The influence of mixtures of Stylosanthes spp. accessions on the occurrence of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Abstract

The effectiveness of using accession mixtures of Stylosanthes spp. to manage anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) in pastures in northern Australia was examined during three consecutive years. Two mixtures containing six accessions were compared with the components grown as pure stands. No significant differences in anthracnose incidence (proportion of infected plants/plot) were indicated between the two mixtures and the mean incidence of their respective components grown in pure swards. Areas under the disease progress curves for the accessions were not significantly different between pure and mixed stands of the cultivars other than Seca and Verano. Resistant cultivar Seca developed more disease in a mixture than in a pure stand, and moderately resistant Verano had less disease in a mixture than in a pure stand. In the short term, no apparent anthracnose control advantage is achieved in highly susceptible accessions of Stylosanthes spp. when they are included in mixtures with less susceptible accessions. Long term studies involving grazing animals are necessary to adequately evaluate control of this disease through the use of mixtures.