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Behavior of a Wild-Type and Two Mutant Strains of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene on Northern Jointvetch in the Field

The fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene causes an anthracnose on Aeschynomene virginica and has been used as a biological control agent to control this weed in the United States. The population dynamics of a wild-type strain (3-1-3) and two mutant strains of 3-1-3 of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene, a benomyl-resistant strain (B21) and nitrate-nonutilizing strain (Nit A), were studied in field tests on northern jointvetch in 1994 and 1995 to determine how the strains interacted on infected plants under field conditions. Plants were co-inoculated with strains 3-1-3 and B21, strains 3-1-3 and Nit A, and strains 3-1-3, B21, and Nit A at equal and unequal initial proportions. Plants were grown and maintained under flooded conditions in small wading pools. In co-inoculation of plants with 3-1-3 and B21 from equal initial proportions, the population of 3-1-3 increased slightly until it reached a proportion of 60 to 70%, whereas the population density of B21 reached 30 to 40% at the end of growing season. From unequal initial proportions, the population density of B21 decreased from 90 to about 50%, whereas the 3-1-3 increased from 10 to 50%. The population density of 3-1-3 increased from an equal initial proportion and was significantly greater than that of Nit A on every sampling time. From unequal initial proportions, the population density of 3-1-3 increased from 10 to 90%, whereas that of Nit A declined. In co-inoculation of plants with the three strains, the population density of 3-1-3 was significantly greater than those of the mutant strains at every sampling time. The proportions of mutant strains within the total population of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene on plants varied according to the test conditions and the number and types of strains co-inoculated.