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Other publication2013

Fungi found in waste water from suction traps in Sweden

Berlin, Anna; Djurle, Annika; Yuen, Jonathan

Abstract

The goals of this project were to determine the best method for detection of plant pathogens collected from different types of spore traps, to determine which pathogen species are present during different time periods, and to relate this information to the observed disease development in the field. By collecting material from air using two types of traps, suction traps placed high above the ground and passive funnel traps placed at canopy level, the general fungal flora in the air was studied. The result shows that it is possible to identify various fungal plant pathogens in the wastewater from suction traps, although the most abundant fungi found were different types of yeasts and molds. Some insect-mediated fungi were detected as well as saprotrophic- and lichen forming fungi. The fungal flora found in the material from the suction trap was compared with that collected in a passive funnel trap at canopy level in close proximity to the corresponding suction trap. The species compositions were similar between the two collections. The timing of the detection of the plant pathogens in the two trap types depends on the biology of the fungus. For example, rust fungi (Puccinia spp.) were first found in the elevated traps, and later at canopy level, which may be explained by patterns of long distance dispersal. Claviceps purpurea, causing ergot in grasses and cereal crops, was first found at canopy level and later in the elevated traps. This may be explained by the fact that C. purpurea germinates from sclerotia in soil, and that insect mediated conidia were found in the elevated suction trap. Other pathogens, like Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. did not show any pattern and appeared irregularly in both trap types.

Published in

NJF Report
2013, Volume: 9, number: 7, pages: 28-28
Publisher: NJF