Visual and PCR assessment of light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae) on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) cultivars
Author
Karolewski, Z.
Fitt, Bruce D.L.
Latunde-Dada, A.O.
Foster, S.J.
Todd, A.D.
Downes, K.
Evans, N.
Attention
2299/11485
Abstract
Methods to assess light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae) on winter oilseed rape cultivars were compared in laboratory, controlled-environment and field experiments. In controlled-environment experiments with seedling leaves inoculated at GS 1,4, the greatest differences in percentage area affected by P. brassicae sporulation were observed with inoculum concentrations of 4 x 10(3) or 4 x 10(4) spores mL(-1), rather than 4 x 10(2) or 4 x 10(5) spores mL(-1), but older leaves had begun to senesce before assessment, particularly where they were severely affected by P. brassicae. In winter oilseed rape field experiments, a severe light leaf spot epidemic developed in 2002/03 (inoculated, September/October rainfall 127.2 mm) but not in 2003/04 (uninoculated, September/October rainfall 40.7 mm). In-plot assessments discriminated between cultivars best in February/March in 2003 and June in 2004, but sometimes failed to detect plots with many infected plants (e.g. March/April 2004). Ranking of cultivar resistance differed between seedling experiments done under controlled-environment conditions and field experiments. The sensitivity of detection of P. brassicae DNA extracted from culture was greater using the PCR primer pair PbITSF/PbITSR than using primers Pb1/Pb2. P. brassicae was detected by PCR (PbITS primers) in leaves from controlled-environment experiments immediately and up to 14 days after inoculation, and in leaves sampled from field experiments 2 months before detection by visual assessment.