Ranking of partial resistance to common rust (Puccinia sorghi Schr.) in 30 sweet corn (Zea mays) hybrids

Thirty sweet corn (Zea mays) hybrids were evaluated for resistance to rust (Puccinia sorghi Schr.) for 3 years in an artificially inoculated field plot at St Paul, Minnesota. On the basis of visual determinations of rust severity, these cultivars were ranked according to level of resistance. All of them allowed at least some rust to develop, but the degree of final rust severity varied considerably. Correlation coefficients between the rust severity scores recorded for the hybrids in all three pairs of years were 0·68 (1978–1979), 0·79 (1978–1980) and 0·86 (1979–1980). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were 0·76, 0·89 and 0·82, respectively, for the same comparisons.     

Screening of three sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars for resistance to different virulence groups of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) under controlled conditions

The susceptibility of three sweet potato cultivars (Ipomoea batatas L.) C4, TIS 3290 and TIS 9162 was evaluated against 156 isolates of Meloidogyne spp. with the aim to include resistant/tolerant sweet potato cultivars in a crop rotation scheme for the management of root-knot nematodes. The nematode isolates corresponded to races 1, 2 and 3 of Meloidogyne arenaria (n = 7), races 1, 2, 3 and 4 of M. incognita (n = 131) and Meloidogyne javanica (n = 18). Also, the isolates of M. incognita were differentiated in virulence groups: Pepper (n = 35), Pepper-Mi (n = 25), Tomato (n = 41) and Tomato-Mi (n = 30), depending on their ability to parasitize resistant pepper and tomato cultivars. The tested isolates of M. javanica parasitized C4 and TIS 3290, but not TIS 9162, whereas M. arenaria parasitized C4 and TIS 9162, but not TIS 3290, and M. incognita was able to parasitize the three sweet potato cultivars tested. C4 was the most susceptible cultivar to all nematode species tested, especially M. incognita, TIS 3290 was the most resistant and TIS 9162 was in between (7.2, 62.9 and 26.9% of resistant plants, respectively). Susceptibility of the sweet potato cultivars showed slight variations depending on the race or virulence group of M. incognita. The results suggest that sweet potato cultivars TIS 3290 and TIS 9162 may be used as rotation crops in fields where root-knot nematodes are present, their selection depending on the Meloidogyne isolates present. The use of resistant sweet potato cultivars would be preferably combined with other management practices to avoid virulence selection in nematode isolates.     

Effect of planting date,fungicide timing and cultivar susceptibility on severity of narrow brown leaf spot and yield of rice

Narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is caused by Cercospora janseana (Racib). O. Const. (Synonyms: Cercospora oryzae Miyake, Passalora janseana Racib. U.). Experimental studies were conducted at Rice Research Station, Louisiana State University, and Agricultural Center, Crowley, to manage NBLS by fungicide application of propiconazole at different growth stages of rice cultivars having different susceptibility levels to NBLS in different planting dates. Results of these studies revealed that April (early) had less NBLS severity as compared to May (late) planting. Very susceptible cultivars, CL131 and Cheniere, had the highest and resistant cultivars, Della and Presidio, had the lowest NBLS severity at both the planting dates. Propiconazole application significantly reduced the NBLS severity in comparison to untreated. Fungicide application at panicle initiation was the most effective time to manage NBLS on the very susceptible and susceptible cultivars at both planting dates. NBLS on moderately susceptible cultivars was best managed by applying fungicide either at panicle initiation or early boot stage in early planting but panicle initiation was the best time to apply fungicide in late planting. Resistant cultivars did not need fungicide in April planting but did need in May planting. Rice yield was determined to be higher in April than May planting. Fungicide application at early boot stage protected the yield by 9.4% in April planting and 34.2% when applied at panicle initiation in May. Susceptible cultivar, Cheniere, exhibited the greatest yield and resistant cultivars had lowest yield in both the planting dates regardless of its susceptibility level to NBLS. Yield of very susceptible to susceptible cultivars was reduced in late planting but no effect was observed on yield of moderately susceptible and resistant cultivars.     

Susceptibility of potato varieties and advanced breeding lines (Solanum tuberosum L.) toPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in greenhouse screenings

Late blight (Phytophthora infestons (Mont.) de Bary) has re-emerged as an important pathogen of the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp.tubero-sum L.) in North America. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative susceptibility of potato germplasm in the greenhouse in order to initiate a breeding program for resistance to the US-8/A2 mating type which is the more aggressive and prevalent strain of late blight. Whole plants of 147 cultivars and breeding lines were evaluated. Percent plant area infection was visually assessed. Seven days after inoculation, infection ranged from 0 to 100% and the overall mean was greater than 50%. Two-thirds of the cultivars and breeding lines tested were very susceptible to the US-8 genotype. The highest resistance was identified in the somatic hybrids betweenS. tuberosum andS. bulbocastanum and their backcross derivatives. Pike and Snowden were less susceptible than the other North American cultivars. Zarevo was most resistant among the European cultivars. Seven of the advanced breeding lines were equivalent to Zarevo in infection levels. The host plant resistance identified among the material tested in this study can be used by breeding programs to develop improved cultivars with resistance to US-8 genotypes of late blight.     

Resistance of Oryza spp. to thrips, Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

A method to evaluate rice cultivars for resistance to Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall) in the greenhouse was developed. Eleven traditional cultivars of Oryza sativa and 12 wild rices were selected for resistance. Studies on the mechanisms of resistance indicated that resistant cultivars were non-preferred for feeding and oviposition. Larval survival was lower and adult life shorter on resistant compared with susceptible cultivars. Resistant cultivars had an adverse effect on fecundity and oviposition rate which resulted in a low population growth. Plant injury on susceptible cultivars reduced plant weight and height.     

Identification of stem soft rot (Erwinia carotovora subspeciesatroseptica) resistance in potato

Development of potato cultivars resistant to Erwinia species (Erwinia carotovora subspeciesatroseptica, E. carotovora subspeciescarotovora, andErwinia chrysanthemi) causing soft rot of stems and tubers involves identification and transfer of the resistance to breeding lines possessing desirable agronomic traits. In total, 363 accessions of six wildSolanum species, three somatic hybrids and nine sexual progeny of somatic hybrids were screened for stem soft rot resistance. Thirty-one, 50, and 67 percent of accessions ofSolanum boliviense, Solanum chacoense, and Solanumsanctarosae, respectively, were resistant or highly resistant, whereas, 100, 97, and 95 percent of accessions ofSolanum canasense, Solanum tarijense, andSolanum spegazzinii were susceptible or highly susceptible, respectively. Two tuber soft-rot resistant somatic hybrids, A937 and T355-11 produced earlier by the fusion ofSolanum brevidens (PI 218228) andSolanum tuberosum (PI203900) orS. tuberosum cv. Russet Burbank, respectively, and the sexual progeny of A937 andS. tuberosum cv. Katahdin were also highly resistant. Transfer of resistance fromS. brevidens to somatic hybrid (A937) and subsequently to the progeny suggests that the resistance is simply inherited. In addition to the identification of 65 resistant or highly resistant clones of wildSolanum species, this study has identified three tuber soft rot-resistant clones that are also resistant to stem soft rot. Potato cultivars showed a range of responses to the pathogen.     

Effects of cultivar resistance and single fungicide application on rice sheath blight, yield, and quality

The increased number of sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani)-resistant rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars available will allow producers to use less fungicide and avoid significant reductions in grain and milling yields. Among cultivars currently in cultivation in the southern United States, sheath blight resistance levels range from very susceptible to moderately resistant. A study was conducted to determine the response of cultivars, with different levels of susceptibility, to sheath blight inoculations and fungicide application and to determine the impact of sheath blight disease development on rice yield and quality. Sheath blight epidemics in field plots were initiated by inoculation at the panicle differentiation growth stage in 2006 and 2007. Azoxystrobin at 0.17 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ was applied at mid-boot. Inoculation significantly increased sheath blight severity and incidence and caused yield losses of 8% in moderately resistant cv. Jupiter to 40% in very susceptible cv. Trenasse. Milling yields were affected to a lesser extent. Fungicide treatments reduced sheath blight incidence and severity, regardless of cultivar except in Jupiter. Single azoxystrobin applications were effective in minimizing yield loss due to sheath blight in all cultivars.     

Integrated management of Phytophthora capsici on bell pepper by combining grafting and compost treatment

In 2010 and 2011 an initial set of trials were carried out in order to evaluate the susceptibility of rootstocks used for grafting bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in Italy to Phytophthora capsici, in comparison with widely used cultivars of pepper. In a second set of trials carried out in 2011 and 2012, grafting bell pepper onto resistant or partially resistant rootstock was combined with the use of compost-amended soil, to control Phytophthora blight. Trials were carried out in artificially or naturally infested soil, using five bell pepper cultivars (Fenice, Sienor, San Marco, Fiume, Cuneo) as susceptible not-grafted controls. In three trials, carried out in the presence of soil artificially infested with P. capsici, disease incidence in control plots ranged from 73 to 100% for the cvs. Cuneo and Fiume. Both cvs. Cuneo and Kaiman grafted on “Tecnico F1” rootstock provided complete control of P. capsici. A lower disease control, on the same cultivar, was provided by “Robusto” and “Capsifort”. On the cv. Fiume, “Terrano” provided complete control of the disease. By grafting all cultivars on “Robusto”, “Brutus”, “Snooker” and “Capsifort” a disease reduction by 68%–93%, 86%–100%, 67%–100% and 55%–78%, respectively, was provided. The general linear model analysis showed that for trials carried out under natural infestation the addition of compost to the soil, as well as the interaction of compost-amended soil with grafting, were significant factors influencing disease incidence reduction. The effect of grafting was a significant factor in reducing the percentage of diseased plants in all the trials. The addition of compost to the soil resulted in an effective and low-cost disease management solution, particularly when combined with susceptible not-grafted hybrids of bell pepper or when partially resistant rootstocks were used.     

玉米丝黑穗病菌对寄主防御相关酶活性的影响

玉米丝黑穗病是玉米生产上的一种主要病害,对玉米生产造成了严重损失。研究表明:当丝黑穗病菌侵染玉米后,激活寄主体内相关防御酶系,使PAL、SOD、EST和PPO四种酶活性明显提高,抗病品种新铁10的酶活性升高幅度大于感病品种沈单16;而POD和CAT酶活性却下降,抗病品种新铁10的酶活性下降幅度大于感病品种沈单16。不同品种的成株期抗病性与其相关防御酶活性高低明显相关。     

Effect of leaf rust (Puccinia recondita tritici) on yield of four isogenic wheat lines

Four near-isogenic lines of wheat (Thatcher and Thatcher backcross lines with Lr3b, Lr16 and Lr9) with different levels of resistance to leaf rust were used to determine the relationship between disease severity and yield loss in the greenhouse and the field. Larger areas under the disease progress curves were associated with greater host susceptibility. Yield losses varied from 21% to 47% depending on the susceptibility of the lines and the severity of the epidemics. Yield loss measured varied with the size of the plot harvested. Percentage yield losses from each line in the field experiment were pooled and regressed against the area under the disease progress curve of disease severity on flag leaf and the mean severity per tiller. Both regressions were highly significant with R² of 0·89 and 0·88, respectively. The ratio of area under the disease progress curve to yield loss was higher in susceptible than resistant cultivars; thus it was difficult to ascertain whether a linear or S-shaped curve was more appropriate for the disease-loss relationship.     

Effect of trichlorfon sprays and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars on pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)

Trichlorfon has been cited as being a selective insecticide that has only minimal detrimental impact on natural enemies. However, when applied to alfalfa in Minnesota, trichlorfon has been found to enhance pea aphid populations to an even greater extent than does carbaryl, an insecticide notorious for inducing aphid outbreaks. We found a direct relationship between the number of trichlorfon applications that plots received during a regrowth period and the consequent pea aphid numbers that these plots supported. Pea aphid showed appreciable tolerance to both trichlorfon and carbaryl in laboratory dip tests. In small plots, effects of trichlorfon sprays on beneficials are transitory because of the short residual life of the insecticide and the relative mobility of many natural enemies. This gives trichlorfon the appearance of selectivity. Interactions between aphid parasitism, cultivar resistance, and insecticide were observed. Cv. Gladiator had the most resistance to pea aphid, with cv. Kanza a close second, and cv. Weevlchek the most susceptible. Pea aphids from trichlorfon-treated alfalfa plots had higher levels of parasitism, primarily Aphidius ervi Hal., than did pea aphids from untreated plots, suggesting a density-dependent response by the parasites to the insecticide-enhanced pea aphid numbers. Cultivar differences in pea aphid numbers were not sufficient to show a consistent effect on percentage parasitism.     

Biomass, extracted liquid yields, sugar content or seed yields of biofuel feedstocks as affected by fertilizer

Harvesting products from plants for conversion into renewable resources is increasing in importance. Determination of nutrition requirements for the applicable crops is necessary, especially in regions where the biofuel feedstock crops have not been historically grown. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), two hybrids and one variety; sweet and grain (milo) sorghums (both Sorghum bicolor L.), one variety each, and sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa Bonaf.), four cultivars, were provided the recommended and twice the recommended rate of fertilizer. Biomass, expressed liquid volumes and sugar contents of sweet sorghum and sweet corn were determined. Grain yields of milo and sunflower and oil content of sunflower were determined. Sweet corn stalk sugar levels were below what is expected from field corn (maize), and were not affected by fertilizer rate. Sweet sorghum biomass and sugar content were within expected ranges and not affected by fertilizer rate. Milo grain yields were higher with increased fertilizer. Seed yield in Sunflower, which was below expected levels, was inconsistently affected by fertilizer rate, years or varieties. Overall crops year and cultivar/variety had more effect on results than did fertilizer. There does not appear to be a reason to provide fertilizer above recommended rates in production of these crops.     

Susceptibility of US sweet corn hybrids to Puccinia sorghi Schw. in Hawaii

Ninety-eight sweet and supersweet corn hybrids, composites and inbreds were scored in two trials for resistance to common rust, Puccinia sorghi Schw., under epiphytotics at the Waimanalo Research Station of the University of Hawaii. The average rust rating on a 1–9 scale was very high (6·32), with scores ranging from 1·90 to 8·92. Only four hybrids and composites exhibited high resistance (rating ⩽2·5), of which the top two had been bred in Hawaii. An additional 18 hybrids exhibited moderate resistance (2·6–5·0). It is concluded that economic yield loss to rust of commercial sweet corn in the US could become much greater if breeding programmes are not strengthened.     

Effects of suni-bug (Eurygaster spp.) damage on semolina properties and spaghetti quality characteristics of durum wheats (Triticum durum L.)

Effects of suni-bug (Eurygaster spp.) damage on semolina properties and spaghetti quality characteristics of durum wheats (Triticum durum L.) were investigated. The semolinas obtained from sound (control), medium damage (around 20%) and high damage (around 40%) samples of five durum wheat cultivars (cvs. Diyarbakir, Firat, Ege, Svevo and Zenith) were processed into spaghetti. As the bug damage level increased, Glutograph stretch values of all cultivars decreased significantly probably due to deteriorative effects of bug damage on gluten quality. Glutograph relaxation values and gluten spread values of the damaged samples were considerably higher compared to those of sound samples in all cultivars, due to proteolytic degradation. The breaking force of the uncooked spaghetti samples decreased significantly with increasing bug damage level indicating that they were susceptible to breakage and not suitable for handling, packaging and shipment. Panel tests indicated significant deterioration in sensory properties (stickiness, firmness and bulkiness) generally at the medium damage level.     

Genetic resistance to and effect of leaf rust and powdery mildew on yield and its components in 50 soft red winter wheat cultivars

Effects of leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici Eriks.) and powdery mildew [caused by Blumeria graminis (DC.) E. O. Speer f. sp. tritici Em. Marchal], on performance of 50 soft red winter (SRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L) cultivars were evaluated under natural field conditions. Widely grown cultivars released from 1919 to 2009 with varying disease resistance were grown in split-plot experiments in 2010 and 2011. Treated replications received seed treatments of triadimenol, captan and imidacloprid and foliar applications of propiconazole and prothioconazole + tebucanazole fungicides. Non-treated replications received only tebucanazole + metalaxyl + imazalil seed treatments. Final mean disease severity, agronomic, yield-related traits, yield components and spike characteristics were analyzed to determine individual and combined effects of leaf rust and powdery mildew on the cultivars. Yield losses as high as 54% were observed in the susceptible cultivar Red May. Average yield losses ranged from 1% to 21%. Yield losses primarily due to powdery mildew were as high as 14%, and losses primarily due to leaf rust were as high as 33%. Powdery mildew had the largest negative correlation with harvest index and seeds/spike. Leaf rust was most negatively correlated with plant biomass and harvest index, with a less consistent negative relationship with kernel weight.     

不同玉米品种抗蚜性室内鉴定

采用环境气候室人工接蚜虫鉴定和累计蚜情指数(Iaa)评判法,对22份玉米品种进行抗玉米蚜Rhopalo-siphum maidis Fitch鉴定.结果表明,不同玉米品种的抗蚜性差异显著,在抗性品种上玉米蚜种群数量为负增长,产生的有翅蚜少;在感虫品种上玉米蚜种群数量急剧增长,并伴随大量有翅蚜产生.Iaa值从高抗蚜品种的...     

Evaluation of the yield potential and physicochemical properties of the biomass of Salix viminalis × Populus tremula hybrids

This study presents the characteristics of four Salix viminalis × Populus tremula hybrids, produced for the first time in the world grown in a three-year field experiment. Shoot weight per plant and major biomass yield components, including plant height, number of shoots per rootstock and shoot diameter, were determined. The infection severity caused by leaf rust (Melampsora sp.) was also evaluated. The biomass of three-year-old hybrid plants was subjected to chemical analyses and calorimetric tests to determine the energy value of biomass as solid fuel. Among the studied genotypes the highest yield was achieved by one of the studied hybrids. Its biometric parameters did not differ significantly from the standard genotype, and they were superior to the parameters of the maternal form. All Salix × Populus hybrids were more susceptible to rust infections than their maternal form and one hybrid was more resistant to infections caused by fungi of the genus Melampsora. Two hybrids have optimal biomass parameters as regards both calorific value and amount of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen.     

Biofortification of sweet corn hybrids for provitamin-A,lysine and tryptophan using molecular breeding

Traditional sweet corn is poor in provitamin-A, lysine and tryptophan, deficiency of which causes serious health problems. Here, parental lines of two shrunken2 (sh2) -based sweet corn hybrids viz., ASKH-1 and ASKH-2 were targeted for introgression of crtRB1 and opaque2 (o2) genes through marker-assisted backcross breeding. Gene-based markers; umc1066 (SSR) and 3′TE-InDel were utilized for foreground selection of o2 and crtRB1, respectively in BC₁F₁, BC₂F₁ and BC₂F₂ generations. Background selection employing 102–113 polymorphic SSRs led to >90% recovery of recurrent parent genome. Reconstituted hybrids recorded high mean provitamin-A (18.98 μg/g) with a maximum of 7.7-fold increase over original hybrids (3.12 μg/g). High mean lysine (0.39%) and tryptophan (0.10%) with an average enhancement of 1.71- and 1.79-fold, respectively was recorded among reconstituted hybrids over original versions (lysine: 0.23%, tryptophan: 0.06%). Improved hybrids exhibited high phenotypic resemblance with their original hybrids. The average cob yield (11.82 t/ha) and brix (17.66%) of improved hybrids was at par with their original versions (cob yield: 11.27 t/ha, brix: 17.04%). These biofortified sweet corn hybrids rich in provitamin-A, lysine and tryptophan hold immense significance as multinutrient-rich balanced food. This is the first report to stack sh2, crtRB1 and o2 genes to improve nutritional quality in sweet corn.     

Comparative susceptibility of Ostrinia furnacalis, Ostrinia nubilalis and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 toxins

Transgenic corn hybrids that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are highly effective against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), and the closely related Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Since the registration of Bt corn hybrids in the U.S. in 1996, there has been a great deal of information generated on O. nubilalis. However, relatively little information exists for O. furnacalis. To help determine whether the information generated for O. nubilalis can be leveraged for decisions regarding the use of transgenic Bt corn against O. furnacalis, experiments were designed to determine whether the pattern of sensitivity to various Bt Cry1 toxins is similar between the two species. Test insects included laboratory-reared O. furnacalis originating from Malaysia, a Bt-susceptible laboratory colony of O. nubilalis maintained at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and an out-group consisting of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), from Louisiana which represents a different genus from the same family. O. furnacalis and O. nubilalis exhibited a similar pattern of susceptibility to all the Cry1 toxins and were highly susceptible to the range of Bt toxins tested including Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac and Cry1F. Both of the Ostrinia species were more tolerant to Cry1Ba compared with D. saccharalis, although sensitivity of O. furnacalis was intermediate and did not differ significantly from that of O. nubilalis and D. saccharalis. D. saccharalis was also susceptible to the range of toxins tested but unlike the two Ostrinia species, was more tolerant to Cry1F and more susceptible to Cry1Ba. These results indicate that both of the Ostrinia corn borer species are similar in sensitivity to the Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Ba and Cry1F toxins, thus suggesting shared toxin receptors and mechanisms of toxicity for the two species.     

Assessment of levels of resistance of cotton cultivars to isolates of Xanthomonas malvacearum (E.F. Smith) Dowson in Nigeria

Nine cotton cultivars were assessed for resistance to bacterial blight by inoculation of the mid-veins of leaves of seedlings at the four- to six-leaf stage with six isolates of Xanthomonas malvacearum (E.F. Sm.) Dowson, obtained from the three cotton-growing zones of northern Nigeria. The length of lesions 15 days after inoculation formed the basis of assessment. REBA B-50 and RASA (76)101 were highly resistant, while RSA(68)27 and BJA-592 were classified as resistant. The moderately resistant group consisted of Arkansas 52-21, Samaru 77 and Samaru 72. Samaru 71 was less susceptible than Samaru 26J, the susceptible control. There were also differences in virulence amongst the six isolates of X. malvacearum used in the test, suggesting the possible presence of races of the pathogen.