Fungicide resistance management in Australian grain crops

Fungicide resistance is a serious and increasing problem in cropping systems worldwide. Fungicides are an important component of integrated disease management strategies for the protection of crops from the impacts of fungal diseases. However, as their use has increased, the effectiveness of some fungicides has been reduced by the development of fungicide resistant pathogen populations. Without intervention, more fungicides are likely to become ineffective

A study of genetic diversity among Brassica napus and Brassica juncea germplasm collections using simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers

Brassica species represent a broad range of crops. This reflects the high degree of genetic diversity and related phenotypic plasticity. An understanding of the genetic basis of Brassica diversity aids both breeding and the discovery of rare alleles and traits. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers are popular tools for assessing genetic diversity due to their high degree of polymorphism and their transferability across related species. We have applied public SSR markers to genotype international germplasm collections of B. napus and B. juncea as well as commercial Brassica lines grown in Australia. Results illustrate the genetic relationship between these lines and also provide a measure of the level of genetic uniformity within lines

Effect of temperature, cultivar and plant tissue on the germination of, and hyphal growth from, ascospores of Leptosphaeria maculans

Copyright © Australasian Plant Pathology Society 2008Leptosphaeria maculans, which causes blackleg (phoma stem canker) on canola (oilseed rape), is an important pathogen worldwide. To assist in standardising inoculation procedures for resistance screening, studies were conducted on the conditions that influence germination of ascospores. Germination of, and hyphal growth from, ascospores of L. maculans were studied at 5-20°C on agar-coated slides, detached leaves and cotyledons of five canola cultivars in South Australia. Germination began after 2 h at 10-20°C and 4 h at 5°C. After 24 h, the percentage germination of ascospores was greater at the higher temperatures of 15 and 20°C, compared with the lower temperatures of 5 and 10°C. This optimum temperature range was similar for ascospores on agar and on plant tissue. Percentage ascospore germination was greater on agar-coated slides and cotyledons than on leaves for all cultivars tested. Germination was greater on leaves or cotyledons of the susceptible cultivars, Q2 and Karoo, than on the resistant cultivars, Hyola 60 and Ripper. Elongation of germ tubes was generally greater on cotyledons than on leaves of the cultivars tested and also greater on susceptible cultivars than resistant cultivars after 24 h at 15-20°C. However, at 5°C there was no difference in the mean length of germ tubes between leaves and cotyledons of each of the five cultivars. In summary, temperature, cultivar and plant tissue significantly affected germination of, and hyphal growth from, ascospores in the controlled-environment conditions. © Australasian Plant Pathology Society 2008.B. Naseri, J. A. Davidson and E. S. Scot