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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #162936
Title: EFFECTS OF ALTERNARIA BRASSICIOLA INFECTION ON THE REPRODUCTIVE FITNESS OF THE LITTORAL RUDERALS CAKILE MARITIMA AND C. EDENTULA IN SE AUSTRALIA

Author
item BOCK, CLIVE - USDA, ARS, USHRL
item THRALL, P. H. - CSIRO, CANBERRA, AUS
item BURDON, J. J. - CSIRO, CANBERRA, AUS

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Bock, C., Thrall, P., Burdon, J. 2004. Effects of alternaria brassiciola infection on the reproductive fitness of the littoral ruderals cakile maritima and c. edentula in se australia. Phytopathology. 94:59

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cakile maritima (CM) and C. edentula (CE) are hosts of Alternaria brasicicola along the New South Wales coast. We report on a greenhouse-based experiment to investigate the effect of disease severity and duration on growth and reproduction of these plants. Differences between the two species were evident in mean plant height, leaf number, mean plant weight, pod weight, seed weight and other agronomic measures of yield. Species differed in their reaction to infection - CM developed more severe disease than CE (Area Under the Disease Progress Curve = 639 vs 446, respectively). Growth and reproductive potential of both species was significantly reduced by the infection. For example, CM plant height was reduced by up to 30%, and leaf number by 50%. The number of pods was reduced by 70%, and up to 100% of seed was infected with Alternaria (CE responded similarly). Infection with A. brassicicola reduces growth and reproductive potential of CM and CE, and disease can result in seed infection that reduces fitness of the subsequent generation.