Baseline sensitivity of Monilinia laxa from Greece to fenhexamid and analysis of fenhexamid-resistant mutants

Fenhexamid is a hydroxyanilide fungicide with excellent performance against Botrytis cinerea but also effective against Monilinia spp. which cause brown rot disease in apple and stone fruit. A total of 75 Monilinia laxa field isolates were utilized to determine baseline sensitivity while a number of fenhexamid-resistant laboratory mutants were used to evaluate the resistance risk associated with the longevity of the effectiveness of fenhexamid. Fenhexamid was found to be highly effective against all field isolates. EC₅₀ values ranged from 0.02 to 1 μg mL⁻¹ and were distributed unimodaly around an average of 0.1 μg mL⁻¹. M. laxa laboratory strains with moderate and high resistance levels to fenhexamid were isolated after UV mutagenesis. All fenhexamid-resistant strains showed parental sensitivity to carbendazim, iprodione, fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, flusilazole and prochloraz. Interestingly, some of the mutant strains were also resistant to tridemorph, fenpropimorph and spiroxamine. Studies on fitness parameters of fenhexamid-resistant strains revealed a fitness cost on sporulation and pathogenicity but not on mycelial growth. These results suggest that fenhexamid should be a good alternative site-specific fungicide for the control of brown rot disease caused by M. laxa. However, appropriate anti-resistance strategies should be considered to ensure the successful commercial use of fenhexamid in the long run.     

Carbendazim resistance in field isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in China and its management

The ascomycete fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating necrotrophic plant pathogen with an unusually broad host range and worldwide distribution. The benzimidazole fungicide carbendazim has been widely used to control S. sclerotiorum in China for more than three decades and high levels of carbendazim resistance have been reported in eastern China. In this study, carbendazim sensitivity was assessed in a total of 5042 field isolates of S. sclerotiorum collected from different geographical regions of China from 2008 to 2013. Results showed that no carbendazim resistant isolates could be detected in northwestern and northeastern China. In 2013, 0.77% and 0.72% of the field isolates assayed were highly resistant to carbendazim in Hunan and Hubei provinces of central China, respectively. In Anhui province of eastern China, the frequencies of carbendazim resistance were 18.18%, 7.05% and 7.25% in 2008, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The decrease in frequency of carbendazim resistance in Anhui province from 2008 to 2012 was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Nevertheless, no significant differences (P ≥ 0.16) were found in fitness parameters such as mycelial growth on PDA media, virulence to oilseed rape plants and oxalic acid production between carbendazim resistant and sensitive isolates. A negative cross resistance pattern was detected between carbendazim and diethofencarb. Mixture of carbendazim and diethofencarb (4:1) applied at 200 μg/mL provided 100% and 91.5% preventive efficacy against carbendazim resistant and sensitive isolates, respectively, and 87.1% and 81.7% curative efficacy against resistant and sensitive isolates, respectively.     

Multiple-fungicide resistance to carbendazim,diethofencarb, procymidone,and pyrimethanil in field isolates of Botrytis cinerea from tomato in Henan Province,China

Botrytis cinerea, the fungal pathogen responsible for causing gray mold in tomatoes, frequently exhibits multiple fungicide resistance. In this study, the sensitivity to carbendazim (Car), diethofencarb (Die), procymidone (Prc), and pyrimethanil (Pyr) was determined for 263 isolates of B. cinerea from diseased fruit and leaves of tomato plants from 87 commercial greenhouses in Henan Province of China during 2013 and 2014. Of the isolates tested, 89%, 93%, 85%, and 86% were resistant to Car, Die, Prc, and Pyr, respectively. Twelve phenotypes were found having different sensitivity patterns, and multi-fungicide resistance was found to one, two, three or four fungicides. The percentage of multiple fungicide resistant isolates (Car^RDie^RPrc^RPyr^R) was 68%. Mycelial growth, spore production, and mycelial dry weight were not significantly different between resistant and sensitive phenotypes of the B. cinerea isolates. However, the virulence of Car^SDie^RPrc^SPyr^S isolates was higher than that of the other fungicide-resistance phenotypes. All of the carbendazim and diethofencarb resistant phenotypes carried a point mutation at codon 198 (E198A or E198K) or 200 (F200Y) in the β-tubulin gene, and all of the procymidone resistant phenotypes carried point mutations at codons 369 (Q369P) and 373 (N373S) in the Bos1 gene. These results provided important reference data for assessment of resistance risk of B. cinerea isolates from commercial tomato transplants in Henan Province, indicating the existence of a high frequency of resistance to carbendazim, diethofencarb, procymidone, and pyrimethanil revealing the necessity of a more integrated control of gray mold.     

Assessment of levels of resistance of cotton cultivars to isolates of Xanthomonas malvacearum (E.F. Smith) Dowson in Nigeria

Nine cotton cultivars were assessed for resistance to bacterial blight by inoculation of the mid-veins of leaves of seedlings at the four- to six-leaf stage with six isolates of Xanthomonas malvacearum (E.F. Sm.) Dowson, obtained from the three cotton-growing zones of northern Nigeria. The length of lesions 15 days after inoculation formed the basis of assessment. REBA B-50 and RASA (76)101 were highly resistant, while RSA(68)27 and BJA-592 were classified as resistant. The moderately resistant group consisted of Arkansas 52-21, Samaru 77 and Samaru 72. Samaru 71 was less susceptible than Samaru 26J, the susceptible control. There were also differences in virulence amongst the six isolates of X. malvacearum used in the test, suggesting the possible presence of races of the pathogen.     

CXJZ95-198菌株果胶酶活力检测方法研究

本文采用DNS法,对影响CXJZ95-198菌株果胶酶活力测定的酶解反应条件进行了比较系统的研究。结果表明,酶解反应条件对酶活力测定值的影响明显,其中,温度、缓冲液种类、底物种类及其浓度对测定结果影响较大,缓冲液pH及DTT浓度对测定结果也有一定影响。测定该菌株果胶酶活力适宜的酶解反应条件为:温度50℃,底物桔子果胶S(igm a),底物浓度0.2%,缓冲液1/15m ol.L-1KH 2PO4-Na2H PO4(pH 5.2),DTT浓度为1.0m m ol.L-1。     

CXJZ95-198菌株果胶酶活力检测方法研究

本文采用DNS法,对影响CXJZ95-198菌株果胶酶活力测定的酶解反应条件进行了比较系统的研究.结果表明,酶解反应条件对酶活力测定值的影响明显,其中,温度、缓冲液种类、底物种类及其浓度对测定结果影响较大,缓冲液pH及DTT浓度对测定结果也有一定影响.测定该菌株果胶酶活力适宜的酶解反应条件为温度50℃,底物桔子果胶(Sigma),底物浓度0.2%,缓冲液1/15mol·L-1KH2PO4-Na2HPO4(pH5.2),DTT浓度为1.0mmol·L-1.     

Genetic analysis of field resistance to tan spot in spring wheat

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs., is an important constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in many countries. Since the inheritance of field resistance to tan spot is poorly understood, this study was conducted to determine the genetic control of resistance in the field. Resistance was measured as disease severity caused by P. tritici-repentis race 1 in four crosses involving five wheat parents: parent 1 (P₁) = catbird; parent 2 (P₂) = Milan/Shanghai-7; parent 3 (P₃) = Alondra/Coc//Ures; parent 4 (P₄) = Bcb//Dundee/Gul/3/Gul); parent 5 (P₅) = ND/VG9144//Kal/BB/3/Yaco/4/Chil. P₁, P₂ and P₃ were resistant and P₄ was moderately resistant, whereas P₅ was susceptible to tan spot. The F₂-derived F₃ families and the parents were field evaluated at El Batán, Mexico, in 1996. When all the plants within a F₃ family expressed low levels of disease severity similar to that of the resistant parent it was classified resistant (R), otherwise the progeny was classified as susceptible (S). The progeny of the three crosses of the susceptible parent with the resistant and moderately resistant parents P₂, P₃, and P₄ segregated as 3R:13S whereas the progeny in the cross with P₁ showed a segregation ratio of 1R:15S. This suggests that each resistant parent possessed two genes conditioning resistance to tan spot severity caused by P. tritici-repentis race 1. Information on the inheritance of resistance measured as disease severity on adult plants under field conditions is of practical importance for wheat breeding programs seeking improvement in tan spot resistance.     

Relationship of virus concentration with the field resistance to potato virus Y in potatoes

The concentration of potato virus Y (PVY) was determined, using ELISA values (A405 nm), in twenty-six potato cultivars belonging to five resistance groups, grown in the field and in the greenhouse. On the basis of virus concentration, potato cultivars of group A, B, and C did not differ significantly and constitute the most susceptible group; those of group D and E differ significantly with each other and with group A, B, C, and constitute moderate and highly resistant groups, respectively. In the second year of infection, virus concentration was higher in each group, irrespective of resistance level. Thus, the infected plants of resistant groups, in a second year of growth, could be as rich sources of virus to aphids as plants from susceptible groups.     

Evaluation of soybean genotypes for field resistance to stink bugs in Nigeria

A number of soybean breeding lines and other genotypes were screened for resistance to stink bugs under field conditions at two locations (Mokwa and Ibadan) in Nigeria using two dates of planting (DOP) and no insecticides for 2 years. Stink bug populations were high during the first year and moderate the second year. Bug damage to pods was scored in the field and seed damage assessed in the laboratory using plant samples obtained from the field. Overall, damage was greater in Mokwa than in Ibadan. Visual damage scores ranged from 4·0 to 9·0 (scale 1–9) during the first DOP in the first year at Mokwa and 2–6 during the second DOP. During the second year, damage scores ranged from an average of 3·8 to 4·9 for both DOPs. Seed damage ranged from an average of 32% to 59%. Visual damage scores were negatively correlated with yield, such that lower yields were obtained where higher scores were given. Our results show that pod and seed damage was often greater in the upper portion of the plant in the varieties tested, thus indicating where the feeding activity of the insects was concentrated. A seed damage ratio (SDR) is computed and used, among other parameters, to select TGx 713-09D, TGx 307-048D, TGx 306-036C and TGx 814-036D as the genotypes manifesting the highest level of field resistance. These results are discussed in relation to the development of soybean varieties resistant to stink bugs.     

Molecular mapping of the Pi2/9 allelic gene Pi2-2 conferring broad-spectrum resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in the rice cultivar Jefferson

Background

Efficient production of carbon-neutral biofuels is key to resolving global warming and exhaustion of fossil fuels. Cellulose, which is the most abundant biomass, is physically strong and biochemically stable, and these characteristics lead to difficulty of efficient saccharification of cellulosic compounds for production of fermentable glucose and other sugars.

Results

We transformed rice with overexpressing constructs of rice genes encoding each of three classes of cellulases. The exo-glucanase overexpressing plants showed various abnormalities in leaf such as division of leaf blade, crack on leaf surface, excess lacunae in midrib structure and necrotic colour change. The overexpressing plants also showed sterility. Noticeably, these plants showed enhanced saccharification of stems after maturation. These results indicate that overexpression of the exo-glucanase gene brought about various developmental defects associated with modification of cell wall and enhanced saccharification in rice. On the other hand, endo-glucanase-overexpressing plants could not be obtained, and overexpression of β-glucosidase brought about no effect on plant growth and development.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that genetic engineering of cellulosic biomass plants by overexpressing cellulase genes will be one of the approaches to confer enhanced saccharification ability for efficient production of cellulosic biofuels such as ethanol.     

Genetic adaptability of the inheritance of the resistance to different levels of aggressiveness of Septoria tritici isolates in durum wheat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation in the mode of inheritance for resistance in durum wheat to Septoria tritici with the aggressiveness level of the pathogen. Material for the study involved two wheat cross-combinations and offspring populations. In each cross, the parental genotypes, F₁, F₂, BC₁P_r and BC₁P_s were inoculated with 15 isolates of S. tritici with different levels of aggressiveness. Generation mean analysis revealed that the mode of inheritance varied with the aggressiveness level of isolates. For less aggressive isolates, in both crosses, only additive and dominance effects were determined. When tested with isolates with moderate levels of aggressiveness, the additive-dominance model was not sufficient to explain the variation in generation means; and a di-genic epistasis model was found appropriate. For a high level of aggressiveness, both additive-dominance and di-genic epistatic models failed to explain the phenotypic variation in generation means, and probably higher order interaction or genes linkage were present. The quantification of gene effects revealed that the absolute total of epistatic effects increased with aggressiveness level of the isolate. Selection based on less aggressive isolates would be simpler, because only additive and dominance effects are implicated, but the genetic mechanism will not be stable with isolates of high aggressiveness level. Thus, selection with highly aggressive isolats is suggested for the stability of resistance to S. tritici in durum wheat.     

Multiple-disease resistance in Vicia faba: Multi-environment field testing for identification of combined resistance to rust and chocolate spot

The aim of this work was to identify Vicia faba germplasm resistant both to rust and chocolate spot. A collection of 43 accessions of V. faba previously identified as chocolate-spot resistant was evaluated for rust and chocolate spot resistance in Egypt and in Spain. The genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analyses allowed the selection of 11 accessions resistant to both diseases in those locations. These 11 accessions were evaluated for rust in an additional field trial in Spain, all performing better than the susceptible check. The joint analysis of the 11 accessions in the four field trials where they had been evaluated revealed no significant effects either for genotype, environment or the genotype × environment interaction. They are hence promising sources of resistance, both for their low severities and their stable responses across the studied environments. This collection was also tested under controlled conditions against the Egyptian and the Spanish isolates of rust present in the field trials further underlining the stable performance of these genotypes. Finally, the effect of previous infection with chocolate spot on rust resistance was assessed under controlled conditions and no influence of it was found.     

Trp548Met mutation of acetolactate synthase in rice confers resistance to a broad spectrum of ALS-inhibiting herbicides

Herbicide resistance in crop plants is valuable for integrated weed management in agriculture. Herbicide resistant rice, in particular, is important to manageme...     

栽培稻抗旱性的田间评价方法

干旱是造成水稻减产的主要原因之一。评价和选育抗旱的栽培稻品种不仅有利于增产稳产 ,而且可以节约水资源 ,减少环境污染。作物的抗旱性 ,指作物在大气或土壤干旱条件下生存或形成产量的能力。Ｔｕｒｎｅｒ将作物在缺水的条件下获得产量的能力称之为抗旱性。Ｌｅｖｉｔｔ等将抗旱性定义为供水量很低的情况下 ,植物可以生存的能力。抗旱性可分为避旱性、逃旱性、耐抗旱性和复原抗旱性。洛克菲勒基金总干事Ｂｌｕｍ提出 ,缺乏适当的对作物抗旱性的标准评价体系已成为抗旱性改良的尖锐问题。抗旱性是一个复杂的现象 ,是植物内在水分与生理功能…     

Inheritance of resistance to late blight in foliage and tubers of progenies from parents differing in resistance

Summary TenSolanum tuberosum genotypes differing in resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) in foliage and tubers were intercrossed to determine the inheritance of disease resistance in their progenies. Plots of 10–15 clones per progeny were established in each of 2 years and resistance assessed by field or laboratory tests. The parental genotypes were similarly tested each year. The parents differed in general combining ability (GCA) for both foliage blight (FB) and tuber blight (TB). The parental and GCA scores were significantly correlated for both aspects of the disease, but the correlations between foliage and tuber scores for parents and for GCAs were not significant. Three parental genotypes were highly resistant in both foliage and tubers, and the genotype with the highest GCA for resistance to both FB and TB (cv. stirling) is recommended as the best parent. There was no evidence of strong genetic correlation between both aspects of resistance, and it is suggested that both be selected for in a breeding programme.     

The nature and inheritance of field resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potatoes

Field resistance to late blight in hybrid derivatives of the wild speciesSolanum demissum is a complex character, controlled by many different genetic factors and inherited in polygenic fashion. In the course of hybridization and backcrossing to commercial varieties to improve yield and other economic qualities, these factors become dispersed with consequent reduction in degree of resistance. By intercrossing appropriate selections the resistance factors may be reassembled and field resistance built up in varieties of commercial standard to a level high enough to make protective spraying unnecessary.     

Correlation between resistance to late blight in foliage and tubers in potato clones from parents of contrasting resistance

Summary The relationship between resistance to late blight in foliage and tuber was examined on 50 clones of each of five progenies from crosses where one parent was resistant in both foliage and tuber and the other susceptible. Foliage resistance was assessed in a field trial and tuber resistance in a laboratory test on glasshouse-grown tubers. The genetical and environmental components of variance and the phenotypic and genetical correlations between foliage and tuber blight scores were determined for each progeny. Foliage and tuber resistance were correlated, indicating either that both are determined by the same genes or by different linked genes. The environmental component of variation was greater for tuber blight than foliage blight. We suggest that the most effective way of selecting for resistance to both aspects of the disease in a breeding programme is to select those resistant in the foliage and then screen them for tuber resistance.