Efficacy ofPhomopsis convolvulusfor Control of Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Phomopsis convolvulusOrmeno, a fungus, reduced growth and regeneration of field bindweed under greenhouse environments. Field bindweed seedlings at the cotyledon stage were severely injured and killed (95% mortality) with 108conidia/m2. Three- to five-leaf seedlings (2 weeks old) were controlled when inoculated with 109conidia/m2(70% mortality; 98 and 89% reduction in dry weight of aboveground biomass and roots, respectively). This inoculum density reduced aboveground and root biomass, and adversely affected regeneration of 4-week-old seedlings and established plants, but few plants were killed. In controlled-environment studies, two inoculations were superior (P = 0.02) to one inoculation in reducing foliage aboveground of well-established seedlings (4 weeks old). However, new shoots produced between the first and second inoculation treatments were less diseased than expected.