Effect of season, trash and fungicides on fungi associated with subterranean clover

Abstract

In field studies we monitored the effects of time of season, trash and fungicides on the populations of fungi associated with leaves and petioles of newly sown subterranean clover, particularly in relation to the development of disease symptoms. These effects were compared with the fungal population changes occurring in a nearby established subterranean clover pasture. A range of fungi, notably Leptosphaerulina trifolii, Phoma medicaginis and Stemphylium globuliferum, were found to colonise subterranean clover cotyledons, leaves and petioles readily throughout the growing season from as early as 1 week after emergence. The incidence of L. trifolii and S. globuliferum was reasonably consistent throughout the growing season. Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Myrothecium verrucaria, P. medicaginis and Trichoderma spp. were more prevalent later in the season. Fusarium avenaceum and other Fusarium spp. were more prevalent early in the season, while Pithomyces chatarum and S. botryosum were more prevalent midseason. The fungi isolated showed no ability, under the conditions of this investigation, to cause disease, and there was no correlation between fungi isolated and disease symptoms observed. The incidence of several fungi, especially L. trifolii and P. medicaginis, was greatly increased by the presence of trash from the previous season but was greatly decreased by regular applications of fungicide.