Variation for pathogenicity among isolates of bean common mosaic virus in Africa and a reinterpretation of the genetic relationship between cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris and pathotypes of BCMV

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) isolates were collected from crops of Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) and from wild legume species in 13 African countries. Isolates of pathotype VIa from both beans and wild legume species were predominant in central, eastern and southern Africa. Isolates of pathotypes I, III, IVa, IVb and Va were also found. Some isolates did not conform to previously published pathotypes, and therefore represent records of novel pathotypes. The susceptibility of various wild legume species to BCMV was investigated and isolates of the virus obtained from Crotalaria incana, Rhynchosia sp., Macroptilium atropurpureum and Cassia occidentalis (synonym Senna occidentalis) were aphid-transmitted both from P. vulgaris to their original host species and to P. vulgaris. Isolates of BCMV from wild legume species were seed-transmitted in bean and in several other legume species. The natural occurrence of BCMV in wild legume species in Africa is probably a significant factor in the ecology and epidemiology of the virus and possibly the evolution of isolates of the 'A' serotype which induce necrotic reactions in cultivars carrying the I gene for resistance. The occurrence of viruses other than BCMV from P. vulgaris and other legume hosts is also reported. The gene-for-gene model described by Drijfhout (1978) is reinterpreted to explain the variation for pathogenicity, and it is proposed that there may be genes which control the temperature sensitivity of necrosis in combination with the I gene.     

The use of polymerase chain reaction to detect latent infection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in tomato seedlings

A method was developed for routine analysis to detect latent infection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in samples from tomato seedling lots, before transplant, using polymerase chain reaction. In samples of 300 stem segments 1 cm long, the sensitivity threshold of the method was estimated at around 1.1 × 10³ corynebacteria or 0.33% of latently infected stems. This method was shown to have a good specificity.     

Detection of Spongospora subterranea using monoclonal antibodies in ELISA

Five hybridoma cell lines secreting antibodies (MAbs) recognizing zoospores of S. subterranea were raised from splenocytes of mice. One MAb also weakly recognized plasmodia/zoosporangia and cystosori of S. subterranea , and another recognized only plasmodia/zoosporangia in plate-trapped antigen ELISA. Polymyxa graminis was recognized most strongly out of 26 micro-organisms other than S. subterranea against which the MAbs were tested. Most were recognized only weakly or not at all. The MAb that recognized zoospores of S. subterranea most strongly detected as few as three zoospores per microtitre plate well when 12 replicate wells per treatment were arranged randomly on plates and absorbance values subjected to analysis of variance. The sensitivity of detection was not improved by mixing antibodies, using a biotin-streptavidin amplification system, or by using a double antibody sandwich system. Zoospores of S. subterranea flushed from soil were detected only after unrealistically large numbers of cystosori had been added. They were not detected in samples of naturally infested soil removed from a field shortly after a severely scabbed potato crop had been harvested.     

The effect of timing of fungicide applications on control of frogeye leaf spot and grain yield of soybeans

Soybean cultivar Samsoy 1, and the breeding lines TGx 849-313D and TGx 996-26E, grown in a field with a heavy epidemic of frogeye leaf spot caused byCercospora sojina, were treated with double foliar applications of the fungicide benomyl. The treatments were made using four application schedules at six different growth stages, starting from V₃ (fully developed leaves, beginning with trifoliate nodes) to R₅ (beginning seed_, to determine the effect of the fungucide timing on frogeye leaf spot severity, soybean grain yield and grain quality. Generally, applications at R₁ (beginning bloom) and R₃ (beginning pod) significantly (P<-0.05) reduced disease severity in the 2 susceptible genotypes, Samsoy 1 and TGx 849-313D. Plot yields of these genotypes were also significantly greater than the untreated controls when the fungicide applications were made at R₁ and R₃. There was no significant difference in diseave severity or grain yield, between the untreated control and the different times of application, on the resistant genotype TGx 996-26E. Improved seed germination and lower levels of seed infection byC. sojina occurred for all fungicide timings in the susceptible genotypes. The results suggest that fungicide spraying initiated at R₁ and followed up at R₃ is most effective in frogeye leaf spot control and can also result in higher grain yields, than applications made earlier or later in the season. Control of frogeye leaf spot, however, is best achieved by growing resistant cultivars.     

Persistence and fitness of carbendazim- and dicarboximide-resistant isolates of Monilinia fructicola (Wint.) Honey in flowers, shoots and fruit of stone fruit

Flowers on detached peach shoots and ripe fruit were inoculated under controlled conditions in order to estimate the competitive ability of Monilinia fructicola isolates sensitive and resistant to carbendazim and dicarboximide fungicides. Isolates varied considerably, but there was no consistent relationship between carbendazim resistance and competitive ability; there was, however, evidence of reduced competitive ability in the single dicarboximide-resistant and the dual dicarboximide/high carbendazim-resistant isolate examined. The ability to produce conidia on twig cankers inoculated in late spring 1989 was retained under field conditions by all sensitive and resistant isolates for at least 1 year. Dicarboximide-resistant isolates produced fewer conidia than the carbendazim-resistant and sensitive isolates on cankers. The production of conidia on mummified fruit inoculated in February 1990 decreased in the field during the winter and the following spring, but some conidia were produced by all isolates. Measures of pathogenicity, virulence and fitness for all isolates were similar to the original values after survival for 1 year. The evidence presented in this paper supports field observations that carbendazim-resistant isolates are likely to persist permanently in the M. fructicola population, whereas dicarboximide-resistant isolates are more likely to decline unless fungicide selection pressure is maintained.     

Field validation of a decision support system for the control of pests and diseases in cereals in denmark

The decision in 1986, on an action plan to reduce pesticide use in Denmark by 50% led to increased research on the potential of reducing dosages. A decision support system (PC-Plant Protection), developed by The Danish Institute for Plant and Soil Science, implements this research. It combines a detailed use of threshold values to support decisions on treatment need, choice of pesticides and the appropriate dosage for actual problems in cereals. The pest and disease module within the system has been available commercially since 1993 and up to the end of April 1995, 2000 licences have been issued for its use at agricultural schools and by advisers and farmers. The recommendation model for pest and disease control has been validated in field trials since 1990. The validation has shown that the model is able to provide recommendations for the control of pests and diseases to a satisfactory level, without affecting farmers' gross margins. The model was able to adjust pesticide use to large yearly variations and the average amount of pesticides in the plots treated according to the model was well below that in the reference plots and in the commonly used strategies in Denmark.     

Rhizoctonia foliar blight of Rosmarinus officinalis

Symptoms of severe leaf blight observed on rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) at Bangalore, India, were demonstrated to be caused by Rhizoctonia solani (anamorph of Thanatephorus cucumeris ). This is thought to be the first recorded incidence of this pathogen causing disease on rosemary.     

Soil solarization in Greece

Soil solarization (SS) was tested in outdoor conditions in mid Greece by mulching wet soil with transparent polyethylene sheets to examine its effectiveness as a weed control treatment in maize and soybean planted as second season crops. Three or 4 weeks of solarization gave bet-ter weed control than preemergence herbicides and effectively controlled volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivum), Portulaca oleracea, Digitaria sanguinalis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spp. and other weeds. The weed control effects lasted for more than 4 months. In mulched soil the maximum temperature at 7.5 cm depth was generally 7–9°C warmer than in the unmulched soil. Polyethylene thicknesses of 0.015–0.030 mm were equally effective. Plants grown on solarized plots out yielded those on clean weeded hoe treatments. The weed flora present caused maize and soybean losses of 20–48%. These losses would economically justify the use of polyethylene mulches. Solarisation du sol en grece La solarisation du sol (SS) a été testée en conditions extérieures en Grèce centrale, en recouvrant le sol humide avec des feuilles de polyéthylene transparent pour examiner son efficacité comme traitement herbicide sur du ma'is et du soja plantés comme secondes culturesde la saison. Trois ou 4 semaines de solarisation ont donné une meilleure destruction des adventices que des herbicides de pré1evée et ont détruit efficacement les repousses de blé (Triticum aesti-vum), Portulaca oleracea, Digitaria sanguinalis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spp. et d'autres adventices. Les effets herbicides ont duré plus de 4 mois. Dans le sol couvert le maximum de témpérature à 7.5 cm de profondeur a été généale-ment de 7–9°C plus chaud qu'en sol nu. Des épaisseurs de polyéthylene de 0,015–0,030 mm ont é'té pareillement efficaces. Les plantes cul-tivées sur parcelles solarisées produisent autant que celles sur des sols tenus propres par binage. La flore adventice présente a entrainé des pertes de maïs et de soja de 20–48%. Ces pertes justi-fieraient économiquement l'utilisation de films de polyéthylène. Boden-Solarisation in Griechenland In Mittelgriechenland wurde die Solarisation feuchten Bodens, überdeckt mil transparenter Polyethylenfolie, auf ihre Wirksamkeit zur Unk-rautbekämpfung in Mais und Sojabohnen als 2. Kultur der Vegetationsperiode untersucht. Mit 3 oder 4 Wochen Solarisation ließen sich Weizenaufschlag (Triticum aestivum), Portulaca oleracea, Digitaria sanguinalis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spp. und andere Unkräuter besser als mil Vorauflauf-Herbiziden bekämpfen. Die Wirkung hielt > 4 Monate an. Bei der Solarisa-tion lag die Bodentemperature in 7,5 cm Tiefe um 7.9°C höher als bei offenem Boden. Folien von 0,015.0,030 mm Stärke waren gleich wirk-sam. Der Ertrag lag in den solarisierten Parzellen über dem gehackter Parzellen. In den unbehan-delten Parzellen ging der Ertrag um 20.48% zurück, so daß die Solarisation unter Polyethylenfolie ein wirtschaftliches Verfahren ist.     

Spiramycin, oxytetracycline and sulphamonomethoxine contents of eggs and egg-forming tissues of laying hens

Spiramycin (SP), oxytetracycline (OTC) or sulphamonomethoxine (SMM) was fed to laying hens at a dietary level of 400 p.p.m. for 7 successive days. After 7 days of medicated feed, the concentrations of SP, OTC and SMM were determined in the blood, liver, ovary, oviducts (magnum and isthmus plus shell gland) and eggs (albumen and yolk) by high-performance liquid chromatography. Of the three drugs, OTC showed the lowest content in the above tissues and eggs, while the reverse was true for SMM. Low concentrations of SP were measured in the blood, whereas contents in the liver and the oviducts were relatively much higher.