Use of the most probable number technique to quantify soil-borne plant pathogens

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Adams, M. J. and Welham, S. J. 1995. Use of the most probable number technique to quantify soil-borne plant pathogens. Annals of Applied Biology - AAB. 126 (1), pp. 181-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1995.tb05014.x

AuthorsAdams, M. J. and Welham, S. J.
Abstract

Bioassays using serial soil dilutions and most probable number (MPN) estimations have been used by various authors to quantify inoculum of soil-borne plant pathogens. The requirements of a reliable bioassay are discussed; they include a good choice of dilution series and reproducible growing conditions. Sources of computer programs for analysis of the data are listed. The importance of testing the fit to the mathematical model used is illustrated and emphasised. Factors affecting the size and stability of the standard errors and of the inherent bias of the most probable number estimate are discussed. Equations are presented for calculating the expected standard errors, approximate confidence limits and least significant differences for different dilution factors and numbers of replicates. The benefits of using uneven replication are illustrated. Mathematical considerations show that the technique should enable differences of an order of magnitude to be detected and MPNs should be quoted with a maximum of two significant figures. Dilution ratios as large as 10 should be avoided. Statistical and biological difficulties, especially in standardising growing conditions when soil moisture is critical, indicate that results should normally be regarded as relative, rather than absolute, measurements of inoculum.

KeywordsAgriculture, Multidisciplinary
Year of Publication1995
JournalAnnals of Applied Biology - AAB
Journal citation126 (1), pp. 181-196
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1995.tb05014.x
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Funder project or code101
911
900
203
207
Project: 141142
Project: 091339
Project: 091036
ISSN00034746
PublisherWiley

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