Note: First record in crete ofHercinothrips femoralis in greenhouse banana plantations

In 2004 the banded greenhouse thrips,Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was recorded for the first time in greenhouse-grown organic banana in the area of Sitia (northeastern Crete). Banana fruits were severely damaged by the thrips infestation and a typical smoky-red discoloration of the fruit was observed. Pest control was poor using either high-pressure washing with potassium fatty acids, or commercially available thrips predatorsNeoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) andOrius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). During 2005H. femoralis was also found causing severe damage in conventional banana plantations in Arvi, the main banana-growing area of Crete. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 17, 2006.     

Appresoorium formation of Puccinia hordei on partially resistant barley and two non-host species

One of the components of partial resistance of barley to leaf rust,Puccinia hordei, is a reduced infectibility. It was investigated whether this low infectibility may rest on a hampered appressorium formation of the leaf rust fungus. The appressorium formation on the primary leaves of 11 barley genotypes with an intermediate-to-low infectibility was compared with that on the highly infectible L94. The number of stomata per cm² leaf area occupied by appressoria ofP. hordei was determined per genotype by means of fluorescence microscopy. No cosistent differences could be detected, indicating that the mechanisms causing a low infectibility of partially resistant barley seedlings act at a phase later than the formation of the appressoria. On the non-host wheat not fewer appressoria were formed than on L94, but no appressoria were found on a lettuce genotype. The latter probably lacks the stimuli that enable the fungus to find stomata.Samenvatting Eén van de componenten van partiële resistentie van gerst tegen dwergroest,Puccinia hordei, is een verminderde infectiedichtheid. Het mechanisme, dat hieraan ten grondslag ligt, is onbekend. Een experiment werd uitgevoerd om na te gaan of bij partieel resistente rassen een verminderde appressoriumvorming optreedt. Na inoculatie in een inoculatietoren en een zorgvuldig uitgevoerde incubatie werd het aantal huidmondjes per cm² bladoppervlak bepaald dat bezet was door appressoria vanP. hordei. De elf weinig vatbare gerstlijnen uit deze studie bleken niet reproduceerbaar te verschillen van de zeer vatbare gerstlijn L94 in de mate van appressoriumbezetting. Dit wijst erop dat infectiedichtheidsverschillen t.g.v. partiële resistentie veroorzaakt worden door mechanismen die werken na de appressoriumvorming. In een tweede experiment werd aangetoond dat zelfs op de niet-waardsoort tarwe, waaropP. hordei geen symptomen veroorzaakt, niet minder appressoria worden gevormd dan op L94. Op een sla-genotype trad echter geen appressoriumvorming op. Op deze laatste niet-waardsoort ontbreken waarschijnlijk de stimuli die de schimmel in staat stellen huidmondjes te vinden.     

牛至精油及其主要成分香芹酚和百里酚对16种植物病原真菌的抑制活性

为评价牛至精油及其2种主要成分香芹酚和百里酚在植物真菌病害防治方面的应用前景,采用菌丝生长速率法和孢子萌发法测定3种物质对16种植物病原真菌菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制活性,并采用黄瓜子叶法测定其对黄瓜灰霉病的防治效果.结果表明,牛至精油在500 mg/L浓度处理下可完全抑制番茄早疫病菌Alternaria solani、...     

Note: Systemic effects of a spinosad insecticide onLiriomyza huidobrensis Larvae

In an effort to expand the spectrum of larvicides effective againstLiriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), the effect of spinosad was studied on the mortality of the leafminer under laboratory conditions. Bean plants infested with various leafminer stages (egg through third instar) were treated by dipping leaves in a liter of water containing 24, 48 or 96 mg a.i. spinosad or by drenching the soil of plants with 200 ml of water containing 12 mg, 24 mg or 48 mg a.i. spinosad. In general, leaf dipping was more efficacious and adverse effects were observed sooner than with soil drench. All concentrations of spinosad significantly reduced the number of adults that emerged except leaf dip of third instar; only the highest concentration caused significant reduction of pupae and adults. Spinosad would likely be a valuable insecticide for control of the pea leafminer,L. huidobrensis. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 4, 2005.     

Note:Capparimyia savastani (Martelli, 1911): A new record of tephritidae of economic significance for Spain

During a trial in Majorca (Balearic Islands) conducted in 2007 for the detection of parasitoids of the olive flyBactrocera oleae by using yellow sticky traps, a single female of the tephritidaeCapparimyia savastani (Martelli, 1911) was captured. This species had never been recorded previously either in the Balearics or mainland Spain. The larvae of this species feed on the edible flower buds of the common caper (Capparis sp.), thus being a potential pest of this crop. There has not been any previous study of the response of this diptera to the traps and attractants most commonly used in the area for the monitoring of other tephritidae of economic importance, such asB. oleae and the Mediterranean fruit flyCeratitis capitata. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 30, 2008.     

Note: five new invasive species of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Israel

Five invasive species of longhorn beetles, all known as pests and originating from different geographical areas, are recorded from Israel for the first time:Phoracantha recurva (Newman) andXystrocera globosa (Olivier) were collected in nature;Chlorophorus annularis (Fabricius),Neoplocaederus basalis (Gahan) andRhagium inquisitor (Linnaeus) were reared from imported timber. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 29, 2008.     

Note: Occurrence ofMycosphaerella graminicola, teleomorph ofSeptoria tritici, in Slovakia

Pseudothecia ofMycosphaerella graminicola, the teleomorph ofSeptoria tritici, were observed on leaves of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Slovakia for the first time in 2004. The samples of this pyrenomycetous ascomycete were compared with previously published data by micrometric characteristics using light microscope observations of morphological characteristics. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 18, 2005.     

Host Range ofVerticillium dahliae in cultivated species in Crete

To determine the host range ofVerticillium dahliae among the cultivated species in Crete, Greece, studies were carried out during 1992–2000. Based on disease symptoms observed on 28 vegetable and forage species grown in a field naturally infected byV. dahliae, and an extensive survey of the most common cultivated species grown under natural conditions, seven hosts belonging to four botanical families not previously reported as susceptible to Verticilliun wilt, and 12 hosts belonging to seven families new for Greece, were recorded. The worldwide new hosts are: anise (Anethum graveolens), chard (Beta vulgaris ssp.cicla), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), wild sweet pea (Lathyrus ochrus), lentil (Lens culinaris), marigold (Tagetes erecta) and vetch (Vicia sativa). These species could be infected by their hosts-of-originV. dahliae isolates during pathogenicity tests. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 13, 2002.     

Identification of a new pathotype of Puccinia hordei with virulence for the resistance gene Rph7

Barley leaf rust resistance gene Rph7, derived from barley accession Cebada Capa, is the most effective R-gene for resistance to Puccinia hordei. Virulence for this gene was known in the USA, Israel and Morocco but not yet in Europe. We found an unexpected leaf rust infection in the field at Córdoba, Spain in 2004 on Rph7 carrying lines. This virulence for Rph7 was confirmed in growth chamber experiments, being the first report of Rph7 virulence in European populations of P. hordei. A collection of 680 barley accessions was screened for resistance against this new isolate. Twelve accessions showed segregation with individual plants showing resistance based on hypersensitivity (low infection type). These individual resistant plants were selected and grown in the greenhouse to obtain seeds.     

Line pattern in Limonium latifolium caused by tobacco rattle virus

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) was isolated from plants ofLimonium latifolium showing bright yellow or red line patterns and ringspots on the leaves. It was proved that this virus, designated TRV-Lim, was the causal agent of the disease. In its reactions onNicotiana clevelandii it resembled a yellow strain of TRV from Oregon (USA), but the symptoms inN. glutinosa, N. megalosiphon, N. tabacum andPetunia hybrida were more comparable to those caused by socalled unstable variants of TRV. Dilution end-point was 10^–6–10^–7, thermal inactivation at 76–80°C, and ageing in vitro 55–60 days. The purified virus suspension contained particles of three normal lengths, 70, 102, and 194 nm. The virus sedimented as three components with average sedimentation coefficients of 129, 161 and 206 S, respectively. In purified suspensions TRV-Lim had two different buoyant densities. A serological relationship was found with TRV isolated from Europe and Brazil.Samenvatting Tabaksratelvirus (TRV) werd geïsoleerd uitLimonium latifolium planten die heldergeel of rood figuurbont op de bladeren vertoonden. Er werd aangetoond dat dit virus, aangeduid als TRV-Lim, de ziekteverwekker was. De reacties van dit virus opNicotiana clevelandii deden denken aan die van een gele stam van TRV afkomstig uit Oregon (VS), maar de symptomen opN. glutinosa, N. megalosiphon, N. tabacum enPetunia hybrida vertoonden meer gelijkenis met die welke veroorzaakt worden door de zogenaamde onstabiele varianten van TRV. De verdunningsgrens was 10^–6–10^–7, de inactiveringstemperatuur 75–80°C en de houdbaarheid in vitro 55–60 dagen. De gezuiverde virussuspensie bevatte deeltjes met drie normale lengtes, nl. 70, 102 en 194 nm. Het virus sedimenteerde, als drie componenten met gemiddelde sedimentatiecoëfficiënten van respectievelijk 129, 161 en 206 S. In gezuiverde suspensie vertoonde TRV-Lim twee verschillende zweefdichtheden. Het virus was serologisch verwant aan TRV-isolaten uit Europa en Brazilië.     

First record of the invasive mite<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus evansi</Emphasis> in Greece

The red spider miteTetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) Baker and Pritchard was recorded for the first time in Greece, in the area of Tympaki (south-central Crete) onSolanum nigrum. T. evansi is a pest of crops of the family Solanaceae, which are grown extensively in Crete. The species identification was based on both morphological and molecular data. The second internal transcribed spacer was PCR amplified and sequenced in samples from Crete. Sequences were compared with the sequence ofT. evansi from Brazil and with the ITS2 sequences (retrieved from GenBank) of the two closely related tetranychid species most commonly found in Greece,Tetranychus turkestan andTetranychus urticae.     

Note: Extrapolating the use of an entomopathogenic nematode and fungus as control agents forFrankliniella occidentalis toThrips palmi

Little is known regarding non-chemical control measures againstThrips palmi Karny. Since entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes have been found to be active against thrips species such asFrankliniella occidentalis Pergande, comparative bioassays were conducted to determine the extent to which they also show activity againstT. palmi. Significant mortality of the larvae of the species was recorded following treatment withLecanicillium muscarium (Petch) Zare and Gams, and addition of the wetting agent Agral enhanced pathogenicity toT. palmi. T. palmi pupae were not affected byS. feltiae. The potential for use of these agents againstT. palmi in the field is discussed in the light of these results. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

沙葱萤叶甲表皮蛋白基因GdAbd的克隆及对温度胁迫的响应

为揭示沙葱萤叶甲Galeruca daurica表皮蛋白基因GdAbd在其应对温度胁迫中的作用,采用RACE技术克隆表皮蛋白基因GdAbd的cDNA全长序列,并进行生物信息学分析;利用实时荧光定量(qPCR)技术比较GdAbd经不同温度处理1 h及25℃恢复30 min后在沙葱萤叶甲2龄幼虫体内的表达水平。结果表明,GdAbd基因全长708 bp(GenBank登录号:MG874710),开放阅读框为477 bp,编码158个氨基酸;蛋白预测分子量为16.98 kD,等电点为4.26;编码蛋白具有典型的表皮蛋白RR保守结构域,属于RR-2亚族;具有1个跨膜结构和1个信号肽。同源序列比对和系统发育分析表明,GdAbd与马铃薯甲虫Leptinotarsa decemlineata SgAbd-4的同源性最高,氨基酸序列一致性达50.63%。qPCR检测结果表明,与25℃对照相比,GdAbd基因表达水平在-10～5℃低温胁迫时未发生显著变化,而在35℃高温胁迫时发生显著上调;-10、-5和0℃低温胁迫后25℃恢复30 min可诱导GdAbd显著上调表达,但5℃低温和35℃高温胁迫处理与对照差异不显著。说明短时低温胁迫不能显著影响GdAbd表达,但胁迫后回温可诱导其上调表达。     

Note: Occurrence and distribution ofCucumber mosaic virus infecting danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) in China

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) has resulted in much damage to Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) crops in China. A 5-year survey was conducted in Hebei, Shandong, Sichuan, Shanxi, Henan and Gansu Provinces, all major Danshen-growing areas. A total of 156 Danshen plant samples with CMV symptoms were collected and tested for the presence of CMV by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using polyclonal antibodies against CMV and a positive control, according to the supplier’s instructions (Agdia). They were confirmed to be CMV by amplification of complete coat protein gene and analysis of the gene sequence. The results showed that 122 samples were infected by CMV and all of these CMV isolates belonged to subgroup IB. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 19, 2008. Joint first authors.     

Genetics of host-pathogen interactions in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrenophora teres</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">teres</Emphasis> (net form) – barley (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum vulgare)</Emphasis> pathosystem

The genetics of host-pathogen interactions in the Hordeum vulgare – P. teres f. teres pathosystem was studied in twelve resistant barley accessions, i.e. CI 9825, CI 9819, Diamond, CI 4922, CI 5401, Harbin, c-8755, c-21849, c-8721 c-23874, c-19979, c-15811. F₂ analyses of crosses with susceptible genotypes employing various isolates (from Europe, USA, Canada, and Australia) revealed that resistance is mostly isolate-specific and controlled by one or two genes. Segregation in ascospore progeny from two crosses between isolates of different origin revealed that avirulence in P. teres is also determined by one or two genes. An epistatic effect of suppressor genes on avirulence genes is proposed for the genetics of virulence to Diamond, Harbin, CI 5401 and c-8721 in the fungal crosses D (181-6 × A80) and F (H-22 × 92-178/9). Segregation in F₂ of crosses of three new sources of resistance (c-23874, c-19979, c-15811) to the susceptible cv. Pirkka was studied in laboratory and greenhouse tests by using seven P. teres isolates, i.e. 181-6, d8-3, d8-4, d9-1, d9-4, F4 and F74. In addition, virulence to these barley accessions of ascospore progeny from crosses of the same isolates was studied. Based on these studies it was concluded that depending on the isolate used, resistance of c-23874 is determined at least by two genes and in c-19979 and c-15811 by three genes. The results of this parallel analyses of genetics of resistance and genetics of virulence allows the postulation of a gene–for–gene interaction in the P. teres – H. vulgare pathosystem.     

Note:In vitro antagonism of actinomycetes isolated from fungus-growing ants against plant pathogenic fungi

Fungus-growing ants have been found recently to be symbiotic with actinomycetes living on the ant’s cuticle; these bacteria are inhibitory to soil fungi that are detrimental to the ants’ fungus gardens. In order to investigate whether actinomycetes found on the cuticle of attine ants also had inhibitory properties against plant pathogenic fungi, we isolated 32 strains of actinomycetes from fungus-growing ants (Atta, Trachymyrmex, andCyphomyrmex), from the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. Of the actinomycetes tested against selected plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, Aspergillus flavus, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium sp.) on Czapek-Dox agar medium, 13 isolates inhibited at least one of the fungi.C. lindemuthianum was inhibited by 11 actinomycetes, andRhizoctonia by three. An actinomycete strain isolated fromCyphomyrmex rimosus inhibited all five fungi tested. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 30, 2008.     

Note: A comparison of molecular diagnostic procedures for the detection of aster yellows phytoplasmas (16Sr-I) in leafhopper vectors

Different molecular procedures were compared for the detection of aster yellows phytoplasmas (AYP) in the leafhopper vectorsMacrosteles quadripunctulatus (Kirschbaum),Euscelidius variegatus (Kirschbaum) andEuscelis incisus (Kirschbaum). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal and group-specific primers designed on the 16S-rDNA sequence was most sensitive in nested assays. A dot-blot procedure with an oligoprobe designed on the 16S-rDNA was less sensitive and consistent to detect phytoplasmas in total insect DNA, but consistently detected amplicons from direct PCR. The dot-blot assay with a probe based on a phytoplasma plasmid sequence detected AYP in most vector specimens and did not react with DNAs from leafhoppers infected by flavescence dorée and psyllids infected by apple proliferation phytoplasmas. This last assay is almost devoid of contamination risks, faster and cheaper compared to PCR, therefore it has to be preferred for field-scale analysis of leafhopper populations. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 24, 2004.     

Note: Phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in tomato seedlings and its relationship to bacterial canker disease resistance

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity was studied in different genotypes of tomato with varying degrees of resistance and susceptibility to bacterial canker disease after inoculation withClavibacter michiganensis ssp.michiganensis. In resistant genotypes the enzyme activity increased significantly 21 h after bacterial inoculation, whereas in the susceptible genotypes the activity decreased. The increase or decrease in PAL activity correlated well with the degree of host resistance along with total phenol contents. The role of PAL in imparting resistance to tomato against bacterial canker disease is discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 14, 2005.     

First report of southern blight of common barley in Puerto Rico

In 1990–91, 96% of the test plants in a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) winter nursery in Puerto Rico was lost toSclerotium rolfsii. Small necrotic lesions (1–3 mm long) developed at the base of the stem, followed by wilting and general chlorosis as the lesions progressed and eventually girdled the base of the stem. Sclerotia then developed on the plants at the stem base. Two morphologically different strains ofS. rolfsii that were mycelial incompatible were isolated. This is the first report of a destructive blight due toS. rolfsii on field barley in the Caribbean. The apparent rate of disease increase (r) was estimated to be 12.2% per day using the logistic model, with an initial disease incidence of 0.042% (R²=0.89, p<-0.001).