Glomus mosseae bioprotection against aster yellows phytoplasma (16srI-B) and Spiroplasma citri infection in Madagascar periwinkle

The bio-control potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae against two pathogenic microorganisms aster yellows (AY) phytoplasma and Spiroplasma citri has been examined in Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). G. mosseae had a positive influence on healthy C. roseus plants and S. citri infection. It provided bioprotection against S. citri pathogen and induced significant degree of resistance to spiroplasma infection. Besides, symptom expression significantly reduced and shoot height, leaves number, root fresh and dry weight increased in spiroplasma-infected plants treated with mycorrhiza fungus. Although, G. mosseae had no positive effect on phytoplasma disease. The root architectures were affected by the phytoplasma pathogen, and the root surface area dramatically decreased in G. mosseae treated AY-infected periwinkles compared with the control. Nitrogen and Phosphorus concentrations notably increased in spiroplasma + G. mosseae compared with control plants. Potassium concentration did not differ significantly in all mycorrhizal treated and untreated infected plants except in G. mosseae treated healthy plants. The spore density and root colonization rate did not vary in both pathogen treatments G. mosseae + spiroplasma and G. mosseae + phytoplasma. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the bioprotective effect of G. mosseae on S. citri. The possible mechanisms involved in complex interaction between plants, cell wall-less bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are discussed and the underlying mechanisms for the functioning of AMF are hypothesized.     

A combined indexing and budwood propagation method for citrus

Several budwood-transmitted citrus diseases, including citrus tristeza virus, citrus psorosis, citrus impietratura and a range of citrus viroids, were tested both visually and biochemically on a combined indicator (CInd) plant consisting of an Alemow (Citrus macrophylla) rootstock grafted with Etrog citron (C.medica) and Sour orange (C.aurantium) or Sweet orange (C.sinensis) buds. Indexing on CInd plants is economical for limited testing space; an additional advantage is that, by collecting budwood directly from the CInd plants, the risk of diagnostic failure due to uneven pathogen distribution in the budwood source tree is considerably reduced.     

Association ofGeotrichum citri-aurantii with citrus groves in Israel

Soil samples from 99 sites in four geographic regions of Israel were examined for the presence ofGeotrichum citri-aurantii, the sour-rot pathogen of citrus fruit. The soil at each site was sampled from three locations: the center of, the margin of, and 100 m distant from a citrus grove.Geotrichum spp. were present in all geographic regions, but could be detected in only 183 of 297 locations. Sixty to 80% of the soil samples in the center and margin of the groves containedG. citri-aurantii, whereas only less than 21% of the soil samples outside the citrus grove contained this pathogen. Of the total soil samples, only 10% contained avirulent strains (i.e., G. candidum). Outside the citrus grove, 100 m from the margin,Geotrichum spp. could not be detected at most locations (75–100%). Results indicated a possible association between the sour-rot pathogen and the grove environment in Israel.     

定西柠条VA菌根真菌特征及种类研究

对从甘肃定西定安区采集的柠条VA菌根真菌进行分离,共鉴定出8种VA菌根真菌：缩球囊霉（Glomus constrictum Trappe）,地球囊霉（Glomus gepsporum Gerdemann,J．W and J．M．Trappe）,集球囊霉（Glomus fasciculatu Gerd．＆ Trappe emend．Walker ＆ Koske）。两型球囊霉（Glomus dimorphicum Boyetchko ＆ Tewari）。微丛球囊霉（Glomus microaggregatum Koske Gemma ＆ Olexia）,苏格兰球囊霉（Glomus caledonium（Nicol．＆ Gerd．）Gerd．＆ Trappe）,副冠球囊霉（Glomus coronatum Giovannetti）和巨大巨孢囊霉（Gigaspora gigantean Gerd．＆ Trappe）。并对这8种VA菌根真菌的主要形态进行了描述,分析了其侵染情况及结构特征。     

Are field populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi able to suppress the transmission of seed-borne <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bipolaris sorokiniana</Emphasis> to aerial plant parts?

The development of seed-borne Bipolaris sorokiniana in barley in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was studied. To exploit natural variation in their ability to control disease development, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from various Swedish arable soils were multiplied in trap cultures using a mixture of plant species. Six out of eight trap culture soil inocula were able to reduce transmission of B. sorokiniana from seeds to stem bases when grown together with infected barley seed. Based on this result two soil inocula, of different origin, from semi-natural grassland and barley respectively, were chosen for further greenhouse studies. Both soil inocula gave significant reductions in pathogen transmission from seeds to seedlings compared to the untreated control. In addition, treatment with spore inocula, collected from the different trap culture soils, showed disease suppression. Treatment with spores from the pure culture Glomus intraradices gave significant reduction in leaf lesion development. A treatment with the commercial inoculum Vaminoc^® was included and gave some suppression of the pathogen. In conclusion this study has shown that AM soil inocula from trap cultures suppressed the transmission of seed-borne B. sorokiniana in the aerial parts of barley plants.     

Seven years of negative detection results confirm that Xylella fastidiosa,the causal agent of CVC,is not transmitted from seeds to seedlings

Knowledge about the mechanism of transmission of systemic pathogens of citrus species is highly important for the safe movement of citrus germplasm, management of citrus mother trees, and also production of young plants. Among systemic pathogens of citrus, Xylella fastidiosa the causal agent of the citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), is one the most important pathogens causing decline in tree vigour and productivity. Seven-year experiments were conducted to evaluate the hypothesis of seed-to-seedling transmission of X. fastidiosa. This bacterium was found colonizing the fruit (exocarp, central axis and mesocarp) and the seed parts (seed coat and endosperm plus embryo). After 7 years of PCR assay, no positive PCR detection of X. fastidiosa was confirmed in seedlings propagated from the seeds infected with X. fastidiosa. This result demonstrates the lack of seed-to-seedling transmission of this bacterium.     

Antifeedant and sublethal effects of imidacloprid on Asian citrus psyllid,Diaphorina citri

BACKGROUND: Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, transmits the causal bacteria of the devastating citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB). Because of the variation in spatial and temporal uptake and systemic distribution of imidacloprid applied to citrus trees and its degradation over time in citrus trees, ACP adults and nymphs are exposed to concentrations that may not cause immediate mortality but rather sublethal effects. The objective of this laboratory study was to determine the effects of sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid on ACP life stages. RESULTS: Feeding by ACP adults and nymphs on plants treated daily with a sublethal concentration (0.1 µg mL^?1) of imidacloprid significantly decreased adult longevity (8 days), fecundity (33%) and fertility (6%), as well as nymph survival (12%) and developmental rate compared with untreated controls. The magnitude of these negative effects was directly related to exposure duration and concentration. Furthermore, ACP adults that fed on citrus leaves treated systemically with lethal and sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid excreted significantly less honeydew (7–94%) compared with controls in a concentration‐dependent manner suggesting antifeedant activity of imidacloprid. CONCLUSIONS: Sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid negatively affect development, reproduction, survival and longevity of ACP, which likely contributes to population reductions over time. Also, reduced feeding by ACP adults on plants treated with sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid may potentially decrease the capacity of ACP to successfully acquire and transmit the HLB causal pathogen. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Phosphorus Sources and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Growth and Productivity of Snap Bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.)

Phosphorus (P) is the second major plant nutrient required for plant growth. Different sources of water soluble P have been used to increase growth and yield of legumes. In addition, mycorrhizas have a potential role in increasing soil P supply. A factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different phosphorus sources (monoammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, urea phosphate, calcium superphosphate and phosphate rock fortified Bacillus megaterium) and arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation (with or without) on growth and productivity of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. Paulista in plastic bags filled with sandy soil during 2014 and 2015 seasons at the Experimental Research Farm of the Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Results revealed that fertilization with monoammonium phosphate (MAP) significantly increased vegetative growth characteristics, yield, and total carbohydrates and protein content in green pods concomitantly with increases in chlorophyll and nutrients content in the leaves. Moreover, arbuscular-mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased all above mentioned data compared with non-mycorrhizal inoculation. In addition, plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal and fertilized with MAP showed a synergistic effect.     

AM真菌与西瓜枯萎病关系初探

 在温室盆栽条件下研究了丛枝菌根(Arbuscular Mycorrhiza,AM)真菌Gigaspora rosea Nicol.& Schenck、Glomusmosseae(Nicol.& Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe和Glomus versiforme(Karsten) Berch与西瓜枯萎病菌(Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. niveum)的关系。结果表明,接种AM真菌能促进西瓜植株的生长发育,增加植株干重;显著减少根内和根围土壤中镰刀菌群体数量及其对根系的侵染率;降低枯萎病发病率和病情指数,从而减轻西瓜枯萎病的危害。接种F.oxysporum f. sp. niveum能降低AM真菌对西瓜的侵染率,并且AM真菌与镰刀菌的不同接种时间和顺序影响西瓜枯萎病的发生发展,证实AM真菌与镰刀菌存在竞争关系。另外,AM真菌对西瓜高感枯萎病品种的防治效果优于抗病品种,说明高感品种对菌根的依赖性较大。     

Ameliorative effects of Mesorhizobium sp. MRC4 on chickpea yield and yield components under different doses of herbicide stress

The present study was conducted to assess the plant growth promoting activities of Mesorhizobium sp. in the presence of technical grade herbicides and its ameliorating effects on herbicide toxicity to chickpea grown in herbicide treated soils. The quizalafop-p-ethyl and clodinafop-tolerant Mesorhizobium isolate MRC4 recovered from the nodules of chickpea plants significantly produced IAA, siderophores, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia in medium amended with or without technical grade quizalafop-p-ethyl and clodinafop. Quizalafop-p-ethyl at 40, 80 and 120 μg kg⁻¹ soil and clodinafop at 400, 800 and 1200 μg kg⁻¹ soil in general, decreased the growth attributes of chickpea plants inoculated with Mesorhizobium MRC4 and un-inoculated chickpeas. The three concentrations of quizalafop-p-ethyl were comparatively more toxic and substantially decreased biomass, nodulation and leghaemoglobin content, nutrient uptake, seed yield and grain protein over the un-inoculated chickpea. Interestingly, Mesorhizobium isolate MRC4 with any concentration of the two herbicides significantly increased the measured parameters when compared to the plants grown in soils treated solely (without inoculant) with similar concentration of each herbicide. Conclusively, Mesorhizobium isolate MRC4 could be exploited as bio-inoculant for facilitating chickpea growth under herbicide stress.     

The influence of citrus rootstocks on the relationship between the mite Brevipalpus phoenicis and citrus leprosis disease

BACKGROUND: Leprosis is one of the most serious citrus plant diseases. Leprosis‐affected plants, especially sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck], which is the most widely cultivated citrus fruit worldwide, show reduced photosynthetic capacity and severe defoliation. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between the Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) vector mite and citrus leprosis disease in Pera sweet orange plants grafted on different rootstocks. Data were analysed using numerical classification and conventional statistical analysis (ANOVA). RESULTS: Both viruliferous and non‐viruliferous B. phoenicis populations increased in number on plants maintained at low soil water content. Among the evaluated rootstocks, Sunki mandarin proved least favourable for mite population increase. Furthermore, the viruliferous mite population increased more rapidly than the non‐viruliferous mite population. CONCLUSION: The Cleopatra rootstock showed low variability in leaf nitrogen content, low mite number and low leprosis severity, thereby producing the most favourable results. Under appropriate moisture conditions, the Sunki rootstock produced the best results, showing the least severe leprosis. Rangpur lime rootstock grown in soil with varying water content showed the greatest variation in foliar nitrogen content, mite number and severity of leprosis and is considered to be the most difficult rootstock to manage. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Improving Lettuce Yield and Quality of an Agricultural Soil Using a Combination of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus and Phosphate-Green Wastes Compost

The use of biofertilizers on agricultural soils could act positively to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This work was performed to assess the potential beneficial impacts of local produced phospho-compost and/or an exogenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) (Rhizoglomus irregulare DAOM 197198) on lettuce agro-physiological and soil characteristics under filed conditions. Four treatments were applied: control treatment without any biofertilizer, compost, AMF, and compost?+?AMF treatments. Obtained results showed that shoot nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were significantly improved in lettuce plants treated with compost supplementation and/or AMF inoculation compared to the control with a maximum increment for P in plants treated with compost (106%). As for growth traits, lettuce plants treated with compost?+?AMF recorded the highest values in terms of shoot and root dry weights and yield by 121, 54 and 127%, respectively, compared to the control plants. Considering physiological and biochemical traits, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll fluorescence as well leaf area index and total soluble sugar and protein concentration were significantly improved in plants treated with compost and/or AMF compared to the control. In addition, soil properties, especially the soil total organic carbon, N, P, and glomalin-related soil protein content were significantly enhanced after two months of field experiment in treated soils with the applied biofertilizers alone or in combination compared to the control. Based on the main obtained results, applied biofertilizers were able to increase lettuce productivity and soil fertility under field conditions, especially the compost?+?AMF treatment, which demonstrated an effectiveness promotion of lettuce productivity and soil fertility.

     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved plant growth and nutrient acquisition of desert ephemeral Plantago minuta under variable soil water conditions

Desert ephemeral plants play an important role in desert ecosystem.Soil water availability is considered as the major restrictive factor limiting the growth of ephemeral plants.Moreover,arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AM fungi) are widely reported to improve the growth of desert ephemerals.The present study aimed to test the hypothesis of that AM fungi could alleviate drought stress of desert ephemeral Plantago minuta,and AM fungal functions reduced with the improvement of soil water content.A pot experiment was carried out with three levels of soil water contents(4.5%,9.0%,and 15.8%(w/w)),and three AM inoculation treatments(Glomus mosseae,Glomus etunicatum and non-inoculation).The results indicate that mycorrhizal colonization rate decreased with the increase of soil water availability.Inoculation improved plant growth and N,P and K acquisition in both shoots and roots regardless water treatments.When comparing the two fungi,plants inoculated with G.mosseae performed better than those inoculated with G.etunicatum in terms of plant growth and nutrient acquisition.These results showed that ameliorative soil water did not suppress arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal functions in improving growth and nutrient acquisition of desert ephemeral Plantago minuta.     

Enhanced resistance to citrus canker in transgenic sweet orange expressing the sarcotoxin IA gene

Citrus canker, caused by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas citri subp. Citri (Xcc), is a serious disease reported in most citrus-producing areas around the world. Although different levels of field resistance to citrus canker have been reported in sweet oranges, they are usually not sufficient to provide adequate control of the disease. Ectopic over-expression of antibacterial genes is one of the potential strategies to increase plant resistance to bacterial diseases. Previous in vitro results showed that sarcotoxin IA, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the flesh fly (Sarcophaga peregrina), can be efficient to control different plant pathogenic bacteria, including Xcc. Transgenic “Pera” sweet orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) plants constitutively expressing the sarcotoxin IA peptide fused to the PR1a signal peptide from Nicotiana tabacum for secretion in the intercellular space were obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using thin sections of mature explants. Citrus canker resistance evaluation in leaves of transgenic and non-transgenic plants was performed through inoculations with Xcc by infiltration and spraying. The Xcc population was up to 2 log unit lower in leaves of the transgenic plants compared to those of non-transgenic controls. Incidence of canker lesions was significantly higher in non-transformed controls (>10 lesions/cm²) than in the transgenic plants (<5 lesions/cm²) after injection infiltration or spraying with Xcc inoculum. Accumulation of sarcotoxin IA peptide in sweet orange tissue did not cause any deleterious effects on the growth and development of the transgenic plants, indicating this approach is suitable to provide resistance to citrus canker.     

河北中部药用植物AM真菌生态学研究

2005年8月和10月,对河北省安国市境内种植的9种药用植物AM真菌侵染状况及与土壤因子的相关性进行了调查分析.结果表明,9种药用植物都能与AM真菌形成良好的共生关系,不同药用植物形成菌根的能力不同.形成的菌根包括重楼型(Paris-type)和疆南星型(Arum-type)2种类型.土壤碱解N与丹参和麻山药的孢子密度、北沙参菌丝定殖率和总定殖率呈显著正相关,与紫苑丛枝定殖率呈显著负相关.土壤速效P与丹参丛技定殖率、麻山药泡囊定殖率呈显著正相关,与桔梗孢子密度、白术泡囊定殖率呈显著负相关.土壤有机质与北柴胡孢子密度呈显著负相关.土壤pH与北沙参菌丝定殖率和总定殖率、北柴胡孢子密度呈显著负相关,与北沙参孢子密度呈显著正相关.     

Bacterial wilt-resistant tomato rootstock suppresses migration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ralstonia solanacearum</Emphasis> into soil

Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt of tomato, grows in infected plants and migrates from the roots into the soil. We investigated the effectiveness of bacterial wilt-resistant tomato rootstock in reducing the migration of R. solanacearum from susceptible scions into the soil. Rootstock stems were either 3–5 cm tall (low-grafted, LG) or ≥?10 cm tall (high-grafted, HG). After inoculation of scions of the susceptible cultivar (SC) with R. solanacearum below the first flower, there was no difference in disease progression among LG, HG, and ungrafted SC plants, and plants had wilted by 2 weeks. However, the rate of detection of R. solanacearum in the soil of wilted plants was reduced by grafting. The size of the R. solanacearum population in the soil of fully wilted plants increased in the order of HG?<?LG?<?SC. These results show that grafting onto resistant rootstock strongly suppressed the migration of R. solanacearum into the soil by the time of full wilting, and the effect was stronger with a longer rootstock. Migration of R. solanacearum into soil increased with increasing disease severity in SC, LG and HG. These facts suggest that early uprooting of slightly infected plants could control the spread of the bacteria into the soil.     

Influence of temperature on infection and establishment of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ in citrus plants

The objectives of this work were (i) to determine the influence of temperature on infection of citrus by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’, the two bacterial species associated with citrus huanglongbing (HLB) in Brazil, and (ii) to determine the influence of temperature on citrus colonization by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, which has taken over from ‘Ca. L. americanus’ as the predominant species in Brazil since 2008. Two experiments were carried out with graft‐inoculated Valencia oranges on Rangpur lime rootstocks. Immediately after inoculation the plants were maintained for 423 days in growth chambers under the following night/day temperature conditions: 17/22, 22/27 or 27/32°C, with a dark/light photoperiod of 8/16 h. Infection and colonization of plants were determined using quantitative PCR (qPCR). ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ did not infect the plants maintained at 27/32°C; however, infection by ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ occurred at all studied temperatures. Two months after inoculation, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ was distributed throughout the inoculated plants, with mean C_t values in the range of 30–31 for leaves and 25–28 for roots. Over time, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ reached the highest titres in mature leaves (mean C_t value = 26·7) of citrus plants maintained at 22/27°C. ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ colonization of citrus plants was negatively affected by the daily temperature regime of 27/32°C (mean C_t value in mature leaves = 33·6).     

海洋放线菌A3202的分离鉴定及其对柑橘采后病害的防效

为获得用于防治柑橘采后病害的海洋放线菌,以柑橘青霉病菌Penicillium italicum、柑橘绿霉病菌P.digitatum和柑橘炭疽病菌Colletotrichum gloeosporioides为指示菌,对分离到的25株海洋放线菌进行筛选。通过平板对峙法测定拮抗菌株的抑菌谱,并测定其发酵产物粗提物对柑橘果实采后病害的防效,根据形态特征、培养特征、生理生化特征及16S rDNA序列对其进行鉴定。结果表明,分离自鳞笠藤壶Tetraclita squamosa的菌株A3202对3种指示菌均具有强抑菌活性,对供试13种植物病原菌的菌丝生长具有不同程度的抑制作用,尤其对柑橘青霉病菌和柑橘绿霉病菌的抑制作用最强,抑菌带宽度分别可达2.33±0.05 cm和2.32±0.10 cm。该菌株800 mg/L粗提物溶液对接种后7 d的柑橘青霉病、柑橘绿霉病和柑橘炭疽病的相对防效均可达100%。初步鉴定该菌株为放线菌中的米修链霉菌Streptomyces misionensis。     

Goat horns: Platforms for viroid transmission to fruit trees?

Mechanical inoculations with contaminating tools and propagation of infected budwood were considered the main causes for the omnipresence of multiple viroid species among citrus and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fruit trees and grapevines. However, neither means could explain viroid infections of wild trees — scattered on terrains inaccessible to humans — nor the finding of similar viroids among graft-incompatible plants. Northern hybridization of RNA extracts made of scrapings from the surfaces of goat (Capra hircus) horns that were rubbed against etrog (Citrus medica) stems infected with a citrus viroids complex, revealed accumulation of considerable amounts ofCitrus exocortis viroids (CEVd) andHop stunt viroids (HSVd). Experimental transmission of both CEVd and HSVd was obtained by rubbing healthy citrus plants with goat horns that had been rubbed 24 h earlier on infected etrog stems. These results implicate goats as possible vectors of viroids. Transmissionvia goats could have facilitated the long-range spread of viroids among cultivated and wild plants andvice versa and also among graft-incompatible plants.     

The citrus blossom midge,Contarinia Citri Barnes (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), in Israel

The citrus blossom midge,Contarinia citri Barnes, was sampled in two lemon groves. Infestation lasted from December through April. Midge-infested blossoms were seldom concomitantly attacked by the citrus flower moth,Prays citri Mill. Some midge larvae completed their development in the laboratory, their numbers declining and the period required for pupation becoming shorter toward the end of the season. Very few parasitoids were obtained. It is suggested thatC. citri andP. citri may be partially mutually-exclusive in lemon flowers, that the number of annual midge generations depends on the availability of blossoms, and that the midge may undergo a prolonged diapause in the soil.