Measurements of Aerial Spore Load by qPCR Facilitates Lettuce Downy Mildew Risk Advisement

The lettuce downy mildew pathogen, Bremia lactucae, is an obligate oomycete that causes extensive produce losses. Initial chlorotic symptoms that severely reduce the market value of the produce are followed by the appearance of white, downy sporulation on the abaxial side of the leaves. These spores become airborne and disseminate the pathogen. Controlling lettuce downy mildew has relied on repeated fungicide applications to prevent outbreaks. However, in addition to direct economic costs, heterogeneity and rapid adaptation of this pathogen to repeatedly applied fungicides has led to the development of fungicide-insensitivity in the pathogen. We deployed a quantitative PCR assay-based detection method using a species-specific DNA target for B. lactucae coupled with a spore trap system to measure airborne B. lactucae spore loads within three commercial fields that each contained experimental plots, designated EXP1 to EXP3. Based upon these measurements, when the spore load in the air reached a critical level (8.548 sporangia per m³ air), we advised whether or not to apply fungicides on a weekly basis within EXP1 to EXP3. This approach saved three sprays in EXP1, and one spray each in EXP2 and EXP3 without a significant increase in disease incidence. The reduction in fungicide applications to manage downy mildew can decrease lettuce production costs while slowing the development of fungicide resistance in B. lactucae by eliminating unnecessary fungicide applications.