Aggressiveness and mycotoxin production of eight isolates each of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium verticillioides</Emphasis> for ear rot on susceptible and resistant early maize inbred lines

Fusarium graminearum and F. verticillioides are among the most important pathogens causing ear rot of maize in Central Europe. Our objectives were to (1) compare eight isolates of each species on two susceptible inbred lines for their variation in ear rot rating and mycotoxin production across 3 years, and (2) analyse two susceptible and three resistant inbred lines for potential isolate x line interactions across 2 years by silk-channel inoculation. Ear rot rating, zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were evaluated for all F. graminearum isolates. In addition, nivalenol (NIV) concentrations were analysed for two NIV producers. Fumonisin (FUM) concentrations were measured for all F. verticillioides isolates. Mean ear rot severity was highest for DON producers of F. graminearum (62.9% of the ear covered by mycelium), followed by NIV producers of the same species (24.2%) and lowest for F. verticillioides isolates (9.8%). For the latter species, ear rot severities differed highly among years (2006: 24%, 2007: 3%, 2008: 7%). Mycotoxin concentrations among isolates showed a broad range (DON: 100–284 mg kg⁻¹, NIV: 15–38 mg kg⁻¹, ZEA: 1.1–49.5 mg kg⁻¹, FUM: 14.5–57.5 mg kg⁻¹). Genotypic variances were significant for isolates and inbred lines in all traits and for both species. Isolate x line interactions were significant only for ear rot rating (P < 0.01) and DON concentration (P < 0.05) of the F. graminearum isolates, but no rank reversals occurred. Most isolates were capable of differentiating the susceptible from the resistant lines for ear rot severity. For resistance screening, a sufficiently aggressive isolate should be used to warrant maximal differentiation among inbred lines. With respect to F. verticillioides infections, high FUM concentrations were found in grains from ears with minimal disease symptoms.     

Relationship between the incidence of latent infections caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia</Emphasis> spp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis> and the incidence of brown rot of peach fruit: factors affecting latent infection

Five field experiments were performed in commercial orchards located in Lleida (Spain) over three growing seasons, 2000–2002, in order to estimate the relationship between the incidence of latent infection caused by Monilinia spp. in peaches and the incidence of post-harvest brown rot. No latent infection was recorded at popcorn and the maximum incidence occurred pre-harvest; in some orchards a second peak was detected during the pit hardening period. Monilinia laxa is the most prevalent species isolated from peaches with brown rot. There was a positive correlation between the incidence of latent infection and that of post-harvest brown rot. The average incidence of latent infection during the crop season explained 55% of the total variation in the incidence of post-harvest brown rot. The effect of temperature (T) and duration of wetness (W) on the incidence of latent infection in peach and nectarine orchards was analysed using multiple regression. The regression analysis indicated that T and W jointly explained 83% of the total variation in the incidence of latent infection. The model predicts no latent infections when T < 8°C, and >22 h wetness are required when T = 8°C but only 5 h at 25°C are necessary for latent infection to occur. The incidence of brown rot and latent infection of peaches caused by M. laxa under controlled experimental conditions were also affected by T and W, as well as by fruit maturity and inoculum concentration. Latent infections were produced in fruit when T was not suitable for the development of brown rot symptoms. In these experiments more than 4–5 h of daily wetness were required after embryo growth in fruit sprayed to run-off with an inoculum concentration higher than 10⁴ conidia ml⁻¹ of M. laxa for brown rot and latent infections to develop. The fitted model obtained from the field data was able to predict the observed data obtained under controlled environmental conditions.     

Development and evaluation of a model for management of brown rot in organic apple orchards

Temporal development of brown rot (Monilinia fructigena) on fruits was analysed in two organic apple orchards on three apple cultivars in Eastern Hungary from 2002 to 2006. The three-parameter logistic function gave the best fit to brown rot over four non-linear growth functions in all cultivars, years and orchards. Depending on location, year and cultivar, disease increased continuously from 6 to 8 weeks before harvest up to harvest, reaching 19–37% of disease incidence. Disease variables of Y _f , the final disease incidence; β, relative rate of disease progress; AUDPC _S , standardized area under disease progress curve; T _1.5 , the time when disease incidence reaches 1.5% (day), and M, the inflection point were derived from the three-parameter logistic function. The disease variables of Y _f , β, and AUDPC _S were used in a computer simulation for predicting temporal brown rot development, and the disease variables of T _1.5 , M, and Y _f were used to determine threshold values for epidemic intensity. Afterwards these were used to construct a fundamental model for developing a brown rot forecasting and management strategy (BRFMS). The fundamental model contained four parts: i) data insertion and analyses by computer simulation of pathogen submodels, ii) calculation of yield loss threshold levels based on disease incidence, iii) determination of epidemic intensity levels and iv) a decision module with suggestions for disease management practices for each epidemic intensity level. The fundamental model was supplemented with the prediction of occurrence of the first fruit rot symptoms and with the insect injury prediction related to brown rot development in order to complete a BRFMS for organic apple orchards. In a 3-year field evaluation from 2006 to 2008, season-long application of BRFMS treatments reduced the number of sprays against brown rot by 22–33% compared with the treatments of general spray schedules against brown rot.     

Stem and root rot of scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) caused by Pythium myriotylum

A severe rot was found on the stems and roots of scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) in Ibaraki Prefecture (Japan) in August 2004. The causal fungus was identified as Pythium myriotylum. We propose the name of stem and root rot of scarlet runner bean (“Kuki-negusare-byo” in Japanese) for this new disease.     

Temporal dynamics of root and foliar severity of soybean sudden death syndrome at different inoculum densities

Temporal dynamics of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) root and foliar disease severity were studied in growth chamber experiments on susceptible plants exposed to different inoculum densities (0, 10⁰, 10¹, 10², and 10³ conidia g⁻¹ soil) of Fusarium virguliforme. The monomolecular model provided the best fit to describe the progress of root and foliar disease severity over time. Disease severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) both increased in response to increasing inoculum density (P < 0.01), particularly for foliar symptoms. Rate of disease progress increased as inoculum densities increased for both root and foliar disease severities. The incubation period for root and foliar disease severity ranged from 9 to 18 and 15 to 25 days, respectively. Significant differences in root rot severity were most easily detected during the early stages of infection, whereas root rot and foliar severities were only weakly correlated when both were assessed simultaneously at later stages of disease development. Root rot severity assessments performed 15 to 20 days after inoculation (DAI) were most highly correlated (r > 0.9, P < 0.01) with foliar disease severity assessments performed 30 to 50 DAI. Root biomass was reduced by up to 67% at the three highest inoculum densities, indicating the aggressiveness that F. virguliforme possesses as a root rot pathogen on soybeans.     

Plant defense activation and management of tomato root rot by a chitin-fortified <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma/Hypocrea</Emphasis> formulation

Tomato root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a major soilborne disease resulting in significant yield loss. The culture filtrates of six isolates of Trichoderma/Hypocrea species were evaluated for in vitro production of hydrolytic enzymes. Results demonstrated that all the six isolates were able to produce chitinase, β-1, 3 glucanase and protease in the range of 76–235 μmol GlcNAc min^-1 mg^-1 protein, 31.90–37.72 nmol glucose min^-1 mg^-1 proteins and 63.05–86.22 μmol min^-1 mg^-1 proteins, respectively. Trichoderma/Hypocrea-based formulation(s) were prepared with chitin (1% v:v) and CMC (0.5% w:v) for root rot management in a greenhouse. Root dip application with bioformulation(s) resulted in a significant reduction of the root rot index. In addition, bioformulations increased plant growth attributing traits significantly relative to untreated control. Accumulation of total phenols, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase increased in chitin-supplemented Trichoderma/Hypocrea formulation-treated plants challenged with R. solani. The results suggest that chitin-fortified bioformulation(s) could be an effective system to control root rot of tomato in an eco-compatible manner.     

Dumontinia root rot of liver leaf caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dumontinia tuberosa</Emphasis>

Foliar wilt as well as crown and root rot with sclerotia formation has affected potted liver leaf (Hepatica nobilis var. japonica f. magna) in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, since 2006. Apothecia developed from the sclerotia on soil surface of pots with the diseased plants in March. A fungus forming the apothecia was identified as Dumontinia tuberosa (Sclerotiniaceae) based on its morphology and demonstrated to cause the disease. We coined the name “Dumontinia root rot (Dumontinia-negusare-byo in Japanese) of liver leaf” for the new disease.     

Fusarium rot of hyacinth caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gibberella zeae</Emphasis> (anamorph: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic"> graminearum</Emphasis>)

Severe rot of leaves, peduncles and flowers caused by Gibberella zeae (anamorph: Fusarium graminearum) was found on potted plants of hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), a liliaceous ornamental, in greenhouses in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, in January 2001. This disease was named “Fusarium rot of hyacinth” as a new disease because only the anamorph, F. graminearum, was identified on the diseased host plant. The authors contributed equally to this work. The fungal isolate and its nucleotide sequence data obtained in this study were deposited in the Genebank, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences and the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers MAFF239499 and AB366161, respectively.     

Black root rot of cucurbits caused by Phomopsis sclerotioides in Japan and phylogenetic grouping of the pathogen

Although the causal agent of black root rot of Cucurbitaceae in Japan has been proposed as Phomopsis sclerotioides, the species identification of the pathogen has remained inconclusive because of a lack of spore formation. We confirmed that a Japanese isolate of Phomopsis sp. obtained from a diseased pumpkin root produced pycnidia containing α spores in sterilized bean pods. In phylogenetic analyses of rDNA-ITS regions, nine Japanese Phomopsis sp. isolates from melon, watermelon grafted onto bottle gourd, and pumpkin diagnosed with black root rot, formed a single clade with P. sclerotioides standard isolates. We identified the causal agent of the black root rot of melon, pumpkin, bottle gourd, and watermelon in Japan as P. sclerotioides and propose the Japanese name “Phomopsis-negusare-byo” for the disease. Patterns of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of these Japanese isolates were also similar to those of P. sclerotioides, thus supporting the species identification. However, mycelial incompatibilities were found for many combinations among these P. sclerotioides isolates, suggesting some genotypic variations of this fungus in Japan at a level that the RAPD analyses cannot discriminate. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AB201430 to AB201444     

Internal fruit rot of netted melon caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pantoea ananatis</Emphasis> (=<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erwinia ananas</Emphasis>) in Japan

An internal fruit rot with a malodor was found in netted melons (Cucumis melo L.) in commercial greenhouses in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, in 1998, despite their healthy appearance and lack of water-soaking or brown spots on the surface. A yellow bacterium was consistently isolated from the affected fruits. To confirm the pathogenicity of eight representative isolates of the yellow bacterium, we stub-inoculated ovaries (immature-fruits) 5–7 days after artificial pollination, with a pin smeared with bacteria. After the melon fruits had grown for 60 more days, an internal fruit rot resembling the natural infection appeared, and the inoculated bacterium was reisolated. The melon isolates had properties identical with Pantoea ananatis, such as gram-negative staining, facultative anaerobic growth, indole production, phenylalanine deaminase absence, and acid production from melibiose, sorbitol, glycerol, and inositol. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences showed that the melon bacterium positioned closely with known P. ananatis strains. The melon bacterium had indole acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis genes (iaaM and iaaH) and a cytokinin biosynthesis gene (etz). The bacterium could be distinguished from the other ‘Pantoea’ group strains by rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting. From these results, the causal agent of internal fruit rot was identified as a strain of P.ananatis [Serrano in (Philipp J Sci 36:271–305, 1928); Mergaert et al. in (Int J Syst Bacteriol 43:162–173, 1993)]. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ database under accessions AB297969, AB373739, AB373740, AB373741, AB373742, AB373743 and AB373744.     

玉米穗、茎腐病镰孢菌相互关系的血清学研究

运用血清学方法研究了沈阳、河北、北京、吉林4个地区玉米穗、茎腐病镰孢菌在病原学上的相互关系。结果发现:各地区玉米穗、茎腐病串珠镰孢菌(Fusarium moniliforme)具有高度的同源性,亲缘关系近。各地区玉米穗、茎腐病禾谷镰孢菌(F.graminearum)的亲缘关系因地域不同而有差异。沈阳穗、茎腐病禾谷镰孢菌之间差异明显,存在生理分化现象;吉林玉米穗、茎腐病病原物存在较高的相似性,但也有一定的差异;而河北玉米穗、茎腐病禾谷镰孢菌具有高度的同源性。     

Induced suppressiveness to<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f.sp.<Emphasis Type="Italic">radicis lycopersici</Emphasis> in rockwool substrate used in closed soilless systems

Tomatoes grown in soilless systems can be seriously damaged byFusarium oxysporum Schlect f.sp.radicis lycopersici (Forl) causing Fusarium crown and root rot (FCRR). FCRR suppression can be achieved through the use of chemicals, selected substrates, composts and artificially introduced antagonistic microorganisms. This study evaluated the natural capacity of a used rockwool to suppress FCRR infections. New and used rockwool, sampled from closed soilless systems, was either autoclaved or not, either artificially inoculated withForl or not and, finally, sown with tomato seeds cv. ‘Cuore di Bue’. The effects of autoclaved/non-autoclaved and used/new rockwool on FCRR incidence were assessed by evaluating the symptoms of crown rot on the root — shoot transition zone of tomato seedlings. Non-autoclaved and inoculated used rockwool significantly reduced FCRR incidence when compared with non-autoclaved and inoculated new rockwool. Autoclaved and inoculated used rockwool did not suppress FCRR, similarly to new and inoculated rockwool. These findings are in accordance with other research that, on a cucumber/Pythium host/pathogen complex in a closed rockwool soilless system, demonstrated the key role of resident microflora in suppressing the root rot disease. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 8, 2006.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> inhibits the plant cell wall degrading enzymes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotium rolfsii</Emphasis> and reduces the severity of groundnut stem rot

Three hundred and ninety-three groundnut-associated bacterial strains, applied both as seed treatment and soil amendment, were evaluated for control of stem rot disease (caused by Sclerotium rolfsii) of groundnut in a controlled environment. Twelve strains significantly (P=0.01) reduced the incidence of stem, rot of which groundnut seed endophytes Pseudomonas aeruginosa GSE 18 and GSE 19 reduced the seedling mortality by 54% and 58%, compared to the control. In dual cultures, the 12 biocontrol strains reduced the mycelial growth of S. rolfsii by 32%–74% as compared to the control. Cell- free culture filtrates of P. aeruginosa GSE 18 and GSE 19 inhibited the activity in vitro of the cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDE) polygalacturonase and cellulase by S. rolfsii up to a maximum of 55% and 50%, respectively, when measured 6 days after inoculation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa GSE 18 and GSE 19 with a known tolerance to thiram, a commonly used seed dressing fungicide, suppressed the growth of S. rolfsii, inhibited the activity of CWDE, and reduced the incidence of stem rot, suggesting the usefulness of these biocontrol strains as components in the integrated management of groundnut stem rot.     

Activity of carbendazim,dimethachlon, iprodione,procymidone and boscalid against Sclerotinia stem rot in Jiangsu Province of China

Carbendazim (MBC) was widely used to control Sclerotinia stem rot routinely during the 1980s in China, but development of MBC resistance in the causal agent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum led to control failures of this disease. In this study it was found that the MBC resistance in S. sclerotiorum populations was widespread throughout Jiangsu Province with a resistance frequency of 29.54% in the 1786 collected isolates during the growing seasons of 2006 to 2008. The resistance frequencies differed among sampled cities, ranging from 3.1% to 54.9%. The field MBC-resistant isolates showed comparable mycelial growth, sclerotia production and pathogenicity to the wild-type sensitive isolates, which suggested that the field MBC-resistant isolates might have sufficient parasitic fitness to compete with the field MBC-sensitive isolates in the field. In the in vitro sensitivity test, boscalid showed greater activity against S. sclerotiorum than dicarboximide fungicides (dimethachlon, iprodione and procymidone). The treatment 50% boscalid (WG) 125 g a.i. ha⁻¹ was comparable in efficacy to the treatment 50% iprodione (WP) 600 g a.i. ha⁻¹, and better than other treatments of 6% dimethachlon (WP) 690 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and 50% procymidone (WP) 337.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹, whereas MBC failed to control Sclerotinia stem rot (control efficacy only 16.0%). The most active agent for controlling Sclerotinia stem rot was boscalid in our study.     

枇杷花腐病病原物的初步鉴定

经调查发现,在重庆发生的枇杷花腐病症状有2种类型:干腐型和湿腐型。通过病原菌形态特征、培养性状和致病性测定,初步鉴定这两种症状分别由拟盘多毛孢菌[Pestalotiopsis eriobotrifolia(Guba)Chen et Cao]和灰葡萄孢菌(Botrytis cinerea Pers.)引起。枇杷花腐病害的发生与环境湿度有关,且湿度越大,病害发生越严重。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neofusicoccum parvum</Emphasis> associated with fruit rot and shoot blight of peaches in Greece

Shoot blights and fruit rots comprise the most serious diseases of peaches in Greece. In this study, the importance of the fungus Neofusicoccum parvum as a casual agent of a fruit rot and shoot blight of peach trees in Greece was investigated. This pathogen was isolated from both immature and mature peach fruit of the cultivar “Catherine” and later on from mature fruit of the peach cultivars “Andross”, “RedHaven”, “Sun Crest” and “Sun Cloud”. In the first year of investigation, N. parvum was found causing preharvest fruit rot and shoot blights of peach trees only at the location “Ammos-Mesi-Meliki Verias” in the prefecture of Imathia (the main peach production area of Greece) at incidences of 30 and 8%, respectively. However, in 2006 N. parvum was isolated from more locations such as Diavatos, Veria, Kopanos and Agia Marina in the prefecture of Imathia, but only at less than 3% of the total surveyed rotted peach fruit and blighted shoots. The pathogen overwintered as sub-epidermal pycnidia in blighted shoots or mummified fruit that remained on peach trees. This study also showed that the optimum temperature for mycelial growth and conidial germination of N. parvum was 25 oC. Pathogenicity tests using peach fruit showed that isolates of N. parvum and Diplodia seriata (isolated from pistachio grown in the same region) showed no significant differences in their virulence. In laboratory inoculation tests using detached shoots from 25 peach and nectarine cultivars, N. parvum isolates obtained from rotted peaches caused different size cankers on these cultivars. The cultivar Big Top was the most susceptible while the cultivar Maria Bianca the least susceptible.     

Causes of incipient rot and rot in regrowth Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri) trees

Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri) is the second most important commercial timber tree in Western Australia. Sawlogs from regrowth trees often have a discoloration in the heartwood that is more abundant than in sawlogs from mature trees. Other symptoms in regrowth logs include white rot, white pocket rot and brown rot. Fungal isolations and pathogenicity tests were conducted to determine whether this discoloration was incipient rot, and if so, what caused it and which rot(s) would eventually develop. A combined sample of 329 discs from recently felled trees and freshly cut scantling had discoloration in 48%, white rot in 14%, white pocket rot in 12% and brown rot in 4% of pieces of wood. Hymenochaete semistupposa was isolated from 22% of discoloured wood and 39% of white pocket rot samples. Stereum hirsutum was isolated from 4% of discoloured wood and 13% of white rot samples. Koch's postulates in regrowth karri trees showed that H. semistupposa caused extensive discoloration, with white pocket rot developing in the heartwood within 4 years, while S. hirsutum caused extensive discoloration, with white rot developing in both the heartwood and sapwood within 2 years. It was concluded that the discoloration was incipient rot, which would eventually develop into either white rot or white pocket rot.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora</Emphasis> species associated with root and stem rots of kalanchoe

Pythium and Phytophthora species were isolated from kalanchoe plants with root and stem rots. Phytophthora isolates were identified as Phytophthora nicotianae on the basis of morphological characteristics and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the rDNA-internal transcribed spacer regions. Similarly, the Pythium isolates were identified as Pythium myriotylum and Pythium helicoides. In pathogenicity tests, isolates of the three species caused root and stem rots. Disease severity caused by the Pythium spp. and Ph. nicotianae was the greatest at 35°–40°C and 30°–40°C, respectively. Ph. nicotianae induced stem rot at two different relative humidities (60% and >95%) at 30°C. P. myriotylum and P. helicoides caused root and stem rots at high humidity (>95%), but only root rot at low humidity (60%).     

Rhizopus Rot of Mulberry-grafted Saplings Caused by Rhizopus oryzae

A new disease on stocks of mulberry-grafted saplings was found in Tsukuba in 1999. A representative isolate of the Rhizopus species that was consistently isolated from rotted tissues was pathogenic to healthy mulberry stocks. The causal fungus was identified morphologically as Rhizopus oryzae Went & Prinsen Geerligs. Rhizopus rot (“Naefuhaibyou” in Japanese) was proposed for the name of the disease. This is the first report on a mulberry disease caused by R. oryzae. Received 30 March 2001/ Accepted in revised form 4 June2001     

Combination of hot water, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> CPA-8 and sodium bicarbonate treatments to control postharvest brown rot on peaches and nectarines

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hot water (HW), antagonists and sodium bicarbonate (SBC) treatments applied separately or in combination to control Monilinia spp. during the postharvest storage of stone fruit. Firstly, we investigated the effect of HW temperatures (55–70°C) and exposure times (20–60 s), seven antagonists at two concentrations (10⁷ or 10⁸ cfu ml⁻¹) and four SBC concentrations (1–4%). The selected treatments for brown rot control without affecting fruit quality were HW at 60°C for 40 s, SBC at 2% for 40 s and the antagonist CPA-8 (Bacillus subtilis species complex) at 10⁷ cfu ml⁻¹. The combinations of these treatments were evaluated in three varieties of peaches and nectarines artificially inoculated with M. laxa. When fruit were incubated for 5 d at 20°C, a significant additional effect to control M. laxa was detected with the combination of HW followed by antagonist CPA-8. Only 8% of the fruit treated with this combination were infected, compared to 84%, 52% or 24% among the control, CPA-8, and HW treatments, respectively. However, the other combinations tested did not show a significant improvement in effectiveness to control brown rot in comparison with applying the treatments separately. When fruit were incubated for 21 d at 0°C plus 5 d at 20°C, the significant differences between separated or combined treatments were reduced and generally the incidence of brown rot was higher than when fruit were incubated for 5 d at 20°C. Similar results were observed testing fruit with natural inoculum.