Host specificity testing and assessment of the pathogenicity of the rust, Puccinia abrupta var. partheniicola, as a biological control agent of Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)

Parthenium hysterophorus, a native of Central America, is a problem weed of Australian rangeland, particularly in Queensland. Following field surveys in Mexico, the rust fungus Puccinia abrupta var. partheniicola was selected as a potential biological control agent. One isolate was chosen for further investigation after infection studies with one Kenyan and five Mexican isolates. Assessment of inoculation conditions showed that temperatures of less than 20° C and dew periods of more than 6 hours were required for abundant pustule production. Infection with the rust hastened leaf senescence, significantly decreased the life span and dry weight of Parthenium plants, and reduced flower production 10-fold. Subsequent host-range studies against 120 species and varieties, with further screening against a limited number of species conducted under a range of environmental regimes, indicated the rust to be sufficiently host-specific to be considered for introduction. Additional host-range tests against sunflowers demonstrated that resistance to P. abrupta var. partheniicola was not modified by prior inoculation with P. helianthi.     

Susceptibility of pure and hybrid willows to isolates ofMelampsora epitea rust

Pure species and F₁ hybrid families ofSalix viminalis andS. dasyclados were tested for resistance to four single uredinium isolates ofMelampsora rust in laboratory experiments using excised leaves. Rust isolates were derived from:S. viminalis, S. dasyclados, aS. viminalis x triandra hybrid, andS. daphnoides. Incidence of infection, number of uredinia per leaf, and numbers of spores per uredinium were measured. As expected, the isolate fromS. daphnoides did not infect any of the willow species or hybrids tested. For the other three rust isolates that were tested, the parent from which the isolate was derived was susceptible, the other parent was resistant, and hybrids were intermediate in resistance for incidence and uredinia per leaf. These patterns indicate additive inheritance of these resistance traits in hybrids. Numbers of spores per uredinium were similar on the hybrids and the susceptible parent for one rust isolate, suggesting dominant inheritance of this trait in the hybrids.     

Phenotypic and molecular genetic characterization indicate no major race‐specific interactions between Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis and Lolium multiflorum

Bacterial wilt of forage grasses, caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis (Xtg), is a major disease of forage grasses such as Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). The plant genotype‐bacterial isolate interaction was analysed to elucidate the existence of race‐specific responses and to assist the identification of plant disease resistance genes. In a greenhouse experiment, 62 selected plant genotypes were artificially inoculated with six different bacterial isolates. Significant differences in resistance were observed among L. multiflorum genotypes (P < 0·001) and in virulence (intensity of disease symptoms) among Xtg isolates (P < 0·001) using the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). No significant genotype‐isolate interaction (P > 0·05) could be observed using linear regression modelling. However, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction effects (ammi ) analysis revealed five genotypes which did not cluster close to the origin of the biplot, indicating specific interactions between these genotypes and some bacterial isolates. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify marker‐resistance associations using the same plant genotypes and bacterial isolates. The SSR marker NFA027 located on linkage group (LG) 5 was significantly associated with bacterial wilt resistance across all six bacterial isolates and explained up to 37·4% of the total variance of AUDPC values. Neither the inoculation experiment nor the SSR analyses revealed major host genotype‐pathogen isolate interactions, thus suggesting that Xtg resistance, observed so far, is effective across a broad range of different bacterial isolates and plant genotypes.     

Field Resistance to Willow Leaf Rust Melampsora epitea in Inter- and Intraspecific Hybrids of Salix viminalis and S. dasyclados

Families of interspecific hybrids between Salix dasyclados and S. viminalis, and intraspecific hybrids of the two species, were monitored for rust infection caused by Melampsora epitea during the years 1997–1999. The resistance of interspecific hybrids was compared to intraspecific pure species halfsibs. In addition, uredospores were sampled from the most infected interspecific hybrids to determine whether rust from interspecific hybrids differed from the rust spores that infected the pure species. The results from 1997 and 1999 showed that interspecific hybrids were more resistant than the intraspecific pure species, thus exhibiting a pattern of hybrid resistance. In 1998 the interspecific hybrids showed intermediate resistance compared to intraspecific pure species hybrids, i.e., an additive pattern of resistance. The rust sampled from the interspecific hybrids consisted of the same types of rust that infect the pure species. Comparisons of weather conditions prevailing during the three growing seasons indicated that these conditions might play a role in the infection pattern, in addition to the level of sensitivity to infection shown by the plants.     

Infection of plant material derived from Solanum acaule with Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus: temperature as a determining factor in immunity of S. acaule to bacterial ring rot

The development of potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) cultivars immune (completely free of infective agents) to bacterial ring rot disease, caused by Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus , would be a significant step toward eradication of the disease. Earlier results suggested that the wild potato species Solanum acaule , acc. PI472655 (genotype 7-8), was immune to C. michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus . The goal of the present study was to investigate the possibility of transferring this desirable trait to cultivated potato through interspecific somatic hybridization. Eight different somatic hybrids between S. acaule and S. tuberosum , with three different genome ratios, were tested for susceptibility to infection in the glasshouse using two C. michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus strains. All the somatic hybrids expressed symptoms of ring rot and were susceptible to infection as determined by IFAS (indirect immunofluorescent antibody staining) tests. The genome compositions of the hybrids influenced bacterial titres. Most of the hybrids with a higher proportion of the S. acaule genome contained lower numbers of C. michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus cells than hybrids with lower proportions of the S. acaule genome. In growth chamber tests, temperature was found to be a determining factor in the expression of immunity in the tetraploid S . acaule 7-8 line. At 21°C, S . acaule 7-8 was immune to infection by C. michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus , but at 15°C, plants supported large populations of the pathogen. However, none of the S. acaule plants expressed disease symptoms. Thus, S. acaule exhibits temperature-dependent immunity to infection by C. michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus and should be considered tolerant rather than immune.     

Seedling and adult plant resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea convar. botrytis var. botrytis)

Seedlings of six cauliflower cultivars ( Brassica oleracea convar. botrytis var. botrytis ) were assessed for resistance to a Danish isolate of Peronospora parasitica , under controlled conditions. Resistance, characterized by restricted sporulation and necrotic dark flecks at the inoculation site on the cotyledons, was expressed in the hybrids 9306 F1, 9311 F1, and the open pollinated cultivar Perfection. Testing of the parent lines and F2 generations of the two resistant hybrids suggested that resistance was a dominantly inherited trait controlled by a single gene. Inoculation of the cultivars with seven isolates, from different geographical origins, showed that the resistance was isolate specific. The two hybrid cultivars expressing cotyledon resistance and two hybrids expressing susceptibility were assessed for adult plant resistance under field conditions. The AUDPC (Area Under the Disease Progress Curve), based on disease incidence and severity, revealed significant differences between the cultivars. At harvest, the cultivars exhibited significantly different levels of defoliation and curd attack. The cultivars 9306 F1 and 9311 F1 showed high levels of resistance in all assessments, whereas the two cultivars exhibiting susceptibility at the seedling stage, 9304 F1 and 9305 F1, also exhibited susceptibility through the adult plant stage. Thus, the resistance exhibited under field conditions resembled that identified at the seedling stage under controlled conditions. The results suggest that cotyledon resistance similar to that described could provide resistance throughout the adult plant stage, including curds.     

向日葵链格孢的分类研究

引起油葵黑斑病的病原菌在我国一直采用向日葵链格孢Alternaria helianthi这个学名。然而国际上已更名为向日葵拟链格孢Alternariaster helianthi。2017年从陕西省华阴市采集到油葵黑斑病样品。通过单孢分离获得6株病原菌菌株,致病性检测后选取2个代表菌株进行形态学研究,并基于ITS和LSU基因进行系统发育分析。结果表明,2个病原菌菌株为小球腔菌科Leptosphaeriaceae拟链格孢属Alternariaster向日葵拟链格孢Alternariaster helianthi。     

Genetics of virulence in Ascochyta rabiei

In order to critically test the hypothesis that virulence variation in the Ascochyta rabiei/chickpea pathosystem is a discrete character under simple genetic control, a genetic cross was made between a highly virulent isolate of A. rabiei from Syria and a less virulent isolate from the USA. Two independent virulence assays conducted by inoculating susceptible and resistant chickpea cultivars under controlled conditions with 77 independent progeny isolates from this cross revealed a continuous distribution of disease phenotypes. Bimodality, as would be predicted for the segregation of virulence under simple genetic control, was not supported by statistical tests of the progeny phenotype distribution. anova revealed highly significant pathogen‐genotype × host‐genotype interactions demonstrating the segregation of genes controlling specialization on the two cultivars tested. These interactions could be localized to two isolates that changed virulence rank on the cultivars. It was concluded that variation in virulence to these two cultivars is under quantitative genetic control. If this conclusion applies to other cultivars, it can be speculated that the discrete categories of virulence variation identified in previous studies were probably the result of incomplete sampling of host resistance or pathogen virulence variation and/or of selection for increased virulence in contemporary A. rabiei populations.     

Phenotypic and histological expression of different genetic backgrounds in interactions between lettuce, wild Lactuca spp., L. sativa × L. serriola hybrids and Bremia lactucae

Phenotypic and histological responses of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and wild relatives L. saligna, L.␣virosa as well as interspecific crosses derived from L. sativa × L. serriola to two races of Bremia lactucae (CS2, CS9) were investigated. With the exception of L. sativa genotypes, all accessions and hybrids expressed incomplete or complete resistance to both pathogen races, with slight differences at seedling and adult plant stages, respectively. Histological features of the interactions (development of pathogen infection structures and host hypersensitive response to attempted infection) were studied on leaf discs 48 h after inoculation. Interactions with similar phenotypic expression of resistance were characterized by significant variation in rate of development of pathogen infection structures and hypersensitive reactions. Differences found within eight Lactuca spp. accessions and hybrids challenged by two distinct pathogen races are interpreted and discussed.     

Occurrence of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in Jordan

Tomato spotted wilt virus was recorded for the first time in Jordan on tomato plants. Severe disease symptoms were observed in different tomato farms in the Jordan Valley. Using a specific primer pair a fragment of the capsid protein gene of the virus has been amplified by RT-PCR and IC-RT-PCR. The amplified PCR product was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that the Jordanian isolate of TSWV shared high nucleotide similarities with other isolates from different countries. The sequence of the capsid protein gene was deposited in GenBank under the accession number AY646682 . The response of different tomato breeding lines and hybrids, previously developed for resistance against Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) were tested for their reaction to TSWV infection. All tested lines and hybrids were susceptible to TSWV infection. This has been confirmed at the molecular level by using the SCAR 421 marker linked to the TSWV resistance gene Sw-5 .     

Response of strawberry genotypes to inoculation with isolates of Verticillium dahliae differing in host origin

Eight strawberry genotypes known to differ in susceptibility to verticillium wilt were inoculated with eight isolates of Verticillium dahliae originally obtained from six different host crops: strawberry, potato, watermelon, mint, eggplant (aubergine) and cauliflower. Inoculation experiments were conducted in replicated field trials during two successive years. Known susceptible genotypes developed typical symptoms of verticillium wilt in both years. Although isolates manifested a wide range of aggressiveness, differences were significant only on the most susceptible strawberry genotype. Two isolates originating from strawberry were among the most aggressive of the eight tested, whereas the least aggressive isolate was obtained from cauliflower. Six strawberry genotypes that were regarded as resistant to verticillium wilt based on previous tests were also resistant in the present study, regardless of the isolate used. Overall, strawberry genotypes represented the largest source of variation in these experiments, with variance components approximately 10-fold greater than those associated with either isolate or the isolate × genotype interaction. The results suggest it should be possible to develop resistance to verticillium wilt in strawberry that is broadly effective against isolates of diverse host origin.     

Variation in adult plant resistance to powdery mildew in spring oats under field and laboratory conditions

Ten oat genotypes were assessed for adult plant resistance (APR) to powdery mildew ( Erysiphe graminis f.sp. avenae ) in small field plots and on detached leaf segments in the laboratory using glasshouse-grown plants. Significant genotype differences were observed in the field and on leaf segments for latent period, infection frequency and spore production, components used to assess APR. The genotype OM1711, which was selected because it expressed a higher level of mildew resistance than its most resistant parent, cv. Maldwyn, showed this transgressive resistance in both field and laboratory tests. By contrast, the genotype OM1387, also selected for high mildew resistance, only showed this enhancement in the field. It is concluded that quantitative assessment of mildew in detached leaves is not sufficiently precise to be used alone in selecting segregants for high levels of APR, and that field data are also needed.     

Genetic Variation for Virulence and Resistance in the Wheat-Mycosphaerella graminicola Pathosystem III. Comparative Seedling and Adult Plant Experiments

ABSTRACT Fourteen Dutch Mycosphaerella graminicola isolates were studied for their virulence to 22 wheat cultivars in the seedling stage in an experiment set up as a completely randomized block design with three repetitions. Isolate x cultivar interactions were highly significant. Cluster analyses were applied to select three isolates with significantly different virulence characteristics for both disease parameters. These were retested in the seedling stage and used to inoculate two field experiments that were planted according to a split plot design in 1992 and 1995. Overhead inoculations were conducted after flowering to avoid the effects of plant height; hence, these experiments were intended as monocyclic tests for virulence differences between the isolates. Significant isolate x cultivar interactions were detected in each experiment, demonstrating specificity in the wheat-M. graminicola pathosystem in the adult plant stage under field conditions. The reproducibility of the adult plant data was high. Genetic differences among the isolates were additionally demonstrated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns, which also showed that no significant contamination of the inoculated plots with the natural M. graminicola population had occurred. Rank correlations between seedling and adult plant data were significant for M. graminicola isolates IPO323 and IPO290, but not for isolate IPO001. Hence, evaluation of resistance and virulence may require seedling, as well as adult plant, tests.     

Genetics of Virulence in Cochliobolus sativus and Resistance in Barley

ABSTRACT Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is one of the most common foliar diseases of barley in the upper midwest region of the United States. To examine the genetics of host-specific virulence in C. sativus, a cross was made between isolate ND90Pr (which exhibits high virulence on barley genotype Bowman and low virulence on genotype ND 5883) and ND93-1 (which exhibits low virulence on both genotypes). Ascospore progeny segregated 48:55 for low virulence/high virulence on Bowman, indicating the presence of a single virulence gene in isolate ND90Pr. To complement the study of host-specific virulence in the pathogen, an experiment also was conducted on the genetics of specific resistance in the host. Progeny from a Bowman/ND 5883 cross were evaluated for their infection responses (IRs) to isolate ND90Pr at the seedling stage. The F(2) population segregated 1:3 for low IRs (resistant)/high IRs (susceptible), indicating the presence of a single resistance gene in genotype ND 5883. This result was confirmed in the F(3) generation, as a 1:2:1 ratio was found for homozygous resistant, segregating, and homozygous susceptible families, respectively. The data from this study demonstrate that both virulence in the pathogen and resistance in the host are under monogenic control in this specific host genotype/fungal isolate combination.     

Resistance of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to terminal bud attack bySclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary

Resistance of sunflowers to terminal bud attack bySclerotinia sclerotiorum was studied by microscopical observations of infection processes and by genetical analyses of trials showing natural infections. Electron microscope studies showed that there were no differences in leaf morphology between susceptible and resistant genotypes, and that both were contaminated by ascospores. Only on the susceptible genotype was considerable ascospore germination observed, followed by mycelial development and leaf penetration. On the resistant genotype, there was little ascosopore germination and no further development. The genetical studies of percentage natural attack observed on eight inbred lines representing a range of reactions, and the hybrids from a factorial cross of these lines, indicated that inheritance is mainly additive, with few interactions.     

向日葵茎溃疡病菌RPA检测方法的建立

向日葵茎溃疡病菌(Diaporthe helianthi)是我国进境植物检疫性病原真菌.本研究针对D.helianthi的cal基因保守序列设计特异性引物,建立该病菌的重组酶聚合酶扩增检测技术(RPA)方法,并对其特异性、灵敏度及适用性进行评价.结果 显示,建立的RPA方法特异性强,只有3个D.helianthi样品能...     

Host-mediated interactions between pathogen genotypes

Barley c ltivars with different resistance genes were inoculated with various sequences of virulent and non-virulent isolates of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei. The resistance induced in incompatible reactions decreased infection by virulent isolates while, conversely, the degree of susceptibility induced in compatible reactions was sufficient to increase the ability of normally non-virulent isolates to infect a resistant host. The net effect of interactions was always overall reduction of conidial production when compared with inoculation of a virulent isolate alone.
Each interaction between isolates was dependent on the host cultivar, the pathogen isolates used and on the inoculation sequence. Often, induced resistance was most obvious when a nonvirulent isolate was inoculated prior to a virulent isolate. Induced susceptibility was usually more apparent when the virulent isolate was inoculated first. However, on the cultivar Wing, induced susceptibility was more apparent following prior inoculation of a non-virulent isolate. On the cultivar Hassan, prior inoculation with a virulent isolate sometimes induced susceptibility, but in some cases more susceptibility was induced by prior inoculation with a non-virulent isolate. In the latter instances, although relatively little infection developed, the majority of the spores produced were those of the normally non-virulent isolate.
There was some evidence of non-virulent isolates acquiring the ability to infect normally incompatible hosts. This effect disappeared after several generations in the absence of the virulent isolate.     

New genes for resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) in oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera)

The response of cotyledons of oilseed rape ( Brassica napus ssp. oleifera ) accessions to infection by isolates of Peronospora parasitica under controlled conditions was assessed on a 0–7 scale (disease reaction). In interactions scored 0–3, 4–5 and 6–7, the host was considered resistant, partially resistant and susceptible, respectively. Accession RES-26, selected from the spring oilseed rape cultivar Janetzkis, was partially resistant to isolate R1 and resistant to isolate P003 of P. parasitica , which distinguishes it from three previously described differential response groups ('A', 'B' and 'C') of accessions in B. napus . The resistance of RES-26 to isolate P003 seemed to be conditioned by a single, partially dominant gene and the resistance of RES-02, which belongs to group 'A' (resistant to R1 and P003), by two independent partially dominant genes. The gene for resistance to P003 in RES-26 is either closely linked, allelic or identical to one of the two genes for resistance in RES-02. Resistance of RES-02 to R1 is conditioned by a single, incompletely dominant gene. The genes for resistance to isolates R1 and P003 in RES-02 are either closely linked, allelic or identical. The cotyledonary leaves of each seedling responded independently when inoculated simultaneously each with a different isolate of the pathogen.     

Influence of competition and host plant resistance on selection in Phytophthora infestans populations in Michigan, USA and in Northern Ireland

Competition between genotypes of Phytophthora infestans was studied by inoculating potato cultivars with differing susceptibility to late blight in field experiments over three years in Northern Ireland, UK, and Michigan, USA. Multiple isolates of six genotype groups of P. infestans were chosen from the local populations in both N. Ireland and Michigan for inoculation of separate field trials planted in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Four cultivars were used in each trial; two (susceptible cv. Atlantic and the partially resistant cv. Stirling) were common to both locations, whereas the two additional cultivars (with partial resistance to late blight) were cvs Santé and Milagro in N. Ireland and cvs Pike and Jacqueline Lee in Michigan. Single-lesion isolates of P. infestans were obtained from leaves at 1% level of infection, characterized using pre-assigned markers and re-assigned to their respective genotype groups. Extreme selection occurred within the population of genotypes of P. infestans in N. Ireland in each year, with different genotype groups dominating the infection of different cultivars. Selection was observed on all cultivars tested, but was greatest on the more resistant cultivars. Over the 3 years, all of the 114 isolates obtained from cv. Milagro belonged to a single group, whereas among the 118 isolates from cv. Atlantic all six groups were represented. By contrast, in Michigan, the US-8 genotype dominated infection in all cultivars in each year; only 12 of 374 isolates characterized belonged to other genotypes (11 US-14 and a single US-10 isolate).