Sclerotial formation and strand growth of Phymatotrichopsis omnivora in minirhizotrons planted with cotton at different soil water potentials Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In situ strand growth and sclerotium formation of Phymatotrichopsis omnivora were observed in minirhizotrons using a microvideo camera. Strand growth was greater in soils subject to decreasing levels of soil matric potential (high water stress) compared with a continuously wet treatment. Intermediate levels of water stress (- 0-5 to -0.9 MPa) resulted in less strand growth than either the dry or wet treatments. In all treatments strand growth increased to a maximum within 10 days of inoculum placement in soil but then declined to approach an apparent steady-state value. The effects of soil matric potential on sclerotium formation were apparent when barley seeds were sown in the experimental units 3 weeks after the experiment had begun, permitting differential water cycling patterns to be obtained. Sclerotia were recovered in larger numbers from experimental units in which high water potentials (>-0.2 MPa) occurred 2 weeks prior to and following the death of host plants.

published proceedings

  • PLANT PATHOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

  • Kenerley, C. M., White, T. L., Jeger, M. J., & Gerik, T. J.

citation count

  • 6

complete list of authors

  • Kenerley, CM||White, TL||Jeger, MJ||Gerik, TJ

publication date

  • January 1998

publisher