Pest Management Science (2004) 60, 135-142

Mark P. McQuilken and K.E. Hopkins (2004)
Biology and integrated control of Pestalotiopsis on container-grown ericaceous crops
Pest Management Science 60 (2), 135-142
Abstract: Pestalotiopsis isolates obtained from the foliage, stem-base and roots of diseased container-grown ericaceous crops (Calluna, Erica, Pieris and Rhododendron) collected from UK nurseries were identified as Pestalotiopsis sydowiana (Bresad) B Sutton on the basis of conidia morphology. Inoculum sources of the pathogen included diseased stock plants, crop debris, nursery soils, used growing media, pots and floor covering, and dust collected from greenhouse walkways. Isolates were not host-specific and infected other species of ericaceous plants, with typical symptoms including browning of foliage, stems and roots, and the presence of black or greenish black acervuli on diseased tissue. The optimum temperature for growth of three selected isolates of the pathogen was 20-25 °C, with little or no growth occurring below 5 or above 30 °C. Growth occurred over pH 2.6-8.6, with optimum at 5.5. Decreases in matric potential from -0.3 to -4.0 MPa reduced growth, which was totally inhibited at -6.5 MPa. Greenhouse trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of disease management methods (irrigation, flooring/pot disinfection and fungicide application) on control of the pathogen on potted plants of C. vulgaris. Disease incidence and foliar browning caused by P. sydowiana were less on fungicide-treated (five-spray programme of alternating prochloraz and carbendazim) potted plants watered by sub-irrigation compared with watering from overhead. Single and combined treatments of flooring/pot disinfection (hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid) and the five-spray fungicide programme significantly reduced disease incidence and severity compared with dipping pots in water. The combined disinfection and fungicide programme significantly reduced disease incidence and severity, compared to disinfection or fungicide application alone. The importance of these findings for the integrated control of P. sydowiana on ericaceous plant nurseries is discussed.
(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): Mark P. McQuilken

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pestalotiopsis sydowiana	Rhododendron (crop)	United Kingdom
	Pestalotiopsis sydowiana	Erica (crop)	United Kingdom
	Pestalotiopsis sydowiana	Pieris (crop)	United Kingdom
	Pestalotiopsis sydowiana	Calluna (crop)	United Kingdom