Concentrations of constitutive alk(en)ylresorcinols in peel of commercial mango varieties and resistance to postharvest anthracnose

Mature green mango fruits of commercially important varieties were screened to investigate the levels of constitutive antifungal compounds in peel and to assess anthracnose disease after inoculation with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. High-pressure liquid chromatography was used to quantify the levels of 5-n-heptadecenylresorcinol and 5-n-pentadecylresorcinol in the peel extracts. The fruit peel of the varieties ‘Kensington Pride’ and ‘Keitt’ were observed to have the highest levels of both 5-n-heptadecenylresorcinol (107.3–123.7 and 49.9–61.4 μg/g FW, respectively) and 5-n-pentadecylresorcinol (6.32–7.99 and 3.30–6.05 μg/g FW, respectively), and the fruits of the two varieties were found to have some resistance to postharvest anthracnose. The varieties ‘Kent’, ‘R2E2’, ‘Nam Doc Mai’, ‘Calypso’ and ‘Honey Gold’ contained much lower concentrations of resorcinols in their peel and three of these varieties were found to be more susceptible to anthracnose. Concentrations of 5-n-heptadecenylresorcinol were significantly lower at the ‘sprung’ and ‘eating ripe’ stages of ripening compared to levels at harvest. Concentrations of 5-n-pentadecylresorcinol did not differ significantly across the three stages of ripening. The levels of these two resorcinols were found to be strongly inter-correlated (P<0.01, r²=0.71), with concentrations of 5-n-heptadecenylresorcinol being an average 18 times higher than those of 5-n-pentadecylresorcinol. At the ‘eating ripe’ stage, significant relationships were observed between the concentrations of each type of alk(en)ylresorcinol and anthracnose lesion areas following postharvest inoculation, P<0.001, r²= 0.69 for 5-n-pentadecylresorcinol, and P<0.001, r²= 0.44 for 5-n-heptadecenylresorcinol.     

Relation of Japanese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas campestris</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">vesicatoria</Emphasis> with worldwide strains revealed with three specific monoclonal antibodies

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Dye 1978 (Xcv), the causal agent of bacterial spot, have been classified into two groups based on their ability to hydrolyze starch. Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 7AH10, 5HB3, and 4AD2, were produced immunized against the living bacteria and were specific to and could distinguish Xcv strains able or unable to hydrolyze starch (Amy⁺ or Amy^–). The MAb 7AH10, obtained against strain UPB141(Amy^–) reacted in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with all the Amy^– strains (n = 19) and 1 of 11 Amy⁺ strains. Against Xcv 2625, an Amy^– unusual phenotype strain, MAb 5HB3, recognized 97% of our worldwide collection of Xcvs (n = 30). Also against that strain, the MAb 4AD2 reacted with none of the homologous Amy^– phenotypes and with 90% (n = 11) of the heterologous Amy⁺ phenotypes. For all the MAbs, cross reactions with other pathovars or species were less than 4% (n = 67). By assaying a Japanese collection of strains against the three MAbs, the Amy⁺ strains were distinguished from the Amy^– strains, and their relation with other world strains could be demonstrated. All the MAbs reacted with the lipopolysaccharide fraction of the bacterial cell wall during immunoblotting.     

Acifluorfen metabolism in soybean: Diphenylether bond cleavage and the formation of homoglutathione, cysteine, and glucose conjugates

Metabolism of the substituted diphenylether herbicide, acifluorfen [sodium 5-(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate], was studied in excised leaf tissues of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Evans’]. Studies with [chlorophenyl-¹⁴C]- and [nitrophenyl-¹⁴C]acifluorfen showed that the diphenylether bond was rapidly cleaved. From 85 to 95% of the absorbed [¹⁴C]acifluorfen was metabolized in less than 24 hr. Major polar metabolites were isolated and purified by solvent partitioning, adsorption, thin layer, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The major [chlorophenyl-¹⁴C]-labeled metabolite was identified as a malonyl-β- -glucoside (I) of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenol. Major [nitrophenyl-¹⁴C]-labeled metabolites were identified as a homoglutathione conjugate [S-(3-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl) γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-β-alanine] (II), and a cysteine conjugate [S-(3-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl)cysteine] (III).     

Cytokinin, auxin, and abscisic acid dynamics during flower development in white and red currants infected with Blackcurrant reversion virus

Blackcurrant reversion virus (BRV) infection, characteristic by flower malformation, resulted at the early flower stage in elevated levels of bioactive cytokinins and their biosynthetic precursors in flowers of white currant ‘Blanka’ and red currant ‘Vitan’. In healthy flowers, flower-to-berry transition was accompanied by an increase in bioactive cytokinins that was not observed in infected flowers, which were incapable of further development. Auxin levels increased during flower development, in ‘Vitan’ only in flowers with normal morphology (both healthy and infected). BRV infection did not have a significant effect on cytokinin or auxin levels in the leaves of either cultivar, it coincided with a mild elevation in the content of abscisic acid in the flowers of both cultivars.     

Life-table analysis of faba bean rust

In controlled near-optimum conditions (18 °C), monocyclic sporulation capacity and spore infection efficiency were assessed for faba bean rust on the first and second leaves of field bean. After a latency period of 8–10 days, lesions sporulated duringc. 50 days. Spore production on the second leaf,c. 9×10⁴ spores per lesion, was two times as high as spore production on the first leaf. Infection efficiency was similar for both leaf layers, with a mean value of 0.11 lesion per inoculated spore. Infection efficiency decreased strongly when spores originated from mother lesions older than 20 days. Three life-table statistics (the net reproduction numberR _o , the mean generation timeT _g , and the maximum relative growth rater _max ) were calculated.R _o was larger andT _g was longer for the second than for the first leaf, butr _max was nearly the same for both leaf layers (0.31–0.33 day^–1).r _max was compared with the exponential growth rater measured in a field experiment. From the difference between the two rates, the fraction of inoculum lost in field conditions was estimated at 0.54–0.94. The life-table statistics were also compared to those of other legume rusts, and implications of life-table analysis for comparative epidemiology were discussed.     

Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) from Japanese pear: possible involvement in resistance against scab

Venturia nashicola is the causal agent of scab, a fungal disease affecting Asian pears. The Japanese pear cv. ‘Kousui’ is highly susceptible to the race 1 of this fungus whereas the cv. ‘Kinchaku’ and the non-host European pear cv. ‘Flemish Beauty’ are resistant. The aim of this work is to investigate the role of polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) of pear during the interactions with V. nashicola leading to susceptibility or resistance. PGIP protein was detected from immature fruit of Kousui and Kinchaku. It showed a molecular mass of 42 kDa that shifted to 35 kDa after chemical deglycosylation. The gene pgip was amplified by PCR using genomic DNA and/or cDNA from young leaves of Kousui, Kinchaku, and European pear cvs. Flemish Beauty, ‘Bartlett’, and an Asian wild pear strain ‘Mamenashi 12’, then sequenced after sub-cloning. Some conserved variations were identified in the sequence indicating that gene family also exists in pgip of Japanese pear and confirmed by Southern blot analysis. The expression of PGIP was studied in scab-inoculated leaves of the susceptible Kousui and the resistant Kinchaku and Flemish Beauty. pgip Gene and its encoding protein were highly and rapidly activated in these resistant plants. In addition, PGIP extracts derived from Kinchaku and Flemish Beauty partially inhibited the activity of polygalacturonase (PG) from V. nashicola suggesting a possible role of PGIP in limiting fungal growth frequently observed in these resistant cultivars.     

Development and Evaluation of an in vitro Detached Leaf Assay forc Pre-Screening Resistance to Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat

An in vitro detached leaf assay, involving the inoculation of detached leaves with Microdochium nivale, was further developed and used to compare with whole plant resistance ratings to Fusarium head blight (FHB) of 22 commercial cultivars and published information on 21 wheat genotypes, identified as potential sources for FHB resistance. An incubation temperature of 10 °C and isolates of M. nivale var. majus of intermediate pathogenicity were found to be the most suitable for the differential expression of several components of partial disease resistance (PDR), namely incubation period, latent period and lesion length, in wheat genotypes used in the detached leaf assay. There were highly significant differences (P < 0.001) for each component of PDR within commercial cultivars and CIMMYT genotypes. Positive correlations were found between incubation period and latent period (r = 0.606; P < 0.001 and r = 0.498; P < 0.001, respectively, for commercial cultivars and CIMMYT genotypes), inverse correlations between incubation period and lesion length (r = -0.466; P < 0.01 and r = –0.685; P < 0.001, respectively) and latent period and lesion length (r = –0.825; P < 0.001 and r = –0.848; P < 0.001, respectively). Spearman rank correlations between individual PDR components and UK 2003 recommended list ratings were significant for incubation period (r_s = 0.53; P < 0.05) and latent period (r_s = 0.70; P < 0.01) but not for lesion length (r _s = –0.26). Commercial cultivars identified with high resistances across all three PDR components in the detached leaf assay also had high whole plant FHB resistance ratings, with the exception of cv. Tanker which is more susceptible than the results of the detached leaf assay suggested, indicating an additional susceptibility factor could be present. Agreement between resistances found in the detached leaf assay and resistance to FHB suggests resistances detected in detached leaves are under the same genetic control as much of the resistances expressed in the wheat head of the commercial cultivars evaluated. In contrast, high resistances in each of the PDR components were associated with higher susceptibility across 19 CIMMYT genotypes previously evaluated as potential breeding sources of FHB resistance (incubation period: r = 0.52; P < 0.01, latent period: r = 0.53; P < 0.01, lesion length: r = –0.49; P < 0.01). In particular, the CIMMYT genotypes E2 and E12 together with Summai #3, known to have high levels of whole plant FHB resistance, showed low levels of resistance in each PDR component in the detached leaf assay. Such whole plant resistances, which are highly effective and not detected by the detached leaf assay, do not appear to be present in Irish and UK commercial cultivars. The most resistant Irish and UK commercial cultivars were comparable to the genotype Frontana and the most resistant CIMMYT germplasm evaluated in the leaf assay.     

广东省149个油茶品种（系）对炭疽病的抗性及其病原菌鉴定

为明确广东省油茶品种（系）对炭疽病的抗性及引起油茶炭疽病的病原菌种类,对广东省肇庆市、广州市和韶关市的149个油茶品种（系）进行田间抗性调查,从发病组织中分离纯化致病菌,观察菌株形态学特征,并结合3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶（glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,GAPDH）基因扩增序列进行分子生物学鉴定。结果显示,有93.29%的油茶品种（系）发生炭疽病,3个调查地油茶炭疽病的平均发病率为18.86%~24.25%,较抗病的油茶品种（系）占调查总数的53.02%,感病油茶品种（系）占调查总数的46.98%。其中,海南3号、长林400号和湘林89号等10个品种（系）表现为近免疫,揭阳5号、桂14号和湘林350号等16个品种（系）表现为高抗,赣5190号、湘林27号和岑软11号等53个品种（系）表现为中抗,赣兴46号、赣州S4号和赣州R10号等36个品种（系）表现为中感,岑软11-3000号、长林53号和湘林67号等34个品种（系）表现为高感,其中岑软11-19号发病率高达65.00%。共分离获得油茶炭疽病致病菌25株,结合形态学特征和基于GAPDH序列的系统发育树分析,将其中24株鉴定为果生炭疽菌Colletotrichum fructicola,1株鉴定为为暹罗炭疽菌C. siamense。筛选的油茶抗病品种（系）可作为广东省油茶良种选育材料,且该省油茶炭疽病主要由果生炭疽菌引起。     

Influence of silicon on some components of resistance to anthracnose in susceptible and resistant sorghum lines

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of silicon (Si) rates on some components of sorghum resistance to anthracnose. Two 2×5 factorial experiments, consisting of two sorghum lines (BR005 and BR009, resistant and susceptible, respectively) and five Si application rates (0, 0.06, 0.12, 0.24 and 0.30 g Si kg⁻¹ of soil) were arranged in a completely randomised design with three replications. Plants from both lines were inoculated with a conidial suspension of Colletotrichum sublineolum (1×10⁶ conidia ml⁻¹) 30 days after emergence. The incubation period (IP), latent period (LP₆₀), area under relative infection efficiency progress curve (AURIEPC), area under anthracnose index progress curve (AUAIPC), final disease severity (FDS), percentage of pigmented leaf area (PLA), and percentage of necrotic leaf area (NLA) were evaluated. Silicon and calcium (Ca) content in leaf tissue of both lines was also determined. The content of Si in leaf tissue increased relative to the control by 55 and 58%, respectively, for the susceptible and resistant lines. There was no significant change in Ca content in leaf tissue for either of the lines; therefore the variations in Si accounted for differences in the level of disease response. The IP for the resistant line was not affected by Si application rates. The LP₆₀ was not evaluated in the resistant line due to the absence of acervuli. For the resistant line, Si application rates had no significant effect on AUAIPC, FDS, percentage of PLA, and percentage of NLA. On the susceptible line, a quadratic regression model best described the effect of Si application rates on IP, LP₆₀, AURIEPC, AUAIPC, FDS, percentage of PLA, and percentage of NLA. The correlation between Si content in leaf tissue of the susceptible line and the AURIEPC, AUAIPC, FDS, PLA, and NLA was negatively significant (r = −0.57, −0.37, −0.40, −0.67, and −0.77, respectively). There was no correlation between Si content and IP or LP₆₀. The correlation between the percentage of PLA with the percentage of NLA was negatively significant (r = −0.74). In conclusion, the results from this study underscore the importance of Si in sorghum resistance to anthracnose particularly for the susceptible line.     

Multidrug-resistance plasmid of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterobacter cloacae</Emphasis>: transfer to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erwinia herbicola</Emphasis> on the phylloplane of mulberry and weeds

A mulberry epiphytic Enterobacter cloacae MUL1 harbors plasmid pMUL1 encoding five drug-resistance genes. This plasmid was examined upon its conjugal transfer into epiphytic Erwinia herbicola on the phylloplane of mulberry and 12 species of weeds. The plasmid was transferred into Er. herbicola at a frequency of 10^–5–10^–3/recipient in mulberry and Lolium multiflorum LAM. 1–8 days after wound inoculation with 10⁶–10⁸/ml suspensions. In Chenopodium album L. and C. album L. var. centrorubrum, however, it was transferred only after wound inoculation with a 10⁸/ml suspension, but not with 10⁷/ml or 10⁶/ml suspensions, owing to the weak epiphytic fitness of Ent. cloacae on these weeds. Transconjugants were also obtained for seven other species of weeds in the case of inoculation with a 10⁸/ml suspension. In contrast, when bacterial suspensions were sprayed on mulberry leaves with or without fresh wounds, transconjugants were obtained only in wounded leaves, which were considered suitable for bacterial conjugation. These findings suggest that epiphytic bacteria, including Ent. cloacae and Er. herbicola, may be carriers of drug-resistance genes distributed among plant pathogenic bacteria in nature.     

宁夏葡萄霜霉病菌致病型鉴定及葡萄品种抗性评价

为合理利用葡萄抗性品种以及田间病害综合治理,采用离体叶盘接种法分别对2018年和2019年自宁夏回族自治区银川市、石嘴山市和吴忠市采集的43株葡萄霜霉病菌Plasmopara viticola菌株进行致病型鉴定及聚类分析,并对17个主栽葡萄品种进行抗性评价及聚类分析。结果表明：2018、2019年供试菌株致病力和供试葡萄品种抗性之间均存在显著差异,菌株平均病情指数与发病率呈显著正相关,皮尔逊相关系数r和回归系数R²分别介于0.45~0.96和0.20~0.92之间;2018、2019年供试菌株的强致病力菌株和弱致病力菌株分别为CS-YL和VI-BYDD、RG-JSJG和CS-YM;2018年和2019年供试菌株致病型被划分为强、中、弱3种类群,2年所占比例分别为10.00%、15.00%、75.00%和34.78%、39.13%、26.09%;供试17个葡萄品种的抗性类型可被划分为感病、抗病、高抗3种类群,2年所占比例均为17.65%、29.41%和52.94%。不同葡萄品种对不同菌株的抗性类型多样化。表明宁夏回族自治区葡萄霜霉病菌菌株致病力分化明显,不同菌株的致病型与其地域来源无关,不同葡萄品种的抗感程度不同。     

Suppression of potato cyst nematode root penetration by the endoparasitic nematophagous fungusHirsutella rhossiliensis

The endoparasitic nematophagous fungusHirsutella rhossiliensis was tested for its ability to suppress root penetration and cyst formation by the potato cyst nematode speciesGlobodera pallida. Isolates ofH. rhossiliensis were obtained from infected potato cyst nematode juveniles from different starch potato fields in The Netherlands. The isolates showed no difference in spore adhesion to juveniles on agar plates (adhesion rate: ±90%). The most rapid growing isolate, CBS 108.94, was used for experiments. Vegetative mycelial colonies ofH. rhossiliensis CBS 108.94, grown in potato dextrose broth, were used as soil inoculum. During submerged cultivation the mycelial colonies produced phialides (spore-bearing cells) but no spores. Exposed to the air, however, spores were rapidly formed. The effect of different soil inoculum densities of mycelial colonies on root penetration byGlobodera pallida was examined in an experiment in 250-ml pots. Up to a mycelial colony concentration representing a potential spore density of 10⁴ g^–1 soil no suppression occurred. At approximated densities of 2.5×10⁴ and 10⁵ spores g^–1 soil the numbers of juveniles which penetrated roots were reduced by 30% and 34%, respectively. The distribution of the inoculum could be improved by fragmentation of the mycelial colonies before soil inoculation. Using mycelial fragments, again no suppression of root penetration was observed up to a potential spore density of 10⁴ g^–1 soil, but at densities of 10⁵ and 10⁶ g^–1 a suppression of 54% and 88%, respectively, was measured. In a greenhouse experiment, soil inoculation with mycelial colonies with a potential spore production of 2.5×10⁵ g^–1 soil resulted in a suppression of root penetration of 37% and 51% after 5 and 6 weeks, respectively, but the number of newly formed cysts after 18 weeks in soil was not different for control and inoculated pots. It is concluded thatH. rhossiliensis may be useful for the reduction of root damage caused by juveniles of potato cyst nematodes, but the usefulness for population control is doubtful.     

福建省稻瘟病菌对主要抗瘟基因及主栽品种的致病性分析

为明确福建省各稻区的主要抗瘟基因及主栽品种的利用价值,2012—2014年采用喷雾法测定了丽江新团黑谷上的193个菌株对30个水稻抗瘟基因及93个主栽水稻品种的致病性。结果表明,供试稻瘟病菌对30个抗瘟基因表现为强致病力和较强致病力的出现频率分别为13.47%和52.85%,对93个主栽品种表现为强致病力和较强致病力的出现频率分别为1.55%和11.40%;供试稻瘟病菌对抗瘟基因Pi-k~m、Pi-7(t)、Pi-k~p和Pi-9(t)的毒力频率均低于20%;供试稻瘟病菌对谷优2329、谷优5138、昌优964等37个品种的毒力频率均低于20%,对谷优系列、全优系列、深优系列、泰丰优系列及天优系列水稻品种的毒力频率均低于20%。研究表明,在福建地区抗瘟基因Pik~m、Pi-7(t)、Pi-k~p和Pi-9(t)可作为抗源使用,且谷丰A、全丰A、深97A、泰丰A和天丰A仍是抗瘟性较好的育种亲本材料。     

Rapid Screening of Cacao Genotypes for Field Resistance to Phytophthora palmivora Using Leaves, Twigs and Roots

Black pod, caused by Phytophthora spp. is one of the most important diseases of cacao occurring worldwide. Losses due to black pod caused by P. palmivora are still moderate in Côte d'Ivoire but P. megakarya causes high losses in Ghana and other Central African countries. Variation in field attack has been observed between cacao genotypes, but evaluation of pod losses is unsuitable for obtaining rapid progress in breeding. Results of inoculation tests using young detached leaves, twigs and roots, obtained from field and nursery plants, are presented here and compared to field resistance of similar genotypes observed over a 10-year period. Nine different Upper Amazon Forastero genotypes were tested together with progenies obtained by crossing these with the susceptible check IFC5 (Amelonado genotype). Rank correlations between the early screening tests and the level of field attack were positive and mostly significant (r=0.58–0.95). The coefficient of correlation was slightly higher for leaves (r=0.88) and roots (r=0.89) than for twigs (r=0.76). Also, resistance of the different plant organs was correlated (r=0.6–0.9). Resistance of the Upper Amazon parents was well correlated with the resistance of their cross progenies (r=0.7–0.9), suggesting that resistance is highly heritable. Resistance of leaves and twigs from the nursery was better correlated with field resistance than resistance of leaves and twigs from the field, which might result from more uniform growing conditions in the nursery. Inoculation of leaves appears the most suitable early screening method for black pod resistance. Application of this test in breeding more resistant cacao cultivars is discussed.     

Induced Resistance to Cyst and Root-knot Nematodes in Cereals by DL-β-amino-n-butyric Acid

Foliar sprays and soil drenches with DL--amino-n-butyric acid (BABA) reduced the number of Heterodera avenae and H. latipons cysts on wheat and barley. Foliar sprays of wheat with 8000mgl^–1 BABA reduced the number of H. avenae cysts by 90%, whereas 2000mgl^–1 BABA was enough to reduce the number of H. latipons cysts by 79%. Multiple spray treatments with 2000mgl^–1 BABA at 10-day intervals reduced the number of H. avenae cysts on wheat and barley. A soil drench of wheat with 125mgl^–1 BABA reduced the number of H. latipons cysts by 93% and H. avenae cysts by 43%. Second-stage juveniles of these nematodes penetrated and formed syncytia in wheat roots soil-drenched with BABA. More adult males of H. avenae were produced in BABA (<250mg1^–1)-treated wheat roots (~76%) than in untreated roots (27%). Soil drenches with higher concentrations of BABA inhibited development of adult males and females. Several chemical elicitors of induced resistance were tested for their ability to reduce the number of H. avenae cysts on wheat. Only BABA was found to be an effective resistance inducer. The number of egg masses of an unidentified Meloidogyne sp. root-knot nematode, which infects only monocots, was also reduced by 95% by a soil drench of wheat with 500mgl^–1 BABA. Development of this nematode inside the BABA-treated roots was also inhibited.     

泰安市核桃园主要病虫害发生情况及其化学防治用药流程

为明确山东省泰安市核桃园主要病虫害的发生情况及其化学防治的用药流程，于2017—2018年采用田间调查法进行主要病虫害的调查，于2019年采用常规喷雾法对不同防治对象进行化学防治，研究不同用药时间及用药次数下3种农药对核桃的保果效果及对主要病虫害的防治效果，确定用药流程。结果表明，2017年泰安市核桃园主要病虫害以核桃细菌性黑斑病、核桃炭疽病和核桃举肢蛾Atrijuglans aristata为主，造成的病虫果率达83.25%。5月中旬至6月下旬，以核桃细菌性黑斑病和核桃举肢蛾单独发生为主；7月上旬至8月上旬，以核桃细菌性黑斑病和核桃炭疽病单独发生为主；8月中旬至下旬，以核桃炭疽病单独发生和核桃炭疽病+核桃细菌性黑斑病共同发生为主。2018年3种病虫害造成核桃的总体落果率为79.84%，共出现2次落果高峰，即在6月下旬以核桃举肢蛾造成的落果和在8月下旬以核桃炭疽病单独发生和核桃炭疽病+核桃细菌性黑斑病共同发生造成的落果。针对以上3种主要病虫害，在核桃生长期应至少喷药6次，其总体的保果效果和防治效果分别达到96.58%和93.70%，分别显著高于喷药4次的83.72%和70.56%，与喷药8次处理差异不显著。在实际生产中，建议对核桃细菌性黑斑病自5月上旬至8月上旬，每15~20 d用药1次，至少用药6次；对核桃炭疽病自6月下旬至8月上旬，每15~20 d用药1次，至少用药4次；对核桃举肢蛾在5月下旬和7月下旬各用药1次。     

Phyllosphere yeasts antagonize penetration from appressoria and subsequent infection of maize leaves by Colletotrichum graminicola

In growth cabinet experiments, the common phyllosphere yeastsSporobolomyces roseus andCryptococcus laurentii var.flavescens were sprayed as a mixture (11) onto the fourth leaves of maize plants (Zea mays) two-three days prior to inoculation withColletotrichum graminicola. In four experiments the average yeast population of the treated leaves at the time of pathogen inoculation varied between 5× 10⁴ and 8× 10⁵ cells cm^–2 leaf, whereas on the untreated leaves the yeast population varied from <10³ to 10⁴ cells cm^–2 leaf. The yeasts reduced lesion density and necrosis fromC. graminicola infection by approximately 50%. Contrary to findings with other necrotrophic pathogens, conidial germination, superficial mycelial growth and appressorium formation were not affected. Instead, the reduction of infection could only be explained by a reduced number of penetrations from the normally formed appressoria, a site of interaction not previously recorded.Samenvatting In klimaatkastexperimenten werden maisbladeren (4e blad) twee-drie dagen voor inoculatie metColletotrichum graminicola bespoten met een mengsel (11) van de algemeen voorkomende fyllosfeergistenSporobolomyces roseus enCryptococcus laurentii var.flavescens. In vier experimenten varieerde de gemiddelde gistpopulatie op de behandelde bladeren, op het moment van inoculatie met het pathogen, van 5× 10⁴ tot 8× 10⁵ cellen cm^–2 blad, op de onbehandelde bladeren van <10³ tot 10⁴ cellen cm^–2 blad. De gisten reduceerden de lesiedichtheid en het necrotisch bladoppervlak tengevolge van deC. graminicola infectie voor ongeveer 50%. De stadia in de ontwikkeling van andere necrotrofe pathogenen, die gewoonlijk gevoelig zijn voor antagonisme door gisten, zoals sporekieming, oppervlakkige myceliumgroei en vorming van appressoria, werden bijC. graminicola niet beïnvloed. De waargenomen reductie van infectie kon alleen verklaard worden door een remming van de penetratie vanuit normaal gevormde appressoria. Interactie in dit stadium van het infectieproces is nog niet eerder waargenomen.