Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN

The sensitivity of oomycota, saprophytic and pathogenic fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and UAN (urea plus ammonium nitrate in equimolar solution) was studied in laboratory trials. The compounds were applied in agar in concentrations of 0.06, 0.19 and 0.6M. The most toxic was urea. Ammonium nitrate...

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Main Authors: Karel Veverka, Jindra Štolcová, Pavel Růžek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2007-12-01
Series:Plant Protection Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/pps-200704-0008_sensitivity-of-fungi-to-urea-ammonium-nitrate-and-their-quimolar-solution-uan.php
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author Karel Veverka
Jindra Štolcová
Pavel Růžek
author_facet Karel Veverka
Jindra Štolcová
Pavel Růžek
author_sort Karel Veverka
collection DOAJ
description The sensitivity of oomycota, saprophytic and pathogenic fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and UAN (urea plus ammonium nitrate in equimolar solution) was studied in laboratory trials. The compounds were applied in agar in concentrations of 0.06, 0.19 and 0.6M. The most toxic was urea. Ammonium nitrate inhibited the growth of fungi only in higher concentrations. In contrast, the growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis was stimulated by even the highest concentration of 0.6M ammonium nitrate. The fungi most sensitive to urea and UAN were Alternaria tenuissima, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides. No synergistic effect between the two compounds in UAN was found. Urea was toxic also to Colletotrichum acutatum which does not produce urease. Likewise, the urease inhibitor NBPT did not decrease the toxicity of urea to fungi; the urea degradation product ammonia should, therefore, not be assumed to be the only toxic agent. Application of urea in agricultural practice can decrease the population of a pathogen not only by the stimulation of antagonists, but also by the direct toxic effect. The tested concentrations of 0.06-0.6M correspond to 0.36-3.6% (w/w) solution of urea and to 0.64-6.4% UAN used in agricultural practice as a 75% water solution. If the dilution and metabolisation under natural conditions is taken into account, the concentration of urea 0.06M (0.36%) was too low to have an effect of practical importance on fungi. While after application of urea on plants or on plant debris its concentration is increasing due to water evaporation, the concentration of the extremely hygroscopic UAN is decreasing. Therefore, the control effect will depend more on the applied rate than on the concentration.
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spelling doaj.art-640e9f234c0344cfaab071a4e90c05012023-02-23T03:43:50ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesPlant Protection Science1212-25801805-93412007-12-0143415716410.17221/2239-PPSpps-200704-0008Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UANKarel Veverka0Jindra Štolcová1Pavel Růžek2Department of Mycology, Division of Plant Medicine, Crop Research Institute, Prague-Ruzyně, Czech RepublicDepartment of Mycology, Division of Plant Medicine, Crop Research Institute, Prague-Ruzyně, Czech RepublicDepartment of Mycology, Division of Plant Medicine, Crop Research Institute, Prague-Ruzyně, Czech RepublicThe sensitivity of oomycota, saprophytic and pathogenic fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and UAN (urea plus ammonium nitrate in equimolar solution) was studied in laboratory trials. The compounds were applied in agar in concentrations of 0.06, 0.19 and 0.6M. The most toxic was urea. Ammonium nitrate inhibited the growth of fungi only in higher concentrations. In contrast, the growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis was stimulated by even the highest concentration of 0.6M ammonium nitrate. The fungi most sensitive to urea and UAN were Alternaria tenuissima, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides. No synergistic effect between the two compounds in UAN was found. Urea was toxic also to Colletotrichum acutatum which does not produce urease. Likewise, the urease inhibitor NBPT did not decrease the toxicity of urea to fungi; the urea degradation product ammonia should, therefore, not be assumed to be the only toxic agent. Application of urea in agricultural practice can decrease the population of a pathogen not only by the stimulation of antagonists, but also by the direct toxic effect. The tested concentrations of 0.06-0.6M correspond to 0.36-3.6% (w/w) solution of urea and to 0.64-6.4% UAN used in agricultural practice as a 75% water solution. If the dilution and metabolisation under natural conditions is taken into account, the concentration of urea 0.06M (0.36%) was too low to have an effect of practical importance on fungi. While after application of urea on plants or on plant debris its concentration is increasing due to water evaporation, the concentration of the extremely hygroscopic UAN is decreasing. Therefore, the control effect will depend more on the applied rate than on the concentration.https://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/pps-200704-0008_sensitivity-of-fungi-to-urea-ammonium-nitrate-and-their-quimolar-solution-uan.phpureaammonium nitrateuanfungiurease inhibitor nbpt
spellingShingle Karel Veverka
Jindra Štolcová
Pavel Růžek
Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN
Plant Protection Science
urea
ammonium nitrate
uan
fungi
urease inhibitor nbpt
title Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN
title_full Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN
title_fullStr Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN
title_full_unstemmed Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN
title_short Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution UAN
title_sort sensitivity of fungi to urea ammonium nitrate and their quimolar solution uan
topic urea
ammonium nitrate
uan
fungi
urease inhibitor nbpt
url https://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/pps-200704-0008_sensitivity-of-fungi-to-urea-ammonium-nitrate-and-their-quimolar-solution-uan.php
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