Factors Affecting the Spread of Plum pox virus Strain M in Peach Orchards Subjected to Roguing in France

ABSTRACT We evaluated the impact of roguing on the spread and persistence of the aggressive Plum pox virus strain M (PPV-M) in 19 peach orchard blocks in Southern France. During a 7- to 10-year period, orchards were visually inspected for PPV symptoms, and symptomatic trees were removed every year. Disease incidence was low in all orchards at disease discovery and was <1% in 16 of the 19 orchard blocks. The spread of Sharka disease was limited in all 19 blocks, with an annual disease incidence between 2 and 6%. However, new symptomatic trees were continuously detected, even after 7 to 10 years of uninterrupted control measures. An extended Cox model was developed to evaluate to what extent tree location, orchard characteristics, environment, and disease status within the vicinity influenced the risk of infection through time. Eleven variables with potential effect on tree survival (i.e., maintenance of a tree in a disease- free status through time) were selected from survey data and databases created using a geographical information system. Area of the orchard, density of planting, distance of a tree from the edge of the orchard block sharing a boundary with another diseased orchard, and distance to the nearest previously detected symptomatic tree had a significant effect on the risk for a tree to become infected through time. The combined results of this study suggest that new PPV-M infections within orchards subjected to roguing resulted from exogenous sources of inoculum, disease development of latent infected trees, as well as infected trees overlooked within the orchards during visual surveys. A revision of the survey and the roguing procedures used for more effective removal of potential sources of inoculum within the orchards and in the vicinity of the orchards would improve disease control suppression of PPV.     

Mapping the spread of apricot chlorotic leaf roll (ACLR) in southern France and implication of Cacopsylla pruni as a vector of European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) phytoplasmas

An epidemiological study on European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) phytoplasmas infecting Prunus fruit trees was carried out from 1994 to 2000 in Languedoc-Roussillon (southern France). The spread of the disease was monitored for 7 years by visual observation of symptoms and by PCR detection of the phytoplasma in an experimental orchard planted with apricot hybrid seedlings. This indicated that aerial vectors were responsible for disease spread, and that transmission rates were low at the beginning of the spread. Seventy thousand homopteran insects were captured within and in the surroundings of highly ESFY-infected apricot orchards, of which about 10 000 were used in PCR and nested-PCR assays with universal ribosomal and ESFY-specific nonribosomal primers to detect ESFY phytoplasmas. The other insects were confined in cages for trials of transmission to test plants. ESFY phytoplasmas could not be detected by PCR in any of the leafhopper species captured but could be detected in the psyllid Cacopsylla pruni caught on Prunus domestica and Prunus cerasifera rootstock suckers of apricot trees and on Prunus spinosa . Nested PCR revealed ESFY phytoplasmas in one individual of the deltocephalid Synophropsis lauri captured on an apricot tree. Transmission trials confirmed the role of Cacopsylla pruni as the ESFY phytoplasma vector in France. When apricot seedlings were used as bait plants from April to November during two consecutive years, no natural transmission could be demonstrated. However, one out of 50 apricot seedlings left for the whole year in the orchard became infected. An early spring ESFY infection is in agreement with both the natural transmission results and the life cycle of Cacopsylla pruni .     

A grower-friendly method to transfer predacious mites to commercial orchards

The establishment of predacious mites in commercial orchards may be accelerated by the transfer of pruned wood in winter and summer from donor orchards to release orchards. Following winter pruning, 3-year-old and older wood is collected and transported as soon as possible in bundles to a release orchard for distribution. If the release orchard is composed of dwarf trees, then one or two bundles of 5 kg each are placed vertically at the base of the trunk of every tree in the block (0.5 to 1 ha); if the trees are of standard size, then four or five bundles used. Following summer pruning, annual shoots and suckers are distributed immediately in a release orchard composed of dwarf trees by placing 12–15 branches on the foliage of fruit-bearing branches; if the release orchard is composed of standard trees, then 50 branches are used. The pruned wood should have 20–25 leaves and not less than one predator per leaf. The release orchard should have a light infestation (two or three mites per leaf) of pest tetranychids. These phytophagous mites would serve as food and help establish the predators. The release orchard grower should develop a pest management program based on the same groups of pesticides used in the donor orchard. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 31, 2005.     

Role of wild Prunus species in the epidemiology of European stone fruit yellows

Several uncultivated trees of the species Prunus spinosa , P. cerasifera and P. domestica , sampled both adjacent to European stone fruit yellows (ESFY)-infected orchards and in isolation from cultivated stone fruit plants, were found to be infected by ESFY phytoplasma. These species were also colonized by Cacopsylla pruni , vector of the ESFY agent. In contrast, uncultivated species of Prunus avium , P. cerasus and P. mahaleb hosted neither the pathogen nor the vector. Insect- and graft-transmission trials of ESFY phytoplasma conducted under controlled conditions confirmed the data obtained in the field. The role played by the wild Prunus species is discussed and appears to be fundamental in the epidemic cycle of the disease.     

苹果园混合覆盖植物对害螨和东亚小花蝽的影响

苹果园种植紫花苜蓿，为捕食性天敌提供了适宜的生存环境和补充猎物，使苹果园天敌数量增加，叶螨种群下降。夏至草是苹果园杂草的优势种，该杂草可提供天敌生存所需的花粉、花蜜和猎物，使东亚小花蝽发生时间提早，发育速度加快。在６月中旬前，东亚小花蝽可在夏至草上完成２代，在紫花苜蓿上完成１代。夏至草与紫花苜蓿的比例变化影响苹果园节肢动物物种数量，当混合植被中夏至草的覆盖度大于２５％时，对覆盖植物和苹果树冠捕食性天敌种群数量最为有利。夏至草与紫花苜蓿混合（１∶４），比单一紫花苜蓿上天敌的数量增加２～３倍，苹果树冠天敌数量增加７０％，苹果叶螨种群数量降低３０％     

采用果园喷雾施药机械施药时农药有效沉积率的计算方法

针对传统农药沉积率测算方法无法精确反映果园中农药实际利用率的问题,提出一种结合果树冠层特征与叶面沉积量直接测算农药药液在果树靶标上有效沉积率的方法,以期建立一种适用于不同栽种模式的果园通用农药沉积率计算方法。首先采用传统方法计算采用风送式自走喷雾机喷雾后农药在乔化稀植型果园的地面流失率,将其结果与采用果树冠层特征与叶面沉积量相结合的方法计算的有效沉积率进行比较,再通过计算采用风送式自走喷雾机喷雾后农药在矮砧密植型果园的有效沉积率以及采用担架柱塞泵式喷雾机和植保无人飞机喷雾后农药的有效沉积率,验证本研究所提出的将果树冠层特征与叶面沉积量相结合计算农药有效沉积率方法的准确性及适用性。结果表明:基于叶面沉积量结合果树冠层特征方法计算得到的农药有效沉积率与采用传统方法计算得到的农药地面流失率结果基本一致,均能体现施药机械的农药利用率,但比较而言,本研究所提出的方法在果园植保机械喷雾施药有效利用率的影响因素方面考虑更全面,兼顾了叶面沉积量和果树冠层结构的影响,且对于不同栽种模式下的果园更具适应性。将果树冠层特征与叶面沉积量相结合进行果园农药有效沉积率的计算,可以更加真实地反映出果园农药的实际利用情况,同时通过将果树冠层结构量化为叶面积指数、冠层阴影面积等指标,可以为不同栽种模式下的果园选择适宜的植保机械,结合地面流失率的测量,计算出果园农药的飘移量,从而通过调整喷雾角度、雾滴大小、喷雾流量等参数,实现对植保机械的优化,达到精准施药的目的。     

Differentiation in populations of the apple scab fungus Venturia inaequalis on cultivars in a mixed orchard remain over time

The ascomycete Venturia inaequalis causes annual epidemics of apple scab worldwide. Scab development is reduced in mixed cultivar orchards compared with monocultures. In order to use mixtures in commercial production, how the population of scab changes in a mixed orchard needs to be understood, together with how likely a super race, with virulence factors overcoming multiple resistance factors in the mixed orchard, is to emerge and become dominant. This study used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to investigate the temporal change of scab populations in two mixed cultivar orchards in the UK to infer the likelihood of emergence of a scab super race. There were no significant differences between the populations at the two sampling times (6 or 7 years apart) in either of the two mixed orchards. In one of the orchards, apple scab populations on different cultivars were significantly different and the differences did not diminish over time. These results suggest that it is not inevitable that a super race of V. inaequalis will become dominant during the lifetime of a commercial apple orchard.     

Untersuchungen zur Europäischen Steinobstvergilbung (ESFY) in Deutschland

From 2003 to 2007 surveys have been conducted in different stone fruit growing regions in southwest Germany to detect European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) disease in Germany. Samplings have been done regularly in selected reference orchards in the regions Neuwieder Becken, Rheinhessen, Vorderpfalz and Südpfalz in summer on trees showing ESFY typical symptoms as well as on branches of trees with unspecific symptoms. All samples have been analysed by PCR for infection with Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum. The phytoplasma could be detected in all investigated regions on the cultivated Prunus species P. armeniaca, P. persica and P. domestica. No infection was found in wild Prunus species. The main spread of the disease appeared on apricot while peach and European plum were less affected. A good correlation between symptoms and molecular detection of the pathogen could be shown for the typical symptoms in summer and winter for apricot as well as for peach. During regular psyllid captures in the reference orchards the population dynamics of Cacopsylla pruni could be described in southwest Germany for several years. By PCR-testing all collected insects individually a yearly natural infection rate of about 1–2% of all individuals of C. pruni could be calculated.     

渭北果园生草生物量与土壤养分因子的关系

果园生草技术作为一种先进的果园管理模式,能够改善土壤的理化性状。采用Person相关性和通径分析方法,对苹果园清耕、苹果/白三叶(Trifoliurn repens L.)、苹果/红三叶(Trifolium pretense)、苹果/小冠花(Coronilla varia L.)、苹果/鸡脚草(Dactylis glomerata L.)、苹果/百脉根(Lotuscorniculatus)间作6种管理模式下生草生物量和土壤养分因子进行了研究,探讨了生草生物量与土壤养分因子的关系,以期为果园生草的合理选择与有效管理提供参考。结果表明:5种生草的总生物量都介于150~300 g·m-2,小冠花的总生物量最大,而白三叶最小,具体顺序为:小冠花百脉根鸡脚草红三叶白三叶。通径分析结果表明,土壤肥力因子对生草生物量的直接作用系数大小顺序为容重全氮速效钾有机碳硝态氮铵态氮速效磷,土壤容重和全氮的直接和间接通径系数较大(分别为0.847和0.917),是影响生草生物量最主要的因素,速效钾和有机碳是影响生草生物量的次要因子,而硝态氮、铵态氮和速效磷对生草生物量的作用很微弱。     

Spatial and temporal increase of eastern filbert blight in European hazelnut orchards in the pacific northwest

ABSTRACT Since its first detection in southwest Washington state 30 years ago, eastern filbert blight, caused by Anisogramma anomala, has spread slowly southward ( approximately 2 km/year) into the Willamette Valley of Oregon, an important hazelnut production region. Experiments were conducted to measure gradients of disease spread, rates of disease increase as affected by distance from an inoculum source and variation in host plant resistance, and dispersal of ascospores of A. anomala from diseased orchards. In each of 3 years, 1-year-old hazelnut trees placed from 0 to 150 m north of diseased orchards were infected uniformly and slopes of disease gradients were not significantly different from zero. In 1 year when trees also were placed south of an orchard, the disease gradient was significant (P < 0.05), with disease incidence high at the edge of the orchard and few trees infected at 10 m south of the orchard. Disease gradients were shallower and the magnitude of the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) greater in 0.1-ha mini-orchards of highly susceptible cv. Ennis than in mini-orchards of moderately susceptible cvs. Barcelona or Casina. Lower AUDPC values were observed in mini-orchards of Barcelona interplanted with a moderately resistant pollenizer Hall's Giant compared with the highly susceptible pollenizer Daviana. Fungicides applied biweekly starting at bud break reduced AUDPC values in Ennis mini-orchards to values observed in Barcelona and Casina mini-orchards. Data from aspirated spore samplers placed on towers adjacent to severely diseased hazelnut orchards indicated that spores of A. anomala dispersed horizontally and vertically away from the canopy during periods of extended branch wetness and, thus, show potential to be transported long distances in wind currents. Weather patterns in the Pacific Northwest may account for the relatively slow, southward spread of eastern filbert blight within Oregon's Willamette Valley. Of 196 precipitation events greater than 10 h in duration recorded from 1974 to 1995, conditions most favorable for ascospores discharge, periods with wind from the north were rare, representing <6% of total hours.     

黄色黏虫板在3种果园对蚜虫及其天敌的诱集作用

为减少黄色黏虫板(简称黄板)对果园害虫天敌的影响,明确黄板在果园中的使用方法,于2014年5月4日至9月30日在山西省太谷县的苹果、梨、桃园中进行了黄板诱集蚜虫及其天敌的动态调查。结果表明:在3种果园黄板可以诱集8目32科的昆虫,主要类群为蚜虫、叶蝉、瓢虫、食蚜蝇、草蛉和蚜茧蜂等。在苹果园和桃园中诱蚜量呈双峰谷线状,在梨园中呈三峰状;各果园寄生性天敌的数量变化趋势与蚜虫一致且有跟随效应,但苹果园和梨园诱集的捕食性天敌均在8月下旬至8月底出现高峰期,而桃园中捕食性天敌水平一直较高。3个果园在花期至幼果期即5月4日至6月22日益害比最小,苹果园仅为1:202.8,而在其它时段的益害比均大于1:150,甚至最高可达1:19.4,表明在果园中使用黄板的害处大于益处,建议在果园中慎用黄板诱蚜。     

Feasibility and efficacy of a new approach for controlling populations of the rosy apple aphid,Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in south-eastern France

Episyrphus balteatus De Geer (Diptera: Syrphidae) is one of the most efficient biocontrol agents against Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in apple orchards due to its early arrival. However, releasing flying predators in open orchards may be risky. We thus evaluated the combined effects of biological (early release of syrphids) and physical (Alt'Carpo nets) methods for controlling aphids under orchard conditions assuming that syrphids released under the nets will be able to survive and reproduce. Five experimental treatments containing two rows of trees each were set up in a pesticide-free orchard containing two different apple cultivars. For each cultivar, E. Balteatus adults were released (25, 40 and 90 adults per row) into three treatments, which were covered with nets, and two treatments were maintained free as controls (with and without nets). The releases, mainly in treatment 90, had a small effect on the development of the aphid population compared to netted control trees, especially towards the end of the study period when some of the differences were significant. This study demonstrated that E. balteatus adults can be successfully released under nets since we did observe an accumulation in the offspring of released individuals, mainly in treatments 40 and 90.     

Population variation of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) within mixed orchards in the UK

Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is one of the most important apple diseases worldwide. To investigate between- and within-orchard fungal variability, 212 isolates were sampled from two mixed orchards, one of 10?years of age and the other of 45?years of age, in the UK and genotyped with AFLP and SSR markers. Populations of isolates from the two orchards did not differ significantly in terms of allele frequencies at the screened AFLP and SSR loci. However, groups of isolates from individual cultivars differed significantly within each orchard and there were also significant differences between groups of isolates from individual trees of the same cultivar in the same orchard. These differences were less pronounced in the younger mixed orchard than in the older one. The existence of tree-to-tree fungal variability indicates a possible role for conidia as a source of primary inoculum. Non-random mating may be one of the factors causing the significant differences among fungal populations from different cultivars. These results suggest that apparently ??susceptible?? cultivars have different background genetic resistance factors, which can be exploited for disease management in mixtures.     

柑桔黄龙病综合防治研究

实施以采用无病种苗和田间防疫为中心的柑桔黄龙病综合防治技术,在新区两项措施并举,现树龄已９￣１４年生,仍然健康高产,每ｈｍ＾２产量达３２６００ｋｇ,田间保持既无黄龙病株,亦无柑桔木虱,对病区仅施行“田间防疫”,也能压低田间病株率和控制田间传染,维持果园效益。     

Region-wide analysis of genetic diversity in Verticillium dahliae populations infecting olive in southern Spain and agricultural factors influencing the distribution and prevalence of vegetative compatibility groups and pathotypes

Severity of Verticillium wilt in olive trees in Andalusia, southern Spain is associated with the spread of a highly virulent, defoliating (D) Verticillium dahliae pathotype of vegetative compatibility group 1A (VCG1A) but the extent of this spread and the diversity of the pathogen population have never been documented. VCG typing of 637 V. dahliae isolates from 433 trees in 65 orchards from five olive-growing provinces in Andalusia indicated that 78.1% were of VCG1A, 19.8% of VCG2A, 0.6% of VCG2B, 1.4% of VCG4B, and one isolate was heterokaryon self-incompatible. A single VCG prevailed among isolates within most orchards but two and three VCGs were identified in 12 and 3 orchards, respectively, with VCG1A+VCG2A occurring in 10 orchards. VCG1A was the predominant VCG in the three most important olive-growing provinces, and was almost as prevalent as VCG2A in another one. Molecular pathotyping of the 637 isolates using specific polymerase chain reaction assays indicated that VCG1A isolates were of the D pathotype whereas isolates of VCG2A, -2B, and -4B were of the less virulent nondefoliating (ND) pathotype. The pathotype of isolates correlated with the disease syndrome affecting sampled trees. Only three (seq1, seq2, and seq4) of the seven known sequences of the V. dahliae-specific 539- or 523-bp amplicon were identified among the 637 isolates. Distribution and prevalence of VCGs and seq sequences among orchards indicated that genetic diversity within olive V. dahliae in Andalusia is higher in provinces where VCG1A is not prevalent. Log-linear analysis revealed that irrigation management, source of irrigation water, source of planting stock, and cropping history of soil were significantly associated with the prevalence of VCG1A compared with that of VCG2A. Multivariate analyses using a selected set of agricultural factors as variables allowed development of a discriminant model for predicting the occurrence of D and ND pathotypes in the area of the study. Blind tests using this model correctly indentified the V. dahliae pathotype occurring in an orchard. The widespread occurrence and high prevalence of VCG1A/D pathotype in Andalusia have strong implications for the management of the disease.     

Virus/Mycoplasm Diseases and Certification Schemes for Deciduous Fruit Trees1)

Although the causal agents of several important fruit-tree diseases have been identified, the aetiology of many remains unknown. Some prevalent viruses seem to have little effect on certain rootstock/cultivar combinations, while others reduce fruit yields and a few can make orchards quite worthless. Most EEC countries have 2 certification schemes; one requires only that plants are true-to-type and free from visible virus diseases, while to be eligible for the other scheme the plants must be propagated from virus-tested scionwood trees and rootstocks. The use of virus-free clones has resulted in better bud-take, more even growth in the nursery and trees that will often be more productive in the orchard. Diseases, such as sharks (plum pox), that have insect vectors will be difficult to control in nurseries if the virus occurs in nearby plants.     

Branch cankers on citrus trees in Spain caused by Phytophthora citrophthora

Considerable losses of citrus trees have been observed in the major citrus-growing areas of Spain. Samples were collected from 132 orchards, and isolations and pathogencity tests were conducted to determine the aetiology of a serious canker disease. Affected trees showed cankers on the scion that frequently began on the branches. Three Phytophthora species were identified based on their morphological, cultural, physiological and molecular profiles. Phytophthora citrophthora was the main species associated with this new syndrome in 114 orchards. Phytophthora nicotianae (syn. P. parasitica ) was isolated from nine orchards as the sole Phytophthora species and in coinfection with P. citrophthora from another nine orchards. Phytophthora citricola was isolated only from one orchard. In stem-inoculation studies conducted under greenhouse conditions, clementine mandarin cv. Hernandina and sweet orange cv. Navel Late were more susceptible to P. citrophthora than sour orange and Carrizo citrange rootstocks. Clementine cv. Hernandina was also highly susceptible in field inoculation experiments. In agreement with field surveys, clementine mandarin cultivars were the most affected, their rootstocks remaining healthy. Phytophthora citrophthora was found to be the predominant species in orchard soils; however, P. nicotianae was also isolated. This information changes the scenario of diseases caused by Phytophthora spp. in Spain and consequently, the present knowledge of epidemiology and the effectiveness of the current control measures should be reassessed.     

Verticillium wilt of almond in California 1

Wilt of almond due to Verticillium dahliae, also known as‘black heart', is an occasionally serious disease problem in orchards in California (US). Verticillium wilt is most severe on trees 2–6-year-old, and symptoms lessen as trees mature. Usually only a few trees in a young orchard are affected, though sometimes many young trees die. Severe economic losses of 9000-11 000 USD per ha resulting from verticillium wilt in almond orchards have been recorded. Foliar symptoms may be difficult to discern after trees are 5–6-year-old. Unlike previous reports of new infections arising each year, recent research indicates that infections may perennate in vascular tissue of primary scaffolds and trunks. Some differences in tree damage are apparent among scion cultivars. Pre-plant fumigation with methyl bromide and/or chloropicrin is not reliably effective for prevention of verticillium wilt. Solarization has been effective when applied prior to or at planting. Post-plant therapeutic treatments are not consistently effective.     

Population genetic diversity and structure of the pecan scab pathogen,Venturia effusa,on cv. Desirable and native seedlings,and the impact of marker number

Scab (Venturia effusa) is the major cause of economic loss in pecan in the south-eastern USA. We explored population genetic diversity and structure among orchards of cv. Desirable and native seedlings, and within-orchard variability among trees of all cultivars sampled. We compared the ability of 30, 15 and 7 previously developed microsatellites to characterize the population genetic diversity and structure of V. effusa. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) provided little evidence of structure dependent on cultivar, but there was some evidence of structure between orchards of a cultivar based on distance. Individual orchard AMOVA showed that three of 11 orchards had between-tree population structure. Among six populations from cv. Desirable, a Mantel test showed that geographic distance was related to the pairwise genetic divergence (R² = 0.84). Among 11 orchards of various cultivars there was little difference in diversity using 30, 15 or 7 markers, or population structure based on AMOVA. Some minor differences in population structure were seen based on discriminant analysis of principal components, or dendrograms. Thus, depending on the objectives, future studies may use as few as 15 or 7 markers without losing ability to discern population genetic diversity or structure. More populations exhibited linkage disequilibrium when using 15 or 30 markers compared to when using seven markers. Knowledge of population genetics of V. effusa in relation to host genotype is needed to understand pathogen population interactions and gene flow, knowledge that will help underpin future breeding efforts to develop durable resistance in this long-lived orchard tree.