No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1961. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-144).

published_or_final_version / Botany / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

Sorghum ergot, caused by Claviceps africana Frederickson, Mantle & de Milliano, is a disease that affects non-fertilized ovaries in sorghum male-sterile plants and infects hybrids if there is pollen sterility at flowering time. Sphacelia containing macroconidia could play a role in the survival of the pathogen. This study developed risk assessment models and evaluated environmental conditions affecting viability of macroconidia and transition from sphacelial to sclerotial tissues. Effect of weather on ergot severity was evaluated under natural conditions (in monthly planting dates) in nine sorghum genotypes at College Station, Weslaco, Rio Bravo, and Celaya. Panicles were inoculated daily beginning at flower initiation with a suspension of 1.6 x 106 C. africana conidia ml-1. Weather triad values were used to identify weather parameters correlated with the disease. Ergot severity was statistically greater in A-lines than hybrids because of the possible interference of pollen on some dates. Celaya had the greatest amount of ergot in hybrids. A-line ATx2752 had the lowest average ergot severity throughout years, locations and planting dates, as did the hybrid NC+8R18. Maximum and minimum temperature had a negative correlation with ergot at Rio Bravo, College Station and Weslaco, while at Celaya it was positive. The highest correlation was 7 to 9 days before initiation of flowering, suggesting that cooler temperatures during this period could cause male sterility. A-lines showed the same relationships between ergot and maximum and minimum temperatures after initiation of flowering. Minimum relative humidity had a positive correlation with ergot after initiation of flowering in both sorghum plant types. Sphacelia stored under cool temperatures (-3oC to 7oC) maintained conidial viability, and newly-formed sphacelia located on the sphacelia surface had the highest conidial viability. However, they show a greater viability reduction through time compared with conidia from older sphacelia, showing that conidial maturity can play a role in the survival of the conidia. Sphacelia on plants grown at 10oC, 20oC and 30oC with low relative humidity did not had any sclerotial development up to 4 weeks after formation of sphacelia. However, higher temperatures promoted an increase in the sphacelia dry weight during that time.

Thesis (Ph. D.) in Biological Sciences--University of Maine, 2001. / Includes vita. Advisory Committee: Eleanor Groden, Assoc. Prof. of Entomology, Advisor; Francis Drummond, Prof. of Insect Ecology; Seanna Annis, Asst. Prof. of Mycology; David Lambert, Assoc. Prof. of Plant Pathology; John D. Vandenberg, Research Entomology, USDA-ARS. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-175).

Septoria blight of celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce), induced by Septoria apiicola Speg., is a destructive disease that requires fungicide applications for its management. A reliable method of inoculum production was established. Best sporulation was obtained on celery agar (CA) at a predicted optimum temperature of 22.4$ sp circ$C. A moderate inoculum density within a range of 17-35 conidia/cm$ sp2$ of leaf surface provided non-coalescing lesions necessary for rapid enumeration. Initial blight incidence thresholds of about 0.6 and 0.5% to time the first fungicide application were established based on the proportion of maximum plant weight equivalent to the cost of one fungicide application calculated plant weight and petiole number per plant, respectively, in the summers of 1990 and 1991. The IBI levels of 0 and 2% to time the first fungicide application provided non-significant results in terms of the final amount of blight and yield. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

No description available.