Sensitivity of Red Delicious Apple Fruit at Various Phenologic Stages to Infection by Alternaria alternata and Moldy-core Control

The fungus Alternaria alternata, is considered to be the predominant fungus involved in moldy-core of Red Delicious strains of apple. In this paper, we report on the sensitivity of various phenologic stages to infection by A. alternata, and on the efficacy of various fungicides in controlling moldy-core disease in apple orchards. Artificial inoculations conducted in the orchard during 1999 and 2000 seasons revealed that the beginning of bloom (10–30%) and full bloom were the most susceptible developmental stages for infection. Natural infection with A. alternata in fruits was relatively high, reaching 44% and 46% of the fruits on control non-treated trees in 1999 and 2000. Four foliar applications of polyoxin B, difenoconazole and azoxystrobin, starting from the beginning of bloom until fruit set, reduced the number of infected fruits by 54–70%, 61–70% and 50–65%, respectively, compared with non-treated trees. Four or eight foliar applications of each fungicide provided similar levels of control. There were no significant differences between two, four or six foliar applications of difenoconazole, neither between two or four applications of polyoxin B. Adding CaCl₂, as a tank mixture with difenoconazole at full rate, did not improve efficacy. Alternaria was recovered from the inner part of the core region of 71–88% of the fruits of the non-treated control, but was recovered less frequently from the outside part of the core region. Fruits of difenoconazole and polyoxin B treated trees were less colonized with A. alternata at both the inner and outside parts of the core region, as compared with controls. Results indicate that a control programme based on spray applications of difenoconazole or polyoxin B, during bloom period, can effectively reduce Alternaria on Red Delicious.     

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.     

Effects of host physiology on the development of core rot, caused by alternaria alternata, in Red Delicious apples

Alternaria alternata is the predominant fungus involved in moldy core and core rot of Red Delicious apples. The effects of environmental conditions during bloom on moldy core and core rot, and on the need for fungicide application, were examined in 10 experiments carried out in 2007. In untreated experimental plots, typical moldy core symptoms were very common, with relatively low variability (coefficient of variation: 22.2%) among experiments; core rot incidence ranged from 2 to 26% with large variability (coefficient of variation: 90.0%) among experiments. No evidence of prevailing environmental conditions during bloom affecting the development of moldy core or core rot was detected. No effect of fungicide application (a mixture of bromuconazole + captan three times a week at bloom) on moldy core or core rot was found. A random distribution of moldy core and an occasional aggregation of core rot in the orchards were indicated from Morisita's index of dispersion (I(δ)). The hypothesis that core rot incidence is governed by host physiology and that yield load can be used as an indicator of trees' susceptibility was examined in a set of eight observations and four experiments. No correlation was found between tree yield load and moldy core, but core rot incidence was inversely related to yield load. Furthermore, irrespective of tree yield load, core rot was more abundant on large compared with small fruits. It is concluded that host physiology, rather than pathogen occurrence or environmental conditions at bloom stage, governs the development of core rot in Red Delicious apples caused by A. alternata in Israel.     

Damage caused by Alternaria alternata to the quality and germination of amaranth seeds

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Alternaria alternata is one of the main microorganisms responsible for affecting seeds and causing infection and eventually seed discoloration. The purpose of...     

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     

Laboratory Evaluation of Citrus Cultivars Susceptibility and Influence of Fruit Size on Fortune Mandarin to Infection by Alternaria alternata pv. citri

Young leaves of 62 citrus cultivars were inoculated with conidia of three Spanish isolates of Alternaria alternata pv. citri, the causal agent of brown spot of citrus. Hybrids with Dancy mandarin, King mandarin or their derivates as a parent, grapefruit cultivars and the mandarin cultivars Guillermina, Emperor, Clemenpons and Esbal were highly susceptible to the pathogen. Satsuma cultivar Clausellina and orange cultivars, with the exception of Sanguinelli, were slightly susceptible. Lemon and lime cultivars were not susceptible, with the exception of Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia), which was slightly susceptible. Although this study shows a range of potential hosts for this pathogen, to date the only affected cultivars in Spain are Fortune and Nova mandarins, and Minneola tangelo. The susceptibility of Fortune fruits decreased as diameter increased, being susceptible through the whole season. This was confirmed with field observations in autumn where fruit infections have been detected when the diameter reaches 6–7 cm.     

重庆市烟草赤星病菌致病力测定

利用离体叶片悬滴接种法,将2005年在重庆市各烟区采集分离的烟草赤星病24个代表菌株进行了致病力测定。结果显示,所有测试菌株均具有致病力,但存在明显的致病力差异,其中强致病力菌株5个,较强菌株8个,中等致病力菌株10个,弱致病力菌株1个,分别占供试菌株的20.8%、33.3%、41.7%和4.2%。这表明试验分离获得的大多数菌株致病力居中或偏强。对来源性不同的菌株的致病力进行分析比较,发现重庆各烟区菌株的致病力有所不同,而且同一烟区的菌株致病力也存在一定的差异。离体叶片试验表明,赤星病菌不同病原菌株对烟草叶片的穿透生长能力与致病力呈明显的正相关。     

云南主栽核桃品种对Alternaria alternata叶枯病的抗病性评价

为了解云南地区不同核桃品种对叶枯病的抗性,从而为核桃抗病品种选育和叶枯病的防治提供依据,试验采用田间调查和离体叶片接种法获得病斑面积和病情指数,采用聚类分析的方法对田间调查和离体接种的病斑面积进行聚类分析,并结合病害分级标准,综合评价云南主栽37个核桃品种对Alternaria alternata的抗病性。结果表明:‘大泡核桃1’叶片上未出现病斑,‘小圆果’病斑面积最小,为5.05 mm~2,而‘圆菠萝2’病斑面积最大,达到887.68 mm~2;采用Ward最小偏差平方和法和欧式距离进行聚类分析,其聚类效果与接种结果和田间调查结果的吻合度最好。通过田间调查和离体接种综合评价,将37个核桃品种分为13个抗病品种、15个中抗品种、7个中感品种和2个感病品种。     

安徽省栝蒌叶枯病菌对4种杀菌剂的敏感性

由致病性链格孢引起的叶枯病是栝蒌生产上出现的一种新病害,在安徽大别山栝蒌生产区发生严重。本研究采用菌丝生长速率法测试了12个代表性栝蒌叶枯病菌菌株对4种常用杀菌剂的敏感性。结果表明,栝蒌叶枯病菌对咪鲜胺敏感性较高,其EC50为0.013 0~0.219μg/mL;代森锰锌和百菌清对栝蒌叶枯病菌均有一定的抑制作用,但各菌株对代森锰锌和百菌清的敏感性差异较大,其EC50分别为0.997~95.64μg/mL和1.66~185.84μg/mL;多菌灵对栝蒌叶枯病菌的菌丝生长抑制作用较差。     

Evolution of pathogenicity controlled by small,dispensable chromosomes in Alternaria alternata pathogens

Alternaria alternata includes seven pathogenic variants, called pathotypes, which produce host-selective toxins (HSTs) as determinant factors for pathogenicity. The gene clusters for HST biosynthesis were identified from six pathotypes (Japanese pear, strawberry, tangerine, apple, tomato and rough lemon) and were found to reside on small chromosomes of <2.0 Mb in most strains tested. We isolated mutants lacking the small chromosomes from the strawberry, apple and tomato pathotypes and showed that the small chromosomes are dispensable for growth. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the evolution of pathogenicity controlled by small, dispensable chromosomes in Alternaria alternata pathogens.     

Sensitivity among species of Solanaceae to AAL toxins produced by Alternaria alternata f.sp. lycopersici

The necrotrophic fungus Alternaria alternata f.sp. lycopersici produces AAL toxins that cause necrosis in tomato tissues with high specificity. Resistance or susceptibility of tomato to the fungus and insensitivity or sensitivity to AAL toxins are determined by a single locus, Asc . In order to investigate further the specificity of the host–fungus interaction, 200 species of Solanaceae were tested for their sensitivity to AAL toxins T_A and T_B. Twenty-five species were found to be sensitive to AAL toxins at a concentration of (0·2  µ m ) used for distinguishing sensitive and insensitive tomato plants. Three species were as sensitive as the sensitive tomato line, indicating that AAL toxins effectively act on a broader range of plant species within the Solanaceae.     

Inhibition of Sporulation and Ultrastructural Alterations of Grapevine Downy Mildew by the Endophytic Fungus Alternaria alternata

ABSTRACT One hundred twenty-six endophytic microorganisms isolated from grapevine leaves showing anomalous symptoms of downy mildew were tested on grapevine leaf disks as biocontrol agents against Plasmopara viticola. Among the 126 microorganisms, only five fungal isolates completely inhibited the sporulation of P. viticola; all of them were identified as Alternaria alternata. Ultrastructural analyses were carried out by transmission electron microscopy to observe cellular interactions between P. viticola and A. alternata in the grapevine leaf tissue. Cytological observations indicated that, even without close contact with A. alternata, the P. viticola mycelium showed severe ultrastructural alterations, such as the presence of enlarged vacuoles or vacuoles containing electron-dense precipitates. Haustoria appeared necrotic and irregularly shaped or were enclosed in callose-like substances. Therefore, a toxic action of A. alternata against P. viticola was hypothesized. To examine the production of toxic low-molecular-weight metabolites by A. alternata, we analyzed the fungal liquid culture by thin layer chromatography and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The main low-molecular-weight metabolites produced by the endophyte were three diketopiperazines: cyclo(l-phenylalanine-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline), cyclo(l-leucine-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline), and cyclo(l-alanine-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline). When applied at different concentrations to both grapevine leaf disks and greenhouse plants, a mixture of the three diketopiperazines was very efficacious in limiting P. viticola sporulation.     

An Isolate of Alternaria alternata That Is Pathogenic to Both Tangerines and Rough Lemon and Produces Two Host-Selective Toxins, ACT- and ACR-Toxins

ABSTRACT Two different pathotypes of Alternaria alternata cause Alternaria brown spot of tangerines and Alternaria leaf spot of rough lemon. The former produces the host-selective ACT-toxin and the latter produces ACR-toxin. Both pathogens induce similar symptoms on leaves or young fruits of their respective hosts, but the host ranges of these pathogens are distinct and one pathogen can be easily distinguished from another by comparing host ranges. We isolated strain BC3-5-1-OS2A from a leaf spot on rough lemon in Florida, and this isolate is pathogenic on both cv. Iyokan tangor and rough lemon and also produces both ACT-toxin and ACR-toxin. Isolate BC3-5-1-OS2A carries both genomic regions, one of which was known only to be present in ACT-toxin producers and the other was known to exist only in ACR-toxin producers. Each of the genomic regions is present on distinct small chromosomes, one of 1.05 Mb and the other of 2.0 Mb. Alternaria species have no known sexual or parasexual cycle in nature and populations of A. alternata on citrus are clonal. Therefore, the ability to produce both toxins was not likely acquired through meiotic or mitotic recombination. We hypothesize that a dispensable chromosome carrying the gene cluster controlling biosynthesis of one of the host-selective toxins was transferred horizontally and rearranged by duplication or translocation in another isolate of the fungus carrying genes for biosynthesis of the other host-selective toxin.     

鸭梨包装环节和出口前检验对链格孢菌侵染的影响

用梨果实上分离的链格孢(Alternaria alternata)接种的方法验证了鸭梨包装过程的不同环节和出口前检验造成果实表面伤口,从而导致A.alternata侵染的可能性。试验结果显示,这些环节造成果实伤口的可能性不大。试验同时进一步证实了A.alternata是一个引起果实贮藏期腐烂的病原。     

木霉几丁质酶对烟草赤星病菌的作用

以指形管培养法分别测定几丁质酶粗酶液和纯化的几丁质酶混合液(2种几丁质酶)对烟草赤星病菌孢子萌发的抑制作用。结果表明,较高浓度(25 2U)几丁质酶粗酶液在48h内强烈抑制孢子萌发和芽管伸长,或致芽管畸形和细胞壁破裂;几丁质酶混合液对赤星病菌的孢子萌发也表现出明显的抑制作用,但在相同或相近酶活性条件下,纯化的几丁质酶混合液(9 4U)和粗酶液(12 6U)对赤星病菌孢子萌发的抑制率(处理24h时)分别为46%和84 3%,前者明显低于后者。采用孢子液悬滴法接种烟苗(K 326)叶片测定木霉几丁质酶对赤星病菌致病性的影响。结果表明,几丁质酶粗酶液浓度越高,对孢子萌发抑制时间越长,抑制率越高;其浓度为4 9、9 8、19 5U/ml的抑制率7d时分别为36 8%、56 2%和57 6%。     

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.