The pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani causes major economic losses for potato producers in Sweden. The producers, as well as advisors, have reported possible increases in severity of R. solani when free-living plant parasitic nematodes are present and active. There are several examples in the literature of interactions between pathogens where one, or both species, support or increase the damage made by the other organism. These complexes are important to investigate and to be able to forecast, since even low incidences of fungi or nematodes may result in an interaction of significance.

Detta projekt är fokuserat på svensk matpotatisproduktion samt förbättrat växtskydd och livsmedelskvalité. I projektet ingår två fältstudier utförda på Gotland sommaren 2009 med inriktning på skalsjukdomar och knäpparlarver. Studie I handlar om blastdödningsperiodens och -metodens betydelse för angrepp av silverskorv, svartpricksjuka och lackskorv. Studie II är inriktad på bekämpningsstrategi av symptomet drycore.Studie IDenna studie avsåg att följa uppförökningen av olika skalsjukdomar med tiden efter blastdödning med hjälp av molekylära och biologiska tester. Olika blastdödningsmetoder jämfördes också.

Stjälkbakterios är ett svårbehandlat problem som orsakar ökande skördeförluster av potatis i Sverige och Europa. Sedan 2005 har den nyligen upptäckta patogenen Dickeya solani spridits genom Europa via handel med sättknölar och orsakat ökande ekonomiska förluster. Under kommande år kan D. solani ge större skador till följd av klimatförändringar, då D. solani är mer aggressiv i högre temperaturer.

Oilseed rape is an important crop in Sweden and is grown on about 90000 ha today. The interest in oil seed pro-duction is increasing because of growing demand and high prices for oil seed both in Sweden and Europe. However, an increased intensity in the oil seed production can bring higher risk of yield losses due to fungal diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate what different fungi are associated with oilseed rape under field conditions and if their incidence is correlated to crop establishment problems. This study was carried out in three parts: 1) investigations on fungal community structure in roots and rhizosphere soils from young spring- and winter rape plants sampled in failed respectively good establishment patches in four fields, 2) investigations on the pathogenicity of fungi isolated from oilseed rape in controlled environment and 3) investigations on the effect of different fungicide seed treatments on germination and early plant development in a field soil naturally infested with damping off- and Verticillium wilt pathogens. The studies on community structure using a combined approach of standard fungal isolation techniques and DNA based methods revealed a high fungal diversity in three out of four studied fields of spring rape and winter rape. For some unknown reason, very few fungal species were identified from the fourth field.

AbstractMycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. Moulds producing mycotoxins grow on various crops that are used as horse feeds. Since the treatments of mycotoxin poisoned horses are limited it is important to prevent production of mycotoxins in feed. The major mycotoxin producing moulds in horse feeds are Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp.

AbstractMycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. Moulds producing mycotoxins grow on various crops that are used as horse feeds. Since the treatments of mycotoxin poisoned horses are limited it is important to prevent production of mycotoxins in feed. The major mycotoxin producing moulds in horse feeds are Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp.