Epidemiology and Management of Foliar Diseases in Asparagus (Asparagus Officinalis L.)
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Epidemiology and Management of Foliar Diseases in Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). by Jennifer Marie Foster A Thesis Presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Agriculture Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Jennifer Marie Foster, April, 2018 ABSTRACT Epidemiology and Management of Foliar Diseases in Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) Jennifer Marie Foster Advisor: University of Guelph, 2018 Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald Foliar diseases caused by Stemphylium vesicarium and Puccinia asparagi are an increasing problem in the major asparagus production regions of eastern and central Canada. Replicated and repeated controlled environment and field trials were conducted in Ontario to assess the disease reaction of host crops, compare fungicide efficacy and the Tom-Cast forecasting model, test fertilizer amendments and investigate the epidemiology of Pleospora herbarum (teleomorph of S. vesicarium) on asparagus fern. All of the lines of asparagus assessed were susceptible to infection by S. vesicarium, however, certain lines from the University of Guelph demonstrated quantitative resistance to rust (P. asparagi). Purple spot infection on spears was not consistently correlated with severity on ferns. Stemphylium vesicarium can cross-infect asparagus, but some host adaptation or specialization, possibly via host-specific toxins, appears likely. The pathogen was shown to colonize necrotic leaves of fall rye, which is often used as a cover crop in asparagus fields. Several fungicides demonstrated promising efficacy against rust, however, less control of S. vesicarium was observed. The forecasting model Tom-Cast had limited success in both low and high fertility programs. The results show that forecasting models need to be validated locally, in asparagus cultivars relevant to production today. The development of pseudothecia on fern was correlated with fern yellowing and chlorophyll concentration in outdoor trials, however, no pseudothecia developed in controlled environment studies. Greater understanding of the environmental factors that contribute to pseudothecia maturity would enable growers to better time management strategies. The presented study has contributed to the understanding of the etiology and epidemiology of S. vesicarium in asparagus, and also validated and tested new tools for control of foliar disease in asparagus. An integrated disease management strategy that includes cultivar selection, timely application of fungicides and inoculum management may reduce crop losses and asparagus decline. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald, for her reassurance, support and guidance throughout my Ph.D. program. I always appreciated and enjoyed the time spent discussing my graduate project, plant pathology, and challenges with disease management and life. Over the last 6 years, I have enhanced my depth of knowledge, and Dr. McDonald helped me gain more confidence in my abilities and understanding of plant pathology. I also thank the other members of my advisory committee: Dr. Mary Hausbeck, Dr. Katerina Jordan and Dr. David Wolyn for their patience and expertise in the study of plant pathology and plant breeding. Each member of my committee forced me to think differently about my assumptions and pushed my thesis further than I would have alone. I would especially like to thank Dr. Hausbeck for her warmth and invaluable timely advice. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues. Brady Code was the first to inspire me and continues to be an indispensable ally. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Abhinandan Deora and Ashley Dickson for their critical review of my ideas and their help in solving several problems associated with my graduate project. Finally, without the following summer students who spent days counting spots and spraying in sweat suits, I would have no data to analyze or interpret: Stephen Boersma, Nykole Crevits, Katie Goldenhar, Marinda Gras, Kelvin Knip, Charlotte Mackay, Scott Snyder, Anne-Miet Van Den Nieuwelaar, Janneke Van Den Nieuwelaar and Hans Van Lith. I am indebted to the support of Syngenta Canada Inc. and the Asparagus Farmers of Ontario that allowed this work to be completed. I would also like to thank my grower cooperators Rudy Thiessen, Gary VanLeeuwen and Ken Wall who let me infect their fields year after year and often v were more interested in the research than even myself. Thank you again for not spraying through my trials. Also, thank you to Paul Banks for helping me set up and design my first experiments. I would like to thank my parents, Steve and Cindy Foster, for their encouragement and understanding. You can finally stop asking me if I am done my thesis yet. I am also grateful for my dear friends, Matt Baker, Claire Cowan and Dr. Sofia Windstam for their unwavering support and mutual love of cheese, beer and Robyn. Nevertheless, she persisted. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iv Table of contents ............................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE - LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................. 1 1.1 Asparagus production in Ontario ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Asparagus decline .................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Stemphylium vesicarium in asparagus ..................................................................................... 4 1.4 Pathogenicity of Stemphylium vesicarium ............................................................................... 9 1.5 Puccinia asparagi in asparagus ............................................................................................. 10 1.6 Management of Stemphylium vesicarium in asparagus ......................................................... 13 1.6.1 Crop resistance ........................................................................................................... 13 1.6.2 Cultural control - sanitation ....................................................................................... 15 1.6.3 Cultural control - improvement of crop environment ................................................ 17 1.6.4 Chemical control ........................................................................................................ 18 1.7 Management of asparagus rust .............................................................................................. 23 1.7.1 Crop resistance ........................................................................................................... 23 1.7.2 Chemical control ........................................................................................................ 25 1.8 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 27 CHAPTER TWO - PATHOGENICITY OF STEMPHYLIUM VESICARIUM AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ASPARAGUS (ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS L.) ................................. 29 Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 29 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 30 2.2 Materials and methods ........................................................................................................... 32 2.2.1 Isolate collection and maintenance ............................................................................ 32 2.2.2 Inoculum preparation for pathogenicity assays ......................................................... 34 2.2.3 Detached asparagus spear assays ............................................................................... 35 2.2.4 Pear fruit assay ........................................................................................................... 37 2.2.5 Rye pathogenicity assay ............................................................................................. 38 vii 2.2.6 Asparagus field trials ................................................................................................. 39 2.2.7 Data analysis .............................................................................................................. 40 2.3 Results .................................................................................................................................... 41 2.3.1 Isolate phenotyping .................................................................................................... 41 2.3.2 Detached asparagus spear assays ............................................................................... 41 2.3.3 Pear fruit assay ..........................................................................................................