Modeling Spatial Characteristics in the Biological Control of Fungi at Leaf Scale: Competitive Substrate Colonization by Botrytis cinerea and the Saprophytic Antagonist Ulocladium atrum

ABSTRACT A spatially explicit model describing saprophytic colonization of dead cyclamen leaf tissue by the plant-pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea and the saprophytic fungal antagonist Ulocladium atrum was constructed. Both fungi explore the leaf and utilize the resources it provides. Leaf tissue is represented by a two-dimensional grid of square grid cells. Fungal competition within grid cells is modeled using Lotka-Volterra equations. Spatial expansion into neighboring grid cells is assumed proportional to the mycelial density gradient between donor and receptor cell. Established fungal biomass is immobile. Radial growth rates of B. cinerea and U. atrum in dead cyclamen leaf tissue were measured to determine parameters describing the spatial dynamics of the fungi. At temperatures from 5 to 25 degrees C, B. cinerea colonies expanded twice as rapidly as U. atrum colonies. In practical biological control, the slower colonization of space by U. atrum thus needs to be compensated by a sufficiently dense and even distribution of conidia on the leaf. Simulation results confirm the importance of spatial expansion to the outcome of the competitive interaction between B. cinerea and U. atrum at leaf scale. A sensitivity analysis further emphasized the importance of a uniform high density cover of vital U. atrum conidia on target leaves.     

Effect of Water Potential on Conidial Germination and Antagonism of Ulocladium atrum Against Botrytis cinerea

ABSTRACT The saprophytic fungus Ulocladium atrum was selected for its ability to competitively exclude Botrytis spp. from aboveground necrotic plant tissues which can play a crucial role in the epidemiology of diseases caused by necrotrophic Botrytis spp. Fungal growth in necrotic aboveground tissues can be hampered by fluctuating water availability. Adaptation to these adverse conditions is a key factor for the successful establishment of an antagonist population in this niche. Conidia of U. atrum germinated at water potentials between -1 and -7 MPa on water agar. Germinated conidia survived one to three interruptions of moist incubation by periods at -10 or -42 MPa. The speed of germination was significantly slower with interruption of the moist period as compared with the control, which had continuously moist incubation. However, the maximum germination percentage was the same for conidia incubated with or without interruption of the moist incubation. In bioassays with necrotic cyclamen leaves at -1, -3, and -7 MPa, U. atrum significantly reduced the sporulation of B. cinerea by more than 80%. The results demonstrate that U. atrum tolerates water stress during competitive substrate colonization with B. cinerea. The antagonist is, therefore, an attractive candidate for field applications on aboveground tissues.     

Biological Control of Botrytis cinerea in Cyclamen with Ulocladium atrum and Gliocladium roseum Under Commercial Growing Conditions

ABSTRACT The effect of treatments with conidial suspensions of Ulocladium atrum and Gliocladium roseum on leaf rot of cyclamen caused by Botrytis cinerea was investigated under commercial greenhouse conditions. Spraying U. atrum (1 x 10(6) conidia per ml) or G. roseum (2 x 10(6) conidia per ml and 1 x 10(7) conidia per ml) at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks during the production period and spraying U. atrum (1 x 10(6) conidia per ml) at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of natural infections of petioles by B. cinerea. U. atrum or G. roseum (1 x 10(7)conidia per ml) was as effective as the standard fungicide program. B. cinerea colonized senesced leaves within the plant canopy and infected adjacent petioles and leaves later. The antagonists colonized senesced leaves and reduced B. cinerea development on these leaves. Thus, the inoculum potential on petioles adjacent to necrotic leaf tissues was reduced. The fate of U. atrum conidia on surfaces of green cyclamen leaves during a 70-day period after application was studied. The number of conidia per square centimeter of leaf surface remained relatively constant during the entire experiment. Sixty percent of the conidia sampled during the experiments retained the ability to germinate. When green leaves were removed from the plants to induce senescence and subsequently were incubated in a moist chamber, U. atrum colonized the dead leaves. Senesced leaves also were colonized by other naturally occurring fungi including B. cinerea. On leaves treated with U. atrum from all sampling dates, sporulation of B. cinerea was significantly less as compared with the untreated control. Our results indicate that early applications of U. atrum before canopy closure may be sufficient to achieve commercially satisfactory control of Botrytis leaf rot in cyclamen.     

Interaction of Four Antagonistic Fungi with Botrytis aclada in Dead Onion Leaves: A Comparative Microscopic and Ultrastructural Study

ABSTRACT The colonization of dead onion leaves by Botrytis aclada and the fungal antagonists Aureobasidium pullulans, Chaetomium globosum, Glio-cladium catenulatum, and Ulocladium atrum and the interactions between B. aclada and each of the four antagonists were studied at the microscopic and ultrastructural level. This approach was used in an attempt to understand the colonization pattern of these fungi and the nature of the biocontrol activity of the antagonists that have shown a potential to suppress spore production of Botrytis spp. on necrotic plant tissues. When applied alone, B. aclada and U. atrum were found throughout the leaf tissues in high densities after an incubation period of 6 days at 18 degrees C in a moist chamber. C. globosum and G. catenulatum colonized only the outer portions of the leaf, whereas A. pullulans appeared to be concentrated in the leaf stomata. When pathogen and antagonists were applied together, ultrastructural observations revealed that cells of B. aclada were plasmolyzed in the presence of G. catenulatum, suggesting a reaction to antifungal molecules. Antibiosis also seemed to be involved, albeit to a lesser extent, in the antagonistic interactions between B. aclada and A. pullulans or C. globosum. No evidence of direct parasitism was recorded. On the other hand, U. atrum appeared to completely exclude B. aclada from dead onion tissues when both fungi competed for the substrate. Ultrastructural observations of the in vitro interaction between the two fungi did not reveal parasitism or antibiosis by either fungus. Based on previous records of its biocontrol potential and observations of its colonizing properties, it appears that U. atrum can compete for and utilize necrotic tissues rapidly and extensively, thus, excluding competitors without any other antagonistic action.     

The survival and saprophytic competitive ability of the Botrytis spp. antagonist Ulocladium atrum in lily canopies

In 1995, conidia of Ulocladium atrum were applied to a canopy of green lily (Lillium spp.) leaves in order to investigate its survival, colonisation of artificially induced necrotic leaf tissues and competitive ability against Botrytis spp. and naturally occurring saprophytes. U. atrum conidia density cm^-2 at the top and middle canopy levels was not significantly different following application of the antagonist with a propane powered backpack sprayer. In repeat experiments, conidia density on leaves at the lower canopy level was 18% to 20% of that deposited onto leaves at the top of the lily canopy. There was a significant (P < 0.001) linear decline of U. atrum conidia over time and after 21 days conidia density had declined by up to 73%. Germination of U. atrum on green leaves in the field reached a maximum of 81%, seven days after antagonist application. Conidial viability, measured as germination potential, declined slightly (100% to 88%) after seven days exposure to field conditions but there were no further changes in the germination potential even after 21 days of field exposure. The germination potential was not affected by canopy level. The ability of surviving U. atrum conidia to colonise necrotic tissues, artificially induced with paraquat, was measured. U. atrum colonisation was consistently highest on necrotic leaves at the top level of the canopy and consistently lower on leaves from the bottom canopy level. Necrotic leaf colonisation by U. atrum decreased over time from 51% (necrosis induced immediately after antagonist application) to 21% when necrosis was induced 21 days after antagonist application. A significant (P < 0.001) linear relationship (R² = 0.713) between colonisation of necrotic tissues and conidia density prior to induction of necrosis was detected. When necrosis was induced immediately after antagonist application, U. atrum outcompeted commonly occurring saprophytic Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp. The ability of U. atrum to significantly reduce colonisation by Alternaria spp. was maintained for up to 21 days. Botrytis spp. did not occur in these field experiments. It was concluded that U. atrum had the ability to survive and persist in the phyllosphere for up to 21 days in the field and provided further evidence that U. atrum has the necessary survival characteristics to be a successful biological control agent of Botrytis spp.     

Differential Induction of Grapevine Defenses by Two Strains of Botrytis cinerea

ABSTRACT Even though Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold, is a highly variable fungus with strains displaying very different degrees of virulence toward one given host plant species, no study has yet shown any correlation between the lack of aggressiveness of one given strain and its ability to stimulate a defense response from its host. Strains of B. cinerea collected from different host plant species were screened for their pathogenicity on grapevine to select two strains with similar morphological characteristics but different levels of virulence. In grapevine leaves, the less aggressive strain, T4, enhanced the accumulation of many defense products including secondary metabolites and the pathogenesis-related proteins, chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase. Interestingly, secondary metabolites were formed in cells around a small group of dead cells. When compared with T4, the more aggressive strain, T8, had larger necrotic spots, no secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and accumulations of chitinases and beta-1,3-glucanases that were more delayed, yet only slightly weaker. The culture fluids of both strains mimicked the differential effect of each isolate in stimulating chitinase activity when infiltrated into grapevine leaves.     

Quantification of Mycelium of Botrytis spp. and the Antagonist Ulocladium atrum in Necrotic Leaf Tissue of Cyclamen and Lily by Fluorescence Microscopy and Image Analysis

ABSTRACT A technique was developed to localize and quantify the internal mycelial colonization of necrotic leaf tissue of cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) or lily (Lilium) by pathogenic Botrytis spp. and the antagonist Ulocladium atrum. This technique allows investigation of competitive substrate colonization by both fungi, which is a key process for biological control of Botrytis spp. by U. atrum. A combination of differential fluorescent labeling and image analysis was applied on cryostat sections of necrotic leaf tissue. Botrytis mycelium was labeled specifically by indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific for Botrytis spp. And an antimouse fluorescein conjugate. Wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to the fluorochrome TRITC was used to label mycelium of both fungi. Image analysis was used to measure the relative surface area of the cryostat section covered by fluorescing hyphae of Botrytis spp. and by fluorescing hyphae of both fungi. A mathematical conversion was derived and used to calculate the relative mycelial volume of each fungal species in the necrotic tissue based on the measured relative surface areas. Temporal aspects of substrate colonization were studied in a short time series. An analysis of components of variance provided insight into spatial colonization patterns for the fungal species involved and allowed the design of efficient sampling strategies for future experiments.     

Characterization of an Exo-beta-1,3-Glucanase Produced by Pichia anomala Strain K, Antagonist of Botrytis cinerea on Apples

ABSTRACT The exo-beta-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.58) activity of Pichia anomala strain K, an antagonistic yeast of Botrytis cinerea on postharvest apples, was studied in a synthetic medium supplemented with laminarin, a cell wall preparation (CWP) of B. cinerea, or glucose. The highest enzyme activity was detected in culture media containing a CWP of B. cinerea as the sole carbon source, whereas the lowest activity was observed in culture media supplemented with glucose. Exoglc1, an exo-beta-1,3-glucanase, was purified to homogeneity from culture filtrates of strain K containing a CWP. The molecular mass of exoglc1 was estimated to be under 15 kDa. Optimum activity of exoglc1 was recorded at 50 degrees C and pH 5.5. The exoglc1 K(m) value was estimated at 22.4 mg/ml. Exoglc1 showed in vitro a stronger inhibitory effect on germ tube growth of B. cinerea than on conidia germination and caused morphological changes such as leakage of cytoplasm and cell swelling. Exo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity was detected on apples treated with strain K and was similar to exoglc1 on the basis of activity on native gel. Moreover, the addition of a CWP to a suspension of P. anomala stimulated both in situ exo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity and protective activity against the pathogen, strengthening the hypothesis that exo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity is one of the mechanisms of action involved in the suppression of B. cinerea by P. anomala strain K.     

湖南省草莓灰霉病菌对4种杀菌剂的抗药性检测

为明确湖南省草莓灰霉病菌菌株的抗药性状况,2013-2015年从湖南省不同地区草莓灰霉病病果或病叶上经单孢分离获得草莓灰霉病菌454株,采用最小抑制浓度法(MIC)检测不同地区草莓灰霉病菌株对多菌灵、腐霉利、异菌脲、嘧霉胺的抗药性。结果表明:草莓灰霉病菌对多菌灵、腐霉利、异菌脲、嘧霉胺的抗性频率分别为55.73%,77.31%、3.52%和77.31%;所测菌株对4种杀菌剂的敏感性类型有Cbz~RPcm~RIpd~RPmt~R、CbzSPcm~RIpd~RPmt~R、Cbz~RPcm~RIpdSPmt~R、Cbz~SPcm~RIpdSPmt~S、Cbz~RPcm~SIpd~SPmt~R、Cbz~SPcm~RIpd~SPmt ~R等6种,其所占比例分别为33.26%、5.07%、41.41%、4.63%、3.96%、11.67%,未发现对4种杀菌剂均敏感的类型,表明湖南省草莓灰霉病菌已对多菌灵、腐霉利和嘧霉胺产生抗药性,对异菌脲的抗药性较低。     

出芽短梗霉菌株YW1防治储藏期草莓灰霉病的研究

本文研究了出芽短梗霉Aureobasidium pullulans菌株Yw1防治储藏期草莓果实灰霉病Botrytiscinerea的效果,并对其防病机制进行了初步探索。结果表明,菌株Ywl可以有效的控制储藏期草莓灰霉病的发生,发病率可由95．1％降至30．5％-55．6％,菌株Ywl产生的挥发性物质可以抑制灰葡萄孢菌丝生长,抑制率达到52．1％。去除菌体的上清液对灰霉菌无明显抑制活性,说明其抗菌作用机制可能是活菌的竞争作用。由此可见,菌株Ywl是1株有应用潜力的生防菌。     

Fungal and plant gene expression during synchronized infection of tomato leaves by Botrytis cinerea

An inoculation procedure was developed to obtain efficient and synchronous infection on detached tomato leaves by Botrytis cinerea. In spray-inoculated leaves incubated at 20 °C, the infection process consisted of three phases: the formation of primary necrotic lesions (until 20 hpi), a quiescent phase (20-72 hpi), and the expansion of a proportion of the primary lesions (from 72 hpi onwards), resulting in full tissue maceration. At 4 °C, the infection progressed slowly but steadily without inducing necrotic responses in the host. The actin and -tubulin genes of B. cinerea were cloned, characterized and used as probes on blots containing RNAs from leaves at various stages of the infection. The genes displayed a similar expression pattern throughout the infection and the hybridization signal reflected the amount of fungal biomass. The actin mRNA accumulated to higher levels than the -tubulin mRNA. Tomato PR protein mRNAs (chitinase, -1,3-glucanase and PR-1) were induced during the infection, albeit with different kinetics and to different levels. At 20 °C, -1,3-glucanase and PR-1 mRNAs were induced more rapidly than chitinase mRNAs. At 4 °C, mRNAs encoding extracellular -1,3-glucanase and intracellular, as well as extracellular chitinase were hardly induced.     

海洋细菌NH-8防治草莓灰霉病机理及其抗菌物质分析

为探讨从海藻分离获得的枯草芽胞杆菌Bacillus subtilis菌株NH-8对草莓灰霉病的防治机理,采用酸沉淀法分析其抗菌活性成分,并从促生、抑菌和诱导草莓防御酶活性方面进行了研究。结果表明:接种菌株NH-8后,草莓体内苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均有不同程度提高,最大分别为35.4、3.63、51.5、43.8 U;同时接种菌株NH-8和灰霉病菌比单一接种菌株NH-8或灰霉病菌对草莓体内防御酶活性的影响更大,PAL、POD、SOD、CAT活性最大分别为37.5、3.91、55.5、47.6 U。NH-8菌株发酵液对草莓生长具有明显的促进作用,苗株高、鲜重和干重分别比对照显著增加57.58%、131.43%和45.45%;发酵液的粗提物对灰霉病菌具有抑菌活性,可引起菌丝不规则生长,菌丝顶端或中间膨大成泡囊状,引起原生质泄露;NH-8菌株及其分泌物质对草莓具有抗性诱导作用,分泌的抗菌活性产物为伊枯草素(iturin)。     

Fungal development and plant response in detached onion, onion bulb scales and leaves inoculated with Botrytis allii, B. cinerea, B. fabae and B. squamosa

Fungal development and plant responses were examined in detached leaves and mid-bulb scales of Allum cepa. Following inoculation with suspensions of 105 conidia/ml distilled water Botrytis squamosa consistently produced spreading lesions in leaves and bulb scales. B. allii produced spreading lesions at most sites in bulbs but was very inconsistent in its infection of leaves; lesions were often confined to inoculation sites. Limited lesions were usually produced by B. cinerea but R. fabae failed to produce symptoms at most sites. Extensive colonization by B. allii and B. tauamosa required rapid penetration and totally necrotrophic fungal growth. During development of a spreading lesion, plant cell walls became very swollen around intramural hyphae and wall swelling appeared to precede epidermal cell death. Resistance to colonization was due to poor germination, failure to produce distinct infection hyphae (associated with accumulation of deposits of granular reaction material [RM] in underlying live cells) or restriction of infection ryphae amongst small groups of dead cells (limited lesion formation). Only B. fabae germinated poorly, and germ-tubes produced often failed to attempt penetration but grew over the leaf or bulb scale surface. Reducing numbers of conidia increased the frequency of sites associated with RM accumulation; granular deposits being particularly common at sites inoculated with low numbers of B. allii conidia. Electron microscopy revealed that RM granules were osmiophilic aggregates formed between the plasma membrane and epidermal cell wall. In the absence of RM, growth of avirulent species was restricted within the swollen walls of dead epidermal cells. Results ae compared with those from studies on tulip and broad bean leaves.     

Osmotin and thaumatin from grape: a putative general defense mechanism against pathogenic fungi

ABSTRACT Little information is available concerning the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and their effect properties on the major fungal pathogens of grape. A systematic study was performed on the effect of total or individual grape proteins on mycelial growth, spore germination, and germ tube growth of Uncinula necator, Phomopsis viticola, and Botrytis cinerea. Two proteins, identified as PR proteins by immunological methods and by N-terminal sequencing as osmotin and thaumatin-like protein, exhibited strong antifungal activities in vitro, blocking the growth of Phomopsis viticola and Botrytis cinerea mycelia. In addition, they inhibited spore germination and germ tube growth of U. necator, Phomopsis viticola, and Botrytis cinerea. The presence of both proteins displayed a synergistic effect. The expression of osmotin and thaumatin-like protein was induced in grapevine leaves and berries infected with U. necator and Phomopsis viticola. Thaumatin previously was thought to occur exclusively in berries. Immunoblot analyses revealed the accumulation of the two PR proteins in infected leaves and berries, supporting a role in vivo in increasing the resistance of grapevine to fungal attack.     

荧光假单胞杆菌的嗜铁素是控制桉树灰霉病的主要因子

 本文对3个假单胞杆菌菌株(Pseudomonas spp.)及其嗜铁素(pseudobactin siderophore)缺失突变体防治桉树灰霉病进行了研究.平板拮抗活性测定表明,荧光假单胞杆菌(P.fluorescens) WCS374r菌株和恶臭假单胞杆菌(P.putida) WCS358r菌株通过对铁离子的竞争抑制灰霉菌的生长.在接种灰霉病菌之前10 h将WCS358r、WCS374r和WCS417r施用于受伤的桉树叶片后,可分别降低发病率48.9%、58.3%和40.3%;当将3种生防菌分别与灰霉病菌混合后接种桉树叶片,WCS358r和WCS374r仍然能够显著地降低发病率;在接种灰霉病菌12 h后再施用生防菌,WCS358r和WCS374r对病菌仍具有一定的抑制作用,而在24 h后施用生防菌,3个菌株均未表现显著的防治效果.WCS358r和WCS417r的嗜铁素缺失突变体无防病作用,而WCS374r的嗜铁素缺失突变体虽然还能有效地防治灰霉病,但与WCS374r相比,防病效果减弱.本试验结果说明假单胞杆菌的嗜铁素是控制桉树灰霉病的重要因子.     

Characterization of the Exoglucanase-Encoding Gene PaEXG2 and Study of Its Role in the Biocontrol Activity of Pichia anomala Strain K

ABSTRACT The PaEXG2 gene, encoding an exo-beta-1,3-glucanase, was isolated from the biocontrol agent Pichia anomala strain K. PaEXG2 has the capacity for coding an acidic protein of 427 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 45.7 kDa, a calculated pI of 4.7, and one potential N-glycosylation site. PaEXG2 was disrupted by the insertion of the URA3 marker gene, encoding orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase in strain KU1, a uracil auxotroph derived from strain K. Strain KU1 showed inferior biocontrol activity and colonization of wounds on apples, compared to the prototrophic strain. Antagonism and colonization were recovered after the restoration of prototrophy by transformation with the URA3 gene. Integrative transformation was shown to be mostly ectopic in strain K descendants (only 4% of integration by homologous recombination). PaEXG2 disruption abolished all detectable extracellular exo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity in vitro and in situ but did not affect biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea on wounded apples.     

北京地区草莓灰霉病菌的转座子及其分布频率

为了解北京地区草莓灰霉病菌的转座子类型及其分布,本研究用转座子Boty和Flipper的特异性引物对北京地区2012-2013年从12个草莓园采集和分离的60株草莓灰霉病菌进行PCR扩增。结果表明,北京地区草莓灰霉病菌群体中共存在3种转座子类型:transposa型、Boty型和Flipper型。其中,以transposa型菌株最多,占供试菌株的63.3%,Boty型菌株占供试菌株的28.3%,Flipper型菌株最少,仅占8.4%,未检测到vacuma型菌株。选取属于不同转座子类型的18株菌株测定其对草莓叶片的致病力,结果显示Boty型菌株所致病斑的平均直径显著大于Flipper型。草莓灰霉病菌转座子类型与致病力的关系有待进一步研究。转座子类型的检测为进一步研究灰葡萄孢的遗传多样性及遗传变异提供了基础。     

Control of postharvest Botrytis fruit rot of strawberry by volatile organic compounds of Candida intermedia

A study was conducted to identify volatile organic compounds or volatiles produced by Candida intermedia strain C410 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and to determine efficacy of the volatiles of C. intermedia in suppression of conidial germination and mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea and control of Botrytis fruit rot of strawberry. Results showed that, among 49 volatiles (esters, alcohols, alkenes, alkanes, alkynes, organic acids, ketones, and aldehydes) identified from C. intermedia cultures on yeast extract peptone dextrose agar, two compounds, 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene and 3-methyl-1-butanol, were the most abundant. Synthetic chemicals of 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene; 3-methyl-1-butanol; 2-nonanone; pentanoic acid, 4-methyl-, ethyl ester; 3-methyl-1-butanol, acetate; acetic acid, pentyl ester; and hexanoic acid, ethyl ester were highly inhibitory to conidial germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea. Inhibition of conidial germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea by volatiles of C. intermedia was also observed. Meanwhile, results showed that incidence and severity of Botrytis fruit rot of strawberry was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced by exposure of the strawberry fruit to the volatiles from C. intermedia cultures or C. intermedia-infested strawberry fruit. These results suggest that the volatiles of C. intermedia C410 are promising biofumigants for control of Botrytis fruit rot of strawberry.     

草莓内生细菌的分离及草莓灰霉病菌拮抗菌的筛选鉴定

本研究从健康的草莓植株内分离到54株内生细菌,其中根、茎、叶组织中分离内生细菌种群密度为2.8×101～3.95×104cfu/g鲜重不等。通过对峙试验,得到5株对草莓灰霉病菌有强拮抗作用的菌株,占所分离内生细菌总数的9.26%。来自草莓叶的SL6菌株抑菌效果最佳,抑菌半径达15mm,无菌发酵液对草莓灰霉病菌菌丝的抑制率为97.6%,具有作为生防菌的应用潜能。经形态、生理生化和16SrRNA等分析测定,并通过MEGA4方法构建其16SrDNA系统发育树,将SL6菌株鉴定为枯草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。