Functional male sterility (ps-2) in tomato (Lycopesicon esculentum Mill.) and its application in breeding and hybrid seed production

Data and findings concerning the development of an effective male sterility system (as already applied in the practice of producing tomato hybrid seed) through the use of the positional sterility (ps 2) gene are reported. Undesirable selfing and the necessity of emasculation are discussed as the two main disadvantages that limit the use of ps 2-sterile seed parents in tomato hybrid seed production. The following specific characteristics in the performance of ps 2-lines were evaluated: 1) the percentage of selfing in the ps 2-lines varies within and between the years of growing, being forever lowest during the period of hybrid seed production; 2) the percentage of selfed seeds when using a ps 2-line as seed parent in producing hybrid seed is significantly lower than the percentage of selfing, observed on this same line; 3) the ps 2-gene expressivity varies depending on the genotype. This enables the breeding of ps 2-lines exhibiting very low percentage of selfing; 4) stamen emasculation at anthesis (as applied in ps 2-lines) is significantly easier and more rapid than emasculation in floral buds. The easy maintenance of the sterile lines – by artificial selfing it is possible to produce 100% ps 2 progeny – and the high yield of hybrid seed obtained are discussed as important advantages in using this type of sterility in tomato hybrid seed production. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

俄罗斯原油罐车接卸过程中的技术问题

将俄罗斯与国内的铁路原油罐车做了详细对比，在现有的国内罐车原油卸车设施的基础上，提出了俄罗斯铁路原油罐车下卸的现行办法，为铁路罐车进口俄罗斯原油提供了技术支持。     

超干处理和贮藏对番茄和辣椒种子生活力和活力的影响

试验采用氧化钙为干燥剂对番茄和辣椒种子进行超平处理和贮藏，以研究其对种子生活力和活力的影响。结果表明，番茄种子水分降至3．77％、辣椒种子水分降至3．86％，未发现对种子生活力和活力有明显的影响；对不同含水量的番茄和辣椒种子室温密闭贮今6个月后的调查结果发现，超低水分种子生活力和活力较高，细胞膜能保持较好的完整性，脱氢酶活性和呼吸强度较高。由此可见超干贮藏有利于保持番茄和辣椒种子的生活力和活力。     

In vitro and In vivo Activity of Cyprodinil and Pyrimethanil on Botrytis cinerea Isolates Resistant to other Botryticides and Selection for Resistance to Pyrimethanil in a Greenhouse Population in Greece

No cross-resistance was observed between pyrimethanil or cyprodinil and the fungicides benomyl, iprodione or carbendazim + diethofencarb. In vitro, both anilinopyrimidine fungicides were effective against strains of Botrytis cinerea resistant to benzimidazoles and/or dicarboximides and against a wild type strain insensitive to diethofencarb (EC₅₀ values ranged between 0.03–0.19 and 0.006–0.054gml^–1 for pyrimethanil and cyprodinil, respectively). Preventive applications of anilinopyrimidines completely protected young cucumber plants and fruits that were inoculated with all strains of B. cinerea. The effectiveness of pyrimethanil against grey mould was studied in greenhouse grown tomatoes in relation to (a) the type of infection and the progress of the disease on different plant parts and (b) the response of the naturally occurring B. cinerea population to the selection pressure caused by eight successive applications of this fungicide. Pyrimethanil effectively controlled grey mould on leaves, fruits and stems but did not significantly reduce the number of dead plants and fruits with 'ghost spot' symptoms. The selection pressure caused by the consecutive applications of pyrimethanil resulted in reduction of its effectiveness on leaves that became apparent after the sixth application. This was correlated with a shift of the B. cinerea population (not previously exposed to anilinopyrimidines) towards reduced sensitivity, probably due to the development of a low level of resistance (R _L = 7.7). Pyrimethanil delayed the onset of the disease but it did not reduce the infection rate.     

Greenhouse and field screening of wild<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycopersicon</Emphasis> germplasm for resistance to the whitefly<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia argentifolii</Emphasis>

Thirty-two accessions of wild tomato (Lycopersicon spp.) germplasm were evaluated for resistance to the whiteflyBemisia argentifolii Bellows ⇐p; Perring in a greenhouse choice bioassay. Density data were recorded for the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces for (i) all life stages ofB. argentifolii and (ii) types I, IV, V and VI trichomes. Individual plant selections (33 from 22 wild tomato accessions) with high resistance were subsequently tested in the field to verify the resistance found in the greenhouse screening. Resistance was defined by the density of all life stages of the whitefly observed on the eight leaflets sampled at nodes 5 and 7. Only type IV trichomes had a consistent (but low) and significant negative correlation between trichome density and whitefly density for various life stages. The highest whitefly resistance was observed inLycopersicon pennellii accessions LA 716, LA 1340 and LA 2560. The most resistantL. hirsutum f.typicum accessions were LA 1777 and LA 1353. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 9, 2002.     

Structure and Expression In planta of Botrytis cinerea Ubiquitin Genes

To identify genes of the necrotrophic pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea that are expressed during infection of tomato leaves, a differential screening of a genomic library with radioactively labelled cDNA was performed. This resulted in the identification of a B. cinerea gene, denominated Bcubi4, which encodes a precursor protein consisting of four identical head-to-tail repeats of a 76aa ubiquitin unit. Subsequently a gene denominated Bcubi1CEP79, encoding a single ubiquitin unit joined to a Carboxyl Extension Protein of 79 amino acids, was isolated. The expression of the two ubiquitin genes was studied during pathogenesis of B. cinerea on tomato. Bcubi1CEP79, but not Bcubi4, mRNA was transiently induced at 16h after inoculation. The increased expression of the Bcubi1CEP79 gene at this stage of pathogenesis might be required for enhanced ribosomal biogenesis.     

温室地下滴灌灌水控制下限对番茄生长发育、果实品质和产量的影响

用温室小区试验的方法,通过对番茄株高和茎粗、果实品质和产量以及水分生产效率进行比较,探讨了温室栽培茄果类地下滴灌灌水控制下限的适宜取值范围。结果表明:在壤质土壤的试验地上,当地下滴灌管埋深为30 cm、计划湿润层深为15 cm~45 cm(厚度30 cm)、湿润比取0.7、灌水控制上限取田间持水量时,将土壤水吸力30 kPa作为控制灌水的下限,有利于番茄植株生长发育,可以达到高产、优质、节水的目的。     

Pathological evaluation of host-specific AAL-toxins and fumonisin mycotoxins produced by Alternaria and Fusarium species

Host-specific AAL-toxins and mycotoxin fumonisins are structurally related and were originally isolated from the tomato pathotype of Alternaria alternata and from Fusarium verticillioides, respectively. Previous reports on the production of fumonisin derivatives by the tomato pathotype suggested a possible involvement in the pathogenicity of the pathogen. Here, we have evaluated the role of fumonisin in A. alternata–tomato interactions. The results indicate that highly pathogenic isolates of A. alternata tomato pathotype produce AAL-toxin as the sole toxin, strongly implicating it as a pathogenicity factor. The related compound, fumonisin, is also toxigenic and has infection-inducing activity on susceptible tomato plants.     

An Aqueous Extract of the Dry Mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum Induces Resistance in Several Crops under Controlled and Field Conditions

We have examined the effect of Pen, an aqueous extract of the dry mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum, on plant–pathogen interactions. Pen controlled a broad range of pathogens on several crop plants under greenhouse and field conditions. Pen protected grapevine from downy and powdery mildew (caused by Plasmopara viticola and Uncinula necator), tomato from early blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans), onion from downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) and apple trees from apple scab (caused by Venturia inaequalis) to a similar extent as fungicides such as copper and sulphur or well-known inducers such as benzothiadiazole or β-aminobutyric acid. Pen had no major direct fungicidal effect and is thus supposed to protect plants by activating their defense mechanisms. The raw material for extraction of Pen was available in constant quality, a prerequisite for commercial application. Under certain conditions, Pen caused phytotoxic side effects. The symptoms mostly consisted of small necrotic spots or, more rarely, of larger necrotic areas. The development of the symptoms was dependent on several parameters, including concentration of Pen, the number of applications, the persistence on the plant tissue, the plant species and variety and environmental conditions. In grapevine, a partially purified fraction of Pen was much less toxic than the crude Pen extract, but protected the plants to a similar extent against P. viticola. Our data show that Pen has interesting and unique properties as a plant protection agent, but more research is needed to further reduce its phytotoxic side effects.     

Lipid metabolism in tomato and bean as a sensitive monitor for biocontrol of wilt diseases

The lipids metabolism of tomato and bean plants during biological control of wilt pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici andF. oxysporum f.sp.phaseoli, respectively) byBacillus subtilis was investigated. The interaction of wilt pathogens with both tomato and bean caused an imbalance and drastic reduction in total lipids, triacylglycerol, sterol and all phospholipd fractions except phosphatidic acid. The application of a formulated biocontrol agent,B. subtilis, eliminated the detrimental effect of both wilt pathogens and consequently prevented catabolism of lipid fractions in both tomato and bean. Moreover, the changes in the lipid fractions as a sensitive monitor for biocontrol of wilt diseases suggest a positive correlation between the application ofB. subtilis and improvement in the host metabolism towards anabolism. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 20, 2006.