The effect of solar heating of soil on natural and inoculated agrobacteria

Solarization trials were carried out over 3 years and in two countries to control crown gall disease on fruit trees and eliminate Agrobacterium . In 1992, agrobacteria in naturally infested soils of two Italian nurseries were monitored before and after solarization. Agrobacteria populations decreased by 99% and 92% after the treatment; however, crown gall incidence did not decrease. In 1993 and 1994 solarization was tested in Oregon in fields artificially infested with two marked strains of A. tumefaciens . In sandy loam soil, the target bacteria were eliminated in 4 weeks, while in silty clay soil the populations were markedly reduced after 2 months of treatment. Crown gall incidence on cherry rootstocks transplanted to the field at the end of 1993 was 3.7% in the sandy loam soil control plots, while no tumours were observed on plants from solarized plots. The use of solarization in combination with reduced doses of metham-sodium was also evaluated.     

Geographical cline of DNA variation within the F intersterility group of Heterobasidion annosum in Italy

Eighty-six Heterobasidion annosum isolates, mainly belonging to the F intersterility group and obtained from 32 different geographical localities in Italy, were subjected to genetic analysis by the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The similarity between F and S groups was higher than that between F and P. In UPGMA Cluster Analysis, the F isolates originating from the same locality usually grouped in the same cluster. The isolates also showed a tendency to group at the level of larger geographical areas. Within the F group, isolates from the south of the Italian peninsula showed the highest genetic variation and northern isolates from the Alpine regions showed the lowest. This indicates a gradual cline along the peninsula. The genetic variability in the Italian F group is discussed in relation to the past and present distribution of the host species in Italy and Europe.     

三七根结线虫病在云南发现

 根据寄主反应和血清学试验将我国分离的16个黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)分离物及4个标准毒株(Fny、Lny,M和WL)区分为两个亚组。14个分离物及标准毒株Fny、M属亚组IDTL血清组,2个分离物及标准毒株Lny、WL属亚组ⅡToRS血清组。选用9科23种(或品种)植物进行寄主反应测定,发现茄科的心叶烟(N.glutinosa)、普通烟(N.tabacum cv.Xainthi-NC)及葫芦科的西葫芦(Cucurbita pepo)能将两亚组分离物区分开。采用法国和美国提供的8个单克隆抗体进行单、多克隆抗体夹心ELISA测定,能区分两亚组的分离物,首次证实在我国存在两个亚组的CMV分离物。     

小麦抗叶锈基因Lr 38的AFLP标记

 小麦叶锈病是小麦的重要病害之一,几乎在所有小麦种植区都有发生,严重时可造成5%~15%甚至更大的产量损失^[1]。小麦抗叶锈基因Lr38发现位于中间偃麦草(Agropyron intermedium)第7组的一条染色体上,并被标定在6 DL上^[2],是抗性很强的抗叶锈病基因,国内外至今尚未发现对Lr38有毒性的菌株,是一个应用潜力很大的抗病基因。     

基于GIS的中国小麦条锈病菌越夏区气候区划

 基于多年的气象数据(1980~2001年),首次从制约小麦条锈病菌越夏的温度因子入手,结合寄主小麦因素,利用地理信息系统(Geographical Information System,GIS),对我国小麦条锈病菌越夏区进行较详细的气候区划。本研究从温度条件上明确了全国适合小麦条锈病菌越夏的范围。研究表明,在我国小麦种植区适合小麦条锈病菌越夏的范围很广。其中甘肃、四川、云南、陕西境内适合越夏的地区是连成一片的,甘肃东部除了西边的几个县外其它地方7、8月份最高一旬均温在20~23℃,条锈病菌越夏困难;西藏、青海境内的小麦种植区几乎都适合小麦条锈病菌越夏;贵州境内适合越夏的地区可能和云南越夏区是一个整体。云南适合越夏的地区甚广,且地形复杂,需要进一步调查研究。     

Expression of the tobacco β-1,3-glucanase gene, PR-2d, following induction of SAR with Peronospora tabacina

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is induced following inoculation of Peronospora tabacina sporangia into the stems of Nicotiana tabacum plants highly susceptible to the pathogen. Previous results have shown that accumulation of acidic β-1,3-glucanases (PR-2's) following induction of SAR by P. tabacina may contribute to resistance to P. tabacina. We showed that up-regulation of the PR-2 gene, PR-2d, following stem inoculation with P. tabacina, is associated with SAR. Studies using plants transformed with GUS constructs containing the full length promoter from PR-2d or promoter deletions, provided evidence that a previously characterized regulatory element that is involved in response to salicylic acid (SA), may be involved in regulation of PR-2d following induction of SAR with P. tabacina. This work provides evidence that regulation of PR-2 genes during P. tabacina-induced SAR may be similar to regulation of these genes during infection of N-gene tobacco by TMV or following exogenous application of SA, and provides further support for the role of SA in regulation of genes during P. tabacina-induced SAR.     

Characterization and PCR-based Typing of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria from Peppers and Tomatoes in Serbia

During the last two decades bacterial strains associated with necrotic leaf spots of pepper and tomato fruit spots were collected in Serbia. Twenty-eight strains isolated from pepper and six from tomato were characterized. A study of their physiological and pathological characteristics, and fatty acid composition analysis revealed that all of the strains belong to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. Being non-amylolytic and non-pectolytic, pathogenic on pepper but not on tomato, containing lower amounts of fatty acid 15 : 0 ante–iso, the pepper strains were designated as members of the A group of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria. However, the tomato strains hydrolyzed starch and pectate, caused compatible reactions on tomato but not on pepper, had higher percent of 15 : 0 ante–iso fatty acid, and were classified into B phenotypic group and identified as X. vesicatoria. PCR primers were developed which amplified conserved DNA regions related to the hrp genes of different strains of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria associated with pepper and tomato. Restriction analysis of the PCR product resulted in different patterns and enabled grouping of the strains into four groups. When xanthomonads isolated from pepper and tomato in Serbia were analyzed, they clustered into two groups corresponding to the grouping based on their physiological and pathological characteristics. According to the reaction of pepper and tomato differential varieties, the strains from pepper belong to races P7 and P8 and tomato strains belong to the race T2. All strains were sensitive to copper and streptomycin. Advantages and disadvantages of various bacterial spot management practices are discussed.     

Interfertility of Two Mating Populations in the Gibberella Fujikuroi Species Complex

Gibberella fujikuroi and Gibberella intermedia(mating populations ‘C’ and ‘D’ of the G. fujikuroi species complex) can be distinguished by differences in the spectrum of mycotoxins produced, the lack of sexual cross-fertility and diagnostic differences in their DNA sequences. Some isolates from these two biological species, however, can interbreed and complete meiosis to produce viable progeny. Analysis of marker segregation amongst such hybrid progeny can be used to estimate the degree of genomic rearrangement and genetic incompatibility that has accumulated since these sibling species diverged. Recombinant progeny were isolated from crosses of the standard tester strains for these two species and from crosses between these standard testers and a field isolate (KSU X-10626) that was cross-fertile with tester strains of both species. Progeny in all of the crosses segregated for amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Segregation of AFLP loci deviated from 1:1 for two thirds of the loci amongst the progeny of the cross between the ‘C’ and ‘D’ mating population tester strains, but <20% of the polymorphic loci in the cross of either tester with KSU X-10626 showed such distortion. It was concluded that G. intermedia and G. fujikuroi are sufficiently interfertile to belong to the same biological species, but that changing the nomenclature to reflect this interfertility requires more evidence for the natural occurrence of a continuum in fertility than is presently available.