Leaf and sheath spot (mini ring) is a turfgrass fungal disease that has been reported in some states the USA. The causal pathogen Waitea circinata var. zeae, also known as Rhizoctonia zeae. This typically causes thinned turf areas and/or rings of full, half, or quarter circles. Turfgrass under stress irrigated with high salinity water more prone to infestation. Seven fungicide programs were eva...

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a Tospovirus affecting field tomato crops worldwide. The virus is transmitted by some species of thrips. The most damaging vectors in Italy are Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci. Only the first instar larvae can acquire the virus from an infected plant. After acquisition, the virus replicates in the vector, and the viruliferous thrips is capable of...

The effects of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and four combinations of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the reproduction of a tobacco cyst nematode, Globodera tabacum solanacearum, and growth of Nicotiana tabacum (cv. K326 and Xanthi) were tested under greenhouse and field conditions. The PGPR included combinations of Bacillus subtilis A13 with B. pumilis INR7, B. pumilis SE34, B. lic...

Tomato plants expressing the NahG transgene, which prevents accumulation of endogenous salicylic acid (SA), were used to study the importance of the SA signalling pathway in basal defence against Citrus Exocortis Viroid (CEVd) or Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). The lack of SA accumulation in the CEVd- or TSWV-infected NahG tomato plants led to an early and dramatic disease phenotype, as compa...

The ability of the resistance elicitors acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), cis-jasmone (CJ), and a combination of the three products, to control infection of spring barley by Rhynchosporium commune was examined under glasshouse conditions. Significant control of R. commune was provided by ASM and CJ, but the largest reduction in infection was obtained with the combination o...