Characterization of a Pterostilbene Dehydrodimer Produced by Laccase of Botrytis cinerea

ABSTRACT In the interaction between grapevines and Botrytis cinerea, one of the main aspects of pathogenicity is fungal ability to degrade phytoalexins synthesized by the plant in response to infection. Laccase-like stilbene oxidase activity in liquid cultures of B. cinerea has been shown to be related to the decrease of phytoalexin concentrations. Recent research and results presented in this paper determined the chemical structure of a pterostilbene metabolite produced by B. cinerea. Study of degradation of pterostilbene that has just one free hydroxy phenyl group function allowed us to determine the oxidative dimerization process undergone by grapevine phytoalexins after B. cinerea infection. The phytopathological significance of this degradation process in the B. cinerea interaction has also been discussed.     

番茄灰霉病菌拮抗放线菌的筛选、鉴定及其活性评价

从安徽省寿县农田土壤中分离筛选到1株对番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea有强拮抗作用的放线菌菌株HNU-1。根据菌体形态特征、培养特征、细胞壁组分、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列分析,将该菌株鉴定为吸水链霉菌Streptomyces hygroscopicus。菌株HNU-1发酵滤液可抑制灰霉病菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发,且浓度越高,抑制能力越强;当发酵滤液稀释6.67倍时则完全抑制灰霉病菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发。盆栽试验结果表明,菌株HNU-1发酵滤液6.67倍稀释液对番茄灰霉病的预防与治疗效果分别为87.8%和77.9%,均显著高于50%多菌灵可湿性粉剂500倍稀释液。     

Characterization of the Exoglucanase-Encoding Gene PaEXG2 and Study of Its Role in the Biocontrol Activity of Pichia anomala Strain K

ABSTRACT The PaEXG2 gene, encoding an exo-beta-1,3-glucanase, was isolated from the biocontrol agent Pichia anomala strain K. PaEXG2 has the capacity for coding an acidic protein of 427 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 45.7 kDa, a calculated pI of 4.7, and one potential N-glycosylation site. PaEXG2 was disrupted by the insertion of the URA3 marker gene, encoding orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase in strain KU1, a uracil auxotroph derived from strain K. Strain KU1 showed inferior biocontrol activity and colonization of wounds on apples, compared to the prototrophic strain. Antagonism and colonization were recovered after the restoration of prototrophy by transformation with the URA3 gene. Integrative transformation was shown to be mostly ectopic in strain K descendants (only 4% of integration by homologous recombination). PaEXG2 disruption abolished all detectable extracellular exo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity in vitro and in situ but did not affect biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea on wounded apples.     

Synergistic Antifungal Activity of Chitinolytic Enzymes and Prodigiosin Produced by Biocontrol Bacterium, Serratia marcescens Strain B2 against Gray Mold Pathogen, Botrytis cinerea

Serratia marcescens strain B2 is an effective biocontrol agent against gray mold of cyclamen, caused by Botrytis cinerea Persoon. Strain B2 has strong antifungal activity against B. cinerea in vitro. The culture filtrate was found to contain different types of chitinolytic enzyme activity, including endochitinase and chitobiase activity. Four chitinolytic enzymes were detected among the extracellular proteins of strain B2. Two major enzymes, a 58-kDa endochitinase and a 98-kDa chitobiase, were purified by chromatography and electrofocusing, respectively. Both enzymes inhibited spore germination of B. cinerea. And a red pigment, prodigiosin, extracted and purified from the bacterial cells, also inhibited spore germination. When prodigiosin and the chitinolytic enzymes were applied in concert, a synergistic inhibitory effect was observed. S. marcescens strain B2 has multiple modes of action against the pathogen. Received 14 February 2001/ Accepted in revised form 31 May 2001     

番茄灰霉生防菌CQ的分子鉴定及其生防效果研究

菌株CQ是一株分离自云南省保山市昌宁县烟草根部的对番茄灰霉病具有较好防治效果的拮抗细菌。通过对该菌株进行形态特征观察、16S rDNA序列分析鉴定,确定菌株CQ为枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis。拮抗试验结果表明,菌株CQ能够显著抑制番茄灰霉菌的菌丝生长,使菌丝出现异常分枝和囊泡状畸形。1‰ CQ发酵滤液即可显著抑制番茄灰霉菌孢子的形成。室内生测结果表明,相比对照组,48 h无菌发酵滤液原液在离体叶片上对番茄灰霉病的防效可达100%,而其10、100倍稀释滤液则使发病率分别降低28.5%和21.3%,病情指数分别降低44.01和37.86。     

温度调控对番茄灰霉病菌侵染的影响

从群体的角度研究了番茄灰霉病菌对温度的适应性,结果表明灰霉病菌孢子的萌发适温在15～25℃,最适温度为20℃。15～25℃适宜菌丝生长、侵染与扩展,20℃为最适温度。30℃以上病害发展受到抑制。低温有利于病菌产孢,最适温度为15℃。变温研究表明,在一天中,随着30℃以上高温时间的增长,病菌(菌丝)的致病力呈下降趋势,6 h以上高温能够限制病害发展。     

致病杆菌CB43菌株对灰霉病菌的抑制作用

测定了致病杆菌CB43菌株代谢物对灰葡萄病菌菌丝生长和孢子萌发的影响。结果表明:CB43代谢物对灰葡萄孢菌丝生长有较强的抑制作用,500、250、125ml/L代谢物能完全抑制菌丝的生长,并具有杀死作用。62.5ml/L的发酵液处理灰葡萄病菌菌丝72h的抑制率仍达83.35%。20ml/L的发酵液处理灰葡萄孢菌丝能引起菌丝畸形,异常分支、粗短。CB43代谢物能杀死灰葡萄孢分生孢子或抑制其萌发,500~62.5ml/L的发酵液处理16h后,孢子萌发抑制率达88.1%~97.91%。温室试验表明,CB43代谢物对黄瓜灰霉病的控制效果达84.09%,化学农药40%施佳乐的效果为72.94%。     

Functional Analysis of an ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter Gene in Botrytis cinerea by Gene Disruption

The BMR1 gene encoding an ABC transporter was cloned from Botrytis cinerea. To examine the function of BMR1 in B. cinerea, we isolated BMR1-deficient mutants after gene disruption. Disruption vector pBcDF4 was constructed by replacing the BMR1-coding region with a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) cassette. The BMR1 disruptants had an increased sensitivity to polyoxin and iprobenfos. Polyoxin and iprobenfos, structurally unrelated compounds, may therefore be substrates of BMR1. Received 18 December 2000/ Accepted in revised form 18 April 2001     

中华根瘤菌L03几丁质酶纯化及其酶学性质研究

中华根瘤菌Sinorhizobium sp.菌株L03是1株能产生几丁质酶的生防细菌.采用90%饱和度硫酸铵沉淀、DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow阴离子层析、Phenyl-Sepharose疏水层析等方法获得了菌株L03的几丁质酶.SDS-PAGE检测发现该酶已被纯化,其分子量约为41.3kD.该酶反应的最适温度为45℃;最适反应的溶液pH值为6;酶液在pH5～8条件下和40℃下分别保存1h,酶活力基本保持稳定;Mg2+和Ba2+能显著促进几丁质酶活性上升,而Zn2+、Cu2+和Fe3+等对酶活力有明显的抑制作用.功能分析结果显示,该几丁质酶对供试的几种病原真菌细胞壁都有明显的降解作用.     

20%菌核净水乳剂防治黄瓜灰霉病

试验表明 ,20%菌核净水乳剂对灰霉病菌的保护活性和治疗活性均优于菌核净可湿性粉剂 ;同时水乳剂的内吸性高于可湿性粉剂 ,但水乳剂的持效期比菌核净可湿性粉剂短。田间防治黄瓜灰霉病小区试验结果显示 ,菌核净水乳剂对黄瓜灰霉病的防治效果优于菌核净可湿性粉剂。     

The influence of Thrips obscuratus on infection and contamination of kiwifruit by Botrytis cinerea

Infestation of kiwifruit flowers by Thrips obscuratus , and inoculation with Botrytis cinerea , increased the amount of flower infection, external contamination and internal infection of fruit at harvest. Combination of these treatments was synergistic. The mechanisms of this role of T. obscuratus in the epidemiology of B. cinerea and development of stem-end rot after cool storage are discussed in relation to commercial production, harvesting and handling procedures. Significant reductions in inoculum available for fruit infection may be achievable by control of populations of T. obscuratus in orchards during flowering.     

Effect of the methoxyiminoacetamide fungicide,SSF129, on respiratory activity in Botrytis cinerea

(E)-2-Methoxyimino-N-methyl-2-[2-(2,5-dimethylphenoxymethyl)phenyl]acetamide (SSF129) has been developed as a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide for control of cereal and fruit diseases. This compound inhibited NADH-oxidation by submitochondrial particles from mycelial cells of Botrytis cinerea, with an EC₅₀ value of 14.5 nM , due to blockage of electron transport through the cytochrome bc₁ complex in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. However, SSF129 did not suppress, but rather increased, oxygen consumption by mycelial cells of the fungus. This was because mycelial cells contain an alternative oxidase protein and the cells have the ability to rapidly switch electron flux from the main cytochrome pathway to the alternative pathway on blockage of the former by SSF129. The alternative pathway of the mycelia seems not to be operative when the cytochrome pathway is functional. Naturally occurring flavonoids inhibited the alternative oxidase of the mycelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, with EC₅₀ values of 68.4 µM for flavone and 63.7 µM for flavanone. These observations suggested that plant components play an important role in control of gray mould by SSF129. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Induction of Chitinase, beta-1,3-Glucanase, and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase in Peach Fruit by UV-C Treatment

ABSTRACT Treatment of peach fruit with UV-C light caused a rapid induction of chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities starting 6 h after treatment and reaching maximum levels at 96 h after treatment. By 96 h after UV-C treatment, chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase, and PAL activities in UV-C-treated fruit were over twofold above the levels observed for the control. In nontreated control fruit, no apparent increase in chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase activities was detected but a minor increase in PAL activity was seen. The transient increase in chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase, and PAL activities in UV-C-treated fruit was preceded by a gradual activation of the corresponding genes. UV-C-treated fruit showed an increase in accumulation of beta-1,3-glucanase and chitinase mRNAs at 3 h after treatment, which peaked approximately 96 h posttreatment. A similar induction kinetic pattern was observed for PAL mRNA in response to UV-C treatment, except the induction started 6 h after UV-C treatment. These results show that the response of peach fruit to elicitor treatment is similar to that seen in other plant-elicitors interactions and suggests the involvement of peach biochemical defense responses in UV-C-mediated disease resistance.     

The influence of inoculum concentration, relative humidity, and temperature on infection of greenhouse tomatoes by Botrytis cinerea

Botrytis cinerea causes serious crop losses in greenhouse tomato crops through infection of flowers and stem wounds. Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of inoculum concentration, relative humidity (RH), and temperature at these two infection sites. Infection of permanent flower parts increased as a function of inoculum concentration and both length of exposure to high RH (approximately 100% for 0–36 h) and specified continuous RH (56–100%). A low level of infection was still evident under continuous 56% RH. Interruption of periods of high RH with breaks of low RH did not reduce infection. Infection of stem wounds was less dependent on inoculum concentration or RH. Factorial combinations of inoculum concentration, RH, and temperature produced significant interactions. Higher temperature increased infection of flowers but reduced infection of stem wounds. The main implications for control in commercial crops are as follows. Lowering the aerial spore concentration by maintaining the disease at a low level will reduce flower infection. Lowering RH will reduce but not eliminate flower infection but will have only a small effect on stem infection. Raising the temperature (from 15 to 25°C) will reduce stem infection, and whilst flower infection increases, this is counteracted by increased flower production and a decrease in the proportion of infections reaching the peduncle and stem.     

Modeling Spatial Characteristics in the Biological Control of Fungi at Leaf Scale: Competitive Substrate Colonization by Botrytis cinerea and the Saprophytic Antagonist Ulocladium atrum

ABSTRACT A spatially explicit model describing saprophytic colonization of dead cyclamen leaf tissue by the plant-pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea and the saprophytic fungal antagonist Ulocladium atrum was constructed. Both fungi explore the leaf and utilize the resources it provides. Leaf tissue is represented by a two-dimensional grid of square grid cells. Fungal competition within grid cells is modeled using Lotka-Volterra equations. Spatial expansion into neighboring grid cells is assumed proportional to the mycelial density gradient between donor and receptor cell. Established fungal biomass is immobile. Radial growth rates of B. cinerea and U. atrum in dead cyclamen leaf tissue were measured to determine parameters describing the spatial dynamics of the fungi. At temperatures from 5 to 25 degrees C, B. cinerea colonies expanded twice as rapidly as U. atrum colonies. In practical biological control, the slower colonization of space by U. atrum thus needs to be compensated by a sufficiently dense and even distribution of conidia on the leaf. Simulation results confirm the importance of spatial expansion to the outcome of the competitive interaction between B. cinerea and U. atrum at leaf scale. A sensitivity analysis further emphasized the importance of a uniform high density cover of vital U. atrum conidia on target leaves.     

Effect of inoculum composition on infection of French bean leaves by conidia of Botrytis cinerea

Inoculation of leaves of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) with sprays or small drops of a suspension of conidia ofBotrytis cinerea gave rise to spreading lesions, lesions remaining restricted in size or to no visible necrosis. The type of reaction depended on the composition of the inoculum. In studies with drop inoculations with buffered inocula some of the factors involved were analyzed. The formation of spreading lesions depended on pH, type and molarity of the buffer, presence of glucose, and concentration of conidia in the inoculum. If the phosphate buffer used in most of the inocula was replaced by monobasic phosphate, similar results were obtained. The reactions were not influenced by the proportion of K⁺ or Na⁺ ions in the phosphate buffer. Inoculations with conidia suspended in a solution of 0.067 M phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) or monobasic phosphate and 0.11 M glucose always evoked a susceptible reaction, i. e. the formation of spreading lesions.