Identification of Alternaria spp. on wheat by pathogenicity assays and sequencing

The pathogenicity of Alternaria spp. isolated from wheat leaves collected in regions where alternaria leaf blight has been reported was compared with that of IMI reference isolates of A. triticina and A. alternata using two durum and two bread wheat genotypes. To identify isolates putatively corresponding to A. triticina , morphological and DNA sequence analyses based on ribosomal DNA from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5·8S rRNA gene, ITS2) and toxicity bioassays of culture filtrate were combined. Glasshouse inoculations provided reliable information to assess the pathogenicity of A. triticina isolates on wheat. Alternaria leaf blight symptoms were produced by the A. triticina isolates only on durum wheat cv. Bansi, while A. alternata , A. tenuissima and A. arborescens isolates were found to be nonpathogenic on the wheat cultivars tested. Alternaria triticina isolates were distinguished from other Alternaria species by Simmons and Roberts' sporulation pattern 6 and two to three conidia per sporulation unit associated with primary conidia bearing long (> 7  µ m) apical secondary conidiophores. Phylogenetic analysis also proved effective at discriminating wheat-pathogenic A. triticina from other nonpathogenic Alternaria species. Alternaria triticina isolates yielded longer ITS sequences than A. alternata , A. tenuissima and A. arborescens isolates, leading to clear-cut differences as visualized with agarose gel electrophoresis. Additionally, only culture filtrates of A. triticina isolates caused nonspecific necrotic lesions on leaves of 3-week-old wheat plants.     

Morphological, pathogenic, and molecular characterization of alternaria isolates associated with alternaria late blight of pistachio

ABSTRACT Alternaria isolates were obtained from various pistachio tissues collected in five orchards in California. For all isolates, morphological characteristics of the colony and sporulation apparatus were determined and compared with those of representative isolates of A. alternata, A. tenuissima, A. arborescens, and A. infectoria. A selection of the pistachio isolates and the representative Alternaria isolates were evaluated for pathogenicity to pistachio. Molecular characteristics of these isolates were determined using random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) analysis, polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of nuclear intergenic spacer rDNA, and sequence analysis of nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA. Based on morphological characteristics, the pistachio isolates were grouped as identical or very similar to either A. alternata, A. tenuissima, A. arborescens, or A. infectoria. Isolates from the alternata, tenuissima, and arborescens species-groups were pathogenic to pistachio and no significant differences in pathogenicity were observed. Isolates from the infectoria species-group were only weakly pathogenic to pistachio. Based on cluster analysis of RAPD and PCR-RFLP data, three distinct clusters were evident; the infectoria cluster, the arborescens cluster, and a combined alternata/tenuissima cluster. Based on analysis of ITS sequence data, the infectoria species-group was phylogenetically distinct from the other species-groups. Isolates of the alternata, tenuissima, and arborescens species-groups comprised a monophyletic clade in which the three species-groups could not be further resolved.     

山东省危害核桃的链格孢属真菌鉴定及其系统发育

为了明确危害核桃的链格孢属Alternaria真菌种类,对34个供试菌株在PCA培养基上的培养特征、产孢表型、分生孢子特征等进行了研究,并采用ITS、OPA2-1和OPA1-3序列分析其系统发育。其中33个菌株为链格孢A.alternata,1个为细极链格孢A.tenuissima。链格孢:菌落灰色;孢子链短、分枝频繁,每条分枝含4～10个孢子;分生孢子多倒梨形,孢身平均25.6μm×7.4μm,横隔膜2～8个。细极链格孢:菌落褐色;孢子链长、少分枝,孢子链约含10个孢子;分生孢子多长椭圆形,孢身平均26.3μm×13.5μm,具柱状喙及假喙,主横隔膜1～6个,孢身中部的隔膜较粗。链格孢属真菌在遗传上有较大差异,ITS、OPA2-1和OPA1-3序列对链格孢小孢子种具有一定的区分作用,链格孢是危害核桃的主要链格孢属种。     

Pathogenicity,Morpho-Species and Mating Types of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria</Emphasis> spp. causing Alternaria blight in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia</Emphasis> spp. in Turkey

Alternaria genus includes many plant pathogens on numerous hosts, causing leaf spots, rots and blights. Alternaria blight has been observed as one of the important fungal diseases of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) as well as its wild relatives (P. terebinthus, P. lentiscus, P. khinjuk, P. atlantica, P. mutica) in Turkey. Alternaria species were sampled from Pistacia spp. hosts from different geographic regions in Turkey during field trips in late spring to early fall of 2013. Alternaria blight symptoms were observed mainly on fruits and rarely on leaves. Four hundred and twenty two of the isolates were morphologically defined as A. alternata, A. tenuissima, A. arborescens and also intermediate morpho-species between A. alternata/A. arborescens. Pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed with host inoculations on detached fruits. Mating types of 270 isolates of Alternaria spp. from the collection were identified using a PCR-based mating type assay that amplifies either a MAT1-1 or a MAT1-2 fragment from the mating locus. Although a strongly clonal population structure was expected due to the putative asexual reproduction of these fungi, both idiomorphs were detected at equal frequencies at several different spatial scales. The distribution of mating types within each geographic region, within host species as well as in overall collection was not significantly different from 1:1. Amplified fragments of partial idiomorph sequences were obtained for representative isolates. Parsimony trees were depicted based on sequence data of mating type genes for these representative isolates as well as some other Alternaria species obtained by Genebank. Several point mutations presented a few clusters which are supported by high bootsrapped values. The Alternaria blight disease agents both from cultivated and wild hosts were pathogenic on pistachio which may cause difficulties to control the disease because of extensity of pathogen sources. Besides, equal mating type distribution of the pathogen at both geographic and host species levels suggests a potential for sexual reproduction of Alternaria spp. in Turkey.     

A Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Method to Specifically Detect Alternaria alternata Apple Pathotype (A. mali), the Causal Agent of Alternaria Blotch of Apple

ABSTRACT Alternaria alternata apple pathotype (previously A. mali) causes Alternaria blotch on susceptible apple cultivars through the production of a host-specific toxin, AM-toxin. Identification of some Alternaria species, especially those that produce host-specific toxins, has been extremely difficult due to a high level of variability which extends even to nonpathogenic isolates. We have recently cloned and characterized a gene (AMT) that plays a crucial role in AM-toxin biosynthesis and demonstrated that it is only present in isolates of A. alternata apple pathotype. Using primers designed for the AMT gene, we developed a polymerase chainreaction-based method to specifically detect AM-toxin producing isolates of A. alternata apple pathotype.     

中国柑橘黑腐病和褐斑病病原菌的系统发育分析

 近些年链格孢属真菌的分类有了长足的进展,但柑橘褐斑病和黑腐病的病原却还是存在着一些争议。本研究从中国柑橘果实上收集了49株黑腐病菌菌株,并选取了8株从柑橘叶片上分离的具代表性的褐斑病菌菌株,基于Alta1 、endoPG、LSU、OPA10-2、OPAl-3和OPA2-1 等6个基因位点串联序列构建系统发育树。结果表明,柑橘黑腐病和褐斑病都可由不止一种链格孢菌引起,均以Alternaria alternata为主。两种病害的病原菌之间不能通过该系统发育树区分,但在致病性上存在差异,且能通过扩增ACT毒素合成基因进行区分。为了使两种病害的病原更加方便阐述,作者建议以它们的主要类群对其进行命名,柑橘褐斑病病原学名还是遵循前人的称呼,为the tangerine pathotype of A. alternata,即链格孢菌橘致病型,而柑橘黑腐病病原应为A. alternata,即链格孢菌。     

中国柑橘黑腐病和褐斑病病原菌的系统发育分析

 近些年链格孢属真菌的分类有了长足的进展,但柑橘褐斑病和黑腐病的病原却还是存在着一些争议。本研究从中国柑橘果实上收集了49株黑腐病菌菌株,并选取了8株从柑橘叶片上分离的具代表性的褐斑病菌菌株,基于Alta1 、endoPG、LSU、OPA10-2、OPAl-3和OPA2-1 等6个基因位点串联序列构建系统发育树。结果表明,柑橘黑腐病和褐斑病都可由不止一种链格孢菌引起,均以Alternaria alternata为主。两种病害的病原菌之间不能通过该系统发育树区分,但在致病性上存在差异,且能通过扩增ACT毒素合成基因进行区分。为了使两种病害的病原更加方便阐述,作者建议以它们的主要类群对其进行命名,柑橘褐斑病病原学名还是遵循前人的称呼,为the tangerine pathotype of A. alternata,即链格孢菌橘致病型,而柑橘黑腐病病原应为A. alternata,即链格孢菌。     

Genetic Differentiation and Host Specificity Among Populations of Alternaria spp. Causing Brown Spot of Grapefruit and Tangerine x Grapefruit Hybrids in Florida

ABSTRACT Alternaria spp. were sampled from brown spot lesions in several geographically separated citrus groves and different grapefruit and tangerine x grapefruit hybrid cultivars in Florida and screened for variation at 16 putative random amplified polymorphic DNA loci. Populations of the pathogen on two hybrids, Minneola and Orlando, in five locations throughout Florida were moderately differentiated (Nei's coefficient of gene differentiation [G(ST)] = 0.12) among locations. The hypothesis that host-specialized forms of Alternaria spp. cause brown spot on different Citrus spp. and cultivars was tested by estimating genetic differentiation among isolates sampled from different hosts and by pathogenicity assays. Isolates sampled from grapefruit and the hybrid cv. Nova were genetically distinct from isolates sampled from other hybrid cultivars including Robinson, Sunburst, Minneola, Orlando, and Murcott. No differentiation could be detected among isolates sampled from this latter group of hybrids. Quantitative pathogenicity assays on leaves using spray inoculation revealed that 'Nova' isolates were not significantly more pathogenic on 'Nova' compared with isolates from 'Minneola' and 'Orlando'. Similarly, grapefruit isolates were not significantly more pathogenic on grapefruit compared with isolates from 'Minneola'. Isolates from all hosts had similar disease rankings on each inoculated cultivar, with 'Minneola' the most susceptible, followed in decreasing order of susceptibility by 'Orlando', 'Sunburst', 'Nova', and 'Duncan' grapefruit. Rough lemon was generally immune to all isolates tested; however, occasional brown spot lesions were observed on leaves of this host with isolates from grapefruit. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that unique genotypes of the pathogen, which are more virulent on 'Sunburst' or grapefruit, have been introduced to Florida. Populations of Alternaria spp. causing brown spot of citrus on grapefruit and 'Nova' in Florida are genetically distinct from isolates on other cultivars, and we speculate that these populations are in the early stages of adaptation to and possible speciation on these hosts.     

Population Genetic Structure and Host Specificity of Alternaria spp. Causing Brown Spot of Minneola Tangelo and Rough Lemon in Florida

ABSTRACT Alternaria spp. were sampled from two rough lemon (RL) and two Minneola tangelo (MIN) groves in a limited geographic area in central Florida to test for host-specialized forms of the pathogen. Isolates of Alternaria spp. were scored for variation at 16 putative random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) loci and for pathogenicity on both hosts. Subpopulations on each host were differentiated genetically and pathogenically, which was consistent with the hypothesis of host specialization. Highly significant genetic differentiation was detected among all four subpopulations (Nei's coefficient of gene differentiation [G(ST)] = 0.292, P = 0.000); most of the differentiation occurred between hosts (G(ST) = 0.278, P = 0.000). Phenograms of qualitative similarities among isolates within subpopulations revealed two or three distinct clusters of isolates within each subpopulation. The majority of isolates sampled from RL were pathogenic on RL and not on MIN, although a few RL isolates were able to induce disease on MIN, and 44% were nonpathogenic on either host. In contrast, isolates from MIN were pathogenic only on MIN, never on RL, and only 3% of the isolates were nonpathogenic. Overall, three genetically distinct clusters of isolates were detected on both hosts. One of the clusters (cluster A) sampled from RL was pathogenic on RL and not on MIN and consisted almost entirely of one RAPD genotype. This cluster also contained two isolates that were 93% similar to the majority genotype but were pathogenic on MIN and not RL. In isolates from MIN, two distinct clusters of isolates were found in one subpopulation (clusters B and C), and three distinct clusters were found in another subpopulation (clusters A, B, and C). Clusters A and B were found on both hosts, while cluster C was limited to MIN. Populations of Alternaria spp. sampled from RL and MIN showed a high degree of host specificity; however, the specificity obscured a high level of genetic variation within subpopulations.     

Citrus Black Rot is Caused by Phylogenetically Distinct Lineages of Alternaria alternata

ABSTRACT Phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates of Alternaria alternata causing black rot of citrus were associated with six well-supported evolutionary lineages. Isolates recovered from brown spot lesions on Minneola tangelo, leaf spot lesions on rough lemon, and healthy citrus tissue and noncitrus hosts were related closely to isolates from black-rotted fruit. Phylogenies estimated independently from DNA sequence data from an endopolygalacturonase gene (endoPG) and two anonymous regions of the genome (OPA1-3 and OPA2-1) had similar topologies, and phylogenetic analysis was performed on the combined data set. In the combined phylogeny, isolates from diverse ecological niches on citrus and noncitrus hosts were distributed in eight clades. Isolates from all lineages, regardless of ecological or host association, caused black rot in fruit inoculation assays, demonstrating that small-spored Alternaria isolates associated with different ecological niches on citrus and other plant hosts are potential black rot pathogens. These data also indicated that the fungi associated with black-rotted fruit do not form a natural evolutionary group distinct from other Alternaria pathogens and saprophytes associated with citrus. The use of the name A. citri to describe fungi associated with citrus black rot is not justified and it is proposed that citrus black rot fungi be referred to as A. alternata.     

山茱萸褐斑病病原鉴定

 山茱萸(Cornus officinalis)为山茱萸科(Cornaceae)山茱萸属植物, 其成熟干燥果肉(俗称枣皮)为我国常用名贵中药材。河南省南阳市(西峡、内乡和南召等县)为我国山茱萸主产区之一, 仅西峡县截止1990年已发展到500万株, 年产枣皮315万kg, 产值达4 200万元, 居全国首位。近年, 作者对西峡县山茱萸产区进行病害调查时发现, 由链格孢菌(Alternaria sp.)引起的山茱萸褐斑病发生普遍, 该病严重发生时可致植株95%以上叶片枯死, 落果率高达87%, 造成山茱萸大幅减产, 给当地果农带来严重经济损失。迄今, 未见链格孢菌引起的山茱萸病害报道。本研究对该病的病原菌进行分离鉴定, 以期为病害的防控提供依据。     

河北和山东鸭梨果实上链格孢菌鉴定

为了查清造成鸭梨果实储藏期黑斑病的链格孢Alternaria的种类,从其产孢表型、分生孢子特征和分子生物学等方面对分离的链格孢菌进行了研究.经对分离到的188支Alternaria菌株的形态学鉴定,共确定了3个种,即链格孢Alternaria alternata、细极链格孢A.tenuissima和侵染链格孢A.infectoria,比例分别为41.0%、54.8%和1.6%.分子生物学研究结果表明,Altemaria大孢子种彼此间及大孢子种与小孢子种之间可以根据ITS和gpd序列差异明确区分;而供试的多数小孢子种在ITS和gpd序列上差异很小,无法区分.     

北京地区桃黑斑病新症状的发现与诊断

2019年-2020年在北京地区桃园病害调研普查时发现一种桃树病害的新发症状-新叶坏死,主要症状表现为当年新生枝条顶端新叶和生长点腐烂坏死。为明确这种新叶坏死症状是否由病原菌侵染引起,从北京平谷2个乡镇3个桃园采集35份病梢样品,经病样组织分离和菌株纯化,选取12个代表性菌株进行形态学鉴定、系统进化分析以及致病性测定。结果显示,通过形态学鉴定和多基因(ITS,Alt a1,gpd)系统发育分析,以上分离株均鉴定为链格孢Alternaria alternata;3株代表性菌株的致病性测定验证了A.alternata是引起新叶坏死症状的病原菌,并且该病原菌也能导致桃枝条和果实发病,产生黑斑病症状。这是首次报道A.alternata除了引起桃果实黑斑症状之外,还可以引起桃树新叶坏死症状,结果进一步丰富了链格孢侵染桃树的症状多样性,为链格孢引起的病害的整体防控提供了理论基础。     

Molecular Characterisation of Alternaria linicola and its Detection in Linseed

Nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2 and a 1068bp section of the beta-tubulin gene divided seven designated species of Alternaria into five taxa. Stemphylium botryosum formed a sixth closely related taxon. Isolates of A. linicola possessed an identical ITS sequence to one group of A. solani isolates, and two clusters of A. linicola isolates, revealed from beta-tubulin gene data to show minor variation, were as genetically similar to isolates of A. solani as they were to each other. We suggest, therefore, that A. linicola falls within the species A. solani. Similar results suggest that A. lini falls within the species A. alternata. RAPD analysis of the total genomic DNA from the Alternaria spp. concurred with the nucleotide sequence analyses. An oligonucleotide primer (ALP) was selected from the rDNA ITS1 region of A. linicola/A. solani. PCR with primers ALP and ITS4 (from a conserved region of the rDNA) amplified a c. 536bp fragment from isolates of A. linicola and A. solani but not from other Alternaria spp. nor from other fungi which may be associated with linseed. These primers amplified an identical fragment, confirmed by Southern hybridization, from DNA released from infected linseed seed and leaf tissues. These primers have the potential to be used also for the detection of A. solani in host tissues.     

Variability of Cuban and International Populations of Alternaria solani from Different Hosts and Localities: AFLP Genetic Analysis

As causal agent of early blight disease in tomato and potato, Alternaria solani is an internationally important horticultural pathogen. Genetic variability was surveyed by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis in a total of 112 isolates from potato and tomato, representing pathogen populations from different Cuban provinces together with isolates from the USA, Brazil, Turkey, Greece and China. Also included in the analysis were isolates from catenulated Alternaria spp. from Brazil, Canada, Greece and Russia, along with single isolates of Alternaria porri, Alternaria alternata and a Curvularia sp. UPGMA clustering revealed a differentiation between the isolates of A. solani and all other species with the exception of A. porri which could not be distinguished from A. solani. Among the isolates of A. solani, two distinct subclusters were formed, with high genetic significance revealed by bootstrapping, corresponding to a general subdivision based on the respective solanaceous host. The results are discussed with regard to potential host specificity of A. solani on tomato and potato, and in terms of the comparative contributions of regional and international genetic variability in populations of this ubiquitous plant pathogen.     

Alternaria Leaf Spot on Three Species of Pelargonium Caused by Alternaria alternata in Japan

A new disease of pelargonium (Pelargonium domesticum Bailey), ivy geranium (P. peltatum (L.) L'Hér. ex Ait.) and scented geranium (P. graveolens L'Hér.), primarily causing brown spots on leaves, was found in Kawasaki-shi in Kanagawa Prefecture and Tachikawa-shi in Tokyo. An Alternaria sp. was consistently isolated from these diseased leaves, and the isolates were pathogenic to their host leaves. Based on morphological characteristics, the causal fungus in all three cases was identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler. Because Alternaria leaf spot of geranium by A. alternata has already been reported, the pathogenicity of isolates from four groups of genus Pelargonium was investigated. The isolates from scented geranium were pathogenic only to their original host, but the isolates from pelargonium, ivy geranium and geranium were pathogenic to all groups of pelargonium. This is the first report of this disease on pelargonium, ivy geranium and scented geranium caused by A. alternata in Japan. We propose the names for these diseases as Alternaria leaf spot of pelargonium (kappan-byo), Alternaria leaf spot of ivy geranium (kappan-byo) and Alternaria leaf spot of scented geranium (kappan-byo). Received 11 December 2000/ Accepted in revised form 19 July 2001     

花椒枯穗病病原鉴定

Ten Zanthoxylum bungeanum ear blight diseased samples were collected from the Research Base of Forestry Research Institute of Hebei Province of China during 2009. Three isolates were obtained from diseased samples and no distinct difference could be observed among them. The fungus E-1 was determined to be responsible for this disease by the Koch’s Postulation. Morphological and the phylogenetic tree constructed based on ITS sequences showed that the morphological characters were the same as Alternaria alternata and the homology between E-1 and A. alternata was up to 100 percent. It indicated that E-1 was A. alternate（JQ973810）.     

河南省小麦黑胚病优势病原菌链格孢菌(Alternaria spp.)遗传多样性分析

 采用RAPD技术对分离自河南省各地的43株小麦黑胚病优势病原菌(Alternaria spp.)菌株进行了遗传多样性分析。17个随机引物共扩增出151条清晰的DNA条带,所扩增出的DNA条带均为多态带,说明河南省小麦黑胚病菌存在着丰富的遗传多样性。利用NTSYS软件进行了病原菌的聚类分析,结果表明,河南省小麦黑胚病菌主要有2个种,即Alternaria alternata和A. tenuissima,种间的遗传相似系数的变化幅度为0.62~0.92。来自同一个地区的小麦黑胚病菌菌株基本上聚在了一起,表现出很近的亲缘关系,来自不同地区之间的菌株也可以交叉聚类。病原菌遗传多样性分析进一步验证了形态学的鉴定结果。     

山西省高粱的青霉颖枯病

“早衰”是高粱生产和育种上存在的普遍现象。长期以来被认为是一种生理性病害。经4年研究证明它是草酸青霉(Penicilliem axalicum)和纤细交链孢霉(Allernaria allernala)于初花期浸染而引起的一种高粱穗部病害。主要症状是颖壳及与其连接的枝梗组织坏死,阻止了养分、水分向上输导,造成籽粒秕瘦变小。一般减产10％以上。这是国内首次报道的高粱新病害,定名为高粱青霉颖枯病,此病在初花期用多菌灵防治有较好效果。