玉米根系分泌物对烟草黑胫病菌的抑制活性及其抑菌物质分析

本文研究了玉米根系与烟草疫霉菌游动孢子的互作及玉米根系分泌物对烟草疫霉菌各个生育阶段的抑菌活性,并利用HPLC-MS分析了根系分泌物中具有抑菌活性的物质。结果表明,玉米根系能吸引烟草疫霉菌游动孢子,其分泌物也能使孢子休止并裂解。进一步研究表明,玉米根系分泌物对烟草疫霉菌游动孢子的释放、休止孢萌发及菌丝生长均具有明显的抑制活性,在浓度0.90 mg/m L时抑制率分别为73.8%、87.2%和55.2%。HPLC-MS分析结果表明,根系分泌物中存在苯并嗪类化合物丁布及其降解产物门布,其中门布对烟草疫霉菌菌丝的生长具有明显的抑菌活性,浓度0.30 mg/m L时抑制率达90.94%。综上所述,玉米根系既能吸引游动孢子,又能分泌对烟草疫霉菌具有抑制活性的苯并嗪类化合物。该结果对合理利用玉米与烤烟轮作控制烟草黑胫病的发生具有重要意义。     

四种作物根系分泌物对烟草疫霉的抑菌活性分析

通过分析玉米、大蒜、茴香和油菜4种作物根系分泌物对烟草疫霉的抑菌活性,发现这4种作物根系表现出很强的化感作用,根系分泌物能在短时间内迅速地杀死烟草疫霉的游动孢子,抑制其萌发。其中,玉米根系分泌物在最高浓度2.59mg/mL时,对疫霉休止孢萌发的抑制率高达100%;大蒜根系分泌物浓度为0.1 mg/mL时,20min内能完全抑制游动孢子的游动。分析4种作物根系对游动孢子的趋化作用发现,茴香、油菜对疫霉游动孢子的吸引活性最强,T0最高分别为76.3、68.7,玉米、大蒜次之。以上结果为建立"以生物多样性为基础,克服烟草土传病害连作障碍"的病害防治新模式提供有力的理论支撑。     

非寄主和寄主种子分泌物对大豆疫霉活性的影响

为探寻非寄主和寄主种子分泌物中抗病信号分子,通过显微观察,采用菌丝生长速率法和离体接种法对不同种子分泌物处理后大豆疫霉Phytophthora sojae的游动孢子数、孢子囊数、游动孢子释放后残留的空囊数、成囊和未成囊的游动孢子数、萌发和未萌发的胞囊数、菌落直径、卵孢子数进行测量,并计算抑制率,明确非寄主菜豆和寄主大豆抗病品种、感病品种种子分泌物对大豆疫霉游动孢子趋化性、生长发育和侵袭力的影响。结果显示,非寄主菜豆种子分泌物不吸引大豆疫霉游动孢子,显著抑制大豆疫霉孢子囊形成、胞囊萌发和卵孢子产生,抑制率依次为97.3%、73.0%和17.5%,然后溶解胞囊,最终导致游动孢子对下胚轴侵袭力降低,抑制率为67.1%。寄主大豆种子分泌物能吸引大豆疫霉游动孢子,感病品种种子分泌物吸引力高于抗病品种。感病品种种子分泌物对大豆疫霉生长发育无显著影响,但促进大豆疫霉游动孢子侵袭力;抗病品种种子分泌物显著抑制大豆疫霉孢子囊形成、胞囊萌发和卵孢子产生,抑制率依次为86.6%、34.3%和12.8%,然后溶解胞囊,但作用强度小于非寄主菜豆种子分泌物,最终导致游动孢子对下胚轴的侵袭力降低,抑制率为24.2%。表明非寄主菜豆和寄主大豆抗病品种的种子分泌物对大豆疫霉有抑菌活性,大豆疫霉的非寄主和寄主抗病性与种子分泌物有关。     

大蒜根系分泌物对烟草镰刀菌根腐病的控制作用

为探讨大蒜根系分泌物对烟草尖孢镰刀菌的抑菌活性,采用琼脂法培养大蒜,利用气相色谱—质谱技术（GC-MS）测定其主要成分,研究大蒜根系分泌物对烟草尖孢镰刀菌根腐病的影响。对菌丝生长速率和孢子萌发的测定表明,当大蒜根系分泌物粗提物浓度为1 g/mL时,其菌丝生长抑制率为30.56%,孢子萌发抑制率高达100.00%。大蒜根系分泌物主要成份2,6—二异丙基苯酚和邻苯二甲酸二丁酯分别对其菌丝生长和孢子萌发具有较强的抑菌作用。邻苯二甲酸二丁酯的防控效果较好,其浓度为5 mmol/L,接菌21 d后其病情指数为55.00,防控效果达32.38%。大蒜根系分泌物及主要成分对尖孢镰刀菌所引起的烟草根腐病有显著的抑制作用,这为研制含大蒜成分的植物保护剂和间作套种大蒜防控烟草尖孢镰刀菌根腐病提供科学参考。     

链霉菌Sa-21对烟草黑胫病的防效及抑菌作用研究

烟草疫霉引起的烟草黑胫病,是烟草生产上的重要病害之一。为了明确链霉菌Sa-21防治烟草黑胫病的应用潜力,用盆栽试验测定了链霉菌Sa-21的生防效果,并用生长速率法等手段探讨了链霉菌Sa-21对烟草疫霉的抑菌作用。盆栽试验表明,链霉菌Sa-21菌株发酵液对苗期和成株期烟草黑胫病有较好的控制效果,最高防效可达98.39%。菌株Sa-21粗浸膏对烟草疫霉菌丝生长的抑菌中浓度为56.1μg/mL,50μg/mL的粗浸膏处理后可以降低50%的菌丝生物量。菌株Sa-21粗浸膏对烟草疫霉孢子囊的产生、游动孢子释放、休止孢萌发以及细胞膜透性均有抑制作用,100μg/mL的粗浸膏基本能够完全抑制孢子囊的产生,并且对游动孢子释放的抑制率达50%以上;粗浸膏浓度为150μg/mL时,对休止孢萌发的抑制率达94.35%;随着粗浸膏浓度增加,菌丝细胞膜的透性也会加大。研究结果表明,链霉菌Sa-21代谢物对烟草疫霉的生长繁殖产生抑制作用,并为链霉菌Sa-21生防菌剂的开发及其对烟草黑胫病的防治提供了理论依据。     

“霜霉威(Propamocarb)”“甲霜灵(Metalaxyl)”对我国辣椒疫霉菌作用方式比较及交互抗性的研究

通过霜霉威(Propamocarb商品名普力克)、甲霜灵(Metalaxyl商品名瑞毒霉)对辣椒疫霉菌(Phytophthora capsici)6个菌株作用方式的体外测定结果表明,霜霉威浓度在2000ppm时对P. capsici孢子囊和卵孢子的形成,游动孢子的释放、游动及休止孢萌发、菌丝体的生长没有明显的抑制作用。而甲霜灵对P. capsici的各种孢子的产生及菌丝体的生长有较强的抑制作用,对菌丝体生长抑制的Ec_(50)和Ec_(95)分别为0.5596ppm和2.1511ppm;对孢子囊形成抑制的Ec_(50)和Ec_(95)分别为0.1520ppm和15.0032ppm。0.1ppm的甲霜灵可显著抑制卵孢子的生成。但500ppm的甲霜灵对于游动孢子的释放和休止孢萌发没有明显的抑制作用。对霜霉威和甲霜灵的体内活性试验结果表明,800ppm的霜霉威对辣椒疫霉菌的内吸保护防效达94％,1.0ppm的甲霜灵对该病的防效达100％。室内初步试验结果表明,甲霜灵与霜霉威对P. capsici没有交互抗性。     

大豆疫霉RNA结合蛋白PsM90的基因功能研究

 真核生物的基因表达能够在转录与转录后等水平受到调控,以适应不同时空环境中的生长与发育等生物学过程,其中PUF家族RNA结合蛋白是一类具有保守PUM-HD(Pumilio homology domain)功能域的转录后调节因子,通过与靶标mRNA特异性结合控制其稳定性及翻译。本研究利用CRISPR/CAS9介导的疫霉菌基因组编辑技术,对大豆疫霉的PUF家族基因PsM90进行敲除和功能研究。结果表明,PsM90敲除突变体的卵孢子产量减少至野生型的32%,卵孢子壁明显变薄,卵孢子中的细胞器未能正常分化;游动孢子对大豆黄化苗下胚轴的致病力有所下降。此外,PsM90的敲除不影响营养菌丝生长、孢子囊发育、游动孢子释放和休止孢萌发等生物学性状。上述结果揭示了PsM90是大豆疫霉有性发育等过程的重要相关基因,为深入揭示卵菌中卵孢子发育这一独特生物学过程的分子调控机制奠定了基础。     

韭菜和辣椒间作对辣椒疫病的防治效果及其化感机理

为明确韭菜和辣椒间作对辣椒疫病的防治效果及其化感机理,比较了韭菜和辣椒不同行比间作对辣椒疫病的防治效果,测定了韭菜茎、叶挥发物与浸提液对辣椒疫霉菌的抑制作用,并分析了韭菜根系对辣椒疫霉菌游动孢子侵染和传播行为的影响。结果表明,韭菜与辣椒行比为3∶1间作能显著控制辣椒疫病的扩展与传播;2.0 g/皿韭菜茎挥发物及0.15 m L/m L茎浸提液对辣椒疫霉菌菌丝生长的抑制活性可达33.33%和88.75%;辣椒疫霉菌游动孢子对韭菜根系具有明显的趋化活性,且于根围迅速休止并萌发,丧失在土壤中继续寻找寄主的能力,其传播侵染行为受到干扰。研究表明,韭菜和辣椒间作可以有效控制辣椒疫病的扩展蔓延,实现对辣椒疫病的生态防控。     

芽孢杆菌BH_1防治大豆根腐病的效果及机制

芽孢杆菌BH1分离于大豆根际,在温室试验中表现出较好的防治效果。田间试验对尖孢镰刀菌引起的大豆根腐病防效达56.1%,增产7.6%。该菌株发酵无菌滤液对尖孢镰刀菌F3、茄孢镰刀菌W1和镰刀菌S1孢子萌发和菌丝生长有抑制作用;对热处理较稳定。对其抗利福平标记株B R+ 4与大豆根系的亲和性研究表明,BH1可定殖于无菌土和病土中生长的大豆根际,且动态变化趋势相似,但在无菌土中数量略高于病土。组织印记法表明:B R+ 4可在整个大豆根系生长。扫描电镜观察发现,BH1主要存在于根表凹陷处,在根尖或侧根处则很少。透射电镜观察,根细胞间隙内未检测到BH1。在大豆根际的定殖试验说明,B R+ 4与大豆根系有很好的亲和性,对营养和空间位点的竞争是其拮抗病原菌的主要机制。     

“霜霉威(Propamocarb)”“甲霜灵(Metalaxyl)”对我国辣椒疫霉菌作用方式比较及交互抗性的研究

 通过霜霉威(Propamocarb商品名普力克)、甲霜灵(Metalaxyl商品名瑞毒霉)对辣椒疫霉菌(Phytophthora capsici)6个菌株作用方式的体外测定结果表明,霜霉威浓度在2000ppm时对P. capsici孢子囊和卵孢子的形成,游动孢子的释放、游动及休止孢萌发、菌丝体的生长没有明显的抑制作用。而甲霜灵对P. capsici的各种孢子的产生及菌丝体的生长有较强的抑制作用,对菌丝体生长抑制的Ec₅₀和Ec₉₅分别为0.5596ppm和2.1511ppm;对孢子囊形成抑制的Ec₅₀和Ec₉₅分别为0.1520ppm和15.0032ppm。0.1ppm的甲霜灵可显著抑制卵孢子的生成。但500ppm的甲霜灵对于游动孢子的释放和休止孢萌发没有明显的抑制作用。对霜霉威和甲霜灵的体内活性试验结果表明,800ppm的霜霉威对辣椒疫霉菌的内吸保护防效达94%,1.0ppm的甲霜灵对该病的防效达100%。室内初步试验结果表明,甲霜灵与霜霉威对P. capsici没有交互抗性。     

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.