What is the evidence for sexual reproduction of Phytophthora infestans in Europe?

The biology of late blight of potato and tomato, caused by Phytophthora infestans, changed when sexual reproduction by the pathogen became possible in many parts of the world, including Europe. In northern Europe, especially Scandinavia, there is increasing evidence that the pathogen is reproducing sexually on a regular basis, although in other regions further south or to the west it appears to reproduce primarily in a clonal manner. The presence of both mating types, the production of viable oospores, and observations of fields with soilborne sources of inoculum are consistent with sexual reproduction. Studies with different marker systems have revealed a population structure without any dominating clonal lineages in Scandinavia, and that is most easily explained by sexual reproduction. Phytophthora infestans recovered from the soil can also be linked to parental genotypes using likelihood‐based methods when codominant markers are used. A synthesis of all the available data points to a second centre of sexual reproduction in northern Europe.     

Powdery mildew of Arabidopsis thaliana: a pathosystem for exploring the role of silicon in plant–microbe interactions

Silicon (Si) has been used in agriculture to protect plants against disease for hundreds of years and its prophylactic effects in monocots and dicots are well documented. The mechanisms by which Si exerts its protective effects in planta, however, are uncertain and presently the subject of debate. In this study, we sought to determine if Arabidopsis thaliana could be used to clarify the role of Si in plant–pathogen interactions. Accordingly, X-ray microanalysis mapping, light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscope techniques were used to examine the leaves of Si− fed A. thaliana plants inoculated with the powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe cichoracearum. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time, that A. thaliana is a species that absorbs Si and that the incidence of powdery mildew disease for Si− fed plants is significantly lower compared to control plants. In particular, treatment with Si appeared to induce the production of an electron-dense, fungitoxic substance that accumulated within and around the collapsed fungal haustoria of infected epidermal cells within the leaves of disease-resistant plants. These results with Arabidopsis corroborate recent observations in other non-related species and support the emerging theory that the mechanisms by which Si imparts resistance to plants are complex and are not entirely explained by the traditionally proposed role of Si as a reinforcer of mechanical resistance. Collectively, the findings of the present study have established the Arabidopsis thaliana-Erysiphe cichoracearum pathosystem as a valid model to investigate the role of Si in plant–microbe interactions.     

Selecting the right compounds for screening: does Lipinski's Rule of 5 for pharmaceuticals apply to agrochemicals?

Large numbers of compounds are now available through combinatorial chemistry and from compound vendors to screen for lead‐level agrochemical activity. The likelihood that compounds with whole‐organism activity will be discovered can be increased if compounds with physicochemical parameters consistent with transport to the target site are selected for screening. Certain ranges of simple parameters (molecular mass, log P, hydrogen‐bond donors and acceptors, rotatable bonds) have been correlated with oral bioavailability of drugs. The distribution of these parameters for commercial insecticides and post‐emergence herbicides was examined and ranges consistent with whole‐organism activity are proposed for the two classes of agrochemical. The most significant difference identified between drugs and these two classes of agrochemicals was the lower numbers of hydrogen‐bond donors allowed in the latter cases. The frequency with which certain functional groups occur in drugs and agrochemicals was also compared. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

The exceptionality of stress response in Magnaporthe oryzae: a set of “salt stress-induced” genes unique to the rice blast fungus

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The ability of pathogens to signal perception and adaptation to environmental changes is an important prerequisite for successful colonization of the host...     

Field efficacy of permethrin and fenvalerate applied as sprays to cattle for control of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) (Acari: Ixodidae) in the eradication program in Puerto Rico∗

Abstract

Permethrin applied as a spray to cattle at 0.025% or 0.05% effectively controlled Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) by the third day post‐treatment, but only provided < 60% control within 1 day post‐treatment with both concentrations. Percentage control did not drop below 90% until day 28 for 0.025% and day 31 for 0.05% permethrin; percentage control did not fall below 92% for 0.025% fenvalerate until after day 24–25; and at 0.05%, fenvalerate provided 95% control until day 28. A multiple treatment (spray applied every 2 weeks) with permethrin (0.05%) provided greater than 96% control of B. microplus after the initial treatment and 100% control by day 56. We concluded that although both chemicals have potential in an eradication program, they are not satisfactory for use at a quarantine line because both acaricides provided less than 100% control within 1 day post‐treatment.     

(Q)SAR tools for the prediction of mutagenic properties: Are they ready for application in pesticide regulation?

The assessment of human health risks resulting from the presence of metabolites in groundwater and food residues has become an important element in pesticide authorisation. In this context, the evaluation of mutagenicity is of particular interest and a paradigm shift from exposure‐triggered testing to in silico‐based screening has been recommended in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Guidance on the establishment of the residue definition for dietary risk assessment. In addition, it is proposed to apply in silico predictions when experimental mutagenicity testing is not possible due to a lack of sufficient quantities of the pesticide metabolite. This, combined with animal welfare and economic considerations, has led to a situation where an increasing number of in silico studies are submitted to regulatory authorities. Whilst there is extensive experience with in silico predictions for mutagenicity in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, their suitability in pesticide regulation is still insufficiently considered. Therefore, we herein discuss critical issues that need to be resolved to successfully implement (Quantitative) Structure‐Activity Relationship ((Q)SAR) as an accepted tool in pesticide regulation. For illustration purposes, the results of a pilot study are included. The presented study highlights a need for further improvement regarding the predictivity and applicability domain of (Q)SAR systems for pesticides and their metabolites, but also raises other questions such as model selection, establishment of acceptance criteria, harmonised approaches to the combination of model outputs into overall conclusions, adequate reporting and data sharing. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

The EFSA assessment of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae as biocontrol agent of the invasive alien plant Acacia longifolia: a new area of activity for the EFSA Plant Health Panel?

This paper summarizes the first assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Plant Health (PLH) Panel of a biological control agent (BCA) of an invasive plant. This followed a request by the European Union (EU) Commission to assess the risk to plant health in the EU of an intentional release of the bud‐galling wasp Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae for the control of Acacia longifolia. The EFSA PLH Panel also published a statement on the process of assessing the risk of the intentional releases of BCAs of invasive alien plants. Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae feeds on A. longifolia and Acacia floribunda. Acacia longifolia is an invasive alien plant species that has a negative effect on biodiversity and ecosystems in Portugal, whereas A. floribunda is not invasive in the EU. Both species are cultivated as ornamental plants in some EU countries. Climatic conditions in the EU are suitable for establishment of T. acaciaelongifoliae where host species are present. This BCA is moderately likely to spread in the EU by natural means, but could be intentionally moved to control A. longifolia in other locations. Its potential effects on invasive A. longifolia and on the cultivated ornamentals were assessed. The EFSA PLH Panel has shown with this work how such advice could be provided in the European Union.     

First record of the impact of the parasitism of Cecidochares connexa (Diptera: Tephritidae) by a solitary larval ectoparasitoid in West Africa: Cause for concern?

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Cecidochares connexa is currently the only effective biological control agent of Chromolaena odorata an invasive weed in West Africa. Recently, an...     

Plant and veterinary disease diagnosis: a generic approach to the development of field tools for rapid decision making?

Rapid and accurate diagnostic tests make an important contribution to programmes to monitor and eradicate infectious diseases that impact animal and plant health. Using foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and sudden oak death as examples, this review outlines recent progress to develop new field tools for detection of the infectious agents that cause high-impact livestock and plant diseases. The principal driver for this work is to develop tools that can be used locally to assist in decision making. Advances in this area have developed simple-to-use lateral-flow devices for the detection of FMD virus and the genus Phytophthora (including Phytophthora ramorum , the causal agent of sudden oak death and the related pathogen P. kernoviae ), as well as new hardware platforms to allow PCR testing for these agents by non-specialists in the field. Although developed for different diseases, the user requirements for rapid diagnostic tools for FMD and sudden oak death share many similarities. Using generic solutions to these challenging problems, it is now possible to imagine a new paradigm for how the collection and testing of samples to monitor the spread of important livestock and plant diseases might be achieved.     

Fruit Exocarp Phenols in Relation to Quiescence and Development of Monilinia fructicola Infections in Prunus spp.: A Role for Cellular Redox?

ABSTRACT Monilinia fructicola causes brown rot of Prunus species and usually remains quiescent on immature fruit but reactivates when fruit are mature. The dihydroxycinnamates caffeic acid and its quinate ester, chlorogenic acid, abundant in the exocarp of peach fruit, had no effect on fungal growth but markedly inhibited the production of the cell wall degrading enzymes polygalacturonase and cutinase in M. fructicola cultures. This inhibition was related to changes in the electrochemical redox potentials of the cultures, as measured with a redox electrode. Fungal culture filtrates had lower electrochemical redox potentials when the growth medium contained caffeic acid than in caffeic acid-free medium. Levels of total intracellular glutathione, the reduced form of which serves as a major cellular antioxidant, increased significantly in M. fructicola cells in response to external caffeic acid. The presence of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, or reduced glutathione in conidial suspensions of M. fructicola did not inhibit germination on flower petals and fruit, but inhibited appressorium formation from germinated conidia and subsequent brown rot lesion development. These results suggest that intracellular antioxidant levels in the pathogen can be influenced by phenols present in host tissue and that changes in the redox environment may influence gene expression and differentiation of structures associated with infection by the pathogen. The possible relationship of host phenols to quiescence and subsequent development of M. fructicola infections is discussed.     

Banning of methyl bromide for seed treatment: could Ditylenchus dipsaci again become a major threat to alfalfa production in Europe?

In Europe, the stem and bulb nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci has been listed as a quarantine pest by EPPO: without any control, it may cause complete failure of alfalfa crops. Movement of nematodes associated with seeds is considered to be the highest‐risk pathway for the spread of this pest. Since the 2010 official withdrawal of methyl bromide in Europe, and in the absence of any alternative chemical, fumigation of contaminated seed batches is no longer possible, which makes the production of nematode‐free alfalfa seeds difficult to achieve and leads to unmarketable seed batches. Thermotherapy is being considered as a realistic alternative strategy, but its efficiency still remains to be validated. The combination of the currently available methods (i.e. use of resistant cultivars, seed production according to a certification scheme, mechanical sieving, seed batch inspection) could significantly reduce the likelihood of seed contamination. However, it does not guarantee a total eradication of the nematode. Although it is already widely distributed all over Europe, reclassification of D. dipsaci as a regulated non‐quarantine pest to reduce the possibility of further introductions and the rate of spread of this pest appears to be a risky strategy because of the lack of up‐to‐date documented data to evaluate damage thresholds and determine acceptable tolerance levels. [[ArtCopyrightmsg]]