Facing Rose rosette virus: A risk to European rose cultivation

Roses (Rosa) are one of the most valuable ornamental flowering shrubs around the globe. They are susceptible to numerous pathogens that require management, increasing the cost of cultivation. Rose rosette virus (RRV; genus Emaravirus) is a devastating virus that has been spreading since the 1940s in the United States and Canada. It is an emerging risk to European and worldwide rose cultivation, causing symptoms such as witches' broom, malformations, excessive thorn production, and eventually plant death. RRV is transmitted by the eriophyid mite Phyllocoptes fructiphilus and by grafting. Research is being undertaken to understand RRV and to find control measures and resistant cultivars, as they are not currently available. Early detection of the disease is the key to prevent the establishment and spread of RRV and its vector. Different molecular and serological diagnostic methods have been designed and implemented, including ELISA, RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, LAMP, and high-throughput sequencing. RRV infected plants can remain symptomless for long periods, so these diagnostic assays are necessary in conjunction with visual assessment to facilitate early detection. Significant social, economic, and environmental impacts are expected if RRV and its vector establish and spread in Europe. Rose trade between countries is the most likely pathway of introduction of RRV into Europe. In this review we describe current knowledge about RRV, the molecular and serological methods available for the detection of this virus, pathways to entry, and the possible impact if it establishes and spreads in Europe.     

Dispersal gradient of M. fructicola conidia from peach orchard to an open field

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Dispersal gradient and the maximum distance that spores of M. fructicola can spread allow the quantification of the relative risk of disease spread from spores...     

Legislative measures to prevent the introduction and spread of Ralstonia solanacearum in the European Union1

Since the outbreaks of potato brown rot (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in EU Member States in the mid 1990s, EU measures against this pest have been strengthened. Factors in the spread of R. solanacearum are reviewed: planting material, Solanaceous weeds, water, soil, waste, machinery and equipment. The Control Directive of 1998 aims to prevent spread and ensure eradication. It provides for the establishment of a demarcated zone whenever the pest is found, for measures to prevent spread from this zone and for measures to eliminate the pest within the zone.     

警惕新发病毒番茄褐色皱果病毒Tomato brown rugose fruit virus对我国番茄产业的危害

番茄褐色皱果病毒Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)于2014年首次在以色列发现, 随后传播到欧洲、美洲以及亚洲等地。ToBRFV在番茄叶片上引起花叶, 更重要的是在番茄果实上引起褐色皱缩斑, 导致番茄完全失去商品价值, 是番茄安全生产的重大威胁。为遏制ToBRFV的传播, 多个国家已经将该病毒列入检疫对象。2019年, 我们在山东番茄上检测到该病毒。本文综述了ToBRFV发生与危害、寄主范围和症状、传播方式、基因组结构、检测方法, 并提出了防治建议, 希望有助于防范该病毒在我国的扩散。     

Cyperus esculentus L. — A new weed in Israel

Cyperus esculentus L., a cosmopolitan noxious weed, has been recorded for the first time in an agricultural irrigated field in Israel. Hand-weeding, herbicides and soil disinfestation methods were only partially effective in controlling the weed. The distribution map of the weed is unknown, and it is unclear how the weed has been introduced into Israel. We estimate thatC. esculentus has a high risk potential to spread further and cause damage to Israeli agriculture, and therefore its spread should be restricted. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 18, 2005.     

Final distribution is related to rate of spread in alien weeds

Currently important alien weeds that have reached their final distributions are characterized by the high initial rates of spread with which they attained these distributions. Alien weeds, now seemingly unimportant but spreading at high rates, might be tomorrow's noxious weeds. It is suggested that rates of spread of species in a regional alien weed flora that have not yet reached final distributions may be used as indices for identifying future troublesome species. A literature search of several plant ecological attributes revealed that rapid seed germination, especially at low temperatures, may be associated with rapidly spreading weeds.     

Biophysical aspects of nervous activity in relation to studies on the mode of action of insecticides

The spread to the nervous system of topically applied neurotoxic insecticides is discussed. During spread different insecticides may distribute themselves between fluid and solid phases within the insect's tissues in greatly differing ratios. These differences are reflected in their concentrations in the haemolymph, which is probably the medium mainly responsible for distributing insecticides within the insect, and also the main source from which insecticides enter the nervous system. Evidence for spread via more restricted pathways, such as tracheae or the nerves themselves, is conflicting. The mode of action of neurotoxic insecticides is briefly reviewed, including the role of secondarily released neuroactive stress substances, and the extent to which resistance is expressed at the site of action is also discussed. Finally, the nervous system is examined for new sites of insecticidal action which, if attacked, could give greater specificity.     

杂草管理的分子生物学途径(英文)

全球气候变化有利于外来杂草的入侵与传播,因为外来种通常可以快速适应环境。除草剂和抗除草剂作物的滥用使抗性杂草严重威胁现代农业的发展,这就需要新技术有效缓解当前的和未来的杂草问题。分子生物学是研究DNA、RNA以及蛋白质分子之间相互作用的科学,该技术已在杂草科学中广泛应用,如决定杂草抗药性机制、抗性杂草的起源、杂草基因型和基因流动的传播、杂草特征的生态适应与进化发展等。这些信息有利于建立可持续发展的杂草管理方案。分子生物技术也具有可直接用于防除杂草的潜力,如可用于开发新的除草措施的技术,包括宏基因组学、病毒诱导基因沉默、转基因雌性不育性等。     

Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic potyvirus: A review

Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic potyvirus (CABMV) is a cosmopolitan, economically significant seed-borne virus of cowpea. It can cause a yield loss of 13 - 87% under field conditions depending upon crop susceptibility, virus strain and the environmental conditions. CABMV has spread world-wide through the exchange of virus-infected germplasm material. The virus-infected seed provides the initial inoculum and aphids are responsible for the secondary spread of the disease under field conditions. The virus symptoms vary with the cowpea genotype and virus strain. Excellent sources of resistance are available for the breeding of resistant cultivars. Resistance in cowpea is conferred by either a dominant or a recessive gene. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most appropriate method for the detection of the virus in the seed or plant tissue for seed certification programmes. Production of virus-free seed is another control option. Given the significance of the disease and the large area under cowpea cultivation in the world, we review knowledge of various aspects of the disease.     

The bionomics of the African armyworm Spodoptera exempta in relation to its status as a migrant pest

A multidisciplinary study was undertaken on the bionomics of the African armyworm in eastern Africa as a basis for the development of control strategies for this important pest of cereal crops and pastures. Relevant findings from studies on seasonal distribution, migration, field infestations and population cycles are reviewed in relation to understanding the causes for the onset and spread of armyworm outbreaks. It is concluded that the onset of the first outbreaks of an armyworm epidemic is caused by oviposition at high density by moths concentrated by wind convergence at storm outflows. The sources of these moths seem to be low-density populations which survive from one season to the next at sites receiving unseasonable rainfall. Some areas in Tanzania and Kenya are particularly prone to early outbreaks which are potentially critical for the initiation of a subsequent spread of outbreaks downwind throughout eastern Africa. These areas have low and erratic rainfall, and are near the first rising land inland from the coast. Below average rainfall prior to the development of outbreaks increases the probability of their occurrence. Their subsequent spread is enhanced by storms downwind which concentrate moths in flight and by sunshine during caterpillar development. Persistent wet weather reduces the spread of outbreaks. This study demonstrates the importance and value of developing and implementing a long-term monitoring system over a large region, in this case in Africa, not only for the generation of data used by the forecasters for the prediction and location of possible outbreaks, but also for obtaining a clearer understanding of the epidemiology of a highly mobile pest.     

Spread modelling: a suitable tool to explore the role of human-mediated dispersal in the range expansion of the yellow-legged hornet in Europe

Abstract

Invasive species can spread locally on their own and can be introduced at long distance by humans. Here, we show how a spread model can be used to explore the role of humans in the range expansion of the invasive yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, in Europe with a special focus on some islands. In 2017, the hornet distribution in France, southern Belgium, south-eastern Germany and northern Spain could largely be explained by the insect’s own dispersal while the occurrence in Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands and Great Britain likely results from human-mediated dispersal. However, in the following years, it could spread to Portugal, Italy and Great Britain also by its own means. The yellow-legged hornet has likely reached the Channel Islands by its own flight but it could hardly reach the Mediterranean islands. Hence, the infestation in Majorca likely results from an accidental introduction. When simulating human-mediated dispersal in the Mediterranean islands, the hornet density would remain relatively low anyhow. Assessing the means of dispersal is important in terms of pest management as the target is either to reduce the spread rate and the population density, or to reduce the risk of entry.     

警惕危险性害虫辣椒花象甲入侵我国

辣椒花象甲Anthonomus eugenii是一种毁灭性害虫,原产于中美洲,可为害至少35种商业辣椒品种,对辣椒为害严重,可使其减产33%～90%。该害虫于1993年入侵加拿大,并于2014年进入欧洲。频繁的全球贸易及国际运输将加速该害虫的传播和扩散,并有入侵我国的风险。该文对辣椒花象甲的生物学特性、寄主植物、为害特征、分布范围及传播进行总结,分析其对我国的入侵风险及对我国辣椒产业造成的潜在损失,并提出风险管理措施。     

Importance of secondary inoculum of Plasmopara viticola to epidemics of grapevine downy mildew

To quantify the magnitude and the spatial spread of grapevine downy mildew secondary sporangia, 4685 Plasmopara viticola single lesion samples were collected from 18 plots spread across central Europe. Disease symptoms were collected on two to 22 sampling dates per plot between 2000 and 2002. Four multiallelic microsatellite markers were used for genotypic identification of pathogen samples. Genetic analysis showed more than 2300 site-specific P. viticola genotypes, indicating that populations are genetically rich demographic units. Approximately 70% of the genotypes were sampled once and 14% were sampled twice throughout the various epidemics. In the 18 populations only seven genotypes (0.3%) were identified more than 50 times. Three genotypes particularly successful in causing disease through secondary cycles showed mainly a clustered distribution. The distance of sporangial migration per secondary cycle was less than 20 m and their plot colonization rate was calculated at around 1–2 m² day⁻¹. Downy mildew epidemics of grapevine are therefore the result of the interaction of a multitude of genotypes, each causing limited (or a few) lesions, and of a dominant genotype able to spread stepwise at plot-scale. These findings contrast with current theories about grapevine downy mildew epidemiology, which postulate that there is massive vineyard colonization by one genotype and long-distance migration of sporangia.     

The nature and distribution of Verticillium albo-atrum strains highly pathogenic to the hop

During routine, annual, field wilt-resistance trials of hop progeny, 'breakdowns' of resistance occurred in control varieties. Pot-plant pathogenicity tests of isolates from these trials, and other isolates obtained during farm surveys, confirmed the existence of apparently new strains potentially highly pathogenic to resistant cultivars. Results of the tests provided little evidence that enhanced pathogenicity was associated with specificity. The assumption of essentially host nonspecific pathogenicity was consistent with other observations on the inheritance of resistance.
Highly pathogenic strains were identified among isolates from nine farms in Kent. The locations and ownership of these farms, and their wilt histories, provided strong circumstantial evidence that these strains had spread from a single focus, as did progressive wilt originally. Legislation, introduced to restrict further spread, may have been too late.     

Variation in the resistance of Vicia faba to Ascochyta fabae in relation to disease development in field trials

The epidemic development of Ascochyta fabae in artificially infected field trials was studied in order to define resistance criteria and assess the variation in resistance of infected lines of faba bean. Large differences were demonstrated among French winter lines during the 1985/86 and 1986/87 growing seasons. All the scoring systems allowed the differentiation of very susceptible and resistant material, but disease indices, which account for the number and intensity of lesions, were more precise. The different phases of the epidemic are described on the basis of the variation in disease incidence on foliage and on pods during the 1986/87 cropping season in Brittany. There were three phases in disease development: initiation, spread throughout foliage, and pod infection, and these were all influenced by host resistance. On a very susceptible line, the disease spread was seen as an increase in the number and size of lesions and rapidly developed up the plant. Low disease indices observed on the resistant line 29 H were due to the small size and low frequency of lesions, resulting in a reduced area of foliage affected.     

A simple detached leaf assay provides rapid and inexpensive determination of pathogenicity of Pythium isolates to ‘all year round’ (AYR) chrysanthemum roots

A detached leaf assay was developed to determine the pathogenicity of Pythium isolates to cut‐flower chrysanthemum roots. Leaves from young plants were excised and inoculated by insertion of a plug of mycelium into a slit cut in the excised petiole. After incubation leaves were assessed for presence and extent of necrosis. Necrosis indicated pathogenicity and was consistently confirmed by comparisons with whole plant inoculations. The rate of necrosis spread also gave some indication of virulence. Isolates of Pythium sylvaticum, P. ultimum and HS group were the most virulent, with a mean rate of spread of 14·6 mm per day, significantly (P < 0·05) faster than the mean rate of spread, 1·6 mm per day, of less virulent isolates. Less virulent isolates included P. irregulare, P. oligandrum and P. aphanidermatum. The latter was unexpected, as P. aphanidermatum is an important species in pythium root rot epidemics in chrysanthemums elsewhere. The value of the detached leaf assay for screening large numbers of isolates was demonstrated in a survey of isolates from clinic samples from chrysanthemum nurseries and in a series of dilution‐plating experiments looking at numbers of Pythium propagules in commercial chrysanthemum beds showing root rot. In the survey, the predominant pathogenic species was identified as P. sylvaticum and the most likely source of infection was contaminated soil as opposed to blocking media or irrigation water, whilst in soil colonization studies the use of detached leaf assays demonstrated a relationship between pathogenic inoculum concentration in soil and the expression of root rot symptoms.     

A lesion-mimic mutant of wheat with enhanced resistance to leaf rust

A lesion-mimic mutant was obtained from a mutagenic treatment performed with ethyl methanesulfonate on the Argentine bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) cultivar Sinvalocho M.A. The HLP (hypersensitive-like phenotype) mutant exhibited tiny, discrete, white lesions in the absence of any pathogen, resembling the typical hypersensitive response (HR). The lesions only became evident once the fifth or sixth leaf emerged, and spread at random along the leaf blades and leaf sheaths of the developing plant, including tissues of the spike. Because the lesion-mimic mutant showed no lesions at the seedling stage, the phenotypes of both the mutant and its mother line were identical at this point. Histochemical studies showed that spontaneous hypersensitive-like lesions in the HLP mutant corresponded to cell death. In leaf-rust ( Puccinia triticina ) infection experiments performed at seedling and adult-plant stages, adult HLP plants showed enhanced resistance to leaf-rust attack compared with plants of Sinvalocho M.A. of comparable developmental stage, suggesting that the HLP mutation may confer increased resistance to the fungus. Because enhanced resistance coincided with the presence of spontaneous HR lesions, activation of HLP plant defence responses appeared to be tightly linked to this phenomenon. Final plant height and yield components in the lesion-mimic mutant did not differ from those of the mother line, indicating that the HLP mutation caused no detrimental pleiotropic effects that significantly affected agronomic performance. These data support the direct use of mutations in disease-resistance breeding.     

A Single Locus Leads to Resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana to Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Through a Hypersensitive-like Response

ABSTRACT Strains of Ralstonia solanacearum have been shown to cause bacterial wilt in some, but not all, ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate here that after inoculation of the leaves of resistant ecotype S96 with R. solanacearum strain Ps95 necrosis around the inoculation site rapidly appeared and no further symptoms developed in the plant. Leaves of susceptible ecotype N913 completely wilted 7 days after inoculation with Ps95, and symptoms spread systemically throughout the whole plant within 2 weeks after inoculation. These results suggest that the resistance of Arabidopsis S96 to R. solanacearum is due to a response similar to the hypersensitive response (HR) observed in other plant diseases. Northern blot analysis of the expression of defense-related genes, known to be differentially induced during the HR in Arabidopsis, indicated that pathogenesis-related protein PR-1, glutathione S-transferase (GST1), and Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) mRNAs increased significantly in S96 leaves between 3 to 12 h after infiltration with Ps95. The induction of these genes in susceptible ecotype N913 by Ps95 was clearly delayed. Genetic analysis of crosses between resistant ecotype S96 and susceptible ecotype N913 indicated that resistance to Ps95 is due to a single dominant locus.     

Molecular evolution of herbicide resistance to phytoene desaturase inhibitors in Hydrilla verticillata and its potential use to generate herbicide-resistant crops

Hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (Lf) Royle] is one of the most serious invasive aquatic weed problems in the USA. This plant possesses numerous mechanisms of vegetative reproduction that enable it to spread very rapidly. Management of this weed has been achieved by the systemic treatment of water bodies with the herbicide fluridone. At least three dioecious fluridone-resistant biotypes of hydrilla with two- to fivefold higher resistance to the herbicide than the wild-type have been identified. Resistance is the result of one of three independent somatic mutations at the arginine 304 codon of the gene encoding phytoene desaturase, the molecular target site of fluridone. The specific activities of the three purified phytoene desaturase variants are similar to the wild-type enzyme. The appearance of these herbicide-resistant biotypes may jeopardize the ability to control the spread of this non-indigenous species to other water bodies in the southern USA. The objective of this paper is to provide general information about the biology and physiology of this aquatic weed in relation to its recent development of resistance to the herbicide fluridone, and to discuss how this discovery might lead to a new generation of herbicide-resistant crops.     

南美叶疫病菌适生因子及地理分布

南美叶疫病是橡胶树的一种毁灭性病害。依据已有的研究,本文综述了南美叶疫病菌的适生因子、地理起源、传播历史、地理分布以及适生因子与该菌地理分布的关系,旨在为该菌的风险分析提供依据。