Mycorrhiza induced resistance in potato plantlets challenged by Phytophthora infestans

Biological control of soil-borne pathogens by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has been repeatedly demonstrated. However, their role in the control of above-ground hemibiotrophic pathogens is less conclusive. Here, we investigated in vitro the impact of an AM fungus on Phytophthora infestans in potato plants. The leaf infection index was decreased in mycorrhizal potato plants. Real-Time Quantitative PCR revealed the induction of two pathogenesis related genes (PR1 and PR2) in the leaves of mycorrhizal plants shortly after infection with P. infestans. These results suggested a systemic resistance in mycorrhizal plants, related to the priming of the two PR genes in potato.     

Effect of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne fungal diseases of potato

Effects of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne pathogens and on the performance of potato were investigated in five field experiments. Rotations differed in cropping frequency of potato and in crop sequence.Incidence of stem canker caused byRhizoctonia solani was strongly influenced by the cropping frequency of potato and not by crops with which the potato was alternated in the rotation. Cropping frequency of potato also affected the occurrence of black scurf, but less pronounced than for stem canker. The antagonistVerticillium bigutatum slightly reducedR. solani (black scurf) in plots on sandy soil continuously cropped with potato. Incidence of stem canker was also strongly affected by granular nematicides applied to the soil, nitrogen level and the cultivar grown.     

Rapid Identification of Clavibacter michiganensis Subspecies Sepedonicus based on the Stable Low Molecular Weight RNA (LMW RNA) Profiles

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus causes potato ring rot disease. The identification process for this bacterium is complex and long. This work demonstrates that the stable low-molecular-weight (LMW) RNA profiles allow their rapid identification. Staircase electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels was used to analyze the LMW RNA profiles of 54 strains of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus from different geographic origins. The profiles of several strains of other subspecies of C. michiganensis and other pathogens of potatoes were also analyzed. All the strains of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus had the same LMW RNA profile. They had a band in class 2 of tRNA that was absent in the other subspecies of the species C. michiganensis. Also, the LMW RNA of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus was different with respect to the LMW RNA profiles of other pathogens of potato. The results indicate the possible utilization of LMW RNA profiles in identification of the bacteria causing potato ring rot disease.     

Sugar transporter (MfsX) of the major facilitator superfamily is required for flagella-mediated pathogenesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dickeya dadantii</Emphasis> 3937

Dickeya dadantii (syn. Erwinia chrysanthemi) is a causal agent of soft-rot diseases on many crops. Here, we characterized a gene belonging to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), which is involved in the symport, antiport, or uniport of various substrates, and the survival and virulence of many Gram-negative bacterial animal pathogens, for the possible involvement in the plant pathogenicity of D. dadantii. A marker-exchange mutant of this gene (mfsX) was constructed that had decreased maceration ability in Chinese cabbage, potato, and chicory. Observation with electron microscopy showed greatly reduced numbers of flagella per cell. This mutant had a significant reduction in swimming and swarming motility and a severe reduction in formation of biofilm. Because these phenotypes have been shown to be involved in plant pathogenicity of D. dadantii, mfsX seems to play an important role in pathogenesis of D. dadantii 3937 by its involvement in the expression of these pathogenicity-related phenotypes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylsphingosine,an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase,induces phytoalexin production and hypersensitive cell death of Solanaceae plants without generation of reactive oxygen species

Plant recognition of elicitors derived from pathogens induces various resistant reactions, including production of reactive oxygen species, hypersensitive cell death and accumulation of phytoalexins. Previously, we isolated a ceramide elicitor from Phytophthora infestans, which activates O₂ ⁻ production of potato suspension-cultured cells. In this study, we employed nine ceramide-related chemicals to test their elicitor activity. Although, none of the tested chemicals induced O₂ ⁻ production, N,N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) induced accumulation of phytoalexin in potato tubers. In potato, tobacco and Nicotiana benthamiana, DMS also induced rapid cell death. DMS-treated potato cells stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) showed chromatin condensation, and isolated DNA from DMS-treated cells had ladder pattern, confirming that DMS-induced plant cell death is a hypersensitive reaction-like programmed cell death. Involvement of ceramide signaling in induction of plant defense reactions is discussed. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Phosphite compounds reduce disease severity in potato seed tubers and foliage

Phosphites (Phi) are alkali metal salts of phosphorous acid, with the ability to protect plants against different pathogens. In this research, the effect of Phi applied to potato plants on severity of three important potato diseases in Argentina was assessed. Seed tubers and foliage of potato cvs Shepody and Kennebec were treated with Phi to assess effects on resistance against Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani. Protection resulting from Phi treatment in seed tubers was high against P. infestans, intermediate against F. solani, and low against R. solani. In addition, seed tubers treated with calcium or potassium phosphites (CaPhi and KPhi, respectively) at 1% of commercial product emerged earlier than untreated ones. When Phi were foliarly applied two or four times at different doses, high levels of protection against P. infestans were achieved in both cultivars. Higher protection was observed in Kennebec when CaPhi was applied, while in Shepody this was true for KPhi. Expression of β-1,3-glucanases was induced at different times after treatment but no correlation between β-1,3-glucanases expression and foliar protection level was found. On the other hand, Phi positive protection effects did not produce negative effects in plant growth. Leaves from CaPhi-treated plants showed a darker green colour than leaves from control plants; also an increase in Rubisco protein and a delay in crop senescence was observed.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dickeya</Emphasis> strains isolated from potato and river water samples in Finland

Plant pathogenic enterobacteria in the genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya (formerly classified as Erwinia) were isolated from diseased potato stems and tubers. The isolated bacteria were identified as P. atrosepticum, P. carotovorum and pathogens in the genus Dickeya with PCR tests. Furthermore, Dickeya strains were isolated from river water samples throughout the country. Phylogenetic analysis with 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer sequences suggested that the Dickeya strains could be divided into three groups, two of which were isolated from potato samples. Phylogenetic analysis with 16S rDNA sequences and growth at 39°C suggested that one of the groups corresponds to D. dianthicola, a quarantine pathogen in greenhouse cultivation of ornamentals, while two of the groups did not clearly resemble any of the previously characterised Dickeya species. Field trials with the strains indicated that D. dianthicola-like strains isolated from river samples caused the highest incidence of rotting and necrosis of potato stems, but some of the Dickeya strains isolated from potato samples also caused symptoms. The results showed that although P. atrosepticum is still the major cause of blackleg in Finland, virulent Dickeya strains were commonly present in potato stocks and rivers. This is the first report suggesting that Dickeya, originally known as a pathogen in tropical and warm climates, may cause diseases in potato in northern Europe.     

Virus transmission by aphids in potato crops

This paper reviews the contribution of vector activity and plant age to virus spread in potato crops. Determining which aphid species are vectors is particularly important for timing haulm destruction to minimize tuber infection by potato virus Y (PVY). Alate aphids of more than 30 species transmit PVY, and aphids such asRhopalosiphum padi, that migrate in large numbers before flights of the more efficient vector,Myzus persicae, appear to be important vectors. Differences in methodology, aphid biotypes and virus strains prevent direct comparisons between estimates of vector efficiencies obtained for aphids in different countries in north western Europe. M. persicae is also the most efficient vector of potato leafroll virus (PLRV), but some clones ofMacrosiphum euphorbiae transmit PLRV efficiently toNicotiana clevelandii and potato test plants. The removal of infected plants early in the season prevents the spread of PLRV in cool regions with limited vector activity. The proportion of aphids acquiring PLRV from infected potato plants decreases with plant age, and healthy potato plants are more resistant to infection later in the season. Severe symptoms of secondary leafroll developed on progeny plants of cv. Maris Piper derived from mother plants inoculated with PLRV in June or July of the previous year. Progeny plants derived from mother plants inoculated in August showed only mild symptoms, but the concentration of PLRV in these plants was as high as that in the plants with severe symptoms.     

西北地区马铃薯疮痂病病原菌鉴定及其生物学特性

为明确西北地区马铃薯疮痂病病原菌的种类和生物学特性,分别采用常规组织分离法和土壤混悬液分离法从宁夏、陕西和甘肃3个省区采集的29份疮痂病发病薯块和8份发病地块土壤中进行病原菌分离,并利用形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列分析对病原菌进行鉴定。结果表明,从发病薯块和发病土壤中共分离到50株链霉菌Streptomyces spp.,通过回接法验证获得6株马铃薯疮痂病致病菌株。6株致病菌株的培养特性和形态特征差别较大;其中菌株G4-1、G9和SYN13不能以果糖和木糖为单一碳源,菌株SYNT3不能以棉子糖为单一碳源;除菌株NLG4-1外,其余5株菌株均能在络氨酸琼脂培养基上产生黑色素。经16S rDNA序列分析,菌株G4-1、G9与疮痂病链霉菌S. scabiei的相似率分别达99.47%和99.34%,菌株NLG4-1、SYNT3与S. enissocaesilis的相似率分别达97.90%和98.18%,菌株GBH2与加利利链霉菌S. galilaeus的相似率达99.93%,菌株SYN13与S. turgidiscabies的相似率达97.56%,表明西北地区马铃薯疮痂病病原菌至少存在4个种。     

Multiple Selection of Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera pallida Virulence on a Range of Potato Species. I. Serial Selection on Solanum-hybrids

A series of selection experiments on potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida, pathotype Pa1, tested the virulence response of the nematode to a range of resistant potato Solanum genotypes. Alleles conferring virulence against all four Solanum sources used in the study (i.e. Solanum vernei, S. multidissectum, S. sanctae-rosae and S. tuberosum ssp. andigena) were detected. Selection for multiple virulence against a combination of resistant sources resulted in the originally-selected virulence genes being retained or lost. The mechanism, or basis, of potato cyst nematode resistance differs between the Solanum species. The appropriate use of resistance cultivars produced from a range of Solanum-resistant species offers a management tool for controlling potato cyst nematode levels in infested land.     

Evaluation of the API 50CH and API ZYM systems for rapid characterization of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, causal agent of potato ring rot

API 50CH and API ZYM systems were used to characterize fifty-three strains of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus from different geographic locations and several reference strains of the same and different species, including other potato pathogens. Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus strains displayed a high level of homogeneity, both in carbohydrate utilization and in enzymatic activity. Using API 50CH and API ZYM it was possible to differentiate C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus strains from the remaining taxa analysed in this study, which included representative strains of the other subspecies of C. michiganensis as well as other bacterial pathogens affecting potatoes. Therefore, these systems could be used as an effective method to characterize C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus. Such a procedure would constitute an alternative system to the conventional nutritional and physiological identification tests currently included in the official methods employed in the European Union to detect and identify this bacterium. The results obtained with the API systems agreed with the current taxonomic classification of C. michiganensis, clearly separating sepedonicus from the other subspecies belonging to this species.     

Modes of Action of Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2, an Antagonist of Postharvest Pathogens on Fruits

Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 is an effective antagonist against the postharvest pathogens Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum on citrus fruits but its mode of action is unknown. Possible mechanisms studied in this work were antibiosis, induced resistance, competition and production of chitinolytic enzymes. P. agglomerans CPA-2 was unable to produce antibiotics or chitinolytic enzymes under the conditions tested. Induction of resistance by P. agglomerans CPA-2 was studied in oranges by measuring phenylalanine ammonia lyase and peroxidase enzyme activity in the orange peel at different time points after inoculation with the antagonist and/or the pathogen. No significant augmentation of enzyme activity after inoculation of oranges with P. agglomerans CPA-2 in the presence or absence of the pathogen was observed. P. agglomerans was effective only when it is in close contact with the pathogens. Competition for nutrients was studied using tissue culture plates with cylinder inserts, which allowed competition for nutrients to be studied without competition for space since physical contact between pathogen and antagonist was avoided. The presence of P. agglomerans in the tissue culture wells clearly decreased the germination of Penicillium conidia present in the cylinder when diluted orange peel extract or diluted potato dextrose broth was the nutrient source. Germination of Penicillium conidia, however, was almost completely inhibited when pathogen and antagonist were in physical contact. These results indicate that competition for nutrients is one of the modes of action of P. agglomerans CPA-2, but that physical contact between pathogen and antagonist is important for effective control.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌在马铃薯甲虫防治上的研究进展

马铃薯甲虫是重要的入侵害虫,严重威胁着我国粮食作物马铃薯的生产。苏云金芽胞杆菌是重要的农业害虫生防细菌,对马铃薯甲虫有良好的防治效果。本文围绕苏云金芽胞杆菌在马铃薯甲虫防治上的研究进展与应用进行综述。主要从马铃薯甲虫的入侵与防治手段、苏云金芽胞杆菌的晶体蛋白结构与杀虫机制、对马铃薯甲虫有活性的Bt毒蛋白研究进展、Bt毒蛋白对马铃薯甲虫的作用机制以及马铃薯甲虫对Bt毒蛋白的抗性机制等方面进行了综述。最后,从Bt新基因的挖掘和杀虫机理方面对苏云金芽胞杆菌在马铃薯甲虫防治上的研究进行了展望。     

Repetitive Sequence-derived PCR Profiling Using the BOX-A1R Primer for Rapid Identification of the Plant Pathogen Clavibacter Michiganensis Subspecies Sepedonicus

Repetitive sequence-derived PCR using the BOX-A1R primer was used to generate genomic fingerprints of Clavibacter michiganensis subspecies sepedonicus, the causal agent of bacterial ring rot disease of potato. A total of 35 C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus strains were selected for study in order to represent the widest possible historical, morphological and geographical diversity of the organism. Comparison was made with genomic fingerprints of C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, C. michiganensis subsp. insidiosus, C. michiganensis subsp. tessellarius, C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis as well as other related Gram positive plant pathogens. The resultant genomic fingerprints and subsequent cluster analysis show C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus to form a remarkably homogeneous group with approximately 84% similarity between all of the strains tested. There was no evidence to suggest that fingerprints varied with historic, morphological or geographic diversity. In addition, C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus isolated from asymptomatic sugar beet had the same fingerprint as those which were isolated as potato pathogens. This group was easily distinguished from the clusters formed by the other subspecies of C. michiganensis and Gram positive plant pathogens. The potential for this technique to be used as a relatively rapid method to replace the time consuming and sometimes inconclusive eggplant bioassay test is discussed.     

Gut bacteria associated with the Pacific Coast wireworm,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Limonius canus</Emphasis>, inferred from 16s rDNA sequences and their implications for control

A multitude of bacteria have been isolated from the guts of several insect species. Some of these have been modified to interfere with the development of the host insect or with the development and transmission of plant and animal pathogens transmitted by the host insect. We surveyed the gut flora of the Pacific Coast wireworm,Limonius canus LeConte, a serious pest of potato, at two sites in Oregon and Washington. Isolates were obtained from surface-sterilized triturated larvae by dilution plating on standard media. A rich diversity of species was found in 86 isolates, including spore-formers, non-spore-formers and aerobic and facultatively anaerobic species collected on four sampling dates at each location. Twenty-one of the isolates were identified to species based on rDNA sequence (nine distinct species). An additional 34 isolates were identified to genus from the sequence data while six isolates could be assigned only to family based on sequence comparisons. Twenty-seven additional isolates were identified to species (9), genus (17) or family (1) based on side-by-side morphological comparisons with isolates identified from rDNA sequence. The most frequently isolated bacterium wasBacillus megaterium, followed byRahnella aquatilis. A naturally occurring bacterium found in the gut and/or environment of a targeted insect that is modified to express toxins or other detrimental substances could provide certain advantages (such as persistence and recycling) over inundatively applied microbial control agents, particularly within soil habitats. The hypothesis that these species or others from the survey represent candidates for genetic modification to provide control options forL. canus is discussed.     

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

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

Gnomonia fragariae, a Cause of Strawberry Root Rot and Petiole Blight

Gnomonia fragariae has been occasionally listed among the fungi associated with diseased strawberry plants. However its pathogenicity has not been established. During the investigation on strawberry decline in Latvia and Sweden, a fungus was repeatedly recovered from discoloured root and crown tissues of severely stunted plants. Attempts to induce sporulation of the isolates grown on several agar media resulted in the formation of mature ascomata only on potato carrot agar and oatmeal agar. On morphological grounds and comparisons with reference herbarium specimens these isolates were identified as Gnomonia fragariae. The pathogenicity of the fungus was evaluated initially in the detached leaf assay and subsequently in three bioassays on strawberry plants. All the bioassays showed that G. fragariae was pathogenic on strawberry and capable of causing severe root rot and petiole blight. The symptoms that developed in the greenhouse experiments closely resembled those observed in the fields. The fungus did not cause rapid plant death but growth and development of inoculated strawberry plants was severely affected. To our knowledge this is the first time when pathogenicity of G. fragariae as a root rot pathogen has been clearly established. Our study shows that G. fragariae is one of the serious pathogens involved in the root rot complex of strawberry in Latvia and Sweden.     

An Aspartic Protease With Antimicrobial Activity is Induced after Infection and Wounding in Intercellular Fluids of Potato Tubers

Aspartic proteases (APs) one of the main proteinase classes, have different physiological functions in animals, fungi and viruses. In plants, knowledge of the biological roles of APs is less well developed. An AP has been purified from potato tuber and leaves (Guevara et al., 1999, 2001). In this paper, the changes in the level of AP in response to infection by Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans) and wounding were studied in intercellular washing fluids (IWFs) from tuber disks of two potato cultivars differing in their susceptibility to P. infestans. A differential induction was observed between both cultivars: in the resistant cultivar, induction was higher and faster in infected tissues than in wounded ones. In the susceptible cultivar, a lower and later accumulation was observed than in the resistant cultivar. In addition, AP had a direct inhibitory effect on the germination of cysts of P. infestans and conidia of Fusarium solani. The pattern of accumulation and in vitro activity of AP suggest that this enzyme may have a role in the defense response of potato.     

Pathogenic fungi involved in root rot of peas in the Netherlands and their physiological specialization

Research on root rot pathogens of peas in the Netherlands has confirmed the prevalence ofFusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Pythium spp.,Mycosphaerella pinodes andPhoma medicaginis var.pinodella. Aphanomyces euteiches andThielaviopsis basicola were identified for the first time as pea pathogens in the Netherlands. Other pathogens such asRhizoctonia solani andCylindrocarpon destructans were also found on diseased parts of roots. F. solani existed in different degrees of pathogenicity, and was sometimes highly specific to pea, dwarf bean of field bean, depending on the cropping history of the field.A. euteiches was specific to peas, whereasT. basicola showed some degree of physiological specialization.     

A Survey of Trunk Disease Pathogens within Rootstocks of Grapevines in Spain

Grapevine trunk disease pathogens, and specifically Petri disease pathogens, can be spread by planting infected plants. Due to the increasing incidence of Petri disease and other young grapevine declines reported lately in Spain, a sampling of plants used before for new vineyards were carried out in 2002 and 2004. A total number of 208 plants (grafted and non grafted) were collected, of which 94 plants (45.2%) were infected with at least one of the following pathogens: Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, and species of Phaeoacremonium, Botryosphaeria, Cylindrocarpon, and Phomopsis. Species of the genera Phaeoacremonium and Botryosphaeria isolated in 2004 were identified using morphological and molecular characters. Species of Phaeoacremonium identified were P. aleophilum and P. parasiticum; and those of Botryosphaeria were B. obtusa, B. dothidea and B. parva. This is the first report of P. parasiticum and B. parva occurring on grapevines in Spain. Distribution of pathogens within the plants was studied in 2004. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora was not detected in the graft union of any plant; however, species of Botryosphaeria and Phomopsis were detected along the plant, but mainly in the graft union; Phaeoacremonium aleophilum was detected along the grafted plants, but not in rooted rootstocks. The results suggest that infected plants used for new plantings in Spain are an important source of primary inoculum of the pathogens associated with grapevine trunk diseases in the field.