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The effect of Sclerotinia stem infection on morphine production and distribution in poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) plants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. C. Laughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Stoney Rise Centre, P.O. Box 303, Devonport, Tasmania 7310, Australia
D. Munro
Affiliation:
New Town Research Laboratories, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 192B, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

Summary

The incidence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary infection in poppies (Papaver somniferum L.) was assessed 9 days before dry maturity in a field experiment which incorporated the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer and fungicidal sprays. Infection occurred mainly on the lower stem in the leaf axils.

Nitrogen fertilizer (100 kg N/ha) had no effect on the incidence of Sclerotinia infection but phosphorus fertilizer (100 kg P/ha) increased the incidence from 19% of plants infected to 39%. Fungicides (2 kg benomyl, 50% a.i., plus 2 kg mancozeb, 80% a.i./ha) applied at 10-day intervals from flowering till harvest reduced the incidence of Sclerotinia infection to one third that of non-sprayed treatments.

Sclerotinia infection occurred late in the crop and had little effect on the dry-matter yields of terminal main-stem capsules, lateral branch capsules or stem and leaves but it did influence the distribution of morphine within the plant. The morphine concentration of terminal capsules was lowered by 13% but the concentration of lateral capsules increased by a similar amount giving a total capsule morphine concentration and yield which was similar in both infected and non-infected plants.

The morphine concentration of the stem and leaves of infected plants was 75% greater than that of uninfected plants but the overall morphine concentration of total plant was similar in both infected and non-infected plants. This distribution pattern was interpreted as a result of the restrictive influence of Sclerotinia infection on the vascular system which disrupted the normal translocation of morphine.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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