Campus Units
Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
6-2016
Journal or Book Title
Phytopathology
Volume
106
Issue
6
First Page
591
Last Page
601
DOI
10.1094/PHYTO-09-15-0214-R
Abstract
Cover cropping is a prevalent conservation practice that offers substantial benefits to soil and water quality. However, winter cereal cover crops preceding corn may diminish beneficial rotation effects because two grass species are grown in succession. Here, we show that rye cover crops host pathogens capable of causing corn seedling disease. We isolated Fusarium graminearum, F. oxysporum, Pythium sylvaticum, and P. torulosum from roots of rye and demonstrate their pathogenicity on corn seedlings. Over 2 years, we quantified the densities of these organisms in rye roots from several field experiments and at various intervals of time after rye cover crops were terminated. Pathogen load in rye roots differed among fields and among years for particular fields. Each of the four pathogen species increased in density over time on roots of herbicide-terminated rye in at least one field site, suggesting the broad potential for rye cover crops to elevate corn seedling pathogen densities. The radicles of corn seedlings planted following a rye cover crop had higher pathogen densities compared with seedlings following a winter fallow. Management practices that limit seedling disease may be required to allow corn yields to respond positively to improvements in soil quality brought about by cover cropping.
Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Bakker, Matthew G.; Acharya, Jyotsna; Moorman, Thomas B.; Robertson, Alison E.; and Kaspar, Thomas C., "The Potential for Cereal Rye Cover Crops to Host Corn Seedling Pathogens" (2016). Plant Pathology and Microbiology Publications. 219.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/plantpath_pubs/219
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agriculture Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons, Plant Pathology Commons
Comments
This article is published as Bakker, Matthew G., Jyotsna Acharya, Thomas B. Moorman, Alison E. Robertson, and Thomas C. Kaspar. "The potential for cereal rye cover crops to host corn seedling pathogens." Phytopathology 106, no. 6 (2016): 591-601. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-09-15-0214-R.