Building partnerships - high stakes for high rewards.

This book chapter focuses on GNNTDC support for the cause of integrated disease control. GNNTDC is made up of eight well-established and based at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington, DC. Communication members are George Washington University, Earth Institute at Columbia University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Helen Keller International, the International Trachoma Initiative, Schistosomiasis Child Survival and Development Working Group and Control Initiative. Collectively, they have already put in place a plan to implement integrated drug management programs across sub-Saharan Africa.

Integrated Leafcurl Disease Control on Tobacco Plants in Klaten, Central Java

Vorstenlanden tobacco is the best product of PT Perkebunan Nusantara X (PTPN X) Klaten, Central Java that is commonly produced into high economic value cigars. During the planting season of 2010/2011, there was an epidemy of leaf curl disease that caused billion rupiahs financial loss. Several efforts had been done, including the use of pesticides, but the result had not been satisfactory. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the pathogen of tobacco leaf curl disease and conduct integrated control system using three combinations in the nursery [A (biological agents treatment, plastic screenhouse, without physical barrier); B (biological agents treatment, plastic screenhouse + screen plot, with physical barrier of single screen, and sprayed insecticide); C (biological agents treatment, plastic screenhouse + single screen plot, with physical barrier of double screens, and fogging using white oil + insecticide)] and planting area [A (physical barrier of single screen and sprayed insecticide); B (physical barrier of single screen, sprayed insecticide, and sanitation of broad leaf weed + eradication of infected plant); C (physical barrier of double screens, fogging white oil + insecticide, and sanitation of broad leaf weed + eradication of infected plant)]. The result showed that leaf curl disease that occured at PTPN X Klaten was caused by Begomovirus, based on PCR result using Krusty and Hommer primers for Begomovirus Coat Protein gene. The most effective integrated disease control of leaf curl disease in the nursery was C combination, that consisted of biological agents treatment on the seedlings medium, screenhouse covered by plastic and double screens that was combined with physical barrier of double screens around the field, and fogging using white oil+insecticide of pyrethroid active ingredient. The most effective integrated disease control of leaf curl disease in the field was the same C combination, that consisted of the use of physical barrier of double screens, environmental sanitation of weeds around the field and eradication of infected plants and fogging using white oil + insecticide of pyretroid active agent. IntisariTembakau vorstenlanden merupakan produk andalan PT Perkebunan Nusantara X (PTPN X) Klaten, Jawa Tengah sebagai bahan baku cerutu yang bernilai ekonomi tinggi. Pada musim tanam 2010/2011 telah terjadi epidemi penyakit keriting atau kerupuk tembakau dengan kerugian mencapai milyaran rupiah. Upaya pengendalian yag telah dilakukan dengan mengandalkan pestisida tidak memberikan hasil yang memuaskan. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini ditujukan untuk mengidentifikasi patogen penyebab penyakit kerupuk tembakau dan melakukan pengendalian secara terpadu dengan menggunakan tiga macam kombinasi yang dilakukan di pembibitan [A (perlakuan agens hayati, penyungkupan plastik, tanpa barier fisik ); B (perlakuan agens hayati, penyungkupan, barier fisik tunggal, dan penyemprotan insektisida); C (perlakuan agens hayati, penyungkupan, barier fisik ganda, dan aplikasi white oil)] dan di lahan pertanaman [A (barier fisik tunggal dan insekstisida); B (barier fisik tunggal, insektisida, dan sanitasi gulma); C (barier fisik ganda, white oil + insektisida, dan sanitasi gulma)]. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penyakit kerupuk tembakau di PTPN X Klaten disebabkan oleh Begomovirus berdasarkan hasil PCR menggunakan primer Krusty dan Hommer untuk gen Coat Protein Begomovirus. Pengendalian terpadu penyakit kerupuk di pembibitan yang paling efektif adalah kombinasi C yang terdiri dari perlakuan agens hayati pada media bibit, penyungkupan rangkap plastik + waring ganda dipadukan dengan barier fisik berupa waring ganda sekeliling lahan dan aplikasi white oil + insektisida berbahan aktif piretroid dengan cara fogging. Demikian juga pengendalian terpadu penyakit kerupuk di lapangan yang paling efektif adalah kombinasi C yang terdiri dari perlakuan agens hayati pada media bibit, sanitasi gulma di sekitar lingkungan pertanaman dan eradikasi tanaman sakit, penyungkupan rangkap plastik + waring ganda dipadukan dengan barier fisik berupa waring ganda sekeliling lahan dan aplikasi white oil + insektisida berbahan aktif piretroid dengan cara fogging.

Seed Treatment with Ethanol Extract of Serratia marcescens is Compatible with Trichoderma Isolates for Control of Damping-off of Cucumber Caused by Pythium ultimum

Environmentally friendly control measures for soilborne plant pathogens are needed that are effective in different soils when applied alone or as components of an integrated disease control strategy. An ethanol extract of Serratia marcescens N4-5, when applied as a cucumber seed treatment, effectively suppressed damping-off caused by Pythium ultimum in potting mix and in a sandy loam soil. Plant stand associated with this treatment was similar to that of seed treated with the chemical pesticide Thiram in the sandy loam soil. The N4-5 ethanol extract did not consistently provide significant disease control in a loam soil. The N4-5 ethanol extract was compatible with two Trichoderma isolates, not affecting in vitro or in situ colonization of cucumber by these biological control fungi. Control of damping-off of cucumber was never diminished when this ethanol extract was applied as a seed treatment in combination with in-furrow application of the Trichoderma isolates, and disease control was improved in certain instances with these combinations in the loam soil. Data presented here indicate that the N4-5 ethanol extract is compatible with certain beneficial fungi, suggesting that this extract can be used as a component of integrated disease control strategies featuring biological control fungi.

Development of Rye Leaf Diseases and Possibilities for Their Control

Diseases of rye (Secale cereale), an important crop in Latvia, might be a risk factor for rye production. The aim of the study was to determine features of rye leaf diseases, to estimate the risk of rye diseases under conditions of Latvia, and to compare various schemes of fungicide treatment that possibly might be useful for integrated disease control. Field trials were carried out from 2009 to 2012 in two locations in Latvia - State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute and State Priekuïi Plant Breeding Institute. Sixteen trials (two cultivars each year, two sites, and four years) were established during the investigations. Each trial was one-factor design with three variants of fungicide treatment: control (without fungicides), standard treatment during heading (GS 51-55), and DSS (Decision support system). Leaf scald caused by Rhynchosporium secalis and brown rust, caused by Puccinia recondita, were found to be the most important rye diseases during the study. Average additional yield achieved by fungicide application was 8%. Number of rainy days (more than seven, starting from GS 31) was not a sufficient threshold for the control of rye diseases. It was necessary to make assessment of the disease development in the the field. Fungicide application might be necessary if symptoms of leaf scald appear on the youngest leaves after beginning of stem elongation (GS 31-32).

Plant perceptions of plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas

Plant–associated Pseudomonas live as saprophytes and parasites on plant surfaces and inside plant tissues. Many plant–associated Pseudomonas promote plant growth by suppressing pathogenic micro–organisms, synthesizing growth–stimulating plant hormones and promoting increased plant disease resistance. Others inhibit plant growth and cause disease symptoms ranging from rot and necrosis through to developmental dystrophies such as galls. It is not easy to draw a clear distinction between pathogenic and plant growth–promoting Pseudomonas . They colonize the same ecological niches and possess similar mechanisms for plant colonization. Pathogenic, saprophytic and plant growth–promoting strains are often found within the same species, and the incidence and severity of Pseudomonas diseases are affected by environmental factors and host–specific interactions. Plants are faced with the challenge of how to recognize and exclude pathogens that pose a genuine threat, while tolerating more benign organisms. This review examines Pseudomonas from a plant perspective, focusing in particular on the question of how plants perceive and are affected by saprophytic and plant growth–promoting Pseudomonas (PGPP), in contrast to their interactions with plant pathogenic Pseudomonas . A better understanding of the molecular basis of plant–PGPP interactions and of the key differences between pathogens and PGPP will enable researchers to make more informed decisions in designing integrated disease–control strategies and in selecting, modifying and using PGPP for plant growth promotion, bioremediation and biocontrol.