TOP OFTHE QUERIES 2012

摘要

Fairy rings were the biggest topic of conversation this year on STRI's Pest and Disease helpline. It was another good year for basidiomycete activity, due to the wet/dry cycles we have experienced. Curative control has proved to be very difficult, ifnot just about impossible. We are still learning when it comes to fairy ring activity and control in the UK and are beginning to see some trends and correlations (see Jennie Keighley's article on page 12). In research to date, chemical control seems to be dependent on the fairy ring being tested. It is possible that some basidiomycete species are just not responding to the fungicides we can use. It is also possible that the method of delivery is insufficient, in that we need the immediate rootzone areawettable for the fungicides to achieve contact with the fungal mycelia. A lot of the basidiomycetes help to produce a hydrophobic rootzone, which is very difficult to rewet and so getting a fungicide delivered in water to the growing fungus can be difficult. Tank mixing fungicides with wetting agent or applying the wetting agent first can help to keep the rootzone wettable and so help to mediate the fungicide to the point of the growing fungus. We need a lot more work done in this area to be able to elucidate all factors that could influence success in the control of basidiomycete growth and symptom expression.