Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Several attempts have been made to reduce Botrytis cinerea grey mould in vineyards and in storage by means of biological control. However, the so called "silver bullet" approach in utilising a single antagonist, has its limitations when compared with synthetic fungicides. Often the antagonist has a limited spectrum of activity and the duration of its effectiveness is less than that provided by synthetic fungicides. Furthermore, antagonists are more likely to be effective in preventing initial infection rather than resumption of latent infection. Therefore, due to the various infection sites in grape bunches utilised by B. cinerea and the fact that the pathogen can remain latent in the grapevine tissue, it may be possible to obtain effective control of the pathogen by integrating fungicides and different biological control agents each aimed at a different site in grape bunches, protecting the bunch at the various phenological stages of growth and under different micro climatic conditions. In this study the potential of three fungal antagonists (Glioc/adium roseum, Uloc/adium atrum and Trichoderma harzianum) and one yeast (Trichosporon pullulans) to colonise different sites in grape bunches, and to reduce B. cinerea infection, was investigated in commercial vineyards. As the biological control agents were used in an integrated system, the effect of various fungicides frequently applied to local vineyards on the organisms was also investigated. Fungicide trials were conducted taking into account two possible scenarios. Firstly, the possible effect of fungicides applied to the vineyard after an application of the biological control agent or shortly before the application of the biocontrol agent. This entailed exposing the biocontrol agents to relatively low concentrations of the active ingredient of the fungicides, similar to the residue levels to which these organisms would be exposed under field conditions. Secondly, the possibility of applying the organisms and the fungicides at the same time by making use of spray tank mixtures. This meant exposing the biocontrol agents to relatively high doses of the active ingredient of the various fungicides. Mycelial growth and germination tests were performed on agar in Petri dishes to determine the effect of fungicides. It was assumed that if the fungicide effectively inhibits the antagonist at 2.5 !-lg a.Uml, the fungicide and antagonist can not be used in an integrated programme. Based on this criterium, T harzianum can not be applied to vineyards with penconazole, mancozeb/metalaxyl, pyrifenox or mancozeb. In addition T harzianum can not be applied as tank mixtures with iprodione. However, T harzianum can be used in conjunction with pyrimethanil, folpan, iprodione, fosetyl-Al and copperhydroxide, provided the chemicals and the antagonist are applied alternately. Gliocladium roseum can not be applied in a tank mixture with pyrimethanil and penconazole, but can be used on grapevine in conjunction with penconazole, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, iprodione and fosetyl-Al. Ulocladium atrum can not be applied with pyrimethanil and iprodione. Ulocladium atrum can be applied in conjunction with penconazole, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, iprodione, fosetyl-Al and mancozeb. The fungus can be applied in a tank mixture with penconazole and pyrifenox. The antagonists were applied as conidial suspensions to bunches at various phenological stages in commercial vineyards planted with the wine grape cultivar Chardonnay in the Stellenbosch region, or the table grape cultivar Dauphine planted in Paarl region. Bunches were collected 2 wk after application, surface-sterilised and used for determining antagonist colonisation and B. cinerea infection at specific sites in the bunches. In Chardonnay, the antagonists colonised the different sites, but colonisation during the three seasons was inconsistent and sporadic. Ulocladium atrum and G. roseum colonised floral debris to a degree in the 1996 season. However, in the 1997 season these two antagonists did not develop from floral debris. Trichoderma harzianum colonised floral debris extensively in the 1996 season. In the 1997 season colonisation by T harzianum dropped, but unlike G. roseum and U atrum, T harzianum occurred at a low level in flowers. Ulocladium atrum only colonised bunches during bloom, and was not found in bunches monitored from pea-size stage to véraison. This finding suggests that the saprophyte colonised moribund and dead flower parts occurring in bunches during full bloom to the pre-pea size stage, and is not likely to be found in living tissue. Gliocladium roseum colonised grape berries and pedicels to some degree and T harzianum colonised these grape parts extensively. Botrytis cinerea occurred inconsistently and at low frequencies in the different sites in bunches. It was therefore not possible to comment on the effectivity of the various antagonists in the three seasons during which the trials were performed. However, it was noted that, during the peasize stage in 1996, when high levels of B. cinerea were recorded, T harzianum controlled these infections in the pedicels more effectively than any other treatment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ONDERDRUKKING VAN BOTRYTIS CINEREA DEUR ANTAGONISTE IN LEWENDE, AFSTERWENDE EN DOOIE WINGERDWEEFSEL Die benadering om Botrytis cinerea verrotting van wingerd met behulp van 'n enkele biologiese beheeragent in plaas van met sintetiese fungisiede te beheer, het sekere beperkinge. Antagoniste het dikwels 'n beperkte spektrum van aktiwiteit, en die duur van hul effektiwiteit is minder as dié van fungisiede. Antagoniste is gewoonlik ook minder effektief in die beheer van latente infeksie. Die patogeen het verder die opsie om druiwetrosse deur verskillende infeksieweë te koloniseer. Fungisiede kan druiwetrosse beter teen infeksie deur veelvuldige infeksieweë beskerm as 'n enkele antagonis. In die lig hiervan is die beheer van die patogeen deur 'n kombinasie van fungisiede en verskillende biologiese beheeragente, wat elk gemik is om 'n ander infeksiepunt in die druiwe te beskerm, ondersoek. Drie swamagtige antagoniste (Glioc/adium roseum, Uloc/adium atrum en Trichoderma harzianum) en een gis (Trichosporon pullulans) is in die ondersoek gebruik. Voorloper ondersoeke, waar twee moontlike scenarios in ag geneem is, is met fungisiede uitgevoer. In die eerste scenario is die effek van fungisiede, aangewend op wingerd kort vóór aanwending van die biologiese beheeragent, of kort ná aanwending, ondersoek. Hierdie proef het die blootstelling van die biologiese beheeragent aan relatief lae konsentrasies van die aktiewe bestanddeel van die fungisied, vergelykbaar met residuvlakke waaraan die organismes onder veldtoestande blootgestel sou word, behels. Tweedens is die moontlikheid om antagoniste en fungisiede gelyktydig as spuitpompmengsels toe te dien, ondersoek. In hierdie proef is die biologiese beheeragente aan relatief hoë dosisse van die aktiewe bestanddeel van verskillende fungisiede blootgestel. Miseliumgroei en ontkiemingstoetse is op agar in Petribakkies uitgevoer om die effek van die fungisiede te bepaal. As kriterium is aanvaar dat indien 'n fungisied die antagonis effektief by 2.5J..lglml aktiewe bestanddeel inhibeer, die fungisied en antagonis nie in 'n geïntegreerde program gebruik kan word nie. Gebaseer op hierdie kriterium kan T harnzianum nie aangewend word in 'n wingerd wat met penconazole, mancozeb/metalaxyl, pyrifenox of mancozeb behandel is nie. Ook kan T harzianum nie in 'n spuitpompmengsel met iprodione aangewend word nie. Trichoderma harzianum kan egter saam met pyrimethanil, folpan, iprodione en fosetyl-Al gebruik word, mits dié chemikalieë en die antagonis afwisselend aangewend word. Glioc/adium roseum kan nie in 'n spuitpompmengsel met pyrimethanil en penconazole aangewend word nie, maar kan saam met penconazole, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, iprodione en fosetyl-Al gebruik word. Uloc/adium atrum kan nie saam met pyrimethanil, iprodione en fosetyl-Al gebruik word nie. Die swam kan wel in 'n spuitpompmengselmet penconazole en pyrifenox aangewend word. In verdere proewe is die antagoniste as spoorsuspensies op trosse op verskillende groeistadia in kommersiële wingerde, wat met die wyndruitkultivar Chardonnay of die tafeldruifkultivar Dauphine aangeplant is, ondersoek. Trossies is twee weke na toediening versamel, oppervlakkig gesteriliseer en gebruik om vlakke van antagoniskolonisasie en B. cinerea infeksie op spesifieke nisse in die trosse te bepaal. In die geval van Chardonnay het die antagoniste die verskillende nisse gekoloniseer, maar die kolonisasie was sporadies en nie konstant gedurende die drie seisoene van ondersoek nie. Uloc/adium atrum en G. roseum het blomdeeltjies tot 'n beperkte mate in die 1996 seisoen gekoloniseer, maar nie in die daaropvolgende seisoen nie. Daarteenoor het T. harzianum blomdeeltjies ekstensief in die 1996 seisoen gekoloniseer, en in 'n beperkte mate in die daaropvolgende seisoen. Uloc/adium atrum kon nie trosse van ertjiekorrelgrootte tot deurslaan vestig nie. Hierdie bevinding dui daarop dat die saprofiet afsterwende en dooie blomdeeltjies, wat van volblom tot ertjiekorrelstadium in die trosse voorkom, koloniseer, maar dat dit nie in lewende weefsel voorkom nie. Daarteenoor het T. harzianum die verskillende trosdele ekstensief gekoloniseer. Botrytis cinerea het gedurende die drie seisoene wisselvallig en teen lae frekwensies in die verskillende nisse in die trosse voorgekom. Dit was gevolglik nie moontlik om 'n konkrete afleiding oor die effektiwiteit van die verskillende antagoniste as biobeheeragente van B. cinerea te maak nie. In die geval van Dauphine was die onderskeie organismes swak koloniseerders van blomdeeltjies. Trichoderma harizanum kon egter die lewende trosdele koloniseer. Kolonisasievlakke was laag en was nooit meer as 50% nie. In beide seisoene het die kolonisasievermoë van T. harzianum drasties ná trostoemaak gedaal. Daarteenoor het beide G. roseum en U atrum tydens al die ontwikkelingstadia die lewende trosdele swak gekoloniseer. Botrytis cinerea het ook uiters sporadies en teen baie lae vlakke voorgekom. Die bevindinge het getoon dat klimaatsomstandighede wat in tafeldruifwingerde in die Wes-Kaap heers, nie geskik is vir die vestiging van die biologiese beheeragente wat in die studie ondersoek is nie.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grey mould, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the most important foliar disease of rooibos seedlings. Although the disease is primarily controlled with applications of fungicides, the improvement of cultural methods of disease management should lessen this dependence on chemical control. Such improvements would, however, not be possible without knowledge of the inoculum sources and dispersal of the pathogen. The aim of this study was to investigate the inoculum ecology of B. cinerea in rooibos nurseries in order to identify primary sources of inoculum and to improve the environmentally friendly management of the disease. The study was conducted in four nurseries over two production seasons (March to July 2003 and 2004). Levels of airborne inoculum of B. cinerea were monitored on a monthly basis inside and around the nurseries with spore traps. Samples of plant material and organic debris were taken in the corresponding areas to determine the incidence of plant material infected by the pathogen and the incidences of grey mould in the nurseries were recorded. Low numbers of B. cinerea colonies were observed on the spore traps. Similar levels of airborne inoculum were observed inside and around the nurseries. The incidence of plant material yielding B. cinerea was higher outside the nurseries than inside, indicating the importance of such materials as potential sources of inoculum. Since patterns of airborne inoculum observed in this study confirmed reports of the local dispersal of B. cinerea, the removal of possible hosts outside the nurseries could aid in the management of grey mould in rooibos nurseries. Resistance to dicarboximide fungicides is a genetically stable trait in B. cinerea, and therefore has the potential to be used as a phenotypic marker. This marker can be used to gain knowledge on the dispersal of B. cinerea inoculum inside and outside rooibos nurseries. Isolates of B. cinerea collected from the air and from plant material in and around four rooibos nurseries were assessed for resistance to iprodione at 1 and 3 μg/ml a.i. Some of the isolates showed resistance to iprodione at 1 μg/ml a.i. However, none of the isolates showed resistance at 3 μg/ml a.i. iprodione. The initial incidence of dicarboximide-resistance at the nurseries was slightly higher than expected. As the season progressed, the incidence of iprodione-resistant isolates decreased towards May, after which an increase was observed towards July. A relatively high percentage of isolates collected outside the nurseries was found to be dicarboximide-resistant. Two of the nurseries had a significant higher incidence of resistant isolates on plant material collected inside, than on plant material collected outside the nursery. However, when looking at resistance levels of airborne isolates, no significant differences were found in the incidence of resistant isolates sampled inside and outside the four nurseries. The data indicated the importance of organic debris and seed-borne infections in the survival and dispersal of dicarboximide-resistant isolates of the pathogen. With the current emphasis on organic agriculture the knowledge gained in this study presents valuable possibilities of improving the cultural management of grey mould in rooibos nurseries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vaalvrot, veroorsaak deur Botrytis cinerea, is die belangrikste bo-grondse siekte van rooibossaailinge. Alhoewel die beheer van die siekte hoofsaaklik op die gebruik van fungisiede berus, behoort die verbetering van verbouingspraktyke hierdie afhanklikheid van chemiese beheer te verminder. Sulke verbeteringe sal egter slegs moontlik wees indien voldoende kennis van die inokulumbronne en verspreiding van die patogeen beskikbaar is. Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om die inokulum ekologie van B. cinerea in rooibos kwekerye te ondersoek sodat primêre inokulumbronne opgespoor en omgewingsvriendelike siektebestuurspraktyke verbeter kan word. Die ondersoek is in vier kwekerye oor twee produksie seisoene (Maart tot Julie 2003 en 2004) uitgevoer. Vlakke van luggedraagde inokulum van B. cinerea is op ’n maandelikse basis met behulp van spoorvangers binne en buite die kwekerye gemonitor. Monsters van plantmateriaal en organiese materiaal is in ooreenstemmende areas geneem om die voorkoms van B. cinerea geïnfekteerde plantmateriaal vas te stel en die voorkoms van vaalvrot in die kwekerye is aangeteken. Min B. cinerea kolonies is op die spoorvangers waargeneem. Soortgelyke vlakke van luggedraagde inokulum is binne en buite die kwekerye waargeneem. Die hoër voorkoms van B. cinerea geïnfekteerde plantmateriaal buite die kwekerye as binne, dui op die belang van sulke materiaal as potensiële inokulumbronne. Aangesien die patrone van luggedraagde inokulum, soos waargeneem in hierdie ondersoek, ander berigte van B. cinerea se beperkte verspreidingsvermoë bevestig, kan die verwydering van moontlike alternatiewe gashere buite die kwekerye die bestuur van die siekte binne die kwekerye verbeter. Weerstand teen dikarboksimied fungisiede is ’n geneties-stabiele kenmerk in B. cinerea en het daarom potensiaal om as ’n fenotipiese merker gebruik te word. Hierdie merker kan gebruik word om kennis aangaande die verspreiding van B. cinerea in en om rooibos kwekerye in te samel. Botrytis cinerea isolate in lug en op plantmateriaal in en om vier rooibos kwekerye is gedurende 2003 en 2004 versamel. Die isolate is vir weerstandbiedendheid teen iprodioon by konsentrasies van 1 en 3 μg/ml aktiewe bestandeel (a.b.) getoets. Isolate met weerstand teen 1 μg/ml a.b. iprodioon is waargeneem, maar nie teen 3 μg/ml nie. Die aanvanklike voorkoms van dikarboksimiedweerstand by die kwekerye was hoër as verwag. Hierdie vlak het egter gedaal met die verloop van die seisoen tot in Mei, waarna ’n toename tot in Julie waargeneem is. Die persentasie dikarboksimied-weerstandbiedende isolate buite die kwekerye was relatief hoog. In twee van die kwekerye was die voorkoms van weerstandbiedende isolate op plantmateriaal in die kwekerye betekenisvol hoër as op plantmateriaal buite die kwekerye. Daar was egter geen betekenisvolle verskille in die voorkoms van luggedraagde weerstandbiedende isolate nie, ongeag van die kwekery of posisie. Die data dui op die belang van organiese materiaal en saadgedraagde infeksies in die oorlewing en verspreiding van dikarboksimied-weerstandbiedende isolate van die patogeen. Met die huidige klem op organiese landbou bied die inligting wat in hierdie ondersoek versamel is moontlike praktyke wat geïmplementeer kan word om die beheer van vaalvrot in kwekerye met behulp van verbouingspraktyke te verbeter.

Eight phylloplane yeasts were isolated from backyard apple trees in Corvallis, OR. Yeast isolates were classified to genus or species level. All isolates were tested in vitro for antagonistic activity against the postharvest pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum. Of these isolates, Aureobasidium pullulans, Sporobolomyces roseus Rhodotorula sp., consistently reduced mycelial growth of B. cinerea and P. expansum in nutrient yeast dextrose agar (pH 4.5 or 7.0) incubated for 8 or 30 days at 24 or 1 C, respectively. These three yeasts also were evaluated for their ability to suppress spore germination of B. cinerea and P. expansum in a gradient of apple juice concentrations and to suppress development of gray and blue mold lesions in inoculated fruits of Golden Delicious apple. Germination of B. cinerea and P. expansum was reduced significantly (P���0.05) when incubated with the yeast isolates in 100 or 50% apple juice, but not in 0, 1 or 10% apple juice. S. roseus and A. pullulans reduced significantly (P���0.05) the size of gray mold lesions in wounded fruit stored at 5 C and 24 C by 63 to 72 and 81 to 90%, respectively, when compared to the nontreated control. Size of blue mold lesions in fruit stored at 5 and 24 C also were reduced significantly (P���0.05) by 66 to 38 and 74 to 63%, respectively, when pre-treated with S. roseus and A. pullulans. In general, fruit rot suppression by some yeasts isolated in this study was similar in magnitude to suppression obtained by Cryptococcus laurentii isolate 87-108, a yeast with commercial potential to suppress postharvest rots of pome fruits. Pretreatment of apple wounds with washed cells of A. pullulans, S. roseus, Rhodotorula sp., resulted in disease suppression, but treatment of wounds with cell-free culture supernatant of these isolates did not affect lesion development. Population size of A. pullulans, S. roseus, and C. laurentii increased in apple wounds incubated at 5 or 24 C for up to 25 days, indicating that they colonized the wound site. Data collected in this study support the hypothesis that yeast isolates antagonize fruit pathogens by competing for nutrients in wounds on fruit surfaces. The isolates of A. pullulans and S. roseus show promise for commercial development. / Graduation date: 1997