Cicadulina species and maize streak virus in Ethiopia

Abstract

A preliminary survey was made in the most important maize‐growing regions of Ethiopia to record the species of Cicadulina present, their distribution and abundance. Five species of Cicadulina were found, including two not previously reported from Ethiopia. The maize strain of maize streak geminivirus (MSV) occurred predominantly between 450 and 1800 m above sea level, which coincides with the altitudinal range of C. mbila implicating this species as the principal vector of MSV in Ethiopia. The maize strain isolate was indistinguishable from others from elsewhere in Africa.     

Evaluation of herbicides for maize production in three ecological zones of Nigeria

Abstract

Maize cultivation in Nigeria has increased rapidly in the last few years as fertilizers have become more readily available to farmers. Without the use of herbicides however, the area of land that can be brought under maize production will be limited. The following herbicides were evaluated in three ecological zones of Nigeria: atrazine and mixtures of atrazine and simazine, atrazine and metolachlor and atrazine and cyanazine. All herbicide treatments were applied at the rate of either 1.0 or 2.0 kg a.i./ha. The plots that received 1.0 kg a.i./ha also received one supplementary hand weeding. All treatments gave yields comparable to the weed free control, with the exception of the unweeded higher rate of the atrazine and cyanazine treatment which gave the lowest grain yield as a result of poor weed control.     

Competition between Imperata cylindrica and maize in the forest savannah transition zone of Nigeria

Imperata cylindrica is a noxious weed that infests annual and perennial crops in most tropical regions. High crop densities may offer opportunities to reduce I. cylindrica competition in small‐scale farming systems. The competitive ability of maize relative to I. cylindrica was evaluated in an addition series experiment in the forest savannah transition zone in 2006 and 2007 at Ibadan, Nigeria. Maize and I. cylindrica were planted in eight monoculture densities (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 32, 48 and 64 plants m^?2) and in a 1:1 mixture at eight total densities (2:2, 4:4, 6:6, 8:8, 10:10, 16:16, 24:24 and 32:32 maize: I. cylindrica plants m^?2) as in monoculture. Non‐linear regression models were used to relate crop and weed shoot biomass to their densities and total grain yield to maize density. In maize, intraspecific competition was more than interspecific competition; in I. cylindrica, interspecific competition was higher than intraspecific. As expected, total grain yield was lower in the mixture than in maize monoculture at all total densities. Average maize grain yield in maize monoculture differed from that in mixtures by 0.77 t ha^?1 in 2006 and 0.57 t ha^?1 in 2007. Niche differentiation indices were <1 in 2006 and >1 in 2007, indicating that both species competed for similar resources in 2006, but not in 2007. The greater competitive ability of maize over I. cylindrica may be associated with rapid growth and canopy development observed in the field.     

Effect of method of Imperata cylindrica management on maize grain yield in the derived savanna of south-western Nigeria

Field studies were conducted in 1991 and 1992 on a sandy loam soil in the derived savanna zone of south-western Nigeria to assess the effect of the underground organs of Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel on maize grain yield. Total dry matter of I. cylindrica in abandoned arable land averaged 16 t ha⁻¹ and rhizomes contributed 56% of this. Rhizome removal from soil before planting maize significantly increased maize yield relative to hoe tillage or slashing of I. cylindrica shoots before planting maize. Digging up rhizomes before planting maize and weeding the crop twice gave a yield reduction of only 23% compared with weed-free crops with rhizomes removed. Grain yield reduction was 51% in plots where rhizomes were only fragmented by hoe tillage and the crop was weeded twice. Grain yield was 62% less when maize was grown in slashed plots with intact rhizomes that were weeded four times (farmers' practice). Slashing without additional weeding resulted in crop failure in maize.     

河北省主推玉米品种对粗缩病抗性鉴定及病情指标与产量损失率关系研究

对河北省26个主推玉米品种进行抗玉米粗缩病性鉴定,并对其发病率及病情指数与产量损失率的相关性进行了研究。结果表明:河北省目前玉米生产上主推品种中没有免疫和抗病品种,但感病后品种之间的病情严重度有显著差异,病情指数分布在35.37～80.05,产量损失率为15.55%～74.01%。以邢抗2号、费玉2号、费玉4号、沈玉17和农大108的病情严重度较轻,病情指数低于40,表现为感病,其他品种病情指数都在40以上表现为高感。产量损失率与病株率和病情指数呈显著相关,且产量损失率与病情指数的相关性(R=0.982)比产量损失率与病株率的相关性(R=0.756)更强。     

Host and virus effects on reversion in cassava affected by cassava brown streak disease

The phenomenon of virus‐infected plants naturally recovering health is known as ‘reversion’, and is a type of resistance mechanism exploited in some crop plants for disease control. Various parameters were investigated that affect reversion from cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) in three cassava varieties (Albert, Kaleso and Kiroba) that differ in levels of resistance to the disease. Cassava plants were inoculated by grafting with two virus species (Ugandan cassava brown streak virus, UCBSV and Cassava brown streak virus, CBSV) that cause CBSD, and the plants grown from them were subsequently assessed for reversion. The rate of reversion depended on the cassava variety, virus species, and the length and position of the stem cuttings used. A significantly high proportion of progenies were virus‐free (reverted) for the resistant variety Kaleso (64·1% for UCBSV and 54·9% of CBSV), compared to the tolerant variety Kiroba (56·7 and 45·5%) and the susceptible control Albert (38·9 and 35·1%). The highest number of virus‐free plants was generated from short 10 cm long cuttings (e.g. 60·1% for Kaleso for CBSV) compared to 20 cm long stem cuttings (e.g. 21·4% for Albert). Cuttings taken from upper stems of diseased plants produced most virus‐free progenies compared to middle and lower parts. More than 50% virus‐free plants were obtained in the resistant and tolerant varieties. This is a highly valuable finding and could be exploited for developing strategies to control the current CBSD epidemic in eastern and central Africa.     

Cassava brown streak disease in Rwanda,the associated viruses and disease phenotypes

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) was first observed on cassava (Manihot esculenta) in Rwanda in 2009. In 2014 eight major cassava‐growing districts in the country were surveyed to determine the distribution and variability of symptom phenotypes associated with CBSD, and the genetic diversity of cassava brown streak viruses. Distribution of the CBSD symptom phenotypes and their combinations varied greatly between districts, cultivars and their associated viruses. The symptoms on leaf alone recorded the highest (32.2%) incidence, followed by roots (25.7%), leaf + stem (20.3%), leaf + root (10.4%), leaf + stem + root (5.2%), stem + root (3.7%), and stem (2.5%) symptoms. Analysis by RT‐PCR showed that single infections of Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) were most common (74.2% of total infections) and associated with all the seven phenotypes studied. Single infections of Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) were predominant (15.3% of total infections) in CBSD‐affected plants showing symptoms on stems alone. Mixed infections (CBSV + UCBSV) comprised 10.5% of total infections and predominated in the combinations of leaf + stem + root phenotypes. Phylogenetic analysis and the estimates of evolutionary divergence, using partial sequences (210 nt) of the coat protein gene, revealed that in Rwanda there is one type of CBSV and an indication of diverse UCBSV. This study is the first to report the occurrence and distribution of both CBSV and UCBSV based on molecular techniques in Rwanda.     

云南省玉米白斑病病原菌鉴定与品种田间抗性评价

为明确近年来云南省严重发生的玉米白斑病病原菌及不同玉米品种对玉米白斑病的抗性差异,2021年于云南省昆明市阿子营乡和曲靖市罗平县九龙镇采集病样,进行病斑组织分离纯化,通过形态学特征和分子生物学方法对病原菌进行鉴定,并在云南省曲靖市罗平县九龙镇采用田间自然发病方法对622份玉米品种的抗性进行鉴定。从2个采样地点的病叶中各分离出5株和9株菌株,经柯赫氏法则验证,确定了菌株WS-1、WS-191为白斑病致病菌;经形态学观察以及基于ITS、rpb2、tub2和LSU基因序列构建的系统发育树分析结果确定其分类学种名为宽颈附球菌Epicoccum latusicollum。田间抗病性试验结果表明,在622份区域试验品种中对白斑病表现高抗、抗病、中抗、感病和高感的品种分别为4、184、216、186和32份,分别占品种总数的0.64%、29.58%、34.73%、29.90%和5.14%。     

Reactions of plantain and banana cultivars to black sigatoka leaf spot disease in three farming systems in the Nigerian guinea savanna

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - An assessment of the severity of black sigatoka (BS), Mycosphaerella fijiensis, leaf spot disease on plantain and banana was undertaken in three farming...     

Variation in virus populations and growth characteristics of two sugarcane cultivars naturally infected by Sugarcane yellow leaf virus in different geographical locations

Two sugarcane cultivars (R570 and SP71-6163) naturally infected by Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) were each imported from several geographical locations into a sugarcane yellow leaf-free environment (Montpellier, France). Plants were grown as plant cane for 5–6 months and the experiment was repeated for three consecutive years (2003–2005) in a greenhouse. Several sugarcane-growth and disease characteristics were monitored to identify variation in pathogenicity of SCYLV. Depending on their geographical origin, sugarcane cvs R570 and SP71-6163 were infected by SCYLV genotypes BRA-PER or REU, or a mixture of the two. Severity of symptoms did not vary between plants of cv. R570, but variation in disease severity between plants of cv. SP71-6163 from different geographical locations suggested the occurrence of pathogenic variants of SCYLV. For each sugarcane cultivar, differences in stalk length, number of stalk internodes, virus titre in the top visible dewlap leaf, and percentage of infection of leaf and stalk phloem vessels were also found between plants from different geographical origins. However, these differences were not always reproducible from one year to another, suggesting occurrence of different plant responses to SCYLV isolates under varying environmental conditions.     

Understanding the interactions among the crop plants,a virus,insect vector whiteflies and their endosymbionts

Phytoparasitica - Interactions among the four biotic agents - the host plants, a virus, insect vector whiteflies and their bacterial endosymbionts was investigated in this study. The whitefly...     

Interactions between Sclerotium cepivorum and cultivars of onion, leek, garlic and Allium fistulosum

Laboratory and field experiments showed that germination of sclerotia of Sclerotium cepivorum was slower in the presence of cultivars of leek than in the presence of those of onion, garlic and Allium fistulosum . Spread of infection amongst closely spaced plants was also less in leeks than in the other three species. No evidence was found for any differences in the resistance of root tissues of the four Allium species. It is considered that differential stimulation of sclerotium germination is likely to have been the principal reason for the low incidence of white rot infection in leeks which was reported previously.     

Effects of weeding and nitrogen treatmerts on maize yields in Nigeria

The effects of handweeding and of varying timing of applications of nitrogen were examined in three experiments on maize grown in Southern Nigeria. At two weedy sites which had been cropped for several years, weed competition lowered maize yields by 50% and two hand weedings at 3 and 7 weeks after planting were as satisfactory as more extended weedings. At the third site after an extended fallow period weed competition was not severe. Splitting of nitrogen application generally had no advantage over a single application of the same amount. There was no significant interaction between nitrogen and weeding treatments at any site.     

Incidence,distribution and limited genetic variability among Turkish isolates of Grapevine Pinot gris virus from different grapevine cultivars

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) was firstly identified in northern Italy by deep sequencing from grapevine cv. Pinot gris, exhibiting mottling and...     

Transmission efficiency of three isolates of maize stripe tenuivirus in relation to virus titre in the planthopper vector

Isolates of maize stripe tenuivirus (MSt V) from Florida (US), Costa Rica (CR), and Nigeria, Africa (AF), were transmitted to maize plants by the planthopper Peregrinus maidis (from Hawaii) with respective frequencies of 0,18, and 60% after a 1-day acquisition access period on diseased plants, and with frequencies of 18, 71 and 93%, respectively, after a 7-day access period. These isolates were transmitted transovarially to progeny planthoppers with respective frequencies of 21, 32, and 47%. The latent period in the vector, following oral acquisition of MSt V, was significantly longer in the US isolate than in the AF-or CR isolates. ELISA tests of MSt V-inoculative planthoppers indicated a significantly lower titre of MSt V-US compared with MSt V-CR or MSt V-AF. These results suggest that, compared with the US isolate, the AF and CR isolates of MSt V multiply faster and reach higher levels in, and are transmitted more efficiently by, P. maidis from Hawaii.     

5个持久抗条锈病小麦品种的抗性组分和遗传距离的研究

 小麦数量抗病品种Aquileja(AQ)、Libellula(LB)、Luke(LK)、Nugaines(NG)和咸农4号(XN)具有持久抗条锈病特点,本文对这5个品种的抗性组分及它们之间的遗传距离进行了研究,以铭贤169(MX)为感病对照品种。苗期室内抗性组分试验表明:LB、XN、AQ 3个品种与LK、NG 2个品种相比,前者的气孔下泡囊密度低于后者;前者的菌落长度短于后者。其中AQ和XN的吸器密度低于LK和NG而高于LB;LK和NG的气孔下泡囊密度甚至高于感病对照品种MX。田间抗性组分试验表明:5个数量抗病品种AQ、LB、LK、NG和XN的反应型(IT)、严重度(DS)、病情发展曲线下面积(AUDPC)和病斑长度(LL)值均低于感病对照品种MX;数量抗病品种AQ、LB、LK、NG、XN之间相比,AQ的IT值最高而LB最低;NG的DS和AUDPC值最高而LB最低;AQ、NG和XN的LL值高于LB和LK;AQ的病斑密度值低于NG和LK而高于XN和LB。由此可见,LK和NG没有抗侵入能力而在成株期具有抗扩展能力,LB、AQ和XN除了具有抗扩展能力外,还具有降低侵入频率能力。基于SSR DNA指纹数据的聚类分析,AQ与LB为同一类,NG与XN为同一类,LK单独为一类。由此推测,AQ或LB与其它3个数量抗病品种之间杂交的后代中可能会出现性状超亲分离,本实验室报道的AQ/NG杂交组合的结果证明了这一点。本文为进一步的抗病遗传育种工作提供了有用信息。