Effect of Broad Bean Leaf Age and Inoculum Levels on Spore Production Efficiency of Uromyces Viciae-Fabae

S. R. Ghimire and J.W. Mansfield
Department of Biological Sciences, Wye College, Wye near Ashford, Kent TN25 5AH, U.K.

DOI

ABSTRACT

Uromyces viciae-fabae is one of the major production constraints of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and other many tropical legumes, and is world-wide in distribution. The plant age and inoculum level are important host and pathogen factors respectively in the disease epidemiology. Five inoculums levels (1:50, 1:100, 1:500, 1:1000 and 1:2000 w/w) were tested on three, different aged broad bean leaves (young, middle aged and old) for pustule production and spore production efficiencies under controlled environment at Wye College, UK in 1995. The standard inoculums level (1:50 w/w) gave the highest number of pustules and the other inoculum levels were indifferent for pustule production. The highest pustule members were recorded from the young leaves followed by middle-aged and old leaves. Total spore production per blfoliate was the highest from young leaves and it was followed by middle aged and old leaves irrespective of the inoculums levels. However, there was an inverse relationship between pustule member and spore production efficiency on young (r2=0.734; p<0.001) and middle-aged (r2=0.379; p<0.001) leaves and no such relationship was observed on old aged leaves. This study shows an important role of leaf age and inoculums level in the broad bean rust disease development.

Published Year
1998

Volume
Volume 2

Issue
Issue 1