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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  and
D. Munro
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
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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
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 100 , Issue 2 , April 1983 , pp. 299 - 303
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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