Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Investigations conducted under this project dealt with various aspects of the biology of soilborne plant pathogens and several management options of their resultant root diseases, primarily on vegetables. In the Abawi program, several isolates of Rhizoctonia recovered from infected vegetables were found to infect and survive on corn and other grain crops. Isolates belonging to AG 2-2 from table beets were the most pathogenic to corn and other grains in greenhouse tests. The long-term impact of several crop and soil health management practices on the severity and damage of root diseases was assessed using a soil bioassay with beans to determine potential rot health status. Results obtained demonstrated significant differences in root health occur among soils under various management practices and the beneficial effects of reduced tillage, long crop rotations out of vegetables, antagonistic cover crops, and green manures in suppressing soilborne pathogens and damage of root diseases. Also, various biological treatments (Avicta-seed treatment, Actigard, Bio-Yield, and others) were found to reduce the severity of diseases caused by target pathogens (Meloidogyne hapla, R. solani, others) as compared to the untreated checks. In addition, pea varieties and promising germplasm were found to differ significantly in their reaction to major root pathogens (primarily, F. solani f. sp. pisi) under greenhouse and commercial field conditions. In the Smart program, the role and compatibility of both the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and the induced systemic resistance (ISR) products and microbes were evaluated in greenhouse and field experiments. Increased expression of several pathogenesis genes was observed as well as the reduction in disease severity. In addition, DNA-based macroarrays were developed to detect fungal and oomycetes pathogens in soil and tissues samples as well as beneficial soil-inhabiting microbes in soil. In the Harman program, the biocontrol, growth promotion, and increased efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers attributes of Trichoderama harzianum strains were demonstrated in support of their commercialization. PARTICIPANTS: J. W. Ludwig, B. K. Gugino, Chris Smart (Assist. Prof., PL Path., Geneva), Holly Lang (Res. Assist., PL Path., Geneva), Gary Harman (Prof., Hort. Sci, Geneva). TARGET AUDIENCES: Vegetable growers, Extension educators, crop protection consultants, and other agricultural service providers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Knowledge of host efficiencies of rotational crops to specific pathogens and their prevalent genetic strains is critical for designing effective rotation to suppress root pathogens. Information on the reaction of commercial cultivars to the prevalent root pathogens will also contribute to developing IPM programs. Promoted soil health management practices including diversified crop rotations, the use of cover crops, reduced tillage systems and various organic amendments all directly and indirectly impact populations of soilborne pathogens and damage of their root diseases. Thus, assessing the impact of these practices against soilborne pathogens will contribute to sustainable management of root diseases. Knowledge of the efficacy and compatibility of ISR- and SAR-inducing compounds is critical for their utility in reducing disease incidence and severity. Demonstrating the effectiveness of microbial agents and products in reducing disease incidence and severity under field conditions is critical for their adoption and use by growers. Development of detection strategies for plant pathogens and also beneficial microbes will facilitate accurate and rapid disease identification as well as enabling growers to better understands the health of their soil.
Publications
- Herman, M., Nault, B. A., and Smart, C. D. (2008) Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on bell pepper production and green peach aphid infestations in New York. Crop Protection 27:996-1002.
- Harman, G. E., Bjorkman, T., Ondik, K. and Shoresh, M. 2008. Changing paradigms on the mode of action and uses of Trichoderma spp. for biocontrol. Outlooks Pest Manag. 19:24-29.
- Zhang, N., McCarthy, M. and Smart, C.D. (2008) A macroarray system for the detection of fungal and oomycete pathogens of solanaceous crops. Plant Disease 92:953-960.
- Gilbert, C. A., Zhang, N., Hutmacher, R. B., Davis, R. M., and Smart, C. D. (2008) Development of a DNA-based macroarray for the detection and identification of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum in cotton tissue. Journal of Cotton Science 12:165-170.
- Shoresh, M. and G. E. Harman. 2008. The molecular basis of shoot responses of maize seedlings to Trichoderma harzianum T22 inoculation of the root: a proteomic approach. Plant Physiol. 147:2147-2163.
- Shoresh, M. and G. E. Harman. 2008. Genome-wide identification, expression and chromosomal location of the chitinase genes in Zea mays. Molec. Gen. Genom. 280:173-185.
- Shoresh, M. and Harman, G. E. 2008. The relationship between increased growth and resistance induced in plants by root colonizing microbes. Plant Signal. Behav. 3:737-739.
- Abawi, G. S., Gugino, B. K., and Ludwig, J. W.. 2008. Cropping sequence and root health. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 65-68.
- Abawi, G. S., Ludwig, J. W., and Gugino, B. K.. 2008. Evaluation of fungicide programs for managing pocket rot and leaf spot of table beet in 2007. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 131-133.
- Gugino, B. K., and Abawi, G. S. 2008. Assessing fungal and nematode root pathogens with visual on-farm soil bioassays. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 68-71.
- Gugino, B. K., Ludwig, J. W., and Abawi, G. S. 2008. Evaluation of selected pea varieties for resistance to root rot diseases in commercial fields. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 151-153.
- Abawi, G. S., Gugino, B. K., Ludwig, J. W., and Petzoldt, C. 2008. Vegetable management systems: Soil health assessment and the effect on snap bean yield and soil fungal pathogen community. NYS IPM Publication No. 506: 204-208.
- Smart, C. D., Herman, M. A. B., and Lange, H. W. (2008) Stop the Rot by Starting with Healthy Transplants. Proceeding of the 2008 Great Lakes Fruit and Veg Expo, Grand Rapids, MI.
- Smart, C. D., and Lang, H. W. (2008) Controlling Black Rot of Cole Crops. Proceeding of the 2008 Great Lakes Fruit and Veg Expo, Grand Rapids, MI.
- Smart, C. D., Camp, A. R., Dillard, H. R. and Reiners, S. (2008) What is the latest on Phytophthora blight of vine crops Proceedings of the 2008 Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Syracuse, NY (page 134-135).
- Smart, C. D. and Lange, H. W. (2008) Update on black rot in New York, 2007. Proceedings of the 2008 Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Syracuse, NY (page 84-85).
- Smart, C. D., Herman, M. A. B., and Lange, H. W. (2008) Bacterial diseases of tomato and Phytophthora blight update. Proceedings of the 2008 Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Syracuse, NY (page 58-59). Reprinted in the Tomato Magazine, June 2008.
- Idowu, O. J., H. M. van Es, G. S. Abawi, D. W. Wolfe, J. I. Ball, B. K. Gugino, B. N. Moebius, R. R. Schindelbeck, and A. V. Bilgili. 2008. Farmer-oriented assessment of soil quality using field, laboratory, and VNIR spectroscopy methods. Plant and Soil 307: 243-253.
- Moebius-Clune, B. N., H. M. van Es, O. J. Idowu, R. R. Schindlelbeck, D. J. Moebius-Clune, D. w. Wolfe, G. S. Abawi, J. E. Thies, B. K. Gugino, and R. Lucey. 2008. Long-term effects of harvesting maize stover and tillage on soil quality. Soil Sci. soc. Am. J. 72: 960-969.
- Schindelbeck, R. R., H.M. van Es, G.S. Abawi, D.W. Wolfe, T. L. Whitlow, B.K. Gugino, O.J. Idowu, and B.N. Moebius. 2008. Comprehensive assessment of soil quality for landscape and urban management. J. Landscape and Urban Planning 88: 73-80.
- Falconi, E., A. Murillo, F. Vargas, E. peralta, and G. S. Abawi. 2008. Frequency of occurrence of root rot pathogens in Ecuador. BIC 51: 28-29.
- Camp, A. R., Dillard, H. R. and Smart, C. D. (2008) Efficacy of Muscodor albus for the control of Phytophthora blight on sweet pepper and butternut squash. Plant Disease 92:1488-1492.
- Herman, M. A. B., Davidson, J. K. and Smart, C. D. (2008) Induction of plant defense responses by plant activators and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in greenhouse-grown tomatoes. Phytopathology 98:1226-1232.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Root health assessment has been incorporated as one of the biological indicators in the Cornell Soil Health Assessment Protocol. Roots are the best integrators and predictors of soil quality, as they are influenced greatly by the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Root health can be assessed in the field visually by examining root volume, texture, color and the relative prevalence of fine fibrous roots. We have also developed a soil bioassay with beans conducted in a greenhouse under uniform and favorable conditions for root disease development, thus enhancing the prediction of potential development of root disease severity. Our primary interest in soil health issues has focused on vegetable production systems and associated field and forage crops. Thus, the use of bean as a bioassay plant is appropriate, since bean is susceptible to the major root pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, Thielaviopsis basicola, Pratylenchus penetrans,
Meloidogyne hapla, Fusarium spp. and others) impacting vegetable production in NY State and the NE-region. In 2007, over 1000 soil samples collected from commercial fields and also from research and demonstration sites were processed for soil health status following the Cornell Soil Health Protocol (http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu). Analysis and mining of the large set of data accumulated for correlation of measured parameters and relationships is still in progress. One focus was on relating the collected soil health data, especially root health assessment, to yield and other productivity factors. An example is the vegetable production systems trial which was established and has been maintained by the Cornell/NYS IPM Program since 1995. At this site, the four production systems (Conventional, Organic, IPM - Present, and IPM - Future) were all planted to snap beans in 2007 to relate known differences in root health to snap bean yield. The yield of beans grown in the IPM - Future
plots had the highest total and marketable bean yield. Previous results of the soil bioassay with beans had also shown that root health is highest (root rot severity is lowest) on roots of plants grown in plots of the Future - IPM system in comparison to those grown in the other systems. Seven pea varieties were evaluated for their susceptibility to soilborne root rot pathogens in two commercial fields that exhibited severe root rot damage (principally caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi) in 2006 and in our experimental root rot field at the Vegetable Research Farm in Geneva, NY. Due to the hot and dry weather that prevailed during the 2007 season, root rot disease severity development was relatively low. In both commercial field trials, Bolero had the lowest root rot severity ratings, while June had the highest root rot severity ratings. The pea variety 513 had the highest stand count at harvest in all three trials while Durango tended to have the highest total plant, pod and pea
weights across the three trials.
Impacts
Promoted soil health management practices including diversified crop rotations, the use of cover crops, reduced tillage systems and various organic amendments all directly and indirectly impact populations of soilborne pathogens and damage of their root diseases. Thus, assessing the impact of these practices against soilborne pathogens will contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable and ecological management programs for root disease pathogens. Information on the reaction of commercial cultivars to the prevalent root pathogens will also contribute to developing IPM programs.
Publications
- Abawi, G. S., Ludwig, J.W., and Gugino,B. K. 2007. Bean root rot evaluation protocols. 2007. http://www.css.msu.edu/bic/researchTechniques.cfm, 7 pages with 4 photos.
- Abawi, G. S., Gugino, B. K. Ludwig, J. W., and Ohkura, M. 2007. Decay and other diseases of beets. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp. 165-167.
- Abawi, G. S., Gugino, B. K., van Es, H., Thies, J., Idowu J., Schindlebeck, R., Wolfe, D., MacNeil, C., and Petzoldt, C. 2007. An illustrated manual on soil health assessment protocols and management options for training and outreach. NYS IPM Publication #131: 36-39.
- Falconi, E., Murillo, A., Pinzon, J., Peralta, E., and Abawi, G. S. 2007. Identification of root rot resistance sources in common bean. BIC 50: 139-140.
- Gugino, B. K., Idowu, O. J., Schindelbeck, R. R., van Es, H. M., Thies, J. E., and Abawi, G. S. 2007. Cornell Soil Health Assessment Training Manual, Edition 1.1, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456. pp. 52. (also, http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu)
- Gugino, B. K., Schindelbeck, R. R., van Es, H. M., and Abawi, G. S. 2007. Soil Health Workshop, 2006. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 77-79.
- Gugino, B. K., Abawi, G. S., and Ludwig, J. W. 2007. Update on carrot diseases and management recommendations, 2006. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 161-163.
- Gugino, B. K, Abawi, G. S., and Ludwig, J. W. 2007. Development of on-farm protocols for assessing soil nematode infestation levels in vegetable fields and making the appropriate management decisions. NYS IPM Publication #131: 16-23.
- Idowu, J., van Es, H., Schindelbeck, R., Abawi, G., Wolfe, D., Thies, J., Gugino, B., Moebius, B., and Clune, D. 2007. The new Cornell soil health test: protocols and interpretations. What's Cropping Up 17(1): 6-7.
- Gugino, B. K., and Abawi, G. S. 2007. Impact of soil health management on soilborne diseases and nematodes. Phytopathology (Suppl.) 97: S141-142 (Abstr.).
- Ohkura, M., and Abawi, G. S. 2007. Isolation and characterization of Rhizoctonia solani and related fungi causing diseases on vegetables in New York State. Phytopathology (Suppl.) 97: S86 (Abstr.).
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Growers and other land managers are increasingly interested in the implementation of sustainable soil management practices for improving soil health and productivity. In collaboration with the Cornell's Soil Health Team, the studies on the impact of several vegetable production systems and numerous soil management practices on soil health parameters were continued. Root health was determined by conducting a greenhouse soil bioassay with bean and recording root rot severity as a measure of root health. Accumulated results demonstrated that root health status and yield of beans were highest in certified organic and so-called future-IPM (with a year in soil quality building crops) vegetable production systems, as compared to conventional production systems. Completed the investigation on the effect of cover crop varieties incorporated as green manures in suppressing root pathogens, especially Rhizoctonia solani and Pratylenchus penetrans. The 18 treatments were
established in field microplots in summer of 2005. Results of a greenhouse soil bioassay showed that root rot severity was lowest on beans grown in soil with green manures of buckwheat (Manor), rapeseed (Bridger), hairy vetch, grain pearl millet (686), forage pearl millet (Tifleaf 3) and the fallow check. When the microplots were planted to bean in 2006, lowest root rot severity ratings were observed on bean roots grown after grain pearl millet (686 and 486), forage pearl millet (Tifleat 3), canola (Hyola 440 and 401), and the fallow check. Highest pod yield was observed on beans grown after the fallow check, grain pearl millet (686 and 486) and forage pearl millet (Elite II). Of the original 18, 7 cover crops were selected and established in a replicated trial in the bean root rot field in 2005 and which was planted to beans in 2006. Lowest root rot severity was observed on beans grown after grain pearl millet (686), whereas the highest bean yield was after rapeseed (Rangi). In
greenhouse tests, all the tested crops were found to be good hosts for the lesion nematode. However, canola (Hyola 440 and Hyola 401); mustard (Blend A and B); rapeseeds (Bridger, Dwarf Essex and Rangi); and oilseed radish (Colonel) supported a lower nematode reproduction. Similarly, lower severity of Rhizoctonia root rot was observed in the fallow check treatment and on beans grown after mustard (Blend A), oilseed radish (Colonel), grain pearl millet (686), rapeseed (Dwarf Essex), sudangrass (Trudan 8), and buckwheat. The biological seed treatment AVICTA, which contains a biological nematicide, was again shown to reduce the number of larvae of Meloidogyne hapla that penetrated tomato roots at 3 weeks after planting. However, AVICTA-treated tomato seeds planted in pathogen-free plugs for four weeks before transplanting into field microplots infested with M. hapla did not reduce root-galling severity or population of the nematodes on roots or soil at harvest. It is not known if the
biological nematicide was leached out of the soil or it remained in the plugs in an active or inactive form, thus further evaluations are warranted.
Impacts
It is critical that the management of soilborne pathogens and their resultant root diseases to be a compatible component of overall soil health management practices. Thus, the results been collected on the effects of promoted soil health management practices on root pathogens and their damage will contribute to development of appropriate control options that are ecologically based and also promoting soil health in general.
Publications
- Shengrui, Yao, I. A. Merwin, G. S. Abawi, and J. E. Thies. 2006. Soil fumigation and compost amendment alter soil microbial community composition but do not improve tree growth or yield in an apple replant site. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 38: 587-599.
- Abawi, G. S., B. K. Gugino, and J. W. Ludwig. 2006. The Gates farm long-term soil health research site: What, how, and results to-date. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Procedings, Cornell Coop. Extension, pp. 111-114.
- Abawi, G. S., J. W. Ludwig, and B. K. Gugino. 2006. Bean root rot evaluation protocols currently used in New York. BIC 49: 83-84.
- Lynch, J. P., E. Peralta, G. Abawi, and E. Falconi. 2006. Field evaluation of bean root architecture. BIC 49: 269-270.
- Gugino, B. K., J. W. Ludwig, and G. S. Abawi. 2006. Relating soil health management practices to root health and nematode population. Phytopathology 96 (Suppl.): 178 (Abstr.).
- Gugino, B. K., O. J. Idowu, G. S. Abawi, H. M. Van Es, and D. W. Wolfe. 2006. An interdisciplinary approach to soil health and its impact on vegetable root disease management. Phytopathology 96 (Suppl.): 44 (Abstr.).
- Gugino, B. K., G. S. Abawi, and J. W. Ludwig. 2006. Expanding the IPM toolbox: visual soil bioassays for assessing root health and soil nematode infestations. Fifth National IPM Symposium, April 4-6, 2006, St. Louis
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
In collaboration with the soil health program work team at Cornell, soil samples were collected from large number of grower fields and assessed foe their general suppressive capacity o soilborne pathogens (root health) using the soil bioassay with bean. Results obtained showed that root health was improved with the implementation of reduced tillage, long rotations with grain crops, and various organic amendments. Accumulated frequency distributions of root health ratings of the samples processed have clearly differentiated organic production systems from conventional systems. Initiated the evaluation of varieties of forage and grain pearl millets, canola, rapeseed, buckwheat, hairy vetch, sudangrass, oilseed radish and mustard in field microplots, an experimental root rot field and in the greenhouse against root rot pathogens, especially Rhizoctonia solani and Pratylenchus penetrans. Preliminary results suggested a differential effect of the various cover crops and
varieties tested, even after been incorporated fro only one month. Roots of beans grown in soil after one month of the incorporation of buckwheat cv. Manor had the healthiest roots. In contrast to the results obtained in 2004, foliar applications of Actigard did not reduce foliar infections of R. solani or increase beet yield. Similarly, only slight reductions of root-galling severity and reproduction of the root-knot nematode was observed on onion treated with Actigard in 2005. In 2004 and 2005, large numbers of bean germplasm lines were evaluated under severe root rot pressure in an experimental field at the NYSAES in Geneva. Lines included in these trials different greatly in he percent of seedling emergence, number of productive plants at harvest, root rot severity ratings and seed or pod yield.
Impacts
Identification of suppressive soils and assessing the impact of crop and soil management practices against soilborne pathogens will contribute to the development and implementation of soil IPM programs for root diseases. Demonstrating the effectiveness of elicitors of inducible host resistance and other biological control products against soilborne pathogens will promote their use and the implementation of ecological crop production systems.
Publications
- Abawi, G.S., and J.W. Ludwig. 2005. Effects of three crop rotations with and without deep plowing on root rot severity and yield of beans. BIC 48: 118-119.
- Abawi, G.S., and J.W. Ludwig. 2005. Nematodes on onions: New control products and soil bioassays. Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo Proceedings, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp 107-110.
- Abawi, G.S., and J.W. Ludwig. 2005. Beet rots and control options. Proceedings, Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Cornell Coop. Ext., pp 118-121.
- Gugino, B.K., J.W. Ludwig, and G.S. Abawi. 2005. Root health and pathogenic/beneficial nematodes as indicators of soil health. Proceedings, Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Cornell Coop. Ext. pp 161-163.
- Gugino, B.K., and G.S. Abawi. 2005. Critical role of crop rotation in the management of leaf blight diseases of carrots in New York. Phytopathology 95:S169.
- Gugino, B. K., G. S. Abawi, and J. W. Ludwig. 2005. Prevalence of foliar infections caused by Rhizoctonia solani and its teleomorph on vegetables in New York. Phytopathology 95:S37.
- Shengrui Yao, I.A. Merwin, G.W. Bird, G.S. Abawi, and J.E. Thies. 2005. Orchard floor management practices that maintain vegetative or biomass groundcover stimulate soil microbial activity and alter soil microbial community composition. Plant and Soil 271:377-389.
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