An Asian ambrosia beetle Euwallacea fornicatus and its novel symbiotic fungus Fusarium sp. pose a serious threat to the Israeli avocado industry

The ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff, was first recorded in Israel in 2009. The symbiotic fungus Fusarium sp., carried in mycacangia located in the anterior region of the female head, is responsible for the typical wilt symptoms inflicted on avocado (Persea americana Miller) trees. The beetle?Cfungus complex has become a serious threat to the future of the avocado industry in Israel.     

An outbreak of pine lappet moth, Kunugia latipennis, in mid-altitude hills of Meghalaya state, India

The pine lappet moth, Kunugia latipennis Walker (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), is the major insect pest of pines found in the northeastern hilly region of India. Recently, an outbreak of lappet moths was observed in the mid-altitude hills of Meghalaya during May?CJune 2011. In this report, attempts are made to describe a recent outbreak of K. latipennis in the region. Females were found to be highly fecund and have the potential to cause severe damage to the pine forest. Incubation and pupal period were found to be 8?±?0.2?days and 16.1?±?0.3?days, respectively. However, many natural regulatory factors were observed during the course of time, which had substantial impact on their survival: these include mainly extreme weather fluctuations and natural enemies. Moths were found to be positively phototrophic; therefore, light traps could be the best option to manage the outbreak.     

Genetic Change Within Populations of Phytophthora infestans in the United States and Canada During 1994 to 1996: Role of Migration and Recombination

ABSTRACT Dramatic changes occurred within populations of Phytophthora infestans in the United States and Canada from 1994 through 1996. Occurrence of the US-8 genotype, detected rarely during 1992 and 1993, increased rapidly and predominated in most regions during 1994 through 1996. US-7, which infected both potato and tomato and made up almost 50% of the sample during 1993, was detected only rarely among 330 isolates from the United States analyzed during 1994. It was not detected at all in more limited samples from 1996. Thus, ability to infect both potato and tomato apparently did not increase the fitness of this genotype relative to US-8, as predicted previously. US-1, the previously dominant genotype throughout the United States and Canada, made up 8% or less of the samples analyzed during 1994 through 1996. A few additional genotypes were detected, which could indicate the beginnings of sexual reproduction of P. infestans within the United States and Canada. However, clonal reproduction still predominated in all locations sampled; opportunities for sexual reproduction probably were limited, because the A1 and A2 mating types usually were separated geographically. The high sensitivity of the US-1 genotype to the fungicide metalaxyl also could have reduced opportunities for contact between the mating types in fields where this compound was applied. The previous correlation between metalaxyl sensitivity and genotype was confirmed and extended to a new genotype, US-17: all US-1 isolates tested were sensitive; all isolates of the US-7, US-8, and US-17 genotypes tested to date have been resistant. Isolates of P. capsici and P. erythroseptica, two other species often found on tomato and potato, could be easily distinguished from each other and from P. infestans using a simple allozyme assay for the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. This technique could be useful for rapid identification of species, in addition to genotype of P. infestans. It generally was not possible to predict which genotypes would be present in a location from 1 year to the next. Long-distance movement of US-8 in seed tubers was documented, and this was probably the primary means for the rapid spread of this genotype from 1993 through 1996.     

Identification of Tomato Leaf Factors that Activate Toxin Gene Expression in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000

ABSTRACT Coronatine is a non-host-specific chlorosis-inducing phytotoxin produced by the tomato and crucifer pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. How the chromosomal gene cluster controlling toxin synthesis in this strain is regulated in planta is unknown. Ice nucleation-active cor:inaZ marker-exchange derivatives of strain DC3000 were used to determine coronatine gene expression in various host and nonhost plants and in a minimal medium supplemented with selected tomato plant constituents. Ice nucleation activity, which was first detected 4 h after inoculation, was highest in cabbage, tomato, and soybean and lowest in melon and cucumber. No correlation existed between bacterial population size and expression level on the various plants. Crude tomato leaf extract and intercellular fluid were strong inducers of toxin synthesis. Based on high-performance liquid chromatography analyses and bioassays, we concluded that the active components of both preparations were malic and citric acids, with minor contributions coming from shikimic and quinic acid. Although several compounds including glucose and inositol activated the toxin genes when tested at high concentrations (3 to 5 mM), shikimic and quinic acids were the only ones with activity at concentrations below 0.1 mM. Neither acid could be used as a sole carbon source by strain DC3000. The signal activity of shikimic acid was enhanced 10-fold by the addition of glucose. None of the plant phenolics that we screened affected coronatine gene expression.     

Comparison of phytoplasmas infecting winter oilseed rape in the Czech Republic with Italian Brassica phytoplasmas and their relationship to the aster yellows group

Winter oilseed rape grown in several areas in South Bohemia showed symptoms of stunting, leaf reddening and extensive malformation of floral parts. Phytoplasmas were consistently observed by using electron microscopy only in phloem tissue of symptomatic plants. DNA isolated from infected and healthy control plants was used in PCR experiments. Primer pairs R16F2/R2, P1/P7 and rpF2/R2, amplifying, respectively, 16S rDNA, 16S rDNA plus spacer region and the beginning of the 23S and ribosomal protein gene L22 specific for phytoplasmas, were used. According to RFLP and sequence analyses of PCR products, the phytoplasma from rape was classified in the aster yellows phytoplasma group, subgroup 16SrI-B. The PCR products from the Czech phytoplasma-infected rape also had RFLP profiles identical to those of phytoplasma strains from Italian Brassica . This first molecular characterization of phytoplasmas infecting rape compared with strains from Brassica does not, however, clearly indicate differences among isolates of the same 16SrI-B subgroup. Further studies on other chromosomal DNA portions could help the research on host specificity or on geographical distribution of these phytoplasmas.     

Sporulation of Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) on oilseed rape (Brassica napus) leaves inoculated with ascospores or conidia at different temperatures and wetness durations

In controlled environment experiments, sporulation of Pyrenopeziza brassicae was observed on leaves of oilseed rape inoculated with ascospores or conidia at temperatures from 8 to 20°C at all leaf wetness durations from 6 to 72 h, except after 6 h leaf wetness duration at 8°C. The shortest times from inoculation to first observed sporulation ( l ₀), for both ascospore and conidial inoculum, were 11–12 days at 16°C after 48 h wetness duration. For both ascospore and conidial inoculum (48 h wetness duration), the number of conidia produced per cm² leaf area with sporulation was seven to eight times less at 20°C than at 8, 12 or 16°C. Values of Gompertz parameters c (maximum percentage leaf area with sporulation), r (maximum rate of increase in percentage leaf area with sporulation) and l ₃₇ (days from inoculation to 37% of maximum sporulation), estimated by fitting the equation to the observed data, were linearly related to values predicted by inserting temperature and wetness duration treatment values into existing equations. The observed data were fitted better by logistic equations than by Gompertz equations (which overestimated at low temperatures). For both ascospore and conidial inoculum, the latent period derived from the logistic equation (days from inoculation to 50% of maximum sporulation, l ₅₀) of P. brassicae was generally shortest at 16°C, and increased as temperature increased to 20°C or decreased to 8°C. Minimum numbers of spores needed to produce sporulation on leaves were ≈25 ascospores per leaf and ≈700 conidia per leaf, at 16°C after 48 h leaf wetness duration.     

Bioassay evaluation of the systemic properties of carboxin in lemon seedlings

Carboxin was toxic to the fungus Deuterophoma tracheiphila. Uptake and translocation of carboxin (2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-5-phenylcarbamoyl-1,4-oxathiin) in lemon seedlings were assessed in plant extracts by a bioassay technique. Root uptake and translocation to stem and leaves were demonstrated from both an aqueous solution and drenched soil. Leaf uptake was lower than root uptake, and could be enhanced by removing the epicuticular wax. Chromatographic tests suggested that the compound responsible for fungitoxicity within plant tissues may have been carboxin itself.     

Biological Control of Bipolaris sorokiniana on Tall Fescue by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Strain C3

ABSTRACT Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain C3 was evaluated for control of leaf spot on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana. In growth chamber experiments, C3 inhibited conidial germination on leaf surfaces and reduced lesion frequency and percent diseased leaf area compared with nontreated controls. The amount of leaf spot suppression was related to the C3 dose applied. The highest dose tested, 10(9) CFU/ml, prevented nearly all B. sorokiniana conidia from germinating on treated leaf surfaces and provided nearly complete suppression of lesion development. When colloidal chitin was added to C3 cell suspensions of 10(7) or 10(8) CFU/ml, biocontrol efficacy was significantly increased over C3 applied alone, whereas addition of chitin to a C3 cell suspension of 10(9) CFU/ml had no effect. In field experiments, application of C3 to tall fescue turf resulted in significant reductions in infection frequency and disease severity compared with nontreated controls. Strain C3 applied at 10(9) CFU/ml was more effective than C3 applied at 10(7) CFU/ml, and amendment of the lower dose with colloidal chitin enhanced its efficacy. Populations sizes of C3 established on foliage in a growth chamber and in the field were directly related to dose applied. Chitin amendments did not affect C3 population size.     

Nerine latent virus: some properties and serological detectability in Nerine bowdenii

Nerine latent virus (NeLV), first found inNerine bowdenii, may occur also in the otherNerine species investigated so far:N. sarniensis, N. flexuosa Alba, andN. Mansellii. Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, andGomphrena globosa sometimes reacted with local lesions after mechanical inoculation with NeLV.Nicotiana clevelandii andHippeastrum were symptomless hosts. In this respect NeLV resembled the incompletely describedHippeastrum latent virus (HLV).Serologically NeLV was closely related to HLV and to carnation latent virus (CaLV), but differed from the latter in host plant reaction. A more distant relationship was observed with some other carlaviruses, wheareas NeLV also reacted with an antiserum to potato virus X.Depending on the lot, NeLV could be detected rather reliably with the micro-precipitin test inN. bowdenii Van Roon, but less well in 63. Better results were obtained with the microplate method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The average particle length was 664 nm, the sedimentation coefficient 155 S and the buoyant density 1.298 g/cm³.NeLV can be considered as a member of the carlavirus group. On basis of priority HLV may be considered as NeLV.     

Scanning electron microscopy of Setaria labiatopapillosa (Alessandrini, 1848) from cattle of Kazakhstan.

Surface structures of males and females of Setaria labiatopapillosa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy at high magnification. It was found that the surface of buccal cavity, lateral appendages, vulva, anus and cloaca differs from the remaining cuticle. The shape of internal and external mouth papillae, amphids, deirids, postdeirid and phasmidial pore was studied. On the surface of the postdeirid are four small papillae arranged in a typical manner around the depression from which projects a needle-like formation. The ventral bands are formed by fine longitudinal parallel folds of the cuticle. Some anomalies in the localization of postcloacal papillae were observed.