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Published in Agron. J. 107:466–474 (2015) doi:10.2134/agronj14.0339 Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ABSTRACT

Late leaf spot (LLS) caused by Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. and Curt.) Deighton leads to significant reductions in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield worldwide. This study was conducted to improve the mechanisms and methods by which LLS effects on defoliation and photosynthesis are linked to the CSM-CROPGRO-Peanut model for simulating growth and yield reductions in peanut cultivars. Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to collect data on the effects of LLS on biomass accumulation and partitioning, leaf necrosis and defoliation, and total canopy photosynthesis (TCP) in peanut cultivars with more (York) and less (Carver) quantitative resistance to LLS. After incorporating LLS damage as defoliation percentage and necrotic area, the model accurately simulated crop growth and development for both cultivars despite different disease dynamics. Simulated TCP and leaf, total crop, and pod yield values were in good agreement with measured data. A modification in the model code to directly reduce leaf photosynthesis and quantum efficiency according to empirical observations resulted in improved simulations of LLS effects on growth and yield. Correlations among measured defoliation and necrotic area with disease ratings indicated that visual disease ratings could be successfully used to estimate necrosis and defoliation for model inputs. Results indicated that the CSM-CROPGRO-Peanut model has adequate capability to simulate LLS effects on growth and yield in peanut cultivars with differing levels of resistance to LLS when inputs on canopy necrotic area and defoliation are provided.

Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & Curt.) Deighton causes late leaf spot (LLS) in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which leads to necrotic lesions, early leaf senescence and yield losses. Detailed physiological analyses can contribute to an improved understanding of peanut-disease interactions and cultivar improvement. A study was conducted evaluating two peanut cultivars with more (York) and less (Carver) quantitative resistance to C. personatum grown under fungicide-sprayed and nonsprayed conditions in the field at Citra, FL over 2 yr. Data were collected on disease severity using the Florida 1 to 10 visual rating scale and by direct measurement of percent canopy lesion area. Leaflifespan, total canopy photosynthesis (TCP), plant growth, and pod yield were also measured. Disease severity based on canopy lesion area was reduced by 30% in York compared to Carver. No additive effects of combining the resistant cultivar with fungicide were seen, as fungicide use increased yield by 364 kg ha -1 for both cultivars. Yield was more strongly related to disease severity based on canopy lesion area than to the Florida scale. Yield improvement with York was not as closely related to disease severity with only a 6% gain in pod yield in York compared to Carver. In addition, reduction in TCP was greater in York compared to Carver given their respective disease severity. These results indicated that combining resistance with the maintenance of physiological function during LLS infection could result in improved peanut yields under diseased conditions.