Differential reproduction of Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica in watermelon cultivars and cucurbit rootstocks

The suitability of watermelon cultivars and cucurbit rootstocks as hosts to Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica was determined in pot and field experiments. Meloidogyne incognita showed higher reproduction than did M. javanica on watermelon and cucurbit rootstocks. The watermelon cultivars did not differ in host status when challenged with these two species and supported lower nematode reproduction than the cucurbit rootstocks. Rootstocks Lagenaria siceraria cv. Pelops and Cucurbita pepo AK15 supported lower reproduction than did the squash hybrid rootstocks (C. maxima × C. moschata). Egg production increased (P < 0·05) with a rising initial inoculum level (Pi) in the non‐grafted Sugar Baby but the reproduction factor Rf (eggs per plant/Pi) was similar at two Pi levels. The total egg production in the plants grafted onto squash hybrids RS841 and Titan was greater (P < 0·05) at the higher Pi, but the Rf values were lower. The development of field‐grown non‐grafted watermelon plants was significantly stunted in plots where nematodes were detected at planting. However, no differences were observed in plots with grafted plants. In plots with nematodes, non‐grafted and Titan‐grafted plants had similar yields that were higher than that of RS841‐grafted plants. In the commercial plastic houses with grafted watermelon, the average Rf value was 42‐fold, confirming the high susceptibility of squash hybrids as rootstocks for grafted watermelon. The Titan–Sugar Baby combination was tolerant to M. javanica.     

The Efficacy of Grafting on Alkali Stressed Watermelon Cultivars Under Hydroponic Conditions

The goal of the present study was to determine whether grafting of watermelon on gourd rootstocks could improve alkalinity tolerance and to investigate the physiological and morphological response mechanisms of the grafted plants under different pH levels. The experiment was carried out in a climate chamber to investigate growth, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf area, stem length, shoot and root dry weight, root length, electrolyte leakage, leaf mineral composition, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Two watermelon cultivars (Crimson tide, CT, and Crisby) were grafted onto three commercial Cucurbita maxima?×?C. moschata hybrid rootstocks under climate-chamber conditions (Strong tosa, ST, Ercole and Nun 9075). The grafted seedlings were transplanted onto 8?L continuously aerated pots containing nutrient solution with two different pH levels (8.5 and 6.5) and replicated three times. The results showed that in both grafted and non-grafted plants, there was a substantial reduction in shoot and root biomass production at high pH levels. At high pH level, the significantly highest leaf area, stem length, SPAD, concentration of P, Ca, S and Mn in leaf tissues were recorded in graft combination ‘Crisby/Ercole’, whereas the significantly highest concentration of Fe in leaf tissues, shoot dry weight were recorded in graft combination ‘Crisby/Nun 9075’. Moreover, at high pH, the significantly highest concentration of Mg and Cu in shoot under high pH levels was significantly found in graft combination of ‘CT/ST’. These results suggest that the use of interspecific Cucurbita maxima?×?C. moschata hybrid rootstocks can improve crop performance in watermelon plants under alkaline conditions.

     

Progress in grafting watermelon to manage Verticillium wilt

Vegetable grafting for disease management was first used successfully when watermelon grafted onto a Cucurbita moschata rootstock overcame Fusarium wilt. Interspecific grafting has since been used effectively to mitigate several soilborne pathogens in a variety of solanaceous and cucurbitaceous cropping systems. Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is a significant disease in watermelon crops and is difficult to manage. Current management practices, including crop rotation, soil fumigation, and host resistance, are insufficient due to the ability of microsclerotia to persist in absence of a host, lack of efficacy of soil fumigants, and limited availability of resistant cultivars. Watermelon grafted onto commercial cucurbit rootstocks have increased tolerance to Verticillium wilt, although no cucurbit rootstocks are known to be completely resistant. Verticillium wilt incidence decreased on grafted plants grown in artificially and naturally infested soils, while scion health and growth as well as rootstock root mass and vigour increased. Commonly used rootstocks are Lagenaria siceraria, C. moschata, and C. maxima × C. moschata; of these, only C. maxima × C. moschata ‘Tetsukabuto’ reduced severity of Verticillium wilt across several scion cultivars, locations, years, and soil densities of V. dahliae. Although studies on Verticillium wilt resistance of grafted watermelon are few, their combined results suggest the threshold of V. dahliae soil density for watermelon may be around 5–12 cfu/g. This review summarizes available information on Verticillium wilt of watermelon and effects of different rootstock × scion combinations, assisting growers and breeding programmes in decisions to adopt watermelon grafting for management of Verticillium wilt.     

Rootstock resistance to Fusarium wilt and effect on watermelon fruit yield and quality

The potential of grafted watermelon for resistance toFusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum on some Curcurbitaceae,Lagenaria, Luffa, Benincasa and commercial rootstocks was evaluated. Effects of grafting on yield and quality of diseased plants were evaluated. All grafted plants and rootstocks were resistant to the three known races (0, 1, and 2) ofF. oxysporum f.sp.niveum except watermelon cv. ‘Crimson Tide’, which was susceptible to race 2. Fruit yield was positively (21–112%) affected byLagenaria rootstocks but negatively affected (200–267%) byCucurbita rootstocks when compared with the control. While only minor differences in fruit quality were determined in control and grafted plants onLagenaria rootstocks, the quality parameters for watermelon grafted ontoCucurbita rootstocks were lower than in the control. The reasons for low yield and quality might be due to an incompatibility betweenCucurbita rootstocks and watermelon. These results showed that rootstock influence on disease resistance as well as yield and quality of scion fruit is important in determining the potential use of grafting applications in watermelon. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 2, 2003.     

Pathogenicity of Fusarium solani f.sp. cucurbitae race 1 to courgette

Fusarium solani f. sp.cucurbitae race 1 causes foot rot in courgette (Cucurbita pepo). The pathogen could be distinguished fromFusarium solani from sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) both morphologically and in its host range.In inoculation experiments all nine cultivars of the six species of Cucurbitaceae tested were susceptible. Courgette Green became diseased after inoculation with a spore suspension by root dipping or adding the suspension to the soil around the stem base or spraying the whole plant with it.Both wounded and young plants died more quickly than unwounded and older plants. With low inoculum densities the plants were affected more slowly than with high densities and the differences in susceptibility of the Cucurbitaceae tested were more pronounced.From infected courgette seeds the fungus could be reisolated until 6 months after harvest.This is the first record of this pathogen in courgettes in the Netherlands.Samenvatting Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae fysio 1 is de oorzaak van een voetrot in courgette. Het pathogeen is morfologisch en door middel van een waardplantenreeks goed vanF. solani uit paprika te onderscheiden.In inoculatieproeven waren de getoetste Cucurbitaceae in meer of mindere mate gevoelig voorF. solani f. sp.cucurbitae. Bij courgette Green werden zowel gedompelde, als aangegoten, als bespoten planten door het pathogeen aangetast. Zowel verwonde als niet-verwonde planten werden aangetast als ook planten van verschillende leeftijden. Niet-verwonde en ook oudere planten stierven minder snel af dan verwonde en jongere planten. Bij lagere inoculumdichtheden werden de planten minder snel aangetast dan bij hogere dichtheden en waren de verschillen in vatbaarheid voor het pathogeen tussen de getoetste Cucurbitaceae duidelijker.Uit courgette zaad, dat met het pathogeen was besmet, kon de schimmel tot 6 maanden na zaadwinning opnieuw worden geïsoleerd.Dit is de eerste melding van dit pathogeen in courgette in Nederland.     

北京瓜类花叶病毒的调查研究

北京郊区南瓜、西葫芦花叶病是由甜瓜花叶病毒类型所致。黄瓜、参瓜、丝瓜的花叶病都是由黄瓜花叶病毒类型所引起;黄瓜花叶病毒除为害瓜类作物外,还广泛分布在郊区其他栽培作物和野生植物上。根据 CMV 各分离物在冬瓜、南瓜、蔓陀罗,心叶菸,菸上的病状反应,建议将 CMV 分离物区分为八个毒株。来自南瓜并侵染西瓜的一个甜瓜花叶病毒分离物在侵染丝瓜后不能用汁接侵染荀瓜。     

A new pathotype of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoperonospora cubensis</Emphasis> causing downy mildew in cucurbits in Israel

Downy mildew, incited by the comycetePseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk.et Curt.) Rost., was recorded in Israel during the years 1979–2001 on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (Cucumis melo) and classified as pathotype 3. In July 2002 severe outbreaks of downy mildew occurred on pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) and summer squash (Cucurbita pepo subsp.pepo). Host range pathogenicity studies revealed high compatibility of the new population with cucumber, melon, pumpkin and summer squash but low compatibility with watermelon. This new population was therefore designated as pathotype 6. The possible origin of this new pathotype in Israel is discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 9, 2003.     

Screening tomato and cucurbit rootstocks for resistance to Verticillium dahliae*

Seedlings of tomato (19) and cucurbits (33), previously selected as rootstocks for commercial cultivars, were evaluated for their resistance to verticillium wilt under glasshouse conditions. Disease scoring was based on foliar symptoms, but in plants with no visual or ambiguous symptoms the presence of the pathogen was confirmed by isolations or PCR using specific DNA primers. Five of the cucurbit rootstocks showed resistance to infection, 11 were moderately infected, 11 were susceptible, while the remaining six were very susceptible. In general, Cucurbita pepo (courgette, pumpkin) and Lagenaria siceraria tolerated infection, Cucumis melo rootstocks were susceptible and Citrullus vulgaris was the most susceptible. When inoculated with race 1 of the pathogen, one of the tomato rootstocks was very resistant, three moderately resistant, nine tolerant, ten susceptible and one very susceptible. Pathogenicity tests with race 2 showed that none of the rootstocks exhibited high tolerance, but that there was some variation in susceptibility. Research is under way to evaluate the reaction of commercial cultivars to verticillium wilt when grafted onto resistant rootstocks.     

Identification, occurrence and pathogenicity of Rhizopycnis vagum on muskmelon in Spain

Rhizopycnis vagum is a recently described coelomycetous fungus that contributes to vine decline of muskmelons in Honduras, Guatemala, Texas and California. This fungus has been associated with roots of muskmelon plants affected by vine decline in most Spanish muskmelon production areas. Isolates were collected from 1996 to 2000 and identified from their cultural and morphological characteristics and by sequencing the ITS region of the ribosomal coding nuclear DNA (rDNA) and phylogenetic analysis. A few isolates from muskmelon with growth characteristics similar to R. vagum were identified as Phoma terrestris . Watermelon, Cucurbita hybrids used as rootstocks for watermelon production, Amaranthus sp. and grapevine were also hosts for R. vagum . Based on disease reaction in muskmelon roots, the pathogenicity of 10 isolates of R. vagum from different hosts and geographical origins was verified. The fungus caused root discoloration, corky lesions, and eventually the presence of pink coloration on the roots. Rhizopycnis vagum appears to be a minor pathogen that contributes to muskmelon vine decline complex in Spain through infection of roots.     

Foot rot ofCucurbita ficifolia,the rootstock of cucumber,caused byNectria haematococca var.Cucurbitae

In 1962 in the Netherlands a foot rot due toNectria haematococca Berk. & Br. var.cucurbitae (Snyd. & Hans.) Dingley occurred inCucurbita ficifolia, the rootstock of grafted cucumber grown in glasshouses. The Dutch isolates of the pathogen proved to be identical with ones isolated from abroad.C. ficifolia seedlings grown in infested soil showed a foot rot at the base of the hypocotyl when about two weeks, old, after, which the plants soon died off completely. Though the fungus could grow from the rootstock into the cucumber graft, it never showed systemic growth in still living stems. If soil-infestation was only slight,C. ficifolia plants became attacked at a later stage of development. This was in agreement with the dying off of mature cucumbers in the glasshouses at the commencement of cropping. All Cucurbitaceae which were grown in infested soil finally succumbed to the disease. No resistant substitute for theC. ficifolia rootstock was found. Other crops appeared to be resistant. The seed-borne character of the pathogen was demonstrated by injecting fruits with a spore suspension at different developmental stages. When the surviving fruits were harvested, only those inoculated when three to five weeks old contained viable seeds, some of which were infected superficially as well as internally The use of seeds from bruised and infected fruits might have introduced the pathogen into the greenhouses of holdings specializing in selling grafted plants and cucumber seedlings, thousands of which are daily sent all over the country, thus spreading the disease. In recent years this has been avoided by using only seeds from nondamaged fruits and by regularly steaming the soil in which the seedlings are grown.Samenvatting In 1962 en 1963 kwam in Nederland een voetziekte voor bij kaskomkommers, geënt opCucurbita ficifolia-onderstam. De ziekte werd veroorzaakt doorNectria haematococca Berk. & Br. var.cucurbitae (Snyd. & Hans.), Dingley (syn. metHypomyces solani Rke & Berth. emend. Snyd. & Hans. var.cucurbitae Snyd. & Hans.,Fusarium javanicum Koord. var.ensiforme (Wr. & Reinking) Wr. enFusarium solani f.cucurbitae Snyd. & Hans.). De schimmel bleek identiek te zijn met isolaties uit Cucurbitaceae, afkomstig uit andere landen (fig. 1). Zaailingen vanC. ficifolia, opgekweekt in besmette grond, vertoonden ongeveer twee weken na het zaaien een aantasting aan de voet van het hypocotyl, waarna de planten snel volledig afstierven (fig. 2). Ofschoon de schimmel via de entplaats in de komkommer-bovenstam kon doordringen, werd de levende stengel nooit systemisch doorgroeid. Als de grond slechts licht geïnfecteerd werd, bleken planten vanC. ficifolia nog of latere leeftijd aangetast te kunnen worden (tabel 1) Dit is in overeenstemming met het verschijnsel, van het afsterven van komkommers in kassen als de planten juist vrucht gaan dragen.Alle Cucurbitaceae die in besmette grond werden opgekweekt, stierven af. Er werd geen vervanger voor deC. ficifolia-onderstam gevonden die resistent was tegen dezeFusarium. Andere planten die in de kassen gekweekt worden zoals freesia's, bleken resistent te zijn.De schimmel bleek met zaad te kunnen overgaan, hetgeen o.a. aangetoond werd door een groot aantal vruchten van verschillende leeftijd te injiceren met een sporensuspensie (tabel 2). Alleen die welke drie tot vijf weken na de bloei geïnjiceerd waren, bevatten later kiemkrachtige zowel uitwendig als inwendig met de schimmel besmette zaden op die plaatsen waar het vruchtvlees weinig of niet was aangetast (fig. 3 en 4). Het is mogelijk, dat de scimmel door het gebruik van zaad uit gekneusde en besmette vruchten binnengekomen is in de kassen van gespecialiseerde entbedrijven, vanwaaruit dagelijks duizenden enten en zaailingen door het gehele land worden verzonden. Op deze wijze kan de snelle verspreiding van het pathogeen verklaard worden. In latere jaren kon de ziekte vermeden worden door slechts zaden uit gave vruchten voor het opkweken vanC. ficifolia-onderstammen te gebruiken en de grond in de, tabletten geregeld te ontsmetten.

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Een voetziekte vanCucurbita ficifolia, de onderstam van komkommers, veroorzaakt doorNectria haematococca var.cucurbitae

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In cooperation withH. A. van der Aa, P. Ketner andW. F. Prud'homme van Reine.     

Occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Race 1 in Japan

In 1994, Fusarium wilt of melon cultivars which are resistant to races 0 and 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis was observed in southern area of the Lake Biwa region, Shiga prefecture. In commercial fields, mature plants of cv. Amus which were grafted onto cv. Enken Daigi 2, and of cv. FR Amus showed yellowing, wilting and finally death before harvesting of fruits. Diseased plants had vascular and root discolorations, and their stem sections yielded typical colonies of F. oxysporum. When the Shiga strains were tested for their pathogenicity to 12 species of cucurbits, they caused wilts only on melon. Using race differential cultivars of melon, the Shiga strains were classified as race 1 of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, which has not been reported in Japan. To further characterize their pathogenicity, the strains were used to inoculate 46 additional cultivars of melon, oriental melon and oriental pickling melon. All the race 1 strains were pathogenic to the cultivars tested, and their host range was apparently different from those of strains belonging to other races (races 0, 2 and 1,2y). DNA fingerprinting with a repetitive DNA sequence, FOLR3, differentiated race 1 strains from strains of races 0 and 2, but not from race 1,2y strains. Received 2 July 1999/ Accepted in revised form 30 September 1999     

Importance of cucurbits in the epidemiology of Papaya ringspot virus type P

Papaya ringspot virus type P (PRSV‐P) systemically infects Carica papaya and species belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Attempts to recover PRSV‐P from naturally infected cucurbit plants grown near or among diseased papaya trees have shown conflicting results worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the natural infection of cucurbit species grown among and near papaya trees infected with PRSV‐P in Brazil. Natural infection of cucurbits with PRSV‐P occurred in zucchini squash but not in watermelon and cucumber. However, several attempts to recover PRSV‐P from numerous Cucurbita pepo cv. Caserta (zucchini squash) plants grown 5–80 m from diseased papaya trees in the field failed. Mechanical inoculations of Cucurbita pepo cv. Caserta, Cucurbita maxima cv. Exposição (pumpkin), Cucumis sativus cv. Primepack Plus (cucumber) and Citrullus lanatus cv. Crimson Sweet (watermelon) with five Brazilian PRSV‐P isolates showed that zucchini squash was the most susceptible species followed by watermelon and cucumber, while pumpkin was not infected. The results confirmed the variable susceptibility of cucurbit species to experimental and natural PRSV‐P infection. Given these facts, the control of the disease through roguing should focus mainly on diseased papaya plants, as has been practised successfully in Brazil for many years, and on those cucurbits particularly known to be susceptible to natural infection with PRSV‐P.     

A new ‘forma specialis’ of Fusarium solani causing leaf yellowing of Phalaenopsis

The pathogenicity of 35 Fusarium solani isolates obtained from diseased leaves of greenhouse‐grown Phalaenopsis plants in Taiwan was tested on different orchids, including Phalaenopsis sp., Cymbidium spp., Oncidium sp., Dendrobium sp. and Cattleya sp., plus pea (Pisum sativum), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum) and cucurbit [melon (Cucumis melo) and cucmber (C. sativus)] plants. Isolates of F. solani from Phalaenopsis spp. caused severe leaf yellowing on Phalaenopsis and mild symptoms on Cymbidium spp., but no visual symptoms on Oncidium sp., Dendrobium sp., Cattleya sp., pea, chrysanthemum or melon. Fusarium solani isolates collected from Phalaenopsis, pea and cucurbits were molecularly characterized by internal transcribed spacer (ITS), intergenic spacer (IGS) and β‐tubulin gene analyses. Phylogenetic trees constructed by distance and parsimony methods indicated that isolates from Phalaenopsis were grouped into one type based on ITS, IGS and β‐tubulin sequences with high bootstrap value (> 84%) support, compared to ‘formae speciales’ of F. solani from the other hosts. These analyses show that isolates of F. solani from Phalaenopsis are distinct from F. solani isolates from other hosts in Taiwan. Therefore, it is proposed that F. solani isolates that incite Phalaenopsis leaf yellowing be designated F. solani f. sp. phalaenopsis.     

Screening for resistance to Didymella bryoniae in rootstocks of melon

Glasshouse evaluations of rootstocks of melon for resistance to Didymella bryoniae were conducted on different cucurbits previously selected as resistant or partially resistant to race 1,2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Cucumis anguria, C. ficifolius, C. figarei, C. metuliferus, C. zeyheri and Benincasa hispida showed a very high degree of resistance to D. bryoniae both on leaves and stems. Among the commercial rootstocks, Cucurbita hybrids ELSI, ES 99-13, RS 841, displayed a similar level of resistance. Stem inoculation of three cucurbit species grafted with susceptible melon cv. Proteo determined the occurrence of limited symptoms, but the lesions remained confined in the rootstock not affecting the grafted plant. Cultivation of susceptible melon cultivars grafted on resistant rootstocks may represent an efficient method for controlling Didymella crown rot and Fusarium wilt.     

Genetic variability among isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from sugar beet

Fusarium yellows, caused by the soil‐borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. betae (Fob), can lead to significant yield losses in sugar beet. This fungus is variable in pathogenicity, morphology, host range and symptom production, and is not a well characterized pathogen on sugar beet. From 1998 to 2003, 86 isolates of F. oxysporum and 20 other Fusarium species from sugar beet, along with four F. oxysporum isolates from dry bean and five from spinach, were obtained from diseased plants and characterized for pathogenicity to sugar beet. A group of sugar beet Fusarium isolates from different geographic areas (including nonpathogenic and pathogenic F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. proliferatum and F. avenaceum), F. oxysporum from dry bean and spinach, and Fusarium DNA from Europe were chosen for phylogenetic analysis. Sequence data from β‐ tubulin, EF1α and ITS DNA were used to examine whether Fusarium diversity is related to geographic origin and pathogenicity. Parsimony and Bayesian MCMC analyses of individual and combined datasets revealed no clades based on geographic origin and a single clade consisting exclusively of pathogens. The presence of FOB and nonpathogenic isolates in clades predominately made up of Fusarium species from sugar beet and other hosts indicates that F. oxysporum f. sp. betae is not monophyletic.     

Fusarium oxysporum schlecht. in Israel

Out of 208 isolates ofF. oxysporum, 158 produced toxic reactions when applied to rabbit skin. This fungus, ubiquitous in the soils of Israel, was the most prevalent component of theFusarium flora in the unirrigated (but not in the irrigated) soils sampled.F. oxysporum var.redolens was common only on unfertilized plots of heavy, unirrigated soils.F. oxysporum was a major constituent of theFusarium flora isolated from most of the 450 samples of 20 field and garden crops, but less common in 98 samples of citrus, avocado and mango fruits. It ranks among the most destructive pathogens of cucurbits (exceptCucurbita pepo), tomatoes, onions, and gladioli in Israel, but causes almost no damage to Brassicae, peas or cotton. In pathogenicity tests with 207 isolates from nine field and two fruit crops, numerous isolates caused seedling mortality, with watermelon, onion, cucumber, tomato and eggplant being the most susceptible. Spore measurements on 160 isolates from plants and 355 from soils, showed that spore size was not markedly affected by plant source or by irrigation, but did differ between soil samples taken at 5 and 20 cm depth, and from manured or unfertilized soils.     

Race 2 of Verticillium dahliae infecting tomato in Japan can be split into two races with differential pathogenicity on resistant rootstocks

Verticillium dahliae infecting tomato can be differentiated into races 1 and 2 based on differential pathogenicity on tomato cultivars carrying resistance gene Ve1. Although no commercial cultivars resistant to race 2 are available, race 2‐resistant rootstock cultivars Aibou and Ganbarune‐Karis have been bred in Japan. Nevertheless, the resistance of these rootstocks appears to be unstable in commercial tomato fields. Pathogenicity assays conducted under controlled conditions revealed that these rootstock cultivars are resistant to some isolates of race 2; this resistance is controlled by a single dominant locus, denoted by V2, based on segregation of resistance in F₂ populations from selfed rootstock cultivars. However, some other isolates of race 2 can overcome this resistance. Therefore it is proposed that the current race 2 of V. dahliae should be divided into two races, i.e. ‘race 2’ (nonpathogenic on Aibou) and ‘race 3’ (pathogenic on Aibou). The distribution of these races was surveyed in 70 commercial tomato fields in Hida, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Race 3 was found in 45 fields, indicating that race 3 had already spread throughout the region. On the other hand, 25 fields had only race 2, and thus race 2‐resistant rootstocks would be effective for disease management in these fields. Races 2 and 3 could not be identified by genomic Southern hybridization probed with a telomere sequence, nor with previously reported race‐specific PCR assays. Elucidation of race‐determining mechanisms and development of methods for quick race identification should be made in future studies.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of Fusarium spp. associated with yellowing disease of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in Malaysia

Yellowing disease is one of the most important diseases of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). To characterize the pathogen(s) responsible for yellowing disease of black pepper in Malaysia, 53 isolates of Fusarium were collected from the roots of diseased black pepper plants and from rhizosphere soils from major growing areas in Sarawak and Johor. A total of 34 isolates of F. solani and 19 isolates of F. proliferatum were obtained and identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular techniques. DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S ribosomal DNA regions was conducted to identify Fusarium species. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ITS regions revealed that this molecular technique enabled identification of Fusarium at the species level as F. solani and F. proliferatum. In a pathogenicity test on 3-month-old black pepper plants, F. solani was pathogenic, but F. proliferatum was not. On the basis of morphology, DNA sequences and pathogenicity of the fungal isolates from the diseased plants, we showed that yellowing disease on black pepper is caused by F. solani     

Pathogenicity of fungi associated with ash dieback towards Fraxinus excelsior

A large part of the area in Europe in which Fraxinus excelsior is native is currently affected by ash dieback, a threatening disease caused by the ascomycetous fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Fungi other than H. fraxineus also occur in large numbers on stems of the dying ash trees. To clarify their possible role in the dieback process, six fungal species common on dying stems and twigs of ash in Poland, i.e. Cytospora pruinosa, Diaporthe eres, Diplodia mutila, Fusarium avenaceum, F. lateritium and F. solani, were tested for pathogenicity using a test based on artificial wound inoculations of 6‐year‐old F. excelsior plants under field conditions, with H. fraxineus included for comparison. There were significant differences in index of pathogenicity among the fungi tested. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (mean index 5.78) was the most pathogenic. Diplodia mutila (4.23) and C. pruinosa (4.02) were significantly less pathogenic than H. fraxineus, but significantly more than the other fungi. Diaporthe eres (2.43), F. avenaceum (1.92), F. solani (1.86) and F. lateritium (1.08) were the least pathogenic (P < 0.0001). The extent of disease symptoms caused by F. solani and F. lateritium was statistically similar to the control (P = 0.05). All tested fungi were successfully reisolated from inoculated stems. The contribution of the results to understanding the possible role of these fungi in the ash dieback process in F. excelsior, particularly in trees weakened after primary infection by H. fraxineus, is discussed.