Phenotypic and histological expression of different genetic backgrounds in interactions between lettuce, wild Lactuca spp., L. sativa × L. serriola hybrids and Bremia lactucae

Phenotypic and histological responses of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and wild relatives L. saligna, L.␣virosa as well as interspecific crosses derived from L. sativa × L. serriola to two races of Bremia lactucae (CS2, CS9) were investigated. With the exception of L. sativa genotypes, all accessions and hybrids expressed incomplete or complete resistance to both pathogen races, with slight differences at seedling and adult plant stages, respectively. Histological features of the interactions (development of pathogen infection structures and host hypersensitive response to attempted infection) were studied on leaf discs 48 h after inoculation. Interactions with similar phenotypic expression of resistance were characterized by significant variation in rate of development of pathogen infection structures and hypersensitive reactions. Differences found within eight Lactuca spp. accessions and hybrids challenged by two distinct pathogen races are interpreted and discussed.     

Assessment of Partial Resistance to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) in a Tetraploid Rose Population Using a Spore-suspension Inoculation Method

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) is the most important fungal disease in greenhouse roses and is in practice controlled by fungicides. The creation of novel cultivars with durable resistance to powdery mildew is highly desirable. To understand the inheritance of mildew resistance, a tetraploid rose population with a size of 181 seedlings was obtained by crossing two tetraploid genotypes each having partial resistance. The population and its parents were tested under greenhouse conditions with two well-defined monospore isolates (2 and F1) using artificial inoculation with spore suspensions. Disease score at 11 days post-inoculation, latent period and rate of symptom development were used to describe seedling resistance. The tests for both isolates exhibited a wide and significant variation among genotypes for resistance. The distribution of the genotypic means of the disease scores was continuous and showed a considerable transgression. Statistical analysis, scatter plot of disease scores for the isolates, and correlation analyses indicated that the two isolates differed in pathogenicity. The outcome of the tests showed that the inoculation assay with spore suspensions was a reliable and effective way to screen large numbers of genotypes under greenhouse conditions for genetic and breeding studies. This is the first report on spore-suspension inoculation to be used successfully in rose.     

An Aqueous Extract of the Dry Mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum Induces Resistance in Several Crops under Controlled and Field Conditions

We have examined the effect of Pen, an aqueous extract of the dry mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum, on plant–pathogen interactions. Pen controlled a broad range of pathogens on several crop plants under greenhouse and field conditions. Pen protected grapevine from downy and powdery mildew (caused by Plasmopara viticola and Uncinula necator), tomato from early blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans), onion from downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) and apple trees from apple scab (caused by Venturia inaequalis) to a similar extent as fungicides such as copper and sulphur or well-known inducers such as benzothiadiazole or β-aminobutyric acid. Pen had no major direct fungicidal effect and is thus supposed to protect plants by activating their defense mechanisms. The raw material for extraction of Pen was available in constant quality, a prerequisite for commercial application. Under certain conditions, Pen caused phytotoxic side effects. The symptoms mostly consisted of small necrotic spots or, more rarely, of larger necrotic areas. The development of the symptoms was dependent on several parameters, including concentration of Pen, the number of applications, the persistence on the plant tissue, the plant species and variety and environmental conditions. In grapevine, a partially purified fraction of Pen was much less toxic than the crude Pen extract, but protected the plants to a similar extent against P. viticola. Our data show that Pen has interesting and unique properties as a plant protection agent, but more research is needed to further reduce its phytotoxic side effects.     

Characterization of aryl acylamidase activity from propanil-resistant barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv.)

The enzyme, aryl acylamidase, was characterized in propanil-susceptible and propanil-resistant barnyardgrass with respect to kinetic parameters, the effects of inhibitors, and the levels of activity in dark- and light-grown tissues. The enzyme reaction in the resistant tissue preparation proceeded linearly with time over a 5 h time course, while activity in the susceptible tissue preparation was 2- to 4-fold lower and the activity tended to decrease after 2 h. The apparent K_m values were 62.1 mmol L⁻¹ and 3.1 mmol L⁻¹ for the enzyme activity in the susceptible and resistant tissue preparations, respectively. Two herbicides (anilofos and piperophos), previously shown to synergize propanil injury against the resistant biotype, were found to be potent inhibitors of the in vitro aryl acylamidase activity.     

A target-site mutation is present in a glyphosate-resistant Lolium rigidum population

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is the only weed species to have evolved resistance to the broad‐spectrum herbicide glyphosate in Australia. A population that had failed to be controlled by glyphosate was collected from a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Dose–response experiments on this population (SLR 77) showed that it was glyphosate resistant, with an LD₅₀ that was 1.9–3.4 times higher than that of a susceptible population (VLR 1). The movement of radiolabelled glyphosate within SLR 77 plants showed that this population did not have the differential glyphosate translocation mechanism of resistance common to several other Australian glyphosate‐resistant populations. Subsequent analysis of shikimic acid accumulation within the plant after glyphosate treatment showed that this population accumulated significantly less shikimic acid than a susceptible population, but more than a glyphosate‐resistant population with the translocation mechanism, indicating the possible involvement of another mechanism of resistance. Sequencing of a portion of the SLR 77 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene was carried out and a mutation causing an amino acid change at position 106 from proline to threonine was identified. This mutation is likely to be responsible for glyphosate resistance in this population, as mutations in this position have been found to be responsible for glyphosate resistance in goosegrass (Eleusine indica) from Malaysia. This paper represents the first report of target‐site glyphosate resistance in L. rigidum and provides evidence that this species has at least two mechanisms of glyphosate resistance present in Australia.     

Resistance in water yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivars in the French West Indies to anthracnose disease based on tissue culture-derived whole-plant assay

Reactions of 60 water yam ( Dioscorea alata ) cultivars to three isolates of the yam anthracnose fungal pathogen ( Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ) were evaluated using tissue culture-derived whole-plant assay. Three disease parameters: single score on a scale of 0–6 at the seventh day after inoculation (SD7); area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC); and disease progress rate ( R _d) were compared, and cultivars were classified into disease-response groups using a rank-sum method based on AUDPC scores for the two most virulent isolates. A wide range of variation in resistance of the D. alata cultivars, and significant effects of pathogen isolate and isolate–cultivar interactions, were observed for all disease parameters. The three disease parameters were positively correlated; however, four cultivars showed great dispersions from the regression lines for comparisons of SD7 with the multiple assessments based AUDPC and R _d. The 60 cultivars were separated into resistant ( n  = 12), moderately resistant ( n  = 19), moderately susceptible ( n  = 18) and susceptible ( n  = 11) groups. The potential of the tissue culture-derived whole-plant assay to resistance breeding programmes and further understanding of the yam anthracnose pathosystem is discussed.     

Isolation and Identification of Enterococcus faecalis from Fur-bearing Animals

In order to obtain Enterococcus faecalis from fur animals and evaluate its prebiotic properties,in this study,Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from the feces of healthy adult fur-bearing animals (mink,fox,raccoon dog),identified by morphological observation,biochemical test and 16S rRNA sequence analysis.The growth curve,acid production capacity and antibiotic sensitivity of the Enterococcus faecalis isolates were measured to evaluate their probiotic properties.Some strains were selected to determine their tolerance to temperature,artificial gastric juice and artificial bile salt.The results showed that five strains were Gram-positive,and their biochemical characteristics were basically consistent with the standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis,and they were identified as Enterococcus faecalis by 16S rRNA sequence analysis.The five strains all entered the logarithmic phase at 2 h after culture,and entered the stable phase at 8-10 h,and had weak acid production capacity.The resistance rate of the isolates to tetracycline and levofloxacin was 100%,followed by penicillin (80%),erythromycin (80%),gentamicin (80%) and chloramphenicol (40%).All the isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and vancomycin.Enterococcus faecalis from mink,fox and raccoon dog had strong tolerance to temperature below 60 ℃,artificial gastric juice with pH>3.0 and 0.3%-0.5% concentration of bile salt,but poor tolerance to temperature above 70 ℃,and artificial gastric juice with pH<3.0.In conclusion,five strains of Enterococcus faecalis from fur animals (mink,fox,raccoon dog) were obtained in this study.The isolated strains propagated rapidly,which were suitable for colonization and played a prebiotic role in fur animals' intestines,and had good prebiotic characteristics and stress resistance.They could be used as candidate strains for animal microbiological agents for further study.     

几种动物病原菌对替米考星耐药性的体外诱导

在测定替米考星对鸡毒支原体、多杀巴氏杆菌和猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的最小抑菌浓度基础上,采用药物浓度递增法体外诱导3种病原菌对替米考星的耐药性。结果鸡毒支原体经9次传代对替米考星产生了高水平耐药,多杀巴氏杆菌经7~9次传代对替米考星产生了高水平耐药,猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌经14次传代对替米考星的耐受浓度未发生明显变化;鸡毒支原体和多杀巴氏杆菌替米考星诱导耐药株对红霉素、阿奇霉素、泰乐菌素、吉他霉素和林可霉素表现交叉耐药。研究结果提示,替米考星较易诱导鸡毒支原体和多杀巴氏杆菌产生耐药性,兽医临床应合理应用。     

猪链球菌对红霉素耐药性的研究

从发病猪体内分离、鉴定猪链球菌，采用肉汤稀释法和纸片琼脂扩散法筛选对红霉素耐药的猪链球菌，用双纸片法确定耐药株的耐药表型，通过聚合酶链反应检测对红霉素耐药的基因ermb/mefA。猪链球菌对红霉素的耐药表型为cMLS表型，即同时对克林霉素耐药。在3株红霉素耐药株中扩增到ermb基因，其余未能检测到ermb或mefA基因。