Clonality and long-distance migration of Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici in north-west Europe

The biotrophic fungus Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici , a basidiomycete that causes yellow rust on wheat, is spread by wind-dispersed spores. Analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) variation showed that the fungus frequently migrates between the UK, Germany, France and Denmark. There is no biological evidence for sexual or parasexual reproduction under natural conditions, and this was supported by the lack of recombination, as revealed by AFLP, over the time and area represented by the samples in this study. A phylogeographic analysis revealed that there was effectively a single, clonal population in the four countries, up to 1700 km apart, consistent with a 'continent-island' model in which Denmark is the recipient of migrants from other countries. In five cases, specific pathogen clones were dispersed between the UK and Denmark, and on at least two recent occasions clones were also spread from the UK to Germany and France, causing outbreaks of yellow rust on wheat cultivars that were previously resistant to the disease in these countries. The agronomic consequences of migration were enhanced because of the limited genetic diversity for yellow rust resistance in wheat cultivars in the area. These results demonstrate that long-distance migration of pathogen clones, coupled with low diversity in the host species, may cause previously useful resistance genes to become ineffective for disease control on a continental scale.     

Studies on the biology of black mould (Aspergillus niger) on temperate and tropical onions. 1. A comparison of sources of the disease in temperate and tropical field crops

Aspergillus niger colonies were present on 60–90% of the leaves sampled from onion crops grown under hot, tropical conditions (Shambat, Sudan), but only on 21% of leaves in crops grown under temperate conditions (Wellesbourne, UK). The seed stocks used in the Sudan were naturally contaminated with A. niger , whereas the fungus was absent from seed used in the UK. Inoculation of seed with A. niger resulted in an increase in the incidence of the fungus on onion plants (mean 83% of plants with affected leaves) in the field and on bulbs in store in crops grown in the UK. In the UK, A. niger is infrequent in the soil and air, but it is a major component of the soil and air mycoflora in the Sudan. Most of the bulbs grown in Sudan were contaminated with A. niger at harvest because of the high incidence of the fungus in the field.     

The effectiveness of phytosanitary controls in preventing the entry of Colletotrichum acutatum in the UK strawberry sector

Phytosanitary legislation is widely thought to be the most effective means of limiting the entry of alien pathogens without hindering trade. However, there is increasing evidence of limitations and weaknesses in phytosanitary systems worldwide. One such case is the entry and establishment of Colletotrichum acutatum in the UK in the 1980s. To investigate this further, data sets of disease incidence gathered by the authorities responsible for plant health between 1984 and 2008 were analysed to determine how and why the pathogen entered the UK and became established on strawberries. Results suggest that the disease entered the UK in 1982 on plants originating from the USA, a year earlier than the first UK record of the disease was reported. At least 54 further cases of infested plant material breached phytosanitary procedures and entered the UK, 75% of which originated from EU countries. Moreover, internal trade transmission was found to be highly influential in the successful spread of the disease. The effectiveness of phytosanitary procedures is limited when the sector is importing large numbers of plants from nurseries that have a track record of selling infested plant material, even if they are accompanied by a plant passport. By taking greater responsibility in limiting the spread of quarantine diseases, nurseries throughout the EU have an important role to play in limiting the entry of alien pathogens.     

Brown spot disease of tree peony caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cylindrocladium canadense</Emphasis> in China

In the summer of 2008, a brown spot disease in cultivated tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa was found in Shandong Province, China. The causal fungus was isolated from diseased leaves and identified as Cylindrocladium canadense J.C. Kang, Crous & C.L. Schoch based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies. Inoculation of the peony leaves with the isolated fungus resulted in similar symptoms, demonstrating that the disease is caused by this species. This report is the first of a disease on tree peony caused by C. canadense in China.     

Tracing the origins of White Tip disease of Cirsium arvense and its causal agent,Phoma macrostoma

Cirsium arvense (Asteraceae) is known as creeping thistle in its native range in the UK and Canada thistle in its invasive North American range. Recently, the fungus Phoma macrostoma was registered in Canada as a bioherbicide in turfgrass, where it causes severe chlorosis (White Tip disease) and death of C. arvense and other broadleaved weeds. It was hypothesised that the disease originated in the UK on its thistle host and, therefore, that fungal isolates from both countries should be biologically and genetically similar. Twenty‐six strains in the genus Phoma– isolated during surveys in the UK – were compared morphologically with the type culture of P. macrostoma, tested for bioherbicidal activity using the inoculum mat bioassay and genetically screened with bioherbicide‐specific primers. White tip disease was found to be restricted to the eastern and southern counties of England. Phoma macrostoma was isolated consistently from diseased bleached tissues. Bioherbicidal isolates of P. macrostoma occupy a unique clade, which is phylogenetically distinct but morphologically indistinguishable from the type culture. Most isolates from the UK had the same bioherbicidal activity and similar genetic make‐up as strain SRC 94‐44B, the active ingredient in the registered Canadian product. The origin of all bioherbicidal strains found to date has a clear presence in both Canada and the UK, with strong genetic similarities, supporting the view of a common ancestry. Thus, on the evidence presented, the ‘white tip’ clade of P. macrostoma evolved in southern England. Therefore, the bioherbicide based on strain SRC 94‐44B should also be eligible for registration in the UK, based on the pest risk assessment data already available.     

Population structure of the ash dieback pathogen,Hymenoscyphus fraxineus,in relation to its mode of arrival in the UK

The ash dieback fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, a destructive, alien pathogen of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), has spread across Europe over the past 25 years and was first observed in the UK in 2012. To investigate the relationship of the pathogen's population structure to its mode of arrival, isolates were obtained from locations in England and Wales, either where established natural populations of ash had been infected by wind‐dispersed ascospores or where the fungus had been introduced on imported planting stock. Population structure was determined by tests for vegetative compatibility (VC), mating type and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). VC heterogeneity was high at all locations, with 96% of isolate pairings being incompatible. Frequencies of the MAT1‐1‐1 and MAT1‐2‐1 idiomorphs were approximately equal, consistent with H. fraxineus being an obligate outbreeder. Most SNP variation occurred within study location and there was little genetic differentiation between the two types of location in the UK, or between pathogen populations in the UK and continental Europe. There was modest differentiation between UK subpopulations, consistent with genetic variation between source populations in continental Europe. However, there was no evidence of strong founder effects, indicating that numerous individuals of H. fraxineus initiated infection at each location, regardless of the route of pathogen transmission. The ssRNA virus HfMV1 was present at moderate to high frequencies in all UK subpopulations. The results imply that management of an introduced plant pathogen requires action against its spread at the continental level involving coordinated efforts by European countries.     

Black spot disease of alstroemeria caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alstroemeriae</Emphasis> in Japan

A black spot disease on cultivated alstroemeria was found in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, in January 2008. The causal fungus isolated from the diseased plants was morphologically identified as Alternaria alstroemeriae E.G. Simmons & C.F. Hill. An inoculation test with the isolated fungus demonstrated that the disease is caused by this species. This is the first report of black spot on alstroemeria (kokuhan-byo, in Japanese) caused by A. alstroemeriae in Japan.     

国内新病害——紫茎泽兰叶斑病病原菌的研究

 紫茎泽兰叶斑病是恶性杂草紫茎泽兰上发生的主要病害。对云南省十个专州的二十多个县市进行紫茎泽兰病害调查及病叶分离培养和接种试验研究表明:紫茎泽兰叶斑病在紫茎泽兰危害区内已广泛发生,并随着紫茎泽兰灭敌昆虫泽兰实蝇的定殖与扩散有病情逐渐加重的趋势。#br#紫茎泽兰叶斑病的病原菌为飞机草菌绒孢菌[Mycovellosiella eupatorii-odorati (Yen) Yen]该菌在紫茎泽兰上发现尚属首次。病原菌危害叶片产生叶斑,严重时植株叶片大部分枯死、脱落,发病严重的地方发病率达90%以上,病情指数为65.2。对该病原菌分离较难,培养基需加入紫茎泽兰叶汁才能产生分生孢子,在自然病叶病斑上分生孢子大量产生,可见该病原菌是寄生性较强的真菌。#br#对紫茎泽兰叶斑病的研究为紫茎泽兰生物防治提供了理论依据。     

New cylindrocladium diseases of strawberry and coral bells caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cylindrocladium canadense</Emphasis>

Based on inoculation experiments and morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, Cylindrocladium damping-off of strawberry and Cylindrocladium blight of coral bells in Japan were demonstrated to be caused by Cylindrocladium canadense. This is the first report of a disease on strawberry and coral bells caused by this fungus.     

大豆白粉病病原菌鉴定

<正>大豆白粉病是大豆叶部病害,能降低叶片光合作用,使产量损失高达35%。1921年首次在德国发现,之后在南美和北美陆续发生,在日本、韩国、越南、泰国也有报道[1]。而中国大豆白粉病报道较少,只在吉林、北京、贵州、河北有所报道[2,3],最近仅在浙江和广东有过报道。国外报道的大豆白粉病病原菌有Erysiphe glycines和E.diffusa[1,4,5],其中日本[1]和巴西[5]的报道主要依据无性态特征     

Seedling rot of garland chrysanthemum caused by Gibellulopsis chrysanthemi and ecological characters of the causal fungus

A new disease found on garland chrysanthemum in Osaka, Japan in 2009 and its causal agent were identified and characterized. Light brown spots first appeared on lower leaves of seedlings, and the leaves blighted or rotted. A fungus isolated from diseased plants, described recently as Gibellulopsis chrysanthemi, was demonstrated to reproduce the natural symptoms in inoculation tests. Sufficiently long, moist periods after inoculation promoted the infection even after lengthy dry periods. The pathogen also caused the disease on chrysanthemum and lettuce, but not on seven other vegetables. The fungus caused the disease after 6 months of dry storage. The disease was termed seedling rot (“nae-fuhai-byo” in Japanese).     

Untersuchungen und Erfahrungen zum Auftreten des Echten Mehltaus (Oidium neolycopersici, ehemals O. lycopersicum) an Tomaten

In 1992 for the first time powdery mildew Oidium neolycopersici (former O. lycopersicum) on tomato was detected. At the same time there were reports about the occurrence of the fungus in different tomato growing areas in Bavaria. Meanwhile powdery mildew is an established fungal disease in the cultivation of tomatoes in Bavaria and other federal states of Germany. On studies concerning the biology and the control of this harmful fungus will be reported in this article.     

Modelling the effect of temperature on the development of Polymyxa betae

Polymyxa betae is the fungal vector of beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), which is the causal agent of the sugar beet disease rhizomania. The within-season dynamics of the fungus are a crucial factor in the occurrence and severity of rhizomania. Late infection of the host by viruliferous fungi enables host resistance to the virus to develop and hence limits crop damage. A previously published mechanistic model for the dynamics of Polymyxa betae is extended in this paper to incorporate the effect of temperature on the germination of resting spores, and on the latent periods between infection and the production of secondary zoospores and new resting spores. It is shown that, for UK temperature conditions, the effect of sowing date on infection is greater than that of year-to-year variations in temperature associated with a single representative sowing date. The variation in inoculum build-up predicted when temperature data from a range of soil types were used in the model agreed with field observations, where higher levels of infection are observed on sandy soils than on black fen peat soils. The difference was most distinct when daily maximum soil temperature values were used to drive the model rather than rolling 24-hour average values.     

Cylindrocladium brown leaf spot on Howea belmoreana caused by Calonectria ilicicola (anamorph: Cylindrocladium parasiticum) in Japan

Brown leaf spot disease caused by Cylindrocladium was found on Howea belmoreana on Hachijojima Island, Tokyo, Japan, in December 2001. Typical symptoms were incited after artificial inoculation. A culture of white mycelia, isolated from leaf spot symptoms, produced reddish perithecia of a nectriaceous fungus. Based on morphological and molecular analyses, this fungus was identified as Calonectria ilicicola (anamorph: Cylindrocladium parasiticum). Pathogenicity of this fungus on five plants cultivated on Hachijojima Island was confirmed by artificial inoculation. This report is the first on Cylindrocladium brown leaf spot of H. belmoreana caused by C. ilicicola (anamorph: Cy. parasiticum).     

White root rot disease of the lacquer tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxicodendron vernicifluum</Emphasis> caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosellinia necatrix</Emphasis>

In early August 2010, lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) severely damaged by a root rot disease were found on plantations in Iwate, Japan. The causal agent was a fungus identified as Rosellinia necatrix, based on morphology and the sequence of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region. The fungus was clearly pathogenic on T. vernicifluum root plantings. This report is the first of white root rot on T. vernicifluum.     

柑橘生疫霉引起的月季疫病的研究

 月季(Rosa chinensis Jacq.)疫病是广州地区新发生且危害严重的病害,其发生与温度密切相关。病原菌被鉴定为柑橘生疫霉(Phytophthora citricola Saw.)。田间观察及接种试验结果表明:该菌在不同的月季品种上致病性差异很大,主要为害在广州地区生长速度快的品种——金奖章(Golden Medal)、玛德隆(Madelon)。田间化学防治试验结果显示:瑞毒霉锰锌和硫酸铜对控制该病十分有效。     

Effectiveness of Rlm7 resistance against Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) in UK winter oilseed rape cultivars

The Rlm7 gene in Brassica napus is an important source of resistance for control of phoma stem canker on oilseed rape caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans. This study shows the first report of L. maculans isolates virulent against Rlm7 in the UK. Leptosphaeria maculans isolates virulent against Rlm7 represented 3% of the pathogen population when cultivars with the Rlm7 gene represented 5% of the UK oilseed rape area in 2012/13. However, the Rlm7 gene has been widely used since then, representing >15% of the UK oilseed rape area in 2015/16. Winter oilseed rape field experiments included cultivars with the Rlm7 gene, with the Rlm4 gene or without Rlm genes and took place at five sites in the UK over four cropping seasons. An increase in phoma leaf spotting severity on Rlm7 cultivars in successive seasons was observed. Major resistance genes played a role in preventing severe phoma leaf spotting at the beginning of the cropping season and, in addition, quantitative resistance (QR) in the cultivars examined made an important contribution to control of phoma stem canker development at the end of the cropping season. Deployment of the Rlm7 resistance gene against L. maculans in cultivars with QR in combination with sustainable disease management practices will prolong the use of this gene for effective control of phoma stem canker epidemics.     

First report of rust disease on ohia and the causal fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia psidii</Emphasis>, in Japan

In 2007, a rust disease of ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) was found in Japan. We identified this pathogen as Puccinia psidii based on its morphological characters and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the ribosomal DNA. This pathogen was pathogenic on Eucalyptus amplifolia and E. rudis in addition to previously reported host species. This is the first report in Japan of a rust disease on ohia and the occurrence of its causal fungus, P. psidii.     

Sooty spot caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides in postharvest Satsuma mandarin grown in heated greenhouses

In June 2006, a large number of small black spots containing a branching network of black hyphae developed on shipped Satsuma mandarin fruits grown in greenhouses, which markedly decreased their commercial value. The fungus that was frequently isolated from the damaged fruits was identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides. Inoculation of fruits with the fungus caused the same symptoms, and the fungus was reisolated from the diseased fruits. The disease caused by this fungus has not been previously documented in citrus fruits; we name this new disease “sooty spot” on the basis of its symptoms.     

Advances in the Characterization of the Pyrenophora tritici-repentis-Wheat Interaction

ABSTRACT Tan spot of wheat, caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is a destructive disease found in wheat-growing regions worldwide that can lead to serious yield losses. Changes in cultural practices have led to an increase in the severity and incidence of tan spot. Following infection, compatible races of the fungus elicit two distinct symptoms in differential wheat lines: tan necrosis and (extensive) chlorosis. Tan necrosis has been clearly demonstrated by several groups to result from the action of a protein toxin, Ptr ToxA. Wheat sensitivity to this toxin is conditioned by a single dominant gene. The chlorosis response may be more complex and appears to involve at least two other toxins, Ptr ToxB and Ptr ToxC, produced by different races of the fungus. Distinct genes apparently condition the reaction of wheat lines to each of these chlorosis-inducing toxins. This review concentrates on significant advances that have occurred during the past decade in the characterization of this disease interaction, ranging from the epidemiology and management of tan spot to molecular host-parasite interactions. Particular emphasis is placed on work describing fungal race differentiation, production of toxins and their importance in pathogenicity, and the genetics and physiology of host response to infection.