Pathogenicity tests are aimed at selecting the most effective strain of the pathogen for the biotype(s) of the target weed and the environmental conditions under which the weed grows. Specimens of the target weed, grown from seed collected from the target area, are inoculated under the target environmental conditions with the strains of the candidate pathogen that have been collected from different parts of its native range. Pathogenicity is then assessed from symptoms exhibited by the target weed and microscopic examination as for host specificity testing.

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