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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #231121

Title: The Effect of Potassium Nitrate on the Reduction of Phytophthora Stem Rot Disease of Soybeans, the Growth Rate and Zoospore Release of Phytophthora Sojae

Author
item SUGIMOTO, TAKUMA - HYOGO AGRL INSTITUTE
item WATANABE, KAZUHIKO - HYOGO AGRL INSTITUTE
item FURIKI, MASANARI - HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORP
item Walker, David
item YOSHIDA, SHINYA - HYOGO AGRL INSTITUTE
item AINO, M - HYOGO AGRL INSTITUTE
item KANTO, TAKESHI - HYOGO AGRL INSTITUTE
item IRIE, KAZUMI - HYOGO AGRL INSTITUTE

Submitted to: Journal of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2008
Publication Date: 6/1/2009
Citation: Sugimoto, T., Watanabe, K., Furiki, M., Walker, D.R., Yoshida, S., Aino, M., Kanto, T., Irie, K. 2009. The Effect of Potassium Nitrate on the Reduction of Phytophthora Stem Rot Disease of Soybeans, the Growth Rate and Zoospore Release of Phytophthora sojae. Journal of Phytopathology. 157:379-389.

Interpretive Summary: Phytophthora stem rot is a serious disease of soybean in many parts of the U.S. Genetic resistance is generally effective in controlling this disease, but changes in the pathogen in some regions have reduced the effectiveness of this resistance. Experiments were conducted to assess the ability of potassium nitrate applications to reduce the incidence Phytophthora stem rot and to inhibit growth and reproduction of the causal organism, Phytophthora sojae. Laboratory tests showed that inclusion of small amounts of potassium nitrate reduced Phytophthora stem rot on soybean seedlings of two varieties. The extent of disease suppression at different levels of potassium nitrate was different for the two cultivars, suggesting that they respond differently to potassium nitrate. The reason for suppression of the disease appears to be due to the effect of potassium nitrate on the host, rather than to direct suppression of the pathogen. This could provide an inexpensive control for this disease, and will be of interest to scientists working to control soybean diseases.

Technical Abstract: The effects of potassium nitrate (KNO3) application on Phytophthora stem rot disease reduction of Glycine max (L.) Merr. cvs. Chusei-Hikarikuro and Sachiyutaka, and fungal growth and zoospore release of a Phytophthora sojae isolate were investigated under laboratory conditions. The application of 4-30 mM KNO3 prior to inoculation greatly reduced incidence of disease in the two soybean cultivars. Although a concentration of 20–30 mM KNO3 led to a slight decrease in the growth rate of the PJ-H30 isolate on PDA medium, no significant relationship was observed between inhibition of the growth rate and disease reduction on application of 0.4-10 mM KNO3. Disease suppression recorded in laboratory experiments using pathogen mycelium was due to the response of plant tissues rather than a direct inhibition of pathogen hyphal growth by the application of KNO3. The extent of disease reduction was related to increased potassium concentration in plants of the two cultivars (except for some cases involving cv. Sachiyutaka), suggesting that differences existed between the two cultivars in terms of the effect of KNO3 application on disease suppression. Scanning electron microscope observation with fresh samples indicated marked accumulation of potassium at the penetration-stopping sites of P. sojae in the cortex layer of soybean plants treated with 30 mM KNO3, compared with the non-treated control plants. The presence of 0.4-30 mM KNO3 decreased the release of zoospores. These results suggest the possibility of applying a solution containing 20-30 mM of KNO3 to decrease the incidence of disease in agricultural fields by the response of plant tissues to KNO3.