Open AccessRelationship Among Concentrations of Sphaerotheca macularis Conidia in the Air, Environmental Conditions, and the Incidence of Powdery Mildew in Strawberry
Author(s) -
C. Blanco,
Berta de los Santos,
C. Barrau,
F. T. Arroyo,
María Eugenia de Porras,
Fernando Romero
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
plant disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.663
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1943-7692
pISSN - 0191-2917
DOI - 10.1094/pdis.2004.88.8.878
Subject(s) - conidium , sphaerotheca , powdery mildew , spore , biology , relative humidity , mildew , horticulture , botany , positive correlation , meteorology , geography , medicine
Atmospheric concentrations of Sphaerotheca macularis conidia were monitored for 2 years on a strawberry crop in Huelva (southwestern Spain). The presence of airborne conidia was determined to assess the role of weather conditions on conidial release. The relationship between airborne conidia and incidence of powdery mildew on fruit was also studied. Concentrations of conidia were estimated with a Burkard volumetric spore sampler. The presence of conidia was related to temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall, with a positive correlation for the first factor and a negative correlation with the other two. The presence of conidia in the air was positively correlated with disease incidence. A diurnal pattern of conidia release was observed.