Control of phytophthora leaf blight of taro (Colocasia esculenta) by fungicides and roguing

Six fungicides were evaluated under laboratory and field conditions for control of Phytophthora leaf blight of taro,Coloeasia esculenta, incited byPhytophthora colocasiae. Inin vitro tests Deraosan 65W was the most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of the test pathogen followed by Difolatan 80W, Fytolan (copper oxychloride), Apron 35F, Topsin-M 50W and Dithane Z-78 75W. Excellent control was obtained with Demosan 65W and Difolatan 80W, good control with Apron 35F, fair control with Fytolan, and poor control with Topsin-M 50W and Dithane Z-78 75W. Results ofin vivo tests were correlated with those of thein vitro tests. Roguing of infected leaves did not eradicate the pathogen but can only delay epiphytotics.     

Phenotypic and genotypic structure of Phytophthora infestans populations on tomato and potato in the North of Thailand in 2000–2002

A total of 80 single–lesion isolates of Phytophthora infestans were collected from tomatoes and potatoes in several locations in Chiang Mai and Tak provinces in 2000–2002. These isolates were analyzed for mating type, metalaxyl sensitivity, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype RFLP pattern as determined by probe RG57, and for microsatellite markers. All isolates were A1 mating type. Isolates from tomato were usually sensitive to metalaxyl, but isolates from potato were usually resistant to metalaxyl. With one exception, all tomato isolates were related to the US-1 clonal lineage. With two exceptions, all potato isolates were related to two European lineages. In these two provinces, the populations of P. infestans on tomatoes are clearly different from those on potatoes.     

Control of brown rot of citrus fruit by application of fungicides via sprinkler irrigation systems

Copper fungicides applied via low head sprinklers, reduced brown rot (caused byPhytophthora spp.) on oranges and grapefruit. The most effective fungicide was Bordeaux mixture, which reduced the disease rate to the same level as that obtained by standard spraying with this fungicide. Copper oxychloride was moderately effective and captan was ineffective. A field method for brown rot rating was devised.     

Evaluation of benomyl and thiophanate-methyl for the control of Verticillium wilt of strawberry in the Netherlands

In pot experiments the fungicides benomyl and thiophanate-methyl controlledVerticillium wilt of strawberry when applied as a soil drench after planting. Both compounds were ineffective as foliar sprays and as root dips prior to planting. Soil drenches applied to commercially grown runner plants in the waiting field (August) and to the same plants in the greenhouse (December or January) increased the yield. On infested ground, a soil drench with thiophanate-methyl promoted the occurrence of crown rot caused byPhytophthora cactorum.     

Characteristics and pathogenicity of six Phytophthora isolates from pot plants

From several greenhouse plants showing foot and root rot symptomsPhytophthora isolates were gathered. Isolates fromPeperomia, Saintpaulia andSinningia were identified asP. nicotianae van Breda de Haan var.nicotianae and an isolate fromBegonia asP. cryptogea Pethybr. & Laff. Cardinal temperatures for the various isolates were determined. The specific and non-specific pathogenicity of the isolates was studied by inoculating the different crops with the different isolates, including aP. cryptogea isolate fromGerbera and aP. nicotianae var.nicotianae isolate from carnation. TheP. nicotianae var.nicotianae isolates appeared to be morphologically identical. Some of the isolates were similar in host range, but others exhibited differences in host specificity at 20°C as well as 25, 30 or 35°C. The same applies for the twoP. cryptogea isolates.     

Braconidae (Hymenoptera) associated with forest and ornamental trees and shrubs in Israel

Data are presented on the occurrence of Braconidae (Hymenoptera parasitica) parasitizing insects associated with forest and ornamental trees and shrubs in Israel. Fifty-five genera of plants are listed, the richest in braconid fauna being tamarisk (9 species); acacia, pistachio and poplar (8 species each); carob and oak (7 species each). Of the 95 species of insect hosts mentioned, 53 are Lepidoptera, mostly Gelechiidae (7 species), Pyralidae (6 species), Noctuidae (5 species), Gracillariidae, Tortricidae, Geometridae, Lymantriidae and Lycaenidae (3 species each); 44 are Coleoptera, mostly Cerambycidae (13 species), Scolytidae (12 species), and Bostrichidae (9 species); three are Diptera. Of the 92 species of braconids listed, of which only 65 have been fully named, 56 develop in Lepidoptera, mostly Noctuidae (15 species), Gelechiidae (11 species) and Pyralidae (9 species); 33 species develop in Coleoptera, mostly Cerambycidae (12 species, Bostrichidae (10 species) and Scolytidae (5 species); and three species develop in Diptera. Thirty-eight species are new to the fauna of Israel; at least three of them are new to science,viz., Gnaptodon, Gildoria andDendrosotinus titubatus Papp.     

Alien scale insects (Hemiptera Coccoidea) in European and Mediterranean countries: the fate of new and old introductions

This contribution focuses on recent interceptions and introductions of alien scale insects and their current distribution in European and Mediterranean countries. Data and collections were gathered in markets, nurseries, and botanical gardens, mostly in Italy, either indoors or outdoors. New or recent records of the following alien species are presented: Exallomochlus hispidus (Morrison); Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) (Pseudococcidae); Coccus viridis (Green); Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Coccidae); Aonidiella orientalis (Newstead); Aspidiotus destructor Signoret; Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead; Fiorinia fioriniae Targioni Tozzetti; Lepidosaphes pinnaeformis (Bouché); Pseudaulacaspis brimblecombei Williams (Diaspididae). New data and pest status of Phoenicococcus marlatti Cockerell (Phoenicococcidae) and Trabutina mannipara (Hemprich & Ehrenberg) (Pseudococcidae) are also reported. The possible repeated introductions of the latter from North Africa to south Italy by trans-Mediterranean winds, is hypothesized.     

Detection and estimation of Citrus Tristeza Virus infection rates based on Elisa Assays of packing house fruit samples

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) proved to be a sensitive detector for citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in orange fruits (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck). Samples of five fruits were taken from 350-kg packing house containers and tested by ELISA to predict the infection rate of CTV in two infected orange groves. The predicted infection rates, 1% and 11%, were in reasonable agreement with the observed rates of 1% (15/1400) and 16% (324/2053), respectively. The 360 test samples from reputedly uninfected groves all tested negative. These results suggest that the ELISA procedure may provide a general method of detecting viral or other systemic pathogenic infections using the fruit as the test material in place of tree tissue. Fruit samples can be collected routinely at the packing house to reduce test costs.     

A SCAR marker specific for rapid detection of the avirulence gene Avr1c in Phytophthora sojae

The F₂ population derived from a cross between isolates pR_x (Avr1c-Avr1c) and ps₁ (avr1c-avr1c) of Phytophthora sojae, fungal agent of soybean stem and root rot, was used to determine the genetic basis of avirulence towards Rps1c gene in soybean. The results indicated that this avirulence is dominant and controlled by a single locus, as expected for a simple gene-for-gene model. Segregation of Avr1c in the F₂ progeny of this cross fits a 3:1 ratio. Four of 80 AFLP primers effectively distinguished the avirulent pR_x from the virulent ps₁. Among the 5 specific markers, band C was amplified from the avirulent pR_x by primer set EGC/MAT, then recovered and cloned. This AFLP marker was successfully transfered to a SCAR marker through sequencing, primer design and specific amplication of the DNA of the avirulent pR_x. Results of validity and specificity experiments with 50 individuals of the F₂ progeny and 50 field isolates demonstrated that this SCAR marker (a 616-bp fragment) can be successfully and specifically amplified from the P. sojae isolates that have Avr1c gene.     

The overwintering mode ofBemisia tabaci and its parasitoids in Israel

Wild and cultivated plants in the vicinity of Kibbutz Nahshon and a few additional locations in Israel were sampled for the presence ofBemisia tabaci Genna-dius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). The whiteflies, together with their parasites,Eretmocerus mundus andEncarsia lutea, were found to develop on numerous host species throughout the winter. Especially high levels were reached onLan-tana camara, Abutilon grandifolium andIpomoea batatas. During late winter and spring the population on these hosts declined. From April onwards the populations increased on potatoes and sunflowers.     

Evaluation of biochemical methods for the diagnosis of the avocado sunblotch viroid in Israel

The reliability of biochemical diagnostic methods for avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBV) was evaluated for the Israeli avocado propagation program. Polyacry-lamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was compared with hybridization toin vitro ³²P-labeled cDNA and ASBV-RNA probes. Although hybridization to a cDNA probe was the most sensitive method, not all known infected plants were detected. In the light of these results, the problem of diagnosing ASBV in the Israeli propagation program is discussed.     

Detection and partial molecular characterization of Plum pox virus on almond trees in Turkey

Almond (Prunus dulcis) is one of the well known stone fruit species grown for its unripe fruits and delicious seeds in Turkey. In the Trakya region, however, some prevailing virus infections have reduced almond yields and quality. In ten districts of Trakya, 260 leaf samples were collected from affected almond trees in June 2010. DAS–ELISA assays and RT-PCR tests were employed for the identification of viruses. As a result of these detection studies, five of the 260 leaf samples gathered from symptomatic almond trees had Plum pox virus (PPV), 81 of them had Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), and 11 samples contained Prune dwarf virus (PDV). Only four out of 260 samples had a mixture of these viruses. Partial nucleotide sequences of five almond isolates of PPV were determined and compared with 17 other PPV isolates in databases. Computer analysis of obtained and published nucleotide sequences showed identity ranged from 75.72% to 96.87%. Of the five PPV almond isolates obtained, however, there was a close nucleotide identity of 95.82–96.61% to Turkish isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotides and amino acids showed that five PPV isolates of almond from the Trakya Region of Turkey were clustered in the same subgroup with PPV-T Turkish isolates in GenBank. Therefore we can consider almond isolates of PPV as PPV-T strain, like the two other isolates from apricot trees in Turkey.     

Identification and species status of the mango biotype of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Ghana

Research work was carried out to identify and ascertain the species status of the mango biotype of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infecting mangoes in Ghana. Forty five isolates of Colletotrichum species were collected from 12 districts in Ghana while five each were obtained from mango fruits from Florida, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The entire internal transcribed spacer region, partial beta-tubulin gene and partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene of isolates were sequenced and used in phylogenetic studies. The results of the sequence analysis of the first ribosomal transcribed spacer (ITS 1) region showed that 35 % of the isolates from Ghana and all the five isolates from Mexico were the mango biotype of C. gloeosporioides, while the others were not. Phylogenetic studies showed that the mango biotype of the pathogen was Colletotrichum asianum but not C. gloeosporioides as previously thought. However, the other isolates that were not the mango biotype were identified as Colletotrichum siamense and Colletotrichum species which had probably cross-infected mango from other fruit crops in the field.     

Synergistic interactions between phenylamide fungicides and respiration inhibitors in controlling phenylamide-resistant populations ofPhytophthora infestans on potato tuber disks

The efficacy of mixtures of respiration inhibitors and phenylamide fungicides (oxadixyl and metalaxyl) in controlling late blight was investigated using potato tuber disks. Results showed that uncoupling agents(e.g. DNP), inhibitors of ATP formation(e.g. oligomycin), ionophores(e.g, valinomycin) and inhibitors that block specific carriers in the electron transport chain(e.g. rotenone, antimycin A) increased significantly the control efficacy of both metalaxyl and oxadixyl towards populations ofPhytophthora infestons when applied to tuber slices pretreated with sublethal doses of both fungicides. When applied alone at the same doses, respiration inhibitors did not inhibit the development of the late blight fungus. Increased control efficacy of mixtures was not noted against phenylamide-sensitive populations of the fungus.     

Sensitive detection of two plant viruses by enzyme-amplified elisa

Enzyme-amplified ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) increased the sensitivity of detection of citrus tristeza virus and papaya ringspot virus in plant sap by 25- and 125-fold, respectively, compared with direct double antibody sandwich ELISA. The advantages of the new substrate system for the detection of low concentrations of viruses in plants are discussed.     

A list of arthropod pests of avocado and pecan trees in Israel

Lists are given of arthropod pests of avocado and pecan trees in Israel. These include ten new pests of avocado and three of pecan. The pests of economic importance on avocado includeBoarmia (Ascotis) selenaria (Schiff.) (Geometridae, Lepidoptera) andHeliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché) (Thrypidae, Thysanoptera). The pests of importance on pecans includeEmpoasca decedens (Paoli) (Jassidae, Homoptera),Zeuzera pyrina L. (Cossidae, Lepidoptera), andMonellia costalis (Fitch) (Aphididae, Homoptera).     

Serological recognition of Streptomyces species causing scab on potato tubers

Antisera were prepared against extracts of two tyrosinase-positiveStreptomyces spp., one of which caused a “deep” and the other a “russet” scab. Tyrosinase-positiveStreptomyces isolates not reacting with either of these antisera proved to be nonpathogenic to potato tubers, with few exceptions only. Not all isolates reacting with one or both antisera, however, were pathogenic and so all the serological positive ones had to be tested for pathogenicity to potato tubers. To obtain this relative specificity the antisera had to be absorbed with an extract of a non-pathogenic tyrosinase-positive isolate.     

The distribution of passionfruit ringspot virus in its main host plants in Ivory Coast

A field survey and testing of leaf samples have given an impression of the distribution of passionfruit ringspot virus in twoAdenia and twoPassiflora spp. in Ivory Coast. The data suggest thatAdenia spp. are the original host plants of the virus. Introduction to Ivory Coast of the virus withP. edulis seems unlikely. Since theAdenia spp. prefer forest and shrub vegetations and aphid flights are shorter in the dryer savannah areas of the North, the cultivatedP. edulis has chances to remain healthy over a prolonged period of growth, which is excluded in the South of the country.     

Arthropod fauna and main insect pests of plane trees in Israel

Fifty-four insect and four mite species are included in a list of the entomofauna of plane trees in Israel. Only two species are monophagous:Phyllonorycter platani (Stgr.) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) andEdwardsiana iranicola Zachv. (Heteroptera: Cicadellidae). Four species are noxious:P. platani, the main insect pest of the plane trees in Israel;Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lepidoptera: Cossidae);Kalotermes flavicollis F. (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae); andE. iranicola. Of much lesser importance areTargionia vitis Sign. (Homoptera: Diaspididae),Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bché. andRetithrips syriacus May. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). About half of the listed species are natural enemies and many are parasites ofP. platani. Details are given on the noxious species, together with recommendations for prevention and control.     

Leaf area dynamics of potato cultivars infected by Phytophthora infestans

The effect ofPhytophthora infestans on foliage growth and senescence of three potato cultivars was studied in two field experiments. Inoculum or fungicide was applied in different frequencies to establish a range of levels of disease. At weekly intervals leaf numbers were determined as well as vertical canopy profiles of senescent and lesion covered leaf and stem area. P. infestans reduced appearance of new leaves on the main stem only at the highest level of disease. The cultivars differed more in rate of primary infection of healthy leaves than in the subsequent increase in percentage lesion coverage of the infected leaves. Differences between cultivars in stem lesion coverage resembled the differences for leaf lesions, but in every cultivar stem lesions were most prominent in the top of the canopy, contrary to leaf lesions.P. infestans stimulated leaf senescence similarly in the different cultivars.