Journal of Phytopathology (2009) 157, 715-721

Christophe Le May, Gael Potage, Didier Andrivon, Bernard Tivoli and Yannick Outreman (2009)
Plant disease complex: antagonism and synergism between pathogens of the ascochyta blight complex on pea
Journal of Phytopathology 157 (11-12), 715-721
Abstract: In a disease complex, different pathogen species cause similar symptoms on a common host plant species. These pathogens commonly develop simultaneously in a field and can then infect the same host individuals. Co-occurring pathogens may affect each other, through antagonism and/or synergism. An important question is the ecological and pathological consequences of co-occurrence of pathogenic species within a disease complex. By using two pathogens (Mycosphaerella pinodes and Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella) of the Ascochyta blight complex, this study aimed at describing how co-occurrence affects the development of pathogens and disease severity, and at defining the prerequisites for interactions between pathogens. Results showed that the presence of the two pathogens on the same host plant organ limited the disease development and their reproduction. Damages caused by the two pathogens, however, increased when plants that had been previously inoculated were inoculated with the other species. The development of one pathogen species can be affected by a subsequent pathogen inoculation. Co-occurrence of pathogens within a disease complex can then limit or favour plant damages and pathogens reproduction. It would be one of the main forces that shape pathogen community structures and therefore the dynamics of diseases in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Christophe Le May, Yannick Outreman, Didier Andrivon, Bernard Tivoli

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Didymella pinodes	Pea (Pisum sativum)
	Ascochyta medicaginicola	Pea (Pisum sativum)