There is a sneaky plant disease called Phytophthora ramorum. It is a big problem in nurseries. It can hide in the soil. It waits in the dirt. It can stay there for a long time. It can hide in old, infected leaves that are buried.  To understand how this disease spreads, scientists did some experiments. They checked how soil temperature and moisture affect the disease's ability to survive and spread.

The disease can produce more spores when it is cold. The scientists found this out first. They put the infected leaves in soil with different temperatures. They also changed the moisture levels. They did this for up to 18 weeks. The disease had a hard time growing in the warmest and driest soil. But it could still spread in other conditions. The disease's ability to produce spores decreased over time. It did this in all soil moisture levels. It did this at temperatures of 20 and 28°C. But here is the twist. When the scientists put the infected soil back in the cold for seven weeks, the disease's ability to produce spores came back. Sometimes, it was even better than before. This shows that the disease likes it cold. It becomes more active after being in cooler temperatures. This is important to know. It shows that the disease can be a bigger problem at certain times of the year. It also shows that nurseries need to be careful. They need to make sure the soil is clean. They need to do this to stop the disease from spreading. One way to do this is by heating the soil. This can kill the disease and stop it from infecting other plants.

Soil temperature and moisture are big factors in how this disease spreads. Nurseries need to pay attention to these factors. They need to do this to stop the disease from spreading. They also need to be careful with the soil. They need to make sure it is clean. This can help stop the disease from spreading to other plants.

INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT

Understanding how soil conditions impact the spread of a plant disease

Continue reading...