玉米禾谷镰孢茎腐病和穗腐病抗性鉴定接种方法的比较

田间采用不同人工接种鉴定方法对92份玉米种质同步进行玉米禾谷镰孢茎腐病和穗腐病抗性评价与筛选, 明确了东北春玉米产区玉米禾谷镰孢茎腐病?穗腐病抗性鉴定的最佳接种方法:茎节注射法在玉米禾谷镰孢茎腐病抗性精准鉴定中可更好地评价玉米种质的抗病性, 综合考虑接种方法的实用性和可操作性, 菌土覆盖法对大体量的规模化种质进行田间抗病性鉴定更具有优势; 双牙签法对玉米穗腐病抗性鉴定中在种质接种后发病的严重度?田间进行接种的可操作性和实用性等方面均优于花丝通道法?同时筛选出对玉米禾谷镰孢茎腐病抗性稳定的种质52份, 对穗腐病抗性稳定的种质66份, 对2种病害均表现稳定抗性的兼抗种质33份?     

辽宁省玉米镰孢穗腐病病原菌的鉴定与分布

为明确辽宁省玉米镰孢穗腐病的病原菌种类及其分布特征,采用形态学与分子生物学鉴定方法,对2015年9月采自辽宁省13个地区的84份玉米穗腐病样品进行分离鉴定,同时依据镰孢菌分离频率确定其在辽宁省玉米生态区的分布特征。结果表明,从辽宁省84个玉米穗腐病样分离物中鉴定出3个种,即拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides、禾谷镰孢菌F.graminearum和层出镰孢菌F.proliferatum,分别为67、9和8株,占79.77%、10.71%和9.52%。按照柯赫式法则,验证了3种镰孢菌代表菌株FV-39、FG-1和FP-2是玉米品种郑单958穗腐病的致病菌。拟轮枝镰孢菌为辽宁省玉米镰孢穗腐病的优势致病菌,广泛分布于辽东、辽南、辽中、辽北和辽西5个玉米生态区,分别占16.67%、11.90%、21.42%、10.72%和19.05%;禾谷镰孢菌主要分布于辽西地区,层出镰孢菌主要分布于辽中和辽北地区。     

安徽省玉米穗腐病主要致病镰孢菌的分离与鉴定

为明确安徽省玉米穗腐病主要致病镰孢菌的种类,采用单孢分离、形态学鉴定和分子生物学鉴定的方法,对2017年采集自安徽省6个玉米主产区——合肥市、蚌埠市、淮北市、阜阳市、亳州市和宿州市的玉米穗腐病病样进行了分离鉴定。在获得的455株镰孢菌中,拟轮枝镰孢菌、禾谷镰孢复合种、层出镰孢菌、尖孢镰孢菌和黄色镰孢菌的分离频率分别为59.13%、21.28%、13.68%、5.12%和0.79%。其中拟轮枝镰孢菌在各地的分布最广,属于安徽省的优势致病镰孢菌。     

一株拮抗链霉菌SM3-7的鉴定及其对玉米茎基腐病的防效

为获得对玉米茎基腐病具有良好防效的拮抗菌株,从玉米根际土壤中分离以玉米茎基腐病拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides为靶标菌的拮抗放线菌菌株。采用平板对峙法测定不同菌株的抑菌活性,用抑菌圈法筛选效果良好的拮抗菌株并进行种类鉴定、抑菌谱和防效测定。结果表明,从土壤中分离并筛选获得1株对拟轮枝镰孢菌具有明显抑制作用的菌株SM3-7。经形态学、生理生化特征和16S rDNA系统发育分析,将菌株SM3-7鉴定为核粒链霉菌Streptomyces sclerogranulatus。该菌株抑菌谱广,对玉米上的8种植物病原菌有良好的抑制作用,对拟轮枝镰孢菌抑菌圈直径可达（28.03±0.45mm）。盆栽防效结果表明,菌株SM3-7发酵液对抗病品种“良玉99”和感病品种“全玉1233”的玉米茎基腐病14d防效分别达77.28%和76.12%,21d防效达72.20%和71.89%。核粒链霉菌菌株SM3-7发酵液可有效防治玉米茎基腐病,为利用微生物防治玉米茎基腐病拟轮枝镰孢菌提供参考。     

拟轮枝镰孢对多菌灵的敏感性及抗性菌株生物学性状和交互抗性

为评价玉米穗腐病主要致病菌拟轮枝镰孢Fusarium verticillioides对多菌灵的敏感性,采用菌丝生长速率法测定了采自山东、河北、河南、四川、甘肃、辽宁及宁夏7省(自治区)的168株玉米穗腐病拟轮枝镰孢对多菌灵的敏感性,并对经药剂驯化获得的拟轮枝镰孢抗多菌灵菌株主要生物学性状和交互抗性进行了研究。结果表明:多菌灵抑制拟轮枝镰孢菌丝生长的EC₅₀值在0.013 2~0.774 0 mg/L之间,平均EC₅₀值为(0.220 8 ± 0.143 7) mg/L。敏感性频率分布显示,供试病原菌群体中已出现对多菌灵敏感性下降的亚群体,但其中仍有35.71%的菌株对多菌灵的敏感性频率呈正态分布,因此可将此部分菌株的平均EC₅₀值 (0.081 4 ± 0.028 9) mg/L作为拟轮枝镰孢对多菌灵的相对敏感基线。药剂驯化共获得6株抗性菌株,抗性倍数在5.05~12.22之间。抗性菌株的菌丝生长速率及菌丝干重均低于亲本菌株,表明其抗性菌株的生物适合度有所降低,同时发现其抗药性均不能稳定遗传。室内交互抗性测定结果表明,拟轮枝镰孢对多菌灵的抗性与咪鲜胺、戊唑醇、三唑酮及吡唑醚菌酯之间均不存在交互抗性关系。     

重庆及周边地区玉米穗腐病致病镰孢菌的分离与鉴定

为明确重庆及周边地区玉米穗腐病致病镰孢菌的种群组成及其分布,于2014—2015年在32个区县98个乡镇采集玉米穗腐病样品,采用种子健康检测法分离病原物,通过形态学特性、培养特征和分子生物学等方法鉴定镰孢菌种。结果表明,在获得的111个镰孢菌分离物中鉴定出10种致病镰孢菌,分别为拟轮枝镰孢、层出镰孢、禾谷镰孢复合种、尖镰孢复合种、藤仓镰孢、木贼镰孢、黄色镰孢、变红镰孢、九州镰孢和茄镰孢,其总分离频率依次为38.70%、17.10%、17.10%、11.70%、7.20%、3.60%、1.80%、0.90%、0.90%和0.90%;除渝东南区域外,在其它区域拟轮枝镰孢的分离频率最高,其次为层出镰孢和禾谷镰孢复合种;对禾谷镰孢复合种分离物的翻译延伸因子TEF-1α基因测序比对发现,该复合种由南方镰孢和亚洲镰孢组成。研究表明,重庆地区玉米穗腐病优势致病镰孢菌为拟轮枝镰孢、禾谷镰孢复合种和层出镰孢。     

河北省玉米穗腐病病原菌鉴定及潜在产伏马毒素镰孢菌系统发育分析

 为明确河北省夏玉米区玉米穗腐病的发生情况、病原菌组成及地区对病原菌种类的影响,本团队于2016年和2017年在玉米收获前期对玉米穗腐病的发生情况进行调查,并通过生物学方法对随机采回的样本进行分离鉴定。田间调查结果表明,与2016年相比,2017年河北省玉米种植面积有所减少,玉米穗腐病的发病率有所下降。分离鉴定结果表明,引起河北省夏玉米区穗腐病的优势病原菌为拟轮枝镰孢菌(Fusarium verticillioides),分离频率为63.49%,其他病原菌如层出镰孢菌(F. proliferatum)、禾谷镰孢菌(F. graminearum)、变红镰孢菌(F. incarnatum)、黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)、黄曲霉(A. flavus)、草酸青霉(Penicillium oxalicum)和哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)的分离频率分别为19.05%、6.35%、1.59%、14.29%、3.17%、9.52%和1.59%。为明确伏马毒素基因在潜在产伏马毒素镰孢菌鉴定中的作用,拟轮枝镰孢菌、层出镰孢菌和藤仓镰孢菌(F. fujikuroi)分别以EF-1α和FUM1基因序列为基础构建系统发育树。结果表明,两个系统发育树拓扑结构相似,伏马毒素基因可用于潜在产伏马毒素镰孢菌种的鉴定,基于FUM1基因的种间遗传距离大于基于EF-1α基因的种间遗传距离,而种内遗传距离的结论则与之相反。     

黄淮海夏玉米主产区穗腐病病原菌的分离鉴定

为明确我国黄淮海夏玉米主产区玉米穗腐病的病原菌种类、优势种群及虫害、年度、省份对病原菌的影响,以形态学为基础,结合分子生物学方法对2013、2015年随机采自河南、河北、山东3省的155份玉米穗腐病样品进行分离鉴定。结果表明,引起黄淮海夏玉米主产区玉米穗腐病的主要致病菌为镰孢菌Fusarium spp.,包括拟轮枝镰孢F.verticillioides、禾谷镰孢F.graminearum、层出镰孢F.proliferatum、木贼镰孢F.equiseti及藤仓镰孢F.fujikuroi,分离频率分别为49.7%、28.4%、12.3%、3.9%和1.3%;其次为木霉菌Trichoderma spp.,包括哈茨木霉T.harzianum、绿色木霉T.viride和棘孢木霉T.asperellum,分离频率分别为8.4%、3.2%和5.2%;青霉菌Penicillium spp.分离频率较低,为14.2%;曲霉菌Aspergillus spp.包括黑曲霉A.niger和黄曲霉A.flavus,分离频率分别为2.6%和1.9%。研究表明,黄淮海主产区玉米穗腐病优势病原菌为拟轮枝镰孢、禾谷镰孢和木霉菌,不同省份不同年度间病原菌种类及优势病原菌存在差异,虫害能加重玉米穗腐病的发生。     

玉米穗腐病防治药剂的室内毒力测定及田间防效

采用菌丝生长速率法进行7种杀菌剂对玉米穗腐病致病菌的毒力测定和田间病害防治试验,筛选对玉米穗腐病具有良好防控作用的药剂,为生产中病害治理提供依据。试验结果表明,禾谷镰孢Fusarium graminearum对戊唑醇最敏感,EC50为0.232 mg/L;拟轮枝镰孢F. verticillium对丙环唑最敏感,EC50为0.512 mg/L;青霉Penicillium sp.对吡唑醚菌酯表现敏感,EC50为1.522 mg/L;链格孢Alternaria alternata对戊唑醇表现敏感,EC50为0.354 mg/L。将丙环唑和吡唑醚菌酯按照1∶50的有效成分质量比进行混配,对抑制禾谷镰孢具有明显增效作用,共毒系数达到688.830;将丙环唑和吡唑醚菌酯按1∶20的有效成分质量比进行混配,对抑制拟轮枝镰孢具有明显增效作用,共毒系数达到500.220,并在室内盆栽试验中对玉米穗腐病的防治效果达到78.23%,田间试验中防治效果也达到74.27%。研究表明,在玉米灌浆期施用丙环唑和吡唑醚菌酯混剂,对于防治玉米穗腐病具有良好的效果。     

以菌土覆盖法鉴定玉米品种对茎腐病抗性的研究

在田间以菌土覆盖的接种方法鉴定不同品种玉米对茎腐病的抗性。结果表明:由禾谷镰孢菌引起的玉米茎腐病,其发生程度与土壤中病原菌含量即菌土浓度呈近似正相关,菌土浓度越高,玉米发病越重,但达到一定浓度后,供试种质发病率的增幅会逐渐减小,发病率趋于平稳。在同一浓度的菌土胁迫下,不同抗病水平的品种发病程度存在明显差异,对于抗性种质,接种菌土的浓度需达到20%以上,才能较准确地评价其抗性。该方法可有效解决伤根接种和注射接种在田间操作难度高、工作量大、发病不理想以及埋土法影响出苗的问题,更适用于大批量种质资源田间抗病性鉴定的相关研究。     

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.     

Diagnostics,genetic diversity and pathogenic variation of ascochyta blight of cool season food and feed legumes

Molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed to differentiate the Ascochyta pathogens that infect cool season food and feed legumes, as well as to improve the sensitivity of detecting latent infection in plant tissues. A seed sampling technique was developed to detect a 1% level of infection by Ascochyta rabiei in commercial chickpea seed. The Ascochyta pathogens were shown to be genetically diverse in countries where the pathogen and host have coexisted for a long time. However, where the pathogen was recently introduced, such as A. rabiei to Australia, the level of diversity remained relatively low, even as the pathogen spread to all chickpea-growing areas. Pathogenic variability of A. rabiei and Ascochyta pinodes pathogens in chickpea and field pea respectively, appears to be quantitative, where measures of disease severity were based on aggressiveness (quantitative level of infection) rather than on true qualitative virulence. In contrast, qualitative differences in pathogenicity in lentil and faba bean genotypes indicated the existence of pathotypes of Ascochyta lentis and Ascochyta fabae. Therefore, reports of pathotype discrimination based on quantitative differences in pathogenicity in a set of specific genotypes is questionable for several of the ascochyta-legume pathosystems such as A. rabiei and A. pinodes. This is not surprising since host resistance to these pathogens has been reported to be mainly quantitative, making it difficult for the pathogen to overcome specific resistance genes and form pathotypes. For robust pathogenicity assessment, there needs to be consistency in selection of differential host genotypes, screening conditions and disease evaluation techniques for each of the Ascochyta sp. in legume-growing countries throughout the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of pathotype diversity and aggressiveness within populations is important in the selection of resistant genotypes.     

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.     

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.