Influence of abiotic factors,inoculum source,and cultivar susceptibility on the potato tuber blemish diseases black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) and silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani)

Black dot and silver scurf are potato blemish diseases whose economic impact has increased in recent years. Because their symptomatology on tubers is visually similar, disease assessment does not usually differentiate between the two pathogens, which share the same ecological niche. The epidemiology of black dot has been extensively studied, especially in the UK, but the factors that influence silver scurf have been less investigated. In this study, the influence of cultivar, source of inoculum, and environmental conditions on both diseases was studied in field trials over a three-year period (2016–2018) in Switzerland. Planting minitubers did not prevent either disease in daughter tubers, indicating the contribution of soil as an inoculum reservoir. An arbitrary threshold of Colletotrichum coccodes soil inoculum could be set to discriminate between low and high disease risk. For the first time, Helminthosporium solani DNA was detected in stolons, and infections appeared earlier in stolons than in tubers. H. solani stolon and tuber infections usually appeared later in the season than those of C. coccodes. Black dot severity correlated positively with precipitation, while silver scurf severity correlated positively with temperature. Table potato cultivars commonly grown in Switzerland exhibited significant differences in susceptibility to both diseases, and cultivars with low susceptibility to both silver scurf and black dot were identified. These results gave new insights into understanding the factors driving the epidemiology of potato blemish diseases and may contribute to building a risk assessment scheme to manage both diseases simultaneously.     

Relative importance of seed‐tuber and soilborne inoculum in causing black dot disease of potato

Controlled‐environment and field experiments were done to quantify the individual contribution of seed‐tuber and soilborne inoculum of Colletotrichum coccodes in causing black dot disease of potato tubers. Seed‐tuber and soilborne inocula of C. coccodes were quantified using an existing real‐time PCR assay and related to subsequent incidence and severity of disease. In four field trials, a controlled‐environment experiment and through the monitoring of 122 commercial crops, seed‐tuber inoculum was found to be relatively less important than soilborne inoculum in causing black dot, and the level of seed‐tuber inoculum did not significantly affect either the incidence or severity of disease or the percentage of progeny tubers deemed unmarketable. By contrast, soilborne inoculum had the potential to result in high levels of disease and the level of C. coccodes soil infestation (pg DNA g^?1 soil) was found to have a significant effect. At soil infestation levels below 100 pg DNA C. coccodes g^?1 soil, 7% of commercial crops had an incidence of black dot greater than 20%, increasing to 40% and 57% of crops at levels of 100–1000 pg g^?1 and >1000 pg g^?1 soil, respectively. These arbitrary threshold levels for soilborne inoculum related to disease risk are discussed. Interpretation of disease risk based on inoculum levels must, in the future, be informed by agronomic variables and potential control strategies.     

水肥供应对马铃薯根层养分及产量的影响

以陕北地区普遍种植的马铃薯品种荷兰15号为供试材料,设置灌水水平和施肥量两因素,研究水肥供应对马铃薯根层养分及产量的影响。以100%ET₀(W1)和当地推荐施肥量(F1,N-P₂O₅-K₂O为240-120-300 kg·hm^-2)为基础,3个灌水量处理分别为W1,W2(80%ET₀)和W3(60%ET₀),3个施肥水平分别为F1,F2(75%F1)和F3(50%F1),以60%ET₀灌水水平和不施肥处理为对照组(CK),共10个处理。结果表明:不同水肥供应对马铃薯各生长阶段耗水量及水分利用效率有显著的影响,随着灌水量增加,土壤水分逐渐向下层迁移;在马铃薯整个生育期,W3F2处理水分利用效率最高,为44.69 kg·hm^-2·mm^-1,其次为W2F2(44.41 kg·hm^-2·mm^-1),比CK分别高39.64%和38.75...     

马铃薯块茎病原真菌拮抗菌株筛选及优良拮抗菌株鉴定

从马铃薯块茎上分离内生细菌,以块茎病原真菌为指示菌,采用平板对峙法筛选拮抗菌株,并利用形态学特征和16S rDNA基因序列分析对优良拮抗菌株进行鉴定。结果表明,从定西马铃薯块茎中共分离得到72株内生细菌,其中19株对5种块茎病原真菌的抑菌率均高于51.87%,特别是内生细菌6-5和5-6分别对马铃薯炭疽病菌Colletotrichum coccodes和马铃薯黑痣病菌Rhizoctonia solani的抑菌率达85.82%和72.18%,且具有固氮和产吲哚乙酸(IAA)功能,其产IAA量分别为3.37 mg/L和19.25 mg/L;根据形态特征及16S rDNA基因序列将菌株5-6鉴定为萎缩芽胞杆菌Bacillus atrophaeus,菌株6-5鉴定为贝莱斯芽胞杆菌Bacillus velezensis。     

Spongospora subterranea root infection assessed in two potato cultivars differing in susceptibility to tuber powdery scab

Infection by Spongospora subterranea of roots of two potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars, either very resistant or very susceptible to powdery scab on their tubers, was studied in a glasshouse experiment. Plants grown in sand/nutrient solution culture were inoculated with S. subterranea sporosori 2 weeks after planting. Plant parameters, the intensity of zoosporangium infection in roots, numbers of Spongospora root galls and amounts of Spongospora DNA in roots, measured using quantitative PCR (qPCR), were assessed at sequential harvests. Inoculation with S. subterranea reduced water use (56 days after planting) by 26% in the tuber resistant cultivar compared with uninoculated plants, and by 60% in the susceptible cultivar. Inoculation did not affect growth of the resistant cultivar, nor shoot mass of the susceptible cultivar, but caused a 38% reduction in root mass of the susceptible cultivar. The intensities of zoosporangium development in both cultivars were similar. The susceptible cultivar had approximately four times more Spongospora root galls g^?1 root mass than the resistant cultivar. Quantitative PCR detected S. subterranea DNA in roots 1 week after inoculation, and indicated a twofold greater amount of pathogen DNA in roots of the susceptible than the resistant cultivar. This study suggests that the S. subterranea zoosporangium stage in host roots is affected differently by host resistance factors than the sporosorus (root gall and tuber scab) stages. The study has also demonstrated the usefulness of qPCR for sensitive and consistent detection of S. subterranea across the duration of potato root infection.     

Effect of local inoculum on the spread of sweet potato virus disease: limited infection of susceptible cultivars following widespread cultivation of a resistant sweet potato cultivar

A study compared the spread of sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) into crops of two moderately resistant and initially SPVD-free sweet potato cultivars in northern and southern Mpigi, Uganda. Whiteflies, the vector of sweet potato chlorotic stunt crini virus (SPCSV), a component cause of SPVD, were similarly abundant in farmers' sweet potato fields around Namulonge in northern Mpigi, and Kanoni in southern Mpigi. However, mean incidence of SPVD in farmers' crops neighbouring the trials was higher at Kanoni (13.3%) than at Namulonge (2.8%). Furthermore, spread of SPVD into initially SPVD-free sweet potato plots of two only moderately resistant cultivars was greater in plots at Kanoni than in plots at Namulonge. The SPVD-resistant New Kawogo was the most common cultivar grown in farmers' fields at Namulonge and had few diseased plants, whereas susceptible cultivars with relatively high incidences of disease predominated at Kanoni. Final SPVD incidence in each trial was positively correlated with a measure combining the proximity and level of inoculum in surrounding fields. The study demonstrates the importance of local SPVD inoculum in determining the rate of spread of the disease into fields and implies that the widespread cultivation of a resistant variety limits infection of susceptible cultivars grown nearby.     

PCR-based determination of colonization patterns during potato tuber infection by single and multiple pathogens

Potato tubers piled in storage are prone to infection by numerous pathogens. Each pathogen can cause damage alone, but severe losses often arise when more than one pathogen is involved. Currently, only a visual diagnosis is practiced on potato tubers before storing them, which does not allow any prediction of further disease spread. The aim of the present study was to determine differences in patterns of tissue colonization by several tuber decay pathogens and how late blight infection affects further tuber colonization by other important tuber pathogens. This study was conducted using artificial inoculation of potato tubers and PCR to provide an early and accurate diagnosis of disease development for major potato tuber rots, and to assess potential synergism/antagonism between Phytophthora infestans and other pathogens in stored tubers. In order to accurately follow the progress of each pathogen in tuber tissues, samples were collected over time from both the surface (peel, 0–2 mm depth) and internal tissues (flesh, depth > 2 mm) of the tubers at various distances from the inoculation site, at 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, and 19 days after inoculation. Successful detection of single or multiple pathogens was achieved using specific PCR-primers for each pathogen. Pathogens were always detected several centimeters ahead of the visible lesions. This tracking enabled us to determine the extent of colonization both on the tuber’s surface and in internal tissues by each tested pathogen, either after single or multiple infections involving P. infestans as the primary pathogen. The presence of P. infestans was shown to enhance the development of Pectobacterium atrosepticum and to slow down that of P. erythrospetica and Pythium ultimum. No noticeable effect on further tuber colonization by F. sambucinum, V. dahliae or V. albo-atrum was observed in the presence of P. infestans. This approach involving more than one pathogen is more realistic than classical studies considering single pathogens, and may be helpful in monitoring the sanitary status of stored tubers. Our results make the outcome of certain combinations of pathogens in potato tubers more predictable and may result in more efficient preventive measures.     

Effect of soil inoculum level and environmental factors on potato powdery scab caused by Spongospora subterranea

The effects of soil inoculum level and three environmental factors (soil type, soil moisture regime and temperature) on the incidence and severity of powdery scab caused by Spongospora subterranea were investigated in potato plants grown under controlled environmental conditions. Symptoms of powdery scab on tubers were assessed visually, after which DNA was extracted from tuber peelings and quantified in a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay using primers and a TaqMan® probe specific to S. subterranea to establish tuber infection levels. Soil inoculum concentration of S. subterranea did not significantly affect the incidence and severity of either tuber infection or powdery scab symptoms at maturity. No significant differences in disease incidence and severity were found between sandy, loamy and clay soils, although the two lighter soils yielded more powdery scab than clay soil. Constant dampness of the soil resulted in significantly more disease than a fluctuating moisture regime. Infection and disease levels were high at all three temperatures tested (9, 12 and 17°C), but symptoms were most severe at 12°C. The percentage of plants with infected tubers did not increase after tuber initiation, although the amount of S. subterranea DNA detected in tubers and the severity of powdery scab symptoms increased in mature plants. Latent tuber infections were found to be common, especially under conditions suboptimal for disease development. This new information may be important for the prevention of powdery scab in potato-growing areas around the world.     

贮藏温度对连作马铃薯品质的影响

为探明沟垄覆膜种植方式及贮藏温度对连作马铃薯品质的影响,以当地主栽品种“新大坪”为试验材料,研究了平畦不覆膜（CK）、平畦覆膜（T1）、全膜垄播（T2）、全膜沟播（T3）、半膜垄播（T4）、半膜沟播（T5）6种种植方式连作下马铃薯在不同贮藏温度下薯块品质特性的变化规律。3年大田连作试验结果表明,T2和T4薯块干物质、淀粉、还原糖、可溶性蛋白、氨基酸和Vc含量均显著高于其他处理;2014年与2013年相比,5℃贮藏条件下各种植方式薯块干物质、淀粉、还原糖、可溶性蛋白、氨基酸、Vc含量均增加,而有机酸含量降低;各处理在1℃贮藏条件下薯块干物质、淀粉、还原糖、可溶性蛋白、氨基酸和Vc含量均高于5℃,而有机酸含量则较低。连作条件下,垄播种植（T2、T4）有利于马铃薯贮藏品质的提高,且以1℃贮藏温度更有利于保持较高薯块品质。     

Virus vector aphid activity and seed potato tuber virus infection in Hungary

An aphid and virus survey was conducted from 1993 and 1999 on the eastern lowlands in Hungary. Aphid flight was monitored with two yellow pan traps placed on the edge and in the middle of seed potato fields. From 1993 and 1997, aphid flight was monitored with a Rothamsted type suction trap. The aphid and virus survey was continued in four different regions of Hungary in 2000. Aphid flight activity recorded by the suction trap and the yellow pan traps was different. Cumulative vector intensity based on yellow pan trap catches revealed a greater variation between years than among the different locations. In 4years out of 8, aphid flight was less intensive and quality seed potato was harvested regardless of the production site. Cumulative vector intensity is a good means to forecast the time of haulm destruction in seed potatoes.     

Direct infection of potato tubers by the root parasite Orobanche aegyptiaca

Parasitic plants of the Orobanchaceae are known as obligate root parasites that develop haustoria that connect to roots of various host plants. This article describes, for the first time, a case where the root parasite successfully connected to potato tubers, i.e. to the swollen portion of an underground stem rather than to a root. The rhizosphere of Orobanche aegyptiaca and of its host Solanum tuberosum (potato) was carefully examined. In anatomical studies, the adventitious roots were directly connected to potato tubers. Numerous secondary haustoria, which developed along the adventitious roots in close vicinity to the potato tuber, penetrated the tuber epidermis and the perimedullary tuber parenchyma and developed xylem strands that are presumably connected to the minor xylem strands within the tuber cortex. These findings indicate that parasites of the Orobanchaceae that normally attack host roots may also parasitise underground stem tubers.     

Transmission of potato spindle tuber viroid by aphids

Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach),Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) andMyzus persicae (Sulzer) were used for transmission experiments in laboratory and glasshouse. As inoculum served PSTV-containing tomato foliage and artificial diets containing purified PSTV. It is concluded thatM. euphorbiae can transmit PSTV in a non-persistent way.Samenvatting Aardappelspindelknolviroïde (PSTV) wordt tot een vrij nieuwe groep van pathogenen, de viroïden, gerekend. De ziekte, die er door wordt veroorzaakt, wordt sedert 1923 waargenomen in Noord-Amerika en is meer recentelijk ook aangetroffen in Afrika, Australië, Sowjet-Unie en Zuid-Amerika maar tot dusver niet in West-Europa.PSTV kan gemakkelijk mechanisch worden overgebracht. De overdracht door bladluizen was nog niet betrouwbaar vastgesteld. De bladluissoortenMyzus persicae (Sulzer),Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach) enMacrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) zijn daarom in overdrachtsproeven betrokken, waarbij als inoculum met PSTV geïnfecteerd blad en een door een membraan afgesloten gezuiverde PSTV-bevattende suspensie is gebruikt. Het laatstgenoemde type inoculum is gebruikt, om een mogelijke mechanische overdracht bij het overzetten van bladluizen van de viroïdebron naar de toetsplant tomaat cv. Sheyenne uit te sluiten. Er is vastgesteld, datM. euphorbiae PSTV op non-persistente wijze kan overbrengen.     

Effects of inoculum density,plant age and temperature on disease severity caused by pythiaceous fungi on several plants

Alfalfa, maize, sorghum and sugarbeet plants were inoculated with zoospores ofPhytophthora andPythium species in order to assess the effects of inoculum density, plant age and temperature on disease severity. Seedlings were grown axenically in test tubes and inoculated with zoospore suspensions. Disease severity was assessed by measuring the root growth and discoloration of treated and control seedlings. The incremental root length of all plants decreased and root discoloration increased as inoculum concentration of the pathogen increased. Changes were more intensive among low levels of zoospore concentrations and no significant differences in disease severity were found for inoculum densities higher than 10⁴ zoospores ml^-1. Disease severity was negatively related to plant age. Disease development on sugarbeet seedlings infected withPythium andPhytophthora species was affected by temperature, but the pattern of response was determined by the pathogen’s temperature preferences. The incremental root length decreased as temperature increased up to 25°C. The effect ofPythium dissimile andPhytophthora cactorum on root length was significantly lower at 35°C than at 25°C, whereasPythium aphanidermatum andPhytophthora nicotianae caused significant damage to roots even at 35°C. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 3, 2001.     

Virus vector aphid activity and seed potato tuber virus infection in Hungary

An aphid and virus survey was conducted from 1993 and 1999 on the eastern lowlands in Hungary. Aphid flight was monitored with two yellow pan traps placed on the edge and in the middle of seed potato fields. From 1993 and 1997, aphid flight was monitored with a Rothamsted type suction trap. The aphid and virus survey was continued in four different regions of Hungary in 2000. Aphid flight activity recorded by the suction trap and the yellow pan traps was different. Cumulative vector intensity based on yellow pan trap catches revealed a greater variation between years than among the different locations. In 4years out of 8, aphid flight was less intensive and quality seed potato was harvested regardless of the production site. Cumulative vector intensity is a good means to forecast the time of haulm destruction in seed potatoes.     

Transmission by aphids of potato spindle tuber viroid encapsidated by potato leafroll luteovirus particles

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was transmitted by Myzus persicae to Physalis floridana from P. floridana plants that also were infected with potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV), whereas it was not transmitted by aphids from plants infected with PSTVd alone. Dot-blot hybridisation was used to detect PSTVd. The results indicate that PLRV can assist PSTVd in its transmission by M. persicae. Doubly infected, aphid-inoculated P. floridana plants from the previous experiment were used as the source plants in aphid transmission tests to the tomato cv. Rutgers, P. floridana and Datura stramonium. PSTVd was detected in 17 of 30 plants of tomato. The viroid was not detected by dot-blotting in any plant of P. floridana and D. stramonium in this experiment, but it was recovered from some plants by sap inoculation of the Rutgers plants. Treatment with RNase A of PLRV preparations purified from doubly infected plants indicated that PSTVd was encapsidated by PLRV particles.     

Characteristics of a resistance-breaking isolate of potato virus Y causing potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease

An Austrian isolate of potato virus Y^NTN, the causal agent of potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD), was serologically compared with seven Dutch PVY^N isolates. Using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, it was found indistinguishable from PVY^N. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the coat protein cistron and comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with coat protein sequences of other potyviruses revealed a high level of homology with PVY^N coat protein sequences. This confirmed the close taxonomic relationship of PVY^NTN with the PVY^N subgroup of potato virus Y. PVY^NTN is able to overcome all resistance genes known so far in commercial potato cultivars. Remarkably, transgenic PVY-protected tobacco plants are also resistant to PVY^NTN infection upon mechanical and aphid-mediated inoculation. These experiments indicate that genetically engineered resistance offers great potential in protection of potato to new aggressive strains of PVY^N.     

品种、培养基质和接种量对马铃薯脱毒基础苗生长的影响

以马铃薯早熟品种大西洋、中熟品种克新1号、晚熟品种青薯168脱毒基础苗为试验材料,研究品种、培养基质和接种量对马铃薯脱毒基础苗苗鲜重、根鲜重、苗干重、根干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长和根条数等性状指标的影响,培养14 d时,测定各性状指标。结果表明:三个品种的主要农艺性状均在液体培养基上表现为最佳,其平均单株鲜重、干重、株高、茎粗、节长和根条数分别为:159.4 mg、9.1 mg、7.3 cm、1.16 mm、1.4 cm、5.6条。在液体培养基上,降低了马铃薯工厂化生产成本,同时还可缩短马铃薯脱毒基础苗培养时间7~9 d。接种量对马铃薯单株根鲜重、苗干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长有显著性影响(P<0.05);不同成熟期品种苗鲜重、根鲜重、根干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长和根条数受品种影响显著(P<0.05);不同成熟期品种、不同接种密度处理对马铃薯单株根鲜重、苗干重、根干重、叶片数、株高、茎粗、根长影响有显著性交互作用(P<0.05);早熟品种大西洋,接种密度为0.67株/cm2时,中熟品种克新1号和晚熟品种青薯168接种密度为0.80株/cm2时,综合农艺性状表现最好。     

Influence of cultivar resistance and inoculum density on root hair infection of canola (Brassica napus) by Plasmodiophora brassicae

The impact of cultivar resistance and inoculum density on the incidence of primary infection of canola root hairs by Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot, was assessed by microscopy. The incidence of root hair infection in both a resistant and a susceptible cultivar increased with increasing inoculum density, but was two‐ to threefold higher in the susceptible cultivar; the relationship between root hair infection and inoculum density was also substantially stronger and more consistent in the susceptible cultivar. In the susceptible cultivar, the root hair infection rate peaked between 6 and 8 days after sowing and then declined. In the resistant cultivar, it increased over the 14‐day duration of each study. It appears that examination of root hair infection by microscopy in a bait crop of susceptible canola could serve as a useful tool for estimating P. brassicae inoculum levels in soil. In a separate trial, the relationship between inoculum density and clubroot severity, plant growth parameters, and seed yield was assessed under greenhouse conditions. Inoculum density in the susceptible genotype was strongly and positively correlated with clubroot severity and negatively correlated with plant height and seed yield. In addition, a single cropping cycle of the susceptible cultivar contributed significantly higher levels of resting spores to the soil in a greenhouse test than did a cycle of the resistant cultivar, as assessed by quantitative PCR and microscope analysis.     

The importance of the infected seed tuber and soil inoculum in transmitting Potato mop‐top virus to potato plants

Potato mop‐top virus (PMTV), the cause of spraing in potato tubers, is transmitted by Spongospora subterranea, the cause of powdery scab, and by planting infected seed tubers. This study was undertaken to determine the relative importance of these sources of infection in seed potato production in Scotland. The transmission of PMTV from tested seed tubers to daughter plants was examined over 2 years and six cultivars. The development of foliar symptoms varied with year and cultivar. Infection of daughter tubers derived from PMTV‐infected seed tubers was more prevalent on plants affected by foliar symptoms than those without symptoms. The rate of transmission of PMTV from infected seed tubers to daughter tubers ranged from 18 to 54%. Transmission was affected by cultivar and by origin of seed tubers used for a cultivar, but not by a cultivar's sensitivity to PMTV infection. The incidence of PMTV in daughter tubers of cv. Cara grown from seed potatoes from one source (common origin) by more than 25 seed producers was examined over two successive generations. The incidence of PMTV in daughter tubers was not correlated with that in the seed tubers but appeared to be strongly associated with soil inoculum. The incidence of PMTV was correlated with powdery scab in those crops in which both were present. There was some evidence from soil tests conducted in 2006 using a tomato bait plant and real‐time RT‐PCR that planting PMTV‐infected seed potatoes could increase the risk of introducing the virus into land not infested by PMTV.