Interactions between hormonal and developmental signalling in the prevention of side-shoots in rose (Rosa hybrida L.)

Summary

This study investigated the effects of auxin sprays on the development of side-shoots in rose (Rosa hybrida L.). The rationale was to prevent or to minimise side-shoot development in a commercially acceptable rose cultivar. Equallyspaced doses (at 0, 15, 30, 45 or 60 mg l^–1) of -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were applied at the equivalent of 100 l ha^–1 to roses grown on an inert substrate in a commercial greenhouse, via repeated foliar sprays at 2, 4, or 8 d intervals over 7 weeks. Unattended or hand-pinched plants were used as negative or positive controls, respectively.The interaction between auxin dose and spray interval had a significant (P ≤ 0.001) influence on the number and growth rate of side-shoots on a stem. All auxin doses tested completely prevented side-shoot development on rose stems at a 2 d spray interval. This high efficacy was attributed to prevention of the irreversible phase-change in the regulation of apical dominance. However, the interaction between auxin dose and spray interval significantly (P ≤ 0.001) influenced the occurrence of leaf epinasty, a physiological condition with a negative impact on cut-shoot quality. Bullheads, another undesirable physiological condition, was significantly (P ≤ 0.001) influenced by auxin dose. This novel technology is expected to lower rose production costs. The data obtained in this study demonstrate the interaction between hormonal and developmental signalling in apical dominance. Possible modes of action are discussed.     

Epidemiological assessment of cassava mosaic disease in Burkina Faso

Surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2017 across the main cassava-growing regions of Burkina Faso to assess the status of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and to determine the virus strains causing the disease, using field observation and phylogenetic analysis. CMD incidence varied between regions and across years but was lowest in Hauts-Bassins (6.0%, 2016 and 5.4%, 2017) and highest in Centre-Sud (18.5%, 2016) and in Boucle du Mouhoun (51.7%, 2017). The lowest CMD severity was found in Est region (2.0) for both years and the highest in Sud-Ouest region (3.3, 2016) and Centre-Sud region (2.8, 2017). The CMD infection was primarily associated with contaminated cuttings in all regions except in Hauts-Bassins, where whitefly-borne infection was higher than cuttings-borne infection in 2016. PCR screening of 687 samples coupled with sequence analysis revealed the presence of African cassava mosaic-like (ACMV-like) viruses and East African cassava mosaic-like (EACMV-like) viruses as single infections at 79.5% and 1.1%, respectively. Co-infections of ACMV-like and EACMV-like viruses were detected in 19.4% of the tested samples. In addition, 86.7% of the samples positive for EACMV-like virus were found to be positive for East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCMV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the segregation of cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMGs) from Burkina Faso into three clades specific to ACMV, African cassava mosaic Burkina Faso virus (ACMBFV), and EACMCMV, confirming the presence of these viruses. The results of this study show that EACMCMV occurrence may be more prevalent in Burkina Faso than previously thought.     

Screening recently identified whitefly/spider mite‐resistant wild tomato accessions for resistance to Tuta absoluta

The tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) is a serious pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in the tropics and subtropics. Previous World Vegetable Center studies identified selected accessions of S. galapagense, S. cheesmaniae and S. pimpinellifolium that were resistant to whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.) and spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch). Here, we evaluated these accessions for resistance to T. absoluta based on the number of eggs from choice bioassays, and larval mortality and adults emerged percentages in no‐choice feeding bioassays at WorldVeg Eastern and Southern Africa (WorldVeg) and the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe). At WorldVeg, S. galapagense VI063177 exhibited high resistance in both choice and no‐choice bioassays. There was strong negative correlation between larval mortality and adults emerged percentages in the no‐choice feeding bioassays. Results from the icipe experiments were consistent with those of the WorldVeg screening, except for S. pimpinellifolium accession VI030462 , which was susceptible at icipe. Tuta absoluta is rapidly spreading and the resistance sources reported here will be valuable in breeding tomato varieties resistant to this insect and others.