ARS | Publication request: SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.): AN ALTERNATE HOST OF CERCOSPORA BETICOLA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2004
Publication Date: November 1, 2004
Citation: Lartey, R.T., Caesar, T., Caesar, A.J., Shelver, W.L., Sol, N.I. 2004. Safflower: an alternate host of cercospora beticola. Phytopathology. 94(6):S57.

Technical Abstract: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual, broadleaf oilseed crop adapted essentially to the small-grain production areas of the western Great Plains. In the Northern Great Plains Area (NPA), safflower is being evaluated for potential rotation with sugar beet. Both safflower and sugar beet are susceptible to two species of Cercospora, C. carthami and C. beticola respectively. C. carthami has not been observed previously in the NPA but C. beticola is well established. Thus, the observance of unusual spots on safflower crops in the NPA prompted this study into the potential of safflower as an alternate host to C. beticola. All safflower plants, which were inoculated with each of the two isolates (C1, and S1) of C. beticola, produced leaf spot symptoms. PCR amplification of extracts from the lesion leaf tissues with C. beticola specific primers and bound to the C. beticola antibody. Spores from the single spore cultures infected both sugar beet and safflower and produced typical symptoms of leaf spot in sugar beet. We have for the first time, produced evidence that shows the potential of safflower to serve as alternate host of C. beticola.