Carbon dioxide assimilation by virus-free sugarcane plants and by plants which were infected by Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus

Infection of sugarcane by Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus (SCYLV) remains mostly asymptomatic. The assimilation rates and the water relations parameters were measured to test whether the plants are already inflicted by the infection. The assimilation rate and the stomatal conductance were 10–30% higher in virus-free plants than in infected plants. The observed differences were significant in young potted plants, not in older field plants. Virus-free leaves had a higher bundle sheath leakiness and a lower ¹³C discrimination rate than infected leaves. The water relations parameters of SCYLV-infected asymptomatic plants showed resemblance to those of salinity- and drought-stressed plants.     

The influence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanomyces cochlioides</Emphasis> on selected physiological processes in sugar beet leaves and yield parameters

Alterations in some physiological processes in source leaves of sugar beet—such as chlorophyll and carbohydrate concentrations, stomatal conductance, rate of net photosynthesis and transpiration, and activity of the photosynthetic apparatus during root interaction with Aphanomyces cochlioides, were investigated. The influence of time of infection on plant health, yield quality and quantity was also examined. Plants were infected at different times of their growth period: on the sowing day and 4 or 8 weeks after sowing. A variation treatment, with non-pelleted seeds infected on the sowing day, was also analyzed. The experiment showed that development of disease symptoms depends on the time of infection and seed protection. A significant root yield decrease was observed in case of late infection, as compared to the yield of plants infected on the sowing day. The fresh weight of leaves was significantly increased where there was late infection. The infected plants showed a lower content of K⁺, Na⁺ and α-amino-N than did the controls. Infection by A. cochlioides induced chlorophyll degradation mostly in older leaves with the occurrence of natural senescence processes. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters indicated that the photosynthetic apparatus of younger leaves was more sensitive to pathogen infection, when compared to older ones. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was reduced in young leaves mainly due to disturbance of the water-splitting system. In plants grown from non-pelleted seeds a strong impairment of PSII was observed only in those leaves which developed during early pathogen infection. In young leaves of plants infected in the fourth week after sowing, inhibition of the rate of net photosynthesis was correlated with the increase in intercellular CO₂ concentration, indicating some disturbance in the carbon assimilation phase. In mature leaves of late infected plants the reduction of photosynthesis net rate was associated with a decrease of stomatal conductance and an increase of diffusion resistance to CO₂ and H₂O, which was also the cause of the transpiration rate inhibition. When the leaves developed during early infection, an increase of specific leaf weight and accumulation of carbohydrates was observed. In mature leaves of non-protected plants infected on the sowing day, the recovery of all physiological processes was observed together with a diminution of disease symptoms.     

Impact of sugarcane yellow leaf virus (ScYLV) on the carbohydrate status of sugarcane: Comparison of virus-free plants with symptomatic and asymptomatic virus-infected plants

The carbohydrate concentration of old and young sugarcane plants, either virus-free or infected by sugarcane yellow leaf virus, was compared. Internode lengths and fresh weights of symptomatic plants were reduced, but not the sucrose concentrations. Starch and sucrose concentration in green leaf tops of mature (18 months old) was the highest in asymptomatic plants followed by symptomatic, and then by virus-free plants. Carbohydrates increased during daytime by 5–20%. The carbohydrate concentration in leaves of young, 6 months old plants was much lower than in mature plants and it increased to 500% during daytime. Asymptomatic leaves had a higher level of carbohydrates, especially starch, from late afternoon until the end of the night, suggesting a reduction of assimilate export.     

Acquisition of potato virus YN by Myzus persicae from primarily infected ‘Bintje’ potato plants

When ‘Bintje’ potato plants were inoculated mechanically with potato virus Y^N (PVY^N),Myzus persicae acquired PVY^N from both the inoculated and non-inoculated leaves about one week earlier than when plants were inoculated byM. persicae. Only when young plants of about four weeks after planting were inoculated byM. persicae, this aphid acquired PVY^N from the non-inoculated top leaves within a fortnight. When plants later than four weeks after planting were inoculated byM. persicae it generally took at least four weeks for this aphid to acquire PVY^N from non-inoculated top and other leaves of such plants. A number of leaves situated on the potato stems near to the inoculated ones did not serve as a PVY^N-source forM. persicae within the experimental period of 38 days. The results indicate that it is possible that in seed potato growing areas primarily infected PVY^N-infected plants, not yet showing symptoms, can act as virus sources for further spread. This is especially true in the beginning of the season.     

Nucleoside/nucleotide pools in wheat leaves naturally infected with Erysiphe graminis. I. Changes in the flag leaf

Nucleoside and nucleotide contents of the flag leaves of wheat plants, naturally infected with the powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe graminis were analysed in a field experiment. Fungicide treated plants were used as controls. Only low levels of infection occurred during the experiment (1% to 4% of the leaf area), but they resulted in higher leaf dry weight, and lower levels of chlorophyll, inorganic phosphate and NADP compared with the control plants. Although the total adenine nucleotide pools were the same in the flag leaves of infected and control plants, the energy charge values were slightly larger in the infected flag leaves. The total nucleoside content was higher in the infected flag leaves than the control; while the adenosine pool decreased, that of uridine increased strongly. Although the level of UDP-glucose was similar in the flag leaves of infected and control plants only decreasing slightly with time, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, a precursor for fungal chitin biosynthesis, showed very different behaviour. The amounts of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine were very low in the control plants but increased greatly in the infected flag leaves to very high values (900nmol g⁻¹ d.wt) obviously reflecting exploitation of the hosts metabolism by the fungus for precursors for chitin biosynthesis. The size of the uridine pools was also correlated with the degree of infection and probably reflected recycling of the UDP moiety.     

Symptom development,in planta distribution,and transmission of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Impatiens necrotic spot virus</Emphasis> in gentian: evidence for survival in roots and winter buds

Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) causes serious damage to gentian (Gentiana spp.). Symptom development, in planta distribution, and transmission of INSV were studied after mechanical inoculation of gentian plants and propagation of shoot cuttings from infected stock plants. When young gentian plants at the 2nd-leaf stage were inoculated with INSV, plants developed systemic symptoms that were restricted to a few upper leaves. However, older plants at the 6th-leaf stage did not develop systemic symptoms. After plant inoculation, INSV was detected using DAS-ELISA in symptomatic upper leaves, and rootlets and winter buds, but not in asymptomatic leaves. When asymptomatic shoot cuttings from infected stock plants were vegetatively propagated in a thrips-free glasshouse, 44.4% of those obtained from the apical shoot and 20.6% of those obtained from the middle section of the plant developed systemic symptoms. These results indicated that when gentian plants were infected with INSV, the virus was preferentially transported from the infected leaves to the root and winter buds. However, even asymptomatic shoot cuttings may develop systemic symptoms when obtained from infected stock plants. Therefore, vegetative propagation from infected stock plants can be a source of INSV infection.     

Impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe alphitoides</Emphasis> on transpiration and photosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> leaves

Oak powdery mildew, (Erysiphe alphitoides) causes one of the most common diseases of oaks. We assessed the impact of this pathogen on photosynthesis and water relations of infected leaves using greenhouse-grown oak seedlings. Transpiration of seedlings infected by oak powdery mildew was also investigated. Altogether, E. alphitoides had a low impact on host gas exchange whether at the leaf or whole plant scale. Maximal stomatal conductance of infected leaves was reduced by 20–30% compared to healthy controls. Severely infected seedlings did not experience any detectable change of whole plant transpiration. The reduction in net CO₂ assimilation, A_n, was less than proportional to the fraction of leaf area infected. Powdery mildew reduced both the maximal light-driven electron flux (J_max) and the apparent maximal carboxylation velocity (Vc_max) although Vc_max was slightly more impacted than J_max. No compensation for the infection occurred in healthy leaves of partly infected seedlings as the reduced photosynthesis in the infected leaves was not paralleled by increased A_n levels in the healthy leaves of the seedlings. However, E. alphitoides had a strong impact on the leaf life-span of infected leaves. It is concluded that the moderate effect of E. alphitoides on oak might be related to the small impact on net CO₂ assimilation rates and on tree transpiration; nevertheless, the severe reduction in leaf life-span of heavily infected leaves may lead to decreased carbon uptake over the growth season.     

基于HYDRUS软件的植物混掺土壤水分特征曲线分析

为探求植物混掺对土壤持水性产生的影响,以甘肃景泰地区土壤为试验材料,设置1％玉米芯、1％玉米叶、3％玉米芯、3％玉米叶等不同比例、不同秸秆混掺物4种处理,采用离心机法测定土壤水分特性曲线,同时利用HYDRUS软件进行模拟计算。结果表明,在相同吸力下,相同混掺物处理,混掺比为3％的土壤体积含水率高于混掺比为1％的土壤;相同混掺比处理,混掺玉米叶的土壤体积含水率高于混掺玉米芯的土壤,且混掺处理后土壤体积含水率均高于纯土;不同土壤水分特征曲线的模型拟合分析表明,不同处理的最优拟合模型均为Van Genucht-en模型。研究结果可为探索该地区植物混掺条件下土壤水盐运移规律提供一定参考。     

Water uptake and proline index as indicators of predisposition in tomato plants to Phytophthora nicotianae infection as influenced by abiotic stresses

To identify quantitative indicators of predisposition and stress development in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Counter) plants infected by Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan, we examined plants grown under stress-inducing nutrient conditions exposed to different levels of radiation and infection. The plant's response was investigated by analysing plant growth, proline content and disease development. From all plant growth parameters investigated, only leaf surface area and total fresh mass showed a response to radiation and infection, and both indicators were strongly correlated. However, because of the destructive character of these indicators, non- or minimal destructive indicators were sought. To this end, here we report that water uptake per plant (WP) and water uptake per plant and day (WPD) and proline content of leaves represent useful tools to assess plant health status during growth.     

草甘膦异丙胺盐杀灭香蕉病毒病植株的研究

本研究比较了41%草甘膦异丙胺盐水剂喷雾、假茎注射和叶鞘点滴3种施用方法对香蕉病毒病病株的灭除效果。结果表明:(1)香蕉假茎注射3、5和10mL草甘膦异丙胺盐,随着注射剂量的增加,香蕉株高抑制率、叶片死亡率、植株枯死率增加,注射10mL,药后30d的植株死亡率为90.0%,显著高于其他2个处理。(2)草甘膦异丙胺盐稀释成200倍液喷雾处理香蕉,药后30d,植株枯死率达93.3%,显著高于300、400倍液处理。(3)3种使用方法比较,药后15d,喷雾法处理的叶片、植株枯死率显著高于假茎注射和叶鞘点滴法,而对株高抑制率差异不显著,药后30d,3种使用方法的灭除效果等于或高于90.0%,处理间差异不显著。考虑操作的方便,叶鞘点滴法和假茎注射法可作为防除感染病毒病香蕉植株的高效使用方法,注射和点滴剂量为10mL。     

Deamination of metribuzin in tolerant and susceptible soybean (Glycine max) cultivars

The deamination of metribuzin was studied in vitro in peroxisomes isolated from the leaves of soybean cultivars which were either metribuzin tolerant, intermediate, or sensitive. The deamination rate observed with peroxisomes from tolerant leaves was about twice the rate observed with peroxisomes from sensitive leaves. The intermediate group was also intermediate with respect to the in-vitro deamination rate. Tolerant and sensitive intact soybean plants were pulse-labeled with [¹⁴C]metribuzin via the roots for 5 h. The extractable radioactivity in roots, stems and leaves was measured and separated into metabolites after the 5 h pulse and after an additional 24 h growth in water. The level of DA (deaminated metribuzin) was always significantly higher in the stems and leaves of tolerant soybean plants (4.8–10.0% of the extracted radioactivity) than in sensitive stems and leaves (1.8–2.9%). Conjugates were rapidly formed in tolerant as well as in sensitive soybean tissues. More conjugates were found in the tolerant cultivars, especially after the 5 + 24 h incubation time. Labeled [¹⁴C]DA fed to soybean plants via the roots was conjugated two to four times faster than [¹⁴C]metribuzin. Tolerant soybean tissue conjugated [¹⁴C] DA two to three times faster than sensitive tissue. The results are interpreted as showing that, in tolerant soybean plants, metribuzin is metabolized via deamination and subsequent conjugation, in addition to the well-known direct conjugation of metribuzin parent compound.     

Growth of tomato plants following exposure to fluroxypyr vapour

Four-week-old tomato plants were exposed to fluroxypyr vapour at four concentrations between 0?37 pg l^?1 and 5?5 pg l^?1 for 48 h. Leaf epinasty and stem elongation were observed during this period and the rate of net CO₂ exchange in the light by the plants exposed to the highest vapour concentration also began to decline. Visible symptoms of phytotoxicity were present on all treated plants 4 weeks after exposure, indicating that assimilation of fluroxypyr vapour had taken place at concentrations as low as 0?37 pg l^?1. Only the plants exposed to 5?5 pg l^?1 had reduced shoot dry weights but the others were generally taller and had lower dry matter contents, compared with untreated plants.     

The effect of fungal infection and nitrogen fertilization on the carbohydrate composition of Rumex obtusifolius leaves

The effect of infection by the rust fungus Uromyces rumicis and fertilization by different concentrations of nitrate or ammonium solutions on the concentrations of alcohol-soluble carbohydrates, fructans and starch in Rumex obtusifolius leaves was investigated. In leaves from healthy plants there was an increase in concentration of alcohol-soluble carbohydrates and fructans as the concentration of nitrate given was decreased, with the exception of nitrogen-stressed plants (those fed less than 10 mM l^-1 nitrate) which had a lower concentration of alcohol-soluble carbohydrates than plants fed 10 mM l^-1 nitrate. There was an increase in fructan and starch concentration in leaves as the concentration of ammonium solution given was decreased. The concentration of alcohol-soluble carbohydrates was reduced in infected leaves and increased in healthy leaves on infected plants, while the fructan concentration increased in infected leaves, compared to healthy leaves. The effects of infection were consistent over the range of nitrogen concentrations used, and thus were additive to the effects of fertilization. These results confirm the known effects of fertilization or fungal infection, singly, and indicate that, when combined, nitrogen deficiency and fungal infection may produce an additive stress on the plant.     

The metabolism of [14C]aldicarb in the leaves of sugar beet plants

Sugar beet plants were grown in the field, after in-furrow application of [¹⁴C]aldicarb (3 kg of aldicarb ha^?1) at planting. The ripe sugar beet plants were harvested, and the blades and petioles of the leaves were analysed separately. In the whole leaves, 15% of the ¹⁴C (all the percentages of ¹⁴C are relative to the total ¹⁴C incorporated into the whole leaves) was insoluble in ethanol+ water (1+1 by volume), 31% was organo-soluble (and thus unconjugated in the leaves), and 54% was water-soluble (mainly conjugated to plant constituents). The weights and concentrations (as aldicarb equivalents) of various identified metabolites of aldicarb, incorporated into the leaves, were determined; no aldicarb, as such, was detected.     

Synergism of Pratylenchus penetrans and Verticillium dahliae Manifested by Reduced Gas Exchange in Potato

ABSTRACT The effects of solitary and concurrent infection by Pratylenchus pene-trans and Verticillium dahliae on gas exchange of Russet Burbank potato (Solanum tuberosum) were studied in growth chamber experiments. Treatments were P. penetrans at low, medium, and high density; V. dahliae alone at one initial density; the combination of the nematode at these three densities and V. dahliae; and a noninfested control. Gas exchange parameters of leaf cohorts of different ages in the different treatments were repeatedly measured with a Li-Cor LI-6200 portable photosynthesis system. At 45 days after planting, joint infection significantly reduced net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration of 1- to 25-day-old leaf cohorts. Intercellular CO(2) levels were significantly increased by co-infection, especially in older leaves. The synergistic effect of co-infection on gas exchange parameters was greater in the oldest cohort than in the youngest cohort. No consistent effects on leaf gas exchange parameters were observed in plants infected by the nematode or the fungus alone. The relationship between the assimilation rate and stomatal conductance remained linear regardless of solitary or concomitant infection, indicating that stomatal factors are primarily responsible for regulating photosynthesis. The significant reduction of gas exchange in leaves of co-infected plants without reduction in intercellular CO(2) concentrations suggests that nonstomatal factors also play a role when both organisms are present.     

Biochemical and physiological responses to long‐term Citrus tristeza virus infection in Mexican lime plants

Reactions that occur when a plant is subjected to Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) infection often result in triggering of numerous defence mechanisms to fight the infection. The reactions vary according to virus strain, host genotype, time of exposure to the infection and environmental conditions. To date, no study has examined in detail the consequences of 10‐year exposure to CTV infection on the biochemical and physiological status of susceptible Mexican lime plants (Citrus aurantifolia). To understand the reaction of such plants, changes in nutrient status, total proteins, enzyme activity involved in scavenging of reactive oxygen species, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, chlorophyll content, membrane permeability and water content were analysed in plants infected with different CTV isolates and in healthy plants. The activity of superoxide dismutase and polyphenol oxidase significantly decreased in the infected leaves, and membrane permeability was lower in the infected plants. Macro‐ and micronutrient elements were significantly changed: concentrations of leaf nitrogen, zinc, magnesium and iron were elevated but potassium concentration depressed in comparison to noninfected control leaves. Levels of other analysed nutrient elements, enzymes, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content and relative water content were unchanged. Clear physiological changes were found among infected and noninfected control plants but none between plants infected with different CTV isolates. The data suggest that some of the defence mechanisms investigated here were suppressed due to the continuous and long‐term pressure of biotic stress.     

Uptake by tomato plants of the herbicide [14C] 2,4-D-butyl in the vapour phase

Uptake of [¹⁴C-phenyl]2,4-D-butyl by 4- to 6-week-old tomato plants was measured for vapour concentrations in the range 0.3–19 ng litre^?1, for an exposure period of 4 h. Calculation of boundary layer thicknesses at the surface of the leaves, and depletion of the vapour concentration due to uptake by the plants, suggested that the plants experienced concentrations very close to the nominal values. Relationships between external vapour concentration and plant uptake, expressed in terms of fresh weight, leaf area, or on a whole plant basis, were linear in all cases. Twenty-four hours after the commencement of exposure, leaves contained 63–93% of the total herbicide in the plant; the proportion retained by the leaves was greater at low vapour concentrations. The largest amount of herbicide was present in leaves from the mid-position on the stem, but in terms of leaf area, the amount was greatest in leaves at the apex and decreased basipetally. It is not known whether this was due to a greater uptake rate per leaf area at the apex, or to translocation. As visible symptoms of phytotoxicity usually develop at the apex, both of these processes, together with the preferential retention of herbicide in leaves at low vapour concentrations, may all contribute to the development of vapour damage.     

Photosynthesis and sugar concentration are impaired by the defective active silicon uptake in rice plants infected with Bipolaris oryzae

The effect of soluble silicon (Si) on photosynthetic parameters and soluble sugar concentrations was determined in leaves of rice cv. Oochikara and mutant plants of Oochikara defective in active Si uptake [low silicon 1 (lsi1)]. Plants were grown in hydroponic culture amended with 0 (?Si) or 2 mm Si (+Si), under either low or high photon flux density (PFD) and with or without inoculation with Bipolaris oryzae, the causal agent of brown spot of rice. Leaf Si concentration increased by 141 and 435% in +Si cv. Oochikara and by 119 and 251% in +Si lsi1 mutant plants under high and low PFD, respectively, compared with ?Si plants. Plant biomass accumulation was improved by Si regardless of PFD, especially plants for cv. Oochikara. Brown spot severity was highest in ?Si plants for cv. Oochikara and lsi1 mutant plants under low PFD. In the presence of Si, disease severity in plants grown under both low and high PFD was reduced, except for lsi1 mutant plants under high PFD. Plant inoculation reduced the photosynthetic parameters measured regardless of plant material or Si supply. A decrease of net carbon assimilation rate (A) of inoculated plants under low PFD compared with non‐inoculated plants was associated with damage in the photosynthetic apparatus, except for +Si cv. Oochikara in which stomatal restriction [low water vapour conductance (g_s)] contributed to A reduction. Under high PFD, damage to the photosynthetic apparatus of inoculated plants was the main reason for the reduction in A for +Si and ?Si lsi1 mutant plants. In addition, for ?Si cv. Oochikara, a reduction in g_s contributed to reduced A. However, for +Si cv. Oochikara, g_s was the limiting factor for A. Inoculated plants of +Si cv. Oochikara had higher A values than +Si lsi1 mutant plants, regardless of environmental conditions. Soluble sugars were not detected in leaf tissues of plants under low PFD. For high PFD, Si improved the hexose concentration in non‐inoculated plants at 144 h after inoculation (hai) for lsi1 mutant plants and from 96 hai onwards for cv. Oochikara compared with ?Si plants. However, plant inoculation reduced hexose concentration compared with non‐inoculated plants, mainly in +Si plants, regardless of plant material. Sucrose concentration increased in leaves of cv. Oochikara in the presence of Si whether inoculated or not. For +Si lsi1 mutant plants, sucrose concentration increased only at 48 hai compared with ?Si plants, whether inoculated or not. The results of this study show that a minimum Si concentration is needed in leaf tissues of rice plants to avoid the negative impact of B. oryzae infection on photosynthesis and sugar concentration. High leaf Si concentration resulted in an increased soluble sugar concentration and together, but in independent ways, soluble sugar and Si reduced brown spot severity of rice.     

Development of Xanthomonas fragariae populations and disease progression in strawberry plants after spray‐inoculation of leaves

Xanthomonas fragariae is the causative agent of angular leaf spot disease of strawberry. Greenhouse experiments were conducted using a X. fragariae isolate tagged with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) for detailed population dynamic studies in and on leaves after spray‐inoculation. The GFP‐tagged bacteria were monitored with dilution plating of leaf washings and leaf extracts, and analysis of intact leaves using a non‐invasive monitoring system called PathoScreen, based on laser radiation of fluorescent cells in plant tissues and signal recording with a sensitive camera. PathoScreen was also used to monitor bacteria grown on an agar medium after leaf printing. During the first 3 days after inoculation, bacterial populations washed off leaves rapidly decreased by at least a factor of 1000, after which populations remained stable until 14 days post‐inoculation (dpi), when symptoms first started to appear. Thereafter, populations increased to a level of 10¹² colony‐forming units (CFU) g^?1 of leaf material or higher. Similarly, densities in leaf extracts were low during the first 3 days after inoculation, at a level of 100–1000 CFU g^?1 of leaf tissue. Gradually populations increased to a level of 10⁹–10¹² CFU g^?1 at 28 dpi. Higher densities of epiphytic populations were found on the abaxial side than on the adaxial leaf side during the first 2 weeks after inoculation. After spray‐inoculation of leaves, bacterial populations released from infected plants remained low until symptoms appeared, after which plants became highly infectious, in particular under high humidity.     

Uneven distribution of two potyviruses (feathery mottle virus and sweet potato latent virus) in sweet potato plants and its implication on virus indexing of meristem derived plants

Abstract

The distribution of two sweet potato potyviruses, FMV and SPLV, was assessed in three plants infected with both viruses and in one plant infected with FMV only. All leaves, the top and basal sections of the main stem, and branch sections were tested by ELISA. Both symptomless leaves and leaves showing symptoms including purple rings, chlorotic spots, mottle or discoloration were found to contain the viruses. However, neither could be detected in every leaf or stem piece. SPLV was found in a lower proportion of leaf and stem samples than FMV. This indicates that the two viruses are either very unevenly distributed within sweet potato plants or that the virus concentration in some parts is below the detectable level. Testing of each leaf is recommended for reliable virus indexing of small, meristem‐derived sweet potato plantlets, if the ELISA method is used. Additional indexing of all ELISA‐negative materials by grafting to susceptible indicator plants is nevertheless still necessary.