Detection of potato virus Y in early-harvested potato tubers by cDNA hybridization and three modifications of ELISA1

The standard ELISA method for detection of PVY in dormant potato tubers was compared with recently developed methods: (1) a hybridization technique, using a complementary DNA-probe to PVY^N; (2) three modifications of ELISA (standard monoclonal, Flegg & Clark polyclonal or monoclonal). Sap of six Dutch cultivars secondarily infected with PVY was subjected to these methods directly after lifting and after six subsequent one-week intervals during storage at 20°C. During storage the detectability of PVY decreased, irrespective of the diagnostic method applied. However, decrease was less in susceptible than in resistant cultivars. Although the hybridization technique yielded slightly better results than the standard ELISA procedure, it was time-consuming and involved hazardous reagents. The modifications of ELISA investigated were not, in general, more sensitive than standard ELISA.     

Induced resistance in host mixtures and its effect on disease control in computer-simulated epidemics

The epidemic simulator EPIMUL was modified and used to study how induced resistance affected the development of epidemics in host mixtures. In the model, induced resistance resulted from the interaction of host tissue with avirulent spores and caused a reduction in the efficacy of virulent spores deposited afterwards. We denned three parameters to describe induced resistance: the level of protection, defined as the magnitude of reduction in the virulent spore efficacy for infecting host tissue; the host surface area protected by an interaction with one avirulent spore; and the duration of protection of the host tissue, in days. In our simulations, induced resistance slowed the epidemics and gave better disease control in the mixtures, even if protection lasted for only 2 days. The disease reduction in the mixture attributable to induced resistance was approximately proportional to the level of protection. The effect of induced resistance increased as the protected area increased. Epidemics were virtually unaffected by induced resistance restricted to the infection site, but the effect of induced resistance initially increased rapidly as larger areas were protected. There was little further gain as the protected area increased from 2·6% to 26%. The influence of induced resistance was reduced when the interactions between virulent and avirulent pathogens were reduced.     

Biological control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Fungi known to produce lytic enzymes were used in an attempt to control wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). Some of the fungal species (Penicillium oxalicum, Penicillium purpurogenum and Aspergillus nidulans) damaged hyphae of FOL in vitro and reduced the numbers of microconidia in the soil. Treatments with fungi did not result in a reduction in either chlamydospores of FOL in soil or populations of FOL in the rhizosphere of tomato. P. oxalicum was the most effective agent of biocontrol, and it reduced disease severity in both non-autoclaved (20% decrease) and sterile soil. In sterile soil, P. oxalicum reduced disease with different levels of severity (27% decrease at high levels and 50% decrease at low levels). Disease control by A. nidulans and P purpurogenum was only achieved when disease severity was low in sterile soil (55% and 45%, respectively).     

Biological diversity of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates in Spain

A survey of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates was carried out in most citrus-growing areas in Spain. Twenty-two isolates were selected by geographical origin, cultivar of source tree, and symptoms observed on the host or in preliminary tests, and were biologically characterized.
A wide range of variation in transmissibility by aphids and symptom intensity on nine different indicator species or scion-rootstock combinations was observed among CTV isolates. Mexican lime. Citrus macrophylla , and to a lesser extent citron were the most useful hosts for characterizing these isolates, and leaf symptoms and stem pitting were the most discriminating traits. Positive correlation was observed between symptoms induced on Mexican lime and C. macrophylla , but not between the symptoms induced on these indicators under greenhouse conditions and the homologous symptoms on plants grown in the screenhouse. Some of the traits studied enabled us to establish relatively well-defined groups of isolates, but in most cases a continuous range of variation was obtained and no clear group could be defined.     

Windborne spread of ergot disease (Claviceps africana) in sorghum A-lines in Zimbabwe

Ergot disease spread rapidly in Zimbabwe amongst replicated plots of male-sterile sorghum A-lines, from a group of centrally situated and precociously inoculated plants. Prominent secondary conidiation by the pathogen, Claviceps africana , on the surface of exuded honeydew provided airborne spores which were trapped in a Burkard continuous spore trap and showed diurnal peaks of concentration in air close to the primary source of inoculum. The rate of disease spread ( r =0·2; range 0·14–0·58) closely matched that recorded for other plant pathogens such as Phytophthora infestans and Puccinia graminis tritici , and it is concluded that the characteristic secondary conidia of C. africana were the principal epidemiological agents within the experimental area. Ergot spread by windborne secondary conidia has significant epidemiological and economic implications for sorghum hybrid breeding in southern Africa.     

Racial diversity and complexity in regional populations of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei in France over a 5-year period

The evolution of race patterns in three French regional populations of the barley powdery mildew pathogen Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei over a 5-year period showed rapid adaptation to newly introduced host resistance genes. In all three regions, the main change consisted of the replacement of initially abundant races by pathotypes differing markedly from them by their virulence gene combinations. This explained the increase in diversity during the first 3 years of the survey, when the second group of pathotypes became more common in the populations, and its subsequent decrease due to the decline of the first group of races. The mean number of virulence genes per isolate did not vary noticeably over time in the three populations, remaining at about four out of 12 genes tested. However, the distribution of the isolates into virulence complexity classes was greatly modified, fitting a binomial distribution by the end of the study, although significant deviations were apparent in the first 2 years (1986 and 1987). The data indicate that selection, migration and recombination are the most important factors shaping race structure and evolution in powdery mildew populations, and that mutation is of limited significance. No convincing evidence was obtained for the existence of stabilizing selection sensu Vanderplank as the mechanism limiting virulence complexity. Implications regarding spatial and temporal deployment of race-specific resistance genes to control powdery mildew are discussed.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC QUANTIFICATION OF CANINE ADRENAL GLAND VOLUME AND ATTENUATION

We conducted a retrospective study in presumed normal dogs to determine the adrenal gland attenuation and volume values. Multidetector computer tomography (MDCT 16) analysis of the gland was carried out in 48 adult dogs without evidence of adrenal gland disease that underwent CT examination for acute spinal injuries. The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the left adrenal gland was 36.0 +/- 5.3 HU (range: 22.0-42.0 HU). The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the right gland was 34.3 +/- 7.0 HU (range: 20.4-48.6HU). The mean enhanced attenuation value +/- SD were: left gland 101.5 +/- 10.6HU (range: 86.8-128.0 HU), and right gland 97.4 +/- 12.4 HU (range: 58.9-123.6 HU). The mean CT volume +/- SD were: left gland was 0.60 cm3 (range: 0.20-0.95; SD 0.17), and right gland (0.55cm3, range: 0.22-1.01; SD 0.19). Attenuation values and volume data were related to age, weight, and gender, using ANOVA. There was no statistically significant difference between the left and right side or in adrenal measurements, because of body weight class effects. The animal effect was the most important source of variation for all adrenal measurements. Based on our study, CT is an effective method for assessing adrenal characteristics in the dog. Normative CT data are provided to allow estimation of normal adrenal gland size and volume.     

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE VALUES IN WHIPPETS

The aim of the study was to establish reference echocardiographic values for whippets, to compare these values with previously published reference values for the general dog population, and to determine whether there is an influence of gender and breeding lines on echocardiographic measurements. Echocardiographic parameters from 105 apparently healthy whippets without cardiac symptoms were used to establish reference values for the breed and to compare these values with two previously reported reference ranges. The coefficients of the allometric equation Y= aM(b), useful to reconstruct normal M-mode and two-dimensional average values for whippets of varying weights, were calculated, as well as the lower and upper limits of the 95% prediction interval. First, we found that whippets have a significantly larger left ventricular diameter, increased left ventricular wall, and interventricular septum thickness than expected, in diastole as well as in systole. Fractional shortening was significantly lower than the reference value. Second, comparing males and females, taking body weight differences into account, females had a significantly larger left ventricular diameter in diastole and systole. Minor differences were found between racing and show pedigree dogs. In conclusion, the results of this study confirm that breed-specific reference values are needed in echocardiography. In whippets, the values found in this study can be used as references in order to avoid overinterpretation of cardiac dilation, hypertrophy, and/or decreased contractility in these dogs.     

DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ESTIMATION OF RENAL AND OCULAR RESISTIVE AND PULSATILITY INDICES IN NORMAL DOGS AND CATS

Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are indirect measurements of blood flow resistance that may be used to evaluate vascular changes in renal and ophthalmologic diseases. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal and ocular PI index in the unsedated dog and ocular RI and PI indices in the unsedated cat. The purpose of this study was to measure normal values for both intrarenal and ocular RI and PI within the same subject in unsedated clinically normal dogs and cats. Twenty-seven dogs and 10 cats were considered healthy by means of physical examination, CBC, biochemical profile, urinalysis, and ultrasonography. Systolic blood pressure was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. Intrarenal and ocular arteries were scanned by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography to calculate RI and PI. No significant differences were noted between the values obtained for the right vs. the left kidney and eye. The upper values of these indices were calculated as mean+2 standard deviations resulting in 0.72 and 1.52 for dog renal RI and PI; 0.7 and 1.29 for cat renal RI and PI; 0.76 and 1.68 for dog ocular RI and PI; and 0.72 and 1.02 for cat ocular RI and PI.