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After a wild-type isolate of Epicoccum purpurascens was exposed to shortwave ultraviolet light, several new strains were recovered which were improved in sporulation, fungicide tolerance, and performance in suppression of white mold caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The efficacy of E. purpurascens in controlling white mold of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) was assessed in greenhouse and field trials. White mold was significantly reduced in both greenhouse and field trials when 2-4 sprays of E. purpurascens conidial suspensions (in 1% malt extract) were sprayed onto the plant surface during the flowering period. Germination of E. purpurascens conidia on senescent petals was greater than on younger flowers. Addition of malt extract to conidial suspensions improved germination on flowers and increased colonization of emerging flowers. Application of E. purpurascens did not accelerate senescence of bean leaves or affect pod yield of bean in greenhouse trials. Mycoparasitism of S. sclerotiorum by E. purpurascens was found only rarely in in vitro tests and was not observed on flower disks. Production of inhibitory compounds by E. purpurascens was the most important mechanism in suppression of white mold but competition for nutrients also appeared to play a role in biocontrol. The influence of nutrients on conidial germination, growth, sporulation and production of antifungal compounds by E. purpurascens were also investigated.

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Double infection by cowpea strains of southern bean mosaic virus (CP-SBMV) and of tobacco mosaic virus (CP-TMV) caused additive growth reductions in California blackeye cowpea. Plant height, weight and numbers of seed and pods were significantly reduced by double infection and by CP-TMV single infection compared to healthy and CP-SBMV-sing 1 y infected plants. Singly and doubly inoculated California blackeye cowpea plants developed CP-SBMV symptoms on the primary leaves, but CP-SBMV symptoms in doubly infected trifoliates were masked by CP-TMV symptoms. CP-TMV symptoms did not mask CP-SBMV symptoms in systemically infected trifoliate leaves of another cowpea variety, V45-Bots. CP-TMV infection conditioned systemic infection of V45~Bots by CP-SBMV, as indicated by infectivity,serology and analytical sucrose density gradient centrifugation. CP-TMV also induced susceptibility of Pinto to infection by CP-SBMV, as ascertained by infectivity, immunodiffusion and electron microscopy. Analytical sucrose density gradient centrifugation measurements demonstrated that in doubly inoculated primary leaves of California blackeye cowpea CP-SBMV and CP-TMV were synthesized less than in the same leaves singly inoculated. CP-SBMV synthesis in trifoliate leaves, following simultaneous inoculations of primary leaves, was enhanced 5 times that in singly infected trifoliate leaves, whereas CP-TMV synthesis was not greatly affected. When CP-TMV preceded CP-SBMV in the primary leaves by 2k and 72 hr CP-SBMV synthesis was enhanced more in trifoliate leaves that were undifferentiated at the time of inoculation than in those of plants simultaneously inoculated. When CP-TMV preceded CP-SBMV into preformed 3rd trifoliate leaves by 22 hr, the ratio of CP-SBMV concentration in doubly infected tissue to that in singly infected tissue was 2.7 versus 1.9 when both viruses arrived simultaneously at these leaves. When either virus preceded the other by 72 hr into preformed 3rd trifoliate leaves the synthesis of the challenging virus was greatly retarded. CP-SBMV synthesis was also enhanced by CP-TMV infection under differential temperature synchronous system of infection. Although virions of both viruses were detected in the same cell no genomic masking was detected by infectivity neutralization test. It is theorized that CP-TMV infection predisposes the host cells to infection by CP-SBMV and thus the enhanced synthesis of CP-SBMV. The effect of CP-TMV infection on CP-SBMV synthesis in cowpea seems to be a physiological one. CP-SBMV, but not CP-TMV, was transmitted through planted seed and decontaminated embryos of California blackeye cowpea. Buffer extracts made from decontaminated embryos also were infectious for CP-SBMV. Seed coats contained both viruses. Double infection of California blackeye cowpea decreased seed transmission of CP-SBMV from 13-5 to 7.6%. Buffer extracts of healthy seed were inhibitory to infectivity of both viruses. Germination of seed reduced infectivity of CP-SBMV in the seed coats, but not of CP-TMV. It is also concluded that seed transmission of CP-SBMV is a result of embryo infection rather than contamination with virus in the seed coats. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate