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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 November; 50(5): 1123-1127
Copyright © 1985, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Population Dynamics of Sugar Beets, Rhizoctonia solani, and Laetisaria arvalis: Responses of a Host, Plant Pathogen, and Hyperparasite to Perturbation in the Field {dagger}

Michael F. Allen{ddagger},*, Michael G. Boosalis, Eric D. Kerr, Anne E. Muldoon and Harold J. Larsen

Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0722

ABSTRACT

Rhizoctonia solani causes crown rot of sugar beets, a severe disease that has destroyed up to 60% of the plants in a test field in western Nebraska. Laetisaria arvalis, a natural hyperparasite of Rhizoctonia spp., was isolated from fields in western Nebraska. To test for the potential for biological control of R. solani, in November 1980 (following harvest) we applied various combinations of a nematicide (Telone II; Dow Chemical Co.), a nutrition source (sugar beet pulp), and an inoculum of L. arvalis in a randomized block design. Populations of R. solani, L. arvalis, and sugar beets were monitored monthly through October 1981 (just after harvest). In control and nematicide plots, the R. solani population did not change significantly through time. In plots inoculated with L. arvalis, the R. solani populations declined through March, concomitant with an increase in L. arvalis. L. arvalis then declined with a corresponding increase in the R. solani populations. Beet plant numbers declined significantly in all treatments. We suggest that reduction of the R. solani populations with the hyperparasite L. arvalis is possible but that a stable equilibrium naturally exists.

FOOTNOTES

* Corresponding author.

{ddagger} Present address: Department of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4500.

{dagger} Paper no. 7605 of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station journal series.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 November; 50(5): 1123-1127
Copyright © 1985, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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