番茄灰霉病菌对咯菌腈的抗性诱变及抗药突变体的生物学特性

为评估番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea对咯菌腈的抗性风险,就室内经紫外照射获得抗药突变体的方法及抗性突变体的生物学性状进行了研究。结果表明:番茄灰霉病菌分生孢子的紫外照射亚致死时间为90~120 s;经亚致死时间紫外照射后,4个亲本菌株中有2个菌株共产生了6个抗咯菌腈的突变体,其EC50值是亲本菌株的310倍以上,抗性突变频率为3.13×10-7;经紫外照射诱变获得的所有抗性突变体在菌丝生长速率、产孢量、产菌核能力及其在番茄果实上的致病性方面均比其亲本菌株明显降低。相关分析显示,所得抗咯菌腈突变体对氟啶胺、啶菌唑、啶酰菌胺和嘧霉胺无交互抗性。表明番茄灰霉病菌对咯菌腈的抗药性风险较低。     

禾谷镰孢菌对戊唑醇抗药性的诱导及抗性菌株特性研究

通过紫外线诱导获得了8株对戊唑醇具有不同抗性水平的禾谷镰孢菌Fusarium graminearum抗药突变体,其抗性倍数均≥30倍,最高达到186.03倍。将抗药突变体在无药培养基上继代培养9代后,其抗性倍数逐渐下降,抗药性可能不能稳定遗传。与亲本菌株相比,抗药突变体在菌落生长速率、菌丝干重、对温度和pH值的敏感性方面均有所下降,推测禾谷镰孢菌对戊唑醇可能具有中等或高抗药性风险。室内交互抗性测定结果表明,戊唑醇对苯醚甲环唑、多菌灵、异菌脲、百菌清及福美双均无交互抗性。     

禾谷镰刀菌对苯基吡咯类杀菌剂咯菌腈的抗性机制

由禾谷镰刀菌引起的小麦赤霉病是世界小麦生产上的重要真菌病害。为了进一步明确禾谷镰刀菌对苯基吡咯类杀菌剂咯菌腈产生抗性的机制,本文以前期室内通过药剂驯化方式得到的4株禾谷镰刀菌对咯菌腈的高水平抗性突变体 (其抗性倍数在318.2~782.9之间) 为主要研究材料,采用生物测定及分子生物学等方法开展了禾谷镰刀菌对咯菌腈的抗性机制研究。结果表明:供试禾谷镰刀菌抗咯菌腈突变体对小麦幼穗的致病力降低了约50%,部分菌株 (2XZ-4R) 甚至完全丧失了对小麦的致病能力;抗性突变体对渗透胁迫 (0.5 mol/L NaCl, 1.0 mol/L MgCl₂, 1.0 mol/L葡萄糖或1.0 mol/L甘露醇) 高度敏感,且菌丝生长抑制率较敏感菌株降低约50%以上,表明其环境适合度显著下降。同时,抗性突变体中苯丙氨酸解氨酶 (PAL)、过氧化物酶 (POD) 和多酚氧化酶 (PPO) 活性较敏感菌株均升高2倍以上。分子生物学分析发现,供试抗性突变体中候选靶标基因 (FgOs1和FgOs5) 的表达量显著下调 (P<0.05),推测FgOs1和FgOs5可能参与了禾谷镰刀菌对咯菌腈抗性的形成过程。总之,该研究探究了禾谷镰刀菌抗咯菌腈突变体的生物学特性,并为深入揭示禾谷镰刀菌对咯菌腈的抗性分子机制提供了新的思路。     

山东省玉米纹枯病菌对噻呋酰胺的敏感性及其抗性突变体的生物学性状

为明确山东省玉米纹枯病菌对噻呋酰胺的敏感性及其抗药性风险,采用菌丝生长速率法分别测定了采自山东泰安、临沂、潍坊、莱芜、日照及青岛6个地区的102株玉米纹枯病菌对噻呋酰胺的敏感性。结果表明:其EC₅₀值分布范围为0.010～0.194 μg/mL,平均EC₅₀ 值为 (0.086 ± 0.004) μg/mL,且敏感性呈连续单峰曲线分布。通过紫外诱导与药剂驯化的方法各获得5株耐药性菌株 (TA3-X2、TA17-X6、LY8-3、QD14-Y7和WF6-A2) 和1株抗性突变体 (QD2-Y4),其抗性水平在6.46～20.08倍之间,突变频率分别为0.87%和0.52%。对抗性突变体生物学性状的研究表明,紫外诱导获得的5株耐药性菌株其耐药性不能稳定遗传,而经药剂驯化获得的1株抗性突变体QD2-Y4的抗药性可稳定遗传;耐药性菌株TA3-X2的菌丝生长速率高于亲本菌株,其余菌株与亲本菌株差异不明显;5株耐药性菌株和1株抗性突变体的菌丝干重和菌核干重均低于亲本菌株;TA3-X2、WF6-A2及QD2-Y4的致病力低于亲本菌株,TA17-X6、LY8-3及QD14-Y7的致病力与亲本菌株无明显差异。交互抗性测定表明,噻呋酰胺抗性突变体与戊唑醇、丙环唑、咯菌腈、井冈霉素、苯醚甲环唑和多菌灵之间均无交互抗性,与啶酰菌胺和氟唑菌苯胺之间则存在交互抗性。研究表明,山东省6个地区的玉米纹枯病菌对噻呋酰胺比较敏感,推测噻呋酰胺可作为防治玉米纹枯病的理想候选药剂。     

马铃薯早疫病菌对咯菌腈的敏感基线及其对不同药剂的交互抗性

采用菌丝生长速率法测定了河北省马铃薯主产区的122株早疫病菌Alternaria alternata对咯菌腈的敏感性,并测定了紫外诱导的15个抗咯菌腈突变菌株及其3个敏感亲本菌株对咯菌腈、异菌脲、腐霉利、苯醚甲环唑、吡唑醚菌酯的敏感性。田间马铃薯早疫病菌群体对咯菌腈保持高度敏感,122株早疫病菌对咯菌腈的EC₅₀值在0.0025~0.0857 μg/mL之间,平均值为0.0404±0.0171 μg/mL,相差34.87倍,呈近似正态分布,可作为早疫病菌对咯菌腈的敏感基线。此外,咯菌腈与吡唑醚菌酯和苯醚甲环唑之间无交互抗性关系,而与异菌脲和腐霉利之间存在正交互抗性关系。在田间药效试验中,50%咯菌腈WP施药量为105、115 g/hm²时,对马铃薯早疫病防效达80%以上,显著高于常规药剂80%代森锰锌WP 1 350 g/hm²和25%丙环唑EC 37.5 g/hm²的防效。表明咯菌腈可作为吡唑醚菌酯和苯醚甲环唑的替代药剂用于马铃薯早疫病的防治。     

连续施药及室内药剂驯化对番茄灰葡萄孢对咯菌腈敏感性的影响

为了解连续施药对番茄灰葡萄孢对咯菌腈敏感性的影响,在温室条件下,从灰霉病发生初期开始,按推荐剂量(有效成分67.5 g/hm2)定期向番茄苗喷施咯菌腈,通过菌丝生长速率法检测灰葡萄孢对咯菌腈的敏感性。结果表明,在番茄1个生长季节中连续施药7次后,病菌对咯菌腈仍表现敏感,其EC50值在0.004 7～0.046 2 μg/mL之间。在含咯菌腈的PDA培养基上对30个灰葡萄孢敏感菌株进行药剂驯化7代后,共产生2个抗药性突变体(Rg-12和Rdz-28),其中Rg-12对咯菌腈的EC50值是其亲本菌株g-12的46倍,Rdz-28的EC50值大于500 μg/mL,2个抗性突变体在菌丝生长速率、产孢量和产菌核能力方面均显著低于其亲本菌株。推测灰葡萄孢可能不易对咯菌腈产生抗性,咯菌腈可作为防治番茄灰霉病的理想候选药剂。     

黄瓜白粉病菌对苯醚菌酯敏感基线的建立及室内抗药性风险评价

 采用叶碟保湿培养法测定了59株黄瓜白粉病菌对苯醚菌酯的敏感性, 并建立了敏感基线。结果表明:苯醚菌酯对59个菌株的平均EC₅₀为(0.0105±0.0028)μg/mL, 其敏感性频率分布呈连续性单峰曲线, 没有出现敏感性下降的抗药性亚群体。因此, 该敏感基线可以作为监测田间病原菌对苯醚菌酯敏感性变化的参考。室内采用药剂驯化得到4株抗药性突变体, 其抗性指数均高于150, 且抗药性状能够稳定遗传。室内抗药性风险评价显示, 4株抗药性突变体在致病力、竞争力上与亲本菌株相比无明显差异或优于亲本菌株。综合分析表明, 黄瓜白粉病菌对苯醚菌酯具有较高的室内抗药性风险。因此, 在该药的使用过程中应当采取相应的抗性治理措施。     

番茄叶霉病菌对嘧菌酯的抗性检测及抗性风险评估

利用孢子萌发法测定了从河北、浙江、江苏、山东、四川等省田间采集的97个番茄叶霉病菌菌株对嘧菌酯的敏感性。结果表明,田间番茄叶霉病菌已对嘧菌酯产生不同程度的抗药性。97个菌株可分为敏感菌株(EC50值50值5.4~54 μg/mL),中抗菌株(EC50值54~270 μg/mL)、高抗菌株(EC50值270~1 350 μg/mL)、特高抗菌株(EC50值>1 350 μg/mL) 5种类型,分别占55.67%、14.43%、11.34%、10.31%和8.25%。其中从未用过甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂的27个菌株的EC50平均值为(0.544±0.349) μg/mL,可作为敏感基残;高抗和特高抗菌株集中在常施用甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂的河北定州。通过紫外线诱导和药剂驯化的方法获得了番茄叶霉病菌5个抗嘧菌酯突变体,其抗药性不稳定,在不含药PDA平板上继代培养后抗药性水平下降,甚至恢复至敏感状态;除突变体cf 21M1的产孢量高于其亲本外,抗药性突变体的菌落生长速率、产孢量、孢子萌发率均显著低于其亲本菌株,所有抗嘧菌酯突变体及其亲本菌株接种于番茄离体叶片后,突变体病情指数与亲本菌株之间没有显著差异。嘧菌酯与多菌灵、苯醚甲环唑之间不存在交互抗药性。田间抗药性检测及室内抗药性风险评估结果表明,番茄叶霉病菌对嘧菌酯具有较高的抗药性风险。     

四地区小麦纹枯病菌对6种杀菌剂的抗性比较

从山东和江苏的4个小麦产区采集分离了5个小麦纹枯病菌Rhizoctonia cerealis菌株，为明确小麦纹枯病菌对不同杀菌剂的抗性现状，采用生长速率法测定了5个小麦纹枯病菌菌株对三唑酮、井冈霉素、戊唑醇、咯菌腈、丙环唑、苯醚甲环唑6种常用杀菌剂的抗性。结果表明：江苏镇江菌株（JZ）对三唑酮和井冈霉素的抗性分别高达20．46和23．31倍，山东聊城2个菌株（L1和L2）和泰安菌株（TA）对三唑酮的抗性分别为14．26、10．10和11．98倍，滕州菌株（聊）和泰安菌株（TA）对井冈霉素的抗性分别为14．92和10．46倍。5个菌株对戊唑醇、咯菌腈、丙环唑和苯醚甲环唑抗性均不明显，其中戊唑醇对小麦纹枯病的防治效果最好。     

山西省番茄早疫病菌对苯醚甲环唑的敏感性及抗性突变体的适合度

为了解山西省番茄早疫病菌Alternaria solani对苯醚甲环唑的抗性,采用菌丝生长速率法检测了该病菌对苯醚甲环唑的敏感性,分析了抗性水平和抗性指数;同时通过室内诱导获得了苯醚甲环唑抗性突变体,检测了突变体的抗性遗传稳定性、交互抗性和适合度。结果表明:分离自大同、忻州、长治、晋中和运城5市的101株菌株的EC50范围为0.005～3.315 mg/L,均值为0.428 mg/L,其中敏感菌株占97.03%,低抗菌株占2.97%;抗性指数范围为0.295～0.447,均值为0.343。10株中抗突变体抗性均不能稳定遗传、生长速率减慢、产孢量降低、孢子萌发能力减弱、致病力下降;但在药剂压力下,突变体的致病力强于敏感菌株。苯醚甲环唑与代森锰锌、多抗霉素、啶酰菌胺无交互抗性,而与啶菌噁唑存在交互抗性。因此,今后需加强番茄早疫病菌对苯醚甲环唑的田间抗性监测,在生产过程中轮用或混用不同作用机制的药剂以延缓该病菌对苯醚甲环唑抗性的发展。     

Dermestid beetles in ‘evolution Canyon’, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, including new records for Israel

Fifteen species of dermestid beetles were recorded at ‘Evolution Canyon’ (EC), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. They represent ~35% of known Israeli dermestid species. The following three species were recorded for the first time in Israel:Trogoderma svriaca Dalla Torre, 1911;Ctesias svriaca Ganglbauer, 1904; andAnthrenus (s.str.) jordaniens Pic, 1934. Adults of 13 species were collected on the more solar radiated, warmer and climatically more fluctuating south-facing slope (SFS); ten species were collected on the opposite, north-facing slope (NFS), which was cooler and climatically more stable. The abundance of adult dermestid beetles was 1.9 times higher on the SFS than on the NFS (86 and 47, respectively). Species richness and abundance distribution at EC (three collecting stations on each slope and one at the valley bottom) were significantly negatively correlated with the plant cover that consisted of trees and bushes (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.007 and 0.039, respectively) and perennials (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.039 and 0.077, respectively), indicating that non-woody plants were preferred by adult dermestid beetles.     

Epidemiology of Toxigenic Fungi and their Associated Mycotoxins for Some Mediterranean Crops

Recent data on the epidemiology of the common mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium in infected or colonized plants, and in stored or processed plant products from the Mediterranean area are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the toxigenicity of the causal fungal species and the natural occurrence of well known mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, patulin, Alternaria-toxins and moniliformin), as well as some more recently described compounds (fusaproliferin, beauvericin) whose toxigenic potential is not yet well understood. Several Fusarium species reported from throughout the Mediterranean area are responsible of the formation of mycotoxins in infected plants and in plant products, including: Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides and F. poae, which produce deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenone, zearalenone, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin derivatives in wheat and other small grains affected by head blight or scab, and in maize affected by red ear rot. Moreover, strains of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans, that form fumonisins, beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and moniliformin, are commonly associated with maize affected by ear rot. Fumonisins, were also associated with Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus and Fusarium endosepsis of figs, caused primarily by F. proliferatum. Toxigenic A. alternata strains and associated tenuazonic acid and alternariols were commonly found in black mould of tomato, black rot of olive and citrus, black point of small cereals, and black mould of several vegetables. Toxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and ochratoxin A were often found associated with black rot of grapes, whereas toxigenic strains of A. flavus and/or P. verrucosum, forming aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, respectively, were found in moulded plant products from small cereals, peanuts, figs, pea, oilseed rape, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios, and almonds. Finally, toxigenic strains of P. expansum and patulin were frequently found in apple, pear and other fresh fruits affected by blue mould rot, as well as in derived juices and jams.     

Diagnostics,genetic diversity and pathogenic variation of ascochyta blight of cool season food and feed legumes

Molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed to differentiate the Ascochyta pathogens that infect cool season food and feed legumes, as well as to improve the sensitivity of detecting latent infection in plant tissues. A seed sampling technique was developed to detect a 1% level of infection by Ascochyta rabiei in commercial chickpea seed. The Ascochyta pathogens were shown to be genetically diverse in countries where the pathogen and host have coexisted for a long time. However, where the pathogen was recently introduced, such as A. rabiei to Australia, the level of diversity remained relatively low, even as the pathogen spread to all chickpea-growing areas. Pathogenic variability of A. rabiei and Ascochyta pinodes pathogens in chickpea and field pea respectively, appears to be quantitative, where measures of disease severity were based on aggressiveness (quantitative level of infection) rather than on true qualitative virulence. In contrast, qualitative differences in pathogenicity in lentil and faba bean genotypes indicated the existence of pathotypes of Ascochyta lentis and Ascochyta fabae. Therefore, reports of pathotype discrimination based on quantitative differences in pathogenicity in a set of specific genotypes is questionable for several of the ascochyta-legume pathosystems such as A. rabiei and A. pinodes. This is not surprising since host resistance to these pathogens has been reported to be mainly quantitative, making it difficult for the pathogen to overcome specific resistance genes and form pathotypes. For robust pathogenicity assessment, there needs to be consistency in selection of differential host genotypes, screening conditions and disease evaluation techniques for each of the Ascochyta sp. in legume-growing countries throughout the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of pathotype diversity and aggressiveness within populations is important in the selection of resistant genotypes.     

Hymenopteran Parasitoids on Fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera) in Latin America and the Southern United States: Diversity, Distribution, Taxonomic Status and their use in Fruit Fly Biological Control

We first discuss the diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of the Neotropics. Even though the emphasis is on Anastrepha parasitoids, we also review all the information available on parasitoids attacking flies in the genera Ceratitis, Rhagoletis, Rhagoletotrypeta, Toxotrypana and Zonosemata. We center our analysis in parasitoid guilds, parasitoid assemblage size and fly host profiles. We also discuss distribution patterns and the taxonomic status of all known Anastrepha parasitoids. We follow by providing a historical overview of biological control of pestiferous tephritids in Latin American and Florida (U.S.A.) and by analyzing the success or failure of classical and augmentative biological control programs implemented to date in these regions. We also discuss the lack of success of introductions of exotic fruit fly parasitoids in various Latin American countries. We finish by discussing the most pressing needs related to fruit fly biological control (classical, augmentative, and conservation modalities) in areas of the Neotropics where fruit fly populations severely restrict the development of commercial fruit growing. We also address the need for much more intensive research on the bioecology of native fruit fly parasitoids.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Plant Viruses Transmitted by Whiteflies

One-hundred and fourteen virus species are transmitted by whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci transmits 111 of these species while Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. abutilonia transmit three species each. B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum are present in the European–Mediterranean region, though the former is restricted in its distribution. Of the whitefly-transmitted virus species, 90% belong to the Begomovirus genus, 6% to the Crinivirus genus and the remaining 4% are in the Closterovirus, Ipomovirus or Carlavirus genera. Other named, whitefly-transmitted viruses that have not yet been ranked as species are also documented. The names, abbreviations and synonyms of the whitefly-transmitted viruses are presented in tabulated form together with details of their whitefly vectors, natural hosts and distribution. Entries are also annotated with references. Whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting plants in the European–Mediterranean region have been highlighted in the text.     

Brief Guide for Authors

正Journal of Arid Land(JAL)is an international journal(ISSN 1674-6767;CN 65-1278/K)for the natural sciences,sponsored by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences and Science Press.It is published by Science Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg bimonthly.JAL publishes original,innovative,and integrative research from arid and semiarid regions,ad     

The use of Solacol® (validamycin) as a growth retardant in the isolation of soil fungi

Solacol^®, a formulation of the antibiotic validamycin, at 0.33% in 2% malt extract agar, reduced the spread of fungi on dilution plates drastically and allowed twice as much incubation time before subculturing; this resulted in an elevated number of species isolated. Using pure cultures of 62 common soil fungi, it was shown that all fast-growing species (exceptPythium ultimum) were efficiently inhibited but not completely suppressed. Inhibition was comparable to that by 0.5% oxgall, though, while this substance completely suppressed several species, Solacol very strongly inhibited onlyGaeumannomyces graminis, Gerlachia nivalis, Harzia acremonioides, Verticillium biguttatum andRhizoctonia solani. In a further experiment each separate constituent of Solacol was tested against 22 fungi at equivalent concentrations. Validamycin strongly inhibitedChaetomium globosum and two Basidiomycetes, though hardly more than the non-ionic detergent which mainly inhibited the other fungi. A few species were, however, more inhibited by Solacol than by the detergent alone. Solacol at 0.33% is a suitable aid in dilution plating of soil fungi, by increasing the number of colonies and species observed.Samenvatting Solacol^®, een formulering van het antibioticum validamycine, remde de groei van schimmels in verdunningsplaten met een concentratie van 0.33% in 2% moutagar en maakte het mogelijk de periode tot afenten met een factor 2 te verlengen; daardoor was het aantal geïsoleerde soorten duidelijk toegenomen. Met reincultures van 62 algemene grondschimmelsoorten werd aangetoond, dat alle snelgroeiende soorten (met uitzondering vanPythium ultimum) voldoende geremd, maar niet volkomen onderdrukt werden. Het remmingspercentage was vergelijkbaar met dat van 0.5% ossegal, hoewel dit laatste sommige soorten volkomen onderdrukte; Solacol remde alleenGaeumannomyces graminis, Gerlachia nivalis, Harzia acremonioides, Verticillium biguttatum enRhizoctonia solani zeer sterk. In een volgend experiment werden de componenten van Solacol t.o.v. 22 fungi apart getoetst in concentraties equivalent aan 0.33% Solacol. Validamycine remde alleenChaetomium globosum en twee basidiomyceten behoorlijk, maar nauwelijks meer dan de niet-ionische uitvloeier, die in hoofdzaak de overige remeffecten veroorzaakte. Enkele soorten werden echter door het complete Solacol veel sterker geremd dan door de uitvloeier alleen. Solacol in een verdunning van 0,33% wordt aanbevolen bij verdunningsplaten voor het isoleren van grondschimmels ten einde het aantal kolonies en soorten te verhogen.     

Broad bean mottle virus in Morocco; curculionid vectors,and natural occurrence in food legumes other than faba bean (Vicia faba)

Broad bean mottle virus (BBMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy faba-bean plants by the curculionid weevilsApion radiolus Kirby,Hypera variabilis Herbst,Pachytychius strumarius Gyll,Smicronyx cyaneus Gyll, andSitona lineatus L. The latter appeared to be an efficient vector: acquisition and inoculation occurred at the first bite, the rate of transmission was c. 41%, and virus retention lasted for at least seven days.S. lineatus transmitted the virus from faba bean to lentil and pea, but not to the three genotypes of chickpea tested. This is the first report on the generaHypera, Pachytychius, andSmicronyx as virus vectors, and onA. radiolus, H. variabilis, P. strumarius, andS. cyaneus as vectors of BBMV.Out of 351 samples of food legumes with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 16, 11, 19, and 17% of the samples of chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean, respectively, were found infected when tested for BBMV in DAS-ELISA. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of BBMV in chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean. The virus should be regarded as a food-legume virus rather than a faba-bean virus solely, and is considered an actual threat to food legume improvement programmes.     

Characterization of potato potyvirus Y (PVY) isolates from seed potato batches. Situation of the NTN, Wilga and Z isolates

A collection of 38 PVY isolates from seed potato batches, originating from several Western European countries, was characterized by using current biological, serological and molecular tools differentiating PVY strains and groups. The correlation between the three kinds of tests was good but not absolute. No single serological or PCR method was able to discriminate among the five isolate groups found. Twenty-nine isolates belonged to the PVY^N strain and six to the PVY^O strain. No PVY^C was found. Two other isolates reacted serologically like PVY^O, but were unable to elicit a hypersensitive response from the Ny_tbr gene and probably represent the PVY^Z group. At the molecular level, these two isolates showed a combination of both PVY^O and PVY^N and could be recombinants of these strains. Another isolate reacted serologically like PVY^O, but induced vein necrosis in tobacco, like PVY^N-Wilga. Some PVY^N isolates caused tuber ring necrosis in glasshouse conditions. These might belong to the PVY^NTN group. The PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wilga and PVY^Z groups probably represent pathotypes within strains PVY^N and PVY^O, respectively. The present study also confirms previous reports showing a high genetic variation at the 5 end within the PVYN strain.