Evidence for differential host preference in Microdochium nivale var. majus and Microdochiumnivale var. nivale

The pathogenicity of Microdochium nivale var. majus and var. nivale was tested on wheat, rye and oat seedlings using both visual disease scoring and quantitative PCR measurements. In an individual inoculation trial at 10°C var. majus and var. nivale were strongly pathogenic towards wheat and rye, with var. nivale causing slightly greater disease in rye. At this temperature only var. nivale caused significant disease of oats. In a further experiment M. nivale was inoculated as a series of mixtures of the two varieties and incubated at 15°C. The ratio of the varieties present in the inoculum and present at harvest was analysed by quantitative PCR and this enabled a coefficient of selection to be calculated for the varieties on each host. M. nivale var. majus showed a weak selective advantage over var. nivale on wheat (0.33 ± 0.08) and oat seedlings (0.35 ± 0.016) and M. nivale var. nivale showed a strong selective advantage over var. majus on rye seedlings (0.92 ± 0.26). The isolates were also compared for sensitivity to benzoxazolinone (BOA), a hydroxamic acid compound derived from rye leaves. M. nivale var majus was found to be significantly more sensitive to BOA than M. nivale var. nivale , indicating a possible mechanism for the selective advantage of var. nivale growing on rye. This is the first substantiated indication of a significant difference in host preference between Microdochium nivale var. majus and var. nivale .     

Towards the Development of a Novel In Vitro Strategy for Early Screening of Fusarium Ear Blight Resistance in Adult Winter Wheat Plants

A novel in vitro bioassay is described for screening Fusarium ear blight (FEB) resistance in adult winter wheat plants. Seven winter wheat cultivars were assessed for components of partial disease resistance as 28 day-old detached leaf segments in the laboratory using isolates of Microdochium nivale var. nivale and M. nivale var. majus. Results were compared with disease data obtained at anthesis using the same cultivars as whole plants and the same isolates under glasshouse conditions. Significant cultivar differences were observed using detached leaves, with cv. Avalon (a Fusarium culmorum ear susceptible cultivar) having the shortest leaf incubation period, greatest leaf lesion development and shortest leaf latent period compared to cv. Spark (a Fusarium culmorum ear resistant cultivar), which had the longest leaf incubation period, least leaf lesion development and longest leaf latent period. Using whole plants, cv. Avalon had the shortest ear incubation period and greatest ear disease severity, whilst cv. Spark had the longest incubation period and least ear disease severity. Overall, cultivars of intermediate F. culmorum ear resistance expressed intermediate responses to M. nivale isolates, using both detached leaves and whole plants. Significant correlations were found with ear disease severity and ear incubation period in whole plants and components of partial disease resistance in detached leaves, with significant correlations obtained between leaf incubation period and ear disease parameters using the M. nivale var. nivale isolate. In addition, leaf latent period and leaf lesion size showed significant correlations with whole plant reactions using M. nivale var. nivale and var. majus isolates. The in vitro screening of cultivars as detached leaves using M. nivale isolates may offer a real possibility of a rapid bioassay for the early screening of FEB resistance in wheat and other cereals.     

种子处理对西瓜苗期3种病害的防治效果

为了筛选防治西瓜苗期立枯病、猝倒病和枯萎病的有效种子处理剂,在人工控制的条件下,选择了6.25%精甲·咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂、2.5%咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂、3.5%精甲·咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂、72%霜霉威盐酸盐水剂和50%多菌灵可湿性粉剂5种杀菌剂对西瓜种子进行处理。分析了处理种子的活力和幼苗的生长特性;以及在人工接种3种病原菌的胁迫下不同处理种子在基质中的出苗率和发病情况。结果表明:5种杀菌剂对种子的活力和幼苗的生长特性没有明显的影响,但3.5%精甲·咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂包衣降低了每株幼苗的鲜重,50%多菌灵可湿性粉剂浸种则提高了幼苗的整齐度。接种西瓜立枯病菌和猝倒病菌的种子出苗率降低,接种西瓜枯萎病菌的种子出苗率没有明显变化;6.25%精甲·咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂和2.5%咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂包衣种子对西瓜立枯病的防效最佳,72%霜霉威盐酸盐水剂浸种对西瓜猝倒病有一定的防效,对西瓜枯萎病的防治没有特别有效的药剂。     

Evaluation of type I fusarium head blight resistance of wheat using non-deoxynivalenol-producing fungi

A series of experiments was conducted to determine whether type I resistance (resistance to initial infection) to fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat could be assessed using fungal species/isolates that do not produce deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin critical to the spread of Fusarium graminearum in the wheat spike. It was shown that, while the non-toxin-producing species Microdochium nivale and M. majus could infect following spray inoculation of wheat spikes, they were unable to spread within the spike following point inoculation. However, although these species might reveal type I resistance, they are not highly pathogenic towards wheat. A nivalenol (NIV)-producing isolate of F. graminearum caused high levels of disease following spray inoculation, but spread only very slowly within the spike and rarely induced bleaching above the point of inoculation. It is proposed that spray inoculation with an appropriate, aggressive, non-DON-producing FHB pathogen may be used to characterize type I resistance to complement point inoculation with a DON-producing isolate to assess type II resistance (resistance to spread within the spike).     

药剂拌种对春油菜白粉病和茎象甲的防效及对油菜产量的影响

为明确不同药剂拌种对春油菜出苗率、病虫害防效及产量的影响, 本文在3种不同种植密度下, 针对春油菜白粉病、油菜茎象甲, 选择25 g/L咯菌腈FSC、600 g/L吡虫啉SC、30%噻虫嗪SC、600 g/L吡虫啉SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC、30%噻虫嗪SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC进行了拌种处理试验。结果表明, 各拌种处理对春油菜的出苗有一定的影响, 其中600 g/L吡虫啉SC、30%噻虫嗪SC、600 g/L吡虫啉SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC、30% 噻虫嗪SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC拌种对春油菜出苗的影响大于25 g/L咯菌腈FSC拌种; 600 g/L吡虫啉SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC、30%噻虫嗪SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC拌种对白粉病和茎象甲的防效均高于单剂拌种; 600 g/L吡虫啉SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC拌种, 对春油菜白粉病的最高防效可达59.3%, 30%噻虫嗪SC+25 g/L咯菌腈FSC拌种对油菜茎象甲最高防效可达69.2%。白粉病病情指数与春油菜种植密度呈正相关, 拌种防效随密度增加而降低, 综合产量分析, 最佳种植密度为28.5万～34.5万株/hm2。     

Relationship between brown foot rot and DNA of Microdochium nivale, determined by quantitative PCR, in stem bases of winter wheat

Relationships between the incidence and severity of brown foot rot and of pathogenic fungi, determined by diagnostic and quantitative PCR, were investigated during the growth of nine winter wheat crops in three cropping seasons. Microdochium nivale vars nivale and majus were the only brown foot rot pathogens present in significant amounts. Relationships between disease symptoms and amounts of pathogen DNA were often weak in early spring (when shoot-base symptoms are usually most difficult to ascribe to particular pathogens by visual examination) because of indistinct symptoms and small amounts of pathogen. Relationships were strongest during stem elongation. The amount of M. nivale in the tissues tended to decline in the summer as the plants matured, apparently disappearing partially from necrotic lesions to which it contributed, resulting in a weakened relationship between symptoms and pathogen DNA. Regression analyses of brown foot rot on amounts of M. nivale DNA for different wheat cultivars generally produced lines with similar slopes but were often most significant for the cultivar with most eyespot resistance (i.e. with least confounding eyespot) or most apparently genuine brown foot rot. DNA of Fusarium spp. was rarely present in amounts sufficient to quantify.     

The use of species-specific PCR-based assays to analyse Fusarium ear blight of wheat

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the detection of various Fusarium species and Microdochium nivale subspecies were compared with conventional visual disease assessment using a field plot of wheat in which the central subplot was inoculated with F. culmorum . Visual disease assessment was performed on a range of samples taken from each of 15 subplots at growth stage 80. At harvest, each sample was divided into its component parts, i.e. grain, glume and rachis, and species-specific PCR analysis was used to detect the presence of F. culmorum , F. poae , F. avenaceum , F. graminearum , M. nivale var. majus and M. nivale var. nivale . Within the inoculated subplot there was good correlation between visual disease assessment and PCR analysis, both techniques indicating a high incidence of F. culmorum in this region. According to the visual disease assessment results, there was also a relatively high incidence of F. culmorum in most other regions of the field plot. However, according to PCR analysis the incidence of F. culmorum in many of the other subplots was relatively low and F. poae , M. nivale var. majus and var. nivale , and F. avenaceum were detected within the grain, glume and rachis tissues of many of the ear samples from these subplots. F. poae predominated in the glume component of ears and M. nivale var. majus and var. nivale in the rachis component. M. nivale PCR results revealed that 64% of infected samples involved var. majus , and 36% var. nivale . PCR analysis has highlighted some difficulties that may arise when using visual assessment for studying disease complexes.     

Control of blue mold (Penicillium expansum) by fludioxonil in apples (cv Empire) under controlled atmosphere and cold storage conditions

A reduced risk fungicide, fludioxonil, was tested for its efficacy against blue mold caused by thiabendazole-resistant and -sensitive Penicillium expansum (Link) Thom in apples under three storage conditions. In a co-treatment, fludioxonil and inoculum were applied together to test the protective activity of the fungicide on wounds that had been aged for 1 or 2 days. The fungicide was also tested for its curative activity in post-inoculation treatment on apples that had been inoculated for 1 or 2 days. Fludioxonil was very effective as co-treatment and as post-inoculation treatment. At a concentration of 300 mg litre(-1), fludioxonil gave complete control of post-harvest blue mold caused by the thiabendazole-resistant and -sensitive P expansum for 105 days in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage at 2 (+/-1) degrees C, for 42 days in common cold storage at 4 (+/-1) degrees C and also in a shelf-life study for 6 days at 20 (+/-1) degrees C. Comparison on the effect of fludioxonil in CA storage and common cold storage showed that higher concentrations of fungicide were needed in cold storage than in CA storage. Fludioxonil at a concentration of 450 mg litre(-1), gave 98 and 92% control of blue mold of apples in the simulated shelf-life studies after CA and common cold storages, respectively. Fludioxonil has a potential to be incorporated in the fungicide resistance management strategies for control of blue mold in apples stored for 105 days.     

Effects of soil temperature on the efficacy of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor fungicides for control of Ustilago bullata

The effects of different soil temperatures on the efficacy of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor (EBI) fungicides applied as seed treatments for the control of seedling infection of prairie grass Bromus willdenowii (Kunth) by the head smut fungus Ustilago bullata (Berk.) were measured in a glasshouse experiment. The fungicides nuarimol, triadimefon and triadimenol+fuberidazole controlled infection at 17.5deg;C and below, but were less or non-effective above 20.0°C. In a second experiment, nuarimol and propiconazole seed treatments reduced seedling emergence and caused stunting of seedlings, but these effects occurred equally over a range of temperatures from 15.0 to 27.5°C. Soil temperatures (3 cm depth) at a typical field site often exceeded 20°C during early autumn and late spring. Although EBI fungicide seed treatments show promise for U. bullata control, care will be required with their routine use because their efficacy in warm soils may be reduced, and they can have growth retardant effects on prairie grass seedlings.     

Assessment of the baseline sensitivity and resistance risk of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum acutatum</Emphasis> to fludioxonil

Anthracnose, which is caused by Colletotrichum acutatum, is a destructive disease of pepper. A preliminary study demonstrated that fludioxonil (a phenylpyrrole fungicide) has good activity against C. acutatum and thus has potential to be used as an alternative fungicide for the management of pepper anthracnose. However, there is no information regarding the baseline sensitivity and resistance risk of C. acutatum to fludioxonil. Thus, the sensitivities of 205 isolates of C. acutatum to fludioxonil were determined. The results showed that the frequency distributions of the EC₅₀ values were unimodal, and the mean EC₅₀ values for the inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination were 0.031 μg/mL and 0.035 μg/mL, respectively. Three stable mutants with high resistance to fludioxonil were obtained in the laboratory. Two parameters, namely in vitro sporulation and the in vitro and in vivo germination of spores, showed significant difference (P < 0.01) when the mutants were compared to the sensitive isolates. Moreover, the mutants were more sensitive to osmotic stress compared to the parents. No significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) were detected in colony diameter, mycelia weight, pathogenicity or sporulation in vivo between the fludioxonil-resistant mutants and their corresponding parents. Cross-resistance occurred between fludioxonil, iprodione and procymidone. Overall, resistance risk of C. acutatum to fludioxonil was low to medium, and thus resistance management should be considered.     

The contribution of ground-level inoculum of Fusarium culmorum to ear blight of winter wheat

In a series of field experiments in eastern England over 5 years, severe ear blight developed only in plots of winter wheat that were inoculated by spraying with conidial suspensions of Fusarium culmorum during anthesis, and in which infection was encouraged by rainfall or mist irrigation. In the absence of artificial inoculation of the ears, F. culmorum caused less extensive ear blight, and only where soil-surface inoculum was available after its application on infested plant material (colonized oat grains) up to 3–4 weeks before anthesis; it then developed most where significant rainfall occurred close to the time of anthesis. A warm, dry period following application of inoculum to the ground in late March contributed to increased infection of grain by F. culmorum , although ear blight was not increased. Ear infection therefore depended on adequate viable inoculum on infested plant debris within the crop, and conditions tending to favour brown foot rot development as well as, subsequently, rainfall and moist conditions during anthesis. These conditions did not occur together naturally during this period. Seedling infection by F. culmorum or Microdochium nivale made no significant contribution to ear blight. Inoculation of ears at anthesis with M. nivale or a locally obtained isolate of F. langsethiae did not produce ear blight symptoms. Possibilities for minimizing the availability of inoculum of F. culmorum and the implications for various options for ear-blight control are discussed.     

Visual disease and PCR assessment of stem base diseases in winter wheat

Stem base disease (eyespot, sharp eyespot and brown foot rot) was assessed visually and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique on single plants sampled at four-week intervals in two crops of winter wheat grown in the UK in 1992–3. PCR assays were conducted for Fusarium avenaceum , F. culmorum , both varieties of Microdochium nivale , both eyespot-causing species of Tapesia and Rhizoctonia cerealis . PCR diagnoses were compared with visual diagnoses at each time point. Eyespot was caused principally by T. acuformis (R-type) and developed rapidly late in the season. Visual diagnoses of eyespot were largely confirmed by PCR but T. acuformis was detected in many plants lacking eyespot symptoms. R. cerealis was detected at relatively low incidences on both sites, and sharp eyespot visual diagnoses did not correlate with the incidence of any of the pathogens assayed by PCR. Brown foot rot, caused principally by Microdochium nivale var . majus , accumulated earlier in the season than eyespot. Overall, visual diagnoses of stem base disease coincided poorly with PCR data until after growth stage (GS) 30.     

Comparison of commercial European wheat cultivars to Fusarium infection of head and seedling tissue

Susceptibility of eight commercial European wheat cultivars to fusarium head blight (FHB) disease caused by Fusarium graminearum , F. culmorum , F. poae and Microdochium nivale (formerly known as Fusarium nivale ) was compared under controlled environment conditions (16°C). FHB did not differentially affect cultivars in terms of disease symptoms, fungal DNA content of grain or deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination. However, the Hungarian-grown cultivars GK-Othalom and Fatima 2 (of Romanian origin) showed greater type V resistance (yield tolerance) to FHB than did the others. Also, nivalenol was produced by F. poae in these two cultivars and in Italian cultivar Norba, but not in other cultivars. Overall, significant relationships were found between the FHB and seedling blight resistance in vitro of these eight cultivars, but such relationships were generally highly dependent on cultivar, and therefore it is likely that the in vitro test is at best measuring components of FHB resistance and/or genotype-specific resistance components.     

杀菌剂对水稻旱育秧立枯病的控制作用及其对秧苗的生理效应

为了筛选防治水稻旱育秧立枯病的有效药剂,通过秧盘试验和室内致病菌离体毒力测定,结合考察药剂对秧苗生长的影响,对保护性杀菌剂代森锰锌和福美双以及内吸治疗性杀菌剂稻瘟灵、 FDA1 霉灵等进行了系统评价。结果表明, FDA1 霉灵、甲基硫菌灵和稻瘟灵对致病菌离体毒力虽然不高,但由于 FDA1 霉灵和甲基硫菌灵对水稻秧苗生长均有促进作用,稻瘟灵能显著提高秧苗抗低温胁迫能力,这3种药剂对水稻立枯病的防治效果较好,防效达65%~81%;而离体毒力虽然高,但对秧苗生长不利的三唑酮、丙环唑和烯唑醇等三唑类药剂效果稍差,防效为51%~75%。根据试验结果提出稻瘟灵是防治该类病害的一种较理想的单用或混用药剂;针对水稻立枯病的发生受环境影响大、病原种类多等特点,指出在研究防治药剂时应采用活体筛选为主、离体筛选为辅的筛选方法,而且提倡不同杀菌谱品种的混用。     

Suppression of wheat-seedling diseases caused by Fusarium culmorum and Microdochium nivale using bacterial seed treatment

Snow mould, caused by Microdochium nivale , and seedling blight caused by members of the Fusarium complex, are cereal diseases of great economic importance in many temperate zones. In a glasshouse bioassay designed to enhance disease, about 600 plant-associated bacterial isolates obtained by different methods were screened for suppressive effects in wheat against infection caused by Fusarium culmorum . Although most of the isolates tested had a neutral effect on test plants and disease development, a few were synergistic to the pathogen and about one-fifth showed > 80% disease suppression. During five consecutive growing seasons, 164 bacterial isolates were tested in field experiments against both F. culmorum and M. nivale as causal agents of seedling blight. Tests for effects on yield in experiments with spring and winter wheat, performed in different climatic regions of Sweden, showed that disease-suppressive effects were repeatable. The most efficient isolates, three fluorescent pseudomonads and a species of Pantoea , suppressed disease equal to that of the fungicide guazatine, both with respect to crop stand and yield. Seed treatment with Pantoea sp. (isolate MF 626) increased yield by an average of more than 500 kg ha⁻¹ in six field experiments.     

马铃薯早疫病菌对咯菌腈的敏感基线及其对不同药剂的交互抗性

采用菌丝生长速率法测定了河北省马铃薯主产区的122株早疫病菌Alternaria alternata对咯菌腈的敏感性,并测定了紫外诱导的15个抗咯菌腈突变菌株及其3个敏感亲本菌株对咯菌腈、异菌脲、腐霉利、苯醚甲环唑、吡唑醚菌酯的敏感性。田间马铃薯早疫病菌群体对咯菌腈保持高度敏感,122株早疫病菌对咯菌腈的EC₅₀值在0.0025~0.0857 μg/mL之间,平均值为0.0404±0.0171 μg/mL,相差34.87倍,呈近似正态分布,可作为早疫病菌对咯菌腈的敏感基线。此外,咯菌腈与吡唑醚菌酯和苯醚甲环唑之间无交互抗性关系,而与异菌脲和腐霉利之间存在正交互抗性关系。在田间药效试验中,50%咯菌腈WP施药量为105、115 g/hm²时,对马铃薯早疫病防效达80%以上,显著高于常规药剂80%代森锰锌WP 1 350 g/hm²和25%丙环唑EC 37.5 g/hm²的防效。表明咯菌腈可作为吡唑醚菌酯和苯醚甲环唑的替代药剂用于马铃薯早疫病的防治。     

Biological control of cereal seed-borne diseases by seed bacterization with greenhouse-selected bacteria

About 400 bacterial strains, isolated from roots of wild and cultivated plants, were screened for effects against diseases caused by Drechslera teres and/or Microdochium nivale in greenhouse tests and against common bunt caused by Tilletia caries in field tests. Four of the strains showed good biocontrol activity <70% disease reduction) against D. teres and T. caries both in screenings and field tests. One Pseudomonas isolate, MA 342, strongly and reliably suppressed both D. teres and T. caries in the field, while effects against M. nivale were weaker. The effects could not be enhanced by varying pre-application or seed application procedures. This isolate could be stored as a suspension in a refrigerator, frozen or applied to seeds for at least one month without loosing its disease controlling ability.     

Fusarium head blight of cereals in Denmark: species complex and related mycotoxins

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction differentiating 10 Fusarium spp. and Microdochium nivale or M. majus was applied to a total of 396 grain samples of wheat, barley, triticale, oat, and rye sampled across Denmark from 2003 to 2007, along with selected samples of wheat and barley from 1957 to 2000, to determine incidence and abundance of individual Fusarium spp. The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, zearalenone, T-2, and HT-2 were quantified using liquid chromatography-double mass spectrometry. Major differences in the Fusarium species complex among the five cereals as well as great yearly variation were seen. Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. avenaceum were dominant in wheat, with DON as the dominant mycotoxin. F. langsethiae, F. culmorum, and F. avenaceum were dominant in barley and oat, leading to relatively high levels of the mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2. F. graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. avenaceum dominated in triticale and rye. The nontoxigenic M. nivale/majus were present in significant amounts in all cereal species. Wheat and barley samples from 1957 to 1996 exhibited no or very low amounts of F. graminearum, indicating a recent increase of this pathogen. Biomass and mycotoxin data exhibited good correlations between Fusarium spp. and their corresponding mycotoxins under field conditions.     

4种种衣剂对青稞条纹病的防治效果

采用3%苯醚甲环唑悬浮种衣剂、2.5%咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂、4.8%苯醚·咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂、400g/L萎锈·福美双悬浮种衣剂4种种衣剂对青稞种子进行拌种处理,评价不同种衣剂对青稞条纹病防治效果和对青稞产量的影响。结果表明,不同种衣剂拌种处理对青稞条纹病均有一定抑制作用,其中3%苯醚甲环唑悬浮种衣剂2.0 mL/kg处理的防效达96.43%,1.5 mL/kg处理的小区青稞增产效果最明显,可显著减少条纹病引起的产量损失。说明3%苯醚甲环唑悬浮种衣剂是一种有前途的青稞条纹病抑制剂,可在农业生产实践中进行推广应用。     

Seed treatments enhance photosynthesis in maize seedlings by reducing infection with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> spp. and consequent disease development in maize

Maize seed that was either treated with the fungicide Cruiser Extreme 250 ® (fludioxonil + azoxystrobin + mefenoxam + thiamethoxam) or not treated was planted at two Iowa locations in 2007. Root, mesocotyl and crown rot severity, incidence of Fusarium spp. colonisation and chlorophyll florescence (CF) were assessed at growth stages V2, V4 and V6, and stalk rot severity at R6. At both locations, seed treatment reduced disease severity and incidence of Fusarium spp. infection at all growth stages assessed. Measurements of CF decreased significantly with increased disease severity and incidence of Fusarium spp. at V2 and V4 at both locations, indicating that seedling disease negatively affected photosynthetic performance. Mesocotyl rot severity at V4 predicted crown rot severity at V6 at both locations, as well as crown rot at V6 and stalk rot at R6 at one location.