Potato disease caused by combined infection with potato spindle tuber viroid and potato virus Y necrotic strain

A disease characterized by large yellow spots has been found in a number of potato varieties in Primorskii krai. The level of infection reached 7–33% at breeding and propagation nurseries in individual years. It is shown that the disease is caused by combined infection with potato spindle tuber viroid and potato virus Y.     

Identification and characterization of a virus infecting pepper in Southern Primorskii Krai

Infection of pepper caused by an isometric virus with a 30 ± 3 nm virion diameter is revealed. The thermal inactivation point of virus in jimsonweed sap is 75–80°C, longevity in vitro 3 days at 25°C, and dilution end-point of virus 10^?3–10^?4. The capsid of the virus contains two types of protein with molecular mass 55 and 12.6 kDa. A distant antigenic relatedness to the tobacco ringspot virus of the genus Nepovirus is shown.     

Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Virgaviridae,Hordeivirus</Emphasis>) As Etiological Agent of Maize Chlorotic Stripe Disease

The presence of barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) (Virgaviridae, Hordeivirus) infection background in maize (Zea mays) crops in the territory of Primorsky krai was demonstrated. Field data and model experiments established that BSMV causes the disease formerly called “maize chlorotic stripe disease” with the following symptoms: general chlorosis of leaves at the early stages of plant development, the emergence of pale yellow, nearly white strikes along the midrib throughout the length of the leaf, and loss of infected plants to the stage of pulling (12–25%; average value of 17.1%) and elongation with the absence of severe death in the later stages. The coefficient of harmfulness for BSMV (37.1%) was determined in the study. We concluded that planned monitoring in relation to BSMV is required for planting maize.     

Efficiency of phytovirological monitoring of cereal crop breeding in Primorsky krai

Data on the extent and dynamics of the viral diseases affecting cereal crops in breeding nurseries have been obtained as a result of the phytovirological monitoring. The deterious pathogens affecting the spring barley and the spring and winter wheat are identified under the conditions of the region. The necessity to produce the cereal varieties resistant to the viral infections and the use them in breeding is shown.     

Comment on "Computational improvements reveal great bacterial diversity and high metal toxicity in soil"

Gans et al. (Reports, 26 August 2005, p. 1387) provided an estimate of soil bacterial species richness two orders of magnitude greater than previously reported values. Using a re-derived mathematical model, we reanalyzed the data and found that the statistical error exceeds the estimate by a factor of 26. We also note two potential sources of error in the experimental data collection and measurement procedures.