Molecular tracing of the transmission routes of bois noir in Mediterranean vineyards of Montenegro and experimental evidence for the epidemiological role of Vitex agnus‐castus (Lamiaceae) and associated Hyalesthes obsoletus (Cixiidae)

Epidemiological aspects and transmission routes of bois noir (BN), a grapevine yellows disease induced by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, have been exhaustively studied in the affected vineyards of continental Europe but not in the Mediterranean coastal zone. Because ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ and its principal vector Hyalesthes obsoletus presumably originate from the Mediterranean, gaining knowledge of the epidemiological peculiarities of the disease in this area is essential for understanding its global spread and diversification, as well as for designing local management strategies. In this study, molecular epidemiology was applied to trace transmission pathways of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ in the Mediterranean vineyards of Montenegro, using multilocus sequence typing of tuf, vmp1 and stamp genes of the isolates associated with various hosts. Thus, ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ was tracked from a tentative reservoir plant (inoculum source) through an associated vector population to the infected grapevine. Three pathways of transmission were documented, originating from Urtica dioica, Convolvulus arvensis and Vitex agnus‐castus; however, only the route originating from U. dioica was direct, whereas the latter two were overlapping and could be intermixed. Vitex agnus‐castus is a natural source of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’, representing an important link in disease epidemiology in the Mediterranean and a possible origin of several genotypes occurring in central Europe. Experimental confirmation of the role of Vitex‐associated H. obsoletus in BN transmission in Montenegrin vineyards indicates its tentative role as a vector in the wide area of the Mediterranean, where some of the major wine‐producing regions are located.     

Transmission of the agent causing a melon yellowing disease by the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum in southeast Spain

The agent causing a yellowing disease of melon (Cucumis melo), which results in severe losses in crops under plastic on the coastal plains of southeast Spain, was shown to be transmitted in a semipersistent manner by the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood). The agent was transmitted by grafting, but not by mechanical inoculation or through seeds. The agent was acquired in the minimum period tested (2 h) and could infect plants in an infection feeding interval of 6 h. Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cucumis melo, C. sativus, Cucurbita moschata, Cichorium endivia, Lactuca sativa andTaraxacum officinale were found susceptible.Results suggest that the yellowing disease affecting melon crops in the southeast of Spain is due to a pathogen similar to beet pseudo yellows virus, but this has to be confirmed by serology.     

瓜类褪绿黄化病毒山东分离物全基因组序列扩增及分析

为明确分离自山东省寿光市甜瓜上的瓜类褪绿黄化病毒(cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus,CCYV)分离物的全基因组序列信息和遗传变异情况,利用毛形病毒属Crinivirus简并引物进行RTPCR检测,利用RACE技术结合RT-PCR方法克隆CCYV山东分离物2条RNA链的全基因组序列,通过与GenBank中其它地区CCYV分离物的全长序列进行比对分析其同源性,并基于CP基因序列构建系统进化树分析其遗传变异情况。结果表明,山东分离物经RT-PCR检测和测序后确定为CCYV。CCYV山东分离物与其它CCYV分离物的RNA1链和RNA2链的全基因组序列一致性的平均值分别为99.82%和99.88%,且2条链的5′末端均比较保守,没有碱基突变的情况发生;RNA1链3′末端存在2个碱基变异,RNA2链3′末端存在1个碱基变异。CCYV不同地区分离物主要分为3个簇群,其中山东分离物和中国其它地区分离物、日本分离物、苏丹分离物、黎巴嫩分离物和塞浦路斯分离物聚类在一起。研究表明CCYV基因组序列比较保守,该病毒的分化可能与地理来源存在一定的相关性。     

Assessment of inoculation methods for screening black alder resistance to Phytophthora ×alni

Identification of resistance to Phytophthora ×alni could provide the basis for a management strategy against alder decline in riparian ecosystems in Europe. This study aimed to test methods to evaluate the resistance of riparian alders to the disease, and to screen alder genotypes for resistance. Phytophthora ×alni isolates were compared for their aggressiveness (lesion length on stem) and sporulation capacity (sporangia). While no difference in lesion lengths was found between isolates, sporangia production was dependent on isolate, highlighting the need for careful selection of isolates used for zoospore inoculation methods. Inoculation tests carried out at different periods of the year revealed a seasonal change in susceptibility to the disease, with the period from June to September being the most efficient for inoculation tests. Stem‐wounded inoculations, carried out on excised shoots, were unreliable for evaluating the level of resistance of alder genotypes to P. ×alni infection, with divergent results between two successive years or between two inoculation periods during the same year. In contrast, a method that mimics the natural conditions of infection, based on flooding of rooted cuttings in artificially infected river water, was found promising. Another method, based on the inoculation of foliated terminal shoots with zoospore suspensions, was found to be repeatable and could be used for high‐throughput analyses. Altogether, the results show a continuous resistance response from highly susceptible to moderately resistant genotypes. This suggests that breeding might be a useful strategy to manage alder decline caused by P. ×alni.     

Seasonal distribution of phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines

The distribution and persistence of phytoplasmas were determined in Australian grapevines. Phytoplasmas could be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from shoots, cordons, trunks and roots throughout the year, and phytoplasmas appear to persistently infect Australian grapevines from year to year. Phytoplasmas were not always detected in samples from the same sampling area from one sampling period to the next. Phytoplasma detection by PCR was improved by sampling from shoots, cordons and trunks, especially during October (early spring). The diseases expressed by the 20 grapevines used in the distribution and persistence studies were monitored. Australian grapevine yellows disease (AGY) was expressed by 17/20 grapevines at some time during the study, whilst only 4/20 and 15/20 grapevines expressed restricted growth disease (RG) and late season leaf curl disease (LSLC), respectively. All grapevines with RG and LSLC also had AGY. The three diseases were persistently expressed in some grapevines and remission of disease was observed in others. The results of PCR detection in the same grapevines indicated that phytoplasmas were more frequently detected in AGY-affected grapevines that also expressed RG and LSLC compared with grapevines expressing AGY alone. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomless plant material but less frequently compared with AGY-affected material.     

玉兰黄化病病原的分子检测与鉴定

对表现叶片黄化的玉兰植株,利用植原体16S rRNA基因通用引物进行巢式PCR检测,得到1.4 kb的特异片段,将此片段克隆后进行序列测定、分析及构建系统关系树.结果表明,该片段与16SrI组中的各植原体同源率均达到99%以上,而与其他组的植原体16S rDNA序列的同源率均低于97%,认为该植原体株系为翠菊黄化植原体组中的成员之一.     

Electron Microscopy and Molecular Characterization of Phytoplasmas Associated with Strawflower Yellows in the Czech Republic

Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum) with symptoms resembling those associated to phytoplasma infection were observed in several areas in the Czech Republic during the period 1994–2001. Plants with leaf bronzing, reddening and necrosis, proliferation of secondary shoots, flower abnormalities and dwarfing died in advanced stages of the disease. The disease incidence ranged from 2% to 70% and caused significant loss to the flower and seed production. Transmission electron microscopy showed phytoplasmas in sieve cells of affected plants, but not in healthy ones. Association of phytoplasmas with the disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using phytoplasma universal ribosomal primers R16F2n/R16R2. An amplification product of the expected size (1.2 kb) was observed in all samples of the symptomatic strawflowers. The restriction profiles obtained following separate digestion with three endonucleases (AluI, HhaI, MseI) showed that phytoplasmas infecting strawflowers from different localities in the Czech Republic were uniform and undistinguishable from aster yellows (subgroup 16SrI-B). Sequence analysis of 1771 bp of the ribosomal operon amplified with primers P1/U3, R16F2n/R2 and 16R758/P7 indicated that the closest related phytoplasmas were those associated with 'Rehmannia glutinosa var. purpurea', both originating from Bohemia. This is the first report on the occurrence of a phytoplasma-associated disease of strawflower in the Czech Republic.     

Real-time PCR detection systems for Flavescence dorée and Bois noir phytoplasmas in grapevine: comparison with conventional PCR detection and application in diagnostics

A new real-time PCR detection system was developed for grapevine yellows (GY) using TaqMan minor groove binder probes and including two amplicons for group-specific detection of Flavescence dorée (FD) and Bois noir (BN) phytoplasmas, plus a universal phytoplasma amplicon. FD and BN amplicons were designed to amplify species-specific genomic DNA fragments and the universal amplicon to amplify the 16S ribosomal DNA region. Efficiency of PCR amplification, limit of detection, range of linearity and dynamic range were assessed for all three amplicons. The specificity of detection systems was tested on several other isolates of phytoplasmas and bacteria and on healthy field grapevine and insect samples. No cross-reactivity with other phytoplasma strains, plant or insect DNA was detected. The assay was compared with conventional PCR on more than 150 field grapevine, insect and field bindweed samples. Real-time PCR showed higher sensitivity as phytoplasmas were detected in several PCR-negative and in all PCR-positive samples. A data-mining analysis of results from both detection approaches also favoured real-time PCR over conventional PCR diagnostics. The developed procedure for detection of phytoplasmas in grapevine also included amplification of plant DNA co-extracted with phytoplasmic DNA, providing additional quality control for the DNA extraction and PCR amplification for each sample. The newly developed assay is a reliable, specific and sensitive method easily applicable to high-throughput diagnosis of GY.     

European stone fruit yellows phytoplasmas associated with a decline disease of apricot in southern England

Phytoplasmas detected by fluorescence microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been discovered infecting Prunus trees at a site in south-east England. The pathogens were detected in tissue samples taken in autumn and also in spring. The symptoms in infected trees varied from severe decline to absence. PCR experiments using group-specific primers to amplify regions of the 16S RNA gene indicated that the phytoplasmas are similar to European stone fruit yellows isolates occurring in southern and eastern Europe. This is the first record of phytoplasmas in Prunus species in the UK. The origin of the infection is unknown. The implications of this new disease for the fruit industry are discussed.     

桤柏混交林林下植被结构及生物量动态

林下植被是森林生态系统的重要组成部分,在森林生态系统的物质循环、生物多样性以及演替、发展等方面具有重要的作用.选取具有代表性的10,15,20,25 a桤(Aluns cremastogyme)柏(Cupressus fu-nebris)混交林和由桤柏混交林演替而来的30 a纯柏林为研究对象,研究了川中丘陵区桤柏混交林的林下植被结构及生物量的动态变化.(1)灌丛和草本的物种丰富度在10～20 a间增加,20～30 a间,灌丛物种丰富度显著降低,草本层无明显变化.(2)灌丛和草本层的高度在10～15 a间显著增加,15～30 a间缓慢降低,灌丛高度具较大的空间异质性.(3)灌丛和草本层的盖度在15 a前后有显著的上升和下降,20～30a间无显著的变化;草本层的盖度高于灌丛,且空间异质性小于灌从.(4)灌丛生物量在15 a前后有显著增加和下降,20～30 a间相对稳定;草本层生物量在10～30 a间呈波动性变化,但总体上呈下降趋势.研究结果表明,在桤柏混交林的生长发育过程中,林下植被的结构和功能呈逐渐退化趋势.