Effect of air temperature, rain and drought on hot water weed control

The influence of rain and drought before, and air temperature during, weed control with hot water was studied in laboratory experiments on the test weed Sinapis alba (white mustard). The plants were grown in a greenhouse and treated outdoors. There was no difference in weed control effect when S. alba plants at the four‐leaf stage were treated at the air temperatures 7°C and 18^°C. The effective energy dose for a 90% fresh weight reduction was 465 kJ m^?2 for both air temperatures. Weed control of S. alba at the four‐ to six‐leaf stage in rainfall above the rainwater run‐off level increased the required effective energy dose by 20% (i.e. 120 kJ m^?2) compared with dry plants. A short period of drought just before treatment on S. alba at the two‐ to four‐leaf stage increased the plant fresh weight reduction, which was 22% at low energy dose (190 kJ m^?2) and 44% at high energy dose (360 kJ m^?2). Hot water weed control should thus be carried out when the plants are drought stressed and avoided when the plants are wet. The air temperature seems to be of little importance in the range 7–18^°C.     

Characterization of phytoplasmas detected in Chinaberry trees with symptoms of leaf yellowing and decline in Bolivia

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used to detect phytoplasmas in foliage samples from Chinaberry ( Melia azedarach ) trees displaying symptoms of yellowing, little leaf and dieback in Bolivia. A ribosomal coding nuclear DNA (rDNA) product (1·8 kb) was amplified from one or more samples from seven of 17 affected trees by PCR employing phytoplasma-universal rRNA primer pair P1/P7. When P1/P7 products were reamplified using nested rRNA primer pair R16F2n/R16R2, phytoplasmas were detected in at least one sample from 13 of 17 trees with symptoms. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of P1/P7 products indicated that trees CbY1 and CbY17 harboured Mexican periwinkle virescence (16SrXIII)-group and X-disease (16SrIII)-group phytoplasmas, respectively. Identification of two different phytoplasma types was supported by reamplification of P1/P7 products by nested PCR employing X-disease-group-specific rRNA primer pair R16mF2/WXint or stolbur-group-related primer pair fSTOL/rSTOL. These assays selectively amplified rDNA products of 1656 and 579 bp from nine and five trees with symptoms, respectively, of which two trees were coinfected with both phytoplasma types. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences revealed Chinaberry yellows phytoplasma strain CbY17 to be most similar to the chayote witches'-broom (ChWBIII-Ch10) agent, a previously classified 16SrIII-J subgroup phytoplasma. Strain CbY1 resembled the Mexican periwinkle virescence phytoplasma, a 16SrXIII-group member. The latter strain varied from all known phytoplasmas composing group 16SrXIII. On this basis, strain CbY1 was assigned to a new subgroup, 16SrXIII-C.     

Seasonal distribution of phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines

The distribution and persistence of phytoplasmas were determined in Australian grapevines. Phytoplasmas could be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from shoots, cordons, trunks and roots throughout the year, and phytoplasmas appear to persistently infect Australian grapevines from year to year. Phytoplasmas were not always detected in samples from the same sampling area from one sampling period to the next. Phytoplasma detection by PCR was improved by sampling from shoots, cordons and trunks, especially during October (early spring). The diseases expressed by the 20 grapevines used in the distribution and persistence studies were monitored. Australian grapevine yellows disease (AGY) was expressed by 17/20 grapevines at some time during the study, whilst only 4/20 and 15/20 grapevines expressed restricted growth disease (RG) and late season leaf curl disease (LSLC), respectively. All grapevines with RG and LSLC also had AGY. The three diseases were persistently expressed in some grapevines and remission of disease was observed in others. The results of PCR detection in the same grapevines indicated that phytoplasmas were more frequently detected in AGY-affected grapevines that also expressed RG and LSLC compared with grapevines expressing AGY alone. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomless plant material but less frequently compared with AGY-affected material.     

Purification and some properties of Papaya meleira virus, a novel virus infecting papayas in Brazil

'Meleira', or 'sticky disease', is currently the most damaging papaya disease in the mid-eastern Brazilian growing regions. Consistent disease transmission via latex injection, presence of similar isometric particles in the laticiferous vessels of diseased plants, and detection of double-stranded DNA in naturally and experimentally infected papaya trees suggest that a virus is the causal agent. Conclusive evidence for viral aetiology was previously lacking, mostly because every attempt to purify the putative virus from infected papayas had failed. Following the successful purification and partial characterization of the meleira virus, healthy papaya seedlings injected with purified virus particles later developed typical symptoms of the disease. Negatively stained, isometric, full and 'empty' purified virus particles measured 42 and 38 nm, respectively. The viral genome was a single dsRNA molecule of about 12 kbp. Several capsid proteins, ranging in size from 14·4 to 45 kDa, were consistently revealed by PAGE. Papaya meleira virus (PMeV) appears to represent a novel group of viruses, with no known similar counterpart among known plant-, vertebrate-, invertebrate- or prokaryote-infecting viruses.     

SSR-based genetic linkage analysis of resistance to crown rust (Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolii) in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

Crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolii) is a serious foliar disease of the pasture and turfgrass perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Previous genetic studies have detected both qualitative and quantitative resistance mechanisms, and interpretation of the genetic system is complicated by variation within the sexually reproducing pathogen. Resistant and susceptible parental genotypes of ryegrass were identified using a composite urediniospore population collected from three geographically distinct locations. A two-way pseudo-testcross mapping population was obtained as the F₁ progeny of the pair-cross between ryegrass parental genotypes Vedette₆ and Victorian₉. Both parents showed intermediate resistance against a pathogen population collected in a single geographical zone (Hamilton, Victoria), but in the F₁ population, significant variation for a range of resistance-associated characters was detected. Statistical analysis of phenotypic data suggested a major gene effect, hence bulked segregant analysis with map-assigned simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was used to scan the genome. A marker showing strong association with resistance was assigned to linkage group (LG) 2 of perennial ryegrass. Analysis of 11 LG2 SSR markers defined an interval between loci xlpssrh03f03 and xlpssrk02e02 as containing the gene or genes (LpPc1) conferring crown rust resistance. Resistance gene determinants were inherited from both parents, with up to 80% of the total phenotypic variation explained by markers segregating from Vedette₆ and up to 26% of the variation explained by markers segregating from Victorian₉. The two contributions together resulted in an additive increase in effect, with fully resistant individuals requiring determinants from both parents. A conserved syntenic relationship was observed with linkage group B of Avena strigosa, which is the location of a cluster of resistance genes to the oat form of crown rust. The implications of this study for marker-assisted selection of disease resistance in perennial ryegrass are discussed.     

Functional analysis of the 3′ end of avrBs3/pthA genes from two Xanthomonas species

The phytopathogens Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar (pv.) oryzae and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri each contain several avrBs3/pthA family genes. Structural features of these genes important for avirulence and/or virulence functions include a central region of multiple direct repeats and three nuclear localization signals (NLSs) and an acidic activation domain (AAD) at the 3′ end. To identify other regions critical to function in the 3′ ends of these genes, we constructed several chimeras using apl1 and apl2 from X. axonopodis pv. citri and avrXa10 and avrXa7 from X. oryzae pv. oryzae and evaluated their functions by inoculation to citrus and rice. The apl1 and avrXa7 genes are major virulence determinants in citrus and rice, respectively, while the contributions of apl2 and avrXa10 to virulence are negligible or not measurable. Constructs that contained a 417 bp HincII-SphI fragment from the 3′ end of apl1 in combination with the repeats from avrXa7, avrXa10, and apl1 caused a canker phenotype on citrus. Interchange of the HincII-SphI fragment between avrXa7 and avrXa10 abolishes avrXa7 avirulence function and reduces its virulence but it does not affect avrXa10 avirulence function in rice. avrXa7 caused a hypersensitive response (HR) in citrus and replacement of it's 3′ end with that of apl1 resulted in loss of canker and induction of HR. Thus, the HincII-SphI fragment of the avrBs3/pthA gene family is important for avirulence and virulence functions in two different plant species, Oryza sativa and Citrus natsudaidai HAYATA.     

Further suppression of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> disease in cucumber seedlings by chitosan-copper complex as compared with chitosan alone

Chitosan-copper complex compared with chitosan alone enhanced suppression ofBotrytis cinerea rot development on four-true-leaf cucumber seedlings in controlled growth chambers. This paper constitutes the first report of such enhancement. The optimal concentrations for the most effective suppression ofBotrytis development were 0.2 gl ⁻¹ chitosan and 1.6 mmole copper. After 12 days’ incubation, marked and significantly better disease suppression was obtained with chitosan-copper complex (75% suppression) than with chitosan alone. The chitosan-copper complex could be a very promising decay control agent for use in both conventional and organic agriculture. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 18, 2002.