The Effect of Fungicides on the Microbial Balance in the Phyllosphere1

The sensitivity to fungicides of saprophytic fungi colonizing cereal leaves (mainly ←pink→ yeasts, Sporobolomyces spp.; ← white → yeasts, Cryptococcus spp.; Aureobasidium pullulans and Cladosporium spp.) is discussed. Fungicides like dithiocarbamates, captafol, benzimidazoles and tridemorph reduce the saprophytic microflora, while others have little or no effect. The fungicides are mostly effective for 2–3 weeks after the treatment. When evaluating the consequences of a disturbance of the microbial balance we should realize that the saprophytes are able to antagonize a number of necrotrophic pathogens of cereal leaves and ears (Cochliobolus sativus, Septoria nodorum, Fusarium culmorum, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, Colletotrichum graminicola). This antagonism is based on nutrient competition, which reduces the superficial development of the pathogen before penetration, resulting in a reduction of infection of about 50 % or more. This interaction seems particularly important when saprophytes compete successfully for extraneous nutrients from pollen grains or aphid honeydew, which will otherwise stimulate infection.