Specificity of polycllonal and monoclonal antibodies for the identification of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (PCAs and MCAs), produced to whole cells and flagellar extracts ofXanthomonas campestris pv.campestris (Xcc), respectively, were tested for specificity. In immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) the three PCAs tested, reacted at low dilutions with all Xcc strains, some other xanthomonads and non-xanthomonads. At higher dilutions most cross-reactivity with non-xanthomonad strains disappeared. However, the cross-reactivity with strains ofX. c. pv.vesicatoria (Xcv),X. c. pv.amoraciae (Xca) andX. c. pv.phaseoli var. fuscans (Xcpf) remained.Six MCA-producing cell clones viz. 20H6, 2F4, 18G12, 10C5, 17C12 and 16B5 were selected for specificity tests with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), IF and a dot-blot immunoassay (DBI). None of the MCAs reacted with all Xcc strains in IF and EIA. In DBI, only MCAs 17C12 and 16B5 reacted with all Xcc strains. All six MCAs tested, cross-reacted in one of either tests with other pathovars ofX. campestris, such as Xcv or Xca. The MCAs were also tested in immunoblotting experiments using total bacterial extracts, cell envelope and flagellar extracts. MCAs 20H6, 2F4, 18G12 and 10C5 reacted with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Xcc. MCAs 16B5 and 17C12 reacted with a 39 kilodalton and a 29 kilodalton protein, respectively.It is concluded that the PCAs and MCAs discussed in this study may be used for routine identification and differentiation of (a group of) Xcc strains. The significance of the cross-reactions with other pathovars ofX. campestris needs to be determined by testing seed lots.     

A 9-year monitoring study of diseases on potato seed tubers imported to Israel

Potato seed tubers are imported annually to Israel from northern Europe. Although the seed is registered as certified, a survey carried out over a 9-year period indicated that most lots were affected by latent or active bacterial and fungal infections. Latent infection byErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica, the causal agent of blackleg, at a level of 10³ cells/g peel, was present in 30% of the lots in most years. Black scurf caused byRhizoctonia solani was present in 20–70% of the imported lots, with a moderate to high level of infection in all years except 1985. In contrast, although many lots were affected by powdery scab, common scab, and Fusarium dry rot in most years, disease incidence within lots was generally low. The gangrene pathogen (Phoma exigua) was rarely detected. The survey findings are of marked importance, due to the extensive use of soil fumigation in Israeli agriculture.     

小地老虎为害棉苗缺株产量损失及棉株群体补偿力模拟试验

研究结果明确了模拟棉苗受小地老虎为害造成断苗缺株后，周围棉株有不同程度的补偿作用，主要表现在有效铃的增加和产量的提高，缺１株苗成铃能获得１０１．８５％的补偿，籽棉平均补偿率达８７．２４％，损失率为１２．７６％。但自连续缺２株以上，则补偿率下降为５０．６２％－３５．７５％，损失率上升为４９．３７％－６４．２４％。补偿量和损失量（率）是随缺株数的增加而增长，而补偿率则随缺株数增加而下降，在不同缺株数间     

乌骨绵羊和黑色素的研究进展

黑色素在生物体内起着重要的作用,本文从黑色素的分类、生物合成机制、分析方法、结构、理化性质和功能、分布、沉积等方面进行了阐述,并对新近在云南发现的乌骨绵羊乌质性状形成相关的黑色素的生成的基因进行了描述。     

Reclassification of an isolate of Guignardia citricarpa from New Zealand as Guignardia mangiferae by sequence analysis

Citrus black spot was recorded as present in New Zealand in international databases on the basis of one isolate (ICMP 8336) identified by morphological features as Guignardia citricarpa . This isolate was from a soft rot, not a typical symptom of citrus black spot, on a Seminole tangerine fruit grown in the northern region of New Zealand. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5·8S and ITS2) showed that this isolate was 99% identical to the ITS region of G. mangiferae , a closely related saprotroph. Despite climatic conditions being suitable for this disease, citrus black spot symptoms have never been seen on citrus fruits grown in New Zealand. Thus the absence of symptoms on citrus in New Zealand is probably because G. citricarpa is not present. On the basis of these results, the record of citrus black spot occurring in New Zealand should be re-examined.     

Assessment of the response of carrot somaclones to Pythium violae, causal agent of cavity spot

Cavity spot is a major disease of carrots, causing cavities on the surface of the root. Available commercial varieties show a range of susceptibility but no significant resistance. Seed progeny from 46 tissue culture-derived carrot ( Daucus carota ) somaclones were screened for viability, then 19 selected somaclone families were sown under glasshouse conditions, along with commercial cultivars (Bertan, Nandor, Bolero and Vita Longa) as controls. Mature roots were exposed to Pythium violae in a cavity spot bioassay to determine their response as measured by disease incidence and severity. Some somaclones formed fewer lesions than the least susceptible control cultivar, Vita Longa. Seven somaclonal families that showed a range of susceptibility were sown under field conditions and the assessment was repeated. Although there was little relationship between glasshouse and field-trial results, under field conditions one of the somaclones had a mean incidence of disease, as estimated by transformed data, of 1·9 compared with 37·9 for the most susceptible somaclone and 3·5 for Bolero, the most resistant commercial cultivar. The results indicated that significant genetic variation in susceptibility to cavity spot disease was present in the somaclones.     

Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences and conditions affecting the type of conidial germination of Bipolaris oryzae

One taxonomic characteristic of Bipolaris species is the bipolar germination of conidia, but conidia of Bipolaris oryzae , the causal pathogen of brown spot in rice, are regularly observed to show intercalary germination, a characteristic of Drechslera species. The effect of selection, culture media and culture age on type of conidial germination was determined for three brown spot isolates from Cavinti, San Pablo and Palawan in the Philippines, obtained from infected leaves showing typical disease symptoms. Based on the analyses of their ITS1, ITS2 and 5·8S rDNA nucleotide sequences, the local isolates were clearly identified as B. oryzae . Selection for colonies of the three isolates derived from single conidia with either bipolar or intercalary germination had no effect on the number of spores showing bipolar germination in subsequent cultures. Germination on seven different culture media was tested; of these, rabbit food agar and water agar increased the percentage of bipolar germination of conidia, although this varied between isolates. Incubation of the cultures of all three isolates for longer periods prior to harvesting conidia increased the percentage of bipolar-germinating conidia from c . 40 to c . 90% with 5-day-old and 30-day-old cultures, respectively.     

Potential Inoculum Sources of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora in South African Grapevine Nurseries

Petri disease of grapevine is primarily caused by Phaeomoniella chlamydospora. This pathogen affects mostly young grapevines, but is also implicated in esca disease of older grapevines. Little is known about the disease cycle of this fungus. Infected propagation material was identified as a major means of dissemination of the pathogen. Recently, the pathogen was also detected from soil in South Africa and airborne conidia have been found in vineyards. The aim of this study was to use a molecular detection technique to test different samples collected from nurseries in South Africa at different nursery stages for the presence of P. chlamydospora. A one-tube nested-PCR technique was optimised for detecting P. chlamydospora in DNA extracted from soil, water, callusing medium and grapevine wood. The one-tube nested-PCR was sensitive enough to detect as little as 1 fg of P. chlamydospora genomic DNA from water and 10 fg from wood, callusing medium and soil. PCR analyses of the different nursery samples revealed the presence of several putative 360 bp P. chlamydospora specific bands. Subsequent sequence analyses and/or restriction enzyme digestions of all 360 bp PCR bands confirmed that all bands were P. chlamydospora specific, except for five bands obtained from callusing media and one from water. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora was positively detected in 25% of rootstock cane sections collected from mother blocks, 42% of rootstock cuttings and 16% of scion cuttings collected during grafting, 40% of water samples collected after pre-storage hydration, 67% of water samples collected during grafting, 8% of callusing medium samples and 17% of soil samples collected from mother blocks. These media can therefore be considered as possible inoculum sources of the pathogen during the nursery stages.     

Anthracnose of centipede grass caused by Colletotrichum caudatum

Anthracnose disease was found on centipede grass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.] planted as a ground cover on paddy field levees in Shiga Prefecture in 2004. The symptoms were ear blight, stalk blight, and leaf spots. The causal fungus was morphologically identified as Colletotrichum caudatum (Sacc.) Peck. This is the first report of centipede grass anthracnose caused by C. caudatum.     

不同营养水平补饲对湘东黑山羊肥育羔羊生产性能的影响

采用80只3~4月龄的湘东黑山羊羔羊,研究3种不同营养水平补饲对肥育羔羊日增重、经济效益的影响。分别在冬、春两个季节进行为期2个月的补饲。试验按完全随机单因子设计,每个季节设4个处理,即3个精料补饲组与1个对照组,每个处理10头湘东黑山羊。参考NRC(1981)的山羊饲养标准设计补充饲料配方,每个季节的3个补饲试验组饲粮的精粗比分别按30∶70、40∶60、50∶50确定,平均补饲量依次按100、200、300g/(d.只)。结果表明冬季补饲试验1、2、3组平均日增重分别为62.75、80.00和85.92g,分别比对照组提高42.06%、81.12%、94.52%,差异显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)。春季补饲试验1、2、3组平均日增重分别为85.33、93.50和100.83g,分别比对照组提高38.00%、51.22%、63.08%,差异均为极显著(P<0.01)。从季节对补饲效果来看,冬季的高精料补饲与低精料补饲(精粗比=30∶70)差异显著;春季的精料补饲量对增重影响不大。冬季补饲以精粗料比40∶60为好,春季以30∶70为好。冬季补饲使试验1、2、3组比对照组增加利润分别为5.14、9.23、4.49元/只;春季补饲使试验1、2、3组比对照组增加利润分别为8.97、5.98、2.35元/只。经济效益比较好的补饲量是,冬季187.5g/d,春季154.1g/d。