小麦间作玉米农田耗水特性及产量变化对根系分隔的响应

通过田间试验,研究了小麦间作玉米塑料薄膜隔根(PW//C)、尼龙网隔根(NW//C)、不隔根(W//C)及单作玉米(C)和单作小麦(W)对土壤水分、棵间蒸发和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,根系分隔显著影响作物的耗水特性,从而显著影响作物产量及水分利用效率的提高。小麦收获前,W//C、NW//C和PW//C处理玉米带土壤水分含量均高于小麦带,分别提高2.38%、3.82%和6.13%;小麦收获后,NW//C和PW//C处理玉米带土壤水分含量却均低于小麦带,分别降低5.41%和16.07%,而W//C处理玉米带和小麦带间水分差异不显著。根系分隔显著增大了间作模式的作物棵间蒸发量,NW//C和PW//C较W//C处理分别显著提高6.71%和20.13%。以单作小麦、单作玉米加权平均为对照,W//C、NW//C和PW//C处理分别显著提高经济产量33.60%、26.93%和24.69%,增大耗水量-0.2%、1.02%和6.69%,显著提高水分利用效率34.93%、26.67%和17.80%。W//C处理较NW//C和PW//C处理分别提高经济产量5.25%和7.14%,降低耗水量1.21%和6.64%,提高水分利用效率6.52%和14.54%。     

根际分隔对玉米/豌豆间作种间竞争及豌豆结瘤固氮的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了玉米/豌豆间作条件下,两种施氮水平(0、0.15 g·kg~(-1))及三种分隔方式(不分隔、塑料膜分隔、尼龙网分隔)对玉米、豌豆生长及豌豆结瘤固氮的影响。结果表明:与单作相比,玉米/豌豆间作后对玉米的生长和养分的吸收有显著的促进作用,在整个生育期,玉米生物量的增加量随着豌豆生育期的推进而增加,豌豆苗期、豌豆结荚初期、豌豆收获期玉米的生物量在不施氮肥条件下分别增加:28.5%、32.8%、48.7%;在施氮0.15 g·kg~(-1)时分别增加-8.6%、8.1%、63.2%。在玉米豌豆间作体系中三种分隔方式玉米生物量的大小顺序为:间作不分隔间作尼龙网隔间作塑料膜分隔单作;在不施氮肥时,间作后豌豆苗期生物量与单作相比增加显著,增加幅度达35.8%;随着玉米生育期的推进,间作豌豆的生物量增加幅度随着降低,到豌豆收获期与单作豌豆相比差异不显著。收获时三种分隔方式豌豆生物量的大小顺序为:间作塑料膜分隔间作不分隔间作尼龙网隔单作;在施氮肥时,随着玉米的生长间作豌豆与单作豌豆相比显著减产,收获时三种分隔方式对豌豆生物量的大小顺序为:间作尼龙网隔间作塑料膜分隔单作间作不分隔。与单作相比,间作提高了豌豆的结瘤数;间作不分隔、间作尼龙网隔、间作塑料膜分隔条件下,碗豆的结瘤数分别增加120%、82.5%、22.5%。     

灌溉方式对绿洲灌区小麦间作玉米耗水特性的影响

通过大田试验,在不同供水水平下,研究了交替灌溉小麦间作玉米的耗水量、土面蒸发特征及其主要影响因子。结果表明：小麦间作玉米耗水量较单作小麦、玉米耗水量的加权平均高12.7%~20.1%,与传统灌溉相比,交替灌溉可降低间作耗水量;小麦间作玉米的日均土面蒸发量较相应单作的加权平均增大了9.19%~13.6%,交替灌溉小麦间作玉米的日均土面蒸发量较平作漫灌低10.1%;与单作相比,间作土面蒸发量占蒸散量的比例(E/ET)高于单作。间作较低的平均叶面积指数(LAI)和较大的叶日积(LAD)是耗水量增大的重要原因之一。与传统灌溉相比,交替灌溉可降低间作表土层的含水量,可作为减小间作土面蒸发技术的切入点。     

少耕留茬小麦间作玉米的耗水特性

2009—2010年,通过大田试验,在不同灌水梯度下,研究了少耕和秸秆覆盖对小麦间作玉米产量、耗水特性及水分利用效率的影响,旨在为高效节水间作技术体系的构建提供新思路。研究表明：间作处理的土地当量比(LER)为1.46～1.56,间作优势明显;高灌水平与低、中灌水平相比,少耕留茬间作及传统间作中,玉米组分经济产量平均提高44.4%和9.31%,小麦组分经济产量平均提高10.22%和2.36%;少耕留茬显著提高了小麦间作玉米播种前和收获后0～120 cm土层平均贮水量。少耕留茬、间作及灌水量均是影响小麦、玉米耗水量的主导因子,将少耕留茬集成于间作,并结合中灌水处理,为提高小麦、玉米WUE的最优组合。     

覆膜对玉米‖豌豆作物生产力及种间互作的影响

于2012年和2013年在甘肃河西走廊灌区设置8种种植方式:单作豌豆不覆膜(P)、单作豌豆覆全膜(FP)、单作玉米不覆膜(M)、单作玉米覆全膜(FM)、玉米‖豌豆不覆膜(M/P)、覆条膜玉米‖不覆膜豌豆(FM/P)、不覆膜玉米‖覆条膜豌豆(M/FP)、玉米‖豌豆覆全膜(FM/FP),通过测定作物产量和产量构成因子,分析种间互作效应指标,以明确覆膜对玉米‖豌豆作物产量、体系生产力及种间互作效应的影响。结果表明:试验期间,各间作模式土地当量比(Land equivalent ratio,LER)值均大于1.00,M/FP和FM/FP模式LER显著高于M/P和FM/P模式;覆膜对单作豌豆产量无显著影响,M/FP和FM/FP模式中豌豆产量较M/P平均分别提高24.1%和32.5%,FM模式较M模式平均增产24.2%。覆膜对间作玉米产量无显著影响,FM/P和FM/FP模式加权产量较M/P模式平均分别提高35.2%和35.1%,较M/FP模式提高16.3%和16.2%。FM/FP模式中豌豆单株粒数和单株粒重较M/P模式平均增加43.7%和60.3%,覆膜对间作玉米穗粒数无显著影响,FM/P和FM/FP模式间作玉米百粒重较M/P模式平均增幅分别为5.2%和10.3%。各模式相对产量(Relative Yield of Mixtures,RYM)均大于1.0,间作作物相对竞争强度(Relative competition intensity,RCI)均为负值,FM/P和FM/FP模式中玉米相对竞争强度(RCI_m)均显著高于M/P和M/FP模式。间作作物间以种间促进为主,豌豆相对于玉米的资源竞争力A_(pm)均为负值,玉米是竞争优势作物。因此,甘肃河西走廊灌区玉米‖豌豆覆全膜或玉米覆条膜可有效提高间作玉米产量和资源竞争力。     

小麦/玉米间作和氮肥对水分利用的影响

以甘肃河西灌区为试验地点,探讨了在两个氮水平下6个小麦品种与玉米间作对水分的利用情况,结果表明:不同品种小麦与玉米间作,小麦收获后,间作小麦土壤含水量都高于单作,间作玉米土壤含水量低于单作;玉米收获后,与6个小麦品种间作的玉米土壤含水量都高于单作;但不同小麦品种在土层深度上又有差异.不施氮条件下,6个小麦品种与玉米间作相对于单作水分消耗量(WU)减少4.82%～8.79%,小麦品种171与玉米间作相对于单作水分利用效率(WUE)增加9.25%,而其余5个品种与玉米间作较单作减少2.30%～15.06%.在300 kg/hm2氮水平下,6个小麦品种与玉米间作较单作WU减少1.09%～6.96%,WUE增加10.76%～29.56%.     

海河平原秸秆覆盖和春季灌水对小麦玉米产量和水分利用的影响

针对海河平原水资源短缺和小麦-玉米水分利用现状,通过2013—2015年大田试验,设置春季不灌水、春季不灌水+秸秆覆盖、春季1水、春季1水+秸秆覆盖四个处理,研究了春季灌水和秸秆覆盖对小麦-玉米两熟作物生长、产量和水分利用的影响。结果表明:灌水和秸秆覆盖效应主要体现在小麦拔节到开花期。小麦拔节~开花期,由于灌溉和秸秆覆盖保温保墒作用,两个生长季中,春季1水秸秆覆盖LAI高于1水不覆盖处理,但开花期后这种效应逐渐消失,花后10天和20天覆盖LAI低于不覆盖处理,且差异显著;春季不灌水由于水分胁迫,无论秸秆覆盖与否,LAI差异不显著。2013—2014年,和不覆盖相比,春季0水覆盖产量降低了1.46%,春季1水处理覆盖后降低了2.76%;2015年春季0水覆盖降低了2.78%,春季1水覆盖降低了1.11%。但春季灌溉1水后,与不灌水相比,2014年产量差异显著,2015年差异不显著。随着灌溉水量的增加,土壤耗水量减少,两年中小麦生长季土壤耗水量都表现为春季0水大于春季1水,且差异显著;相同水分条件下不覆盖大于覆盖处理,但差异不显著。不同处理小麦生长季土壤耗水量的差异及玉米生长期间的降水量共同影响了玉米土壤耗水量,覆盖处理的耗水量小于不覆盖处理。从水分利用效率看,小麦、玉米和周年土壤水分利用效率各处理间和年份间都没有显著差异。海河平原水分有限条件下,秸秆覆盖后在小麦需水敏感期限量灌水在保证产量基础上可降低耗水量,因此春季灌溉1水结合秸秆覆盖是实现本区域小麦-玉米种植制度节水的有效措施。     

不同生育时期非充分灌溉对间作作物产量构成因子及收获指数的影响

针对内蒙古河套灌区干旱缺水的实际情况,以春小麦间作玉米、春小麦间作向日葵复合群体为研究对象,以不同生育期的非充分灌溉为试验处理,进行间作模式下的非充分灌溉试验。结果表明:间作下小麦分蘖期每多灌溉15 mm有效分蘖数提高5.4%~15.07%,而乳熟期随着水分胁迫加剧间作模式下的小麦穗粒数、千粒重、产量均呈现出先升高后降低的规律。对于间作下的玉米产量构成,适当减少小麦分蘖与拔节期的灌水量,相应增加小麦乳熟与玉米灌浆吐丝期的灌水量,有利于大幅提高缺水地区间作模式下的玉米产量,且随着灌水总量的升高,穗粒数以1.27~2.47粒·mm~(-1)的速度递增,产量以62.24,94.93,29.73 kg·hm~(-2)·mm~(-1)的"S"型曲线逐渐升高。而对于间作下的向日葵产量构成,其主要受小麦乳熟期与向日葵现蕾期水分处理的影响,且随灌水总量的提高间作向日葵的单株粒数呈先升后降的规律,而百粒重和产量则呈"N"型和"M"型规律变化。对于不同水分处理下各间作作物对水分的敏感指数表现为小麦的敏感指数最高,玉米次之,向日葵最低。不同水分处理对各间作作物收获指数的影响表现为间作模式下的小麦受水分胁迫后其收获指数普遍提高,间作模式下玉米的收获指数随灌水总量上升而逐渐上升,而间作模式下受水分胁迫处理的向日葵收获指数反而下降。     

不同灌溉制度对覆膜春玉米的耗水规律及产量的影响

研究了不同灌水定额和灌水次数处理下覆膜玉米的耗水规律和产量,试验结果表明:灌溉定额相同时,灌水次数的变化对产量有较大影响;灌溉次数较多的处理土壤平均含水率波动幅度较小,土壤水分能保持在一个比较稳定的范围.相同的灌水次数下,适当增加灌溉定额在一定程度上可增加作物产量,但超过一定值之后,产量并无显著提高.玉米的耗水量随着灌溉水量的增加而增加,玉米在拔节～抽雄、抽雄～乳熟期的耗水量最大,对水分亏缺最敏感,是需水关键期.水分利用效率随着灌溉量的增加而减少.     

灌淤土小麦／玉米间套不同供磷水平群体产量和根系生长形态分析

采用根箱法在不同供磷水平下,对春小麦和玉米在间作和单作情况下的产量和根系形态进行了比较研究。结果表明,适量的供磷能促进小麦、玉米产量的提高,过高反而减少。在施纯P2O50.1 g/kg土(P1)、0.2g/kg土(P2)0、.3 g/kg土(P3)的3个供磷水平下,P2水平和P3水平比P1水平总体产量增长55.09%和40.17%;籽粒产量增长51.28%和56.27%。单作小麦生物产量提高了35.89%~41.11%,穗粒重提高了21.71%~65.79%。随供磷水平的增加,整个根系根重基本上呈现出先增加后减少的趋势,但均高于低磷水平。单作小麦和间作玉米的根长在0~50 cm的土层中随供磷水平的增高,呈增长趋势,相对于低磷水平其增长幅度分别为11.78%~31.16%和39.83%~53.76%,而单作玉米根长呈先增加后减少的趋势。     

Dermestid beetles in ‘evolution Canyon’, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, including new records for Israel

Fifteen species of dermestid beetles were recorded at ‘Evolution Canyon’ (EC), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. They represent ~35% of known Israeli dermestid species. The following three species were recorded for the first time in Israel:Trogoderma svriaca Dalla Torre, 1911;Ctesias svriaca Ganglbauer, 1904; andAnthrenus (s.str.) jordaniens Pic, 1934. Adults of 13 species were collected on the more solar radiated, warmer and climatically more fluctuating south-facing slope (SFS); ten species were collected on the opposite, north-facing slope (NFS), which was cooler and climatically more stable. The abundance of adult dermestid beetles was 1.9 times higher on the SFS than on the NFS (86 and 47, respectively). Species richness and abundance distribution at EC (three collecting stations on each slope and one at the valley bottom) were significantly negatively correlated with the plant cover that consisted of trees and bushes (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.007 and 0.039, respectively) and perennials (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.039 and 0.077, respectively), indicating that non-woody plants were preferred by adult dermestid beetles.     

Epidemiology of Toxigenic Fungi and their Associated Mycotoxins for Some Mediterranean Crops

Recent data on the epidemiology of the common mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium in infected or colonized plants, and in stored or processed plant products from the Mediterranean area are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the toxigenicity of the causal fungal species and the natural occurrence of well known mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, patulin, Alternaria-toxins and moniliformin), as well as some more recently described compounds (fusaproliferin, beauvericin) whose toxigenic potential is not yet well understood. Several Fusarium species reported from throughout the Mediterranean area are responsible of the formation of mycotoxins in infected plants and in plant products, including: Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides and F. poae, which produce deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenone, zearalenone, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin derivatives in wheat and other small grains affected by head blight or scab, and in maize affected by red ear rot. Moreover, strains of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans, that form fumonisins, beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and moniliformin, are commonly associated with maize affected by ear rot. Fumonisins, were also associated with Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus and Fusarium endosepsis of figs, caused primarily by F. proliferatum. Toxigenic A. alternata strains and associated tenuazonic acid and alternariols were commonly found in black mould of tomato, black rot of olive and citrus, black point of small cereals, and black mould of several vegetables. Toxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and ochratoxin A were often found associated with black rot of grapes, whereas toxigenic strains of A. flavus and/or P. verrucosum, forming aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, respectively, were found in moulded plant products from small cereals, peanuts, figs, pea, oilseed rape, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios, and almonds. Finally, toxigenic strains of P. expansum and patulin were frequently found in apple, pear and other fresh fruits affected by blue mould rot, as well as in derived juices and jams.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Plant Viruses Transmitted by Whiteflies

One-hundred and fourteen virus species are transmitted by whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci transmits 111 of these species while Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. abutilonia transmit three species each. B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum are present in the European–Mediterranean region, though the former is restricted in its distribution. Of the whitefly-transmitted virus species, 90% belong to the Begomovirus genus, 6% to the Crinivirus genus and the remaining 4% are in the Closterovirus, Ipomovirus or Carlavirus genera. Other named, whitefly-transmitted viruses that have not yet been ranked as species are also documented. The names, abbreviations and synonyms of the whitefly-transmitted viruses are presented in tabulated form together with details of their whitefly vectors, natural hosts and distribution. Entries are also annotated with references. Whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting plants in the European–Mediterranean region have been highlighted in the text.     

Broad bean mottle virus in Morocco; curculionid vectors,and natural occurrence in food legumes other than faba bean (Vicia faba)

Broad bean mottle virus (BBMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy faba-bean plants by the curculionid weevilsApion radiolus Kirby,Hypera variabilis Herbst,Pachytychius strumarius Gyll,Smicronyx cyaneus Gyll, andSitona lineatus L. The latter appeared to be an efficient vector: acquisition and inoculation occurred at the first bite, the rate of transmission was c. 41%, and virus retention lasted for at least seven days.S. lineatus transmitted the virus from faba bean to lentil and pea, but not to the three genotypes of chickpea tested. This is the first report on the generaHypera, Pachytychius, andSmicronyx as virus vectors, and onA. radiolus, H. variabilis, P. strumarius, andS. cyaneus as vectors of BBMV.Out of 351 samples of food legumes with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 16, 11, 19, and 17% of the samples of chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean, respectively, were found infected when tested for BBMV in DAS-ELISA. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of BBMV in chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean. The virus should be regarded as a food-legume virus rather than a faba-bean virus solely, and is considered an actual threat to food legume improvement programmes.     

Characterization of potato potyvirus Y (PVY) isolates from seed potato batches. Situation of the NTN, Wilga and Z isolates

A collection of 38 PVY isolates from seed potato batches, originating from several Western European countries, was characterized by using current biological, serological and molecular tools differentiating PVY strains and groups. The correlation between the three kinds of tests was good but not absolute. No single serological or PCR method was able to discriminate among the five isolate groups found. Twenty-nine isolates belonged to the PVY^N strain and six to the PVY^O strain. No PVY^C was found. Two other isolates reacted serologically like PVY^O, but were unable to elicit a hypersensitive response from the Ny_tbr gene and probably represent the PVY^Z group. At the molecular level, these two isolates showed a combination of both PVY^O and PVY^N and could be recombinants of these strains. Another isolate reacted serologically like PVY^O, but induced vein necrosis in tobacco, like PVY^N-Wilga. Some PVY^N isolates caused tuber ring necrosis in glasshouse conditions. These might belong to the PVY^NTN group. The PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wilga and PVY^Z groups probably represent pathotypes within strains PVY^N and PVY^O, respectively. The present study also confirms previous reports showing a high genetic variation at the 5 end within the PVYN strain.     

The autumn leafroller: Phenology,damage and parasitoids in a Dutch apple orchard

The phenology of the autumn leafroller,Syndemis musculana, a local pest of apple, was studied in order to forecast larval emergence. From 1983–1986, peak flight as determined with sexpheromone traps was always between 13–18 May. The duration of embryonic development was determined at various constant temperatures and used to estimate the periods of egg hatch in these four years. Each year, most eggs should have hatched in the second decade of June.Differences in attack rates between apple cultivars seem to be explained largely by the variation in picking time. Larvae are only half grown at the beginning of harvest (cv. James Grieve), and have gone into hibernation when the latest variety (cv. Golden Delicious) is picked. Moreover, the varieties Cox's Orange Pippin and Belle de Boskoop, picked about half time, are liable to receive additional damage by caterpillars brought with the picked fruits into storage.Various hymenopterous parasites were reared from caterpillars. As the only leafroller in the orchard which hibernates as mature larva,S. musculana may promote winter survival of some parasitoids, like the eulophidColpyclypeus florus.Samenvatting De fenologie van de herfstbladroller (Syndemis musculana Hübner), een incidentele plaag op appel, werd nader bepaald met het doel het uitkomen van de eieren te kunnen voorspellen. In 1983–1986 viel de piekvlucht, bepaald met behulp van feromoonvallen, steeds tussen 13 en 18 mei.De ontwikkelingsduur van de eieren bij verschillende constante temperaturen werd gebruikt om de periode van uitkomen te schatten. De meeste eieren zullen ieder jaar in de eerste helft van juni uitkomen.Geconstateerde verschillen in schade tussen appelrassen blijken goeddeels terug te voeren op verschillen in pluktijdstip. De rupsen van de herfstbladroller zijn pas half-was als de eerste appels eind augustus geplukt worden, terwijl tegen het einde van de oogst begin oktober de meeste al in winterslaap zijn. Met name tussentijdse rassen, als Cox's Orange Pippin and Schone van Boskoop, lopen extra schade op doordat grotere rupsen met de geplukte vruchten in de kist terecht komen.Uit de rupsen werden negen, al van andere boomgaardbladrollers bekende, sluipwespen gekweekt, Omdat deze bladrollersoort, als enige in de boomgaard, als volgroeide rups overwintert, lijkt zij bij uitstek geschikt als winterwaard.This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard De Schuilenburg, Schuilenburg 3, 4041 BK Kesteren, the Netherlands, to which address correspondence should be addressed.     

Characterization of Sclerotinia minor populations in Texas peanut fields

In the summer of 2004 an epidemic of sclerotinia blight of peanut, a disease caused by Sclerotinia minor, occurred in Texas in fields where the disease was never previously detected. The disease was observed on many plants within one of the fields (>3000 disease foci), although most foci were <1 m. It is hypothesized that these observations were inconsistent with the recent introduction of a monocyclic pathogen, even if disease developed under conducive environmental conditions. The pattern of disease is most suggestive of the presence of foliar (ascospore) infections, although air temperature was above the known limits for apothecia development if the pathogen had arrived in the field in 2004 peanut seed. To further examine this epidemic, 232 isolates were collected, across a variety of spatial scales spanning this field and other Texas peanut fields, and evaluated for aggressiveness, fungicide sensitivity and genotypic diversity. There was wide variation among isolates for the phenotypic characteristics measured, but there was no evidence that a genotypically unique, highly aggressive, and fungicide resistant isolate had been introduced or evolved. The predominant genotype, TX1, which contained 154 isolates, was found in every county and field population.     

Eyespot of Cereals Revisited: ITS phylogeny Reveals New Species Relationships

Four species so far classified in Pseudocercosporella or Ramulispora (hyphomycetes) are associated with eyespot disease symptoms of cereals. Two of these have been linked to teleomorphs that were described in Tapesia. Sequence data derived from the Internal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) of the rDNA operon showed, however, that the eyespot fungi associated with Tapesia are not congeneric with Ramulispora sorghi, the type of Ramulispora. The genus name Tapesia is now rejected in favour of the conserved name Mollisia, which appears to comprise heterogeneous fungi. Tapesia yallundae is not closely related to the type of Mollisia, M. cinerea, but clusters separately, being more closely allied to species with Cadophora anamorphs. A new holomorph genus, Oculimacula, is therefore proposed for teleomorphs of the eyespot fungi, while the anamorphs are accommodated in Helgardia gen. nov.     

Tumours of Begonia and some other ornamentals,induced by Corynebacterium fascians

In 1975 many tumours were observed in plants ofBegonia Schwabenland grown in Aalsmeer. Submersion of the roots ofNicotiana megalosiphon seedlings in a homogenate of tumorous tissue, induced tumours after two weeks. Short periods of submergence yielded results similar to those obtained after longer periods. Tumour homogenates lost their infectivity after ten min at 50°C. Aphids transmitted the infectious agent.Treatment with propylene oxide did not inhibit infectivity completely. Filtration through a 450 nm filter removed the infectious agent.Tobacco tumor virus or a viroid could not be isolated. Cultures ofCorynebacterium fascians, isolated from tumours ofN. megalosiphon were highly infectious and induced tumours in healthyN. megalosiphon andBegonia. Tumorous tissue homogenates ofPelargonium zonale, Dahlia sp.,Gladiolus sp., andLilium sp. also caused tumours inN. megalosiphon, from whichC. fascians was isolated. It was not possible to produce tumours inN. megalosiphon with homogenates from roses with symptoms of bud proliferation.Samenvatting In 1975 werden vele tumoren waargenomen inBegonia Schwabenland op Aalsmeerse bedrijven (Fig. 1). De infectiositeit van tumorweefsel kon goed en snel worden vastgesteld door de wortels van zaailingen vanNicotiana megalosiphon in een homogenaat van tumorweefsel te dompelen. Tumoren ontstonden na twee weken, de eindbeoordeling geschiedde na een maand (Fig. 2). Ook verschillende andereNicotiana spp.,Melilotus officinalis (Fig. 3) enPisum odoratum (Fig. 4) werden aangetast.Bij de infectiositeitstoets gaven zeer korte dompeltijden even goede resultaten als langere (Tabel 1). Infectieus sap verloor zijn infectievermogen na 10 min verhitting bij 50°C. Bladluizen brachten de smetstof over. Propyleenoxide verminderde de infectiositeit wel, doch onderdrukte deze niet totaal. Bij filtratie door een 450 nm filter bleef het infectieuse agens op het filter achter. Het tumor-inducerende agens was ook aanwezig in die delen van planten met tumoren welke gezond leken en het ging voor een gering deel over met zaad (Tabel 2).Uit tumoren konden wij geen tabakstumorvirus of een viroïde isoleren. Culturen vanCorynebacterium fascians, geïsoleerd uit tumoren vanN. megalosiphon bleken zeer infectieus en veroorzaakten tumoren inN. megalosiphon enBegonia. Homogenaten van tumorweefsel vanPelargonium zonale, dahlia (Fig. 5), gladiool (Fig. 6) enLilium Mid Century Hybrid Enchantment (Fig. 7) veroorzaakten ook tumoren opN. megalosiphon, waaruitC. fascians werd geïsoleerd. Met sap van kroeskopzieke rozen konden wijN. megalosiphon niet besmetten.