Chili anthracnose: Colletotrichum taxonomy and pathogenicity

Chili anthracnose is caused by Colletotrichum species mostly associated with the acutatum, truncatum and gloeosporioides complexes. Since 2009 the Colletotrichum taxonomy has been extensively revised based on multigene phylogenetics, which has had a large impact on the number of species known to cause anthracnose disease of chili. This review discusses (i) the taxonomy of Colletotrichum spp. infecting chili, and (ii) the impact of Colletotrichum pathotypes on breeding for resistance to anthracnose. To date, 24 Colletotrichum species have been identified as pathogens of chili anthracnose, with the three main pathogens being C. scovillei, C. truncatum and C. siamense. Identification of several pathotypes within these three Colletotrichum species, particularly pathotypes that can overcome resistance in the related Capsicum species, Ca. chinense and Ca. baccatum, will be of major concern to plant breeders as they develop resistant chili genotypes from the transfer of resistance genes from these Capsicum species into Ca. annuum. Accurate identification of the Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose and improved understanding of the biology of the Colletotrichum species and their interaction with the host will enable the application of improved integrated disease management techniques.     

Characterization of Rehmannia mosaic virus isolated from chili pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis>) in Japan

In 2010, severe necrotic mosaic disease and fruit distortion were observed on greenhouse-grown chili pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Fushimi-amanaga) plants in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Electron microscopic imaging and genomic RNA sequencing indicated that the virus responsible was a new isolate of Rehmannia mosaic virus (ReMV), which had not been previously reported in Japan. Although ReMV systemically infected many Solanaceae species, including chili pepper and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), tobamovirus-resistance genes from species of Capsicum (L ^1a , L ² , L ³ , and L ⁴ ) and tomato (Tm-1, Tm-2, and Tm-2 ^a ) conferred resistance against ReMV.     

Seedborne fungi detected on stored solanaceous berry seeds and their biological activities

We isolated 629 fungi from 1296 berry seeds of solanaceous plants, including tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), and red pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) preserved for long and short terms. The isolates were classified into 22 genera excluding unidentified fungi, and the fungal floras were divided into two types: the tomato–eggplant and pepper groups. The results of cluster analysis with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average also supported these groups. Most tomato seeds infested with Geotrichum candidum germinated and grew the same as uninfested seeds. Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Arthrinium sp. isolated from eggplant seeds strongly suppressed germination, and Penicillium variabile suppressed seminal root elongation on eggplant. Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Myrothecium verrucaria detected from red pepper or bell pepper seeds were pathogenic to the fruits and the seedlings after artificial inoculation.     

Bicarbonate solutions control powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica) on sweet red pepper and reduce the development of postharvest fruit rotting

Disease severity of powdery mildew (causal agentLeveillula taurica (Lév.) Arn.) on pepper (Capsicum annuum), defoliation and fruit sunscald rating were significantly reduced (P=0.05) by foliar applications of sodium or potassium bicarbonate solutions, compared with water or penconazole (Ophir). Preharvest application of bicarbonate solutions significantly reduced (P=0.05) postharvest decay development on sweet red pepper fruits.     

Emergence de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) sur culture protégée de piment (Solanaceae) en zone subsaharienne (Algérie)

In Algeria, the Mediterranean fruit fly has long been associated with fruit production in coastal regions with a temperate climate. But with climate change, especially in autumn and spring, this fly has spread and attacks other host plants. The medfly appeared in the sub-Saharan area of Souf region (Algeria) on chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) under protected crops and causes significant damage.     

Life-table analyses for the tomato leaf miner,Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): effects of plant genotype

BACKGROUND

Host plant resistance plays an important role in integrated pest management programs. Crop resistance assessments commonly focus on only a single dependent variable, such as larval survival/plant damage, which limits the ability to appreciate the impact of host plants on pest populations in the full sense. Therefore, we performed life-table analyses for tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta, on 19 Solanum lycopersicum genotypes and a wild Solanum habrochaites accession. These analyses assess the ability of the pest to attain a high population density on different tomato genotypes. Based on the resulting ranking of tomato resistance at the vegetative stage (45-day-old plants), we tested the resistance of six selected genotypes at the reproductive stage (4-month-old plants).

RESULTS

T. absoluta performance was significantly inferior on vegetative-stage S. habrochaites plants (LA 1777); time taken for the first instars to mine the leaves (5 ± 0.14 days), development time of early- and late-stage larvae (8.8 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 0.2 days, respectively), pupal period (11.2 ± 0.58 days), and total developmental time (29.4 ± 0.83 days) were significantly longer, fecundity was significantly lower (18.66 ± 7.24 days), and the highest total mortality (63.33%) also recorded compared with other genotypes, resulting in the lowest net reproductive rate (R₀) (11.20 ± 2.51). For the six selected genotypes, the ranking of plant resistance did not change between plants at the vegetative and reproductive stages.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that of 20 screened tomato genotypes, LA 1777 and EC-620343 are the least suitable hosts for T. absoluta to establish fast-growing populations, and thus can be employed in integrated T. absoluta management. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Survey and molecular detection of phytoplasmas associated with potato in Romania and southern Russia

In recent years, emerging phytoplasma diseases of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) have increasingly become important in central and eastern Europe. Accurate identification of phytoplasmas and their insect vectors is essential to developing effective management strategies for diseases caused by these plant pathogens. Potato phytoplasma diseases in Europe were for a long time diagnosed only on the basis of visual symptoms. However, this approach is not very reliable and the use of modern molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is required in order to accurately determine the etiology of these phytoplasma diseases. A survey and identification of phytoplasmas associated with potato crops in Romania and southern Russia were conducted based on modern molecular techniques. Symptomatic potato plants were collected from several fields and tested for phytoplasmas by PCR. Also, selected crops and weeds in the vicinity of these potato fields were sampled and tested for phytoplasmas. Stolbur (“Candidatus Phytoplasma solani”; 16SrXII-A) was the only phytoplasma detected in potato and adjacent crops, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), and beet (Beta vulgaris). This phytoplasma was also detected in weeds, particularly Convolvulus arvensis, Cuscuta sp., and Euphorbia falcata. Genotyping of obtained stolbur isolates on tuf genes revealed that they all had the same RFLP profile corresponding to the tuf-type ‘b’ (VK Type II). Stolbur-affected potato plants produced a large number of spongy tubers that resulted in commercially unacceptable potato chips upon processing.     

Host suitability and response of different vegetable genotypes to Meloidogyne incognita race 2 and Meloidogyne javanica in South Africa

The host suitability of 20 locally available genotypes of Capsicum, 10 of Daucus carota, 7 of Beta vulgaris- and 3 of Spinacea oleracea were assessed in separate greenhouse studies for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita race 2 and M. javanica, respectively. Substantial variation existed amongst the vegetable genotypes in the greenhouse screenings with regard to their host status to the respective root-knot nematode species. None of the genotypes of D. carota, B. vulgaris and S. oleracea showed resistance to the nematode species tested. However, resistance to M. incognita race 2 was identified in Capsicum genotype “Tobasco”, which was subsequently verified in a follow-up microplot trial using a range of initial population densities together with a susceptible Capsicum genotype “Paprika”. Reproduction factors of the nematodes were used as the main criterion to evaluate resistance. In the microplot trial, genotype “Tobasco” showed resistance at the lower inoculum levels but not at the higher nematode population levels. The need exists for more frequent and extensive screenings of the various vegetable genotypes in order to provide small-scale farmers with better options for improved and sustainable yields.     

A method of inoculating barley seedlings with Ramularia collo‐cygni

A method of inoculating seedlings with the fungus Ramularia collo-cygni, the causal agent of ramularia leaf spot (RLS), an increasingly important problem in barley in Europe and elsewhere, is described. Symptoms of RLS similar to those found in the field were reproduced on seedlings and the fungus was re-isolated from them, fulfilling the third and fourth of Koch's postulates. The method was similar to one used for the related fungus, Mycosphaerella graminicola (anamorph Septoria tritici), a pathogen of wheat. Briefly, plants were sprayed with a suspension of R. collo-cygni mycelium fragments, incubated at 15°C, first in darkness for 48 h then in a 16-h-light/8-h-dark cycle. Disease levels reached saturation when plants were sprayed to runoff with a suspension of 480 cm² of mycelium, scraped from the entire surface of 7·5 Petri dishes (9 cm diameter) and sieved, in 50 mL water. Growth of seedlings in high light intensity (900 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, 16-h daylength) before inoculation increased disease symptoms, but reduced disease when applied after inoculation. In contrast to M. graminicola, near-ultraviolet light after inoculation reduced symptom development. It is proposed that for the full development of RLS, plants should be grown in a stressful environment before inoculation. Nine barley lines were assessed for their resistance to RLS as seedlings and a subset were tested in field trials with natural infection by R. collo-cygni. There was cultivar-by-isolate interaction in the amount of RLS symptoms on seedlings. RLS levels on adult plants in field plots were correlated with RLS scores on seedlings formed by one isolate but not the other.     

Differential reaction of sweet pepper to infection with the crinivirus tomato chlorosis virus probably depends on the viral variant

The tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), transmitted by whitefly species of the genera Bemisia and Trialeurodes in a semipersistent manner, causes significant losses in solanaceous crops including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum). Worldwide reports of natural and experimental infection of sweet pepper plants with ToCV are contradictory, raising the question of whether the critical factor determining infection is related to the susceptibility of sweet pepper cultivars or the genetics of virus isolates. In this work, ToCV isolates obtained from different hosts and geographical origins were biologically and molecularly analysed, transmitted by B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED, and the reaction of different sweet pepper cultivars was evaluated under different environmental conditions. Brazilian ToCV isolates from tomato, potato (S. tuberosum), S. americanum, and Physalis angulata did not infect plants of five sweet pepper cultivars when transmitted by B. tabaci MEAM1. Temperatures did not affect the sweet pepper susceptibility to tomato-ToCV isolates from São Paulo, Brazil, and Florida, USA. However, sweet pepper-ToCV isolates from Spain and São Paulo, Brazil, were transmitted efficiently to sweet pepper plants by B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED. Although the results indicated that ToCV isolates from naturally infected sweet pepper plants seem to be better adapted to plants of C. annuum, phylogenetic analyses based on the complete nucleotide sequences of RNA1 and RNA2 as well as the p22 gene did not reveal significant nucleotide differences among them. Additional studies are needed to identify intrinsic characteristics of ToCV isolates that favour infection of sweet pepper plants.     

Een virus inAtropa belladonna

Summary In a bgarden at Baarn, The Netherlands,Atropa belladonna plants, grown from seed, showed symptoms similar to those described bySmith (1946, 1957) for Belladonna mosaic. After inoculation of solanaceous test plants with sap from diseased plants, the following species showed symptoms:Atropa belladonna L.,Capsicum annuum L.,Hyoscyamus niger L.,Nicandra physaloides Gaertn.,Nicotiana glutinosa L.,Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Samsun,Petunia hybrida andPhysalis floridana Rydb. The symptoms suggest that the virus may be identical with that described bySmith. A high virus concentration was found inHyoscyamus niger. Nicandra physaloides, Petunia hybrida, Physalis floridana, in the roots and the pericarp of diseasedAtropa plants, and also inSolanum nigrum L. andDatura stramonium L. The latter two species showed hardly any symptoms. A. low virus concentration was found inCapsicum annuum, though this plant showed severe symptoms.The dilution end point of the virus was between 10^–3 and 10^–4; virusinactivation occurred between 70° and 80°C.In electron micrographs the rod-shaped virus particles appeared similar to those of rattle virus.Virus could be detected in the roots of tobacco plants after the leaves had been inoculated with sap of diseasedAtropa-plants (Table 1). The reverse did not occur. Following immersion of the roots of tobacco plants in virus-containing sap these plants were potted in steamed soil. Subsequently the roots proved to be infected but the stems and leaves contained no virus. However,Atropa plants treated in the same way, did show leaf symptoms.It appeared, that the roots of young, healthy tobacco plants could become infected with virus, when grown in naturally infested soil for only tow days (Table 2). Fungus cultures isolated from diseased roots did not show any infectivity. Nematodes are probably the vectors of this virus (Sol, Van Heuvel & Seinhorst, 1960).Met medewerking van Merr.J. M. Dekhuyzen-Maasland, Dr. S. Gayed (Karthoum), Mej.C. van Heuven, C. de Vooys en Mej.R. van Wessem.     

Evaluation of the resistance of Coffea canephora to Oligonychus ilicis (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the preimaginal conditioning effect on resistance using a biological life table

Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important mite pests found in coffee plants. One way to reduce intensive pest attacks is management via resistant plants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the resistance of 14 C. canephora genotypes to O. ilicis by antixenosis and antibiosis mechanisms and to determine the preimaginal conditioning effect on resistant genotypes using O. ilicis reared on C. canephora. Resistance by antixenosis was not found; however, nine genotypes showed resistance to O. ilicis via an antibiosis mechanism. Two of these resistant genotypes showed a more persistent resistance than the O. ilicis reared on C. canephora, which indicated that a previous host can affect the selection of a genotype by O. ilicis. The study may provide a model to evaluate the preimaginal conditioning effect on plant resistance, which can be useful for plant breeders.     

Absorption,translocation, and metabolism of ethalfluralin and trifluralin in Solanum spp

Seedlings of Solanum scabrum Mill. and Solanum ptycanthum Dun. were treated with [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin (N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-N-(methylallyl)-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine) and [¹⁴C]trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) supplied in nutrient solution to determine the basis for differences in response by these two species to these two herbicides. Plants of S. scabrum absorbed more [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin and [¹⁴C]trifluralin than plants of S. ptycanthum. During the first 24 h, S. scabrum seedlings, but not S. ptycanthum seedlings absorbed more [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin than did plants treated with [¹⁴C]trifluralin. More [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin than [¹⁴C]trifluralin was found in the shoots of plants of both species. Seventy-two hours after treatment with [¹⁴C]herbicides, the conversion to water-soluble metabolites was greater for [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin than for [¹⁴C]trifluralin. In the shoots of plants from both species an average of nearly 55% of the ¹⁴C recovered was found in the water-soluble fraction following [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin treatment whereas an average of only 40% was found in the water-soluble fraction following [¹⁴C]trifluralin treatment.     

Selection of nematodes by resistant plants has implications for local adaptation and cross‐virulence

The variability of resistance durability in different potato genotypes harbouring the same resistance QTL but differing by their genetic background was explored. The indirect consequences of the resistance adaptation in terms of local (i.e. genotype‐specific) adaptation and cross‐virulence was also investigated. Following the virulence of the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida in a long‐term experimental evolution protocol, the results showed that nematode populations were able to adapt to the resistance of four potato genotypes carrying the QTL GpaV from Solanum vernei, and that the plant genetic background has an impact upon the durability of resistance. The pattern of local adaptation observed here indicates that divergent selection has occurred during the experimental evolution performed from the same initial nematode population, and revealed a trade‐off between the adaptation to a resistant potato genotype and the adaptation to another resistant genotype differing in its genetic background. In terms of cross‐virulence between potato genotypes derived from different resistance sources (S. sparsipilum and S. spegazzinii), this study shows that the adaptation to resistance QTL GpaV_vrn does not necessarily allow the adaptation to collinear GpaV loci. The results presented here could be useful for predicting evolution of nematode populations in natural agro‐ecosystems and identifying durable strategies for resistance deployment.     

Virulence structure of theMagnaporthe grisea rice population from the northwestern Himalayas

The virulence structure of theMagnaporthe grisea rice population from the northwestern Himalayan region of India was deciphered on 24 rice genotypes harboring different blast resistance genes. Matching virulences appropriate to all the rice genotypes, except Fukunishiki (Pi-z, Pi-sh) and Zenith (Pi-z, Pi-a, Pi-i), were present in the pathogen population. Moreover, a very low percentage of isolates were virulent on Tetep (Pi-ta, Pi-k ^h, Pi-4^b) and Tadukan (Pi-ta/Pi-ta ²). Although virulence was recorded on most of the lines tested, none was susceptible to all of the isolates. Three pairs of genotypes, namely, C101LAC:C101A51; K-1: Dular; and Dular: HPU-741, exhibited complementary resistance spectra as no isolate combined virulence to both the members of each of the three pairs of genotypes despite the fact that individual members were susceptible to a major portion of the pathogen population. The blast resistance genesPi-z, Pi-k ^h, Pi-l andPi-2 and their various combinations were construed to provide broad spectrum and durable blast resistance in Himachal Pradesh. Pathotype analysis revealed the existence of extremely high pathotypic diversity in the pathogen population. Based on the observed population structure forM. grisea, it was not possible to designate a minimum set of pathogen isolates that could be used in blast resistance screens to identify effective sources of blast resistance. The overall results suggested that the pathotype analysis alone is insufficient to describe the existing pathogenic variability, especially when this information has to be used for guiding the breeding programs aimed at developing durable blast resistance. However, population genetics approach of studying pathogenic specialization by monitoring the frequency of individual virulence genes and analyzing virulence gene combinations for their association or dissociation might generate useful information for developing durable blast resistance. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

Host Range of Oidium lycopersici Occurring in the Netherlands

Nine accessions of three cucurbit species, ten of eight legume species, three of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and 34 of 14 Solanaceae species were inoculated with a Dutch isolate of the tomato powdery mildew fungus (Oidium lycopersici) to determine its host range. Macroscopically, no fungal growth was visible on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), lettuce, petunia (Petunia spp.) and most legume species (Lupinus albus, L. luteus, L. mutabilis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vicia faba, Vigna radiata, V. unguiculata). Trace infection was occasionally observed on melon (Cucumis melo), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), courgette (Cucurbita pepo), pea (Pisum sativum) and Solanum dulcamara. Eggplant (Solanum melongena), the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and three wild potato species (Solanum albicans, S. acaule and S. mochiquense) were more heavily infected in comparison with melon, cucumber, courgette, pea and S. dulcamara, but the fungus could not be maintained on these hosts. All seven tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) accessions were as susceptible to O. lycopersici as tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv Moneymaker), suggesting that tobacco is an alternative host. This host range of the tomato powdery mildew differs from that reported in some other countries, which also varied among each other, suggesting that the causal agent of tomato powdery mildew in the Netherlands differ from that in those countries. Histological observations on 36 accessions showed that the defense to O. lycopersici was associated with a posthaustorial hypersensitive response.     

露地栽培番茄斑萎病毒病发生流行规律调查及TSWV重要寄主植物监测

为明确云南省昆明市露地栽培条件下番茄斑萎病毒病的发生流行特征,于2014—2015年采用病害系统调查法结合病毒ELISA及RT-PCR检测方法研究露地栽培条件下由番茄斑萎病毒(tomato spotted wilt virus,TSWV)引起的病毒病发生规律及其重要寄主种类,并研究利用防虫网隔离蓟马对番茄斑萎病毒病的防控效果。结果表明:番茄斑萎病毒病在露地番茄主要种植期3—10月普遍发生,番茄苗期和移栽初期是该病毒病防控的关键期,带毒种苗调运是该病毒病的主要传播途径;田间多种茄科和菊科植物是TSWV的重要中间寄主。在田间,菊科寄主植物油麦菜、莴苣、鬼针草、牛膝菊上TSWV的检出率均较高,在42.53%～81.63%之间;茄科寄主植物中辣椒上TSWV的检出率最高,为41.99%,其次为马铃薯,TSWV检出率为27.78%,在番茄上TSWV的检出率为19.02%,因此生产中应对这些TSWV重要中间寄主给予更多关注和防控。应用防虫网能有效隔离蓟马,使番茄斑萎病毒病发病率和病情指数较对照分别降低了6.44个百分点和5.31,可有效降低番茄苗期及定植期斑萎病毒病的发生。     

Development of an effective screening method for partial resistance to Alternaria brassicicola (dark leaf spot) in Brassica rapa

In order to develop a method to measure resistance to Alternaria brassicicola (cause of dark leaf spot disease) in Brassica rapa, the effects of inoculum concentration, leaf stage, leaf age and incubation temperature of inoculation on infection were studied under controlled conditions using several B. rapa genotypes. Three inoculation methods (cotyledon, detached leaf and seedling inoculation) were evaluated for this purpose. The detached leaf inoculation test was the most suitable for screening B. rapa genotypes because clear symptoms were observed on the leaves in less than 24 h, and there was a significant positive correlation between the results from the detached leaf inoculation test and the seedling inoculation test, an established method considered to yield reliable results. In addition, it was very easy to screen plants for resistance on a large scale and to maintain standard physical conditions using detached leaves. For successful infection, inoculum concentration should be adjusted to 5 × 10⁴ conidia ml⁻¹, and incubation temperature should be between 20 °C and 25 °C. The 3rd/4th true leaves from 30 day-old plants were optimal for inoculation. In a screening test using 52 cultivars of B. rapa, the detached leaf test effectively discriminated between various levels of partial resistance among cultivars. As a result, we identified two cultivars, viz Saori and Edononatsu, as highly resistant and five cultivars, viz Tokinashi Taisai, Yajima Kabu, Purara, Norin-F₁-Bekana and Tateiwa Kabu, as having borderline resistance.