Gentian Kobu-sho-associated virus: a tentative, novel double-stranded RNA virus that is relevant to gentian Kobu-sho syndrome

A virus-like dsRNA of about 23 kbp was detected in gentian plants showing Kobu-sho syndrome including stunting, shortened internodes, and tumors on stems, nodes and roots. Nucleotide sequence analysis has suggested that this dsRNA is related to Pestivirus species but not to any other plant viruses. It was protected from externally added RNase, suggesting that the dsRNA is encapsidated. The dsRNA was co-extracted in a crude homogenate of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue with the virus-like particles that have been associated previously with Kobu-sho syndrome in gentian (Usugi et al. Jpn J Phytopathol 76:21–24, 2010). The RNA sequence was detected in more than 99 % of Kobu-sho gentian individuals but in less than 20 % of apparently healthy gentian individuals from fields affected with Kobu-sho. Thus, we propose naming the virus Gentian Kobu-sho-associated virus.     

Occurrence of a new race 2.9 of leaf mold of tomato in Japan

Leaf mold symptoms were found on tomato varieties carrying the Cf-9 resistance gene against Passalora fulva, the causal agent of leaf mold, in Japan in 2008. Disease symptoms and morphological characteristics of the isolates were similar to those of P. fulva. After inoculating a set of tomato differentials with the isolates, all isolates were identified as race 2.9 of P. fulva, previously unreported.     

First report of spinach leaf spot caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stemphylium</Emphasis> sp. Subgroups C2 and E3 and pathogenicity comparison of the pathogen with related pathogens

Leaf spots on spinach were found in three greenhouses in Hokkaido and Iwate, Japan, in 2011–2012. Three isolates obtained from the lesions were classified into Stemphylium sp. Subgroups C2 and E3, based on morphology and molecular analyses. We compared the three isolates with two reference isolates belonging to Subgroup C2 from Welsh onion and leek in terms of pathogenicity. All five isolates caused leaf spot symptoms on spinach and leaf blight on Welsh onion in inoculation tests. This is the first report of spinach leaf spot caused by Stemphylium sp. Subgroups C2 and E3.     

Anthocyanins from purple sweet potato Ipomoea batatas cultivar Ayamurasaki suppress the development of atherosclerotic lesions and both enhancements of oxidative stress and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

We evaluated the protective potential of anthocyanins from purple sweet potato Ipomoea batatas cultivar Ayamurasaki (APSP) against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in vitro and atherosclerotic lesion development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice given a cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet with or without 1% APSP for 4 weeks. APSP protected LDL against oxidation more potently than other anthocyanins and l-ascorbic acid in vitro. In mice, APSP significantly lowered the atherosclerotic plaque area to about half of the control, the liver level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances as an oxidative stress marker, and the plasma level of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1). However, APSP showed no effects on body weight and cholesterol and lipid levels in the plasma. The results suggest that APSP can suppress the development of atherosclerotic lesions and both enhancements of oxidative stress and sVCAM-1 independently of the changes in cholesterol and lipid levels in mice.