Comparison of Physical, Chemical and Biological Methods of Controlling Garlic White Rot

Treatment of garlic cloves with tebuconazole (at 1ml of Folicur 25% l^–1) achieved a significant reduction in the rate of disease progress and the final incidence of plant death by Sclerotium cepivorum: garlic yields were improved. Although soil solarization provided the best control of garlic white rot, bringing soil populations of S. cepivorum to negligible levels, similar levels of disease control and garlic yields were achieved when tebuconazole was sprayed to stem bases of plants grown from cloves also treated with tebuconazole. This double treatment almost doubled the yield compared with untreated plants and significantly increased bulb quality under high disease pressure conditions. Soil solarization was also highly effective in a second consecutive crop of garlic, with significant improvements in yield and garlic quality. In contrast, lower levels of disease control were obtained when selected isolates of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis were applied to the soil and cloves respectively.     

准噶尔瓣囊顶冰花物候及地下鳞茎形态变化观察

鳞茎植物是生存于干旱荒漠环境中的一类重要生活型类群。鳞茎植物以地下鳞茎作为营养贮存器官,鳞茎内的芽以休眠状态渡过不利季节,而在水份与温度等环境条件适宜时的迅速反应,很快完成一年的生活周期。近几年B.Boenken等人对以色列内格夫荒漠的几种鳞茎植物进行了生态与生物学方面的研究,目前国内还未见有这方面的研究报道。本文对分布于准噶尔盆地荒漠的瓣囊顶冰花的物候学特征进行了野外观察,并解剖和观察了地下鳞茎在更替过程中的形态发育变化。     

Comparison of chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron for control of Allium vineale L.

The response of natural and planted stands of Allium vineale L. to chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron was determined in field experiments in Illinois, U.S.A., in 1982 and 1983. In natural stands very low rates of either herbicide controlled A. vineale. Chlorsulfuron, applied in the spring at 20 g ha^?1, reduced aerial bulblet production by 99% but when it was applied in the fall it reduced aerial bulblet production by only 59%. All rates of metsulfuron (5–20 g ha^?1), at both times of application, effected better than 94% reduction in plant density and yield of aerial bulblets. In a glasshouse experiment, plants derived from aerial bulblets were more susceptible to chlorsulfuron than plants derived from soft offset bulbs. Soft offset bulbs were, therefore, used to establish a uniform stand of A. vineale in the field. In this experiment, non-linear regression analysis showed that metsulfuron was two to three times more active than chlorsulfuron. GR₉₅ values calculated from the computed regression equations show that metsulfuron and chlorsulfuron, applied in April at 5 and 15 g ha^?1, respectively, reduced aerial and underground bulb production by 95%.     

Fusaric acid: phytotoxicity and in vitro production by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lilii,the causal agent of basal rot in lilies

The production of phytotoxins byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.lilii, a pathogen causing bulb and scale rot in lilies, was investigated. To determine the toxic activity of culture filtrate, a bioassay with in vitro grown scale bulblets or with callus was set up. The fungus produces toxic components in different culture media. The highest toxicity was observed in Czapek Dox medium. HPLC and GC/MS analyses revealed the presence of fusaric acid at toxic concentrations in this medium. The production of fusaric acid in time coincides with the increase of toxic activity in the culture filtrate. It is concluded that at least part of this toxicity is due to fusaric acid.     

Effect of some organic amendments on onion bulb rot

The effect of soil amended with stalks of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz) on onion bulb rot caused byFusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f.sp.cepae (Hanz.) Snyder Hansen andAspergillus niger v. Tieghem was tested in a soil naturally infested with the pathogens under field conditions. All treatments significantly reduced bulb rot incidence. The fungal and antibacterial populations varied among all of the amended tested soils. Heterotrophic fungal populations were more effective than heterotrophic bacterial populations in the suppression of disease. The highest population of fungal microflora was found in plots amended with sunflower stalks. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and available moisture content of amended soils have an indirect suppressive role on disease, by increasing the heterotrophic fungal population. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting June 18, 2002.     

Effects of low temperature on mycelial growth and spore germination of Botrytis allii in culture and on its pathogenicity to stored garlic bulbs

Botrytis allii was incubated at 20, 10,4, 2,0, – 2 and –4° to investigate effects of temperature on growth, sporulation and germination on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and to estimate incidence and severity of disease on garlic bulbs inoculated with the pathogen during storage. B. allii-was capable of growing to a colony diameter of 17 mm after 20 weeks, sporulating and germinating on PDA at temperature as low as – 4°C. After 12 weeks at –4 and -2°C the mycelial growth was observed only on 45–54% of bulbs wound-inoculated with conidial suspension, and infection was limited to 5 mm in diameter on the surface of inoculation sites without producing any symptoms of the disease. Temperature responses were similar for mycelial growth, conidial germination and infection, but mycelial growth and sporulation was slower and later on garlic bulbs than in culture. Wounds were readily colonized by B. allii. No disease was found on unwounded bulbs that were inoculated with conidial suspensions and with mycelial plugs at various temperatures. Only 16–95% of cloves became infected by contact with other cloves within the same bulb after 12 weeks of storage at temperatures of 4–20 C.     

Efficiency of eradication of four viruses from garlic (Allium sativum) by meristem-tip culture

Mechanical inoculation tests and ELISA with sap from garlic plants used for sanitation by meristem-tip culture revealed four viruses, viz. garlic common latent virus (GCLV) (carlavirus), the garlic strains of leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV-G), onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV-G) (aphid-borne potyviruses), and onion mite-borne latent virus (OMbLV-G) (taxonomically unassigned virus). The same tests performed on explants grownin vitro showed elimination efficiencies of 100% for LYSV-G, 92% for OYDV-G, 62% for GCLV, and less then 54% for OMbLV-G.Meristem tips excised from garlic cloves and bulbils, 0.15–1.0 mm in size, were tested for regeneration and efficiency of virus elimination after transfer to Murashige and Skoog medium. Successful regeneration into plantlets was obtained with 71% of the meristems from cloves and 72% of those from bulbils, but virus elimination was easiest from cloves: 38% of all explants from cloves and 25% of those from bulbils were virus-free. The efficiency of elimination increased with increasing weight of the cloves, irrespective of the virus. Small tip size seemed to favour virus elimination, but sizes smaller than 0.4 mm led to increasing failure of regeneration.Micropropagation was most successful when cytokinins were omitted from the medium and the garlic shoot was split. Multiplication factors of 3–6 were obtained.     

Aetiology of garlic rot,an emerging disease in France

The incidence of garlic rot has constantly increased in France since the early 2000s. To set up an efficient method of garlic protection against this disease, we have clarified its aetiology. This was achieved by surveying garlic from the two main French basins of garlic production over 3 years. Fungi were isolated from 5,493 garlic cloves belonging to pink, purple, and white garlic types. Sequencing of the translation elongation factor 1α gene of 1,171 strains revealed that 94% of the strains belonged to the species Fusarium proliferatum and 6% belonged to F. oxysporum. The pathogenicity of both species on garlic was confirmed by artificial inoculations and reisolations. There was significantly more F. oxysporum in garlic cloves with symptoms coming from the southeast basin (9.44%) than from the southwest basin (2.76%). This study confirms that garlic rot is present in pink, purple, and white types. However, pink type garlic harbours F. oxysporum significantly less frequently (1.59%) than white (9.39%) and purple (7.34%) types. Sequencing of rpb1, rpb2, ITS, and IGS regions of a subsample of strains revealed that there is little genetic diversity in the French population of F. proliferatum.     

Storability of onion bulbs contaminated by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> mold

In the course of pre- and postharvest epidemiological studies on bulbs contamination byAspergillus niger, two Sudanese onion cultivars were tested: ‘Saggai Red’ and ‘El-Hilo White’.A. niger spores, whether seedborne, soilborne or airborne, were avirulent to the healthy growing onion plants. The fungus heavily contaminated the dead onion tissues, mainly the dead leaves followed by the dry scales, the dead roots and, to a lesser extent, the bulb necks, preferring the red-skinned cultivar to the white one. The initial spores carried from naturally contaminated field soil on the dead tissues could germinate and produce massive numbers of new spores on bulbs stored at average climatic conditions of Sudan (23–39°C, 29–93% relative humidity). Under laboratory-controlled conditions, optimal growth occurred at 75–85% r.h. on bulbs with dry scales and maximum losses occurred at 100% r.h. and ambient temperature. Underin vitro conditions, the optimal growth and sporulation temperature forA. niger was in the range of 30–35°C. Early harvesting and removal of the dead onion tissues improved bulb storability in aseptic stores under low temperature and relative humidity conditions. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003.     

New mite-borne virus isolates from rakkyo,shallot and wild leek species

Flexuous viruses were transmitted from rakkyo (Allium chinense) and wild leek species (especiallyA. commutatum) to plants of crow garlic (A. vineale), by transfer of dry bulb mites. By electron microscope decoration tests using three antisera and by inoculations onto test plants, it was concluded that from each of the two natural host species at least two viruses were isolated. The viruses from wild leeks are both pathogenic onAllium spp. and may be of economic importance. Decoration tests on a virus mixture from shallot obtained earlier, revealed another new mite-borne virus in this species. The mite-borne viruses ofAllium spp. appear to be very common; they are largely diverse and their identification remains difficult.     

兰州百合枯萎病病原菌鉴定及罹病组织超微结构观察

为明确引起甘肃省兰州百合主产区百合枯萎病的致病镰孢菌种类,对从百合主产区枯萎病罹病植株上分离纯化的4株镰孢菌株进行形态学鉴定、分子生物学鉴定以及致病性测定,同时利用电子显微镜对尖孢镰孢菌Fusarium oxysporum侵入百合鳞片后的细胞超微结构进行观察。结果表明:4株镰孢菌菌株经鉴定分别为尖孢镰孢菌、茄病镰孢菌F. solani、三线镰孢菌F. tricinctum和燕麦镰孢菌F. avenaceum。4株镰孢菌菌株的致病力由强到弱的顺序依次是尖孢镰孢菌、燕麦镰孢菌、茄病镰孢菌、三线镰孢菌;尖孢镰孢菌侵入后,鳞片细胞壁、细胞质膜和细胞核结构被破坏,细胞核附近出现大量线粒体,细胞中淀粉粒数量减少。表明尖孢镰孢菌是兰州百合枯萎病防治的重点防控对象。     

Resistance to fusarium basal rot of onion in greenhouse and field and associated expression of antifungal compounds

Greenhouse and field evaluations of onion for resistance to Fusarium basal rot caused byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.cepae were conducted on cultivars ‘Akgün 12’ and ‘Rossa Savonese’ previously described as resistant at the seedling stage. In the greenhouse experiments inoculations were carried out on seeds or soil; in the field experiments evaluation was performed on onion sets from plants grown in naturally infested soils. Akgün 12 and to a lesser extent Rossa Savonese were resistant to the disease at the bulb stage in all experiments. Results were also consistent with those obtained from a previous screening at the seedling stage. Onion sets were also extracted and fractionated by thin layer chromatography to determine their content of antifungal compounds. Extracts were characterized by the expression of distinct antifungal components, which may be involved in resistance to the pathogen. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

Pathogenic variation and molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> species isolated from wilted Welsh onion in Japan

Thirty-two isolates of Fusarium species were obtained from wilted Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) grown on nine farms from six regions in Japan and identified as F. oxysporum (18 isolates), F. verticillioides (7 isolates), and F. solani (7 isolates). The pathogenicity of 32 isolates was tested on five commercial cultivars of Welsh onion and two cultivars of bulb onion in a seedling assay in a greenhouse. The Fusarium isolates varied in the degree of disease severity on the cultivars. Five F. oxysporum isolates (08, 15, 17, 22, and 30) had a higher virulence on the cultivars than the other isolates. The host range of these five isolates was limited to Allium species. Molecular characterization of Fusarium isolates was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA. The 32 isolates were grouped into eight types (four types for F. oxysporum, one for F. verticillioides, and three for F. solani). Restriction patterns of the ITS region were not related to pathogenicity. However, the haplotypes obtained with five enzymes (RsaI, HinfI, HaeIII, ScrFI, and MspI) and the phylogenetic analysis permitted the discernment of the three Fusarium species. The PCR-RFLP analysis should provide a rapid, simple method for differentiating Fusaruim species isolated from wilted Welsh onion in Japan.     

Control of Citrus Green and Blue Molds with Garlic Extracts

Water and ethanol extracts of garlic cloves were applied to artificially inoculated citrus fruits to test their efficacy in the control of Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum, the cause of citrus green and blue mold respectively. Extracts were tested either alone, or in combination with vegetable (sunflower) cooking oil or fruit wax at the rate of (0.1% v/v), using two orange cultivars (Valencia and Shamouti), and grapefruit. Treated fruits were stored at 10±1 °C, and 90–95% relative humidity for 30 days. All concentrations of extracts were more effective than the water control in inhibiting the growth and development of both pathogens, but were not as effective as the fungicide treatment (imazalil 500 ppm + quazatine 1000 ppm). A remarkable increase in the activity of garlic extracts was observed when extracts were mixed with oil. Consequently, the treatment comprising 1% extract plus oil was as effective (100% control) as the fungicide treatment in controlling both green and blue molds on Valencia oranges.     

Resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">hirsutum</Emphasis> Dierckx in garlic accessions

Among the factors affecting the quality and yield of garlic production, blue mold caused by -- Penicillium spp. -- is responsible for economical losses in many countries. Allicin, present in garlic bulbs, has been suggested as having antifungal activity against some Penicillium species. This study was conducted to evaluate the response of garlic accessions against Penicillium hirsutum infection and to compare this response with bulb allicin content. Twelve garlic accessions were inoculated with P. hirsutum, and assayed in greenhouse and growth chamber experiments. Plant growth parameters and the fungal production of conidia were evaluated. Significant differences were found among the accessions. Accessions Castaño and Morado were most resistant whereas AR-I-125 and Fuego were always severely affected by the disease. A low correlation was found (r = 0.17) between allicin content and tolerance, indicating that allicin is not the main factor involved in the resistance against P. hirsutum.     

Induced resistance against Fusarium diseases of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cymbidium</Emphasis> species by weakly virulent strain HPF-1 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> sp.)

The mechanism by which Fusarium diseases of cymbidium plants are suppressed by a weakly virulent strain HPF-1 of Fusarium sp. was studied. Strain HPF-1 produced microscopic, necrotic local lesions on cymbidium leaves, causing minor damage to palisade tissues at the infection sites. This weakly virulent strain remained near the site of infection and did not develop further. It systemically and nonselectively suppressed some diseases of cymbidium such as yellow spot of leaves caused by Fusarium proliferatum and F. fractiflexum, bulb and root rot caused by F. oxysporum, and dry rot of bulbs and roots caused by F. solani. Because endogenous salicylic acid levels increased in cymbidium leaves inoculated with strain HPF-1, the mechanism of disease suppression is thought to be systemic acquired resistance.     

Bacterial leaf and peduncle soft rot caused byPectobacterium carotovorum on tulips in Konya, Turkey

The etiology of a new soft rot disease of tulips, causing leaf spots, leaf blight, neck and bulb rot in Konya, Turkey, was investigated. This disease occurred in tulip fields grown for seed bulbs of various varieties in 2002. Bacteria were isolated from the lesions on leaf, bud neck and bulbs and the causal bacterium was identified asPectobacterium carotovorum on the basis of biochemical and physiological tests. Cells were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, fermentative, potato-rot positive. Colonies were capable of growth at 37°C. On nutrient agar the colonies were creamy-white. The isolates were non-fluorescent on King’s B medium, positive for acetoin production, gelatin liquefaction, acid-production-from-lactose, and catalase; and negative for gas from glucose, reducing substances from sucrose, and phosphatase activity. Additionally, tests for egg yolk (lecithin), sensitivity to erythromycin, and pigmentation on yeast dextrose carbonate agar were negative; growth on 5% sodium chloride was positive. All the bacterial isolates obtained from the leaf, bud neck and bulbs produced the original symptoms following inoculation to the susceptible tulip variety ‘Gander’. The rate of damage caused by this bacterium was evaluated on several tulip varieties under field and storage conditions. Gander was the most susceptible variety in the field whereas ‘Salmon Parrot’ exhibited the highest rate of bulb rot in storage. Disease severity was lower in 2003 than 2002. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

Fusaric Acid Production by Fusarium Oxysporum f.sp. lilii and its Role in the Lily Basal Rot Disease

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lilii (Fol), the causal agent of lily basal rot, produced fusaric acid (FA) in aseptic culture. This toxin induced phytotoxicity symptoms on in vitro-grown lily bulblets of two different cultivars: the Fol-susceptible cultivar was more sensitive to the toxin than the Fol-resistant cultivar. When cultured in the presence of FA, the Fol-susceptible cultivar showed a greater tendency to accumulate FA within its tissues than the Fol-resistant cultivar. The polyphenol oxidase activity of the bulblets was inhibited by 1mmolL^–1 FA in both the cultivars, while at lower FA concentrations the enzyme activity increased only in the Fol-susceptible cultivar. Peroxidase showed a steady activity at the 1mmolL^–1 FA concentration in both the cultivars, while at lower FA dosages its activity increased. Within the Fol-infected in vivo tissues of both the lily cultivars, FA was detectable only in traces. The role of this toxin in the lily basal rot disease seems therefore to be of marginal importance.     

Characterisation of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens Pathovars by AFLP, rep-PCR and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

The bacterial species Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens encompasses a group of closely related phytopathogens subdivided into pathovars that exhibit differences in host range. To date, reliable differentiation of pathovars and identification of unknown isolates to the pathovar-level can only be achieved on the basis of host testing. In this study, representative strains from C. flaccumfaciens pathovars and related species were examined using a range of genomic fingerprinting techniques to ascertain their application as additional or potential alternatives to host testing. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and repetitive sequence polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) analyses enabled the categorisation of some, but not all strains, in their respective pathovars. In contrast, all strains were correctly assigned to pathovars using HindIII and XbaI macro-restriction digests in conjunction with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Fingerprints generated by PFGE not only supported the current pathovar rankings within C. flaccumfaciens, they also identified subgroups within pathovars flaccumfaciens, oortii and poinsettiae.