Field and controlled environment experiments were performed to assess the preemergence activity of the fungal pathogen, Phomopsis convolvulus Ormeno to control Convolvulus arvensis L. (field bindweed). A granular barley formulation of the fungal inoculum applied onto the field soil surface resulted in dramatic aboveground biomass reductions of both C. arvensis seedlings (94--100%) and regrowth from established plants (53--98%). Under field conditions, surface applications of the granular formulation resulted in greater biomass reductions (93--100%) compared with soil incorporation of the granules (31--97%). Rate of soil applied granules of P. convolvulus did not affect the level of weed control and 90--100% C. arvensis biomass reductions were obtained for all rates used (30 g, 20 g, and 10 g 0.25m--2 plot). The use of two different planting substrates in controlled environment studies led to major differences in C. arvensis disease development. With an inoculum application on the day of sowing, 81% mortality was obtained for seedlings grown in a sandy loam field sod compared with 50% of seedlings grown in a prepared peat moss medium. The susceptibility of C. arvensis biotypes from various geographic locations to P. convolvulus was similar following post-emergence, foliar inoculum applications. Significant above-ground (65--100%) and new root growth (56--72%) biomass reductions of established plants were obtained for two selected biotypes (Greece, USA-Montana) subjected to a preemergence granular inoculum application. In the presence of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), field efficacy of P. convolvulus was enhanced and aboveground biomass of inoculated C. arvensis plants was reduced by 98% compared with inoculated C. arvensis plants grown in pure stand.

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Phomopsis convolvulus Ormeno, a foliar pathogen of field bindweed, is a good candidate to be developed as a bioherbicide. Large numbers of infective propagules were produced in shake-flask liquid fermentation with modified Richard's (V-8) medium and in solid-substrate fermentation with pearl barley grains. In complex liquid media, pycnidium-like structures were observed. Most conidia stored at $-$70$ sp circ$C remained viable and virulent for at least six months. / In controlled environment studies, a minimum of 18 hr of dew was required for severe disease development on inoculated plants. The addition of gelatin, Sorbo $ sp{ rm TM}$, or BOND$ sp{ rm TM}$ to the inoculum did not enhance the disease under various leaf wetness periods. A continuous dew period of 18 hr was superior to the cumulative effect of three interrupted 6 hr dew periods. Secondary inoculum was produced on diseased plants placed under moist conditions for 48 hr or more. / In greenhouse experiments, seedlings at the cotyledon and 3- to 5- leaf stage were severely diseased and killed when inoculated with 10$ sp9$ conidia/m$ sp2$. This inoculum density adversely affected the regenerative ability of 4 wk old seedlings and established plants, but few plants were killed. Inoculation of the healthy regrowth from plants previously inoculated with the fungus resulted in much less disease symptoms than expected.