Variation of Parthenium hysterophorus in response to soil quality: implications for invasiveness

Summary The performance of Parthenium hysterophorus , native to the tropical Americas and invasive to several countries, was evaluated for response to soil quality. Phenological (six stages) and quantitative growth variables [relative growth rates in height (R_h) and diameter (R_d)] were measured every fortnight. Based on harvest data, the variables, root:shoot (R:S) ratio, specific leaf area (SLA), relative growth rate in biomass (R_w), net assimilation rate (NAR) and dry matter allocation to plant components, were determined. High clay content in soils prolonged the rosette stage, enhanced R_h and R_d and hampered root growth, but promoted biomass allocation to shoots. The extreme degree of plant mortality was observed, with only 33.3% individuals surviving to reproduce in the soils with highest clay contents. This appears to be one of the most important findings that certainly has a major bearing on the range of adaptation of the weed. Seed mass declined whereas seed production increased in relatively coarser soils with the exception of nearly pure sand. In soils rich in clay, plants produced a smaller number of larger seeds. These data suggest that variation in fundamental functional traits would enable P. hysterophorus to adjust to a variety of habitat conditions.     

Leaf, floret and seed infection of wheat by Pyrenophora semeniperda

Infection processes of Pyrenophora semeniperda on seedling and adult wheat leaves and wheat ears were investigated. Almost 100% germination of conidia occurred on seedling leaves, compared with 20–30% on adult leaves. Appressoria formed over the anticlinal epidermal cell walls and haloes always accompanied infection. Sometimes papillae formed within the leaves as a resistance mechanism. Infection hyphae ramified through the intercellular spaces of the mesophyll resulting in cellular disruption. The infection processes on floral tissues were similar to those observed on leaves; however, no infection occurred on anther, stigmatic or stylar tissues. Infection of ovarian tissue occurred both with and without appressoria formation. Hyphae grew mainly in the epidermal layers and appeared unable to breach the integumental layer as no growth was observed in endosperm or embryo tissues. The optimum dew period temperature for conidial germination was 23·6°C, compared with 19·9°C for lesion development, 20·4°C for the production of infection structures on seedling leaves and 23·7°C for floret infection. Leaf disease development occurred in a logistic manner in response to dew period, with maximum infection observed after 21 h compared with > 48 h in seeds. An initial dark phase during the dew period was necessary for infection and temperature after the dew period had an effect, with significantly more numerous and larger lesions being formed at 15°C compared with 30°C. Seedling leaves were found to be more susceptible than older leaves, under both field and controlled environment conditions. Infection of wheat seeds following inoculation of ears, or after harvest burial of inoculated disease-free seeds, was demonstrated. In the latter, 3-week-old seedlings were slightly stunted, whereas older plants were unaffected. The apparent unimportance of this plant pathogen as a cause of leaf disease in relation to its poor adaptation to dew periods and dew period temperature is discussed, along with the importance of its seed borne characteristics.     

两系稻制种穗期病害发生较重的原因及防治措施

调查分析稻粒黑粉病、穗颈稻瘟等两系杂交稻制种穗期主要病害的发生原因,提出了清除菌源、轮换制种、健身栽培、对口药剂防治等防治措施。     

Further Contributions to the Development of a Differential Set of Pea Cultivars (Pisum sativum) to Investigate the Virulence of Isolates of Aphanomyces euteiches

Common root rot (Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs.) has become a very destructive disease in the French pea crops since 1993. For an accurate investigation of the virulence variability among French A. euteiches populations and between French and foreign populations, a new set of differential pea genotypes was developed. Thirty-three American and European pea lines, displaying different levels of resistance, were screened in a growth chamber against two French isolates. Symptoms (disease severity from 0 to 5, evaluating symptom surface on roots and epicotyl) and percentage of top fresh weight (inoculated/uninoculated top fresh weight ratio) were measured. From this screening 12 relatively resistant lines, from various genetic backgrounds, were identified along with a highly susceptible control. This set of 13 genotypes was inoculated under controlled conditions with 14 isolates from France, Sweden, USA, Canada and New Zealand, to investigate genotype–isolate interactions. Root symptoms were rated (disease severity), and a susceptibility/resistance threshold was established at disease severity = 1. Significant quantitative interactions were observed, and five 'resistance patterns' were identified, leading to a set of six pea genotypes: Baccara (susceptible), Capella, MN313, 902131, 552 and PI180693. Fields trials of this set in 1999 and 2000 gave the same resistance rankings than in growth chamber conditions. This set will allow more accurate assessments of the variability in virulence/aggressiveness of A. euteiches isolates from France and foreign countries, and further investigations of the epidemiological and genetic basis of pea–A. euteiches interactions.     

The effect of populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli in bean reproductive tissues on seed infection of resistant and susceptible bean genotypes

Surface and internal populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, causal agent of common bacterial blight of bean, on and in flower buds, blossoms and pods of seven bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes were studied. Bean plants were grown in the field and artificially inoculated at the seedling stage (18 days old). The pathogen was recovered in high numbers from flower buds, blossoms, pods and seed of both resistant and susceptible bean genotypes. Significant differences (P = 0.05) in population levels of X. c. pv. phaseoli between stages of reproductive tissue development were observed. Infected seed from resistant bean genotypes had no visible symptoms. Such seed may play an important role in the epidemiology of common bacterial blight because they are difficult to detect and may occur at low frequency in seed lots, as was the case in the current study.     

Biological and molecular characterization of Tomato spotted wilt Virus in Israel

Received April 24, 1997; received in final form June 29, 1997. Symptoms resembling tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infections were documented among ornamental and vegetable crops in commercial greenhouses and open fields in Israel. Plants exhibiting these symptoms were collected from January 1992 to December 1996. Among cultivated plants analyzed for TSWV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 19 species representing five families were found to be infected; natural infection was also recorded in six plant species of weeds. Virus identity was characterized by host range, serology and electron microscopy. Serological reaction with the isolates, found in Israel, using antisera from different sources as well as the sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid gene, demonstrated that the Israeli isolates of TSWV are a member of tospovirus serogroup I, type I (BR-01 strain). No virus transmission was found in seeds collected from virus-infected vegetable and ornamental crops. A non-radioactive molecular probe derived from the cloned nucleocapsid isolate enables specific detection of the virus in crude sap from infected plants. The detection of TSWV in Israel constitutes a severe potential threat to the ornamental and vegetable industry.     

大豆疫病的种子处理技术研究

本试验用不同浓度的瑞毒锰锌、杀毒矾和克露进行大豆种子处理试验，结果表明，５００ｐｐｍ瑞毒锰锌对大豆疫病具有很好的治疗作用，而用杀毒矾以种子重量０．４—０．５％的剂量闷种，能显著地抑制大豆疫霉菌的侵入     

内蒙河套灌区盐碱低产田建立有机质富积层改土培肥效果

通过连续四年在内蒙古河套灌区低产盐碱地定点、定位试验与定时测土分析，明确了土壤耕层增施有机物料建立有机质富积层，能够改善土壤理化性状，尤其是能降低土壤表层含盐量，提高作物保苗率和显著增加作物产出量。