不同类型杀线剂对甘薯茎线虫趋化性的影响

实验室条件下研究了涕灭威、甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐和丙溴磷在低剂量胁迫下对甘薯茎线虫趋化性的影响。结果表明:在无药剂胁迫情况下甘薯茎线虫对灰霉菌、半裸镰刀菌的趋化性最强,其次为马铃薯,对甘薯无趋性。在含有5～5×10-2μg/mL涕灭威、甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐和丙溴磷的水琼脂平板,线虫的趋化性均受到抑制,且甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐的抑制活性高于其他2种药剂;线虫经10-1～10-3μg/mL的涕灭威、甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐和丙溴磷浸渍24h后采用灭菌去离子水清洗3次并恢复24h后,线虫的趋性仍受到抑制。值得注意的是,在含5×10-3μg/mL丙溴磷水琼脂或经丙溴磷10-3～10-4μg/mL处理后,线虫的趋性发生了改变,表现出对甘薯块具有一定的趋性。     

三种杀线虫剂对甘薯茎线虫扩散的Hormesis效应

在实验室条件下应用沙柱法及水琼脂平板法,测定了低剂量水平的涕灭威、甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐和丙溴磷对甘薯茎线虫Ditylenchus destructor扩散行为的影响。结果表明:在含5 μ g/mL 药剂的沙柱中,以及甘薯茎线虫经0.1 μ g/mL的药剂浸渍24 h后在不含药剂的沙柱中,其运动扩散能力均受到抑制;在含较低质量浓度(5×10－3 μ g/mL)药剂的沙柱中,以及线虫经较低质量浓度(10－2,10－3 μ g/mL)的涕灭威和(10－4,10－5 μ g/mL)甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐浸渍24 h后在不含药剂的沙柱中,其通过率均比空白对照高10%以上,差异显著,表现出Hormesis效应(兴奋效应);经较低质量浓度(10-1 μ g/mL)的丙溴磷浸渍后在不含药剂的沙柱中未表现出该效应。在水琼脂平板试验中,虽然在低剂量水平下药剂对线虫的扩散具有促进作用,但产生的Hormesis效应不如沙柱法的结果明显。     

马铃薯腐烂茎线虫28S rDNA-D2/D3区序列分析

 我国危害甘薯的马铃薯腐烂茎线虫rDNA-ITS基因片段长度存在A型(900bp)和B型(1100bp)2个类型,A型腐烂茎线虫群体的ITS片段比B型群体少200bp。为了进一步研究这2种类型群体的发育关系,本文用线虫通用引物D2A和D3B对来自国内的21个马铃薯腐烂茎线虫群体和1个韩国的马铃薯腐烂茎线虫28SrDNA-D2/D3区进行了PCR扩增,均产生大小一致的片段,长度约为780bp,克隆、测序后用DNAMAN5.2软件和MEGA4软件进行分析比对,结果表明我国21个马铃薯腐烂茎线虫群体28SrDNA-D2/D3区只有20余个碱基的差异,相似率达97.2%。基于UPGMA构建的系统发育树很好地区分了马铃薯腐烂茎线虫A型和B型群体,展现出了群体的来源及发育关系。     

腐烂茎线虫在马铃薯不同组织中的数量动态

腐烂茎线虫病是近年来我国马铃薯生产中的一种新病害, 了解腐烂茎线虫的侵染规律对该病害的预防和控制及对马铃薯产量和品质提高具有重要意义。本研究采用盆栽法, 在苗期接种腐烂茎线虫, 研究该线虫在马铃薯不同组织中的数量动态及危害程度。结果显示, 在发芽-幼苗期(播种0 ~ 75 d), 母薯先受到腐烂茎线虫侵染; 在发棵期(播种75 ~ 90 d), 母薯和匍匐茎均检测到腐烂茎线虫; 在结薯期到成熟期(播种90 ~ 105 d), 线虫开始危害新生块茎, 随着块茎膨大危害逐渐加重。在马铃薯成熟期, 症状表现最明显, 新生块茎中线虫数量最多, 可达767.67条/g。不同时期的接种试验表明, 在匍匐茎形成期(播种后70 d)接种, 马铃薯受害最为严重, 发病率达100%, 块茎中线虫密度最高, 达到99.32条/g, 且块茎鲜重最低, 为14.02 g/个。本研究结果可为马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的适时有效防治提供参考。     

松材线虫Hsp70基因的克隆与原核表达

 热激蛋白70(Hsp70)是已知热休克蛋白家族中最重要的-种, 它在细胞内的大量表达可以明显改善细胞的生存能力, 提高对环境胁迫或伤害的耐受性。采用RACE-PCR技术, 从松材线虫(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)中克隆了Hsp70基因的全长cDNA序列(共2 061 bp)(GenBank登录号为:DQ785812)。其编码-个分子量为70 kD的642个氨基酸的蛋白序列, 含有3段Hsp70家族的签名序列。同源性分析表明, 氨基酸序列与其它真核生物的Hsp70序列具有很高的相似性, 并与秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)热激蛋白70家族中的hsp-1基因编码的氨基酸序列更为相似。因此, 将克隆的松材线虫Hsp70基因命名为Bx-hsp-1。构建了-个原核表达载体Bx70pEASY-E1, 当IPTG终浓度为0.4~0.8 mmol/L时, 能诱导表达融合蛋白。Bx-hsp-1基因的克隆和表达, 将为松材线虫的生态适应性机理研究奠定基础。     

马铃薯腐烂茎线虫特异性分子检测技术研究

 本研究利用通用引物(rDNA1/rDNA2)研究了21个国内甘薯茎线虫(Ditylenchus destructor)群体和1个韩国马铃薯茎线虫(D.destructor)群体的rDNA-ITS序列,从21个国内群体中扩增出2个大小不同的ITS片段,分别约为940bp和1100bp;经克隆、序列测定和分析比对发现其ITS区存在特异性差异,分别命名为A型和B型,其中18个群体DdTH、DdCL、DdJN、DdMY1、DdYX1、DdZZ、DdLN,DdDX1、DdFN,DdYX2、DDSX1、DdDX2、DdXY,DdLL、DdSX2、DdLY,DdMY2和DdPY的ITS扩增产物约为940bp,称之为A型马铃薯腐烂茎线虫(940bp),3个群体DdSH,DdTS,DdYS为B型马铃薯腐烂茎线虫(1100bp)。设计构建并筛选出A型和B型马铃薯腐烂茎线虫2对特异性引物DdS1/DdS2和DdL1/DdL2,分别扩增出A型马铃薯腐烂茎线虫、B型马铃薯腐烂茎线虫群体的特异片段252bp和485bp;引入D3A/D3B作为内标,设计出一步双重PCR检测技术;同时优化了检测体系和PCR反应程序。该技术具有较高的特异性和灵敏性,能快速、准确地检测出不同型的马铃薯腐烂茎线虫群体。     

两种亚菊属植物挥发油及其主要成分对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的触杀活性

为探究植物挥发油对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的防治效果，本研究用丝裂亚菊和光苞亚菊挥发油及其主要组分对该线虫进行触杀毒杀活性的测试。采用药物浸泡法，将提取的两种植物挥发油及其主要的共有组分桉叶油醇和马鞭草烯醇作用于马铃薯腐烂茎线虫，测试致死中浓度，进而将桉叶油醇和马鞭草烯醇按不同比例进行复配混合，测试两者复配后的杀线虫活性，结果显示：处理24 h后，丝裂亚菊和光苞亚菊的挥发油均对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫有一定的触杀毒杀活性，致死中浓度（LC_{50/24 h}）分别为1.50 mg/mL和1.23 mg/mL；处理48 h后，丝裂亚菊和光苞亚菊的挥发油对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的致死中浓度（LC_{50/48 h}）分别为1.06 mg/mL和0.70 mg/mL，较处理24 h后杀虫作用更显著。处理24 h后，桉叶油醇（LC₅₀＝0.49 mg/ml）与马鞭草烯醇（LC₅₀＝1.09 mg/mL）的杀线虫活性强于两种亚菊属植物挥发油；桉叶油醇和马鞭草烯醇以2：6、4：4和3：5的体积比混配后，其LC₅₀（0.18、0.17和0.20 mg/mL）都明显比两种化合物单独处理时要低，说明这两种化合物在挥发油中发挥了协同杀线虫的作用，且效果明显。本研究可为亚菊属植物挥发油及其主要组分绿色防控马铃薯腐烂茎线虫奠定基础。     

马铃薯腐烂茎线虫RPA-LFD可视化快速检测方法的建立

 马铃薯腐烂茎线虫是为害我国甘薯和马铃薯的一种重要植物病原线虫,也是我国重要的检疫性有害生物。为实现对该线虫的准确、快速且可视化的检测,本研究以马铃薯腐烂茎线虫rDNA-ITS序列为靶标构建了重组酶聚合酶结合侧流层析试纸条(RPA-LFD)的可视化快速检测体系。该体系可在39 ℃条件下15 min内特异性地完成对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的检测,对A型(甘薯种群)和B型(马铃薯种群)单头线虫(J4)的检出底限均为3 125^-1头线虫,可以直接对土壤和甘薯茎中的马铃薯腐烂茎线虫进行检测,灵敏度可达1头(J4)/10 g土壤和1头(J4)/2 g甘薯茎组织。该体系操作简便、成本低廉、结果可视,可为马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的早期预警和口岸检疫提供技术支撑。     

巴氏新小绥螨在马铃薯腐烂茎线虫上的实验种群生命表及其捕食作用

为明确巴氏新小绥螨Neoseiulus barkeri对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫Ditylenchus destructor的捕食能力,以马铃薯腐烂茎线虫和椭圆食粉螨Aleuroglyphus ovatus为猎物饲养巴氏新小绥螨,构建了巴氏新小绥螨的实验种群生命表,并构建了雌成螨对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的捕食功能反应模型。结果显示,巴氏新小绥螨取食马铃薯腐烂茎线虫后能完成整个生活史,平均世代为6.71 d,产卵前期、产卵期、日产卵量以及雌成螨寿命分别为2.89 d、19.13 d、1.79粒和26.44 d,与取食椭圆食粉螨后的各参数间均无显著差异。巴氏新小绥螨雌成螨对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的捕食功能反应为Holling Ⅱ型,在温度16~28℃范围内,其攻击系数(a)、捕食能力(a/T_h)、最大日捕食量(1/T_h)均随温度升高而升高,处理时间(T_h)缩短;在28℃时日捕食量达到最高,为52.69条,处理时间最短,为0.019 d;当温度高于32℃时捕食量开始下降。表明巴氏新小绥螨具有防治马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的潜力。     

瑞香狼毒根提取物及不同溶剂萃取物对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫触杀活性研究

采用实验室活体生物试验方法,测定和比较了瑞香狼毒乙醇提取物及不同极性溶剂萃取物对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的触杀活性。结果表明,瑞香狼毒根乙醇提取物及其石油醚、氯仿、乙酸乙酯及水相萃取物对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫有不同程度的触杀活性,其中乙酸乙酯萃取物对马铃薯腐烂茎线虫的触杀活性最强,显著高于其他萃取物。随着处理浓度的增大和处理时间的增长,该萃取物对线虫的触杀活性明显增强,表现出良好的量效关系。     

Epidemiology and simulation of population development of Sitobion avenae in winter wheat

The epidemiology ofSitobion avenae and its natural enemies in winter wheat was studied in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Immigration was important until the end of flowering. The alate immigrants had apterous offspring. These became the driving force in population growth. Their offspring were mostly alatae which usually left the field. A model of the epidemic was developed. Quantitative relations between the aphids and their environment were obtained from literature or established in laboratory trials. The model simulated population development and population composition from the beginning of June till the population peak at the end of June or early in July. Because quantitative data on relations between aphids and their natural enemies and pathogens are scarce, and since the knowledge on wing formation is still limited, the population collapse could not be predicted. In the future, prognosis over a period of three weeks seems possible.Samenvatting De toenemende betekenis van graanbladluizen (vooralSitobion avenae) gepaard gaande met een sterke toename van het gebruik van insecticiden op granen maakte verbetering van de prognose over het schadelijk optreden wenselijk. Door gedetailleerde tellingen in het veld (Fig. 1–7) werden gegevens verkregen over het verloop van de epidemie en het optreden van natuurlijke vijanden in 1975, 1976 en 1977.Een immigratieperiode tot in de bloei kon worden vastgesteld. Daarna lijkt de aantrekkelijkheid van het gewas voor alate luizen te verminderen. De alate immigranten krijgen aptere nakomelingen. Deze vormen de stuwende kracht van de populatiegroei. De nakomelingen van apteren zijn merendeels alaat. Zij verlaten het gewas.Een model van de populatieontwikkeling gedurende de epidemie werd opgesteld. De relatiediagrammen Fig. 9 en 10 laten groei en ontwikkeling vanS. avenae en een predator (Syrphus corollae) zien. Kwantificering van de betrekkingen werd mogelijk door literatuurgegevens en laboratoriumexperimenten.Met het model kon de populatieontwikkeling vanS. avenae vanaf begin juni tot aan de populatiepiek in 1975, 1976 en 1977 vrij goed worden gesimuleerd (Fig. 12). Ook de populatieopbouw kon worden gesimuleerd (Fig. 14). De teruggang van de populatiedichtheid blijkt moeilijker te voorspellen door het ontbreken van gegevens over natuurlijke vijanden.Het lijkt waarschijnlijk dat in de toekomst met het model een prognose over de piek van de bladluispopulatie circa 3 weken tevoren mogelijk zal zijn.     

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.     

Nematicidal Activity of Chrysanthemum coronarium

Organic amendments and green manure are potential alternatives to the harmful chemical control means currently used against plant-parasitic nematodes. In this work, Chrysanthemum coronarium was applied to the soil as a green manure to control the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica. Chrysanthemum coronarium significantly reduced nematode infection of tomato roots and improved plant-top fresh weight, both in the greenhouse and in microplots. Other green manures, derived from Anthemis pseudocotula, wild chickpea (Cicer pinnatifidum), Geranium spp. and wheat, were not as effective as C. coronarium. Chrysanthemum coronarium, retained its nematicidal activity even when applied as a dried material. Only mature C. coronarium plants, in their flowering stage, exhibited nematode control activity, but the green plant parts were more effective than the flowers. An aqueous extract of C. coronarium exhibited in vitro, nematostatic activity towards M. incognita and M. javanica second-stage juveniles and inhibited their hatching from eggs and egg-masses; its nematostatic activity was expressed also against other phytonematode species such as Heterodera avenae and Pratylenchus mediterraneus, but did not affect the beneficial entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae.     

Inactivation of soil-borne plant pathogens during small-scale composting of crop residues

Samples of heavily infested crop residues were incorporated in static compost heaps (2.5–4.6 m³) of the Indore type. Temperature increased to 50–70°C within 6 days depending on the type of crop residues used and the location within the heap. The heat phase (>40 °C) lasted 2–3 weeks and was followed by a c. 5-months maturation phase (<40 °c).=" among=" the=" 17=" pathogens=" tested,=">Olpidium brassicae and one of the four formae speciales ofFusarium oxysporum that were tested survived composting, but also their inoculum was greatly reduced.Survival during specific phases of composting was studied by incorporation and retrieval of samples at various stages of the process.F. oxysporum f. sp.melonis was completely inactivated andO. brassicae andPlasmodiophora brassicae were almost completely inactivated during the short heat phase. The three pathogens survived the long-lasting maturation phase without loss of viability. Heat evolved during composting was found to be the most important factor involved with sanitation of crop residues. The possible involvement of fungitoxic conversion products and microbial antagonism is discussed.     

Effects of the saprophytic leaf mycoflora on growth and productivity of winter wheat

The effects of the saprophytic mycoflora and its interference with cereal aphids on growth and yield of winter and spring wheat was studied in field experiments in 1980, 1981 and 1982.Yields varied between 5000 and 8000 kg dry matter of kernels per ha. The effect of the saprophytic mycoflora on yield was determined in different treatments: A) no control measures against cereal aphids and saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, B) no control of cereal aphids, control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, C) control of cereal aphids and control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi, D) control of cereal aphids and stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora and E) control of cereal aphids, no control of saprophytic and necrotrophic fungi nor stimulation of saprophytic mycoflora.Considerable differences in top densities of saprophytic mycoflora (10 times as large in A and D as in B and C) were determined. The consequences of these differences for the growth and productivity of wheat were minor. A negative effect of saprophytic mycoflora on the yield could not be detected in 1981 and 1982, whereas a small positive significant effect was found in 1980. This stimulation may have been due to competition between necrotrophic fungal pathogens and saprophytic mycoflora. As a result of favourable weather conditions necrotrophic fungal pathogens were very numerous in 1980 and could form an important yield reducing factor. Yield levels may effect the importance of the necrotrophic and saprophytic mycoflora as yield reducing factors. Additionally, in the presence of aphid honeydew captafol was found to be relatively ineffective against saprophytic fungi.     

浅黄恩蚜小蜂和丽蚜小蜂对温室白粉虱的寄生潜能分析

浅黄恩蚜小蜂Encarsia sophia GiraultDodd和丽蚜小蜂Encarsia formosa Gahan是防治粉虱类害虫的优势寄生蜂,通过生命表技术方法分析了2种寄生蜂对温室白粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum(Westwood)的防治潜能。结果表明,丽蚜小蜂在羽化第3天和第10天出现2次寄生高峰,占其总寄生量的13.7%和8.0%,在2次高峰之间逐日寄生粉虱数量比较平稳,单雌逐日平均产雌数保持在10.6~13.4头,10 d后寄生量呈明显的下降趋势;而浅黄恩蚜小蜂羽化10 d内逐日寄生粉虱量变化不大,单雌逐日产雌数稳定在4.2~5.4头,羽化14 d后寄生量呈明显下降趋势。丽蚜小蜂和浅黄恩蚜小蜂的R0、T、rm、λ值分别为171.5、18.0、0.2854、1.3303和61.6、16.2、0.2544、1.2897;粉虱若虫充足时,丽蚜小蜂平均单雌寄生若虫数是浅黄恩蚜小蜂的2.7倍,而后者平均单雌取食若虫数为60.6头,明显高于前者42.7头,总的来看,丽蚜小蜂通过寄生和取食杀死粉虱总量220.8头,明显高于浅黄恩蚜小蜂的127.9头。表明在应用寄生蜂防治温室白粉虱时,单独释放丽蚜小蜂比浅黄恩蚜小蜂显示出更好的防治潜能。     

Identification and pathogenicity of Pythium species causing damping-off of kidney bean

Five Pythium species (Pythium irregulare, P. mamillatum, P. myriotylum, P. spinosum and P. ultimum var. ultimum) were isolated from the hypocotyls and roots of kidney bean plants with damping-off from a commercial field and from experimental plots that have undergone either continuous cropping with kidney bean or rotational cropping with arable crops. In inoculation tests, all five Pythium species were pathogenic to kidney bean. This is the first report of damping-off of kidney bean caused by Pythium species; we named this disease damping-off of kidney bean. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession numbers AB291811, AB291944 and AB291945.     

Aetiology and causal agents of mango sudden decline disease in the Sultanate of Oman

Mango sudden decline is a recently introduced, economically serious disease in Oman. Affected mango trees have wilting symptoms that usually begin on one side and later spread to involve the entire tree. Trees exude amber-coloured gum from the bark of their trunks or branches and vascular tissues are discoloured. Having entered Oman in the recent past, survey data is presented that shows the disease to have spread throughout the northern part of the country. Evidence is presented that the vascular wilt pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata causes mango sudden decline disease in Oman, possibly in concert with Lasiodiplodia theobromae and the recently described Ceratocystis omanensis. Isolates of these fungi from affected trees, cause infection and can be recovered from inoculated seedlings. Bark beetles (Hypocryphalus mangiferae) are shown to carry C. fimbriata and L. theobromae and are presumably responsible for transmitting both pathogens to healthy mango trees. Acting as a wounding agent and vector, the bark beetle is likely to have assisted the rapid spread of the disease across Oman.     

Pathogenic fungi involved in root rot of peas in the Netherlands and their physiological specialization

Research on root rot pathogens of peas in the Netherlands has confirmed the prevalence ofFusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Pythium spp.,Mycosphaerella pinodes andPhoma medicaginis var.pinodella. Aphanomyces euteiches andThielaviopsis basicola were identified for the first time as pea pathogens in the Netherlands. Other pathogens such asRhizoctonia solani andCylindrocarpon destructans were also found on diseased parts of roots. F. solani existed in different degrees of pathogenicity, and was sometimes highly specific to pea, dwarf bean of field bean, depending on the cropping history of the field.A. euteiches was specific to peas, whereasT. basicola showed some degree of physiological specialization.     

Relationship Between Production of the Phytotoxin Prehelminthosporol and Virulence in Isolates of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana

A gas chromatographic method was developed to quantify the phytotoxin prehelminthosporol, which is a sesquiterpene metabolite of the plant pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. The toxin was extracted from mycelium or culture filtrates, pre-cleaned using solid phase extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography as a trimethylsilyl-derivative. The detection limit of the method was 5ngl^–1 (signal to noise ratio 4:1) which corresponds to ca. 15ng prehelminthosporol per mg dry weight of mycelium or 15ng prehelminthosporol per ml culture filtrate. The total amount of prehelminthosporol (mycelium plus culture filtrate) increased with cultivation time when examined in six isolates of B. sorokiniana after 6, 9, 12 and 15 days of incubation. The screening experiment of 17 isolates for prehelminthosporol production after 8 days of incubation revealed significant differences in the toxin production between the isolates. The isolates with low toxin production had lower virulence towards barley roots compared to those with higher production of the toxin. However, the virulence did not increase with prehelminthosporol level among the high producing isolates. Prehelminthosporol was also analyzed in a number of related Bipolaris and Drechslera species. In addition to B. sorokiniana, three out of six Bipolaris species (B. setariae, B. zeicola, B. victoriae) produced prehelminthosporol, which indicates that ability to produce prehelminthosporol is conserved among closely-related Bipolaris species.