一种高效的苹果褪绿叶斑病毒TaqMan探针实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法

为建立一种检测苹果褪绿叶斑病毒(Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus,ACLSV)的Taq Man探针实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法,根据ACLSV外壳蛋白基因(coat protein,cp)保守序列设计了特异性引物和Taq Man探针,以构建的ACLSV-cp重组质粒为阳性标准品绘制标准曲线,并对该方法的特异性、灵敏性、重复性进行检验。结果显示,以ACLSV-cp重组质粒为标准品建立的标准曲线相关系数达0.999,扩增效率为103.7%;建立的Taq Man探针实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法特异性好,与苹果茎沟病毒(Apple stem grooving virus,ASGV)、苹果茎痘病毒(Apple stem pitting virus,ASPV)、苹果锈果类病毒(Apple scar skin viroid,ASSVd)均无交叉反应;灵敏度为100拷贝/μL,比常规RT-PCR高100倍;批内和批间变异系数均小于0.84%。表明Taq Man探针实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法具有特异性强、灵敏性高、重复性好的优点,适用于实际样品中ACLSV的快速准确检测。     

桑椹菌核病菌实时荧光定量PCR检测体系的建立和应用

为及时高效地鉴别桑椹菌核病的病原菌桑实杯盘菌Ciboria shiraiana和肉阜状杯盘菌C. carunculoides,根据RPB2基因序列设计引物并验证其特异性,建立这2种病原菌的实时荧光定量PCR(real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,q PCR)检测体系,运用该体系对抗、感果桑品种不同时间点芽(果)内的2种病原菌进行检测。结果表明,设计的2对引物特异性强,qPCR检测灵敏度均为10^-4ng/μL,均为常规PCR灵敏度的10~5倍,建立的桑实杯盘菌和肉阜状杯盘菌qPCR标准曲线的扩增效率分别为104.89%和95.30%。利用所建方法成功从采集的果桑样品中检测出病原菌主要为肉阜状杯盘菌,且感病品种中肉阜状杯盘菌的含量随着时间不断增加,在将要显症时激增。表明所建qPCR体系适用于桑椹菌核病早期无症状芽(果)的检测,可通过监测其病原菌类型和含量为该病害的预测预报及早期防治提供依据。     

应用real-time PCR定量检测小麦条锈菌潜伏侵染量方法的建立

 小麦条锈病是我国小麦主要病害之一。快速、及时地诊断与定量监测处于潜育状态下的病叶,对准确估计越冬、越夏后的病情,制定正确的防治方案具有重要的意义。根据小麦条锈菌Puccinia striiformis的β-tubilin基因序列设计对该病原菌的种具有特异性的引物betaf/betar,并分别在普通PCR和real-time PCR扩增时对该引物的特异性和灵敏性进行了测定。结果表明该引物对小麦条锈菌特异性高,可稳定扩增出243 bp的目标条带。Real-time PCR的灵敏度为普通PCR的100倍。应用此特异性引物,建立了real-time PCR测定系统,定量测定了条锈菌在小麦叶片接种后组织内的DNA随时间的变化。结果表明,在接种后12 h,可在小麦叶片内检测到条锈菌,且条锈菌在小麦叶片内潜育期间随时间呈指数增长。接种第6 d后叶片内的菌量有明显的增加。建立的小麦条锈菌的real-time PCR早期定量测定方法,为及时、快速监测小麦条锈病在潜育期间的发病规律以及为该病的预测、防治提供依据。     

进境玉米中玉米内州萎蔫病菌PCR检测方法评估

为了准确检测玉米样品中玉米内州萎蔫病菌（Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis,Cmn）,减少测试过程中的假阳性和假阴性结果,利用15对Cmn特异性引物/探针分别测试了Cmn及其他菌株63株,并测试了食用、种用和饲用进境玉米样品300个。测试结果表明,常规PCR和实时荧光PCR方法阳性检出率最高的引物/探针分别是引物PSA-7/PSA-R和探针Cmn-MGB;巢式PCR不适用于样品中Cmn的检测;检测过程中引物Cmn-4F/Cmn-4R和探针rpsJ27P出现假阴性,引物CmnFP/CmnRP出现假阳性。根据测试结果,引物PSA-7/PSA-R和探针Cmn11-P可用于口岸进境玉米样品Cmn检测。     

甘蔗宿根矮化病菌实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

 甘蔗宿根矮化病是由Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx)引起的一种世界性甘蔗细菌病害。根据Lxx的Pat1基因保守序列,设计并合成了一对特异性引物Pat1F (5′-GGTTCCATTGCTTACCGATT-3′)/Pat1R(5′-CAAGTTTCGACAGGAACAGC-3′),和一条TaqMan探针(FAM-5′-CCACGGCTACGTCAATTCGGG-3′-TAMRA),建立了一种特异性强、灵敏度高的甘蔗宿根矮化病菌实时荧光定量PCR检测方法。结果表明,本研究建立的实时荧光定量PCR方法,对Lxx的检测最低下限为10² copies·μL^-1。应用实时荧光定量PCR与常规PCR方法对14个甘蔗品种进行Lxx检测,阳性检出率分别为86%和43%,表明实时荧光定量PCR比常规PCR检测方法具有更高的灵敏度。研究结果为甘蔗宿根矮化病的诊断、田间发生动态监测、脱毒健康种苗检测及品种/材料交换检疫检测提供了新技术支撑。     

基于TaqMan MGB探针的可可花瘿病菌快速检测方法

可可花瘿病菌是一种我国进境植物检疫性真菌?本文根据可可花瘿病菌EF1α基因的保守序列, 设计并合成1对特异性的实时荧光PCR引物和1条TaqMan MGB探针, 建立了可可花瘿病菌的实时荧光PCR检测方法?特异性试验结果表明, 该检测方法能够特异性检出可可花瘿病菌; 实时荧光PCR优化反应条件为引物终浓度0.2 μmol/L, 探针终浓度0.6 μmol/L; 灵敏度试验结果表明, 20 μL反应体系中可可花瘿病菌DNA含量最低检测限为10 pg; 重复性试验结果表明, 该检测方法的重复性和稳定性良好; 接种试验样品检测结果表明, 该方法可用于疑似携带可可花瘿病菌样品的检测与初筛?本文建立的方法具有良好的灵敏性?特异性和应用性, 为可可花瘿病菌早期快速检测提供了一种有效手段?     

LNA探针实时荧光定量PCR检测小麦矮缩病毒体系的建立

 本研究通过对多个小麦矮缩病毒(Wheat dwarf virus, WDV)小麦分离物进行序列分析,在编码Rep蛋白N 端的基因保守区域设计一对特异性引物和一条长度为19 bp的TaqMan LNA探针,经过探针和引物浓度的系列优化,建立了WDV田间样品LNA探针实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,确定最优反应条件下的引物和探针终浓度分别为0.5 μmol/L和0.3 μmol/L。该方法建立的标准曲线斜率及相关系数分别为-3.424 3和0.997 3,扩增效率为96.0%,重复性试验组内变异系数为0.11%~1.34%,组间变异系数为0.44%~1.21%,最低检测限为55 copies/μL,其灵敏度是普通PCR的100倍以上。与普通TaqMan探针荧光定量PCR相比,该方法所用探针长度大大缩短,减少了探针间形成二级结构的机会,探针设计更加简单、方便。该方法适用于田间样品的早期监测,为病害流行调查提供了高效快捷的技术支撑。     

马铃薯斑纹片病菌含扩增内标的双重实时荧光PCR检测

马铃薯斑纹片病菌(Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum)是一种主要为害伞形花科和茄科植物的重要有害生物,目前无法人工培养且可随种子远距离传播。准确灵敏的PCR检测方法对病害预警和防止扩散具有重要意义。本文通过复合引物法构建扩增内标(internal amplification control,IAC),建立了马铃薯斑纹片病菌含扩增内标的双重实时荧光PCR检测体系,有效指示了PCR检测过程中的假阴性现象。试验结果表明:双重与单重实时荧光PCR的检测灵敏度一致,当扩增内标添加量为3.4×10^-5ng时,样品DNA的检测低限为0.4 ng。40个样品的检测结果显示,与单重实时荧光PCR相比,双重荧光PCR方法的阳性检出率由25.00%提高到27.50%,提高了检测结果的准确性。     

扁桃拟茎点霉TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立与应用

扁桃拟茎点霉(Phomopsis amygdali)引起的桃缢缩溃疡病是桃生产上重要的病害之一。带菌苗木及接穗是病害向无病区传播的主要途径。严格的检疫措施是保证无病区健康生产的关键。准确、灵敏、快速的检测方法是严格执行检疫措施及研究病害发生规律的有力工具。将扁桃拟茎点霉组蛋白H3(histone H3)基因与其近缘种比对发现,该基因特异性强,适合作为分子检测的靶标。针对histone H3基因为靶标,设计了特异性引物和Taq Man探针,建立了扁桃拟茎点霉的荧光定量PCR检测方法。结果发现,该方法只能特异识别扁桃拟茎点霉。检测灵敏度可达4×10~1copies·uL~(-1),比常规PCR检测方法高1 000倍;孢子检测最低限达2个孢子,比常规PCR检测方法高10倍,且仅需1 h即可完成检测。该方法用于田间样品检测,扁桃拟茎点霉的阳性检出率达86%,高于分离培养法和常规PCR检出结果。本研究建立的基于Taq Man探针的荧光定量PCR检测体系可用于田间对扁桃拟茎点霉的快速检测。     

双重real-time PCR定量测定小麦条锈菌潜伏侵染方法的建立与应用

 小麦条锈病是我国小麦生产上的重要病害之一。为高效准确地定量检测处于潜伏侵染阶段的小麦条锈菌,本研究根据已发表的小麦条锈菌和寄主小麦的引物,设计了各自的探针,建立了双重real-time PCR检测方法。为排除多个引物互作造成的干扰,对小麦条锈菌引物探针体系、小麦体系以及二者的双重real-time PCR体系进行了比较。CT值相关线性回归分析证明,引物之间互作很小,对定量检测无影响。已知浓度样品经梯度稀释,进行灵敏度检测,确定了双重real-time PCR对小麦条锈菌DNA和小麦DNA准确定量测定的最小检测限为0.4 pg和0.5 ng。同时建立了小麦条锈菌和小麦各自的标准曲线。用此方法检测来自两个不同地区的田间样本,得到的分子病情指数(MDI)与随后的发病趋势一致。本研究建立的双重real-time PCR分析方法可靠、高效、低误差,是对本实验室已有小麦条锈菌潜伏期分子检测方法的进一步优化。     

Epidemiology and simulation of population development of Sitobion avenae in winter wheat

The epidemiology ofSitobion avenae and its natural enemies in winter wheat was studied in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Immigration was important until the end of flowering. The alate immigrants had apterous offspring. These became the driving force in population growth. Their offspring were mostly alatae which usually left the field. A model of the epidemic was developed. Quantitative relations between the aphids and their environment were obtained from literature or established in laboratory trials. The model simulated population development and population composition from the beginning of June till the population peak at the end of June or early in July. Because quantitative data on relations between aphids and their natural enemies and pathogens are scarce, and since the knowledge on wing formation is still limited, the population collapse could not be predicted. In the future, prognosis over a period of three weeks seems possible.Samenvatting De toenemende betekenis van graanbladluizen (vooralSitobion avenae) gepaard gaande met een sterke toename van het gebruik van insecticiden op granen maakte verbetering van de prognose over het schadelijk optreden wenselijk. Door gedetailleerde tellingen in het veld (Fig. 1–7) werden gegevens verkregen over het verloop van de epidemie en het optreden van natuurlijke vijanden in 1975, 1976 en 1977.Een immigratieperiode tot in de bloei kon worden vastgesteld. Daarna lijkt de aantrekkelijkheid van het gewas voor alate luizen te verminderen. De alate immigranten krijgen aptere nakomelingen. Deze vormen de stuwende kracht van de populatiegroei. De nakomelingen van apteren zijn merendeels alaat. Zij verlaten het gewas.Een model van de populatieontwikkeling gedurende de epidemie werd opgesteld. De relatiediagrammen Fig. 9 en 10 laten groei en ontwikkeling vanS. avenae en een predator (Syrphus corollae) zien. Kwantificering van de betrekkingen werd mogelijk door literatuurgegevens en laboratoriumexperimenten.Met het model kon de populatieontwikkeling vanS. avenae vanaf begin juni tot aan de populatiepiek in 1975, 1976 en 1977 vrij goed worden gesimuleerd (Fig. 12). Ook de populatieopbouw kon worden gesimuleerd (Fig. 14). De teruggang van de populatiedichtheid blijkt moeilijker te voorspellen door het ontbreken van gegevens over natuurlijke vijanden.Het lijkt waarschijnlijk dat in de toekomst met het model een prognose over de piek van de bladluispopulatie circa 3 weken tevoren mogelijk zal zijn.     

Tumours of Begonia and some other ornamentals,induced by Corynebacterium fascians

In 1975 many tumours were observed in plants ofBegonia Schwabenland grown in Aalsmeer. Submersion of the roots ofNicotiana megalosiphon seedlings in a homogenate of tumorous tissue, induced tumours after two weeks. Short periods of submergence yielded results similar to those obtained after longer periods. Tumour homogenates lost their infectivity after ten min at 50°C. Aphids transmitted the infectious agent.Treatment with propylene oxide did not inhibit infectivity completely. Filtration through a 450 nm filter removed the infectious agent.Tobacco tumor virus or a viroid could not be isolated. Cultures ofCorynebacterium fascians, isolated from tumours ofN. megalosiphon were highly infectious and induced tumours in healthyN. megalosiphon andBegonia. Tumorous tissue homogenates ofPelargonium zonale, Dahlia sp.,Gladiolus sp., andLilium sp. also caused tumours inN. megalosiphon, from whichC. fascians was isolated. It was not possible to produce tumours inN. megalosiphon with homogenates from roses with symptoms of bud proliferation.Samenvatting In 1975 werden vele tumoren waargenomen inBegonia Schwabenland op Aalsmeerse bedrijven (Fig. 1). De infectiositeit van tumorweefsel kon goed en snel worden vastgesteld door de wortels van zaailingen vanNicotiana megalosiphon in een homogenaat van tumorweefsel te dompelen. Tumoren ontstonden na twee weken, de eindbeoordeling geschiedde na een maand (Fig. 2). Ook verschillende andereNicotiana spp.,Melilotus officinalis (Fig. 3) enPisum odoratum (Fig. 4) werden aangetast.Bij de infectiositeitstoets gaven zeer korte dompeltijden even goede resultaten als langere (Tabel 1). Infectieus sap verloor zijn infectievermogen na 10 min verhitting bij 50°C. Bladluizen brachten de smetstof over. Propyleenoxide verminderde de infectiositeit wel, doch onderdrukte deze niet totaal. Bij filtratie door een 450 nm filter bleef het infectieuse agens op het filter achter. Het tumor-inducerende agens was ook aanwezig in die delen van planten met tumoren welke gezond leken en het ging voor een gering deel over met zaad (Tabel 2).Uit tumoren konden wij geen tabakstumorvirus of een viroïde isoleren. Culturen vanCorynebacterium fascians, geïsoleerd uit tumoren vanN. megalosiphon bleken zeer infectieus en veroorzaakten tumoren inN. megalosiphon enBegonia. Homogenaten van tumorweefsel vanPelargonium zonale, dahlia (Fig. 5), gladiool (Fig. 6) enLilium Mid Century Hybrid Enchantment (Fig. 7) veroorzaakten ook tumoren opN. megalosiphon, waaruitC. fascians werd geïsoleerd. Met sap van kroeskopzieke rozen konden wijN. megalosiphon niet besmetten.     

Nematicidal Activity of Chrysanthemum coronarium

Organic amendments and green manure are potential alternatives to the harmful chemical control means currently used against plant-parasitic nematodes. In this work, Chrysanthemum coronarium was applied to the soil as a green manure to control the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica. Chrysanthemum coronarium significantly reduced nematode infection of tomato roots and improved plant-top fresh weight, both in the greenhouse and in microplots. Other green manures, derived from Anthemis pseudocotula, wild chickpea (Cicer pinnatifidum), Geranium spp. and wheat, were not as effective as C. coronarium. Chrysanthemum coronarium, retained its nematicidal activity even when applied as a dried material. Only mature C. coronarium plants, in their flowering stage, exhibited nematode control activity, but the green plant parts were more effective than the flowers. An aqueous extract of C. coronarium exhibited in vitro, nematostatic activity towards M. incognita and M. javanica second-stage juveniles and inhibited their hatching from eggs and egg-masses; its nematostatic activity was expressed also against other phytonematode species such as Heterodera avenae and Pratylenchus mediterraneus, but did not affect the beneficial entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae.     

Inactivation of soil-borne plant pathogens during small-scale composting of crop residues

Samples of heavily infested crop residues were incorporated in static compost heaps (2.5–4.6 m³) of the Indore type. Temperature increased to 50–70°C within 6 days depending on the type of crop residues used and the location within the heap. The heat phase (>40 °C) lasted 2–3 weeks and was followed by a c. 5-months maturation phase (<40 °c).=" among=" the=" 17=" pathogens=" tested,=">Olpidium brassicae and one of the four formae speciales ofFusarium oxysporum that were tested survived composting, but also their inoculum was greatly reduced.Survival during specific phases of composting was studied by incorporation and retrieval of samples at various stages of the process.F. oxysporum f. sp.melonis was completely inactivated andO. brassicae andPlasmodiophora brassicae were almost completely inactivated during the short heat phase. The three pathogens survived the long-lasting maturation phase without loss of viability. Heat evolved during composting was found to be the most important factor involved with sanitation of crop residues. The possible involvement of fungitoxic conversion products and microbial antagonism is discussed.     

浅黄恩蚜小蜂和丽蚜小蜂对温室白粉虱的寄生潜能分析

浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia GiraultDodd和丽蚜小蜂Encarsia formosa Gahan是防治粉虱类害虫的优势寄生蜂,通过生命表技术方法分析了2种寄生蜂对温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum(Westwood)的防治潜能。结果表明,丽蚜小蜂在羽化第3天和第10天出现2次寄生高峰,占其总寄生量的13.7%和8.0%,在2次高峰之间逐日寄生粉虱数量比较平稳,单雌逐日平均产雌数保持在10.6~13.4头,10 d后寄生量呈明显的下降趋势;而浅黄恩蚜小蜂羽化10 d内逐日寄生粉虱量变化不大,单雌逐日产雌数稳定在4.2~5.4头,羽化14 d后寄生量呈明显下降趋势。丽蚜小蜂和浅黄恩蚜小蜂的R0、T、rm、λ值分别为171.5、18.0、0.2854、1.3303和61.6、16.2、0.2544、1.2897;粉虱若虫充足时,丽蚜小蜂平均单雌寄生若虫数是浅黄恩蚜小蜂的2.7倍,而后者平均单雌取食若虫数为60.6头,明显高于前者42.7头,总的来看,丽蚜小蜂通过寄生和取食杀死粉虱总量220.8头,明显高于浅黄恩蚜小蜂的127.9头。表明在应用寄生蜂防治温室白粉虱时,单独释放丽蚜小蜂比浅黄恩蚜小蜂显示出更好的防治潜能。     

Effects of the saprophytic leaf mycoflora on growth and productivity of winter wheat

The effects of the saprophytic mycoflora and its interference with cereal aphids on growth and yield of winter and spring wheat was studied in field experiments in 1980, 1981 and 1982.Yields varied between 5000 and 8000 kg dry matter of kernels per ha. The effect of the saprophytic mycoflora on yield was determined in different treatments: A) no control measures against cereal aphids and saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, B) no control of cereal aphids, control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, C) control of cereal aphids and control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, D) control of cereal aphids and stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora and E) control of cereal aphids, no control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi nor stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora.Considerable differences in top densities of saprophytic mycoflora (10 times as large in A and D as in B and C) were determined. The consequences of these differences for the growth and productivity of wheat were minor. A negative effect of saprophytic mycoflora on the yield could not be detected in 1981 and 1982, whereas a small positive significant effect was found in 1980. This stimulation may have been due to competition between necrotrophic fungal pathogens and saprophytic mycoflora. As a result of favourable weather conditions necrotrophic fungal pathogens were very numerous in 1980 and could form an important yield reducing factor. Yield levels may effect the importance of the necrotrophic and saprophytic mycoflora as yield reducing factors. Additionally, in the presence of aphid honeydew captafol was found to be relatively ineffective against saprophytic fungi.     

Aetiology and causal agents of mango sudden decline disease in the Sultanate of Oman

Mango sudden decline is a recently introduced, economically serious disease in Oman. Affected mango trees have wilting symptoms that usually begin on one side and later spread to involve the entire tree. Trees exude amber-coloured gum from the bark of their trunks or branches and vascular tissues are discoloured. Having entered Oman in the recent past, survey data is presented that shows the disease to have spread throughout the northern part of the country. Evidence is presented that the vascular wilt pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata causes mango sudden decline disease in Oman, possibly in concert with Lasiodiplodia theobromae and the recently described Ceratocystis omanensis. Isolates of these fungi from affected trees, cause infection and can be recovered from inoculated seedlings. Bark beetles (Hypocryphalus mangiferae) are shown to carry C. fimbriata and L. theobromae and are presumably responsible for transmitting both pathogens to healthy mango trees. Acting as a wounding agent and vector, the bark beetle is likely to have assisted the rapid spread of the disease across Oman.     

Relationship Between Production of the Phytotoxin Prehelminthosporol and Virulence in Isolates of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana

A gas chromatographic method was developed to quantify the phytotoxin prehelminthosporol, which is a sesquiterpene metabolite of the plant pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. The toxin was extracted from mycelium or culture filtrates, pre-cleaned using solid phase extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography as a trimethylsilyl-derivative. The detection limit of the method was 5ngl^–1 (signal to noise ratio 4:1) which corresponds to ca. 15ng prehelminthosporol per mg dry weight of mycelium or 15ng prehelminthosporol per ml culture filtrate. The total amount of prehelminthosporol (mycelium plus culture filtrate) increased with cultivation time when examined in six isolates of B. sorokiniana after 6, 9, 12 and 15 days of incubation. The screening experiment of 17 isolates for prehelminthosporol production after 8 days of incubation revealed significant differences in the toxin production between the isolates. The isolates with low toxin production had lower virulence towards barley roots compared to those with higher production of the toxin. However, the virulence did not increase with prehelminthosporol level among the high producing isolates. Prehelminthosporol was also analyzed in a number of related Bipolaris and Drechslera species. In addition to B. sorokiniana, three out of six Bipolaris species (B. setariae, B. zeicola, B. victoriae) produced prehelminthosporol, which indicates that ability to produce prehelminthosporol is conserved among closely-related Bipolaris species.     

Combined effect of generally regarded as safe (GRAS) compounds andTrichoderma harzianum on the control of postharvest diseases of rambutan

Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides andGliocephalotrichum microchlamydosporum are the causal fungi of the rambutan postharvest diseases stem-end rot, anthracnose and brown spot, respectively. Two different treatments of rambutan fruits(Nephelium lappaceum) against the three pathogens were compared: potassium metabisulphite (250 ppm) or cinnamaldehyde (30 ppm), each combined withTrichoderma harzianum (TrH 40). The application of TrH 40 and potassium metabisulphite effectively controlled the incidence and severity of the three postharvest diseases and maintained the overall quality and color of the fruit under low temperature storage at 13.5°C and 95% r.h. for 18 days. The greatest effect of this treatment was shown onG. microchlamydosporum. Cinnamaldehyde affected the growth and germination of TrH 40, whereas potassium metabisulphite did not. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 4, 2001.     

Identification and pathogenicity of Pythium species causing damping-off of kidney bean

Five Pythium species (Pythium irregulare, P. mamillatum, P. myriotylum, P. spinosum and P. ultimum var. ultimum) were isolated from the hypocotyls and roots of kidney bean plants with damping-off from a commercial field and from experimental plots that have undergone either continuous cropping with kidney bean or rotational cropping with arable crops. In inoculation tests, all five Pythium species were pathogenic to kidney bean. This is the first report of damping-off of kidney bean caused by Pythium species; we named this disease damping-off of kidney bean. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession numbers AB291811, AB291944 and AB291945.