Genes responsible for coronatine synthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> present in the genome of soft rot bacteria

Primers for the PCR amplification of homologous genes encoding polyketide coronafacic acid and coronafacic ligase in the cells of Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 (BX950851) were developed to study the presence of these genes in the genome of Pectobacterium sp. and Dickeya sp. Coronafacic ligase catalyses the formation of coronatine from polyketide coronafacic acid and coronamic acid. Coronatine is a toxin produced by Pseudomonas syringae and is one of the major virulence factors in this bacterium. This study using several strains of P. atrosepticum, P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Dickeya sp. isolated in different countries, indicated that all strains of P. atrosepticum possess genes coding coronafacic acid (cfa gene cluster) and coronafacic ligase (cfl). However, these genes were present only in the genome of five out of 50 tested P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum strains and two out of 34 strains of Dickeya sp. tested. The PCR products homologous to the sequence of cfa7 and cfl gene fragments were sequenced in order to check the level of homology between genes of P. atrosepticum, P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and Dickeya sp. The sequences of the gene fragments amplified from all P. atrosepticum strains were almost identical (100% and 99.97%, respectively). The homology of the sequences obtained for P. atrosepticum and sequences of five P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum and two Dickeya sp. was lower, between 89.69% to 95.00% for the cfl gene fragment, and about 94% for the cfa7 gene fragment.     

魔芋软腐病病原菌TaqMan荧光探针PCR技术的建立及应用

为实现对田间土壤软腐病病原菌的定量检测,基于魔芋软腐病优势病原菌胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜亚种Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum的FyuA基因序列,设计特异性引物PCC1/PCC2/PCC3,建立TaqMan荧光探针实时荧光定量PCR技术,并对魔芋根系土壤中软腐病病原菌进行动态监测。结果显示:基于FyuA基因序列设计的引物特异性好,仅能特异性检出胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜亚种;当模拟带菌土壤中病原菌浓度低至1.88 CFU/g时也能检出,灵敏度高;发病魔芋根际土壤中软腐病病原菌检出率为100.00%,病原菌DNA浓度最高达到了7.52×10~7ng/μL,健康魔芋根际土壤中也存在病原菌,检出率为40.00%;不同种植模式中,林下魔芋土壤中软腐病病原菌数量较少;连作时间与病原菌数量、病情指数存在正相关关系,连作时间越长,病原菌积累越多,魔芋病情指数也越高,魔芋连作4年土壤中病原菌DNA浓度最高达到4.03×10~4ng/μL;对魔芋土壤软腐病病原菌进行全年监测,病原菌数量随着月份增长逐渐上升,在8—10月达到峰值543.20 ng/μL后下降,病原菌数量与魔芋病情指数变化规律一致,但田间魔芋软腐病的发生相对滞后。表明建立的TaqMan荧光探针实时荧光定量PCR技术可用于田间魔芋软腐病的监测。     

马铃薯细菌性软腐病研究进展

细菌性软腐病是一种可引起果蔬严重危害的世界性植物病害,其频发已成为制约马铃薯种植业发展的瓶颈。本文基于国内外细菌性软腐病最新的研究报道,对马铃薯细菌性软腐病的病原鉴定、发病症状、致病机理、致病因子及防治措施等进行综述,并提出了进一步的研究方向,以期为马铃薯细菌性软腐病的相关研究提供科学参考。     

蔬菜细菌性软腐病防治药剂活体组织筛选技术

为探索快速、高效的蔬菜细菌性软腐病防治药剂的筛选技术,采用多因素分析法对茎段材料、接种方式、菌液浓度等因素进行筛选,建立芹菜茎段筛选技术,并采用所建立的筛选法评价28种枯草芽胞杆菌Bacillus subtilis可湿性粉剂对细菌性软腐病菌的杀菌活性。结果表明,建立的芹菜茎段筛选法可较好地评价细菌性软腐病防治药剂的药效,即芹菜茎段一端在细菌性软腐菌液中浸泡20 min后自然风干,再于待测药剂中浸泡处理1 h,在温度26~30℃、相对湿度70%~85%条件下保湿培养36 h后调查发病指数。采用该方法可快速从23种新型枯草芽胞杆菌可湿性粉剂中筛选出对细菌性软腐病具有较高防效的IVF001、IVF002、IVF004、IVF015、IVF018、IVF021、IVF035、IVF041制剂,防效分别为81.70%、94.77%、83.01%、92.16%、84.31%、96.08%、80.39%和89.55%。芹菜茎段筛选法及室内盆栽法对5种已登记的枯草芽胞杆菌可湿性粉剂的筛选结果显著相关,相关系数为0.878。表明芹菜茎段筛选法可以有效代替盆栽筛选法,并对杀菌剂的药效进行评价,是一种实用性强的蔬菜细菌性软腐病防治药剂筛选方法。     

Occurrence of bacterial rot of onion bulbs caused by Burkholderia cepacia in Japan

In 2001, a bacterial rot of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs was observed in Japan. The causal agent was identified as Bukholderia cepacia (Palleroni & Holmes 1981 ex Burhkolder 1950) Yabuuchi, Kosako, Oyaizu, Yano, Hotta, Ezaki, and Arakawa 1993. The identified bacteria were divided into two groups (Y and W) based on colony colors, and several phenotypic and genetic characteristics. Based on recA polymerase chain reaction assays, the strains of the Y and W groups belong to genomovar I (B. cepacia sensu stricto) and genomovar III (B. cenocepacia), respectively.The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AB162427 and AB162428     

Collar rot caused byPhytophthora citrophthora on pear trees in Greece

A severe crown rot of pear trees of cultivar ‘Kondoula’ grafted on quince rootstock was observed in Greece. Isolations from the affected tissues repeatadly yielded aPhytophthora sp. that was determined by morphological and physiological characteristics to beP. citrophthora. The pathogenicity of two of theP. citrophthora isolates was tested by inoculating trunks of 2-year-old pear trees by mycelial agar disks. Thirty-two days after inoculation all inoculated trees were infected. Although the pear isolates could not be differentiated from isolates ofP. palmivora orP. nicotianae based on isozyme profiles of α-esterase or lactate dehydrogenase, RAPD profiles with one selected primer differentiated the pear isolates from the other species and revealed an electrophoretic banding pattern similar to that of aP. citrophthora standard. This is the first report ofP. citrophthora on pear trees in Greece.     

The use of two complementary DNA assays,AFLP and MLSA,for epidemic and phylogenetic studies of pectolytic enterobacterial strains with focus on the heterogeneous species Pectobacterium carotovorum

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) were used to analyse 63 bacterial strains, including 30 soft‐rot‐causing bacterial strains collected from Syrian potato fields and 33 reference strains. For the MLSA, additional sequences of 41 strains of Pectobacterium and Dickeya, available from the NCBI GenBank, were included to produce a single alignment of the 104 taxa for the seven concatenated genes (acnA, gapA, proA, icd, mtlD, mdh and pgi). The results indicate the need for a revision of the previously classified strains, as some potato‐derived Pectobacterium carotovorum strains were re‐identified as P. wasabiae. The strains that were classified as P. carotovorum during the analyses demonstrated high heterogeneity and grouped into five P. carotovorum highly supported clusters (PcI to PcV). The strains represented a wide range of host plants including potatoes, cabbage, avocados, arum lilies, sugar cane and more. Host specificity was detected in PcV, in which four of the six strains were isolated from monocotyledonous plants. The PcV strains formed a clearly distinct group in all the constructed phylogenetic trees. The number of strains phylogenetically classified as subspecies ‘P. c. subsp. brasiliensis’ in PcIV dramatically increased in size as a result of the characterization of new isolates or re‐identification of previous P. carotovorum and P. atrosepticum strains. The P. carotovorum strains from Syria were grouped into PcI, PcII and PcIV. This grouping indicates a lack of correlation between the geographical origin and classification of these pathogens.     

Bacterial wilt of bellflower caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in Japan

A sudden wilt of bellflower (Campanula lactiflora) was observed in Japan in 1997. A bacterium that formed white fluidal and mucoid colonies resembling those of Ralstonia solanacearum was isolated from the infected plants. The bacterium was bacteriologically identified as biovar 3 of R. solanacearum. This is the first report of R. solanacearum affecting a plant species of the Campanulaceae family.     

Fluorescent Pseudomonas isolate E11.3 as biocontrol agent for Pythium root rot in tulips

FluorescentPseudomonas isolates were obtained from Pythium-diseased tulip roots or rhizospheres. A selection of these isolates was tested for root rot-suppressing capabilities, using tulip cultivar Paul Richter (ice-tulip) as host andPythium ultimum P17 as pathogen. With isolate E11.3 root rot suppression was consistently found, but the extent of the effects varied from experiment to experiment. Beneficial effects were obtained after introduction of the bacteria either by mixing them through the soil or by dipping the bulbs in a bacterial suspension, immediately before planting. Application of bacteria in methylcellulose also reduced disease, but is of no practical value as methylcellulose by itself increased disease. In steamed soil, disease was more severe than in natural soil. In both circumstances, however, beneficial effects of bacterization with E11.3 were observed.Samenvatting Fluorescerende pseudomonaden werden geïsoleerd van tulpewortels of uit de rhizosfeer daarvan. Een aantal van deze isolaten is getoetst op wortelrot-onderdrukkend vermogen in een experimenteel systeem met tulpecultivar Paul Richter (vriestulp) als waardplant enPythium ultimum isolaat P17 als pathogeen. Wortelrotonderdrukking werd consequent waargenomen na bacterisatie metPseudomonas isolaat E11.3; de mate waarin rotonderdrukking optrad verschilde echter van experiment tot experiment. Bacterisatie vond plaats òf door de bacteriën door de grond te mengen òf door de bollen vlak voor het planten in een bacteriesuspensie te dompelen. Met beide methoden werden positieve resultaten bereikt. Toedienen van bacteriën in methylcellulose leidde ook tot reductie van de ziekte, maar heeft geen practische betekenis aangezien methylcellulose op zich de ziekte doet toenemen. Wortelrot was ernstiger in gestoomde dan in nietgestoomde grond, maar in beide omstandigheden werkte E11.3 wortelrotonderdrukkend.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pectobacterium carotovorum</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">carotovorum</Emphasis> causing soft-rot disease on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinellia ternata</Emphasis> in China

Pinellia ternata is a traditional Chinese herb which has been used in China for over 1,000 years. A soft-rot disease characterized by water-soaked lesions and soft-rot symptoms with a stinking odour was commonly observed in cultivated fields of this plant, and Pectobacterium-like bacteria were consistently isolated from the infected tissues. Two typical strains (SXR1 and ZJR1), isolated from Shanxi and Zhejiang, respectively, were identified. Pathogenicity tests revealed that these strains were virulent to P. ternata and induced the same symptoms as observed in the field. Characterization involving fatty acid profile, metabolic and physiological properties, 16S rDNA sequence and PCR-RFLP identified both isolates as P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc). The 16S rDNA of both isolates shared 97–99% sequence similarity with that of Pcc strains. The phylogenetic trees showed that both isolates were clustered in the group of Pcc and P. carotovorum subsp. odorifera and both PCR-RFLP profiles were consistent with the pattern E produced by the minority of Pcc strains. Thus, isolates SXR1 and ZJR1 were characterized as Pcc in spite of some differences. This is the first report that Pcc has been proven as a causal agent of soft-rot disease on P. ternata.     

Factors influencing external fruit rot of cucumber caused by Didymella bryoniae

Several factors influencing the occurrence and extent of external fruit rot caused byDidymella bryoniae on cucumbers in the post harvest period were studied.The minimum, optimum and maximum temperatures for growth of the fungus on fruits were circa 10, 23 and 35°C, respectively. The influence of the temperature on the growth of the fungus in vitro and in vivo was about similar. The fitness of the fungus diminished by storing inoculated fruits at about the maximum temperature for growth of the fungus for one day, but this temperature influenced fruit quality negatively. Storing at 10 to 12°C is more advisable.Isolates ofD. bryoniae showed variation in virulence. There was a linear relationship between growth on fruits and growth in vitro of these isolates, but no correlation was found with disease incidence on plants.The degree of fruit rot was increased by more severe wounding, by storing in the dark instead of in the light and by higher nitrogen fertilization of the crop. Relative humidity during storage had no effect on fruit decay. It is very likely that the amount and composition of available nutrients for fungus growth determine the degree of rotting of the fruits.With the present cultivars, external fruit rot can be best controlled by reducing the changes of wounding in the pre- and post-harvest period.Samenvatting Verschillende factoren die van invloed kunnen zijn op het ontstaan en de mate van uitwendig vruchtrot op komkommers in de periode na de oogst, veroorzaakt doorDidymella bryoniae, zijn onderzocht.De minimum, optimum en maximum temperatuur voor de groei van de schimmel op vruchten waren respectievelijk circa 10, 23 en 35°C. De invloed van de temperatuur op de groei van de schimmel in vitro en in vivo was nagenoeg gelijk. Door geïnoculeerde vruchten een dag bij de maximum temperatuur voor de groei van de schimmel te bewaren, werd de groeikracht van de schimmel verminderd, maar de vruchtkwaliteit werd door deze temperatuur negatief beïnvloed. Het is raadzamer de vruchten bij 10–12°C te bewaren.Isolaten vanD. bryoniae vertoonden een variatie in virulentie. Tussen de groei van deze isolaten op vruchten en de groei in vitro bleek een lineair verband te bestaan, maar er bestond geen verband met de aantasting van planten.De mate van vruchtrot nam toe door de vruchten ernstiger te verwonden, ze in het donker in plaats van in het licht te bewaren en door een hogere stikstofbemesting tijdens de teelt. De relatieve luchtvochtigheid tijdens de bewaarperiode had geen effect op de vruchtaantasting. De hoeveelheden en de samenstelling van de voor de groei van de schimmel beschikbare voedingsstoffen bepalen zeer waarschijnlijk de mate van vruchtrot.Uitwendig vruchtrot kan bij de huidige cultivars nog het best worden tegengegaan door de mogelijkheden van verwonding, zowel in de periode voor als na de oogst, te verkleinen.     

Stem and root rot of scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) caused by Pythium myriotylum

A severe rot was found on the stems and roots of scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) in Ibaraki Prefecture (Japan) in August 2004. The causal fungus was identified as Pythium myriotylum. We propose the name of stem and root rot of scarlet runner bean (“Kuki-negusare-byo” in Japanese) for this new disease.     

Monilia mumecola, a new brown rot fungus on Prunus mume in Japan

In 1982, an anamorphic fungus in the genus Monilia was first isolated as the causal agent of brown rot disease of Japanese apricot or mume (Prunus mume) in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Inoculation of flowers, shoots, and fruit of P. mume with the fungus reproduced brown rot disease symptoms similar to those found in nature. The fungus somewhat resembled the colony appearance of Monilinia (anamorph Monilia) laxa, the apricot brown rot fungus, on PSA plates, but it differed from the latter and the other two brown rot fungi, M. fructigena and M. fructicola, in terms of growth rate, temperature optima for mycelial growth and sporulation, morphology and germination pattern of conidia, nuclear number in the conidium, and nucleotide sequences in the ITS region of ribosomal DNA. It is newly described as Monilia mumecola Y. Harada, Y. Sasaki & T. Sano. A key to anamorphic states of four brown rot fungi of fruit trees is provided.     

Identification of Resistance to Common Bacterial Blight Disease on Bean Genotypes Grown in Turkey

Common bacterial blight (CBB) in edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), incited Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, reduces bean yields and seed quality. The main objective of this study was to determine resistance to common bacterial blight in bean genotypes. Twenty-two bean genotypes grown in Turkey including common and snap bean cultivars/lines were collected from different parts of Turkey and tested for resistance against to Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli strain MFD-11. All the common and snap bean lines/cultivars tested were moderately susceptible, susceptible or highly susceptible, except AG-7117 which was found resistant to Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli. This is the first report of a resistance source in a common bean line (AG-7117) against Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli.     

Phytophthora root and crown rot of raspberry in Bulgaria

Root and crown rot of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) was observed in a plantation at the experimental station of small fruits in Kostinbrod, Bulgaria. Isolates ofPhytophthora spp. were obtained from diseased plants. Colony morphology, growth rates, features of asexual and sexual structures were studied and as a result twoPhytophthora species were identified:Phytophthora citricola Saw. andPhytophora citrophthora (R.E. Sm. & E.H. Sm.) Leonian. Their pathogenicity was confirmed in artificial inoculation experiments. The isozyme (-esterase) patterns ofP. citrophthora andP. citricola isolates from raspberry and from the collection of the CBS, Baarn the Netherlands were compared, using micro-gel electrophoresis. Both species are reported for the first time as pathogens of raspberry in Bulgaria. This is only the second report in phytopathological literature ofP. citrophthora on raspberry, the first being from Chile [Latorre and Munoz, 1993].     

Root and stem rot of chrysanthemum caused by five <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> species in Japan

Root and stem rot with wilt of above ground parts of cultivated chrysanthemums was first found in Ibaraki, Toyama and Kagawa prefectures, Japan in 2002 and 2003. Pythium species were isolated from the diseased tissues and identified as P. dissotocum, P. oedochilum, P. sylvaticum, P. ultimum var. ultimum and asexual strains of P. helicoides based on their morphologies and sequences of rDNA-ITS region. All the Pythium species were strongly pathogenic to chrysanthemums in pot conditions and were reisolated from the inoculated plants. Because Pythium root and stem rot of chrysanthemum has never been reported in Japan, we propose that this is a new disease that can be caused by the five Pythium species.     

Pythium rot of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis) caused by Pythium aphanidermatum

Severe rot was found at the base of leaves and stems of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis) in Ibaraki Prefecture every year in early September from 2002 through 2004. The causal fungus was identified as Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzpatrick. This is the first report of P. aphanidermatum on Chinese cabbage. A similar disease of Chinese cabbage caused by P. ultimum Trow var. ultimum is known as Pythium rot. We propose adding P. aphanidermatum as a new pathogen of this disease.     

Occurrence of foliar rot of pak choy and Chinese mustard caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IB in China

During December 2003, leaf rot was frequently observed on leaves of pak choy and Chinese mustard in Xishuangbanna district of Yunnnan Province, China. Isolates of Rhizoctonia solani, consistently obtained from the diseased leaves, were identical to anastomosis group (AG)-1 IB based on cultural characteristics and analysis of the ITS-5.8s rDNA region. This is the first report of foliar rot of pak choy and Chinese mustard caused by R. solani AG-1 IB in China.     

Interaction ofPseudomonas fluorescens withRhizobium for their effect on the management of peanut root rot

A biocontrol agent (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and a phytostimulator (Rhizobium) have been shown to have beneficial effects on plant growth and health. The study of plants inoculated withPseudomonas andRhizobium requires special attention because of the possibility that these agents may influence each other. Our study was conducted to test the effect of these inoculants on co-inoculation in peanut to control root rot, a severe soilborne disease caused byMacrophomina phaseolina. One fluorescent pseudomonad strain, Pf 1, which effectively inhibited the mycelial growth ofM. phaseolina underin vitro conditions, was studied for its compatibility with the biofertilizer bacterial strainRhizobium TNAU 14. Dual culture and colorimetric studies indicated the existence of a positive interaction between the microbial inoculants. However, glasshouse and field studies showed seed treatment and soil application ofPseudomonas fluorescens Pf 1 to be the most effective treatment in reducing root rot incidence and improving the crop vigor index, in comparison with treatments in which both inoculants were applied. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 11, 2002.     

Toxic culture filtrates produced byCalonectria ilicicola, causal agent of red crown rot of soybean

Eleven soybean cultivars with different levels of susceptibility to virulent isolate SG915 ofCalonectria ilicicola were examined for reaction to metabolites produced by the isolate. When the culture filtrate from isolate SG915 was applied to trifoliates from 11 cultivars, cvs. ‘Cajun’ and ‘Asgrow 7986’ exhibited reduced wilting severity. However, there was no correlation between sensitivity to culture filtrate and susceptibility to the fungal isolate. Wilting severity on cv. ‘Riverside 699’ was greatest when trifoliates were treated with culture filtrates from isolates SG915 (highly virulent) and C31 (less virulent). The dilution end-point for culture filtrates of virulent isolate SG915 was determined to be 1:8. Nonautoclaved culture filtrates caused complete wilt of soybean trifoliates after 36 h, but autoclaved culture filtrates demonstrated a reduced ability to wilt leaves. Electrolyte leakage from treated leaf tissues increased over time regardless of the concentrations of culture filtrate tested. The greatest electrolyte losses were observed during the initial 30 min incubation of leaf tissues. The highest concentration of culture filtrate (50%, v/v) induced more electrolyte loss than the low concentration (10%, v/v) or control. These results suggest that toxic metabolites ofC. ilicicola may be involved in disease development with leaf symptom expression.