干旱胁迫对玉米苗期叶绿素荧光参数的影响

采用盆栽试验,以抗旱性强的郑单958和抗旱性弱的陕单902玉米品种为材料,研究干旱胁迫对玉米苗期叶片光能利用和能量耗散的影响。结果表明,随着干旱胁迫的增加,2个玉米品种叶片叶绿素含量(Chl),实际量子效率(φPSⅡ)、电子传递速率(ETR),光化学淬灭(qP)下降,最大电子传递速率(ETRm)和光量子利用效率(α)都有不同程度的降低,非光化学淬灭系数(qN)增加,而PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)变化不明显。表明2个品种在中度干旱下没有造成光合机构的破坏,只是通过减少光能的利用和增加热耗散维持光合机构的稳定。但品种间存在基因型差异,与陕单902相比,郑单958各项生理参数值变化幅度小,且干旱胁迫下保持较高的电子传递速率和转化能力,是其高产抗旱的重要生理基础。     

干旱胁迫对玉米叶片光响应及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

利用大型移动防雨棚开展玉米干旱胁迫及复水试验,通过分析玉米叶片光响应曲线和叶绿素荧光参数,揭示不同生育期干旱胁迫对玉米光合作用和叶绿素荧光的影响程度.结果表明:1)干旱胁迫后玉米净光合速率(Pn)显著降低;当光合有效辐射(PAR)过高时受到强光抑制作用Pn略低,干旱胁迫后受光抑制影响较对照明显;干旱胁迫对玉米光合能力的影响表现为:拔节期＞乳熟期＞苗期;复水10d后光合作用略有恢复,但恢复较缓慢.2)不同发育期受到干旱胁迫后均表现为实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)下降,非光化学淬灭系数(qN)升高的趋势,但拔节期叶绿素荧光参数对土壤干旱胁迫的响应比苗期、乳熟期更加敏感,下降和升高幅度更大;复水后,叶绿素荧光参数虽略有恢复,但短期内难以达到正常水平.     

花期干旱对大豆叶绿素荧光参数的影响

利用叶绿素荧光动力学测定技术,研究大豆开花期干旱对叶片叶绿素荧光参数的影响,结果表明:大豆开花期受旱后,可变荧光与最大荧光比(Fv/Fm)、可变荧光与初始荧光比(Fv/F0)、非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)均降低,而ETR升高。说明光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)受到了伤害,使得PSⅡ原初光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/F0)、起光保护作用的热耗散降低,光合电子传递速率升高。花期干旱胁迫后,各参数存在基因型差异,新大豆1号在花期干旱条件下,光合机构受破坏较轻,其吸收的光能能较多地用于光化学转化能力,抗旱能力强。因此,花期干旱胁迫下,叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/F0、Fv/Fm)变化与大豆品种抗旱性有关,利用大豆品种叶绿素荧光对干旱胁迫的反应差异鉴定品种抗旱性是可行的。     

控墒补灌下春玉米光合特性、叶片衰老研究及最适灌溉量估算

以玉米品种郑单958为材料,于2014—2015年在新疆石河子进行大田试验,设置5个控墒补灌栽培模式,研究了控墒下限对绿洲区滴灌春玉米光合特性、叶片衰老和水分利用效率的影响,并估算了本区玉米高产栽培的最佳灌溉量。试验结果表明,大喇叭口、抽雄及吐丝期土壤墒度过低或过高会显著(P0.05)降低玉米株高、叶面积指数(LAI)及干物质积累量。灌浆期土壤墒度保持在田间持水量85%的栽培模式,玉米穗位叶净光合速率(Pn)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭系数(q P)及光合电子传递速率(rETR)可分别较墒度70%栽培模式提高71.7%、81.8%、71.6%和54.9%,但却会降低单叶的水分利用效率(WUE_L)。同时,花后同化物输入量及其对子粒的贡献率分别提高105.2%、20.3%,叶片衰老持续期延缓了8.1 d。二次曲线拟合表明,最佳灌量为539.9 mm时能取得14.9×103kg·hm~(-2)的高产,可同时兼顾产量与灌溉效益的最大化。     

干旱胁迫对赤霞珠葡萄叶片水分及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

试验以3a生赤霞珠为材料,根据黎明前叶片的基础水势(Ψb),设置轻度干旱胁迫(T3)、中度干旱胁迫(T2)和重度干旱胁迫(T1)三个处理,以无胁迫为CK。研究了赤霞珠葡萄叶片水分及叶绿素荧光参数的变化规律。结果表明:干旱胁迫能导致赤霞珠葡萄叶片水分饱和亏缺、束缚水呈现依次上升趋势,而叶片相对含水量、总含水量、自由水及自由水/束缚水呈现不同程度下降趋势,且随胁迫程度的增大而显著增加。随着胁迫的进行,赤霞珠葡萄基础荧光(F_0)呈现先上升后下降趋势,最大荧光(Fm)、可变荧光(Fv)、原初光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、潜在活性(Fv/F_0)、最大量子产额(Yield)、电子传递速率(ETR)及光化学淬灭系数(qP)显著降低,而非光化学淬灭系数(qN)显著增加。表明干旱胁迫能引起赤霞珠葡萄叶片水分降低,光合电子传递链受阻,PSII反应中心耗散过剩光能的能力增强,吸收的光能更多地用于保护性的热耗散途径,导致光化学量子产额下降,光合效率下降。     

文冠果对干旱胁迫的光合生理响应

通过盆栽试验,以抗旱性强弱不同的两个种源地文冠果为试验材料,对干旱胁迫下文冠果的光合生理指标进行较为系统的研究,结果表明：①干旱胁迫条件下两个种源地文冠果叶片净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（Cond）、蒸腾速率（Tr）、叶绿素含量（Chl）都有不同幅度的下降。抗旱性强的文冠果（新疆喀什）随着干旱胁迫的加剧,净光合速率、气孔导度和叶绿素含量下降较慢。②轻度干旱胁迫下气孔限制是影响两个种源地文冠果 Pn下降的主要因素;中度和重度干旱胁迫下,非气孔限制是两个种源地文冠果 Pn下降的主要因素。③叶绿素荧光参数研究表明：干旱胁迫条件下两个种源地文冠果PSⅡ反应中心光化学效率（Fv/Fm ）、PSⅡ潜在活性（Fv/Fo ）均降低;PSⅡ光化学淬灭系数（qP）均降低,而PSⅡ非光化学淬灭系数（qNP）则增大。总体上,与抗旱性弱的文冠果相比,抗旱性强的文冠果的 Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo下降幅度较小,PSⅡ的光化学能力和PSⅡ潜在活性均较强;PSⅡ光化学淬灭系数（qP）降低的幅度较小且PSⅡ非光化学淬灭系数（qNP）降低幅度较大。     

甘蓝型油菜对干旱和低磷双重胁迫的生理反应Ⅱ：叶片叶绿素含量及叶绿素荧光参数

通过对叶绿素含量及叶绿素荧光参数的测定和分析,研究了干旱和低磷胁迫对油菜不同生育期叶片叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,油菜在蕾苔期和花期受到干旱和低磷胁迫后,叶绿素含量、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ最大的光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际的光化学量子产量(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)显著降低,初始荧光(Fo)、非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)则显著上升,但在苗期却没有显著的变化.表明油菜在蕾苔期和花期遭受到干旱和低磷胁迫后,油菜叶片PSⅡ反应中心受到损伤,光合电子传递过程受到抑制;这些参数在蕾苔期由低磷胁迫引起的变化幅度明显大干由干旱胁迫引起的变化幅度,在花期则相反.蕾苔期是低磷胁迫对油菜造成光抑制影响最大的时期,而花期则是干旱胁迫对油菜造成光抑制影响最大的时期.     

清香木叶片光合荧光特性对土壤水分胁迫的响应

采用盆栽控水试验,以清香木苗木为材料,设置6个不同土壤水分处理(W1、W2、W3、W4、W5、W6),用Li-6400便携式光合测定仪测定清香木叶片的光合参数和叶绿素荧光参数,探讨清香木叶片光合荧光特性在不同土壤水分处理下的变化机制及其与土壤水分的定量关系.结果表明:随着土壤重量含水量由高到低(W1-W6),清香木叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、光化学最大量子效率(Fv/Fm)、有效荧光产量(Yield)、电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)先增大后减小,而非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)先减小后增大;水分利用效率(WUE)和胞间CO2浓度(Ci)波动频繁.土壤水分含量过高(W1)和极度干旱(W6)时非气孔因素导致清香木叶片光合作用降低;土壤水分较适宜时气孔因素限制清香木叶片光合作用.W6时清香木叶片Pn、Tr、Gs、Yield、ETR、NPQ值显著降低,叶片的光合结构PSⅡ已被损坏.     

多效唑提高玉米幼苗抗旱性的生理机制研究

以浚单20号玉米(Zea mays L var Xundan 20)为试材,利用砂培法研究了不同浓度生长延缓剂多效唑pp333对玉米幼苗抗旱性的影响.试验结果表明,提前喷施适宜浓度的pp333,能提高玉米幼苗在干旱条件下的抗旱性.干旱前喷施适宜浓度的pp333,可以减缓干旱胁迫对玉米幼苗叶片和根系膜透性的不良影响;促进玉米幼苗叶片在干旱条件下累积渗透调节物质,从而改善玉米幼苗叶片水分状态;同时降低干旱条件下玉米叶片的蒸腾速率,增加玉米叶片的水分含量;干旱条件下,提前喷施了pp333的玉米幼苗叶片叶绿素含量降低幅度减小,光合速率较高,气孔导度变小.硝酸还原酶活性降幅变小.从外部形态来看,喷施pp333的植株,叶片宽度增加,茎杆增粗,根冠比增加,单株生物量较对照水平为高.本试验结果显示,pp333 能提高玉米幼苗的抗旱性,本试验条件下pp333最适宜的喷施浓度是0.3%.     

DCPTA诱导寒地春玉米种子萌发及幼苗抗旱理化特征的研究

以玉米品种郑单958、先玉335和东农253为试验材料,用15%聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟水分胁迫条件研究了植物生长调节剂DCPTA[2-(3.4-二氧苯氧基)三乙胺]对玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长抗旱性的影响。结果表明,水分胁迫显著抑制了玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长。玉米幼苗叶片内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性增强,脯氨酸含量增加,幼苗叶片叶绿素含量、初始荧光(F_0)、PSⅡ最大光能化学效率(F_c/F_m)显著下降,且玉米品种之间抗旱性存在差异,表现为先玉335郑单958东农253。DCPTA处理对玉米种子的发芽率、发芽势、萌发抗旱指数伤害减小,对幼苗胚根、胚芽生长和贮藏物质转化的抑制作用减弱,以1.0 mg/L DCPTA处理效果最显著。盆栽试验表明,水分胁迫条件下喷施DCPTA随浓度升高玉米幼苗叶片内抗氧化酶活性和脯氨酸含量均增加,叶绿素含量、F_0、F_v/F_m呈增加趋势,且喷施80 mg/L DCPTA处理效果显著。本研究表明适宜浓度的DCPTA能缓解水分胁迫对玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长的伤害,增强幼苗对水分胁迫的适应能力,并且DCPTA处理效果与品种抗旱性有关。3个供试品种DCPTA作用效果顺序为东农253郑单958先玉335。     

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.