Role of Blossoms in Watermelon Seed Infestation by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli

ABSTRACT The role of watermelon blossom inoculation in seed infestation by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli was investigated. Approximately 98% (84/87) of fruit developed from blossoms inoculated with 1 x 10(7) or 1 x 10(9) CFU of A. avenae subsp. citrulli per blossom were asymptomatic. Using immunomagnetic separation and the polymerase chain reaction, A. avenae subsp. citrulli was detected in 44% of the seed lots assayed, despite the lack of fruit symptoms. Furthermore, viable colonies were recovered from 31% of the seed lots. Of these lots, 27% also yielded seedlings expressing bacterial fruit blotch symptoms when planted under conditions of 30 degrees C and 90% relative humidity. A. avenae subsp. citrulli was detected and recovered from the pulp of 33 and 19%, respectively, of symptomless fruit whose blossoms were inoculated with A. avenae subsp. citrulli. The ability to penetrate watermelon flowers was not unique to A. avenae subsp. citrulli, because blossoms inoculated with Pantoea ananatis also resulted in infested seed and pulp. The data indicate that watermelon blossoms are a potential site of ingress for fruit and seed infestation by A. avenae subsp. citrulli.     

Biological Control to Protect Watermelon Blossoms and Seed from Infection by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli

ABSTRACT The efficacy of biological control seed treatments with Pseudomonas fluorescens (A506), Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae (AAA 99-2), and an unidentified gram-positive bacterium recovered from watermelon seed (WS-1) was evaluated for the management of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of watermelon. In growth chamber and greenhouse experiments, seed treated with AAA 99-2 displayed superior disease suppression, reducing BFB transmission by 96.5%. AAA 99-2, P. fluorescens A506, and Kocide also suppressed the epiphytic growth of A. avenae subsp. citrulli when applied to attached watermelon blossoms 5 h prior to inoculation. Watermelon blossom protection reduced seed infestation by A. avenae subsp. citrulli. From blossoms treated with 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 63% of the resulting seed lots were infested with A. avenae subsp. citrulli. In contrast, for blossoms protected with WS-1, Kocide, P. fluorescens A506, and AAA 99-2, the proportion of infested seed lots were 48.3, 21.1, 24.1, and 13.8%, respectively. The effect of blossom treatments on seed lot infestation was statistically significant (P = 0.001) but WS-1 was not significantly different from PBS. These findings suggest that blossom protection with biological control agents could be a feasible option for managing BFB.     

New subspecies-specific polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli

New subspecies-specific primers for the detection of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli ( Aac ), the seedborne bacterium which causes bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits, were designed based on PCR fragments obtained in ERIC- and BOX-PCR profiles of Aac strains. PCR with both primer sets identified 30 strains from different locations and hosts, but did not amplify DNA from other closely related species and subspecies assessed, with the exception of DNA of one strain of A. avenae subsp. avenae , which was amplified by one of the primer sets, named BX-S. This primer set, based on a BOX-PCR fragment, performed under high-stringency conditions without losing its detection sensitivity. The primers were also evaluated for their ability to detect the pathogen in contaminated watermelon and melon seed samples. The BX-S primers facilitated the detection of the pathogen from washings of 5000-seed samples with 0·02% infestation. This primer set was also assessed for detection using immunomagnetic separation polymerase chain reaction (IMS-PCR) and was shown to be as sensitive as a previously described primer set (AACF2/R3), detecting 0·02% infestation in seed samples. This highly specific and sensitive primer set could be used to improve PCR-based detection of this important pathogen.     

甜瓜细菌性果斑病菌致病性突变体筛选与hrcR基因的克隆

 细菌性果斑病(Bacterial Fruit Blotch,BFB)是西瓜和甜瓜的重要病害。本实验从发病甜瓜果实上分离得到致病菌株MH21,经鉴定为燕麦食酸菌西瓜亚种(Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli)。利用转座子Mini-Tn5构建MH21菌株的突变体库,Southern印迹杂交结果显示Mini-Tn5在菌株MH21染色体上可随机、单拷贝插入。通过浸种处理甜瓜种子进行突变体的致病性检查,筛选得到1株致病性完全丧失的突变体M543。对M543中转座子插入基因的克隆和测序表明其突变基因为燕麦食酸菌Ⅲ型分泌系统(TTSS)中的保守基因hrcR。推测菌株MH21中hrcR基因编码的蛋白定位于细菌内膜,是分泌通道主要成分之一。hrcR基因互补菌株的致病性检查结果显示其致病力恢复到野生型的84%。研究同时发现hrcR基因突变后MH21菌株丧失了在烟草上诱导过敏性坏死反应的能力。本研究从遗传学角度说明TTSS是西甜瓜果斑病菌致病性的重要因子。     

甘肃省西瓜细菌性果斑病的诊断

对从甘肃采集到的疑似西瓜果斑病的病瓜及种子中分离获得的菌株,通过形态学特征、革兰氏染色、致病性测定以及利用美国Agdia公司的专化型免疫凝聚试剂条测定和16S rDNA分子生物学方法进行了诊断鉴定,结果表明,该菌株符合燕麦噬酸菌西瓜亚种(Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli)的特性,因此,确定甘肃省已发生西瓜果斑病,结果为甘肃省有效控制此病提供了依据。     

哈蜜瓜种子带细菌性果斑病菌检测技术的研究

哈蜜瓜细菌性果斑病是世界性的检疫对象之一,主要以种子带菌进行远距离传播,本文通过温室育苗、室内分离和PCR(聚合酶链式反应)技术对哈蜜瓜种子带菌情况和主要带菌部位进行了检验,结果表明:3种方法都可以对种子带菌情况进行检测,分离检测和PCR检测还可以确定种子的带菌部位,PCR技术具有特异性强、灵敏度高、检测时间短等特点.另外检测结果也表明种子带菌以种皮为主,种仁的带菌量较少.     

哈密瓜细菌性果斑病病原菌鉴定

 2000年在内蒙古和新疆的哈密瓜上发现一种新细菌病害-哈密瓜细菌性果斑病,从病叶和病果上分离到33个细菌菌株,接种哈密瓜、西瓜和甜瓜后,发病症状与自然发病症状完全一致,而且从接种病株上又重新分离到了此病原细菌,这33个细菌菌株经柯赫法则证明均为该病的致病菌。各菌株致病力无明显差异。经革兰氏染色反应、菌体形态、培养性状、生理生化反应、细胞化学成分分析(糖、蛋白质、氨基酸、脂肪酸、mol% G+C)、DNA-DNA杂交,确认该病原菌为燕麦食酸菌西瓜亚种(Acidovorax avenae subsp.citrulli Willems et al.1992)=类产碱假单胞菌西瓜亚种(Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes subsp.citrulli Schaad et al.1978)。该病菌除侵染哈密瓜外,人工接种尚能侵染多种葫芦科及番茄、茄子等作物。     

哈密瓜细菌性果斑病菌群体感应系统的检测

本文利用群体感应信号报告菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4(pZLR4),在LB报告平板上对燕麦食酸菌西瓜亚种的19个菌株进行了初步检测,发现18个菌株有群体感应信号产生.用琼脂条法对菌株Pslb-94进一步检测,证实菌株Pslb-94存在群体感应系统.提取了该菌株信号物质,反相薄层层析(TLC)检测证明该菌株能产生群体感应信号分子.     

利用GICA-PCR快速检测瓜类果斑病菌

瓜类果斑病菌(Acidovorax avenae subsp.citrulli,Aac)是瓜类作物上重要的病原细菌,为我国进境植物检疫性有害生物。胶体金免疫层析试纸条方便快捷,应用广泛。该方法使用不当会出现假阳性问题,仅适用于病原菌的初筛检测。本研究将Aac胶体金免疫层析方法(GICA)与PCR技术相结合,建立了GICA-PCR检测方法。检测结果表明,该方法在蛋白与核酸2个层面上从发病西瓜叶片上检测到瓜类果斑病菌,有效解决了试纸条检测的假阳性问题,提高了瓜类果斑病菌检测的准确性,值得推广应用。     

Bio-PCR方法检测葫芦科作物种子携带 西瓜嗜酸菌的特异性引物筛选

 由西瓜嗜酸菌(Acidovorax citrulli)引起的细菌性果斑病是一种毁灭性的种传病害,可为害多种葫芦科作物并造成重大经济损失。该病原菌为检疫性有害生物,种子带菌是田间病害发生的最重要初侵染来源,因此,种子健康检测成为病害综合防控过程中的重要环节。Bio-PCR是当前种子携带细菌检测的常用方法,而特异性引物的选择和使用是检测的关键。本研究使用已报道的7对引物对17株西瓜嗜酸菌、10株嗜酸菌属其它种的菌株和6株其它属的植物病原细菌进行了Bio-PCR检测,筛选出对西瓜嗜酸菌特异性最好的引物为SEQID4^m/SEQID5。研究表明:使用该引物对西瓜嗜酸菌MH21纯菌菌悬液的检测限度为10² CFU·mL^-1;在人工添加菌悬液的模拟带菌西瓜种子中,使用ASCM和EBBA两种半选择性培养基结合引物SEQID4^m/SEQID5进行Bio-PCR检测,ASCM对种子中带菌量的检测限度可达到0.01 CFU·g^-1,EBBA对种子中带菌量的检测限度为0.1 CFU·g^-1。     

种子引发处理对无籽西瓜幼苗生长的影响和对细菌性果斑病菌消毒的效果

 种子出苗率低和传带细菌性果斑病菌是制约三倍体无籽西瓜生产的主要原因。本试验利用KMnO₄、CuSO₄和ZnSO₄的不同浓度溶液对无籽西瓜种子进行不同时间引发处理, 通过滤纸发芽试验, 观测其对种子发芽和幼苗生长的促进作用;借助平板法测定引发溶液对细菌性果斑病菌FC247的抑制作用, 免疫凝聚试纸条和传统PCR检测引发处理对种子人工接菌FC247的消毒效果。结果表明:0.1% CuSO₄溶液引发处理4 h和0.2% ZnSO₄溶液引发处理24 h, 分别比未引发处理的无籽西瓜种子发芽率提高71.1%和73.3%, 并能显著提高发芽整齐度和幼苗素质;同时, 引发溶液对细菌性果斑病菌有显著抑制作用, 并对人工接菌种子表现出-定程度的消毒效果。     

进境西瓜种子中西瓜细菌性果斑病菌的检测鉴定

由嗜酸菌属西瓜种(Acidovorax citrulli)引起的西瓜细菌性果斑病是西瓜等葫芦科作物上的一种极具毁灭性的病害,该病原细菌可以由种子携带传播。本研究通过直接研磨种子,用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附测定法(DAS-ELISA)和免疫捕捉聚合酶链式反应法(IC-PCR)对进境的西瓜种子进行检测,并且对PCR产物进一步克隆测序。结果表明,在DAS-ELISA产生阳性结果的样品中,IC-PCR结果也产生阳性。序列分析表明,该序列与已知的该病菌16S rRNA基因的相应序列具有100%同源性。因此,2006年这批来自台湾的西瓜种子携带有嗜酸菌属西瓜种(Acidovorax citrulli)。     

瓜类细菌性果斑病研究进展

瓜类细菌性果斑病是发生在甜瓜、西瓜等葫芦科植物上的一种严重的世界性病害,此病是典型的种传细菌性病害,病原为嗜酸菌属西瓜种(Acidovorax citrulli)。本文围绕瓜类细菌性果斑病菌的分离检测、致病机理、遗传多样性及防治等方面的研究进展作一概述,阐明了瓜类细菌性果斑病的研究现状。     

Novel Naturally Occurring Bean pod mottle virus Reassortants with Mixed Heterologous RNA1 Genomes

ABSTRACT The comovirus Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) is widespread in the soybean-growing regions in the United States. It has a bipartite genome consisting of RNA1 and RNA2, which are encapsidated separately. We previously have reported the occurrence in nature of two distinct subgroups of BPMV strains (subgroups I and II), as well as reassortants between the two subgroups. Here, we report the isolation and molecular characterization of naturally occurring partial diploid reassortant strains, which are diploid for RNA1 and haploid for RNA2. Whereas the RNA1s of the partial diploids are derived from two distinct strain subgroups (I and II), the RNA2 is derived from either subgroup I or II. The partial diploid strains induced strikingly severe symptoms on soybean, which could be explained based on the presence of two distinct RNA1s in the same plant. This conclusion was supported by the finding that pseudo-recombinants constructed with two diverse RNA1s induced very severe symptoms on soybean that mimicked those produced by the naturally occurring partial diploids. No enhancement of symptom severity was observed with pseudorecombinants constructed with closely related RNA1s. Likewise, no enhancement of symptom severity was noted with pseudo-recombinants that are diploid for RNA2 and haploid for RNA1. The potential role of genetic reassortment in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of BPMV is discussed.     

Clarification of the Etiology of Glomerella Leaf Spot and Bitter Rot of Apple Caused by Colletotrichum spp. Based on Morphology and Genetic, Molecular, and Pathogenicity Tests

ABSTRACT Morphological characteristics and vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) of 486 isolates of Glomerella cingulata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and C. acutatum collected from apple leaves with Glomerella leaf spot (GLS) symptoms and fruit with bitter rot symptoms in the United States and Brazil were studied. From this collection, 155 isolates of G. cingulata (93 from fruit, 61 from leaves, and 1 from buds), 42 isolates of C. gloeosporioides from fruit, and 14 isolates of C. acutatum (10 from fruit and 4 from leaves) were studied using mitochondrial (mt)DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) haplotypes. A subset of 24 isolates was studied by examining the sequence of a 200-bp intron of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GDPH) nuclear gene. In addition, 98 isolates were tested for pathogenicity on leaves of cvs. Gala and Golden Delicious in the greenhouse, and 24 isolates were tested for pathogenicity on fruit of cv. Gala in growth chambers. In total, 238 and 225 isolates of G. cingulata were separated into four distinct morphological types and six VCGs, respectively. Five morphological types and six VCGs were identified among 74 and 36 isolates of C. gloeosporioides, respectively. Three morphological types and four VCGs were identified among 74 and 23 isolates of C. acutatum, respectively. Seven different mtDNA RFLP haplotypes were observed within isolates of G. cingulata, two within isolates of C. gloeosporioides, and two within isolates of C. acutatum. Phylogenetic trees, inferred based on maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods using the intron sequence, produced similar topologies. Each species was separated into distinct groups. All isolates tested were pathogenic on fruit, though only isolates with specific VCGs and haplotypes were pathogenic to leaves. Vegetative compatibility was a better tool than molecular characters for distinguishing isolates of G. cingulata pathogenic on both leaves and fruit from the ones pathogenic only on fruit. Isolates of G. cingulata capable of causing both GLS and bitter rot were included in haplotypes and groups based on the sequence analysis of the 200-bp intron that also included isolates capable of causing bitter rot only. Additionally, isolates of G. cingulata from the United States and Brazil which cause GLS were included in different haplotypes and sequence analysis groups. Therefore, one hypothesis is that isolates of G. cingulata from the United States capable of causing both GLS on foliage and bitter rot on fruit may have arisen independently of Brazilian isolates of G. cingulata capable of causing both GLS and bitter rot, and the two groups of isolates may represent distinct populations.     

Genetic variation in Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense

This study examined whether genes that are less conserved than the 16S rRNA gene can distinguish Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense strains that are identical based on their 16S rRNA genes, with a view to providing insight into their origins and distribution, and any patterns of association with particular plant hosts. Sequence analysis of the tuf gene and rp operon showed that Ca . P. australiense strains could be differentiated into four subgroups, named 16SrXII-B ( tuf -Australia I; rp -A), 16SrXII-B ( tuf -New Zealand I; rp -B), 16SrXII-B ( tuf -New Zealand II) and 16SrXII-B ( rp -C). Strawberry lethal yellows 1, strawberry green petal, Australian grapevine yellows, pumpkin yellow leaf curl and cottonbush witches' broom phytoplasmas were designated members of the 16SrXII-B ( tuf -Australia I; rp -A) subgroup. The strawberry lethal yellows 2 and cottonbush reduced yellow leaves phytoplasmas were assigned to the 16SrXII ( tuf -New Zealand II; rp -B) subgroup. No relationship was observed between these phytoplasma subgroups and collection date, location or host plant. However, the study revealed evolutionary divergence in the 16SrXII group.     

Genetic Relatedness of African and United States Populations of Cercospora zeae-maydis

Two taxonomically identical but genetically distinct sibling species, designated groups I and II, of Cercospora zeae-maydis cause gray leaf spot of maize in the United States. Isolates of the gray leaf spot pathogen from Africa were compared with isolates from the United States by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis and restriction digests of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and 5.8S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), as well as by morphological and cultural characteristics. The isolates from Africa were morphologically indistinguishable from the U.S. isolates in both groups, but like isolates of group II, they grew more slowly and failed to produce detectable amounts of cercosporin in culture. Analysis of restriction fragments from the ITS and rDNA regions digested with five endonucleases indicated that all of the African isolates shared the profile of the C. zeae-maydis group II population from the eastern United States and, thus, are distinct from the group I population, which is more prevalent in the United States and other parts of the world. Cluster analysis of 85 AFLP loci confirmed that the African and U.S. group II populations were conspecific (greater than 97% average similarity) with limited variability. Among all group II isolates, only 8 of 57 AFLP loci were polymorphic, and none was specific to either population. Thus, although gray leaf spot was reported in the United States several decades prior to the first record in Africa, the relative age of the two populations on their respective continents could not be ascertained with confidence. The absence of C. zeae-maydis group I in our samples from four countries in the major maize-producing region of Africa as well as the greater AFLP haplotype diversity found in the African group II population, however, suggest that Africa was the source of C. zeae-maydis group II in the United States. The overall paucity of AFLP variation in this sibling species further suggests that its origin is recent or that the ancestral population experienced a severe bottleneck prior to secondary migration.     

Characterization of Acidovorax citrulli strains isolated from solanaceous plants

Acidovorax citrulli is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch disease of cucurbits. Strains of this pathogen are distributed into two major groups: Group I strains have been mainly isolated from melon and other non-watermelon cucurbits, while Group II strains have been mainly recovered from watermelon. Here we report the characterization of strains T1 and EP isolated from diseased tomato and eggplant plants, respectively, and further confirmed to belong to A. citrulli species. Based on PCR, PFGE, and rep-PCR, these strains showed high similarity to the Group II strain 7a1. Sequencing and comparative analyses revealed that the genomes of T1 and EP aligned with that of the Group II model strain AAC00-1, over 97.88% and 99.22%, respectively. The virulence of T1, EP, and 7a1 determined on tomato, eggplant, and watermelon was similar and significantly higher than that of Group I strain M6. In contrast, M6 was more virulent on melon. Expression levels of seven virulence genes measured 24 hr after inoculation of tomato, eggplant, watermelon, and melon showed that the expression pattern was generally similar in strains 7a1, T1, and EP, whereas for M6 the expression was high only on melon. Overall, our results indicate that the solanaceous strains belong to Group II. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports characterization of A. citrulli strains isolated from solanaceous species. The fact that A. citrulli is able to naturally colonize and cause disease in non-cucurbit crops poses additional challenges for management of this important pathogen.     

免疫凝聚试纸条和TaqMan探针实时荧光PCR检测西瓜细菌性果斑病菌比较研究

 以西瓜细菌性果斑病菌(Acidovorax avenae subsp.citrulli)菌悬液和田间采集的病组织为试材,研究了免疫凝聚试纸条和实时荧光PCR技术检测的灵敏度和适应性。结果表明,免疫凝聚试纸条检测灵敏度为10⁶ cfu/mL,具有简便、快速、易操作特点,适用于田间快速检测和病害诊断;TaqMan探针实时荧光PCR检测灵敏度达10^3~4 cfu/mL,比传统PCR检测灵敏度(10⁵ cfu/mL)提高了10~100倍,且不需要琼脂糖凝胶电泳、溴化乙锭染色和Southern杂交。但需要昂贵的仪器和试剂,适用于室内检测及相关研究。     

Nonpathogenic Isolates of the Citrus Black Spot Fungus, Guignardia citricarpa, Identified as a Cosmopolitan Endophyte of Woody Plants, G. mangiferae (Phyllosticta capitalensis)

ABSTRACT The population structure of Guignardia citricarpa sensu lato (anamorph: Phyllosticta citricarpa), a fungus of which strains pathogenic to citrus are subject to phytosanitary legislation in the European Union and the United States, was investigated. Internal transcribed spacer sequences revealed two phylogenetically distinct groups in G. citricarpa. This distinction was supported by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis that also supported the exclusion of two isolates that had apparently been misclassified as G. citricarpa. On cherry decoction agar, but not on other media, growth rates of group I isolates were lower than those of group II isolates. Conidial dimensions were similar, but group I isolates formed conidia with barely visible mucoid sheaths, whereas those of group II formed conidia with thick sheaths. Cultures of isolates belonging to group I produced rare infertile perithecia, whereas fertile perithecia were formed by most isolates of group II. Colonies of isolates belonging to group I were less dark than those of group II, with a wider translucent outer zone and a lobate rather than entire margin. On oatmeal agar, exclusively group I isolates formed a yellow pigment. Group I harbored strains from citrus fruits with classical black spot lesions (1 to 10 mm in diameter) usually containing pycnidia. Group II harbored endophytic strains from a wide range of host species, as well as strains from symptomless citrus fruits or fruits with minute spots (<2-mm diameter) without pycnidia. These observations support the historic distinction between slowly growing pathogenic isolates and morphologically similar fast-growing, nonpathogenic isolates of G. citricarpa. The latter proved to belong to G. mangiferae (P. capitalensis), a ubiquitous endophyte of woody plants with numerous probable synonyms including G. endophyllicola, G. psidii, P. anacardiacearum, and P. theacearum. G. mangiferae occurs in the European Union and the United States on many host species including citrus, and does not cause symptoms of citrus black spot, justifying its exclusion from quarantine measures.