Detection and typing of tomato yellow leaf curl viruses

The denomination Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) comprises several viruses that cause severe damage to tomato crops in warm and temperate regions worldwide. TYLCV viruses are widespread in the Mediterranean Basin, in which two species have been reported: Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, previously TYLCV-Is). The availability of methods convenient for the diagnosis of these viruses is essential. We have investigated several alternatives for reliable detection and differentiation of TYLCSV and TYLCV. Triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) proved to be very useful for large-scale diagnosis in field situations, but lacked discriminating capacity and sensitivity in the stages of infection in which low virus titre is present. The DNA-based methods are suited to laboratory operations and plant disease clinics, where accuracy of detection and discrimination of viruses is required. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) was the most reliable method to discriminate between TYLCSV and TYLCV, but is not suited to high sample turnover. For large-scale testing, tissue print hybridization assay provides a reliable and sensitive alternative to PCR.     

Construction of a cDNA library of Bemisia tabaci for use in the ''yeast two-hybrid screen'' method

Bemisia tabaci was reported for the first time in the Mediterranean part of Croatia in 2000. It was found in glasshouses in the agricultural area between the towns of Trogir and Omis, on the following crops: Euphorbia pulcherrima , Thunbergia grandiflora , Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Solanum melongena (aubergine), Phaseolus spp. (beans), Ficus carica (fig), Rubus spp. and several weeds of the families Asteraceae and Solanaceae . In 2001, monitoring for the pest was organized all over the country, in each of the 21 counties. In each county, there were several monitoring points so that all the major vegetable and flower producers were included. A special effort was made to record the spread of B. tabaci in the region where it was first found, bearing in mind that optimal conditions for outdoor spread exist along the Adriatic coast. Yellow sticky traps and visual inspection are used to monitor for B. tabaci . Eradication measures are being applied, and regulatory measures have been taken to prevent further spread of B. tabaci to continental parts of Croatia.     

Identification and characterization of Pepino mosaic potexvirus in tomato

At the beginning of 1999, a new virus disease occurred in protected tomato crops in The Netherlands. Initial diagnostic tests revealed the presence of a potexvirus but serological tests ruled out the presence of Potato X potexvirus (PVX). Tests for other potexviruses reported from solanaceous crops provisionally identified the virus as Pepino mosaic potexvirus (PepMV). The virus was purified, and an antiserum was produced, which showed strong reactions with both the type isolate of PepMV from pepino and two other isolates from tomato. Host range and symptomatology of the pepino and tomato isolates of PepMV revealed clear differences from PVX. However, differences were also observed between the pepino and tomato isolates of PepMV. Sequence alignment of DNA fragments of 584 bp derived from the RNA polymerase cistron showed almost 95% identity with the pepino isolate, whereas the identity with PVX appeared to be < 60%. Together, these results identified PepMV as the causal agent of the new virus disease in tomato. Based on the differences from the type isolate from pepino ( Solanum muricatum ), the isolates from tomato should be considered as a distinct strain of PepMV for which the name tomato strain is proposed.     

Genetic analyses of resistance of the wheat differential cultivars Carstens V and Spaldings Prolific to two races of Puccinia striiformis

Genetic analysis of resistance of wheat seedlings to two races of Puccinia striiformis was conducted on F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations from crosses Carstens V (CV) × Lee, Spaldings Prolific (SPA) × Lee and CV × SPA. F₂ generations from crosses of CV and SPA with Strubes Dickkopf (SD) were also studied. The plants were classified into six resistance classes and analysed by factorial correspondence analysis and nonhierarchical classification. The two P. striiformis isolates tested were a French isolate of race 43E138 and a Lebanese isolate of race 2E16, selected for the differences in their virulence spectra for the common differential cultivars Strubes Dickkopf and Nord Desprez. Resistance of CV and SPA was recessive and dominant to races 43E138 and 2E16, respectively. CV possessed three or four resistance genes, one of them being expressed with both races. Two genes of CV had a cumulative effect for resistance to 43E138 and two or three gave dominant resistance to 2E16. SPA had three resistance genes, all of which gave resistance to 2E16 and two of which also gave resistance to 43E138. SPA had one gene in common with CV for resistance to both races. Furthermore, the gene for resistance to race 2E16 in CV and SPA was allelic with a gene in SD, and was probably Yr25 .     

甘薯根腐病抗性在不同环境条件下的表现及遗传趋势

结果表明,甘薯根腐病发病轻重与环境条件有很大关系,表现为干旱少雨的年份发病较重,降雨量较多的年份发病较轻;土壤瘠薄的发病较重,肥力条件较好的则发病较轻;通常情况下,年份间品种的抗性表现较为一致,但遇特殊气候则年份间品种的抗性有一定的差异。对1150份甘薯品种资源及育种材料的根腐病抗性鉴定结果表明,高抗型材料占14.6％,抗病型占15.7％,感病型占26.0％,高感型占43.7％。对754份材料及亲本的抗性分析表明,不同的抗性组合后代中均可分离出高抗至高感类型的材料,杂交后代的抗性强弱随双亲抗性水平的提高而提高。中国自1970年以来采用品种间杂交和种间杂交育种技术,先后育成了一批高产、优质的高抗型优良品种。     

Integrated Pest Management in Cocoa Agroforests in Southern Cameroon: Constraints and Overview

Imports of pesticides have long been subsidised for use in the cocoa agroforests of the humid forest zone of southern Cameroon. With the liberalisation of the cocoa and pesticides sectors and the devaluation of the local currency (CFA franc), farmers are facing fluctuations in the price paid for cocoa and the high cost of farm inputs. Without the support of the extension services, they themselves have developed traditional integrated control methods based on the use of plant extracts mixed with conventional pesticides. From a survey of 300 cocoa farmers, the study assesses the farmers' command of these methods, the pests controlled, the problems encountered and the institutional constraints in the definition and dissemination of integrated control methods. The study concludes with recommendations for research and development towards the better definition and dissemination of integrated control methods. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Responding to Economic Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa: New Farmer-Developed Pest Management Strategies in Cocoa-Based Plantations in Southern Cameroon

Cocoa is a key or source of income and poverty reduction in the humid forest of Southern Cameroon. Cameroon like other African countries went through a major economic crisis in the early 1980s with a decline in international commodity prices and significant changes in macroeconomic policies. Structural adjustment reforms following the economic crisis led to removal of fertilizers and pesticides subsidies, cocoa price liberalization and the overall withdraw of Government interventions from the cocoa sub-sector. Cocoa input price increases have been compounded by the devaluation of the CFA Franc, which doubled the prices of the imported pesticides which were considered key to the control of cocoa pests. This overall economic shock led to changes in cocoa producer's production decisions as a response to minimize cost. Among the changes the use of alternatives to imported chemicals for cocoa pest control. Farmers responded to the high prices of pesticides by developing, from local botanical knowledge and pest management strategies, which include plant extracts and plant extracts mixed with pesticides at different proportions. This is a major decision given the importance of imported chemical in the cost of production of cocoa. Valuable indigenous knowledge from farmers could be used also as an effective support system for communicating and diffusing modern knowledge and technologies to farmers. The paper describes the farmer knowledge-based alternatives to chemical pesticides for pest control in cocoa fields as a response to high pest control costs. Pest management specialists are urged to take advantage of this shift in practice and assess their effectiveness for further use. Two sets of questions are posed: (1) were the conventional insecticides, with all their problems, really necessary? and (2) are the materials derived from locally grown plants effective pest management agents or are they, in some way, placebos?