Mummified fruit as a source of inoculum and disease dynamics of olive anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a destructive disease of olive fruit worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of agronomical and weather factors on inoculum production using detached olive fruit and on the development of epidemics in the field. The pathogen produced very large numbers of conidia on rotted (>1.87 × 10(8) conidia/fruit) or mummified (>2.16 × 10(4) conidia/fruit) fruit under optimal conditions. On mummified fruit, conidial production was highest on mummies incubated at 20 to 25°C and 96 h of wetness. Repeated washings of mummies reduced conidial production until it was very low after five washings. When mummies were placed in the tree canopy, conidial production was not reduced after 6 months (May to October); but, when they were held on the soil or buried in the soil, conidial production comparatively decreased up to 10,000 times. Anthracnose epidemics on susceptible 'Hojiblanca' and 'Picudo' during three seasons (2005-08) were influenced by rainfall, temperature, and fruit ripening, and had three main phases: the latent period (May to October); the onset of the epidemic, which coincided with the beginning of fruit ripening (early November); and disease development, which was predicted by the Weibull model (November to March). No epidemics developed on the susceptible cultivars during the driest season (2007-08) or on the resistant 'Picual' olive during any of the three seasons. These results provide the basis for a forecasting system of olive anthracnose which could greatly improve the management of this disease.     

Effect of temperature, wetness duration, and planting density on olive anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp

The influence of temperature, wetness duration, and planting density on infection of olive fruit by Colletotrichum acutatum and C. simmondsii was examined in laboratory and field experiments. Detached olive fruit of 'Arbequina', 'Hojiblanca', and 'Picual' were inoculated with conidia of several isolates of the pathogen and kept at constant temperatures of 5 to 35°C in humid chambers. Similarly, potted plants and stem cuttings with fruit were inoculated and subjected to wetness periods of 0 to 48 h. Infection occurred at 10 to 25°C, and disease severity was greater and the mean latent period was shorter at 17 to 20°C. Overall, C. acutatum was more virulent than C. simmondsii at temperatures <25°C. When temperature was not a limiting factor, disease severity increased with the wetness period from 0 to 48 h. Disease severity was modeled as a function of temperature and wetness duration; two critical fruit incidence thresholds were defined as 5 and 20%, with wetness durations of 1.0 and 12.2 h at the optimum temperature. In the field, anthracnose epidemics progressed faster in a super-high-density planting (1,904 olive trees/ha) than in the high-density plantings (204 to 816 olive trees/ha) and caused severe epidemics in the super-high-density planting even with the moderately resistant Arbequina. Data in this study will be useful for the development of a forecasting system for olive anthracnose epidemics.     

Infections of Glomerella cingulata on olive in Italy1

Olive anthracnose, caused by strains or populations of Glomerella cingulata (anamorph Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) pathogenic for olive, was introduced into southern Italy before or during the 2nd World War presumably from Albania or Greece. In the following 20 years, severe outbreaks of fruit rot and dieback of twigs and branches were recorded in several areas of Puglia, Calabria, Sicilia and Sardegna. After the 1970s, the epidemics gradually regressed. At present, the disease is restricted to certain humid areas of southern Italy. Factors associated with this regression are discussed, including a supposed change in virulence of the fungus, possibly as a consequence of mixing of the introduced strains infecting olive trees with local, less pathogenic populations of G. cingulata. The first results of a comparison of olive isolates with isolates of the pathogen from citrus and Annona muricata in Calabria suggest that the population from olive is relatively homogeneous and can be distinguished from the population infecting other hosts by a number of morphological, pathogenic and biochemical characteristics.     

The effect of Alternaria leaf spot on the antioxidant system of cucumber seedlings

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Citrus are economically important fruit crops produced worldwide. Anthracnose, post bloom fruit drop, and stem-end rot of fruit caused by Colletotrichum...     

Crop losses due to olive moth mediated by ethylene

BACKGROUND:Studies for nine years in southern Spain on the olive moth, Prays oleae Bern., have tested the possibility of altering oviposition behaviour on newly formed olive fruits by means of a single ethylene application. RESULTS: A single spraying of ethylene on the olive trees at the beginning of fruiting significantly decreased the olive moth egg populations and consequent the olive fruit fall. At the same time, no negative effect was found in the activity of natural oophagous predators of the olive moth. CONCLUSIONS: The ethylene treatments against P. oleae yielded substantial economical benefits each year (a mean of euro526 ha(-1)), benefits that fluctuated depending on the olive crop and on the annual fruit fall caused by this major pest.     

Importance of different sources of inoculum and dispersal methods of conidia of Colletotrichum musae, the causal agent of banana anthracnose, for fruit contamination

Different populations of Colletotrichum were characterized and quantified on floral parts of banana plants from flowering until harvest. Isolates of Colletotrichum found to be pathogenic and attributed to the species C. musae (77% of isolates) were differentiated from other species by abundant sporulation, a short mycelium, and rapid growth. Colletotrichum musae was isolated from floral parts mainly during the month following bunch emergence. The respective involvement of different sources of inoculum (leaves, bunch bracts, floral parts) in the levels of fruit contamination was evaluated. When the floral parts and bunch bracts were removed at flowering, the severity of anthracnose disease was considerably reduced. The severity of the disease is strongly correlated with cumulative rainfall during the first 35 days after bunch emergence, and was considerably reduced when rainwater runoff over the bunches was limited by placing plastic sleeves over them. The disease was not observed on banana fruit grown under shelters, protected from rain. The results obtained from this study show clearly that contamination of fruit by conidia takes place largely due to the trickling of rainfall over the floral parts, which are the main source of inoculum. The application of these results for integrated control is discussed.     

Evaluation of commercial traps of various designs for capturing the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

The attractiveness of six different traps, one hand-made and five commercially available, on olive fruit fly adults, was compared in the field. Experiments were undertaken at three different localities of Messinia Co., SW Greece, with varying conditions of fruit load and pest population density. The Glass-Plastic Elkofon Trap attracted more adult flies than any other type of trap. Satisfactory catches were also given by the Glass McPhail trap, the Plastic McPhail trap and the Plastic Elkofon trap, whereas low attractiveness was demonstrated by the Bottle trap and the Pouch trap. It is clear from the findings of this study that trap captures of the olive fruit fly are significantly influenced by trap design (e.g. shape, materials, special features), especially during the period of the high population peak (mid-September – early November) as well as in olive orchards with a high pest population density. In olive orchards with a low pest population density no significant differences were recorded among captures of different trap types. We discuss ways of improving the mass-trapping technique as a control method against olive fruit fly.     

The distribution of olive fruit fly captures with McPhail traps within an olive orchard

The spatial distribution of olive fruit flyBactrocera (Dacus) oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) field captures with McPhail traps within an experimental orchard was evaluated. Contour maps were constructed to examine the patterns in the 3-year trapping data. Captures varied widely inside the olive orchard, with traps suspended on wild olive trees exhibiting the poorest performance. Favorable microclimate, created by a standing water pool, appeared to be responsible for increased trap captures during the hot summer months. The positive role of the olive tree fruit load is also discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 2, 2003.     

Influence of Colletotrichum simmondsii R. G. Shives & Y. P. Tan infection on selected primary and secondary metabolites in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) fruit and runners

The effect of Colletotrichum simmondsii infection on the contents of sugars, organic acids, and individual phenolic compounds was investigated in strawberry cultivar ‘Clery’. Primary metabolites were determined with the use of HPLC and secondary metabolites further confirmed with HPLC-MS. Colletotrichum simmondsii caused a decrease in sucrose and an increase in fructose and glucose in strawberry fruit. A significant decrease in the content of malic and citric acids was recorded in infected fruit. 12 forms of ellagic acid, nine flavanols and eight flavonols were identified in strawberry runners and nine forms of ellagic acid, six flavanols, seven flavonols and four anthocyanins in strawberry fruit. Significant differences in individual phenolic compounds in strawberry fruit were detected at the beginning of the infection compared to non-infected fruit. Specifically, ellagic acids significantly increased, flavonols generally decreased, and flavanols and anthocyanins increased with the progression of infection. Similarly, some forms of ellagic acid increased and others decreased in infected runners, procyanidins generally decreased and flavonols, increased but the differences were much less prominent.     

Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides Cause Anthracnose on Olives

Morphological and cultural features and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of ITS regions, including 5.8S rDNA, from 26 isolates of Colletotrichum species revealed that isolates from olive fruits, previously identified as C. gloeosporioides, belong to two taxa: C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides. Comparison of both ITS sequence data with reference isolates confirmed the presence of both species in olives affected by anthracnose disease.     

Weed flora and weed management in established olive groves in Albania

Weed flora were surveyed during 2000 and 2001 in 10 established olive groves that were located in the area of Vlora, in south‐western Albania. The effectiveness of six weed management treatments (soil tillage, straw mulch, cover cropping [a mixture of rye with peas], and grazing, as well as glyphosate and diuron application) on the weed flora, olive yield, and fruit quality also were investigated in two locations during 2000, 2001, and 2002. More than 80 weed species were recorded, representing a total of 14 families, in which the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, and Rosaceae predominated. The glyphosate application provided the highest and most consistent level of weed control, whereas diuron achieved sufficient weed control. The straw mulch provided acceptable weed control but the cover crop and the grazing did not sufficiently control the weeds. The highest fruit and oil yields were produced by the trees treated with the straw mulch as a result of the highest mean fruit weight in each year, followed by the soil tillage treatment. However, the olive trees in the plots treated with glyphosate or grazing provided lower or equal, respectively, fruit and oil yields than did those in the untreated plots (control). The results indicated that certain non‐chemical weed control methods, such as straw mulch, can be implemented successfully in established olive groves, providing satisfactory control of weeds and promoting the highest fruit and oil yields.     

Management and cross-infectivity potential of Colletotrichum acutatum causing anthracnose on bell pepper in Florida

Early anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum has become an increasingly serious disease on green, unripe bell pepper fruit in Florida. This contrasts with earlier reports of anthracnose occurring on bell pepper primarily as a ripe-rot disease of mature, colored pepper fruit caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Management of anthracnose on green bell pepper fruit using fungicides and a commercial inducer of systemic acquired resistance, acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), was evaluated during three seasons. In two of the three trials, all the fungicides tested including azoxystrobin, fludioxonil + cyprodinil, mancozeb, famoxadone + cymoxanil, copper hydroxide, and ASM significantly increased the number of marketable fruit compared with control plants. These trials identified fungicides that could contribute to a successful pest management program on pepper for controlling anthracnose caused by C. acutatum. The cross-infectivity potential of C. acutatum was investigated on tomato and strawberry by in vitro and field inoculation. Anthracnose lesions formed readily on wound-inoculated detached fruits of all hosts in in vitro assays. Under field conditions, after inoculation, anthracnose lesions occurred on pepper fruit but no lesions of anthracnose were found on either ripe or unripe tomato or strawberry fruit in adjacent plots.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of Colletotrichum spp. from citrus orchards affected by postbloom fruit drop in Brazil

Brazilian isolates of Colletotrichum spp. from citrus orchards affected by postbloom fruit drop were examined for colony colour, mycelial growth, benomyl-resistance, pathogenicity, and genetic variability by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. All isolates were obtained from flowers and persistent calyxes from different citrus hosts from Sao Paulo, Brazil. DNA polymorphisms detected after amplification with random 10-mer primers were used to classify the isolates into two groups. Group I isolates grew rapidly on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) and were sensitive to benomyl, and group II isolates grew slowly on PDA and were benomyl-resistant. Colletotrichum acutatum was analyzed by RAPD and had high genetic similarity with group II isolates of Colletotrichum from citrus. Probably, the group I is C. gloeosporioides and group II is C. acutatum.     

欧李炭疽病病原菌鉴定

欧李〔 Cerasus humilis(Bge)Sok.]属于蔷薇科樱桃属矮生灌木野生果树,也是极具开发潜力的药用植物.欧李具有抗寒、耐旱、耐瘠薄,适应性强的特性,以其植株低矮,果实色艳,风味独特,营养丰富,颇受人们喜爱.欧李果实含钙较高,其种仁为郁李仁药材的主要来源[1].欧李广泛分布于我国的黑龙江、辽宁、内蒙古、河北、山东、山西等省区.     

Epidemiology,histopathology and aetiology of olive anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporioides in Portugal

Anthracnose is an important disease affecting mature olive fruits, causing significant yield losses, and poor fruit and oil quality. In Portugal, high anthracnose incidence was recorded during 2003–2007 with 41% of 908 orchards surveyed displaying disease symptoms. In another 14% of the orchards, the pathogen was recorded in symptomless plants. Disease severity was on average 36%, frequently reaching 100%. In Portugal, anthracnose is endemic to neglected orchards of susceptible cultivars, but under favourable conditions it can also severely affect less susceptible cultivars. Pathogens were genetically heterogeneous, with Colletotrichum acutatum genetic group A2 as the most frequent (80%), followed by group A4 (12%) and group A5 along with C. gloeosporioides (3–4%), while groups A3 and A6 of C. acutatum were sporadic. Important geographic variations were observed in the frequencies of these populations, accompanied by year‐to‐year populational shifts. Epidemiology and histopathology studies showed the presence of the pathogens on vegetative organs year‐round, particularly on olive leaves and branches, and on weeds. These represent inoculum reservoirs where secondary conidiation occurs, and conidia are then dispersed by spring rains reaching flowers and young fruits or by autumn rains reaching pre‐mature fruits. Unripe fruits were colonized without showing symptoms up to penetration of the cuticle, but further colonization and symptom production was completed only as fruits matured. These findings challenge current control practices, particularly the timing of fungicide treatment, and contribute to improved disease management.     

Spinosad resistance development in wild olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations in California

BACKGROUND: Among target pests of the insecticide spinosad is the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae). In Cyprus, spinosad has been sporadically used since its registration in 2002, whereas in Greece its use has been very limited since its registration in 2004, particularly in biological olive cultivars in Crete. By contrast, in California it has been the only insecticide used against the olive fruit fly since its registration in 2004. This study aimed at examining the resistance status of the olive fruit fly to spinosad. RESULTS: Populations from California, Greece and Cyprus, plus a laboratory population, were tested. Bioassays were performed by oral or topical application of different concentrations of the insecticide. Cypriot populations demonstrated no resistance as compared with that of the laboratory population. Among the Greek populations, only one from Crete demonstrated a fourfold increase in resistance, whereas five populations from California demonstrated a 9–13‐fold increase. CONCLUSION: The observed resistance increase was associated with spinosad applications in the respective areas. These values are relatively low and do not yet pose a serious control problem in the field. However, the observed variation documents that spinosad tolerance has increased in areas where the insecticide has been more extensively used. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Estimation of fly population density of Bactrocera oleae in olive groves of Crete

Population density of adults of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) was obtained from olive trees during a two-year study by means of two different methods, namely, knock down by an insecticide applied as a fog (‘sondage’) and trap captures (of yellow sticky panels and McPhail traps baited with ammonium). First it was concluded that yellow sticky panel traps give a poor representation of the olive fruit fly population density of the olive grove. Yellow panel trap captures were significantly lower than McPhail’s (September) and than the actual population of B. oleae as recorded in olive tree canopy (August of 2008). When only McPhail captures were compared to the olive fruit fly population in the tree canopy, B. oleae captures in McPhail traps represented only a small percentage of the population that was recorded in the olive tree canopy (July and August of 2009). It was estimated that traps captured only 0.5% of the flies present within a radius of 20 m in the studied field (which consists of approximately 25 trees). However, during autumn (September), low trap captures of B. oleae can occur even when the fly population in the field is near zero.     

Inoculum prevalence, host infection and biological control of Colletotrichum acutatum: causal agent of blueberry anthracnose in British Columbia

To identify the causal organism of anthracnose (ripe-rot), which reduces yield and postharvest quality of blueberries grown in British Columbia, Canada, 80 isolates were recovered from diseased fruits collected from commercial blueberry fields during 2002–04 and identified as Colletotrichum acutatum using colony morphology, growth rate and species-specific PCR primers. In vitro incubation of replicated sets of inoculated detached berries at various temperatures produced infection at temperatures of 7–30°C, with an optimum at 20°C. Colletotrichum acutatum could not survive on the soil surface as mummified berries but the pathogen was detected mostly within flower buds and less so in blueberry twigs and fruit trusses. Infection of developing flower buds in May–June of the preceding growing season gave the highest inoculum recovery in the following year. Two commercial fungal biocontrol agents, Prestop ( Gliocladium catenulatum ) and PlantShield ( Trichoderma harzianum ), each reduced anthracnose development in 2003 and 2004 by up to 45% when sprayed three times onto plants between flowering and fruit ripening.     

Susceptibility of eight Algerian olive cultivars to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera oleae</Emphasis> infestation – a pomological and nutritional quality perspective

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the major olive pest in the Mediterranean Basin, being responsible for high losses in olive production. The objective of this work was to study the influence of B. oleae infestation on the pomological parameters and nutritive value (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and ash) of eight olive cultivars (Abani, Aellah, Blanquette de Guelma, Chemlal, Ferkani, Limli, Rougette de Mitidja and Souidi) from Algeria. The results displayed different degrees of susceptibility of the studied cultivars to this pest. Fruit size (weight) and the Fruit weight / stone weight ratio are significantly correlated with the attack. The statistical treatment of the results (PCA and HAC) highlighted different behaviors from the cultivars, concerning the attack. There are some cultivars more susceptible, being the nutritional value also affected. The lipid and protein contents were positively correlated with the attack and the carbohydrates negatively, suggesting a careful choice by the B. oleae. Ovipositional preference of olive fruit fly females and the success of larval development in different olive cultivars are crucial to establishing new approaches in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) against this pest.     

Report on Olive Fly Control with Ultra-low Volume Concentrate Bait Air Sprays

In the 1968 olive fly control season the effectiveness of an ultra-low volume concentrate bait consisting of 87% protein hydrolysate and 13% insecticide Malathion ULV 96% and of a standard type bait, consisting of 12% protein hydrolysate Atropaz, 1,57% malathion 57% (0.9% active ingredient) and 86.43% water, applied by air against the Dacus fly were compared. Both baits resulted in very good olive fly control and the olive fruit at the end of the season was completely free of any infestation. No differences in the effectiveness of the two baits tried could be established, however.