Sensitive detection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae on Anthurium andreanum by immunocapture-PCR (IC-PCR) using primers designed from sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) of the blight pathogen

One of the most devastating Xanthomonas diseases affecting the Anthurium cut flower industry worldwide is the bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae (Xad). The disease can be spread through latently infected tissue-cultured plants that are used for the propagation of Anthurium worldwide. Current disease diagnostic techniques involve the use of semi-selective media and serological tests. This study describes the development of a PCR tool combined with a genus-specific monoclonal antibody for the sensitive detection of the pathogen directly from plants. It was demonstrated that the immunocapture PCR (IC-PCR) was more sensitive than the conventional PCR and even more sensitive than indirect ELISA for the detection of the pathogen. Latently infected plants could be positively screened for the presence of the pathogen. Three sets of primers were designed from DNA probes that were reported to show some specificity to the pathovar dieffenbachiae. The use of all three sets of primers in a single reaction successfully amplified the three individual loci when bacterial DNA was used as a template. The multiplex PCR generated PCR profiles that could differentiate between the reference strains of X. axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae from other control bacteria. The new primers could therefore be used both for the diagnosis of Anthurium blight in single PCR reactions and also for the profiling of Xanthomonas. pv. dieffenbachiae strains using the multiplex PCR technique.     

Transmission of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ by naturally infected Cacopsylla pyri to peach,an approach to the epidemiology of peach yellow leaf roll (PYLR) in Spain

Peach orchards in the northeast of Spain were severely affected in 2012 by a previously unreported disease in this area. The symptoms included early reddening, leaf curling, decline, abnormal fruits, and in some cases death of the peach trees. All the infected peach samples were positive for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’, but none were infected by the ‘Ca. Phytoplasma prunorum’. In this work, potential vectors able to transmit ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ from pear to peach and between peach trees were studied and their infective potential was analysed at different times of the year. Transmission trials of the phytoplasma with potential vectors to an artificial feeding medium for insects and to healthy peach trees were conducted. Additionally, isolated phytoplasmas were genetically characterized to determine which isolates were able to infect peach trees. Results showed that the only insect species captured inside peach plots that was a carrier of the ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ phytoplasma was Cacopsylla pyri. Other insect species captured and known to be phytoplasma transmitters were present in very low numbers, and were not infected with ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ phytoplasma. A total of 1928 individuals of C. pyri were captured in the peach orchards, of which around 49% were phytoplasma carriers. All the peach trees exposed to C. pyri in 2014, and 65% in 2015, were infected by ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pyri’ 1 year after exposure, showing that this species is able to transmit the phytoplasma to peach. Molecular characterization showed that some genotypes are preferentially determined in peach.     

Prevention of progeny formation in Drosophila melanogaster by 1-arylimidazole-2(3H)-thiones

Effects of 1-arylimidazole-2(3H)-thiones (AITs) and 1-(substituted benzyl)imidazole-2(3H)-thiones (BITs) were tested on progeny formation in Drosophila melanogaster. Some AITs showed inhibitory activities at laying eggs and delayed eclosion by 1 day. The inhibitory activity was nullified by adding octopamine (OA) or noradrenaline (NA) to the medium for progeny formation in D. melanogaster. The effect of AIT on the contents of OA and NA was analyzed in adults of D. melanogaster by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Flies fed with AIT decreased OA and NA levels and increased TA content. Taken together, the inhibitory activity of AIT could be due to inhibition of tyramine β-hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase.     

粉纹夜蛾离体细胞对Bt Cry1Ac毒素的抗性发展及其交互抗性

以CrylAc活性毒素逐代筛选抗性粉纹夜蛾离体细胞BTI-TN-5B1抗性发展速度呈S形曲线，经56代选择后，抗性比上升至1280倍。在去除选择压力后，抗性比逐渐下降。低水平抗性细胞抗性衰退较快，而高水平抗性细胞抗性衰退较缓慢。抗性比衰退至1．5倍的细胞在复筛后抗性比恢复较快。抗性细胞对苏云金杆菌工程菌GC-91(BtGC-91)、苏云金杆菌鲇泽亚种(B.t.atoazai)和苏云金杆菌库斯塔克亚种(B．t．kurstaki)的复合毒素晶体的活性毒素都具有较高的交互抗性，但对农药无交互抗性，对杆状病毒的敏感性也没发生变化。