RAPD and virulence analyses of Colletotrichum capski isolates from chilli (Capsicum annuum)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Chilli (Capsicum annuum) fruits showing symptoms of an-thracnose disease were collected from farmer’s fields in different chilli-growing areas of...     

Development of protocols for detection of Colletotrichum acutatum and monitoring of strawberry anthracnose using real-time PCR

Real-time PCR (TaqMan®) assays were developed for the specific detection and discrimination of Colletotrichum spp., C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides causing anthracnose in strawberry using the most divergent area of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5·8S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene region. The specificity of the new assays was tested using DNA from six species of Colletotrichum and nine fungal species commonly found associated with strawberry material, and additionally by comparing the sequences with those from databases using a blast search. The sequences only showed identity with homologous sequences from the desired target organisms. The new assays were 10–100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR methods previously published for the diagnosis of strawberry anthracnose. When real-time PCR was compared with ELISA methods, PCR improved the sensitivity of the identification by obtaining positive results for samples of strawberry plant material that tested negative with ELISA. The development of C. acutatum was monitored using artificially infected strawberry crowns from two strawberry cultivars (Camarosa and Ventana) and a real-time PCR assay specific for this species between January and June 2006. The amount of C. acutatum detected using real-time PCR varied significantly by month ( P  < 0·001), but not by cultivar ( P  = 0·394). The new assays were shown to be useful tools for rapid detection and identification of these pathogens and to allow rapid and accurate assessment of the casual agents of anthracnose in strawberry.     

Defence responses of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) infected with incompatible and compatible strains of Phytophthora capsici

In this study, we investigated the activities of β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase enzymes in the leaves of pepper cultivar A3 infected with the incompatible strain PC and the compatible strain HX-9 of Phytophthora capsici. The activities of β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase enzymes substantially increased in the incompatible interactions compared to the compatible interactions. We also analysed the expression patterns of four defence-related genes, including CABPR1, CABGLU, CAPO1 and CaRGA1, in the leaves and roots of pepper inoculated with different strains of P. capsici. All gene expression levels were higher in the leaves than in the roots. Markedly different expression patterns were observed between incompatible and compatible host-pathogen interactions. In the incompatible interactions, the expression levels of CABPR1, CABGLU and CAPO1 genes in leaves increased by a maximum of 17.2-, 13.2- and 20.5-fold at 24, 12 and 12 h, respectively, whereas the CaRGA1 gene expression level increased to a lesser degree, 6.0-fold at 24 h. However, in the compatible interactions, the expression levels of the four defence-related genes increased by a maximum of 11.2-, 8.6-, 7.9- and 2.0-fold at 48, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Compared to the leaves, the expression levels of the four defence-related genes were much lower in the roots. The highest levels of mRNA were those of the CABPR1 gene, which increased 5.1-fold at 24 h in the incompatible and 3.2-fold at 48 h in the compatible interactions. The other three genes exhibited lower expression levels in the incompatible and compatible interactions. These results further confirmed that defence-related genes might be involved in the defence response of pepper to P. capsici attack.     

Characterization and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose on chilli (Capsicum spp.) in Thailand

Fungal isolates from chilli ( Capsicum spp.) fruits in Thailand that showed typical anthracnose symptoms were identified as Colletotrichum acutatum , C . capsici and C . gloeosporioides . Phylogenetic analyses from DNA sequence data of ITS rDNA and β-tubulin ( tub 2) gene regions revealed three major clusters representing these three species. Among the morphological characters examined, colony growth rate and conidium shape in culture were directly correlated with the phylogenetic groupings. Comparison with isolates of C . gloeosporioides from mango and C . acutatum from strawberry showed that host was not important for phylogenetic grouping. Pathogenicity tests validated that all three species isolated from chilli were causal agents for chilli anthracnose when inoculated onto fruits of the susceptible Thai elite cultivar Capsicum annuum cv. Bangchang. Cross-infection potential was shown by C . acutatum isolates originating from strawberry, which produced anthracnose on Bangchang. Interestingly, only C . acutatum isolates from chilli were able to infect and produce anthracnose on PBC 932, a resistant genotype of Capsicum chinense . This result has important implications for Thai chilli breeding programmes in which PBC 932 is being hybridized with Bangchang to incorporate anthracnose resistance into chilli cultivars.     

Genetic diversity analysis of severely infesting invasive thrips,Thrips parvispinus (Karny) in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in India

Phytoparasitica - Thrips are economically important pests of crops and vectors of viral diseases worldwide. Invasion and outbreak of thrips have recently caused havoc in agricultural and...     

Quantitative detection and monitoring of Colletotrichum acutatum in strawberry leaves using real-time PCR

Real-time PCR assays for Colletotrichum acutatum , one of the most important pathogens of strawberry worldwide, were developed using primers designed to the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (rDNA ITS1) and the β-tubulin 2 gene. Using TaqMan technology, the ITS-based assay could reliably detect as little as 50 fg genomic DNA, 100 copies of target DNA, or 25 conidia. The β-tubulin-based assay was c . 66 times less sensitive, and therefore less suitable for detection purposes. The TaqMan-ITS assay recognized all C. acutatum isolates tested from various intraspecific molecular groups, while no amplification was observed with several other Colletotrichum species or other strawberry pathogens, indicating the specificity of this assay. Detection and quantification of C. acutatum was demonstrated in artificially and naturally infected strawberry leaves. First, C. acutatum was detected in plant mixes of which only 0·001% of the tissue was infected by C. acutatum . Secondly, real-time PCR analysis of leaf samples taken at various times after inoculation indicated that the assay allowed monitoring of growth progression of C. acutatum . This real-time PCR-mediated monitoring of the pathogen was well-correlated with microscopic data, and confirmed that leaf age may play a role in the extent of C. acutatum infection. Finally, the assay allowed detection of C. acutatum in naturally infected and symptomless strawberry leaves collected from production fields and planting material.     

Detection of Colletotrichum coccodes from soil and potato tubers by conventional and quantitative real-time PCR

Colletotrichum coccodes is the causal agent of the potato blemish disease black dot. Two PCR primer sets were designed to sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions for use in a nested PCR. The genus-specific outer primers (Cc1F1/Cc2R1) were designed to regions common to Colletotrichum spp., and the species-specific nested primers (Cc1NF1/Cc2NR1) were designed to sequences unique to C . coccodes . The primer sets amplified single products of 447 bp (Cc1F1/Cc2R1) and 349 bp (Cc1NF1/Cc2NR1) with DNA extracted from 33 European and North American isolates of C. coccodes. The specificity of primers Cc1NF1/Cc2NR1 was confirmed by the absence of amplified product with DNA of other species representing the six phylogenetic groups of the genus Colletotrichum and 46 other eukaryotic and prokaryotic plant pathogenic species. A rapid procedure for the direct extraction of DNA from soil and potato tubers was used to verify the PCR assay for detecting C. coccodes in environmental samples. The limit of sensitivity of PCR for the specific detection of C. coccodes when inoculum was added to soils was 3·0 spores per g, or the equivalent of 0·06 microsclerotia per g soil, the lowest level of inoculum tested. Colletotrichum coccodes was also detected by PCR in naturally infested soil and from both potato peel and peel extract from infected and apparently healthy tubers. Specific primers and a TaqMan fluorogenic probe were designed to perform quantitative real-time (TaqMan) PCR to obtain the same levels of sensitivity for detection of C. coccodes in soil and tubers during a first-round PCR as with conventional nested PCR and gel electrophoresis. This rapid and quantitative PCR diagnostic assay allows an accurate estimation of tuber and soil contamination by C. coccodes .     

Identification and development of molecular markers linked to Phytophthora root rot resistance in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Phytopthora root rot in pepper (C. annuum) is caused by Phytophthora capsici L., which exhibits a high level of pathogenic diversity. Resistance to this disease is conditioned by a number of quantitative trait loci. Pyramiding resistance alleles is desirable and could be simplified by the use of molecular markers tightly linked to the resistance genes. The purpose of this study was development of molecular markers linked to Phytophthora root rot resistance. An F₈ recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between YCM334 and a susceptible cultivar ‘Tean’ was used in combination with bulk segregant analysis utilizing RAPD and conversion of AFLP markers linked to Phytophtora root rot resistance into sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. In conversion: one marker was successfully converted into a co-dominant SCAR marker SA133_4 linked to the trait. In bulked segregant analysis (BSA): three RAPD primers (UBC484, 504, and 553) produced polymorphisms between DNA pools among 400 primers screened. Genetic linkage analysis showed that the SCAR and RAPD markers were located on chromosome 5 of pepper. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis showed that the SA133_4 and UBC553 were linked to Phytophtora root rot resistance. These markers were correctly identified as resistant or susceptible in nine promising commercial pepper varieties. These markers will be beneficial for marker-assisted selection in pepper breeding.     

Molecular and Pathogenicity Characteristics of Phytophthora nicotianae Responsible for Root Necrosis and Wilting of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in Tunisia

Isolates of Phytophthora from pepper, produced in Tunisia, were characterised according to molecular and pathogenicity criteria. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the ITS1 region in the ribosomal DNA resulted in different sized fragments. The pepper isolates and P. nicotianae yielded a fragment of 310bp that distinguished it from P. capsici with a fragment of 270bp. The ribosomal RNA gene amplicons of both internal transcribed spacers and the 5.8 S of the pepper Phytophthora and P. nicotianae were digested with 8 endonucleases. The patterns generated, with the 2 enzymes that cut, were identical for both taxa. This molecular analysis corroborated the morphological and biological characteristics and suggests strongly that the isolates of Phytophthora from pepper belong to the species P. nicotianae. Inoculation of pepper, tomato, eggplant and tobacco plants with the isolates of P. nicotianae from pepper showed they were highly pathogenic on pepper but not on tobacco, while their pathogenicity was weak on tomato and eggplant and was associated with atypical symptoms not observed in the field. These pathogenicity tests suggest that pepper isolates of P. nicotianae are particularly adapted to their host and may thus constitute a forma specialis of P. nicotianae.     

Factors affecting expression of resistance in pepper (Capsicum annuum) to blight caused by Phytophthora capsici in screening trials

The effects of plant age, fungus isolate, zoospore concentration and inoculation method on the resistance of pepper ( Capsicum annuum) to blight ( Phytophthora capsici) were studied under controlled conditions. Each of the factors studied produced differing responses in the pepper lines tested hut line CNPH 286 proved to be a reliable source of resistance and is now being used in a breeding programme. An inoculation method for screening pepper lines for blight resistance is proposed, using a standardized zoospore suspension applied to the base of plants 45 days from sowing.     

Identification of allele specific AFLP markers linked with bacterial wilt [Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.] resistance in hot peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Even though the bacterial wilt is identified as the most destructive disease in hot peppers world-wide, robust molecular markers that facilitate marker assisted selection are absent till date. Kerala Agricultural University (India) has released two hot peppers named Ujwala and Anugraha which show high level field resistance to this pathogen. The variety Anugraha was developed through backcross breeding between a high yielding but highly susceptible variety Pusa Jwala with the highly resistant Ujwala, using Pusa Jwala as a recurrent parent. Thus, Pusa Jwala and Anugraha are near isogenic lines (NILs) differing for the resistance to bacterial wilt only and the resistance is governed by a homozygous recessive (rr) gene action. The F₁s of Anugraha × Pusa Jwala were selfed to generate the segregating F₂ population. The F₂ population has been field screened, 10 highly susceptible and 10 most resistant plants were identified and DNA from these plants were bulked separately. Bulked segregant analysis with AFLP primer combination EcoACT + MseCAC was done using the DNA from donor parent Ujwala, susceptible parent Pusa Jwala, resistant parent Anugraha, bulked susceptible F₂ and bulked resistant F₂ plants. On resolution using capillary electrophoresis system in genetic analyzer, the AFLP products have yielded three polymorphic bands (103, 117, and 161 bp) which were linked with the resistant recessive allele and three polymorphic bands (183, 296, 319 bp) linked with the dominant susceptible allele of the bacterial wilt resistance gene. The results were confirmed through co-segregation analysis in most resistant and susceptible plants of F₂ segregating population.     

穿刺巴斯德芽菌荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立与应用

以穿刺巴斯德芽菌16S rDNA片段为靶标,通过对荧光定量PCR反应条件的摸索,建立该菌的荧光定量PCR检测方法.所选靶点最适退火温度60℃,正、反向引物的最佳浓度搭配为900、300 nmol/L;以Ct值和质粒拷贝浓度对数为坐标轴建立标准曲线,回归方程为y=-3.200×logx+ 34.43,R2值为0.998,PCR扩增效率为105.4％,对含穿刺巴斯德芽菌芽胞的土壤样品检测阈值为2×103个/g土壤.该方法敏感度高、特异性好,能够运用于穿刺巴斯德芽菌的定性、定量检测.     

长孢轮枝菌Taq〖KG-*4〗Man-MGB探针实时荧光PCR快速检测方法

长孢轮枝菌是一种在我国局部地区新近出现且危害性极大的植物病原真菌?根据长孢轮枝菌及其近似种的actin序列差异, 设计并合成特异性引物和探针, 建立了长孢轮枝菌的实时荧光PCR检测方法?特异性试验结果表明, 该检测方法能特异性检测长孢轮枝菌; 灵敏度试验结果表明, 最低检测限量为10 μL反应体系中总DNA含量10 pg; 实时荧光PCR优化反应条件为引物终浓度0.8 μmol/L, 探针终浓度0.8 μmol/L, 优化后的整个反应过程约1 h?实际样品检测结果表明, 该方法可用于疑似受长孢轮枝菌侵染的萝卜样品检测与初筛?此方法快速?灵敏, 检测过程完全闭管, 无需PCR后续处理, 为早期快速检测长孢轮枝菌提供了重要参考?