Re. Falloon et al., DISEASE SEVERITY KEYS FOR POWDERY AND DOWNY MILDEWS OF PEA, AND POWDERY SCAB OF POTATO, New Zealand journal of crop and horticultural science, 23(1), 1995, pp. 31-37
Disease severity keys are described and illustrated for powdery mildew
(Erysiphe pisi DC.) and downy mildew (Peronospora viciae (Berk.) Casp
ary) of pea (Pisum sativum L.), and powdery scab (Spongospora subterra
nea (Wallr.) Lagerh. f. sp. subterranea Tomlinson) of potato (Solanum
tuberosum L.). The keys consist of illustrations of pea leaves or pota
to tubers in 11-point (0-10) severity scales of arbitrary proportions
of surface areas diseased. The keys were constructed from hand drawing
s of pea leaflets or potato tubers, with colonies or lesions drawn to
resemble typical infections of the respective diseases. Proportions of
surface area of plant parts ''diseased'' on drawings were confirmed u
sing computer-assisted image analysis. The drawings were then scanned
into computer storage for manipulation into illustrated keys for publi
cation. The complete keys, or abbreviated versions, have been used for
assessing severity of the diseases in recent research on crop loss as
sessment, disease control, susceptibility assessment, and disease epid
emiology. They also provide bases for accurate disease severity assess
ment in commercial pea and potato crops. Copies of the disease keys ar
e available from the senior author.