The Harmfulness of Phoma Stem Canker, Sclerotinia Stem Rot, and Phytoplasma on Winter Oilseed Rape with Regard to Czech Breeding Programs

Abstract

New genotypes of winter oilseed rape bred under the Czech breeding program were subjected to performance tests within the framework of inter-institutional pre-tests. At four monitored localities in the Czech Republic, field trials were carried out on 50 genotypes in the years 2015 to 2017. In these trials, evaluations were made on infestation by the fungal pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans, Leptosphaeria biglobosa, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, as well as the level of infestation caused by phytoplasmas. The evaluation of new oilseed rape genotypes confirmed a medium to high level of resistance to phoma stem canker and Sclerotinia stem rot compared to the resistant reference varieties. The most severe infestations caused by Leptosphaeria spp. were observed in Chlumec nad Cidlinou in 2015 (mean severity score 22.38%) and in Opava in 2016 (mean severity score 20.72%). The same trend was observed for infestations caused by S. sclerotiorum, where the most damage to trial plots were observed at the same localities, in 2015 in Chlumec nad Cidlinou (mean severity score 36.85%) and in 2016 in Opava (mean severity score 18.84%). PCR determination of Leptosphaeria spp. showed that 98% of sampled leaves in autumn season showing symptoms were infected by L. maculans, while the remaining 2% were identified as bearing L. biglobosa. Molecular detection of infected parts of oilseed rape plants with symptoms of phyllody confirmed in all cases the presence of phytoplasma isolates from the 16SrI Aster Yellows group.

Keywords

• Phoma stem canker
• Sclerotinia stem rot
• phytoplasma
• winter oilseed rape
• disease severity