Nine Cases of Idiopathic Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Cattle in Israel

Nine sporadic cases of apparent toxic epidermal necrolysis in nine cattle herds in Israel are presented. The clinical symptoms were characterized by full-thickness epidermal exfoliation. No underlying disease or drug administration could be detected in the affected animals, and so all cases were classified as idiopathic. Recovery was noted in all affected animals. The clinical and histological findings are discussed in the light of the pertinent literature.     

The presence of Rickettsia is associated with increased susceptibility of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to insecticides

BACKGROUND: The presence of certain symbiotic microorganisms may be associated with insecticide resistance in insects. The authors compared the susceptibility of two isofemale lines, Rickettsia-plus and Rickettsia-free, of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to major insecticides from different chemical groups, including imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, pyriproxyfen, spiromesifen and diafenthiuron. RESULTS: While the Rickettsia-plus and Rickettsia-free lines showed no differences in their susceptibility to imidacloprid and diafenthiuron, higher susceptibility of the Rickettsia-plus line to acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, spiromesifen and especially pyriproxyfen was observed. LC(90) values indicated that the Rickettsia-free line was 15-fold more resistant to pyriproxyfen than the Rickettsia-plus line. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that the infection status of B. tabaci populations by Rickettsia is an important consideration that should be taken into account when performing resistance monitoring studies, and may help in understanding the dynamics of B. tabaci resistance, symbiont-pest associations in agricultural systems and the biological impact of Rickettsia on whitefly biology.     

Improved selective media for isolation ofTrichoderma spp. orFusarium spp.

Modifications were made to improve theTrichoderma selective medium (TSM). TSM supplemented with benomyl was efficient for isolatingFusarium spp. from soil; and TSM supplemented with captan was a specific selective medium forTrichoderma spp., even in the presence ofFusarium in the soil.     

Effects of air temperature,relative humidity and canopy wetness on gray mold of cucumbers in unheated greenhouses

Microclimatic variables were monitored in cucumber crops grown in polyethylene-covered, unheated greenhouses in Israel during the winter of 1987/88. The winter was characterized by a relatively large number of rainy days. The relative humidity (RH) in the greenhouses was high (>97%) during most of the day, resulting in long periods of dew persistence. Dew point temperature and duration of dew deposition were calculated for the plant canopy. Disease incidence was monitored in 2-m-high plants, both on senescing female flowers (‘fruits’) and on stems. Multiple linear correlations were calculated for gray mold incidence and duration of air temperature and RH at specific ranges, and of leaf wetness (LW). Disease was characterized by two stages, according to the rate of its development and the microclimatic conditions influencing it. In the first phase of the epidemic a high correlation was found between infected fruits and air temperature in the range of 11–25°C, and RH in the range of 97–100% or LW. In the second phase, disease incidence was better correlated with air temperature in the range of 11–16°C and RH above 85% (R² = 0.681); there was no correlation between disease and LW at this stage. Development of stem infections was correlated with air temperature in the range of 11–16°C during the first phase of the epidemic. By contrast, the second phase was characterized by a close correlation between stem infections and RH in the range of 80–100% but also with air temperature in the range of 11–16°C, or with air temperature in the range of 11–25°C and RH 80–100%, and LW.     

Botrytis cinerea in greenhouse vegetables: chemical,cultural, physiological and biological controls and their integration

Botrytis cinerea is an ubiquitous pathogen which causes severe losses in many fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops. The pathogen infects leaves, stems, flowers and fruits. The complexity of diseases caused by B. cinerea in greenhouses makes this pathogen one of the most important diseases of vegetable crops in greenhouse in many countries. In general, epidemics occur in cool and humid conditions, which favour infection and may also predispose the host to become susceptible. High relative humidity in the greenhouse and free moisture on plant surfaces are considered the most important environmental factors which influence infection by B. cinerea. In this review we specify the factors affecting the development of diseases incited by B. cinerea and discuss different approaches for its suppression. Chemical and non-chemical controls are outlined and their integration is discussed. Finally, achievements, gaps in knowledge, and future needs are indicated. The most common means for disease management is by application of chemical fungicides. Both spraying of fungicides and application of fungicides directly to sporulating wounds is practiced. However, high activity of several fungicides is being lost, at least in part, due to the development of resistance. As fungicides still remain an important tool for control of epidemics caused by B. cinerea, it is important to monitor populations of the pathogen for their resistance towards potential fungicides. Cultural measures can be a powerful means to suppress plant diseases in greenhouses where the value of crops is high and the farmers make considerable efforts during long cropping seasons. Such measures are usually aimed at altering the microclimate in the canopy and around susceptible plant organs, prevention of inoculum entrance into the greenhouse and its build up, and, rendering the host plants less susceptible to diseases. Calcium loading of plant tissues and alteration of nitrogen fertilization reduce susceptibility to Botrytis. Cultivars resistant to B. cinerea are not available. Another alternative methods to control B. cinerea is by means of biological control agents. At least one preparation is already available in the market and in many cases it was as effective as the conventional fungicides. A decision support system was recently developed for integration of chemical and biological controls. Adaquate suppression of B. cinerea diseases in greenhouse crops is an attainable goal. In our opinion this goal can be reached by considering the ecology of the pathosystem in its broader sense and by integration of all possible control measures. This implies optimization of plant nutrition, microlimate and control (cultural, biological, physiological and, if necessary, chemical) measures. Moreover, Botrytis management must be incorporated in a more holistic system that is compatible with insect control, crop production systems and profitability of the crop.     

The Role of Trichoderma harzianum Protease in the Biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea

The role of protease of Trichoderma harzianum in the biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea was examined. Two isolates of T. harzianum were compared for their ability to produce protease in liquid culture medium and on the surface of bean leaves. The biocontrol agent T. harziaum T39 produced 58mU/ml of protease and T. harzianum NCIM1185 produced 54mU/ml on the 5th day of growth in liquid culture medium. On bean leaves, combinations of B. cinerea and T. harzianum isolates were examined for the synthesis of protease. The protease activities were 0.9 and 0.6mU/ml for T. harzianum T39 and NCIM1185, respectively, and 0.5mU/ml for B. cinerea alone after 48h of incubation. In the presence of T. harzianum T39 culture liquid containing protease, a 55% reduction in B. cinerea germination and a 80% reduction in the germ tube length were observed after 17h of incubation in vitro. When T. harzianum isolates were added to B. cinerea on bean leaves, increased synthesis of protease was observed (1.0 and 1.2mU/ml for T39 and NCIM1185, respectively). In the presence of T. harzianum NCIM1185 protease, although the rate of germination was reduced, B. cinerea attained 98% germination after 17h of incubation. The hydrolytic enzymes produced by B. cinerea, endo-polygalacturonase (PG) and exoPG were partially deactivated by protease from the T. harzianum isolates. Carboxymethyl cellulase was deactivated only by protease of NCIM1185. On the surface of bean leaves, the protease (obtained from liquid culture medium of T. harzianum isolates) resulted in 56–100% reduction of disease severity. The culture liquid containing protease synthesized on the surface of bean leaves treated with B. cinerea and with T. harzianum was collected and added to fresh leaves infected by B. cinerea. There was 56–100% and 30–75% reduction of disease severity with liquid droplet collected from the leaves treated with T. harzianum T39 and NCIM1185, respectively. Increased control of disease was obtained by combining the conidia of T. harzianum isolates with protease obtained from culture media. Protease inhibitors, trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane (E64), antipain hydrochloride, and a mixture of inhibitors, but not pepstatin A, fully or partially nullified the biocontrol effect of T39. T39 was found to be a poor producer of chitinase and -1,3-glucanase in vitro. These enzymes were not detected on leaves treated with T39. Involvement of protease in biocontrol of B. cinerea is suggested.     

Honey bee dispersal of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum T39: effectiveness in suppressing Botrytis cinerea on strawberry under field conditions

Botrytis cinerea, which causes grey mould, is a major pathogen of many crops. On strawberry, isolates of Trichoderma spp. can effectively control B. cinerea, but frequent application is necessary. Bees can be used to disseminate biological control agents to the target crop. We tested the ability of honey bees to disseminate Trichoderma harzianum T39 to control B. cinerea in strawberry in the field during the winter in Israel over two consecutive seasons. We used the recently developed ‘Triwaks’ dispenser for loading the bees with the T. harzianum inoculum. During both years, grey mould developed in late January in untreated control plots; at low to medium disease levels it was partially controlled by fungicide treatment, and was best controlled in bee-visited plots. At high disease levels neither chemical nor biological control was effective. To assess the spatial distribution of inoculum by bees, we sampled flowers up to 200 m from the hives and found effective levels of T. harzianum even at 200 m. The approach used in this study provides an effective control of grey mould in strawberry in conditions of low to medium grey mould incidence.