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When foodstuffs are subject to microbial infection a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released which can be indicative of both the type and severity of the infection. The bacterium Erwinia carotovora, the primary cause of soft rot, is a major problem in the bulk storage of potato tubers. A number of classes of VOCs have been identified above E. carotovora infected potato tubers, but no disease specific marker has been identified. A number of studies have concluded that the best marker of E. carotovora infection is a substantial increase in the concentration of VOCs in the headspace above the tubers. Chemical sensors which are sensitive to low levels of the VOCs identified in the headspace above infected tubers have been developed. The aim was to use these sensors as the basis of a system for the early detection of soft rot in stored potato tubers. The sensors developed fall into two main categories: those which required heating to elevated temperatures, and those which were operated at ambient temperatures. The sensors operated at ambient temperatures included composites of tin dioxide and chemically prepared polypyrroles. The composites exhibited a high sensitivity to a range of organic vapours (1-100 vpm) and were more sensitive than either tin dioxide or polypyrrole at room temperature. Composites of chemically prepared polypyrroles with various thermoplastics were fabricated and were found to exhibit a high sensitivity to a range of volatile amines. Further studies incorporated chemically prepared polypyrroles into a printing ink vehicle, and sensors constructed from these films displayed good sensitivity, high stability and high mechanical strength. The sensors operated at elevated temperatures included a range of evaporated tin oxide films doped with Pt, CuO and ZnO, plus a range of thick film sensors based on tin dioxide, zinc oxide and mixtures of the two materials. The thick film sensors exhibited the highest sensitivity to the vapours of interest and also gave superior reproducibility of fabrication when compared to the sensors based on evaporated thin films. A synergistic effect appeared to be in operation where tin dioxide and zinc oxide were mixed, with sensors incorporating composites of the two materials exhibiting higher sensitivities than either tin dioxide or zinc oxide alone. A GC-MS study to elucidate the surface reactions occuring on exposure to the vapour, suggested that the synergistic effect was in part due to differences in the catalytic activities/pathways of the two materials. A prototype device was produced based on two evaporated tin dioxide film sensors and one thick film tin dioxidelzinc oxide (50/50 mlm) sensor. The device was tested to various quantities of sound tubers with an infected tuber added. The prototype device was capable of detecting one infected tuber amongst 100kg of sound tubers in a simulated storage crate.

26 pp. / Geographically, Arizona can be divided roughly into four areas, southwest, central, southeast, and northern. These regions correspond with four climatic zones, allowing a large and diverse number of plants to be grown for landscaping purposes. But, interestingly, in this desert environment many of the parasitic diseases in landscape plants are caused by a limited number of plant pathogens. This publication discusses some of those diseases that are sufficiently important to the urban plants in all areas Arizona.

Downy mildew of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage is caused by the fungus Peronospora parasitica. Cool moist environmental conditions favor the development of downy mildew on these crops. Several potential new fungicides were evaluated for control of this disease on broccoli in 2001. The final severity of downy mildew in this trial was moderate. Significant reduction in disease severity compared to nontreated plants was achieved by application of available compounds such as Aliette, Bravo, Maneb, Serenade and Trilogy. The nonregistered chemistries Acrobat, Actigard, Curzate, Flint, BAS 500, DPX-KP481 and Quadris also were active against broccoli downy mildew. Actigard was the superior treatment in this trial, as plants treated with this compound were almost free of disease. The future registration and subsequent availability of one or more of these new chemistries for broccoli and related crops could enhance the overall level of disease control as well as help minimize the risk of development of resistance to fungicides used to manage downy mildew.

A fungicide trial was established at The University of Arizona Marana Agricultural Center in April 2000 to evaluate rotation and timing of application for several fungicides used for control of powdery mildew on cantaloupe. Treatments included seven registered fungicides: azoxystrobin, micronized sulfur, neem extract, potassium bicarbonate, benomyl, thiophanate methyl and trifloxystrobin. Different rotations and timing of application of these fungicides were applied either before or immediately after initial signs of powdery mildew infection and up to three times thereafter depending on rotation scheme. By the second application, disease severity was mild but increased rapidly, and it was severe by the time of the last application. Powdery mildew was controlled to some degree on the upper leaf surface by all treatments. However, efficacy was more variable on the lower leaf surface and was reduced when applications were made only at dates 1 and 2. Results show the increased efficacy of fungicides with systemic or trans-laminar activity and the possibilities of rotations with contact fungicides for resistance management.

Sclerotinia leaf drop in Arizona is caused by two soil-borne fungi, Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum. Moist soil and moderate temperature favor this disease. Some new products in development were evaluated for control of leaf drop on lettuce during the winter vegetable growing season of 2000-2001. Sclerotia of each pathogen were applied to plots after thinning and just before the first of two applications of test compounds. A high level of disease control in the S. minor plots occurred with an appropriate concentration of Plantpro 45, Fluazinam, Contans, BAS 510, BAS 510+BAS 500, Medallion and Serenade. The same products (except Serenade) at an appropriate rate significantly reduced the amount of leaf drop caused by S. sclerotiorum. Elevate did not significantly reduce disease caused by either pathogen. Two of the products tested, Serenade and Contans, are biological control materials. Continued demonstration of efficacy by one or both of these products may provide the opportunity to utilize biological control agents to manage Sclerotinia leaf drop.

Powdery mildew can occur on melons annually in Arizona. Sphaerotheca fuliginea is the plant pathogenic fungus that causes powdery mildew of cucurbits, such as cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, cucumber and squash. When environmental conditions are favorable, disease incidence and severity can reach economically significant levels. Development of powdery mildew on melons is favored by moderate temperatures and relative humidity, succulent plant growth and reduced light intensity brought about by a dense plant canopy. Potential new fungicides were evaluated and compared to existing chemicals for control of powdery mildew of cantaloupe in a field trial conducted during the spring of 2000 at the Yuma Agricultural Center A moderately high level of disease had developed by crop maturity (June 22) on nontreated plants. All treatments significantly reduced the level of powdery mildew on both sides of leaves, compared to nontreated plants. The best treatments among those tested with respect to disease control on the underside of leaves, where disease is more difficult to control than on the tops of leaves, included Actigard, Armicarb+Quadris, BAS 500, Benlate+Microthiol, Flint, Flint+Trilogy, Microthiol, Quadris+Actigard, Quadris+Benlate, Quinoxyfen, Nova, Nova+KHHUBF, Topsin, Topsin+Trilogy, Benlate, Benlate+Trilogy, Folicur, Quadris and Topsin+Microthiol. The potential availability of new chemistries for management of powdery mildew of cantaloupe and other cucurbits could help improve overall control of powdery mildew as well as facilitate the development of fungicide resistance management strategies, which strive to minimize the risk of resistance development by the pathogen to these compounds.

Powdery mildew on lettuce is caused by the fungus Erysiphe cichoracearum. This disease is favored by moderate to warm temperatures and dry weather conditions. Several potential new fungicides were evaluated for control of powdery mildew on lettuce in 2001. Powdery mildew appeared in our plots by Jan 16 and reached high levels by plant maturity on Mar 13. Nontreated lettuce plants were heavily infected with powdery mildew at plant maturity, whereas the level of disease was low to virtually nonexistent in plots treated with BAS 500, Flint, Rally, Rally alternated with Microthiol, Microthiol and Quinoxyfen. The future availability of one or more of these chemistries under development could help in efforts to control powdery mildew of lettuce and to establish and maintain a fungicide resistance management program for plant disease control products of importance for this crop.