Phytophthora cinnamomi as a stress factor of chestnut roots and effect of phosphite on their protection
Conference Paper
Overview
Overview
abstract
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil born pathogen that causes crown and
root rot of many host species. Its growth and reproduction occurs entirely
in the soil and zoospores preferentially attack feeder roots leading to the
dead of host plants. Chestnut (Castanea sativa) is severely affected by
P. cinnamomi and Ink disease syndrome appear. Control strategies must
include all control means related to soil environment, pathogen dynamics
and host resistance. It has been shown that, the anionic form of
phosphonic acid phosphite, controls many Phytophthora diseases. In this
work we studied the effect of P. cinnamomi on roots of chestnut and the
effect of phosphite to protect roots from the pathogen. Pots, were filled
with compost previously inoculated with P. cinnamomi and planted with
one-year old chestnut seedlings. The seedlings were growth in a
glasshouse for four months. The total number of seedlings we split in two
groups and submitted to two treatments: 1) water spraying; 2) Atlante
Plus, (30% phosphite) 3 mi/L spraying. Total height, crown diameter,
root length, root rot length, visual above ground symptoms and above
and below biomass were evaluated. Statically significant differences
between treatments were obtained in a large number of the studied
variables. Above and below biomass, total root length and total root rot
length are also important variables to evaluate stress factor of root
system related with soil borne parasites and to study control means and
management.
