pathogens were tested against red imported fire ant venom alkaloid extract and alarm pheromone compound for growth inhibition in in vitro assay. The venom alkaloid extract inhibited fungal and oomycete pathogens. Neither of the treatments were effective against bacterial pathogens. Three soilborne pathogens, P. nicotianae, R. solani, F. oxysporum, and one foliar pathogen, B. cinerea were selected for further in-vivo assays on impatiens (Impatiens walleriana ‘Super Elfin XP violet’). Total plant and root weight were higher in venom alkaloid treated plants compared to an inoculated control. The venom alkaloid treatment reduced damping-off, root rot severity, and pathogen recovery in soilborne pathogen inoculated plants. Similarly, venom alkaloid reduced Botrytis blight. However, higher venom rates caused foliar phytotoxicity on plants. Therefore, additional work is needed to evaluate rates of venom alkaloids or formulations to eliminate negative impacts on plants. Overall, these results suggest that red imported fire ant venom alkaloids may provide a basis for new products to control soilborne and foliar plant pathogens

Comparative Performance of Fungicides in Management of Phytophthora Root Rot on Boxwood

Nursery growers rely on fungicides to manage root rot disease of boxwood caused by Phytophthora nicotianae and P. cinnamomi. Repeated use of the same fungicide may lead to the fungicide resistance. In this study, fungicides pyraclostrobin + cyazofamid (Empress + Segway), ametoctradin + dimethomorph (Orvego), ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with pyraclostrobin (Orvego alt Empress), ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin (Orvego alt Orkestra), and oxathiapiprolin (Segovis) were evaluated for their efficacy in managing Phytophthora root rot under greenhouse conditions in Tennessee. One-year-old container-grown boxwood ‘Green Velvet’ plants were inoculated with P. nicotianae or P. cinnamomi. The first applications of fungicide treatments were made preventatively as a drench 48 h before pathogen inoculation. Following inoculation, four applications of fungicide treatments were performed on a 14-day intervals. Initial and final plant height and width were measured. Total plant fresh weight and root fresh weight were measured at the end of the trials, and plants were evaluated for root rot severity (0% to 100% roots affected) and pathogen recovery. All fungicides significantly reduced root rot severity and pathogen recovery of P. nicotianae and P. cinnamomi. Ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with pyraclostrobin (Orvego alt Empress) provided similar protection against P. cinnamomi to that of a single application of ametoctradin + dimethomorph (Orvego) or oxathiapiprolin (Segovis). For P. nicotianae, ametoctradin + dimethomorph alternated with pyraclostrobin + fluzapyroxad (Orvego alt Orkestra) was found to be as effective as a single application of either ametoctradin + dimethomorph (Orvego) or oxathiapiprolin (Segovis) in one of the two trials. Effects of fungicides on plant growth such as height, width, total, and root fresh weight were not significant. These findings will be useful to nursery growers in selecting the right fungicide program for the management of root rot disease of boxwood caused by P. nicotianae and P. cinnamomi

Tree Architecture and Powdery Mildew Resistance of Yellow-flowering Magnolias in Tennessee, USA

Magnolias (Magnolia sp.) are economically important woody ornamental plants; however, plant damage associated with frost and powdery mildew (Microsphaera alni and Phyllactinia corylea) disease is a major production challenge. To understand the tree architecture and powdery mildew resistance, 26 yellow-flowering magnolias (Magnolia sp.) were evaluated in McMinnville, TN, USA (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b). One-year-old containerized trees were planted in a field plot during Mar 2006, with 4.6-m plant-to-plant and 3.7-m row-to-row spacing. The experiment was a completely randomized block design with three single-plant replications. Plant height and canopy diameter were measured on Dec 2016 and Feb 2018, and the apical dominance ratio (i.e., indicating tree architecture) was calculated by dividing the height by the canopy diameter. Plants were evaluated for powdery mildew severity and defoliation using a scale of 0% to 100% of the total plant canopy affected or defoliated, respectively, from Aug to Oct of 2016 and 2017. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated for the evaluation period of each year. The plant apical dominance ratio ranged from 1 to 3, with ‘Gold Cup’ and ‘Sun Spire’ having the highest value, and ‘Lois’, ‘Gold Star’, ‘Golden Gala’, ‘Solar Flair’, ‘Stellar Acclaim’, ‘Sun Ray’, ‘Sunburst’, and ‘Sundance’ having the lowest value (i.e., relatively round shape). Of the 26 cultivars, Sundance, Sun Spire, Sun Ray, and Gold Cup had the lowest powdery mildew severity (10% to 33% in 2016 and 40% to 60% in 2017), AUDPC, and defoliation. Cultivars Anilou, Gold Star, Golden Pond, Golden Rain, Golden Sun, Green Bee, Honey Liz, Judy Zuk, Koban Dori, Lois, Solar Flair, Stellar Acclaim, and Yellow Bird were highly susceptible to powdery mildew (\u3e80% disease severity) and had the highest AUDPC values. Results of this research may aid breeders, nursery producers, and landscapers when selecting yellow-flowering magnolia cultivars with desirable tree architecture and resistance to powdery mildew

Chemical Control of Powdery Mildew of Bigleaf Hydrangea

The efficacy of the fungicide pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole (Postiva) was evaluated at varying application rates and intervals for the control of powdery mildew (Golovinomyces orontii, formerly Erysiphe polygoni) in bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’). Container-grown hydrangeas were arranged in a completely randomized design with six single-plant replications. Experiments were done in 2022 and 2023 under both greenhouse and shade house conditions (56% shade). Powdery mildew in hydrangea was developed naturally. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole at 1.1, 1.6, and 2.2 ml·L−1 and a standard fungicide azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr (Mural) at 0.5 g·L−1 were sprayed to runoff on 2-, 4-, and 6-week intervals. Plants that were not treated with fungicide served as the control. Plants were evaluated weekly for disease severity (0% to 100% foliage affected) and defoliation (0% to 100% defoliation). The season-long area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and defoliation progress curve (AUDFC) were calculated for the evaluation period. The initial and final plant height and width were recorded, and height and width increase were determined. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole and azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr significantly reduced final disease severity, AUDPC, and defoliation both in the greenhouse and shade house compared with control plants. In both greenhouse trials and the 2022 shade house trial, AUDFC was reduced in all treatments compared with the control plants. However, AUDFC was not reduced by all treatments in the 2023 shade house trial. Pooled over application intervals, the low rate of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole was as effective as the medium and high rates of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole and azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr in reducing final powdery mildew severity and AUDPC both in the greenhouse and shade house in both 2022 and 2023. No significant differences between application intervals were noted in final disease severity and progress. Control of powdery mildew with fungicides failed to increase plant dimensions (i.e., plant height and width) compared with the no fungicide control. Because all application rates and intervals of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole provided comparable powdery mildew disease control, it is suggested that using a low rate of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole with the longest application interval (6 weeks) is the most cost-effective approach for managing powdery mildew in bigleaf hydrangeas

Sustainable Management of Soilborne Diseases in Nursery Production

Soilborne diseases reduce plant performance, increase costs to the grower and cause potential ecological damage to the natural environment. The use of Brassicaceae cover crops have not been widely explored and documented in woody ornamental nursery production. The objective of this study was to assess Brassicaceae cover crops as biofumigant for soilborne disease management in nursery production. Inoculation methods and inoculum levels of Rhizoctonia solani was evaluated to determine diseases response. As all three inoculum levels of the agar slurry method showed similar root disease percentages, the lowest inoculum level (1 petri dish/L) was selected for the following experiments. Among the tested fifteen cover crops in the Brassicaceae family, oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus), mustard (Sinapis alba), purple top forage turnip (Brassica rapa), astro arugula (Eruca vesicaria ), mighty mustard® pacific gold (B. juncea ), oriental mustard (B. juncea), dwarf essex rape Brassica (B. napus) and amara mustard green ( B. carinata) showed low root rot disease percentages and diseases incidence in top soil which had pre-existing populations of R. solani or Phytophthora nicotinanae. These selected cover crops were used to perform biofumigation in a greenhouse study and according to observations mustard, purple top forage turnips, astro arugula, mighty mustard, dwarf essex rape, amara mustard and oriental mustard cover crops were effective in controlling R. solani and P. nicotianae pathogens. Similar disease suppression was observed when biofumigation was performed for 1-month or only 14-days. Plants grown in amara mustard, astro arugula and purple top forage turnips amended soils had significantly higher growth and they were selected for the field. A field study was conducted at a collaborator’s nursery where R. solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytopythium vexans pathogens were established fungal and oomycetes populations in propogation beds. Kwanzan cuttings were planted two weeks after incorporation of each treatment and plants were evaluated for disease severity on roots. Amara mustard and astro arugula cover crops showed promising results in controlling soilborne pathogens of woody ornamental plants under both greenhouse and field conditions