Abstract
Increased copper concentration in the nutrient solution was used as a means for reducing the severity of root rot caused by Phytophthora cryptogea in Gerbera jamesonii in three experiments. Plants were grown in pots on ebb-and-flow benches with separate systems for recirculating nutrient solutions. Eight nutrient solutions with two concentrations of copper ions (0.07 and 0.28 ppm), two electrical conductivity values (1.5 and 2.2 mScm-1), and two iron sources (FeHEEDTA or FeSO4) were combined in a factorial design. Plants were inoculated with zoospores of P. cryptogea via the recirculating nutrient solution. Disease incidence was significantly reduced in inoculated plants grown on nutrient solution with 0.28 ppm copper compared with 0.07 ppm copper, when FeSO4was introduced as the iron source. No effects of increased copper concentration was observed when iron was added as FeHEEDTA. The change in electrical conductivity from 1.5 to 2.2 mScm-1 without changing the Cu2+ concentration did not influence the disease severity in these experiments. The results suggest that increased copper ion concentration in the nutrient solution could be a component of disease management strategy for ebb-and-flow systems. Possible management of the cupric ion concentration in the nutrient solutions is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benson DM(1995) Aluminum amendment of potting mixes for control of Phytophthora damping-off in bedding plants. HortScience 30: 1413-1416
Byrt PN, Irving HR and Grant BR (1982) The effect of cations on zoospores of the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi. Journal of General Microbiology 128: 1189-1198
Chambers SM and Scott EC (1995) In vitro antagonism of Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. citricola by isolates of Trichoderma spp. and Gliocladium virens. Journal of Phytopathology 143: 471-477
Daniels RR, Stuckmeyer BE, and Peterson LA (1972) Copper toxicity in Phaseolus vulgaris L. as influenced by iron nutrition. I. An anatomical study. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Sciences 9: 249-254
De Kreij C and Basar H(1995) Effect of humic substances in nutrient film technique on nutrient uptake. Journal of Plant Nutrition 18: 793-802
Gadd GM and Griffiths AJ (1980) Influence of pH on toxicity and uptake of copper in Aureobasidium pullulans. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 75: 91-96
Guinn G and Joham HE (1963) Displacement of iron from ferric ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ferric hydroxyethylethyl-enediaminetriacetic acid by copper and zinc. Soil Science 95: 101-104
Halsall DM (1977) Effects of certain cations on the formation and infectivity of Phytophthora zoospores. 2. Effects of copper, boron, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc ions. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 23: 1002-1010
Hoitink HAJ, Fynn RP, McMahon RW and Atmatjidou V (1992) Transmission of plant pathogens in an ebb and flood system. Foliage Digest 15: 4-6
Kennedy BW and Erwin DC (1961) Some factors influencing sporangium formation of Phytophthora species isolated from lucerne in certain salt solutions. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 44: 291-297
McPherson GM, Harriman MR and Pattison D (1995) The potential for spread of root diseases in recirculating hydroponic systems and their control with disinfection. Mededelingen van de Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen Universitiet Gent 60(2b): 371-379
Rattink H (1996) Root pathogens in modern cultural systems. Assessment of risks and suggestions for integrated control. In: Alabouvette S. Biological and integrated control of root diseases in soilless cultures. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 19 (6): 1-10
Rattink H (1981) Characteristics and pathogenicity of six Phytophthora isolates from pot plants. Netherlands Journal of Plant Pathology 87: 83-90
Ribeiro OK (1978) A source book of the genus Phytophthora. J. Kramer. AR Gartner Verlag, (p. 75)
Sadowska-Rybak M, Ecks H and Schickedanz F (1996) Detection of Phytophthora cryptogea Pethybr. et Laff. in Gerbera by sero-logical methods. Journal of Plant Disease and Protection 103: 8-14
Sanogo S and Moorman GW (1993) Transmission and control of Pythium aphanidermatum in ebb-and-flow subirrigation system. Plant Disease 77: 287-290
SAS Institute (1989) SAS/STAT User's Guide. Version 6, 4 ed. Vol. 1. SAS Institute, Cary, NC
Schickedanz F (1993) Falscher Meltau an Gerbera. Journal of Plant Disease and Protection 100: 662-664
Slade SJ and Pegg GF (1993) The effect of silver and other metal ions on the in vitro growth of root-rotting Phytophthora and other fungal species. Annals of Applied Biology 122: 233-251
Smith PM (1979) A study of the effects of fungitoxic compounds on Phytophthora cinnamomi in water. Annals of Applied Biology 93: 149-157
Stanghellini ME & Miller RM (1997) Biosurfactants. Their identity and potential efficacy in the biological control of zoosporic plant pathogens. Plant Disease 81: 4-12
Stanghellini ME and Rasmussen SL (1994) Hydroponics: Asolution for zoosporic pathogens. Plant Disease 78: 1129-1137
Strong SS, Behe BK, Deneke CF, Bowen KL and Keever GJ (1997) Cultivar and spacing effects on transmission of Phytophthora parasitica in an ebb-and-flow subirrigation system. Plant Disease 81: 89-95
Thinggaard K and Andersen H (1995) Influence of watering frequency and electrical conductivity in the nutrient solution on Phytophthora Root Rot in pot plants of Gerbera. Plant Disease 79: 259-263
Thinggaard K and Middelboe AL (1989) Phytophthora and Pythium in pot plant cultures grown on ebb and flow bench with recirculating nutrient solution. Journal of Phytopathology 125: 343-352
Tsao PH and Guy SO (1977) Inhibition of Mortierella and Pythium in a Phytophthora-isolation medium containing hymexazol. Phytopathology 67: 796-802
Vanachter A, Van Wambeke E and Van Assche C (1992) Influence of thiophanate-methyl and zinc on the development of lettuce ring necrosis disease and its vector Olpidium brassicae in NFTgrown lettuce. Mededelingen van der Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen Universitiet Gent 57(2a): 249-255
Von Broembsen, SL and Deacon, JW (1997) Calcium interference with zoospore biology and infectivity of Phytophthora parasitica in nutrient irrigation solutions. Phytopathology 87: 522-528
Wallace A, Wallace GA and Alexander GV (1983) Effect of excess chelating agent in nutrient solution at low levels of iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Journal of Plant Nutrition 6: 507-511
Webster MA and Dixon GR (1991) Boron, pH and inoculum concentration influencing colonisation by Plasmodiophora brassicae. Mycological Research 95: 74-79
Willumsen J (1986) Liming peat for pot plant growing. Acta Horticulturae 178: 205-212
Zentmyer GA and Marshall LA (1959) Factors affecting sporangial production by Phytophthora cinnamomi. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 49: 556
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Toppe, B., Thinggaard, K. Prevention of Phytophthora Root Rot in Gerbera by increasing copper ion concentration in the nutrient solution. European Journal of Plant Pathology 104, 359–366 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008646002615
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008646002615