Increased Incidence of Erwinia Soft-rot on Calla Lilies in the Presence of Phosphorous

Erwinia soft-rot is an important disease of many ornamental potted crops and is one of the most limiting factors in greenhouse calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.) production. Experiments were conducted to test the effect of phosphorous added to soil-less mixes or to nutrient solutions used for irrigation on soft-rot caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc). Soft-rot incidence increased to 51% when soil-less mix was amended with superphosphate in comparison to regular soil-less mix (no superphosphate added) (31%). In contrast, addition of phosphorous in the nutrient solution met the phosphorous needs of the plant without enhancing soft-rot. Plant height, fresh mass, and number of flowers per plant were greater in calla lilies irrigated with nutrient solution containing phosphorous than no phosphorous treatments. Similar results were obtained in tests conducted in a commercial greenhouse with larger sample size. No statistical differences were found between tubers sprayed with water (control) or with a 0.5 mM solution of KH₂PO₄ in laboratory experiments to determine the effect of phosphorous on tuber root development. In other experiments, tubers were sprayed with either water, a bacterial cell suspension 1 × 10² cfu ml^–1, a solution of 0.5 mM KH₂PO₄, or a suspension of bacteria in KH₂PO₄. The results from these tests showed a significant increase of soft-rot development in tubers treated with the suspension of Ecc prepared in a solution of KH₂PO₄ relative to other treatments. Further laboratory tests indicated that enzymatic activity (polygalacturonase and pectate lyase) of Ecc increased when grown in the presence of phosphorous. These experiments suggest that increased soft-rot in the presence of phosphorous is due to increased virulence of Ecc.     

Autoregulator-dependent Control of Extracellular Polysaccharide Production in Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) likely provide phytopathogenic bacteria a selective advantage both inside and outside plants. Despite the relatively scant knowledge about EPS biosynthesis in phytopathogenic bacteria, it clearly is a well controlled, complex, energy-intensive process. Unexpectedly, three phytopathogenic bacteria have been found to autoregulate EPS production in response to extracellular signal compounds (pheromones) that they produce. Like many bacteria, Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii produces a N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) autoinducer. However, unlike most AHL-dependent autoinduction systems, that in P. stewartii subsp. stewartii somehow represses EPS production in the absence of autoinducer. Instead of an AHL-dependent system (which it also has), Ralstonia solanacearum uses a novel autoregulator identified as 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester to regulate EPS biosynthesis. A lack of this autoregulator in R. solanacearum results in repression of EPS biosynthesis by a complex two-component sensor/response regulator signal cascade. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris has two partially overlapping autoregulatory systems. The autoregulators are incompletely characterized, but one diffusible signal factor (DSF) is thought to be a fatty acid derivative and the other diffusible factor (DF) may be a butyrolactone. The autoregulation pathways in X. campestris pv. campestris are essentially unknown, but EPS production is controlled by both the DSF and DF systems, whereas production of extracellular enzymes and pigment production are regulated independently. In a confined micro-environment, population density and intercellular concentrations of an autoregulator will increase in parallel, so autoregulation is one way that bacteria can coordinate gene expression to synthesize EPS only at high cell density. However, because there is often limited evidence that it is actually cell density that is being detected, researchers should not assume a priori that autoregulation must function for quorum sensing. Some possible reasons for why phytopathogenic bacteria would benefit from delaying EPS production are discussed.     

Characterisation of Rhizoctonia solani Anastomosis Groups Causing Bottom Rot in Field-Grown Lettuce in Germany

Bottom rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani is an increasing problem in field-grown lettuce in Germany. During the growing seasons of 1999 and 2000, 95 isolates of R. solani from lettuce plants with bottom rot symptoms were collected from eight locations. The isolates were characterised using hyphal anastomosis, pectic zymograms and morphological characteristics. Ninety-three isolates were identified as anastomosis group (AG) 1-IB, one as AG 1-IC and one as AG 2-1. Optimum hyphal growth was measured over a temperature range of 20–30 °C with an optimum at 25 °C. Aggressiveness of the AG 1-IB isolates varied from weak to strong when tested on detached lettuce leaves. The pathogenic potential of six AG 1-IB isolates was determined on 14 plant species in comparison with lettuce under conditions favourable for the fungus. Radish, broccoli, kohlrabi, spinach and millet seedlings were as severely infected as lettuce seedlings. The same isolates caused little symptoms on maize, tomato and onion. Knowledge about the host range of AGs of R. solani are important for planning an effective crop rotation as part of a control management system.     

Luteoforol,a flavan 4-ol,is induced in pome fruits by prohexadione-calciumand shows phytoalexin-like properties against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erwinia amylovora</Emphasis>and other plant pathogens

Treatments with prohexadione-calcium led to lowered incidence of fire blight, scab and other diseases in pome fruit trees and other crop plants. In addition to acting as a growth regulator, prohexadione-calcium interferes with flavonoid metabolism and induces the accumulation of the 3-deoxycatechin luteoliflavan in shoots of pome fruit trees. Luteoliflavan does not possess any remarkable antimicrobial activity. Therefore luteoforol, its unstable and highly reactive precursor, has been tested in vitro for its bactericidal and fungicidal activities. Luteoforol was found to be highly active against different strains of Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight, and all other bacterial and fungal organisms tested. Phytotoxic effects were also observed in pear plantlets. The results obtained indicate that prohexadione-calcium induces luteoforol as an active principle with non-specific biocidal properties. It is proposed that luteoforol is released upon pathogen attack from its cellular compartment and inhibits further disease development by destroying pathogen cells as well as by inducing a hypersensitive-like reaction in the host plant tissue. This mechanism would be closely analogous to the one known for structurally related phytoalexins in sorghum.     

Antagonistic rhizoplane bacteria induce diverse morphological alterations in Peronosporomycete hyphae during <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> interaction

A total of 150 bacteria were isolated from rhizoplanes of the host and non-host plants of a phytopathogenic Peronosporomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides. Upon screening, 5% of the isolates were evaluated as antagonists as they inhibited radial growth of A. cochlioides AC-5 hyphae in a dual culture assay. In addition, those antagonistic bacteria also induced characteristic morphological alterations in the A. cochlioides AC-5 hyphae that grew towards bacterial colonies. Hyphal morphological alterations observed in AC-5 and other tested strains of Peronosporomycetes included excessive branching, curly growth, unusually longer and pointed tip formation and swelling; all of these were comparable to the alterations induced by known antimicrobial compounds. Among the antagonistic bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. strain EC-S101 induced a unique branching pattern (tree-like) in AC-5 hyphae by continuous apical bifurcation of successive hyphae, where increases in number of branches and hyphal area were linearly correlated with time up to 10 h. Our observations suggested that the pathogen might have lost its ability of normal branch production; however maintained the capability of self-branching. Soluble extracts from the culture fluids of Pseudomonas sp. strain EC-S101 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia EC-S105 induced similar excessive branching and curly growth in A. cochlioides hyphae as the respective bacterium. These results revealed that bacterial metabolites appeared to be responsible for induction of morphological alterations. Interestingly, the antagonistic bacteria that induced hyphal morphological alterations, also efficiently suppressed in vivo damping-off disease caused by AC-5. We suggest that antagonistic rhizoplane bacteria have the capability to induce diverse morphological alterations in Peronosporomycetes hyphae during in vitro interactions. Hyphal morphological alterations associated with growth inhibition and the induction of characteristic morphological changes indicate antagonistic activity against the Peronosporomycete.     

海洋生境贝莱斯芽孢杆菌TCS001的鉴定及抑真菌活性

为研究海洋生境芽孢杆菌TCS001的分类地位和抑菌活性,通过形态和生理生化特征观察,并结合gyrA序列同源性分析对菌株进行了鉴定;通过平板对峙培养法测定了菌株TCS001对多种植物病原真菌的抑菌谱;采用菌丝生长速率法和凹玻片法,测定了不同浓度TCS001菌株发酵滤液对靶标菌黄瓜灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea菌丝生长和孢子萌发的影响。结果显示:该菌株为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌Bacillus velezensis,其对6种供试病原菌均有一定的抑制效果,其中对黄瓜灰霉病菌的抑制率最高,达87.66%。不同稀释倍数下,TCS001发酵滤液对黄瓜灰霉病菌均有一定的抑制作用,其中,稀释5倍时对菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制率最高,分别为96.24%和98.05%,稀释20倍时抑制率也均达90%以上。形态学观察发现,TCS001发酵滤液可导致黄瓜灰霉病菌孢子萌发芽管中间或顶端膨大畸形。研究表明,海洋生境贝莱斯芽孢杆菌TCS001极具开发为微生物农药的潜能。     

Efficacy of bacterial antagonists and different commercial products against Fusarium wilt on rocket

Seven experimental trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the bacterial strains Achromobacter xylosoxydans AM1 and Serratia sp. DM1 obtained from suppressive soils and from soilless used rockwool substrates (Pseudomonas putida FC6B, Pseudomonas sp. FC7B, Pseudomonas putida FC8B, Pseudomonas sp. FC9B and Pseudomonas sp. FC24B) against Fusarium wilt on rocket caused by Fusarium oxysporum ff. spp. raphani and conglutinans. Along with these strains, two commercial bioproducts (RootShield—Trichoderma harzianum T22; Cedomon—Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA342) were also tested. Different application strategies such as soil treatment (trials I to VI; 10⁷ and 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹) and root dipping (trial VII; 10⁸ and 10⁹ CFU ml⁻¹) were performed in a glasshouse in order to test the efficacy of the bacterial strains against Fusarium oxysporum ff. spp. raphani and conglutinans. The lowest disease incidence (16.7%) was observed with the application of Achromobacter sp. AM1, Serratia sp. DM1 at 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹ and Pseudomonas sp. FC9B at 10⁷ CFU ml⁻¹ against F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (experiment I). Maximum plant biomass (5.0 g/plant) was registered in Serratia sp. DM1 at 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹ treated plants in trial IV. The trials against F. oxysporum f. sp. raphani (experiment II) showed that the application of Pseudomonas sp. FC7B, P. putida FC8B at 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹ and P. chlororaphis MA342 at 7.5 × 10⁶ CFU ml⁻¹ significantly reduced disease incidence to values ranging between 87% and 92%. The highest plant biomass was recorded with the application of Achromobacter sp. AM1 and P. putida FC6B at 10⁷ CFU ml⁻¹ (3.9 to 4.2 g) carried out 7 days before the artificial inoculation of the pathogens (trial IV). The present study showed the potential biocontrol activity of the bacterial strains Achromobacter sp. AM1, Serratia sp. DM1 and Pseudomonas sp. FC9B against F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans and of Pseudomonas sp. FC7B, P. putida FC8B, P. chlororaphis MA342, Achromobacter sp. AM1 and P. putida FC6B against F. oxysporum f. sp. raphani. Growth-promoting activity of biocontrol bacteria used during the trials was observed.     

玉米细菌干茎腐病菌成团泛菌的种子传播

为明确成团泛菌Pantoea agglomerans引起的玉米细菌干茎腐病经种子传播的规律,采用细菌常规分离法、Sherlock微生物鉴定系统、特异性分子检测技术,对与干茎腐病相关的杂交种金玉9856及其父本PS056、母本OSL190进行了种子带菌检测,证明金玉9856和PS056种子内部带菌,获得分离物Pagl和Pag2,2个分离物对感病的PS056均具有致病性.菌液浸种、种子注射接种和自然带菌种子直播都能够引发干茎腐病,发病率分别达到100%、100%和80%,而持续高温(50℃)处理4天的种子则在植株上不表现症状.对种子接种后长成的植株的系统检测证明,成团泛菌侵染种子后,通过植株维管束系统向地上部组织扩展,随着水分的运输,病菌通过茎秆到达果穗的籽粒中,完成从种子到植株、再到新种子的病害循环,同时能够引起植株发病.     

烟草叶斑病病原菌的鉴定及其生物学特性

为明确贵州省新发现的烟草叶斑病病原菌种类和生物学特性,2019年自田间采集具有典型发病症状的烟叶,采用组织分离法对其进行分离纯化,对分离菌株进行致病性测定,观察病原菌形态学特征,基于ITS、LSU、tub2和rpb2基因序列进行分子生物学鉴定,同时对病原菌的生物学特性进行测定。结果显示,烟草叶斑病病斑呈圆形或椭圆形,病斑中间呈浅褐色,边缘呈棕色,周围环绕黄色晕圈。经分离纯化共获得3株病原菌,形成的菌落为深褐色,气生菌丝呈白色;分子孢子器呈球形或扁球形,为深褐色,大小为79.3～91.7μm×148.4～167.3μm;分生孢子呈椭圆形,光滑,无隔膜,具0～3个油球,大小为3.5～5.6μm×1.7～2.9μm。根据形态学特征和分子生物学特征将其鉴定为Didymella segeticola。该病原菌菌丝生长适宜温度为20～25℃;适宜pH为6～10,最适碳源为乳糖,最适氮源为蛋白胨,通气和光暗交替环境有利于其生长。     

Confidence intervals for the estimation of the incubation period of fire blight following Billing's prediction system 1

An equation of Billing's system 1 permits an estimate of the length of the incubation period (I) of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) in rosaceous plants. The confidence interval of I was determined using Billing's own data (90% confidence interval: α6.3 days). By transformation of I, the confidence interval could be reduced (α3.5 days). Temperature was more important than rain with respect to the rate of development of fire blight. The effects of temperature and rain on the rate of development showed a strongly positive interaction.Samenvatting De lengte van de incubatieperiode van bacterievuur (Erwinia amylovora) kan geschat worden met een formule uit Billings voorspellingssysteem 1. Om enig inzicht te verkrijgen in de nauwkeurigheid van Billings systeem, werd het betrouwbaarheidsinterval van de geschatte incubatieperiode berekend aan de hand van Billings eigen proefgegevens. Bij een betrouwbaarheid van 90% werd een afwijking van 6,3 dagen gevonden. Het betrouwbaarheidsinterval kon verkleind worden door middel van transformatie van de regressieparameters en toepassing van meervoudige regressie (bij 90% betrouwbaarheid een afwijking van 3,5 dagen).De temperatuur had meer invloed op de ontwikkelingssnelheid van bacterievuur dan regen. Verder vertoonden temperatuur en regen een sterk positief interactief effect op de ontwikkelingssnelheid.     

Note:In vitro antagonism of actinomycetes isolated from fungus-growing ants against plant pathogenic fungi

Fungus-growing ants have been found recently to be symbiotic with actinomycetes living on the ant’s cuticle; these bacteria are inhibitory to soil fungi that are detrimental to the ants’ fungus gardens. In order to investigate whether actinomycetes found on the cuticle of attine ants also had inhibitory properties against plant pathogenic fungi, we isolated 32 strains of actinomycetes from fungus-growing ants (Atta, Trachymyrmex, andCyphomyrmex), from the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. Of the actinomycetes tested against selected plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, Aspergillus flavus, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium sp.) on Czapek-Dox agar medium, 13 isolates inhibited at least one of the fungi.C. lindemuthianum was inhibited by 11 actinomycetes, andRhizoctonia by three. An actinomycete strain isolated fromCyphomyrmex rimosus inhibited all five fungi tested. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 30, 2008.     

Identification of potential virulence genes in Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937: transposon insertion into plant-upregulated genes

Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 is a soft-rotting plant pathogen in Enterobacteriaceae. It attacks a wide range of plant host species. Previously, we identified dozens of E. chrysanthemi 3937 genes induced during plant infection by microarray differential display. Here, we have mutated plant-upregulated and putatively plant-upregulated genes in E. chrysanthemi 3937 using a transposon insertion method. Of 57 mutants produced, 8 were significantly reduced in maceration in African violet leaves. These 8 E. chrysanthemi genes are similar to Escherichia coli purU (formyltetrahydrofolate deformylase; ASAP20623) and wcaJ (undecaprenylphosphate glucosephosphotransferase; ASAP18556), Bacillus subtilis dltA (d-alanine-d-alanyl carrier protein ligase; ASAP19406), Pseudomonas syringae PSPTO2912 (ABC transporter, periplasmic glutamine-binding protein; ASAP15639), Pseudomonas aeruginosa pheC (cyclohexadienyl dehydratase; ASAP19773), P. syringae syrE (peptide synthase; ASAP19989), Vibrio vulnificus VV12303 (unknown protein; ASAP18555), and Yersinia pestis speD (S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase; ASAP20536). In some of the genes, possible roles in virulence could be postulated based on the functions of their homologues. This work demonstrated that a low proportion of pathogenicity-related genes were among the plant-upregulated genes of E. chrysanthemi 3937. This study and further dissection of these putative virulence genes should lead to new insights into infection mechanisms in pathogens.     

Characterisation of the fungal population in citrus packing houses

The aim of this work was the characterisation of the environmental and superficial mycoflora of equipment and facilities of two citrus packing houses in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in 2004 and 2005. One of the packing houses packed fruit for the export market (municipality of Matao), the other for the domestic market (municipality of Engenheiro Coelho). The study also identified the presence of isolates of Penicillium spp. resistant to thiabendazole and imazalil fungicides in packing houses. The environmental mycoflora was sampled according to the gravimetric method, using Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar medium opened for 2 min. The superficial mycoflora on equipment and facilities was sampled with Rodac plates. The mycoflora in the environment and on surfaces of the packing houses in Matao were 12.3 and 52.3 cfu/plate, respectively, while these populations for the Engenheiro Coelho packing house were 46.3 and 68.2 cfu/plate, respectively. Cladosporium and Penicillium were the most prevalent genera of fungi. The contamination levels of clean zones in the packing houses (washing of fruits, packing table, boxes and containers) was not substantially lower than the contamination in dirty zones (reception of fruits and first selection). The percentage of P. digitatum isolates in Matao that was resistant to thiabendazole and imazalil was 25.9 and 1.5 in the environment and 30.1 and 16.0 on packing house surfaces, respectively. In Engenheiro Coelho, percentage of resistance to these fungicides was 51.9 and 0.1 in the environment and 39.2 and 0.9 on packing house surfaces, respectively.     

木霉耐盐突变菌株的紫外诱变选育

为了获得高效耐盐木霉突变菌株,以盐碱土中分离的一株深绿木霉T-YM作为原始菌株进行紫外诱变处理,并筛选了突变菌株的最佳诱变条件,利用NaCl溶液模拟盐胁迫条件测定了突变菌株耐盐指标生长速率、产孢量和菌丝生长量。结果表明,与对照(野生型菌株)相比,当诱变时间为3 min时能够显著提高深绿木霉T-YM突变菌株菌落生长速度和产孢量,分别增加17.69%和28.82%;诱变时间为0.5 min和5 min时能够显著提高突变菌株菌丝生长量,分别增加42.22%和46.67%。利用10 mg·mL^-1 NaCl溶液模拟盐胁迫条件时,与对照相比突变菌株菌落生长速度、产孢量和菌丝干重整体高于野生型菌株,尤其当诱变时间为3 min时,不同浓度盐胁迫下其产孢量平均增加51.18%,诱变时间为0.5 min时其菌丝干重平均增加23.65%;NaCl胁迫(10 mg·mL^-1)下,诱变处理0.5 min获得的正突变菌株经传代接种培养后其耐盐性较为稳定。因此,紫外诱变可作为一种选育高效耐盐木霉突变菌株的有效方法。     

微生物源农药申嗪霉素的研制与应用

申嗪霉素是中国自主研发的一种新型微生物源农药,具有高效、安全、广谱等特点,其主要成分是甜瓜根际促生菌M18产生的次级代谢产物吩嗪-1-羧酸。文章重点就申嗪霉素产生菌M18的分离及其代谢产物的鉴定、申嗪霉素生物合成及调控机理最新研究进展、申嗪霉素高产工程菌株的构建和产业化、以及申嗪霉素大田防病试验结果及推广应用情况等进行详细综述,并对其抗菌作用机理进行探讨,旨在为申嗪霉素的生物合成机理研究、遗传和代谢改造以及推广应用提供参考。     

Erwinia isolates from the bacterial shoot blight of pear in Japan are closely related to Erwinia pyrifoliae based on phylogenetic analyses of gyrB and rpoD genes

The phylogenetic relationships among Erwinia amylovora biovar 4 (the pathogen of bacterial shoot blight of pear in Japan), other biovars of E. amylovora, and Erwinia pyrifoliae were investigated using the sequences of 16S rRNA, gyrB, and rpoD genes. The tested isolates formed two distinct monophyletic groups in the phylogenetic trees constructed based on the gyrB gene, rpoD gene, or a combination of the three genes: group 1 contained E. amylovora biovars 1, 2, and 3; group 2 contained E. amylovora bv. 4 and E. pyrifoliae. This phylogenetic analysis showed that E. amylovora bv. 4 was more closely related to E. pyrifoliae than to other biovars of E. amylovora. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AB242876 to AB242925.     

Leaf-yellowing in combination with corm necrosis in freesia caused by bean yellow mosaic virus: Factors involved in syndrome development

In freesia cv. Aurora grown in the field for cutflower production, a disease occurred with symptoms of leaf-yellowing in combination with corm necrosis (LYCN). It is shown that this disease is caused by bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV).No differences in symptoms of LYCN were observed between the freesia cultivars Aurora, Imperial and Rose Marie. Most BYMV isolates gave rise to LYCN; the isolates from crocus andIxia sp. did not. LYCN was stimulated by a high BYMV concentration in the inoculum, a temperature above 20°C, inoculation soon after emergence of the freesias, and by the absence of freesia mosaic virus. Freesias with mosaic symptoms and infected with a cross-protecting BYMV strain, did not show symptoms of leaf-yellowing and/or corm necrosis after inoculation with BYMV-Cm. The presence of the unknown agent causing leaf necrosis in freesias did not have an influence on symptom development after infection with BYMV.     

洛阳市牡丹灰霉病病原菌的鉴定

为明确洛阳市牡丹灰霉病的病原菌种类,于2015年从该地区的4个牡丹Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.种植区采集灰霉病样品,采用组织分离法对病原菌进行分离和纯化,结合形态学和基因序列分析对分离物进行鉴定,采用针刺接种法测定不同分离物对牡丹离体叶片的致病性。结果表明,从灰霉病样品中分离获得40株分离物,这些分离物分别属于Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型菌,I型菌不易产孢但产菌核;Ⅱ型菌易产孢,后期产生少量菌核;Ⅲ型菌易产孢,且产生大量菌核。产孢分离物均形成直立状分生孢子梗,孢子梗分枝顶端聚生葡萄穗状分生孢子,分生孢子卵圆形或长卵圆形。供试菌株的ITS序列和G3PDH基因序列与灰葡萄孢Botrytis cinerea Pers.的同源性达到99%;致病性测定结果表明,各菌群代表菌株对牡丹均有致病性,但不同菌群间致病力有差异。研究表明,引起洛阳市牡丹灰霉病的病原菌为灰葡萄孢,且菌群类型多样。     

Identification of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas viridiflava</Emphasis> on tomato by traditional methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Pseudomonas viridiflava is one of the causal agents of tomato stem necrosis in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. The bacterium causes general wilting, yellowing of tomato plants, dark blotches on the pruning sites of the stem, browning, and hollowing of the pith.P. viridiflava strains, isolated from Antakya and Mersin, were identified by traditional methods and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For indirect-ELISA, polyclonal antisera were produced against a regional isolate ofP. viridiflava (AD-OZ 3a). Using indirect-ELISA, the pathogenic bacterium was identified rapidly and safely from both pure culture and inoculated plants in 2 days. There was no cross reaction with other stem necrosis pathogens. With indirect-ELISA, the lower limit forP. viridiflava detection in pure culture was 10³ colony-forming units per milliliter. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 11, 2004.     

Identification and Characterisation of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris Strains from Tanzania by Pathogenicity Tests, Biolog, rep-PCR and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Analysis

Black rot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), is a major disease constraint to cabbage production by smallholder farmers in Africa. Variability exists within the pathogen, and yet differentiation of Xcc strains from other closely-related xanthomonads attacking crucifers is often difficult. The Biolog system, fatty acid methyl ester analysis using microbial identification system (MIS), rep-PCR and pathogenicity tests were used to identify and characterise Xcc strains from Tanzania. Great diversity was observed among Xcc strains in their Biolog and rep-PCR profiles. Specific rep-PCR genomic fingerprints were linked to some geographical areas in the country. Most of the Xcc strains were clustered in two groups based on their fatty acid profiles and symptom expression in cabbage although some deviant strains were found. Each of the methods allowed a degree of identification from species, pathovar to the strain level. Biolog and MIS identified all Xcc strains at least to the genus level. Additionally, Biolog identified 47% of Xcc strains to the pathovar and 43% to strain level, whereas MIS identified 43% of the strains to pathovar level. In the absence of a database, the utility of rep-PCR for routine diagnosis of strains was limited, although the procedure was good for delineation of Xcc to the strain level. These findings indicate the existence of Xcc strains in Tanzania that are distinct from those included in Biolog and MIS databases. The limitations noticed warrant continued improvement of databases and inclusion of pathogenicity testing, using universally susceptible cultivars, as an integral part of strain identification.