Growth,Fiber and Nitrogen Content in Sisal Plants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Furcraea</Emphasis> sp) Under NaCl Salinity

Soil contains water and nutrients necessary for the development of cultivated plants and serves as a substrate and support in terrestrial ecosystems. For reasons inherent to the nature of soil, salt content can considerably limit the growth of plants. With the implementation of salinity-tolerant crops, saline soils can be transformed into productive and sustainable areas. In Tunja, Colombia, a trial was developed to quantify the changes in growth, water intake, fiber, nitrogen and chlorophyll content in Furcraea hexapetala plants exposed to NaCl saline conditions. Plantlets obtained from bulbs were grown in an aerated nutrient solution under greenhouse conditions. Measurements of 30, 60 or 90?mmol NaCl was added to the nutrient solution and control plants were left without addition of salt. As a consequence of salinity, leaf area, leaf area ratio, water uptake, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, fiber content, dry matter, chlorophyll and nitrogen content in leaves were reduced. The accumulation of dry matter in leaves, stem and roots was especially affected when the plants were exposed to 90?mmol of NaCl. Accumulated dry matter increased in the stems, but reduced in the leaves. These results suggest that plants of Furcraea hexapetala can tolerate up to 60?mmol of NaCl (4.9?dS?m^?1) without substantially affecting the parameters that determine the growth or the fiber content in the leaves.     

Effect of Iron Excess on Growth of Sisal Plants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Furcraea hexapetala</Emphasis>)

In order to evaluate the effect of excess iron on the growth of sisal (Furcraea hexapetala) plants, an experiment was carried out in Tunja, Colombia, under greenhouse conditions. The plants were grown in a substrate in which 100, 150, 200 and 300?ppm of Fe were added. Control plants were provided without the addition of iron. The Chlorophyll Content Index, dry matter, and root to shoot ratio were gradually reduced as the Fe content in the substrate increased. Leaf area, relative growth rate, absolute growth rate, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area were significantly reduced with the higher doses of Fe. In addition, dry matter partitioning was altered in relation to the control plants and a lower allocation of dry matter in the roots of plants exposed to the higher Fe content was observed. Sisal plants are moderately tolerant to the excess Fe, however when exposed to 300?ppm of the metal, growth is drastically reduced.     

Tolerance of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Plants to Partial Defoliation

Vegetables in the tropics are grown continuously throughout the year due to the favorable climate. Unfortunately, leafy vegetables are often damaged because of slugs and snails. These mollusks and other herbivores cause different levels of defoliation to plants which can significantly impact their growth, production, and quality of the harvested product. A study was carried out in order to artificially simulate the effect of a loss in foliar area caused by these pests. The impact of severe artificial defoliation in spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea) was evaluated in Tunja, Colombia. Under greenhouse conditions and after transplanting, the plants had 75% of their leaf area removed. This procedure was repeated weekly on newly emerging leaves while a control group of plants was left intact. 71 days after transplanting, the plants were harvested, and the leaf area and dry weight of the plants were measured with which some allometric variables were calculated to express growth. Variables such as the number of leaves, plant height, total dry weight, relative growth ratio, leaf weight ratio (LWR), and root to shoot ratio (R:S) were unaffected by defoliation while leaf area, leaf area ratio (LAR), and specific leaf area (SLA) were reduced with the partial removal of the leaf area. The partial defoliation resulted in an increased partial biomass of the leaves. These results suggest that spinach plants have a moderate tolerance to partial defoliation.

     

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Vicia Faba Plants to Foliar Application of Zinc and Iron

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential nutrients for plant growth and development. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the role of Zn and Fe on vegetative growth, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, soluble protein, nitrate reductase (NR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), minerals content, amino acid composition fraction, isozymes, and protein electrophoresis in faba bean plants foliar sprayed with FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄. The results revealed that foliar spray with 1 or 3 g/L of FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄ significantly increased all the abovementioned parameters compared to control plants. The activity of esterase increased with increasing concentration of Fe and Zn as compared to control plants. The most pronounced increase was found in plants treated with 3 g/L ZnSO₄. Three bands of peroxidase isozyme were exhibited with different densities and intensities in all treatments. Three types of modification were observed in the protein patterns of faba bean leaves. Some protein bands disappeared, while other increased and synthesis of a new set of proteins was induced. It could be concluded that foliar spray with the two concentrations (1 or 3 g/L) of ZnSO₄ and FeSO₄ helped faba bean plants to overcome the deficiency in these minerals by producing antioxidant enzymes. Improved faba bean growth through adequate Fe and Zn foliar spray is likely a promising strategy to improve Vicia faba plants.     

Influence of Nitric Oxide Application on Some Biochemical Aspects,Endogenous Hormones,Minerals and Phenolic Compounds of Vicia faba Plant Grown under Arsenic Stress

Arsenic is a non-essential and toxic heavy metal, which can cause physiological disorder in plants. The present study was undertaken to examine the possible roles of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a donor of NO) in protection against oxidative damage due to arsenic (As) toxicity in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plants. In this study, we measured physiochemical parameters (photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, endogenous hormones, minerals and phenolic contents) in faba bean plants exposed to AS (100, 200 and 400 µM) alone or combined with NO (100 µM). The results showed that application of all concentrations of arsenic (100, 200 and 400 µM) induced decrease on growth parameters, seed yield, photosynthetic pigments, phytohormones, minerals contents (N^3?, P^3?, K⁺, Ca²⁺?and Mg²⁺) as compared to control plants but increased lipid peroxidation, Na?⁺ and total phenolic compounds fraction. Foliar application of 100 µM NO reversed the inhibition induced by As treatment. In addition, arsenic was undetected in harvested seeds at all applied concentrations of arsenic. Therefore, it could be concluded that NO might account for the alleviating effect of As stress on Vicia faba plants.     

Weed Suppression of Living Mulch in Sugar Beets

Weed suppression in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris.) is commonly achieved with two to three post-emergent herbicide applications across the entire field. Field studies were performed, in order to investigate the weed suppressing ability of Medicago lupulina, Trifolium subterraneum and a mixture of Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis as living mulches in sugar beet at four locations in South Germany during 2014 and 2015. Living mulches were sown 2 and 30 days after sowing (DAS) of sugar beet. Weed densities ranged from 0 to 143 plants m^?2 with Chenopodium album, Polygonum convolvulus and Polygonum aviculare being the most abundant weed species. It has been found that living mulches could reduce herbicide input up to 65?%. Weed suppression of living mulch was highest with Trifolium subterraneum (71?%). The early sown living mulches (2 DAS) revealed a 28 g m^?2 higher biomass compared to late sowing (30 DAS). However, no any linear correlation was found between living mulch biomass and weed suppression. White sugar yield (WSY) was highest in the herbicide treatments (12.6 t ha^?1). Trifolium subterraneum yielded the highest WSY of the living mulches with 11.1 t ha^?1 across all locations. Our work reveals that living mulch can play a major role in integrated plant protection by reducing herbicides in sugar beet production.     

Field Monitoring and Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Against Chamomile Stem Weevil Microplontus rugulosus and Chamomile Smooth Beetle Olibrus aeneus Under Greenhouse Conditions

Chamomile Matricaria recutita (L.) is an ancient healing plant; it is used for a sore stomach, a mild laxative, anti-inflammatory and a gentle sleep aid. Chamomile plants are infested by chamomile stem-weevil Microplontus rugulosus (Col., Curculionidae) and chamomile smooth beetle Olibrus aeneus (Col., Phalacridae), and can lead to a high reduction in chamomile yield. This work aimed to survey M. rugulosus and O. aeneus by different monitoring methods as well as to manage them by using entomopathogenic nematodes.     

The Eurotiomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apinisia graminicola</Emphasis> as the causal agent of a leaf spot disease on the energy crop <Emphasis Type="Italic">Miscanthus</Emphasis> x <Emphasis Type="Italic">giganteus</Emphasis> in Northern Germany

Miscanthus x giganteus is a fast growing, perennial energy crop for temperate climates. Because of its high annual biomass production rates and its characteristics as a low-input crop, an expansion of field cultivation can be anticipated to cover increasing demands for sustainable biomass production. However, knowledge about pathogens that could have an impact on biomass production is still limited for M. giganteus. Here, we report about the isolation of the filamentous fungus Apinisia graminicola from necrotic leaf lesions of M. giganteus grown on a field trial plot in Northern Germany. Inoculation assays with the isolated A. graminicola strain confirmed its capacity to cause a leaf spot disease on M. giganteus. Additional inoculation assays revealed that A. graminicola also caused necrotic lesions on leaves of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon. Generally, symptoms of A. graminicola-caused leaf spot disease were stronger on B. distachyon compared to M. giganteus. Incubation temperatures above 22 °C during A. graminicola infection resulted in stronger disease symptoms on both, M. giganteus and B. distachyon leaves. Microscopic analysis of cross sectioned, infected leaf tissue revealed an epiphytic mycelium formation on the surface and an endophytic colonization of the mesophyll leave tissue, especially in M. giganteus. Our results revealed that the isolated A. graminicola strain is a causal agent of a leaf spot disease on grass leaves. Its potential on endophytic growth in M. giganteus might open new possibilities in studying this type of plant-fungal interaction on a cellular and molecular level in an energy crop.     

Efficacy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria Bassiana</Emphasis> for the Management of Economically Important Wireworm Species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in Organic Farming

Wireworms, the larvae of click beetle species Agriotes lineatus, A. obscurus and A. sputator are serious pests for several field crops. They are considered severe pests of potato tubers and the damages caused by them can be resulted a significant loss especially in organic crop production. Since synthetic insecticides are prohibited in Organic Farming; biological control methods have to be used in organic crop production. In the current study naturalis Beauveria bassianaa strain ATCC 74040 was used both under laboratory and field conditions using wheat and potato crops as a food source respectively. Fungus showed a significant mortality in high number of wireworms boxes (50%) compared to low number of wireworms (17%) and untreated boxes (13%) respectively. However, seed germination showed no effect in all three categories. Field data have shown mixed results when B. bassiana has been applied in a variety of application methods. Maximum infestation (3.99%) was recorded in untreated plots; while significantly lower damage (1.11%) was recorded in whole surface treated plots. During first year all the treatments were significantly different from each other; however, no significant differences were noted between furrows and whole surface applications but were different from control treatment during second year of experimentation. The results showed that the biological control of wireworms by using entomopathogenic fungi, such as B. bassiana is a promising target specific option without disturbing the other communities in the soil.     

Pathogenicity and Fungicide Sensitivity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">R. cerealis</Emphasis> Isolates

The Rhizoctonia solani species consists of multinucleate isolates that belong to anastomosis groups AG1–AG3 and differ in virulence and host affinity. R. cerealis is a binucleate species of anastomosis group AG-D which causes sharp eyespot, a common plant disease in Poland. Rhizoctonia spp. is a ubiquitous soil pathogen that poses a significant threat for global crop production due to the absence of effective crop protection products. The aim of this study was to determine the virulence of R. solani and R. cerealis isolates towards Beta vulgaris, Zea mays, Triticum spelta and T. aestivum seedlings, to confirm the presence of endopolygalacturonase genes pg1 and pg5 in the genomes of the tested isolates and to evaluate the tested isolates’ sensitivity to triazole, strobilurin, imidazole and carboxamide fungicides. All tested isolates infected B. vulgaris seedlings. but none of them were virulent against Z. mays plants. R. solani isolates AG4 PL and AG2-2IIIB PL were characterized by the highest virulence (average infestation score of 2.37 and 2.53 points on a scale of 0–3 points) against sugar beet seedlings. The prevalence of infections caused by most of the analysed isolates (in particular R. solani AG4 J—11.8, and R. cerealis RC2—0.78) was higher in spelt than in bread wheat. The virulence of the analysed isolates was not correlated with the presence of pg1 and pg5 genes. The efficacy of the tested fungicides in controlling Rhizoctonia spp. infections was estimated at 100% (propiconazole + cyproconazole), 98.8% (penthiopyrad), 95.4% (tebuconazole) and 78.3% (azoxystrobin).     

Estimation of Nuclear DNA Content and Determination of Relationship Between Altitude and Genome Size of USDA Turkish Oat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Avena</Emphasis> spp.) Collection

Crop improvement is an important approach to overcome challenges raised from future uncertainties of agricultural systems and growing human population. The fundamental need for such improvement efforts is the availability of well characterized plant germplasm with sufficient genetic diversity. The 2C DNA is defined as the nuclear DNA content of an unreplicated diploid cell (in G1 phase) and is used both to get an estimate of genome size and ploidy level. Flow cytometry provides accurate and fast estimation of the genome size of plants. The genus Avena belongs to Poaceae (Gramineae) family and includes approximately 30 species including common oat (A. sativa). There are 837 Avena accessions in the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Germplasm Resources Information Network (USDA-GRIN) collected from Turkey. This also is the largest ex situ Avena collection from Turkey. However, initial genomic characterization of the collection has not yet been conducted. We estimated genome sizes and determined ploidy levels of Turkish oat collection. Nuclear DNA content of accessions ranged from 25.66 to 26.56?pg for A. sativa, from 25.48 to 26.88?pg for A. sterilis and from 24.85 to 26.41?pg for A. fatua. The average and range values for all three hexaploid species were in a similar close range. The range for putative tetraploid accessions belonging to A. barbata was from 12.79 to 16.90?pg. We found a number of aggregates. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation found between altitude and genome size. Obtained results will help to better utilize Avena collection in breeding efforts.     

Production of oospores by Peronospora viciae f.sp. fabae

Oospore production inVicia faba, cv. Metissa, was quantified in the field after plants had been inoculated with a sporangium suspension of a homothallic isolate ofPeronospora viciae f.sp.fabae. Oospores were produced abundantly during the hole growing season from 3 weeks after inoculation on. Oospores were found in all plant parts above soil level, except in the seeds. Most oospores were found in the leaves. Less oospores were formed in leaves inoculated in an older stage than in those inoculated in a younger stage. Towards the end of the season, in August, numbers of oospores in pods strongly increased.Oospore production in leaves of three cultivars, Metissa, Toret and Maris Bead, was studied in growth chambers at 5, 10, 15 and 20 °C at 16 h light. Oospores were formed earlier at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. The ultimate numbers of oospores produced in leaves were highest at 10 and 15 °C. Similar numbers of oospores were formed in leaves of cultivars Metissa and Toret. In leaves of cv. Maris Bead significant less oospores were produced than in leaves of cv. Metissa and cv. Toret. Total numbers of oospores produced were not related to the level of host plant resistance to downy mildew. The percentage of asexually sporulating leaf area, assessed in a resistance test, was largest in cv. Metissa and smallest in cv. Toret.     

Disease resistance in Vicia faba and Phaseolus vulgaris

Droplets of spore suspensions of each of four isolates ofBotrytis cinerea but not those of each of four isolates ofB. fabae proved to contain an antifungal compound 24 h after application on pod tissue ofVicia faba. Partial inhibition of germ-tube growth of three highly pathogenic isolates ofB. fabae was caused at 2.5 times the concentration of inhibitor needed to cause similar inhibition of each isolate ofB. cinerea and a weakly pathogenic isolate ofB. fabae. After extraction, concentration and chromatographic separation, 5–10 times more inhibitor was obtained from lesions in pods caused byB. cinerea than from those caused byB. fabae. However, the amounts of inhibitor extracted from whole leaves bearing either large lesions caused byB. fabae or small lesions caused byB. cinerea were almost the same. It is suggested that infection by either fungus induces inhibitor formation, but thatB. fabae metabolizes the inhibitor to an inactive form.No relation was found between amounts of an inhibitor produced in droplets of spore suspensions 24 h after application on pods of differential varieties ofPhaseolus vulgaris and the disease reactions caused by races ofColletotrichum lindemuthianum. Each race appeared to have a similar sensitivity to the inhibitor. Anatomical studies showed that only superficial growth of germ-tubes occurred in seed cavities in the first two days, after which penetration took place. Resistant or susceptible reactions were distinguished after 6 days in young pods, and even later in old pods. Before rejecting the hypothesis that the inhibitor may have a role in the mechanism of disease resistance, amounts of inhibitor in and around infection sites on leaves or stems should be measured. Apparent protection of leaf areas against infection was caused by prior inoculation with a race which was avirulent on the leaf. This phenomenon is consistent with the action of an inhibitor of the type found in pod tissues, but could be caused by reactions as yet unknown.     

Mitigation of Salt Stress Negative Effects on Sweet Pepper Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis> and Brassinosteroids (BRs)

A study was conducted at the experimental farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, during two successive summer seasons (2014 and 2015) to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus irradicans 10% w/w), Bacillus megaterium (10?ml/pot) and brassinosteroids (24-EBL, C₂₈H₄₈O_6; 2?µM) on growth, nutrient absorption, chlorophyll, proline content, antioxidant enzymes activity and fruit yield of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. Marconi. Plants were grown under three levels of salinity (0, 25 and 50?mM). The obtained results showed that plants grown under non-saline water (0?mM NaCl), with or without treatments, significantly gave the most vigorous vegetative growth and had the highest fruit yield compared with those grown under salt stress conditions. All anti-salinity treatments (Mycorrhiza, Bacillus and Brassinosteroids) improved growth when compared with untreated plants (control). Plants inoculated with mycorrhiza or treated with brassinosteroids showed better vegetative growth and shoot biomass (total fresh and dry weight per plant), chlorophyll a and b concentrations, antioxidant content expressed as total soluble phenols and proline concentrations at all studied salinity levels followed by plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium compared with control plants which showed severe growth retardant especially under higher salt concentration (50?mM). Carotenoids concentration increased proportionally with the increase of salinity concentration. The maximum leaf relative water content (LRWC) and lowest values of membrane permeability (MP) were significantly observed with mychorhiza inoculated plants and brassinosteroid application respectively, followed by Bacillus inoculated plants. Antioxidant enzyme activity were highest in plants irrigated with moderate saline water (25?mM) than plants under high salinity irrigation water (50?mM) except polyphenol oxidase (PPO) as compared with unstressed plants (0?mM). Mycorrhizal inoculated plants accumulated higher K and lower Na and Cl followed by plants treated with brassinosteroids and then plants inoculated with Bacillus megaterium. Anti-salinity treatments positively enhanced fruit yield of sweet pepper plants under all salinity stress levels and the highest fruit yield were significantly observed with brassinosteroid application followed by mychorhiza inoculated plants and then Bacillus inoculated plants.     

Soil applications of acibenzolar-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-methyl induce defense gene expression in tomato plants against bacterial spot

Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a plant activator known to induce plant resistance, has been used as foliar sprays to manage several plant diseases including bacterial spot on tomato caused by four distinct Xanthomonas species. This study aimed to investigate the effects of soil application rates of ASM on bacterial spot of tomato and the expression levels of the two pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, PR1a and PR1b, in leaf tissues. Tomato seedlings were leaf-applied with ASM at 18.8 mg/l corresponding to the labeled rate, soil-applied with ASM at 0.84 and 10 mg/l, and sprayed with water served as an untreated control. The soil application of ASM at 10 mg/l consistently reduced the final disease severity and disease progress compared to the untreated control in four growth chamber experiments, whereas the soil application of ASM at 0.84 mg/l and foliar spray of ASM significantly reduced the final disease severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) in three out of the four experiments. The expression levels of PR1a and PR1b in the leaf tissues were significantly induced by both soil and foliar applications of ASM. In addition, field trial results suggested that the soil applications of ASM at 10 mg/l markedly reduced disease progress compared to the control and copper standard. Although the control efficiency of soil applications of ASM depends on rates used, this study suggests that ASM can be used as soil applications to induce tomato resistance against bacterial spot.     

Competence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankliniella occidentalis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankliniella intonsa</Emphasis> strains as vectors for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus</Emphasis>

The vector competence of Frankliniella occidentalis for Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV) was evaluated. Three vector strains with distinct competences for Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) transmission were investigated, including an artificially selected strain (TsH) that has a particularly high competence (>90 %). Newly hatched larvae of F. occidentalis were given an acquisition access period of 5 days on CSNV-infected D. stramonium leaves, and reared to maturity. Their transmission efficiencies were examined using a leaf disk assay using Petunia x hybrida leaves. Following the leaf disk assay, the virus accumulation in the vectors was examined via a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) of their bodies. The results showed that the CSNV acquisition and transmission efficiency of the TsH strain did not differ from those of the others, indicating that the competence of F. occidentalis as a vector for CSNV is not related to that for TSWV. The CSNV transmission and acquisition efficiencies of two F. intonsa strains (Hiroshima and Fukuoka) were also evaluated. In Hiroshima strain, 35 % of adults were viruliferous, but only two transmitters (3 %) were observed. In Fukuoka strain, 6 % were viruliferous, and no transmitters were observed. These results indicate that F. intonsa cannot be a major vector for CSNV. The accumulation of CSNV in the adults of F. occidentalis and F. intonsa evaluated using DAS-ELISA showed a significant difference in ELISA values among transmitter, viruliferous non-transmitter, and non-viruliferous individuals. These results clearly demonstrated that only transmitters that accumulated a threshold quantity of virus can transmit CSNV to plants.     

Evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe vera</Emphasis> Gel as an Alternative Edible Coating for Peach Fruits During Cold Storage Period

Application of bio-based edible coatings, which are in line with sustainable agriculture practices, has been a hot topic in recent years. In order to evaluate the effect of Aloe vera L. gel coating, on the store ability of peach fruits, a 30-day postharvest experiment with 10-day sampling intervals was performed. A. vera gel coating had significant positive effects on the weight loss, color change, and sensory evaluation. The amount of weight loss, color change, Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and Titratable Acidity (TA) in coating was lower than control. Furthermore, our results showed that A. vera gel coating can enhance visual properties, and could also lead in more favourable taste and texture. Regarding the obtained results, it can be suggested that A. vera gel coating can enhance the qualitative and quantitative post-harvest traits of fruits, hence, it could be a suitable alternative for chemicals preservative in commercial storage of peach fruits.     

The occurrence of rust disease,and biochemical and physiological responses on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apocynum venetum</Emphasis> plants grown at four soil water contents,following inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melampsora apocyni</Emphasis>

We studied the development of rust disease, and biochemical and physiological responses, on Apocynum venetum plants inoculation with Melampsora apocyni that were growing in a greenhouse at four relative soil water contents. The soil conditions were 25% (severe drought), 50% (mild drought), 75% (optimal) and 100% (waterlogging) relative soil water content. Plants exposed to drought and waterlogging stress had a lower number of open stomata before inoculation, corresponding with the disease index on the 10th day after inoculation being lower than that of the optimal soil water condition. Inoculated plants exposed to severe and mild drought stress had a gradually enhanced resistance to the rust disease from the 10th day after inoculation, corresponding with the enhanced activity of polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonialyase. For the inoculated plants exposed to severe drought stress, hydrogen peroxide always remained at the highest level for any treatment, and they had a rapidly enhanced activity of peroxidase, two factors that were associated with suppression of disease development. A. venetum plants exposed to double stress of waterlogging and disease had a high activity of peroxidase that not only removed reactive oxygen to prevent or reduce cell injury but also enhanced resistance to the rust disease. In addition, a rapidly enhanced activity of phenylalanine ammonialyase in the waterlogging condition from the 25th day after inoculation was also associated with an enhanced resistance to the rust disease. Drought and waterlogging stress had a negative effect on the leaf photosystem, and in particular, there was a significant decrease in the net photosynthetic rate with an increase in the duration and degree of drought stress, and this lead to a statistically significant decrease in the weight of aboveground tissue compared with that of plants under optimal soil water condition (P < 0.05). Inoculating with M. apocyni had a slight effect on photosynthesis of plants during early disease development, but the physiological function of diseased leaves under the drought stress was damaged more seriously than that of non-inoculated plants in later disease development, leading to a large reduction in the net photosynthetic rate. However, this reduction did not cause a statistically significant (P > 0.05) decrease in the weight of aboveground tissue compared with that of non-inoculated plants under drought stress.     

Improved assessment of mycelial growth stimulation by low doses of mefenoxam in plant pathogenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Globisporangium</Emphasis> species

Globisporangium Uzuhashi, Tojo & Kakish. (syn. Pythium Pringsheim) species cause many plant diseases, including Pythium damping-off, leaf and fruit blights, and root rots. Fungicide resistant isolates are selected by repeated use of a single active ingredient on infected crops without rotation. Previous studies demonstrated increased pathogenicity and radial growth in a mefenoxam resistant isolate of Pythium aphanidermatum when exposed to sub-lethal doses of fungicides and ethanol. In those studies, reproducibility of in vitro assays was difficult to achieve due to large variations among trials. This study aimed to examine two protocols for improved reproducibility during the assessment of biphasic dose-responses in mefenoxam-resistant isolates of Globisporangium ultimum and G. irregulare. Two different growth related endpoints, total growth area and total dry mass weight, were assessed. Assays were conducted using ten concentrations of mefenoxam ranging from 0.01 to 1,000 μg/ml. Statistically-significant stimulatory effects were observed in the two Globisporangium species using the two growth related endpoints. Because of its better reproducibility, mycelial growth area is recommended as an endpoint for future studies of chemical hormesis on growth of Globisporangium spp.     

Efficacy of some rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and as seed coating for the control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium culmorum</Emphasis> infecting durum wheat in Tunisia

Sixty two rhizospheric and endophytic bacterial strains were evaluated for their biocontrol effect on two aggressive Fusarium culmorum isolates (Fc2 and Fc3). We observed that 35 % and 23 % of the tested strains inhibited the in vitro growth of Fc2 and Fc3 respectively. The observed antagonism was due to inhibition by contact (13–19 % of the strains) or at distance (10–16 % of the strains) for both fungal isolates. Some of the antagonistic bacteria showed the ability to produce diffuse and/or volatile compounds that inhibit the growth, the sporulation and macroconidia germination of F. culmorum. None of the tested antagonistic bacteria showed chitinase activity on synthetic medium. The sequencing of the 16S rDNA genes of some antagonistic bacteria showed that they belong to the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Microbacterium. The double inoculation of durum wheat seeds by the antagonistic bacterial strains (B13, B18, BSE1, BSE3 and B16E) and the two F. culmorum isolates showed that germination and seedling vigor were generally improved in vitro. The percentage of infected seeds was also reduced. In greenhouse trials, the biocontrol effectiveness of F. culmorum was dependant from the virulence of the fungal strain and the specificity of the antagonistic interaction between bacterial and fungal strains. The bacterial strains B18 and B16E reduced F. culmorum infection on durum wheat plants probably due to their antagonistic and plant growth promoting activities and they may be used in a mixture as seed biopriming inoculum for plant growth bio-promoting and Fusarium wheat diseases biocontrol.