Are plants in the field already induced? Implications for practical disease control

Plants can be induced to develop enhanced resistance to pathogens by treatment with a variety of biotic and abiotic inducers. The resistance induced is broad spectrum and can be long-lasting, but rarely provides complete disease control, with most inducing agents reducing infection between 20 and 85%. One possible reason for this is that plants in the field are already induced through their continual interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment. This article looks briefly at the evidence for biotic and abiotic induction of resistance and then considers whether plants that are already induced are in any way compromised in their ability to respond to agents that induce resistance. Knowledge of the extent to which plants are already induced in the field and the extent to which resistance can be further induced by application of resistance-inducing agents is likely to be important for effective use of induced resistance in practical crop protection.     

Are there alternatives to copper for controlling grapevine downy mildew in organic viticulture?

Downy mildew caused by the obligate biotrophic oomycete Plasmopara viticola is one of the most important and devastating diseases of grapevine. Copper-based fungicides are used to control the disease in organic vineyards. However, since 2006, copper use has been limited by an European Commission regulation. In this study conducted from 2004 to 2007, we tested materials that might replace copper in organic viticulture, under controlled greenhouse and field conditions at two locations in Europe (northern Italy and Switzerland). We tested 112 different treatments, including biocontrol agents, materials of animal origin, homeopathic preparations, inorganic materials, microbial extracts, natural derivatives, plant extracts, physical methods and synthetic materials. Good control results were observed for two new copper formulations, but one of them induced phytotoxic effects. Two of the plant extracts provided good control on both leaves and clusters, and six of them controlled the infection on clusters only. One biocontrol agent reduced symptoms on leaves and bunches. Three of the other treatments provided good control on leaves, and four of them provided good control on bunches. Clay was as effective as copper on both leaves and bunches. Currently, even if there is no treatment that is as effective as copper for controlling grapevine downy mildew in organic vineyards, Yucca schidigera and Salvia officinalis extracts and Trichoderma harzianum, could be considered as promising candidates to be developed. This study may help the development of an integrated management program in which a less effective product is applied in combination with copper, to reduce the total quantities of copper applied.     

Tetrodotoxins (TTXs) and Vibrio alginolyticus in Mussels from Central Adriatic Sea (Italy): Are They Closely Related?

Tetrodotoxins (TTXs), potent neurotoxins, have become an increasing concern in Europe in recent decades, especially because of their presence in mollusks. The European Food Safety Authority published a Scientific Opinion setting a recommended threshold for TTX in mollusks of 44 µg equivalent kg⁻¹ and calling all member states to contribute to an effort to gather data in order to produce a more exhaustive risk assessment. The objective of this work was to assess TTX levels in wild and farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) harvested in 2018–2019 along the coastal area of the Marche region in the Central Adriatic Sea (Italy). The presence of Vibrio spp. carrying the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, which are suspected to be involved in TTX biosynthesis, was also investigated. Out of 158 mussel samples analyzed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS), 11 (7%) contained the toxins at detectable levels (8–26 µg kg⁻¹) and 3 (2%) contained levels above the EFSA safety threshold (61–76 µg kg⁻¹). Contaminated mussels were all harvested from natural beds in spring or summer. Of the 2019 samples, 70% of them contained V. alginolyticus strains with the NRPS and/or PKS genes. None of the strains containing NRPS and/or PKS genes showed detectable levels of TTXs. TTXs in mussels are not yet a threat in the Marche region nor in Europe, but further investigations are surely needed.     

Are Known Cyanotoxins Involved in the Toxicity of Picoplanktonic and Filamentous North Atlantic Marine Cyanobacteria?

Eight marine cyanobacteria strains of the genera Cyanobium, Leptolyngbya, Oscillatoria, Phormidium, and Synechococcus were isolated from rocky beaches along the Atlantic Portuguese central coast and tested for ecotoxicity. Strains were identified by morphological characteristics and by the amplification and sequentiation of the 16S rDNA. Bioactivity of dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts was assessed by the Artemia salina bioassay. Peptide toxin production was screened by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Molecular analysis of the genes involved in the production of known cyanotoxins such as microcystins, nodularins and cylindrospermopsin was also performed. Strains were toxic to the brine shrimp A. salina nauplii with aqueous extracts being more toxic than the organic ones. Although mass spectrometry analysis did not reveal the production of microcystins or other known toxic peptides, a positive result for the presence of mcyE gene was found in one Leptolyngbya strain and one Oscillatoria strain. The extensive brine shrimp mortality points to the involvement of other unknown toxins, and the presence of a fragment of genes involved in the cyanotoxin production highlight the potential risk of cyanobacteria occurrence on the Atlantic coast.     

Limits to Growth or Growth to the Limits? Trends and Projections for Potatoes in China and Their Implications for Industry

While output for potatoes in China averaged nearly 73 million metric tonnes in 2008–2010, the trends for production, area, and yield have been far more volatile than suggested in earlier studies. A new set of estimated growth rates for potato production in China during the last five decades based on FAO times series data found that periods of rapid expansion were then followed by ones of stagnation and decline. Although increases in potato output have been impressive, China’s share of both regional and global production has declined in recent years as a result. This paper analyses these and other dimensions to the evolution of potato production in China during the last half century by synthesizing previous research before reassessing alternative future projections, highlighting opportunities for industry, and identifying some key topics for future research.     

Has long-term selection for yield in durum wheat also induced changes in leaf and canopy traits?

Over the last century, most of the genetic gain in the grain yield of Italian durum has been achieved by an increase in the harvest index and promotion of flowering time. We report the indirect effects of this long-term selection on a number of leaf and canopy traits associated with photosynthesis. In a 2-year experiment, using different sowing dates and nitrogen regimes, these characters were assessed for a set of 20 cultivars released between 1900 and 2000. Leaf area, specific leaf area, specific leaf nitrogen content and stomatal resistance were all negatively correlated with year of release, whereas canopy temperature showed a positive correlation. The substantial reduction in plant height, by which the rise in harvest index was achieved, was partly responsible for the rise in canopy temperature, acting via its effect on aerodynamic resistance. Senescence, when expressed in thermal time after anthesis, was delayed for the modern cultivars, and this delay could be associated with a greater quantity of nitrogen allocated to the grain. The association of senescence onset with earliness suggests a likely role of increased earliness in delayed senescence. The yield increase over time was correlated with a decrease in stomatal resistance and in specific leaf nitrogen content.     

Plant available soil water at sowing in Mediterranean environments—Is it a useful criterion to aid nitrogen fertiliser and sowing decisions?

In regions where rainfall is low and variable, water stored in the soil profile prior to sowing can alter yield expectation and hence management decisions. Thus, wheat farmers in Mediterranean regions may be able to benefit from knowing the amount of soil water at sowing by optimising their nitrogen (N) fertiliser management and by deciding on whether or not to sow a crop. We used the ASPIM-Nwheat model to explore how levels of plant available soil water (PAW) at sowing, N fertiliser rate, soil, site and season-type (below or above median rainfall) affected wheat yields at sites in the Mediterranean area of southwest Australia. Overall, the greatest influence on yield potential and the consequent N fertilisation requirement was season-type. The additional yield per mm PAW at sowing was generally higher in seasons with below median rainfall, except when yields were severely water-limited by below median rainfall of <222 mm combined with <40 mm PAW at sowing on light clay soil with 109 mm plant available water capacity (PAWC). Sowing was generally warranted; only on light clay soil with <10 mm PAW at sowing and below median rainfall of <222 mm was there an opportunity for a conditional sowing strategy. Scope for varying N fertiliser rates with PAW at sowing was limited to soils with higher PAWC (109 and 130 mm, respectively) in below median rainfall seasons at the wetter site (295 mm mean seasonal rainfall), and in both season-types at the drier site (225 mm mean seasonal rainfall). Only in these combinations, soil water at sowing modified the optimal N fertiliser rate for maximum average yield resulting in significant interactions between PAW at sowing and N fertiliser rates. Similar interactions were found for a site in the Mediterranean Basin and a site in the eastern Australian subtropics on soil with high PAWC (183 and 276 mm, respectively). In contrast, there was no benefit from modifying crop management based on PAW at sowing on soil with low PAWC (i.e. sandy soil) and/or under conditions of high in-season rainfall. The conditional N management approach becomes more viable as the proportion of water stored in the soil prior to sowing increases relative to total crop water use and as the PAWC of the soil increases. Knowledge of PAW at sowing × N fertiliser rate interactions in a particular soil × site × season-type context can help to identify sites where a more targeted N management dependent on amounts of PAW at sowing is potentially profitable.     

Plant species identification using fecal DNAs from red-eared slider and Reeves’ pond turtle in agricultural canals for rural ecosystem conservation

Fecal DNA samples from the red-eared slider and Reeves’ pond turtle, suspected pests of lotus root paddies, were used to identify the plant species eaten by these turtles in order to develop a strategy for rural ecosystem conservation. The fecal samples were obtained from young and adult individuals (mostly female) of both species living in agricultural canals surrounding lotus root paddies in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The samples were screened for the presence or absence of DNA from nine plant species using PCR and plant species-specific primers for the rbcL gene of chloroplast DNA. In the red-eared slider, our analysis identified seven plant species in the fecal DNA samples of adults and three plant species in those of young individuals. In Reeves’ pond turtle, our analysis identified two plant species from adult fecal samples and one species from those of young individuals. Thus, adult red-eared sliders consume a greater range of plants than young red-eared sliders or Reeves’ pond turtles. Both turtle species, independently of age, consumed lotus plants and were likely to cause feeding damage to lotus roots. Considering the plant species detected in adult red-eared sliders and these plant habitats, we suggest that this adult turtle is likely to travel between the agricultural canals and the lotus root paddies. These findings will help the development of strategies for preventing damage to lotus roots by these turtles; furthermore, they indicate that fecal DNA analysis will be applicable to investigation of the feeding habits of other animal species.     

Are soil‐adjusted vegetation indices better than soil‐unadjusted vegetation indices for above‐ground green biomass estimation in arid and semi‐arid grasslands?

Accurate estimation of grassland biomass has been a central focus due to its importance in ecosystem processes and carbon cycles. This study aimed to examine whether the performance of soil‐adjusted vegetation indices for estimating above‐ground green biomass was better than that of soil‐unadjusted vegetation indices in arid and semi‐arid grasslands. Above‐ground green biomass in desert steppe of Inner Mongolia and corresponding moderate‐resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance 8‐day composite MOD09Q1 data were collected during late September of 2013. Results showed that soil‐adjusted SAVI (soil‐adjusted vegetation index), MSAVI (modified soil‐adjusted vegetation index), OSAVI (optimized soil‐adjusted vegetation index), TSAVI (transformed soil‐adjusted vegetation index), ATSAVI (adjusted transformed soil‐adjusted vegetation index) and PVI (perpendicular vegetation index) did not improve estimation accuracy over soil‐unadjusted simple ratio (SR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), due to low green vegetation cover (<30%) in the study area. Our results suggest that these soil‐adjusted vegetation indices may be not suitable for describing green vegetation information in arid and semi‐arid grasslands with low green vegetation cover (<30%).     

Why are There Indica Type and Japonica Type in Rice?——History of the Studies and a View for Origin of Two Types

On the bases of archaeological discoveries, the earliest domestication of rice has been confirmed in the middle and lower Changjiang River basin, while in the region wild rice populations are found in shallow swamps under a climate with freezing winter cold. These findings lead us re-examine the past ideas about domestication and differentiation of rice. Historically, in 1930s two sub-species, indica and japonica, were proposed on the basis of sterility in F1 hybrids between them. Soon after that, the two types were classified by the associations of a number of genetically independent traits. The characteristic associations of traits have been explained by the hybrid sterility or reproductive barriers which were assumed to comprise a set of duplicate recessive lethal genes and to be an inner genetic mechanism to lead to the varietal differentiations. In 1980s, the hybrid sterility between Indica and Japonica types was analyzed, and Indica, Japonica, and wide-compatibility type which gives fertile hybrids when cross to Indica and Japonica types, are proved to contain an allele, S5 i, S5 j and S5 n, respectively at a locus on chromosome 6. And those gametes having S5 j allele are found to be partially aborted in the hybrid genotypes of S5 i/S5 j while no gamete abortion occurs in S5 i/S5 n and S5 j/S5 n genotypes. Since then, the gene S5 n has been used in hybrid rice breeding to obtain fertile and vigorous hybrids between subspecies, and the long-disputed problem of hybrid sterility has been solved. Also in such studies the characteristic association of traits found in each of varietal groups is better explained by founder effects. On the other hand, a large number of native cultivars of rice were surveyed with enzyme polymorphism in 1980s and later with molecular markers. As a result, profound genetic diversity is found in cultivated rice as well as in wild rice. These findings seem to lead us to the idea of multiple independent domestications of rice. However, before reaching such a conclusion, at least two factors, i.e., long-distance-dissemination of some genotypes and the possibilities of introgression by local wild rice to primitive cultivars need to be examined. Taking the two factors as well as the historical events into consideration, it is considered here that the perennial japonica cultivars which are close to wild rice in the Changjiang River basin were disseminated to East India through Assam or along the Bengal Bay, where they were transformed under the introgressions of local wild rice and formed a secondary center, from which some genotypes seem to be disseminated to colonies in Southeast Asia under the influence of Hinduism. Later some of the genotypes were introduced into China and constituted so called Indica type. This may be a reasonable picture for the varietal differentiation.     

Indirect changes associated with a selection program for increased seed-yield in wild species of Lesquerella (Brassicaceae): Are we developing a phenotype opposite to the expected ideotype?

Seed-yield stability, frequently associated with drought-tolerance strategies, is one of the main breeding objectives for the development of crops for semi-arid mediterranean-type environments. Since breeding of new industrial crops targeted for arid lands is not appreciably different from that of traditional crops, higher yield is achieved by increased harvest-index, at the cost of losing traits associated with drought-tolerance and reduced seed-yield stability. Using Lesquerella as a model we compared selected and unselected accessions of annual (L. gracilis and L. angustifolia) and perennial (L. pinetorum and L. mendocina) genotypes grown in field experiments in Patagonia, Argentina. Our objective was to assess the effects of breeding for increased seed-yield on traits related to the main characteristics that define the most common ideotype for mediterranean-type environments: early vigor, conservative growth strategy post-anthesis and reserves storage. Our specific question was: Have any of the attributes associated with seed-yield stability been indirectly selected during the domestication process? Our results show that these characteristics were reduced or lost, in selected lines compared to their wild relatives. Early vigor was lower in selected accessions and was associated mainly with reduced relative growth rate and CO₂ assimilation. During the reproductive period the growth strategy was changed by selection towards a non-conservative and more acquisitive resource use strategy. Traits associated with this strategy were linked to higher water use efficiency and growth capacity (higher CO₂ assimilation rate, specific leaf area, and leaf allocation), but also with loss of structural adaptation to low resource environments (i.e. low specific leaf area), an increase in nutrient and water demands, and reduced nutrient use efficiency. Carbohydrates accumulation pre-anthesis was lower in selected accessions of all four species, and also, just in perennials we found lower reserves storage post-anthesis. These changes in the pattern of carbohydrates accumulation could be associated to lower seed-yield stability due to the loss of buffer capacity linked with the use of pre-anthesis reserves for seed filling. On the other hand, in perennial species lower reserves storage after seed harvest could reduce plant longevity and survival. We conclude that indirect changes occurred during the preliminary domestication of both annual and perennial species of Lesquerella used in our experiment. These changes were against those required if these species were to be developed as crops for semi-arid, mediterranean environments and should result in low seed-yield stability.