Title
Fertilization Affects Severity of Disease Caused by Fungal Plant Pathogens
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Plant Pathology
ISSN
0032-0862
Volume
62
Issue
5
First Page
961
969
Publication Date
2013
Abstract
Commercial fertilizers are commonly applied in farming to maximize crop yield. Lifting nutrient limitation to plant growth when water and light conditions are sufficient may permit plants to grow to the maximum of their ability; however, plant ability to resist pathogen infections is also modified. A meta-analysis was conducted on 57 articles to identify the way plant disease severity of fungal pathogen-induced infection is modified following fertilization, and the key regulators of such an effect. The analysis largely focused on N fertilization events in order to minimize the effect of heterogeneity that could result from differences in the way different nutrient fertilizers are able to modify plant disease severity. Fungal pathogen identity and fungal pathogen lifestyle were the main significant regulators affecting the extent of the modification of plant disease resistance following N fertilization, whereas contradictory results were obtained with the susceptibility of plant species. No differences were detected between pot or field experiments and following artificial or natural infection. Although in the vast majority of instances N fertilization increased disease severity, characteristic plant species and fungal pathogens could be identified for which disease severity following N fertilization declined. It is concluded that the potential of some plant species such as Solanum spp. to show reduced disease severity following N fertilization requires further investigation, as in such cases N fertilization could potentially be used as an additional means of suppressing fungal pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Publication Information
Veresoglou, SD, EK Barto, G Menexes, MC Rillig. (2013) Fertilization affects severity of disease caused by fungal plant pathogens. Plant Pathology 62:961-969.
Recommended Citation
Barto, E. K.; Veresoglou, S. D.; Menexes, C.; and Rillig, M C., "Fertilization Affects Severity of Disease Caused by Fungal Plant Pathogens" (2013). Faculty Scholarship. 51.
https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/biology_faculty/51