Occurrence, Dissemination, and Survival of Plant Pathogens in Surface Irrigation Ponds in Southern Georgia

Abstract

Financial support was provided through Department of Agriculture Cooperative Agreement 12-14-7001-518. We thank Johnny Enfinger for assistance with the sampling of ponds and Jan Fowler for technical assistance with the laboratory assays. We thank J. T. Ratcliffe for help in selecting certain ponds that were sampled. We also thank E. E. Butler for identification of the Sclerotium isolate.

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of the Microbial Community in Slow Sand Filters Used for Treating Horticultural Irrigation Water

“…Water from many commonly used sources, such as rainwater from glasshouse roofs and, in particular, water stored in open reservoirs and ponds, can often contain large numbers of infective propagules of fungal plant pathogens, such as Pythium and Phytophthora spp. (1,4,34,46,48,53). A particularly high risk of disease spread is associated with the collection, recycling, and reuse of irrigation water, often referred to as recirculation (45,57,58), which is becoming more popular as attempts are increasingly being made to conserve valuable water supplies.…”

“…Rapid dispersal of the pathogen in water is often achieved by asexual flagellate zoospores, and a key element for pathogen control is the removal of zoospores from water supplies. A wide range of treatment techniques such as UV-radiation, ozonation, pasteurization, ultrafiltration, slow sand filtration, and dosing with sterilant chemicals have been shown to be effective at controlling fungal plant pathogens in water supplies (23,36,50,51,53,55,61,70). Slow sand filters (SSFs), with their simple design and operation, reliability, flexibility, and comparatively low cost of installation and operation, have great appeal to horticultural nurseries.…”

Occurrence and Control of Plant-parasitic Nematodes in Irrigation Water – A Review

“…Six irrigation ponds in southern Georgia, USA, were sampled for plant pathogens. (Shokes & McCarter, 1979). Low populations of plant-parasitic nematodes (Hoplolaimus sp., Tylenchorhynchus sp.…”

“…Water from such ponds was used to irrigate fumigated soil, from which vegetable and ornamental transplants were shipped to other areas of the USA. Recovery of a few Hoplolaimus specimens from an irrigation line in a grower's field proved that nematodes are disseminated with the irrigation water from such ponds (Shokes & McCarter, 1979). Rivers Nematodes may enter river water from the roots of infected plants growing on river banks.…”

“…In a survey of six irrigation ponds in southern Georgia, USA, Shokes and McCarter (1979) took samples from six different irrigation ponds. Samples were taken from the surface, middle and bottom of the ponds, with plant-parasitic nematodes being found only in the bottom sediment of these ponds.…”