Identification of ALS inhibitor‐resistant Amaranthus biotypes using polymerase chain reaction amplification of specific alleles

Summary Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of specific alleles (PASA) was adapted as a molecular marker‐based method for the rapid detection of point mutations in Amaranthus retroflexus and Amaranthus rudis leading to ALS inhibitor resistance. Two pairs of primers were designed for the specific amplification of alleles of the ALS gene of susceptible and resistant biotypes. The allele‐specific primer matched the desired allele, but mismatched the different allele at its 3′ end. Differentiation was carried out by comparison of the amplified DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis after PASA‐PCR. In A. rudis, differentiation was possible with one PCR and genomic DNA as probe. A ‘nested’ PCR was necessary for the differentiation of sensitive and resistant A. retroflexus. PASA is useful for the identification of resistant weed biotypes and also as a monitoring tool to map resistance occurrence and distribution. Advantages include the fast and clear separation of those plants with and without mutations at an early stage of development, its easy and consistent performance and quick results compared with existing resistance detection tests. These advantages, when combined with management strategies, enable further activities to reduce herbicide resistance.     

Molecular detection of Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines in soybean roots and soil

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method was developed to detect DNA of Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines , the cause of soybean sudden death syndrome. Two pairs of primers, Fsg1/Fsg2 designed from the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, and FsgEF1/FsgEF2 designed from the translation elongation factor 1-α gene, produced PCR products of 438 and 237 bp, respectively. Primer specificity was tested with DNA from 82 F. solani f. sp. glycines , 55 F. solani non-SDS isolates, 43 isolates of 17 soybean fungal pathogens and the oomycete Phytophthora sojae , and soybean. The sensitivity of primer Fsg1/Fsg2 was 10 pg while that of FsgEF1/FsgEF2 was 1 ng when using F. solani f. sp. glycines total genomic DNA or down to 10³ macroconidia g⁻¹ soil. Nested PCR increased the sensitivity of the PCR assay 1000-fold to 10 fg using primers Fsg1/Fsg2, and 1 pg using primers FsgEF1/FsgEF2. F. solani f. sp. glycines DNA was detected in field-grown soybean roots and soil by PCR using either single pairs of primers or the combination of two pairs of primers. The occurrence of F. solani f. sp. glycines was determined using nested PCR for 47 soil samples collected from soybean fields in 20 counties of Illinois in 1999. F. solani f. sp. glycines was detected in soil samples from all five Illinois Agricultural Statistic Districts including 100, 89, 50, 92 and 50% of the samples from East, Central, North-east and West Districts, respectively.     

Seasonal distribution of phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines

The distribution and persistence of phytoplasmas were determined in Australian grapevines. Phytoplasmas could be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from shoots, cordons, trunks and roots throughout the year, and phytoplasmas appear to persistently infect Australian grapevines from year to year. Phytoplasmas were not always detected in samples from the same sampling area from one sampling period to the next. Phytoplasma detection by PCR was improved by sampling from shoots, cordons and trunks, especially during October (early spring). The diseases expressed by the 20 grapevines used in the distribution and persistence studies were monitored. Australian grapevine yellows disease (AGY) was expressed by 17/20 grapevines at some time during the study, whilst only 4/20 and 15/20 grapevines expressed restricted growth disease (RG) and late season leaf curl disease (LSLC), respectively. All grapevines with RG and LSLC also had AGY. The three diseases were persistently expressed in some grapevines and remission of disease was observed in others. The results of PCR detection in the same grapevines indicated that phytoplasmas were more frequently detected in AGY-affected grapevines that also expressed RG and LSLC compared with grapevines expressing AGY alone. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomless plant material but less frequently compared with AGY-affected material.     

Rapid detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi using PCR with primers derived from the Lpv putative storage protein genes

Phytophthora cinnamomi is an ecologically and economically important pathogen. In this study, PCR assays were developed with primer pair LPV2 or LPV3 for rapid detection and identification of this organism. Both primer pairs were selected from putative storage protein genes. The specificity of these primer pairs was evaluated against 49 isolates of P. cinnamomi , 102 isolates from 30 other Phytophthora spp., 17 isolates from nine Pythium spp. and 43 isolates of other water moulds, bacteria and true fungi. PCR with both primer pairs amplified the DNA from all isolates of P. cinnamomi regardless of origin. The LPV3 primers showed adequate specificity among all other species tested. The LPV2 primers cross-reacted with some species of Pythium and true fungi, but not with any other Phytophthora species. PCR with the LPV3 primers detected the pathogen at levels of a single chlamydospore or 10 zoospores in repeated tests. The PCR assay was at least 10 times more sensitive than the plating method for detection of the pathogen from artificially infested soilless medium, and, to a lesser extent, from naturally infected plants. PCR with LPV3 primers can be a useful tool for detecting P. cinnamomi from soilless media and plant tissues at ornamental nurseries, whereas the LPV2 primers can be an effective alternative for identification of this species from pure culture. Applications of these assays for detection of P. cinnamomi in other environments were also discussed.     

小麦苗枯病菌的ITS分析及PCR检测

 小麦苗枯病菌(Clavibacter fangii,Cf)是引起小麦细菌性苗枯病的病原,本研究用16S~23S rDNA间的内源转录间隔区(internally transcribed spacer,ITS)序列通用引物L1(5'-AGTCGTAACAAGGTAGCCGT-3')和L2(5'-GTGCCAAGGCATCCACC-3')扩增Cf和其它相关细菌的基因组DNA;并对其PCR产物进行回收、克隆和测序,将所获序列和其它已报道的细菌ITS序列进行多重比较后设计出Cf的特异性引物I1(5'-TGCCAAGTCACACTGAGACGA-3')和I2(5'-CAATGATCTACCACCCTCCGA-3')。此引物可以从Cf中扩增出351bp的特异性片段,而其余参试的21个细菌PCR反应结果均为阴性。该方法可以应用于小麦苗枯病菌的快速、可靠检测。此外,本研究对多种植物病原棒形杆菌的ITS序列进行比较研究,发现其具有一定的分类意义。     

利用RT-PCR检测库尔勒香梨苹果茎痘病毒的研究

 以库尔勒香梨新鲜、冷藏、冷冻叶片和皮层为材料,对提取双链RNA (dsRNA)的2种方法和提取总RNA的3种方法进行了分析比较,并对总RNA的提取方法进行了改进,获得了纯度较高、完整性较好的dsRNA和总RNA,在此基础上进行了反转录(RT)和PCR扩增。在国内首次完成了对苹果茎痘病毒(ASPV)的RT-PCR检测,建立了ASPV有效RT-PCR反应体系。用此体系扩增到ASPV一个长约316 bp的片段。实验表明以dsRNA和总RNA为模板均能成功进行RT-PCR检测,且dsRNA优于总RNA。     

不同引物对植原体的检测灵敏度比较研究

用常规PCR和巢式PCR对目前常用的各种植原体引物(fPl/rP7、fU5/rP7、fU5／rU3、fAY/rEY和fFD9/rFD9)的检测灵敏度进行了比较研究。研究发现，它们的检测灵敏度并不相同。最灵敏的引物(fAY/rEY)要比最不灵敏的引物(fFD9/rFD9)的灵敏度至少高出数千倍。因此，按照不同的检测目的选择所用的检测引物是明智的，特别是当待测样品中的植原体浓度极低时，比如葡萄组织样品中植原体的检测。据此提出了用于不同检测目的时的最佳引物。     

圆点印迹法检测葡萄斑点病毒技术研究

采用圆点印迹法检测GFkV，结果表明：Tris-HCl和PBS在提取GFkV时效果相同，在带毒葡萄植株中韧皮部的GFkV含量较高。     

禽流感病毒夹心ELISA快速检测方法的研究

以禽流感病毒(AIV)湖北分离株(H9N2亚型)提纯物为免疫原，制备出鸡抗AIV和兔抗AIV抗体，经用琼脂扩散法测得效价分别为1:32和1:16。以纯化的鸡抗AIVIgG为包被抗体，兔抗AIVIgG为第二抗体，建立了检测AIV抗原的夹心ELISA法。结果表明，鸡抗AIVIgG的最佳包被浓度为1μg/mL，兔抗AIV IgG的最适工作浓度为5μg/mL；对已知的阳性样品，用夹心ELISA法测得的病毒滴度比血球凝集滴度高16倍以上，且能检出其它亚型的禽流感病毒；与新城疫病毒、传染性支气管炎病毒、减蛋综合征病毒、传染性喉气管炎病毒、传染性法氏囊病病毒、鸡痘病毒、马立克氏病病毒等无交叉反应，说明本方法有很高的特异性及敏感性。对14个鸡场送检的、患有呼吸道疾病或有腹膜炎、眼炎、产蛋下降、怀疑为禽流感感染的病鸡进行了检测，结果有7个鸡场为阳性。本方法的建立为禽流感病鸡群的临床检验提供了一种方便、敏感、快速的检测方法。     

Footsteps from Insect Larvae Damage Leaf Surfaces and Initiate Rapid Responses

Plant resistance to insect herbivory involves gene expression in response to wounding and the detection of insect elicitors in oral secretions (Kessler and Baldwin, 2002, Ann. Rev. Plant/ Biol. 53: 299–328). However, crawling insect larvae stimulate the synthesis of 4-aminobutyrate within minutes and imprints of larval footsteps can be visualized within seconds through superoxide production or transient increases in chlorophyll fluorescence (Bown et al., 2002, Plant Physiol. 129: 1430–1434). Here cryo-scanning electron microscopy was used to demonstrate that larval feet, which are equipped with a perimeter row of hook-like crochets, damage leaf tissue and result in larval footprints. Staining for cell death shows that areas of wounding correspond to footsteps detected through increased chlorophyll fluorescence. Superoxide production in response to footsteps was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of the plasma membrane NADPH oxidase enzyme. Inhibition of superoxide production, however, did not eliminate the detection of cell death. The results demonstrate that larval footsteps damage leaf tissue, and initiate rapid local responses which are not dependent on herbivory or oral secretions. It is proposed that superoxide production at the wound site prevents opportunistic pathogen infection.