Major Gene and Polygenic Resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)

The most common and effective way to control phoma stem canker (blackleg) caused by Leptosphaeria maculans in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is through the breeding of resistant cultivars. Race specific major genes that mediate resistance from the seedling stage have been identified in B. napus or have been introgressed from related species. Many race specific major genes have been described and some of them are probably identical in B. napus (allotetraploid AACC) and the parental species B. rapa (diploid AA). More work is needed using a set of well-characterised isolates to determine the number of different major resistance genes available. In some B. napus cultivars, there is resistance which is polygenic (mediated by Quantitative Trait Loci) and postulated to be race non-specific. Many of these major genes and Quantitative Trait Loci for resistance to L. maculans have been located on B. napus genetic maps. Genes involved in race specific and polygenic resistance are generally distinct.     

Inoculation of cucumber roots with zoospores of mycoparasitic and plant pathogenic Pythium species: Differential zoospore accumulation, colonization ability and plant growth response

Hydroponically grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings were inoculated with zoospores of 1 mycoparasitic (Pythium oligandrum) and 2 pathogenic (Pythium aphanidermatum and Pythium group F) Pythium spp. During the first 2 days after inoculation, all the Pythium spp. caused reduction in the root length. However, roots treated with Pythium oligandrum quickly reached the length of the control and on the 8th day, and for the rest of the experimental period, stimulation of root elongation was noted. Pythium oligandrum was not pathogenic on cucumber and no differences in the fresh weights of control and Pythium oligandrum inoculated plants were observed in the course of the experiment. Pythium group F and Pythium aphanidermatum were pathogenic on cucumber seedlings, but their pathogenicities differed. Thus, while Pythium group F had a constant, negative influence on root length and plant growth, measured as fresh weight, Pythium aphanidermatum caused generalized necroses of the root system, inhibiting consistently root elongation and plant growth and finally causing plant death. Moreover, the zoospores of 2 mycoparasitic species, Pythium oligandrum and Pythium periplocum, were not attracted to roots of cucumber and accumulated on the roots in very low numbers compared to those of the pathogenic species, Pythium aphanidermatum, which were strongly attracted and accumulated in large numbers. Finally, it was also found that Pythium oligandrum colonized the roots very poorly, while Pythium group F and Pythium aphanidermatum were significantly better root colonizers. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the ecology of Pythium species and biocontrol.     

A Severe Hellenic CMV Tomato Isolate: Symptom Variability in Tobacco, Characterization and Discrimination of Variants

A severe strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) originating from an infected tomato plant (Gastouni-Olympia, Greece) was isolated in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc), after three serial local lesion passages in Chenopodium quinoa and designated CMV-G. CMV-G induces yellow mosaic (YM) symptoms in tobacco. When CMV-G was passed mechanically through C. quinoa, phenotypic variants inducing YM or green mild mosaic (MM) in tobacco were isolated. Aphid transmission, from different hosts, appears to be an effective approach for separating MM variants of CMV-G from YM variants. In particular, aphid transmission from zucchini proved to be very efficient in selecting for MM variants. In contrast, aphids transmitted only YM variants from tomato plants. Molecular characterization of CMV-G and its progeny resulted in their classification in the CMV subgroup IB, free of satellite RNA, being the first discovery of the subgroup IB in Greece. In the Solanaceae family (tobacco, tomato, pepper) YM variants induced more severe symptoms than the MM variants. YM and MM phenotype was stable in tobacco for all seven passages tried using the obtained YM and MM variants. Cross-protection experiments showed that an isolated MM variant was able to protect tobacco plants against a challenge infection by a YM variant.     

First evidence and molecular characterization of Babesia vogeli in naturally infected dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in southern France

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of animals and humans caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genera Babesia and Theileria. In France canine babesiosis has a high prevalence with Babesia canis thought to be the main aetiological agent of the disease. Babesia vogeli has already been reported to occur in Europe and in other countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the main known vector of B. vogeli, occurs in southern France. However, only one case of a B. vogeli infected dog has been reported to date in France. To gain further insight into the prevalence of Babesia and Theileria infections in dogs and ticks of the R. sanguineus complex, a study was conducted in a veterinary practice in the south of France from January to September 2010. Twelve bloods from dogs and 36 R. sanguineus ticks were analyzed using PCR and sequencing. For the analysis of ticks, a new primer was designed to specifically amplify the B. vogeli 18S rRNA gene. Four dogs (33.3%) and 8 ticks (22.2%) were found to be infected with B. vogeli. This approach has thus revealed for the first time a cluster of cases of canine babesiosis caused by B. vogeli in France and highlights the need to systematically screen for pathogens potentially responsible for canine babesiosis at the species level using suitable molecular tools.     

Relations entre le desséchement de la rafle et Botrytis cinerea sur raisins1

Le dessèchement de la rafle d' origine physiologique et la pourriture pédonculaire due au champignon Botrytis cinerea sont encore trés souvent confondus par les praticiens et techniciens. De ce fait, les differences et analogies dans les symptomes sont discutees. Le dessèchement de la rafle est surtout caractérisé par la date d' apparition des atteintes, dans les 15 jours qui suivent la mi-véraison, et par la présence de nécroses bien localisées, sèches, a contours limites. De nombreux facteurs sont communs. Mais, contrairement à l' opinion encore très répandue, le dessèchement de la rafle ne favorise pas l' installation de B. cinerea. Certaines techniques, telles que l' effeuillage, le traitement a la gibbérelline, l' enlèvement de baies, réduisent les deux maladies. On constate alors un enrichissement en calcium et magnésium de la rafle qui s'accompagne d' un développement des faisceaux libéro-ligneux dans le cas de la gibbérelline. L' importance économique de la pourriture pédonculaire est plus grande; les pertes peuvent s'elever jusqu'a 50–60 % de la récolte contre moins de 25 % par le dessèchement de la rafle. Le traitement des grappes à la véraison, avec un mélange d' un sei magnésien et d' un fongicide de la famille des imides cycliques, est efficace.     

Effect of synthetic insecticides on the larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coccinella septempunctata</Emphasis> from Greek populations

Coccinella septempunctata L. is one of the most abundant ladybird species in Greece, preying on several aphid species and other arthropods, of which many are pests of cultivated plants. These pests are usually controlled with chemical insecticides. During this process, however, beneficials are also exposed to pesticides. The development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs against aphids requires the evaluation of the effects of insecticides on beneficial insects. We evaluated the LD₅₀ of imidacloprid, acetamiprid, bifenthrin and deltamethrin on first, second, third and fourth instar larvae of C. septempunctata by topical application. Moreover, we studied their sublethal effects (LD₁₀) on the development, weight and prey consumption of fourth instar larvae. The topical application bioassays showed that deltamethrin and bifenthrin were highly toxic to all larval instars, whereas imidacloprid and acetamiprid were less toxic to fourth instar larvae. The LD₁₀ dose significantly affected, developmental time, adult weight and daily predation. These results show the importance of assessing potential effect of insecticides on C. septempunctata for developing effective IPM programs of aphids in Greece.     

Definition of the flight period of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) in stored tobacco

A 4-year (1996–99) survey of the biology of L. serricorne (F) (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) on stored tobacco has taken place in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. For the trapping of the adults, pheromone ('New Serrico' and 'Black Stripe Moth') as well as electric (black light) traps were used. The first generation adults emerging from larvae hibernating inside the tobacco bales appeared flying on the 17/5, 16/5, 28/4, and 30/4 of the years 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively. In parallel observations, adults inside the bales were found on the 14/5, 12/5, 23/4, and 26/4 of the above-mentioned years, respectively. Termination of flights, in all the years concerned, took place during October or November, while the last flights of November were recorded in temperatures of about 13°C.