Author
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Schisler, David |
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Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Mycoherbicide effectiveness can be influenced both positively and negatively by the microbial interactions that occur on the phylloplane of weedy plants prior to and during the infection process. Direct interactions with negative impact include toxic metabolite production by phylloplane colonists and prior niche possession. Direct interactions with positive implications to weed disease severity include enhancement of mycoherbicide spore germination and appressorium formation. Similarly, indirect microbial interactions can be deleterious (induction of plant resistance) or advantageous (predisposition of the weed to disease or suppression of host defense systems) to the success of a mycoherbicide. "Microbial facilitators" of weedy plant disease offer opportunities to increase disease over that achieved by the mycoherbicide used alone. Additional research to identify the mode of action of these organisms may permit disease enhancement in the absence of microbial facilitators. As management of the phylloplane environment becomes feasible through the application of basic research results, further success in developing and deploying mycoherbicides will be realized. |
