Some new races ofPuccinia striiformis

In the Netherlands in 1961 three new field races were found ofPuccinia striiformis, the causal fungus of yellow rust on wheat. Two of these, viz. the Falco race and the Opal race, together with the already known Etoile de Choisy race, constitute the so-called Nord-group of races, which is now clearly distinguished from the so-called Rubis-group. Most dangerous and interesting is the third of the new races. This so-called Cleo race proved to be the first to break both resistance to the Nord-group and resistance to the Rubis-group. On wheat seedlings in the greenhouse all three new races behaved like green-house race W(ageningen) 8=B(raunschweig) 55.Samenvatting Er zijn van de schimmelPuccinia striiformis Westend., de veroorzaker van de gele roest van tarwe, in Nederland in 1961 drie nieuwe veldfysio's gevonden. Dit zijn het Falco-fysio, het Opal-fysio en het Cleo-fysio. De eerste twee bleken met het reeds bekende Etoile de Choisy-fysio een groep te vormen, de z.g. Nord-groep, die zich duidelijk onderscheidt van de reeds beter bekende Rubis-groep van fysio's. Eerstgenoemde groep kenmerkt zich o.a. door de aantasting van het tarweras Nord, de laatstgenoemde door de aantasting van Rubis (zie tabel 1). Het belangrijkst en het gevaarlijkst is het Cleo-fysio. Dit bleek voor zover bekend het eerste en enige fysio te zijn dat zowel de resistentie tegen de Rubis-groep als die tegen de Nord-groep doorbreekt. Het heeft zodoende een zeer breed aantastingsspectrum. Van de tarwerassen die voorkomen in de 39ste Nederlandse Rassenlijst voor Landbouwgewassen (1964) zijn de volgende negen rassen vatbaar voor het Cleo-fysio met een aantastingsgraad van 6 tot 9 (Internationale Schaal): Cleo, Cappelle Desprez, Heine's VII, Hector, Stella, Sambo, Mado, Wodan en Jufy I. Bovendien bleek het Cleo-fysio in vergelijking met de andere veldfysio's goed te overwinteren en in 1964 reeds op vele plaatsen in Nederland aanwezig te zijn. Het Cleo-fysio maakt het des te noodzakelijker bij de selectie op resistentie tegen gele roest te werken op een brede genetische basis. Bij toetsing op tarwekiemplanten in de kas gedroegen de drie nieuwe fysio's zich alle als het kasfysio W(ageningen) 8 =B(raunschweig) 55 (zie tabel 2).     

Influence of Inoculum Density of Races 0 and 5 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris on Development of Fusarium Wilt in Chickpea Cultivars

Artificial inoculation experiments were carried out at 25°C to determine the effects of inoculum density of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris races 0 (Foc-0) and 5 (Foc-5) and susceptibility of chickpea cultivars P-2245 and PV-61 on development of Fusarium wilt. Foc-5 proved much more virulent than Foc-0. Increasing the inoculum density of F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceris caused an exponential reduction in disease incubation period and a monomolecular increase of disease incidence and the area under the disease intensity progress curve. The extent of these effects was highest in the most conducive P-2245/Foc-5 combination and decreased in the less susceptible PV-61 and for the less virulent Foc-0, in that order. For P-2245/Foc-5, the highest disease intensity was attained with 6 chlamydospores g^–1 of soil, the lowest inoculum density in the study. One thousand chlamydospores g^–1 of soil of the same race were needed to attain a comparable disease intensity in PV-61. Twenty thousand chlamydospores g^–1 of soil of Foc-0 were required for maximum disease intensity in P-2245.The disease intensity curves were adequately described by the Gompertz model. Using this model, a response surface for disease intensity was developed, in which the model parameters are expressed as a function of both time from inoculation and inoculum density. This response surface confirmed that the final amount of disease intensity increases in a monomolecular relationship with increasing inoculum density and showed that the relative rate of disease progress increases exponentially with increasing inoculum density of the pathogen.     

Effects of fusaric acid on cells from tomato cultivars resistant or susceptible toFusarium oxysporum f. sp.Lycopersici

Cell suspension cultures were set up from two tomato cultivars, one resistant, (Rio grande) and one susceptible (63.5) toFusarium oxysporum f. sp.lycopersici. Growth rates of the two cell cultures were comparable. Toxicity of fusaric acid, expressed as the fresh weight loss, was analyzed: It was significant in both cases after 10 h, but toxicity was twice as high for 63.5 suspension cells. In the same way, electrolyte leakage caused by fusaric acid was three times more important for 63.5 suspension cells. Moreover, fusaric acid treatment resulted in an acidification of the extracellular medium for 63.5 suspension cells (0.4 pH unit), whereas an alkalization was observed for Rio grande suspension cells (0.2 pH unit). Preliminary experiments suggest that fusaric acid was partially metabolized by Rio grande suspension cells, however, no detoxified forms of fusaric acid were detected either in cells or in culture filtrates. For these two tomato cultivars, the differences in sensitivity to fusaric acid of cultivated cells correspond to the differences in plant susceptibility toFusarium oxysporum f. sp.lycopersici.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - conductivity - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - EtOAc ethyl acetate - FA fusaric acid - resistivity     

Resistance of rose rootstocks to crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens)

Various types of rose rootstocks were tested for their resistance to crown gall. The rootstock Iowa State University (ISU) 60–5 was the most resistant, followed by Brooks 48, Clarke 1957 and Welch. Rosa multiflora, R. noisettiana (Manetti) and Basye No. 3 were very susceptible. The inoculations were made with four isolates ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith et Townsend) Conn, respectively from aDahlia sp.,Rosa spp. andPrunus persica. It was found that the isolate fromDahlia was a different race to the isolates fromRosa andPrunus spp.Samenvatting Bij onderstammen van rozen, kunstmatig geïnoculeerd metAgrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith et Townsend) Conn., werden verschillen in resistentie tegen wortelknobbel gevonden. Het meest resistent was Iowa State University (ISU) 60–5, gevolgd door Brooks 48, Clarke 1957 en Welch, Zeer vatbaar warenRosa multiflora, R. noisettiana (Manetti) en Basye No. 3. De vier isolaten vanA. tumefaciens, gebruikt voor de inoculaties, waren respectievelijk afkomstig van eenDahlia sp.,Rosa spp. enPrunus persica. Het isolaat vanDahlia en de isolaten vanRosa enPrunus spp. behoorden tot twee verschillende fysiologische rassen. De vorming van tumoren was in sommige gevallen afhankelijk van de methode van inoculatie; inoculaties bij de stambasis waren meer succesvol dan in het midden van de stam.     

Diapause in the nematodeGlobodera pallida

Over a period of 12 months new and old cysts ofGlobodera pallida were hatched in potato root diffusate according to a novel nematode-response hatching protocol. In this protocol, cysts were set to hatch at the beginning of autumn and then left to indicate when their hatching ability was exhausted (when less than 100 juveniles/replicate/week emerged) before another batch of cysts was set to hatch. At any time of the year for the 12 months this experiment was conducted there were cysts hatching. After 12 months of hatching, eight hatching curves were obtained. Based on the hatching curves of the new and old cysts, diapause was shown to be present in new cysts in autumn, winter and early spring. However, diapause was absent in late spring and summer.Infectivity assays to distinguish between juveniles obtained in the periods when cysts were in diapause and when cysts had overcome their diapause failed to show any significant difference in their infectivity. There was no significant difference in the number of eggs in new and old cysts. Based on this observation, it was suggested that high emergence in old cysts may not be a result of few eggs in the cyst but rather due to absence of diapause. Also the presence of large numbers of eggs in old cysts even after being stored for 12 months outdoors in the soil does not support the theories of spontaneous hatching, micro-organism induced hatching or persistence of hatching factors in the soil.     

The ash wilt disease: A preliminary investigation of wood anatomy

A macroscopical, microscopical and SEM examination of wood samples, taken from diseased ash trees, was undertaken to probe into the cause of an ash wilt disease considered to be identical with dieback. The symptoms, particularly the obstruction of the vessels by tyloses and the occurrence of fungal hyphae in one specimen, bear a strong resemblance to those found in Dutch elm disease.Samenvatting Houtmonsters van zieke essen werden macroscopisch, microscopisch en met de SEM onderzocht om de oorzaak van de esseverwelkingsziekte op te sporen. Deze ziekte, ook wel aangeduid met essensterven, vertoont grote overeenkomsten met de in de Verenigde Staten van Amerika en in Groot-Brittanië al langer bekende ash dieback. De gevonden verschijnselen, in het bijzonder de verstopping van vaten door thyllen en het vóórkomen van schimmeldraden in een van de monsters, vertonen veel overeenkomsten met karakteristieke symptomen van de iepeziekte en van de eikeverwelking.     

Analysis of gene sequences for the nucleocapsid protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato spotted wilt virus</Emphasis> for promoting RNA-mediated cross-protection using the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato virus X</Emphasis> vector system

Virus interactions between Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Potato virus X (PVX) containing the nucleocapsid protein (N) gene sequences were examined to evaluate the capacity of the N gene sequences from TSWV to promote RNA-mediated cross-protection. Plants simultaneously inoculated with TSWV and PVX containing the 3 96bp of the N gene were highly resistant to TSWV infection, whereas no such resistance was observed in plants inoculated with TSWV and PVX containing the 5 96bp. These results suggest that the 3 portion of the N gene has a higher capacity for promoting RNA-mediated cross-protection of TSWV.     

Changes in susceptibility of bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris) to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea by pre-inoculative ozone exposures

The effects of ozone on the susceptibility of leaves ofPhaseolus vulgaris toSclerotinia sclerotiorum andBotrytis cinerea have been investigated. Seedlings of one ozone-sensitive (Pros) and five relatively ozone-insensitive cultivars (Gamin, Precores, Groffy, Narda, Berna) were exposed to different ozone concentrations (0, 120, 180 and 270 g m^–3) for 8 h. One day after the exposures, primary leaves were detached and immediately inoculated with spores of either pathogen suspended in water or in a 62.5 mM KH₂PO₄ (Pi) solution. Visible ozone injury differed between the cultivars and increased with increasing ozone concentration. On the leaves of non-exposed plants, spores of the pathogens suspended in water caused very few lesions, whereas fungal pathogenicity was stimulated by addition of Pi to the inoculum. Ozone-injured leaves of all cultivars exhibited lesions after inoculation of the leaves with the pathogens suspended in water, and the number of lesions was positively correlated with the level of ozone injury for either pathogen and cultivar. The increase in susceptibility of bean leaves in response to increasing ozone concentrations was greater forB. cinerea than forS. sclerotiorum when spores were suspended in water, but was similar when the spores were suspended in Pi.In general, the number of lesions following inoculation with spores in Pi increased with increasing ozone concentration. However, the number of lesions in the ozone-insensitive Groffy was reduced by an exposure to 120 g m^–3 but increased with higher concentrations. This pattern of susceptibility response to the pathogens was not found in the other ozone-insensitive cultivars and, thus, did not appear to be related to the inherent ozone-insensitivity in bean.     

Rep-PCR Based Genomic Fingerprinting of Isolates of Leptosphaeria maculans from Poland

Leptosphaeria maculans, the ascomycete fungus which causes blackleg disease of oilseed rape, has been considered for a long time as a single species divided into aggressive and non-aggressive pathogenicity groups which differ in their economic importance. However, the development of accurate biochemical and molecular characterisation methods has demonstrated that the world-wide L. maculans population actually comprises at least two species. The aim of this research was to assess the ability of rep (repetitive element based)-PCR genomic fingerprinting methods, initially developed for bacterial identification, to characterise a collection of 90 isolates of L. maculans from Poland, in comparison with reference isolates from the IBCN (International Blackleg of Crucifers Network) collection. REP (repetitive extragenic palindromic)-, ERIC (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus)-, and BOX primers for rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting, and primers derived from LMR1, a L. maculans specific repeated element, were tested. Rep-PCR and LMR1-based analyses were able to discriminate the different components of the species complex and to evaluate the genetic diversity within each member of the complex. These analyses suggested that Polish populations of L. maculans mainly belong to the non-aggressive species, rather than the aggressive species which is prevalent in Western Europe, Canada and Australia.     

Scytalidium Wilt of Citrus

In July 1998, a sudden wilt of Star Ruby grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) occurred in Israel in a region with a warm Mediterranean climate. The wilt of the middle and upper canopy of main limbs was accompanied by gum oozing from the affected branches. The bark of these branches attained a dark colour and the epidermis sloughed off easily revealing a mass of black powder, resulting from copious sporulation of dark conidia. Both the bark and the xylem were intensively colonized with mycelium. The fungus was identified as Scytalidium lignicola Pesante, based on the characteristic mixture of some colourless and dark conidia, produced in branched chains by conversion of the vegetative hyphae. Artificial inoculations induced typical disease symptoms and the fungus was reisolated, thus confirming Koch's postulates. Similar symptoms appeared in Star Ruby interim segments which had been cut and top grafted with various citrus cultivars. This is the first detailed report of pathogenicity of S. lignicola to citrus trees. It is postulated that the disease developed after predisposition of Star Ruby grapefruit trees by comprehensive pruning followed by extremely hot conditions.     

Distribution of the FoToml gene encoding tomatinase in formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum and identification of a novel tomatinase from F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, the causal agent of Fusarium crown and root rot of tomato

The antifungal glycoalkaloid -tomatine accumulates in tomato plants and may protect plants from fungal infection. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, the causal agent of vascular wilt of tomato, produces a tomatinase (FoToml) that degrades -tomatine to the nontoxic compounds tetrasaccharide lycotetraose and tomatidine. Induction of tomatinases and the distribution of FoToml homologs were examined among 30 strains belonging to 16 formae speciales of F. oxysporum. Tomatinase activity was found in 27 strains belonging to 15 formae speciales, but FoToml homologs (>98% sequence identity) were detected in only six strains belonging to four formae speciales. To identify tomatinases other than FoToml, -tomatine-inducible proteins of another tomato pathogen F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A protein with a molecular mass of 64kDa accumulated in the -tomatine-induced culture filtrates, and the protein had tomatinase activity, degrading -tomatine to lycotetraose and tomatidine.     

Induced Resistance to Cyst and Root-knot Nematodes in Cereals by DL-β-amino-n-butyric Acid

Foliar sprays and soil drenches with DL--amino-n-butyric acid (BABA) reduced the number of Heterodera avenae and H. latipons cysts on wheat and barley. Foliar sprays of wheat with 8000mgl^–1 BABA reduced the number of H. avenae cysts by 90%, whereas 2000mgl^–1 BABA was enough to reduce the number of H. latipons cysts by 79%. Multiple spray treatments with 2000mgl^–1 BABA at 10-day intervals reduced the number of H. avenae cysts on wheat and barley. A soil drench of wheat with 125mgl^–1 BABA reduced the number of H. latipons cysts by 93% and H. avenae cysts by 43%. Second-stage juveniles of these nematodes penetrated and formed syncytia in wheat roots soil-drenched with BABA. More adult males of H. avenae were produced in BABA (<250mg1^–1)-treated wheat roots (~76%) than in untreated roots (27%). Soil drenches with higher concentrations of BABA inhibited development of adult males and females. Several chemical elicitors of induced resistance were tested for their ability to reduce the number of H. avenae cysts on wheat. Only BABA was found to be an effective resistance inducer. The number of egg masses of an unidentified Meloidogyne sp. root-knot nematode, which infects only monocots, was also reduced by 95% by a soil drench of wheat with 500mgl^–1 BABA. Development of this nematode inside the BABA-treated roots was also inhibited.     

Comparison of immunofluorescence microscopy and dilution-plating for the detection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in crucifer seeds

The correlation between immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) and dilution-plating on nutrient starch cycloheximide agar (NSCA) or NSCA with the addition of nitrofurantoin and vancomycin (NSCAA) was studied for the detection ofXanthomonas campestris pv.campestris (Xcc) in crucifer seeds. When checking 50 l of the seed extract in IF, IF and dilution-plating gave corresponding results (both positive or negative) for 45.4–56.4% of the samples tested. No differences were observed in this respect between tests using a polyclonal antiserum (PCA 94) and replicate tests using monoclonal antibodies (MCA 20H6). When 20 l of the seed extract was checked in IF, 67.3–71.3% of the samples tested were both positive or negative with dilutionplating and IF. IF negative and dilution-plating positive samples were found for 0.0–7.3% of all samples tested. The percentage of IF positive and dilution-plating negative samples ranged from 26.7–29.2 (20 l seed extract checked) to 41.8–47.3% (50 l seed extract checked). Generally, the probability of isolating Xcc increased with increasing numbers of fluorescent cells found in IF. Above 10 000 cells per ml the probability of isolating Xcc ranged from 57.1–81.8%. Increasing the extraction time from 5 min to 2.5 h shaking showed no significant increase of the number of samples found positive in IF and dilution-plating. However, when using both 5 min and 2.5 h shaking as compared to 5 min shaking only, more samples can be found positive in IF (1.0–14.5%) and dilution-plating (3.0–18.5%). Examining 1 l instead of 50 l of the sample smear, would increase the correspondence between IF and dilution-plating results up to minimally 69.1% (MCA 20H6). However, the risk of false-negative results in IF as compared to dilution-plating would also increase.     

Histology of roots of resistant and susceptible carnation cultivars from soil infested with fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi

Fusarium wilt-resistant Novada and wilt-susceptible Early Sam carnations were planted in soil infested withFusarium oxysporum f.sp.dianthi, and their roots studied after five and ten weeks. Both in Novada and Early Sam, the extravascular tissue of undamaged young root parts were scarsely colonized. In roots of Novada, infected xylem vessels were usually occluded with gums and surrounded by phellem tissue. In mature parts of roots, the phellem surrounding occluded vessels often merged with the external phellem surrounding the vascular cylinder, after which the occluded vessels were shed from the roots. The phellem at the root surface appeared to be a strong barrier to fungal invasion. In roots of Early Sam carnations, as well as in a few roots of Novada carnations, the defence responses did not result in compartmentation of the fungus, and colonization and degradation of the vascular tissues followed. Diseased roots finally healthy. Shoots of Early Sam carnations, and eventually a few shoots of Novada carnations, were colonized and developed wilt symptoms.Samenvatting Resistente Novada en vatbare Early Sam anjers werden geplant in grond besmet metFusarium oxysporum f.sp.dianthi. Na vijf en tien weken werden de wortels van de planten bestudeerd. De extravasculaire delen van onbeschadigde jonge wortelgedeelten waren in beide cultivars nauwelijks gekoloniseerd. In de wortels van Novada waren geïnfecteerde houtvaten meestal verstopt door gommen en omgeven door kurkweefsel. In oudere wortelgedeelten sloot het kurkweefsel rond verstopte vaten vaak aan op het kurkweefsel aan de buitenkant van het vaatweefsel, waarna de aangetaste vaten werden uitgestoten uit de wortel. Het kurkweefsel aan het worteloppervlak leek een belangrijke barrière te vormen tegen het binnendringen van de schimmel. In de wortels van Early Sam en in enkele wortels van Novada mislukte het afweerproces, en werd het vaatweefsel door de schimmel gekoloniseerd en vervolgens afgebroken. Aangetaste wortels werden na afloop van tijd hol. De bovengrondse delen van de meeste Novada anjers werden niet gekoloniseerd en bleven gezond. De bovengrondse delen van de Early Sam anjers, en op den duur die van enkele Novada anjers, werden gekoloniseerd en verwelkten.     

Alternaria alternata in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cv. Acala: Effects on gas exchange,yield components and yield accumulation

The effect ofAlternaria alternata on gas exchange proceses, on total yield and on yield components in cottonGossypium hirsutum cv. Acala SJ-2, was examined under field conditions. Variations in disease severity levels were achieved by using three fungicide treatments (Fentin Acetate). Disease developed more rapidly on the upper canopy layer (>661 cm height) than on lower ones. Infections were not accompanied by leaf shedding. The main effect of the disease was a reduction on bolls' number. A significant increase in seedcotton and lint yield, as compared to the untreated control, was achieved by applying fungicides. It was found that omitting early and late applications was not followed by significant yield reduction. Alternaria leaf spot reduced photosynthetic rate more and transpiration rate less, than could be explained by the extent of infected leaf area alone.Samenvatting Het effect vanAlternaria alternata op fotosynthese en transpiratie, opbrengstcomponenten en totale opbrengst bij katoen (Gossypium hirsutum L.) werd onderzocht onder veldomstandigheden. Verschillen in aantastingsniveaus werden verkregen door fungicide (fentin acetaat) behandelingen. De ziekte ontwikkelde zich het snelst boven in het gewas (> 60 cm). Infectie ging niet gepaard met bladval. Het belangrijkste effect van de ziekte vormde een afname van het aantal vruchtdozen (bolls). Een significante toename van zaadkatoen (seedcottton) en van vezels (lint) ten opzichte van de onbehandelde controle werd verkregen door toediening van fungiciden. Achterwege laten van vroege en late bestrijdingen had geen significante opbrenstverlaging tot gevolg.A. alternata verlaagde de fotosynthesesnelheid meer en de transpiratiesnelheid minder dan verklaard kon worden uit de geïnfecteerde oppervlakte van het blad.     

The β-tubulin Gene is a Useful Target for PCR-based Detection of an Albino Ophiostoma piliferum Used in Biological Control of Sapstain

The potential of Cartapip, an albino Ophiostoma piliferum, as a biocontrol agent against sapstain in logs has been tested in Germany. To detect the albino strain in field-tested wood, the usefulness of the -tubulin gene as a target region for developing PCR-based assays was evaluated with 102 strains of O. piliferum and 31 strains of other wood-inhabiting species. A partial -tubulin gene sequence of O. piliferum strains from different geographic origins was amplified by PCR and analyzed by restriction enzyme digestions and DNA sequencing. Variation in size and nucleotide sequences was found in intron regions indicating that intraspecific variation is present in the -tubulin gene. Consequently, -tubulin gene-derived PCR methods using PCR–RFLP patterns generated by HinfI and SpeI and sequence-specific primers Cat1 and Cat2, were developed and their specificity for Cartapip was accessed with field-tested logs and lumber. The -tubulin gene-based PCR methods were found to be valuable tools for rapid and reliable identification of Cartapip in field-tested logs and lumber in Germany. Specificity tests against other wood-inhabiting species and wild type O. piliferum strains from diverse nations showed that the Cat1 and Cat2 primers have potential to be used in other European countries, New Zealand, Alberta and British Columbia.     

Bud necrosis,a storage disease of tulips. I. Symptoms and the influence of storage conditions

The symptoms of bud necrosis in tulip bulbs are described. This disorder is neither contagious nor hereditary. It is found more often and more severely in certain cultivars (viz Red Champion and White Sail) than in others (viz Rose Copland) in which it appears less frequently or not at all. The disease originates in the stamens of the flower-producing main bud during dry storage between lifting and planting of the bulbs. The occurrence of the disease in sensitive cultivars is promoted by storage of the bulbs under conditions of poor ventilation (viz packed in cardboard boxes) and at higher temperatures later in the storage period (after September 1).The experimental results suggest that there are several pathogenic factors and that the combined action of these factors can lead to bud necrosis; the primary factor is probably of physiological nature.Samenvatting Kernrot is een afwijking in tulpebollen die een bloeibare maat hebben. De ziekte ontstaat tijdens de droge bewaring van de bollen en begint met afwijkingen aan de meeldraden. Bij de beschrijving is onderscheid gemaakt tussen symptomen welke zich tijdens de droge bewaring voordoen aan de knoppen waaruit zich de bloeiende spruit zal ontwikkelen en symptomen welke zich voordoen aan de bollen tijdens de bloei te velde. Naar de mate waarin de knoppen en planten afwijken, wordt gesproken van meeldraadnecrose (Fig. 1A en 2), bloemnecrose (Fig. 1B en 4A), spruitnecrose (Fig. 1C en 4B), kernnecrose (Fig. 1D en 4C) en bolnecrose (Fig. 4D).Het is gebleken, dat de ziekte bij bepaalde cultivars (Red Champion en White Sail) vaak voorkomt, bij andere minder vaak (Rose Copland) of in het geheel niet. Er kon worden vastgesteld, dat de ziekte niet besmettelijk of erfelijk is.In de proeven werd het ontstaan van de afwijking bij Red Champion en White Sail bevorderd door de bollen te verpakken in kartonnen dozen (ventilatiebeperking) en door de bollen later in het seizoen (na 1 september) te bewaren bij hogere temperaturen dan daarvoor. Op grond van de proefresultaten wordt aangenomen dat de primaire oorzaak van de afwijking van fysiologische aard is. De aanwezigheid van schimmels, bacteriën en mijten moet als tweede oorzaak worden beschouwd.     

Infection of Tomicus piniperda (Col., Scolytidae) with Canningia tomici sp. n. (Microsporidia, Unikaryonidae)

Canningia tomici sp. n. (Microsporidia, Unikaryonidae) infects the midgut epithelium, the gut muscules, Malpighian tubules, connective tissues, adipose tissues and the gonads of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae). The infection is present in populations of Tomicus piniperda in Europe and in the United States. Uninucleate oval single spores occur in two sizes: 2.8±0.4× 1.4±0.4m and 3.8±0.3×2.0±0.2m. The polar filament of this microsporidium is fixed subapically in a flat anchoring disc. The thick posterior lamellae of the binary polaroplast are asymmetric due to the lateral fixation of the polar filament.     

A greenhouse test for screening sugar-beet (Beta vulgaris) for resistance to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV)

Small differences in activity between batches of purified beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) were observed in ELISA. A four-parameter modelled dose-response curve of purified BNYVV was used for the conversion of ELISA values to virus concentrations. Seedlings of the susceptible cultivar Regina and the partially resistant cultivars Nymphe and Rima were tested for resistance to BNYVV in a mixture of sand and infested soil. Plants were grown in a green-house with low nutrient supply and at temperatures below the optimum of both the vectorPolymyxa betae and BNYVV. Root systems were small and consisted mainly of lateral roots. Significant differences in average virus concentrations were found between cultivars, both when using the complete root systems and when using either the top or the bottom part of the root systems. Average virus concentrations in Regina were always significantly higher than in Rima and higher than in Nymphe on all occasions except one (P<0.05). Differences between Nymphe and Rima were less evident. Variation between plants was greatest within Rima. The test described in this paper can be used for the discrimination of different cultivars and for the identification of individual plants with resistance to BNYVV.     

Nerine latent virus: some properties and serological detectability in Nerine bowdenii

Nerine latent virus (NeLV), first found inNerine bowdenii, may occur also in the otherNerine species investigated so far:N. sarniensis, N. flexuosa Alba, andN. Mansellii. Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, andGomphrena globosa sometimes reacted with local lesions after mechanical inoculation with NeLV.Nicotiana clevelandii andHippeastrum were symptomless hosts. In this respect NeLV resembled the incompletely describedHippeastrum latent virus (HLV).Serologically NeLV was closely related to HLV and to carnation latent virus (CaLV), but differed from the latter in host plant reaction. A more distant relationship was observed with some other carlaviruses, wheareas NeLV also reacted with an antiserum to potato virus X.Depending on the lot, NeLV could be detected rather reliably with the micro-precipitin test inN. bowdenii Van Roon, but less well in 63. Better results were obtained with the microplate method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The average particle length was 664 nm, the sedimentation coefficient 155 S and the buoyant density 1.298 g/cm³.NeLV can be considered as a member of the carlavirus group. On basis of priority HLV may be considered as NeLV.