Frost promotes the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae in Actinidia chinensis and A. deliciosa plants

Frost occurs in all major areas of cultivation, presenting a threat for the production of kiwifruit crops worldwide. A series of experiments were performed on 1‐year‐old, potted plants or excised twigs of Actinidia chinensis and A. deliciosa to verify whether strict relationships exist between bacterial canker outbreaks from Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) attacks and the occurrence of autumn and winter frost events. The association between the occurrence of autumn frost and the sudden outbreak of bacterial canker in A. chinensis in central Italy has been confirmed. Both autumn and winter frosts promote Psa multiplication in the inoculated twigs of both species. The day after the frost, reddish exudates oozing from the inoculation sites were consistently observed in both species, and Psa was re‐isolated in some cases. During the thawing of both A. deliciosa and A. chinensis twigs, the 2‐cm upward and downward migration of Psa from the inoculation site was observed within 3 min, and the leaves were consistently colonized with the pathogen. A consistent brown discoloration, accompanied with a sour‐sap odour, was observed throughout the length of the excised twigs of both Actinidia species after Psa inoculation and winter frost. Psa inoculation induced a remarkably higher necrosis in excised twigs that were not frozen compared with P. s. pv. syringae inoculation. Antifreeze protection using irrigation sprinklers did not influence the short‐term period of Psa and P. s. pv. syringae multiplication in both A. deliciosa and A. chinensis twigs. Thus, the damage from frost, freeze thawing and the accumulation of Psa in Actinidia twigs promotes the migration of the pathogen within and between the orchards. Taken together, the results obtained in this study confirmed that A. deliciosa is more frost tolerant than A. chinensis, autumn frosts are more dangerous to these crops than winter frosts, and in the absence of Psa, young kiwifruit plants remain sensitive to frost.     

Identification of genes required for the fitness of Rhodococcus equi during the infection of mice via signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis

Rhodococcus equi is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular bacterium that causes pyogranulomatous pneumonia in foals and immunocompromised people. In the present study, signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis was applied for the negative selection of R. equi mutants that cannot survive in vivo. Twenty-five distinguishable plasmid-transposon (plasposon) vectors by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), each containing a unique oligonucleotide tag, were constructed and used to select the transposon mutants that have in vivo fitness defects using a mouse systemic infection model. Of the 4,560 transposon mutants, 102 mutants were isolated via a real-time PCR-based screening as the mutants were unable to survive in the mouse model. Finally, 50 single transposon insertion sites were determined via the self-cloning strategy. The insertion of the transposon was seen on the virulence plasmid in 15 of the 50 mutants, whereas the remaining 35 mutants had the insertion of transposon on the chromosome. The chromosomal mutants contained transposon insertions in genes involved in cellular metabolism, DNA repair and recombination, gene regulation, non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, and unknown functions. Additionally, seven of the chromosomal mutants showed a reduced ability to multiply in the macrophages in vitro. In this study, we have identified several biosynthetic pathways as fitness factors associated with the growth within macrophages and survival in mice.     

海南省芒果细菌性黑斑病原菌生理生化特性初步研究

为了明确海南省芒果细菌性黑斑病原菌的生理生化特性,为该病害的科学防治提供理论基础。从海南省4 县市分离获得12 株芒果细菌性黑斑病原菌(Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae)菌株并对其进行13 项生理和7 项生化特性测定。结果表明,在所测试的13 项生理特征中有9 项[耐盐性（1%～3%）、pH（5.0～8.0）、吐温80、醋酸盐、蔗糖、α-半乳糖、乳糖、麦芽糖和甘露醇]反应结果完全相同,但对果糖、葡萄糖、鼠李糖和木糖等碳源的利用却有明显差异。在7 项生化试验项目中,除HNMG15 产H2S试验为阴性外,其余供试菌株的氧化酶、过氧化氢酶、淀粉酶、硝酸盐还原、淀粉水解、明胶水解及产硫化氢等生化试验结果则完全一致。利用NTSYS-pc 2.10 软件采用Jaccard’s 相似系数和UPGMA方法对12株供试菌株的生理生化特征进行聚类分析,发现不同地理来源的芒果细菌性黑斑病原菌菌株可以聚成一类,由此可以说明海南芒果细菌性黑斑病原菌在生理生化特性方面存在一定的差异。     

增施矿质营养对烟草青枯病的控病效果及其作用机理

【目的】研究增施Ca、Mo等矿质元素对烟草青枯病的控病效果及其对烟株体内防御酶系活性的影响,并探讨其作用机理;从控病效果、生理生化调控途径方面明确供试矿质元素中与控制烟草青枯病发生最相关的矿质营养。【方法】采用室内与田间验证相结合的方式,选择性地给烟草根外增施Ca、B、Mg、Mo 4种矿质营养,进行多重复小区试验;通过调查以叶面喷雾方式根外增施4种中微量元素后,烟草青枯病在室内和田间的发病情况,测定室内喷施4种元素后烟株体内防御酶系指标的变化、4种元素对青枯病菌（Ralstonia solanacearum）的直接抑菌作用以及处理后烟草田间各农艺性状指标的变化情况,统计分析比较不同元素对烟草青枯病的控病效果及对烟株体内防御酶的调控作用。【结果】室内试验结果表明,在保证烟株正常生长营养的基础上增施Ca、B、Mg、Mo 4种矿质元素对烟草青枯病均有一定的控病效果,Mo处理最好,其次为Ca处理,两者对烟草青枯病的发生均具有一定的推迟、延缓发病作用,病程进展曲线下面积（AUDPC）显著低于其余处理,分别比对照低300.00、244.44 (基于发病率) 和 380.56、352.78 (基于病情指数)。Mo、Ca处理对青枯病菌具有一定的直接抑制作用,处理24 h 后抑菌率最高,分别为35.93%、33.13%;对青枯病的室内最终控病效果分别为64.79%、57.67%;两处理均可显著提高感染青枯病烟株体内POD、CAT、SOD、PPO、PAL活性,分别比对照处理增加3.11、1.10、0.82、1.68、0.60倍和1.26、0.73、0.90、1.00、0.32倍;并可显著降低MDA的含量,分别降低0.50和0.26倍。田间试验结果表明,在烟草上增施Ca、B、Mg、Mo 4种矿质元素,对烟草青枯病均具有较好的控制作用,以Mo、Ca处理最好,两处理对青枯病的田间控病效果分别为49.46%-65.52%、46.80%-57.40% （2011 年）和45.28%-62.17%、42.91%-62.57% （2012 年）;此外,补充Mo、Ca矿质营养后烟草株高、最大叶宽、茎围、最大叶面积均显著高于对照处理,对田间烟草的健康生长具有明显的促进作用。【结论】烟株的营养状况与其抗病性密切相关,定期向烟株增施Mo、Ca营养可增强烟草对青枯病的防御能力并提高其抗青枯病的特性,对烟草青枯病具有明显的控病作用;这对植物病害-营养-控病模型的构建具有重要意义。     

巢式PCR快速检测西瓜细菌性果斑病菌

【目的】建立nested-PCR方法,快速检测西瓜种子中的燕麦嗜酸菌西瓜亚种（Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli,Aac）,为西瓜细菌性果斑病（bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon,WFB）的防控提供技术支持。【方法】 根据Aac BOX短重复序列的PCR产物设计两对引物BX-L1/BX-R5和BX-L1/BX-S-R2,建立以BX-L1/BX-R5为外侧引物,BX-L1/BX-S-R2为内侧引物的nested-PCR,以5 µL样品处理液于99℃高温裂解10 min,再放置冰上冷却5 min,以所释放病原DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,采用50 μL反应体系：5 μL 10×PCR buffer（25 mmol?L-1 MgCl2）,4 μL dNTP （D4030RA,2.5 mmol?L-1）,引物（5 μmol?L-1）各3 μL,0.4 μL Taq DNA酶（DR001B,5 U?μL-1）,通过退火温度优化,反应条件为：引物BX-L1/BX-R5各3 μL进行第一轮扩增,95℃,2 min;95℃,30 s;65℃,45s;72℃,1 min;35个循环;72℃,延伸7 min;取扩增后的产物1 μL为模板,以引物BX-L1/BX-S-R2各3 μL进行第二轮扩增,95℃,2 min;95℃,30 s,66℃,45 s,72℃,1 min,30个循环,72℃,7 min。在此条件下对梯度Aac菌悬液、模拟带菌种子提取液进行特异性、灵敏性及重复性检验,对不同带菌率的西瓜种子提取液进行检测。【结果】引物BX-L1/BX-R5和BX-L1/BX-S-R2在检测不同来源的Aac菌株时都产生了预期大小的片段,并且对其近源种燕麦嗜酸菌卡特莱兰亚种（A. avenae subsp. cattleyae）、魔芋假单胞菌（A. avenae subsp. konjaci）及其不相关菌株未扩增出目标片段。以BX-L1/BX-R5为外侧引物,BX-L1/BX-S-R2为内侧引物的nested-PCR,对Aac纯菌液和模拟带菌种子提取液的最低检测限4.7×101 cfu/mL,比direct-PCR灵敏度高出1 000倍。当西瓜种子带菌率在0.1%-0.5%时,nested-PCR阳性检测率为66.7%;当种子带菌率为1%-10%时,nested-PCR的阳性检测率为83%-100%。【结论】以BX-L1/BX-R5为外侧引物,BX-L1/BX-S-R2为内侧引物的nested-PCR方法,能够快速、高效检测携带微量Aac的西瓜种子,检测结果重现性高。     

2种粒径组方中草药对西伯利亚鲟维氏气单胞菌病预防效果研究

本试验旨在研究2种粒径组方中草药对西伯利亚鲟致病性维氏气单胞菌病的预防效果。分为3个试验:安全性试验:设粗粉中草药(CP)组和超微粉中草药(SP)组,每组6个重复,每个重复10尾鱼,采取人工灌服给药,观察7 d;预防性试验:设对照(C)组、CP组和SP组,每组3个重复,每个重复15尾鱼,阶段性投喂2个疗程中草药后,用致病性维氏气单胞菌攻毒试验鱼,观察10 d;中试试验:分组同预防性试验,在鲟鱼养殖基地进行生产性试验,连喂2个疗程后抽血测定鱼体的非特异性免疫指标。安全性试验结果表明,2种粒径的中草药对西伯利亚鲟鱼LD₅₀均大于5000 mg/kg体重。预防性试验结果表明,CP、SP组试验鱼的成活率均显著高于C组(P<0.05)。中试试验结果表明,CP组的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)水平显著高于C组(P<0.05);SP组的丙二醛(MDA)、补体蛋白3(C3)水平均显著高于C、CP组(P<0.05);SP组的碱性磷酸酶(AKP)水平显著高于C组(P<0.05)。综上所述,2种粒径的组方中草药对西伯利亚鲟维氏气单胞菌病具有较好的治疗作用,其中投喂超微粉制剂组方中草药能提高西伯利亚鲟鱼的非特异性免疫能力。     

Host specificity and genetic diversity of race 4 strains of Ralstonia solanacearum

Ralstonia solanacearum race 4 isolates were obtained from Zingiberaceae plants in India during bacterial wilt outbreaks. Polyphasic phenotypic and genotypic analysis revealed intraracial diversity and dominance of biovar 3 over biovar 4. Biovar 3 strains were isolated from very severely wilted Zingiberaceae plants in the field and found to be present across diverse geographical, host and seasonal boundaries. It was hypothesized that these isolates belong to a single, ‘fast wilting’, lineage. Using one ‘fast wilting’ isolate in controlled inoculations, rapid wilt was observed in ginger within 5–7 days. Wilting was also observed in several other closely and distantly related hosts such as turmeric (Curcuma longa), aromatic turmeric (Curcuma aromatica), black turmeric (Curcuma caesia), sand ginger (Kaempferia galanga), white turmeric (Curcuma zeodaria), awapuhi (Zingiber zerumbet), greater galangal (Alpinia galanga), globba (Globba sp.), small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and large cardamom (Ammomum subulatum) of the Zingiberaceae family, and in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Molecular analysis, including multiplex PCR‐based phylotyping, sequence analysis of 16S rDNA, 16–23S intergenic spacer and the recN gene, and multilocus sequence typing, revealed minimal differences between fast wilting isolates, confirming that almost all belong to the same lineage. Biovar 4 was isolated from plants showing slow wilt progression and self‐limiting wilting in restricted geographical locations instead, and was identified to be genetically distinct from the fast wilting biovar 3 isolates. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of host range and genetic analysis of R. solanacearum race 4 in India.     

Identification of allele specific AFLP markers linked with bacterial wilt [Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.] resistance in hot peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Even though the bacterial wilt is identified as the most destructive disease in hot peppers world-wide, robust molecular markers that facilitate marker assisted selection are absent till date. Kerala Agricultural University (India) has released two hot peppers named Ujwala and Anugraha which show high level field resistance to this pathogen. The variety Anugraha was developed through backcross breeding between a high yielding but highly susceptible variety Pusa Jwala with the highly resistant Ujwala, using Pusa Jwala as a recurrent parent. Thus, Pusa Jwala and Anugraha are near isogenic lines (NILs) differing for the resistance to bacterial wilt only and the resistance is governed by a homozygous recessive (rr) gene action. The F₁s of Anugraha × Pusa Jwala were selfed to generate the segregating F₂ population. The F₂ population has been field screened, 10 highly susceptible and 10 most resistant plants were identified and DNA from these plants were bulked separately. Bulked segregant analysis with AFLP primer combination EcoACT + MseCAC was done using the DNA from donor parent Ujwala, susceptible parent Pusa Jwala, resistant parent Anugraha, bulked susceptible F₂ and bulked resistant F₂ plants. On resolution using capillary electrophoresis system in genetic analyzer, the AFLP products have yielded three polymorphic bands (103, 117, and 161 bp) which were linked with the resistant recessive allele and three polymorphic bands (183, 296, 319 bp) linked with the dominant susceptible allele of the bacterial wilt resistance gene. The results were confirmed through co-segregation analysis in most resistant and susceptible plants of F₂ segregating population.     

Efficacy of injection vaccines against Flavobacterium psychrophilum in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Efficacy of mineral oil-based experimental injection vaccines against Flavobacterium psychrophilum were tested in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), under laboratory and field conditions. The vaccines consisted of formalin- or heat-inactivated whole bacterium cell preparations of two different serotypes (Fd and Th) or a combination of serologically different F. psychrophilum (Fd and/or Th and/or Fp(T);Th). Specific antibody responses against the bacterium in plasma and skin mucus were evaluated post-vaccination with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Efficacy of the vaccinations was determined by challenge trials to F. psychrophilum with the vaccinated rainbow trout. Significantly higher antibody levels in plasma were detected in vaccinated fish compared with mock-vaccinated fish. Injection vaccination did not trigger specific antibody production in the skin mucus. Significantly higher survival of i.p. vaccinated fish compared with non-vaccinated fish was observed during the challenge. The results suggest that mineral oil-based injectable vaccines containing formalin- or heat-inactivated virulent cells of F. psychrophilum effectively triggered specific antibody production and protected the fish against bacterial cold water disease.