Influence of Environment on Airborne Spore Concentrations and Severity of Asparagus Purple Spot.

ABSTRACT

Environmental conditions, airborne concentrations of Pleospora herbarum ascospores and conidia, and purple spot disease severity on spears and fern were monitored for 3 years in two no-till asparagus fields in Michigan. Purple spot lesion development on spears was correlated with low temperature and vapor pressure deficit and high rainfall. Low vapor pressure deficit and high rainfall were also correlated with airborne ascospore concentrations at both sites. Lesion development on the fern was favored by longer periods of leaf wetness and low vapor pressure deficit and rainfall. Daily airborne conidia concentrations were positively correlated with average temperature and the number of hours of leaf wetness per day and negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit. Airborne conidia concentrations displayed a diurnal periodicity with greater concentrations between 700 and 1300 h. The results of this study indicate that a model to predict purple spot on asparagus spears should include temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and rainfall; a model for disease on the fern should include temperature, leaf wetness, vapor pressure deficit, and rainfall.