Aantasting van bladeren van rhododendron DoorChaetapiospora rhododendri (Tengw.) v. Arx

Summary Two fungi were isolated from diseased leaves ofRhododendron ponticum: Botryosphaeria foliorum (Sacc.)v. Arx etMüll enChaetapiospora rhododendri (Tengw.) v. Arx. With the latter inoculation-experiments were performed. It became clear that this fungus can only invade the leaves ofRhododendron ponticum through wounds, causing dead areas. These spots enlarged quickly when the leaves were detached from the branches. Perithecia developed in the dead tissues.     

Control of infection and sporulation ofBotrytis cinerea on bean and tomato by saprophytic bacteria and fungi

Sixty isolates of saprophytic microorganisms were screened for their ability to reduce the severity of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) infection and sporulation. Isolates of the bacteriaXanthomonas maltophilia, Bacillus pumilus, Lactobacillus sp., andPseudomonas sp. and the fungusGliocladium catenulatum reduced germination of conidia of the pathogen and controlled disease on bean and tomato plants. Their activity under growth room conditions was good, consistent, and similar to the activity of the known biocontrol agent,Trichoderma harzianum T39 (non-formulated). Although the tested isolates may for nutrients with the germinating conidia ofB. cinerea, resistance induced in the host by live or dead cells were also found to be involved. Inhibitory compounds were not detected on treated leaves. Sporulation ofB. cinerea after its establishment on leaves was also reduced by the above mentioned isolates and byPenicillium sp.,Arthrinium montagnei, Ar. phaeospermum, Sesquicillium candelabrum, Chaetomium globosum, Alternaria alternata, Ulocladium atrum, andT. viride. These sporulation-inhibiting fungi did not reduce the infection of leaves byB. cinerea. Most of these selected fungi and bacteria were capable of reducing lesion expansion.     

Een virus inAtropa belladonna

Summary In a bgarden at Baarn, The Netherlands,Atropa belladonna plants, grown from seed, showed symptoms similar to those described bySmith (1946, 1957) for Belladonna mosaic. After inoculation of solanaceous test plants with sap from diseased plants, the following species showed symptoms:Atropa belladonna L.,Capsicum annuum L.,Hyoscyamus niger L.,Nicandra physaloides Gaertn.,Nicotiana glutinosa L.,Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Samsun,Petunia hybrida andPhysalis floridana Rydb. The symptoms suggest that the virus may be identical with that described bySmith. A high virus concentration was found inHyoscyamus niger. Nicandra physaloides, Petunia hybrida, Physalis floridana, in the roots and the pericarp of diseasedAtropa plants, and also inSolanum nigrum L. andDatura stramonium L. The latter two species showed hardly any symptoms. A. low virus concentration was found inCapsicum annuum, though this plant showed severe symptoms.The dilution end point of the virus was between 10^–3 and 10^–4; virusinactivation occurred between 70° and 80°C.In electron micrographs the rod-shaped virus particles appeared similar to those of rattle virus.Virus could be detected in the roots of tobacco plants after the leaves had been inoculated with sap of diseasedAtropa-plants (Table 1). The reverse did not occur. Following immersion of the roots of tobacco plants in virus-containing sap these plants were potted in steamed soil. Subsequently the roots proved to be infected but the stems and leaves contained no virus. However,Atropa plants treated in the same way, did show leaf symptoms.It appeared, that the roots of young, healthy tobacco plants could become infected with virus, when grown in naturally infested soil for only tow days (Table 2). Fungus cultures isolated from diseased roots did not show any infectivity. Nematodes are probably the vectors of this virus (Sol, Van Heuvel & Seinhorst, 1960).Met medewerking van Merr.J. M. Dekhuyzen-Maasland, Dr. S. Gayed (Karthoum), Mej.C. van Heuven, C. de Vooys en Mej.R. van Wessem.     

Enkele waarnemingen over het opreden van de verwelkingsiekte bij luzerne in Zeeland in 1957

Summary Some observations have been made on lucerne wilt disease during the growing season in 1957, and in experimental inoculation tests in a glasshouse in 1958. In the province of Zeeland the disease does harm to the crop and prevents many farmers from keeping their crops longer than two years.In a survey data have been collected on soil type, preceding crops, green manuring and manuring with stable dung, pH, structure and weeds. No correlations between these factors and the degree of attack by the disease could be proved, except that on heavy soils the disease was less severe than on lighter soils (as a mean of all observations).Development of the disease is facilitated by damage caused by mechanical equipment to the crop. Damage to the crown of the plants should be avoided as much as possible. The disease is distributed extensively after frequent mowing. On attacked leaves left behind on the mowed stalks, and on decayed leaves dropped to the soil, masses of spores ofVerticillium albo-atrum are produced, which form a potential source of infection in a weakened crop.It seems that the disease is more air-borne than soil-borne, since one year old crops are seldom attacked.From attacked lucerne plants in the field the following fungi have been isolated:Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berth.,Gliocladium roseum Bain andFusarium avenaceum (Fr.) Sacc. (table 1).Isolations have been made from 50 different species of weeds, out of which the following fungi were obtained:Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berth. fromCapsella bursa-pastoris Med. andPlantago major L.,V. dahliae Kleb. fromPrunella vulgaris L.,Capsella bursa-pastoris Med. andThlaspi arvense L., andV. lecanii (Zimm.) Viegas fromPlantago major L.In inoculation experiments with all these isolates, in roots, stalks and on cut plants of lucerne, onlyV. albo-atrum, both from lucerne and weeds, andV. lecanii proved to be able to cause wilting of leaves and stalks. WithGliocladium, Fusarium andVerticillium dahliae no such symptoms could be obtained. The results were the same whatever method of inoculation was used.     

Root rot inCampanula carpatica caused byPhytophthora cryptogea

This is the first record of root rot inCampanula carpatica as well as in the genus ofCampanula caused byPhytophthora cryptogea. An attack was observed in potted plants grown in a greenhouse on ebb- and flow benches and with recirculation of the nutrient solution. The fungus caused wilting of the leaves together with discoloration and rotting of the roots. Pathogenicity tests showed that the isolate ofP. cryptogea fromC. carpatica attactedGerbera jamesonii and vice versa. Treatment with the fungicide furalaxyl was able to reduce disease development.     

Effects of organic wastes,Glomus intraradices andPseudomonas putida on the growth of tomato and on the reproduction of the Root-knot nematodeMeloidogyne incognita

Effects of organic wastes (biosolids, horse manure, sawdust and neem leaf litter [NLL]), an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungusGlomus intraradices, and a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteriumPseudomonas putida, were studied on the growth of tomato and on the reproduction ofMeloidogvne incognita. Pseudomonas putida andG. intraradices promoted tomato growth in nematode-infected and nematode-free plants but growth promotion was higher in the infected ones. WhenP. putida andG. intraradices were applied together, the increase in tomato growth was greater than when either agent was applied alone. Of the organic wastes, NLL was better in improving tomato growth of nematode-infected plants followed by biosolids, horse manure and sawdust. Combined use of NLL withP. putida plusG. intraradices was best in improving growth of the infected plants. Root colonization byP. putida was increased more when inoculated withG. intraradices than when inoculated singly. Of the organic wastes, use of sawdust withP. putida caused a greater increase in root colonization by fluorescent pseudomonads followed by NLL, horse manure and biosolids. Nematode parasitism had an adverse effect on root colonization byP. putida. Inoculation ofP. putida and organic wastes increased the root colonization caused by the AM fungus.P. putida was better in reducing galling and nematode multiplication thanG. intraradices, whereas use of the two together was better than that of either of them alone. Among organic wastes, NLL was better in reducing galling and nematode multiplication followed by biosolids, horse manure and sawdust. Combined use of NLL withP. putida plusG. intraradices was better in reducing galling and nematode multiplication than any other treatment.     

Het optreden van plaatselijke rassen bij Helopeltis antonii Sign. op Java

Summary Helopeltis antonii was bred at different constant temperatures at the experimental station at Semarang in 1939 and 1940. Some of the results concerning the duration of development from hatching of the egg untill the imaginal stage are recorded in the table and the graph. By comparing these data with those published byLeefmans (1916) (Helopeltis bred on tea in West Java) andZehntner (1901) (Helopeltis bred on cocoa in Central Java) we find that the time of development mentioned by these authors is shorter. In accordance with the experiments ofBonnemaison (1946) this probably can be attributed to the breeding ofHelopeltis at alternating temperatures (day and night). The duration of development at 19°C, mentioned byLeefmans (19 days), however, differs so much from the duration found in this investigation (32–34 days) that this explanation seems improbable. Other experiments at constant temperature, that will be published elsewhere, show that the population used for breeding was well adapted to the average temperature at the estate, Djati Rungo, from where this population came. This extreme adaptation suggests that this may also occur at other localities. Therefore it is probable that the populations ofH. antonii from different localities do not have the same genetical composition. The differences mentioned above can probably be attributed therefore to this fact. Data are given to strengthen this supposition. The existence of genetically different populations has already been suggested by ProfessorRoepke in 1909. He called them biological races. The occurrence of the varietybradyi ofH. antonii is probably caused by such a difference too and thus could better be considered as a subspecies.Helopeltis theobromae Mill. is without doubt only a subspecies ofH. theivora.Thus we suggest:Helopeltis antonii subspec.bradyi Wat. new comb. Helopeltis theivora subspec.theobromae Mill. new comb.

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Deventer     

Verschilen in de overdracht van het bloemkoolmozaiekvirus bij Myzus persicae Sulzer en Brevicoryne brassicae L.

Summary The results of the first test indicate that the cauliflower mosaic virus belongs to the non-persistent viruses as defined byWatson enRoberts (1939).The results of the second test, and the new definition of non-persistent viruses byWatson (1946) would, however, place cauliflower-mosaic in the persistent viruses.WithMyzus persicae very short infection feeding times probably will result in a response to the period of preliminary fasting but withBrevicoryne brassicae this can not be expected. Therefore the definition ofWatson (1946) is in my opinion not an improvement of the definition ofWatson enRoberts (1939).The response of the vectors to preliminary fasting time, with regard to the non-persistent viruses, is not constant and needs further research. From the results of the second test it is also evident that long infection feeding times do not always result in a deminishing of the efficiency of the vector; in certain cases they result in an increase in efficiency.The results of the third trial make it evident that the virus protein is inactivated rapidly byMyzus persicae during a post infection fasting period. WithBrevicoryne brassicae this inactivation is very slow.It may be that we have here a case of adaption of the cabbage aphid to the. cauliflower mosaic virus.Voor de wiskundige verwerking van de gegevens zeg ikIr L. C. A. Corsten gaarne dank.     

Aantasting van ui doorPhytophthora porri

Phytophthora porri was isolated from onion leaves causing leaf spots which resemble those of the white tip disease of leek. This is the first report of onion plants being attacked and damaged byP. porri.     

Photosynthesis,transpiration and plant growth characters of different potato cultivars at various densities of Globodera pallida

Plants of four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars were grown in pots in a greenhouse at five densities ofGlobodera pallida between 0 and 300 eggs per gram of soil. Photosynthesis and transpiration of selected leaves were measured at 30, 37, 49 and 60 days after planting. Stem length was recorded at weekly intervals. Plants were harvested 70 days afteer planting and various plant variables were determined.At 30 days after planting, when second and third stage juveniles were present in roots, both photosynthesis and transpiration rates were severely reduced byG. pallida. In the course of time these effects became less pronounced. Water use efficiency was reduced byG. pallida between 30 and 49 days, but not at 60 days after planting. The results suggest independent effects ofG. pallida on stomatal opening and on photosynthesis reactions. There were no consistent differences among cultivars in the response of leaf gas exchange rates and water use efficiency to nematode infection. Reduction of photosynthesis byG. pallida appeared additive to photosynthesis reduction due to leaf senescence.Total dry weight was reduced by 60% at the highestG. pallida density. Weights of all plant organs were about proportionally affected. Shoot/root ratio was not affected and dry matter content was reduced. Stem length and leaf area were most strongly reduced during early stages of plant-nematode interaction. The number of leaves formed was only slightly reduced byG. pallida, but flowering was delayed or inhibited. Reduction of total dry weight correlated with reduction of both leaf area and photosynthesis rate. Leaf area reduction seems the main cause of reduction of dry matter production. Tolerance differences among cultivars were evident at 100 eggs per gram of soil only, where total dry weight of the intolerant partially resistant cv. Darwina was lower than that of the tolerant partially resistant cv. Elles and of the tolerant susceptible cv. Multa. The tolerance differences were not correlated with leaf photosynthesis and transpiration. Apparently these processes are not part of tolerance of plants.     

Bestaat er een verband tusschen het voorkomen van black heart en het optreden van virusziekten bij den aardappel?

Summary Biourge andSokal have claimed: firstly: Black heart is not caused by lack of oxygen, followed by suffocation of central part of the tuber, but it results from attack byBacillus mesentericus vulgatus;Flugge) andBacillus mesentericus ruber (Globig); Secondly: Tubers suffering from black heart develop plants suffering from the diseases, which have been ascribed to viruses. Therefore it is not necessary to suppose the existance of viruses. This type of disease is caused by the bacilli mentioned. Sanitation of the plants can be performed by keeping the tubers during 48 hours at 42 centigrades. The tubers withstanding this heating without turning black develop virus-free plants. The present author however has, in controlling experimentally the work of the writers mentioned above, not been able to detect any relation between the occurrence of black heart in the tubers and of viroses in the sprouts. Sensibility for black heart proved to be more dependent on the climate and the soil, than on hereditary characters of the potato variety. Between the melanine-value (as aimed byHaehn) and the intensity of black heart, thus far no correlation has been found by the present author.     

Over de vatbaarheid van niet-kruisbloemige planten voor het zoösporangium-stadium vanPlasmodiophora brassicae Woron

Samenvatting en bespreking Een vijftiental plantensoorten werd onderzocht op vatbaarheid voor het zoösporangium-stadium vanP. brassicae. Hiervan werdenTrifolium pratense, Reseda odorata enLolium perenne in zeer geringe mate, enPapaver rhoeas iets sterker aangetast. De mate van aantasting van deze laatste was echter nog aanzienlijk minder dan van als vergelijkingsobject gebruikte bloemkoolplantjes. Gezien deze resultaten is het niet waarschijnlijk, dat niet-cruciferen enigermate kunnen bijdragen tot de instandhouding of vermeerdering van de schimmel bij afwezigheid van kruisbloemigen. Evenmin is er reden te veronderstellen, dat niet-cruciferen als vangplanten voor het uitroeien van de rustsporen van groot practisch belang kunnen zijn.Summary Webb's (1949) discovery of zoosporangia ofP. brassicae in non-crucifers raises the question of further means of multiplication and survival in the soil (MacFarlane, 1952). Perhaps the fungus can maintain itself in successive generations of zoosporangia in root hairs of these plants. From there it might in turn infect crucifers and produce a fresh crop of resting spores. This must be kept in mind when considering the possibility of eradicating the fungus from the soil by growing non-crucifers which stimulate the resting spores to germinate. If survival in root hairs were important, plants for this purpose would need to resist the zoosporangial stage as well as stimulate spore germination.In the present study a number of non-crucifers was tested for susceptibility to the zoosporangial stage by a method already described (Kole, 1955). In addition, the rate of infection of susceptible non-crucifers was compared with that of cabbage grown under the same conditions. Of seven non-crucifers, not tested before, onlyTrifolium pratense became infected.MacFaralane's findings of non-cruciferous hosts were confirmed forPapaver rhoeas, Reseda odorata andLolium perenne (Table 1). In all the susceptible non-crucifers exceptPapaver rhoeas, infection was very sligth. There were more infections onPapaver rhoeas than on the other non-crucifers but fewer than on cabbage, which was heavily infected. On the basis of these results it is not thought that the occurrence of non-cruciferous hosts ofP. brassicae will generally be of great practical importance.     

Effects of Aureobasidium pullulans on numbers of lesions on dwarf bean leaves caused by Alternaria zinniae

Inoculating dwarf bean leaves with spore suspensions ofAureobasidium pullulans one day before or simultaneously with inoculations made withAlternaria zinniae significantly decreased numbers of lesions caused by the latter fungus. Delaying inoculation withA. pullulans until 1 day after that withA. zinniae lessened the effect on lesion numbers. Increasing numbers ofA. pullulans spores progressively decreased numbers ofA. zinniae lesions. Three of five isolates ofA. pullulans decreased lesion numbers caused byA. zinniae. AlthoughA. pullulans restricted the germination ofA. zinniae on dwarf bean leaves, it had no effect when on cherry agar. Few viable propagules ofA. pullulans were recovered from dwarf bean leaves when examined 7 days after application.     

Is verrijking van de mycoflora mogelijk?

Samenvatting Van verrijking der mycoflora is slechts dan sprake, als nieuwe elementen in een gebied verschijnen door invoer van elders, door nieuwe kruisingen of door nieuwe mutaties van zwammen. Het ontdekken van een vroeger onbekende zwam is nog geen bewijs voor een verrijking der mycoflora. Het kan zijn dat de onbekende vroeger alleen aan de aandacht is ontsnapt.Voorbeelden van verrijking der flora door het overbrengen van parasitaire zwammen van het eene werelddeel naar een ander zijn gemakkelijk te geven. Uit de verspreiding van de populierenroesten over de aarde blijkt, dat het gevaar van overbrengen van Noord-Amerikaansche soorten van Melampsora naar Europa en van Europeesche soorten naar Noord-Amerika niet denkbeeldig is (Afb. 1).Bij proeven aan het Laboratorium voor Mycologie en Aardappelonderzoek te Wageningen over de vatbaarheid van populieren voor eenige soorten van Melampsora, traden in 1941 verschillende rassen en een witte variant vanMelampsora Larici-populina Kleb. op (Afb. 4, 5 en 6), die in de eerste twee jaren zeker niet voorkwamen (Tabel 1). De physiologische rassen zijn met behulp van een speciale laboratorium-methode te onderscheiden door de verschillende reactietypen van een sortiment van populieren (Afb. 2 en 4). Het optreden van de rassen wordt toegeschreven aan het feit, dat in het najaar van 1940Larix sp. tusschen de populieren van het proefveld werden geplant. Op deze Larix kunnen nl. door kruising nieuwe combinaties van genetische factoren tot stand komen.Ook bij andere parasitaire zwammen o.a. bijPhytophthora infestans de Bary (de aardappelziekte) en bijSynchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc. (de wratziekte) op aardappel, zijn onverwachte complicaties van het resistentie-onderzoek ontstaan door het verschijnen van voordien onbekende rassen van deze parasieten. Of door deze de mycoflora werkelijk met iets nieuws werd verrijkt, is moeilijk te beslissen. Zij kunnen er reeds zijn geweest, maar in een zoo gering percentage, dat de kans op een isolatie practisch nul was. Pas de vermeerdering door het gebruik van speciale rassen van hun waardplanten brengt hun bestaan aan het licht.Met het oog op de roesten van populieren is een verrijking van de mycoflora mogelijk door invoer van elders en door nieuwe rassen, die uit kruising ontstaan. Beide kansen ontnemen aan het resistentie-onderzoek zijn absolute waarde. Dat zulke teleurstellingen groot kunnen zijn, blijkt uit de hevige aantasting vanPopulus candicans Aiton door één der nieuwe rassen en de witte variant vanM. Larici-populina, die alles overtreft, wat bij jarenlange observatie werd waargenomen.Summary Only the appearance of new elements by introduction from abroad, by new hybrids or by new mutations of fungi may be called an enrichment of the mycoflora. Discovery of formerly unknown fungi is no proof of such an enrichment. It may be that till then the unknown fungus merely escaped attention.Examples of enrichment of the mycoflora by transport of parasitic fungi from one continent to another are easy to give. From the distribution of poplar rust fungi on earth it is evident, that the danger of introducing North-American Melampsora's on poplar into Europe and European species into North-America is not imaginary (Afb. 1).Experiments on the susceptibility of poplars to infection by some species of Melampsora, carried out at the Laboratorium voor Mycologie en Aardappelonderzoek at Wageningen, proved the appearance in 1941 of several physiologic races and one white variety ofM. Larici-populina Klebahn (Afb. 4, 5, 6). These were certainly not present during the first two years of the experiments, 1939 and 1940 (Tabel 1). The physiologic races can be distinguished with the aid of a special laboratory-method by the reaction-types of a collection of poplars (Afb. 2, 4).The appearance of the races is supposed to be due to the planting in the autumn of 1940 of larches between the poplars of the experimental plot. The formation of new races has become possible by hybridizing on these larches, on whichM. Larici-populina forms its 0 and I stages.Unexpected complications in breeding of potatoes for resistance have been raised by the appearance of formerly unknown races ofPhytophthora infestans de Bary (potato blight) andSynchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc. (wart-disease). It is, however, difficult to decide, whether in these cases the mycoflora has been enriched by some new races. They may have existed already before, but in such a low percentage that practically there was no chance to isolate them. It is only by using special races of hostplants that their existence can be stated.In relation to the rusts of poplars the possibility exists of an enrichment of the mycoflora by introduction from abroad and by the formation of new races by hybridization. Both possibilities make the results of breeding for resistance less absolute. To what extent such disappointments may develop is evident from the heavy attack ofPopulus candicans Aiton by one of the new races and by the white variety ofM. Larici-populina. This attack surpasses all earlier ones observed during several years.Voordracht gehouden op 4 Maart 1944 voor de Nederl. Plantenziektenkundige Vereeniging.     

Biological control ofBotrytis cinerea in residues and flowers of Rose (Rosa hybrida)

Microbial isolates from living petals, petal residues and leaf residues of rose, and from laboratory collections, were evaluated for control ofBotrytis cinerea in rose. In leaf residues artificially infested withB. cinerea, isolates of the filamentous fungiGliocladium roseum, FR136 (unidentified) andTrichoderma inhamatum reduced sporulation of the pathogen by >90%, other filamentous fungi were 25–90% effective, and those of yeasts and bacteria were <50% effective. In artificially inoculated petal residues, no microbe reduced sporulation ofB. cinerea by >75%, but isolates ofCladosporium oxysporum and four yeasts were 51–75% effective, and three filamentous fungi, eight yeasts andBacillus subtilis isolates were 26–50% effective. Isolates ofT. inhamatum, C. oxysporum andG. roseum performed best againstB. cinerea among isolates evaluated in leaf residues naturally infested with the pathogen and indigenous microorganisms. Totals of ten isolates of filamentous fungi (includingC. oxysporum andC. cladosporioides), two of yeasts and five ofBacillus subtilis completely prevented lesion production byB. cinerea in detached petals, and a further six isolates of filamentous fungi (includingG. roseum) and six yeasts were 90–99% effective. Isolates ofC. oxysporum, C. cladosporioides andB. subtilis, the most effective microorganisms againstB. cinerea in flower buds, reduced number of lesions in the range of 42–65% compared with 59–89% for à standard fungicide (vinclozolin). It is suggested that application of leading antagonists Jo living rose leaves and flowers should optimize control of inoculum production byB. cinerea when the tissues die. Optimal biocontrol of lesion production in flower buds requires a better understanding of the microenvironment of petals.     

Het parasitaire karakter van Septotinia populiperda Waterman & Cash

Summary Mature apothecia ofSeptotinia populiperda Waterman andCash are formed in spring and early summer on leaves shed the previous autumn. The ascospores ofS. populiperda produce an infection in the form of leafblotches only when an injury of the leaf is present.P. candicans Ait. is more susceptible to the parasite thanP. marilandica Bosc. andP. brabantica Houtz. Leafblotches are produced in equal numbers when the ascospores are sprayed with an atomizer upon the upper or the lower leafsurface. The germination of the ascospores is inhibited in vitro at a concentration of 7 to 8 mg copper per liter, when copper is used as Bordeaux mixture, or as coppersulfate (CuSO₄5H₂O).     

Schurft op Pyrancantha

Summary Spilocaea pyracanthae (Otth) v. Arx comb. nov. (Syn.:Fusicladium pyracanthae (Otth) Viennot-Bourg.), the scab fungus ofPyracantha coccinea, overwinters in its conidial stage on the living leaves and on twigs. No perithecial stage could be found the last three years on overwintered fallen leaves.     

Solanum dulcamara L. (Bitterzoet) als mogelijke bron voor bladrolvirus

Summary Dijkstra (1933) demonstrated thatSolanum dulcamara (Bittersweet, Woody Nightshade) can be a host plant of potato leaf-roll virus. It was, however, not known whether this wild growing plant in nature contains the virus. AsS. dulcamara is the only common perennial Solanacea in the Netherlands its role as a virus reseroir was investigated.At 25 localities plants ofS. dulcamara were collected, and tested for the presence of leaf-roll virus by transferring virus-freeMyzus persicae (Sulz.) after 24 hrs feeding to groups ofPhysalis floridana, where they fed for 24 hrs before being killed. All plants ofS. dulcamara appeared to contain leafroll virus, though they did not show symptoms. Also seedlings ofS. dulcamara from seed of a leafroll infested plant showed no symptoms before or after infection with leafroll bij transmission withMyzus persicae (Sulz.).The virus could be transmitted fromS. dulcamara to potato (var. Bintje) byMyzus persicae (Sulz.) and by graftingS. dulcamara on potato.Seedlings, grown from seed obtained from a plant which was shown to have leaf-roll, all appeared to be infected with leaf-roll. As so far no plants were found or obtained which had no leaf-roll virus, it is possible that inS. dulcamara leaf-roll virus is invariably transmitted with seed. But as the virus does not appear to be pathogenic inS. dulcamara, one might assume that what in potatoes and other plants is called leaf-roll virus, inS. dulcamara is an integral, natural component of the organism.     

Molecular identification of a Candidatus phytoplasma (Group16SrV-D) coding partial uvrB gene and degV gene on a new host – mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa) – with phyllody and reddening of leaves in India

Mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is an important bast fiber crop. In August 2011, there was an outbreak of a phytoplasma-like disease on H. sabdariffa in different villages of the northern coastal mesta-growing region of Andhra Pradesh, India, covering mainly two districts – Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram. The infected plants showed characteristic symptoms such as phyllody and reddening of leaves. PCR with P1/P7 universal primer pair of 16 S rDNA yielded amplicons of 1850 bp from all symptomatic mesta leaf samples similar to samples of brinjal little leaf (phytoplasma positive reference control). However, asymptomatic samples were not amplified. Multiplex nested-PCR showed simultaneous amplification of DNA fragments with phytoplasma specific primers, viz., P1/P7 universal primer pair of 16 S rDNA, nested primer pair R16F2n/R2, uvrB and DegV gene-specific uvrB-degVF/R primer generating amplicons of 1850 bp, 1200 bp and 1023bp, respectively. However, SecY-map gene specific primer SecY-mapF/R was not amplified. The 1023 bp nucleotide sequence of uvrB and DegV gene of the phytoplasma was deposited in the GenBank (NCBI) with the accession no. JX975061. NCBI BLASTn analysis of the 1023 bp products showed that the phytoplasma strain belonged to elm yellows group (16SrV-D). This is the first report that Hibiscus sabdariffa is infected by a phytoplasma and we named it mesta phyllody disease (MPD).