Fusarium Species Associated with Mango Malformation in Peninsular Malaysia

Mango malformation has become the most important global disease on mango. Fusarium species previously associated with this disease include F. mangiferae, F. mexicanum, F. sterilihyphosum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. tupiense. A few strains of F. proliferatum have been reported from Malaysia, but in this study, we report the results of more extensive sampling. The recovered strains were evaluated with morphology, mating tester strain cross‐fertility, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), and partial DNA sequences of the genes encoding translation elongation factor 1‐α (tef‐1α) and β‐tubulin (tub‐2). Amongst the 43 strains evaluated, three species were identified – F. proliferatum, F. mangiferae and F. subglutinans – with F. proliferatum being the most frequent (69%). None of the Fusarium species that appear to originate in the Americas were recovered in Malaysia, which suggests special measures may be warranted to keep these species from entering the country.     

First Report of Stem Canker on Phoenix Tree (Firmiana simplex) Caused by Fusarium oxysporum in China

A stem canker disease was observed on the phoenix trees located in the region of Dezhou, Shandong province. Symptomatic stems were collected and evaluated for the possible casual agent of the disease. A fungus resembling Fusarium sp. was consistently isolated from pieces of symptomatic tissues. The fungus formed abundant aerial mycelium on potato dextrose agar and produced the micro‐ and macro‐conidia on carnation leaf agar. The nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA from three representative isolates showed 100% identical to those of Fusarium oxysporum isolates deposited in the GenBank database. On the basis of morphological characteristics, pathogenicity test and molecular identification, the causal agent was identified as F. oxysporum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of stem canker on phoenix tree caused by F. oxysporum in China.     

First Report of Fusarium proliferatum Infecting Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) in China

In 2011, a wilt disease has been detected on carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivar ‘Light Pink Barbara’ in Kunming, Yunnan, China. A Fusarium sp. was consistently recovered from pieces of symptomatic tissues on Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA). On the basis of morphological characteristics and molecular identification by DNA sequencing of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA ITS) and partial translation elongation factor‐1α (TEF) gene region, following their phylogenetic trees construction, the putative causal agent was identified as Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg, and its pathogenicity was finally confirmed by Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a wilt disease caused by F. proliferatum on carnation in China.     

First Report of Sclerotinia nivalis Causing White Mold Disease on Sedum sarmentosum in China

In 2010 and 2011, a disease exhibiting characteristics of white mold was found on Sedum sarmentosum, a crassulaceous weed under canopies of tea trees, in Zhushan County, Hubei Province, China. Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Sclerotinia nivalis Saito. In the phylogenetic tree inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)‐rDNA sequences, the pathogen was clustered with five previously characterized isolates of S. nivalis, forming a unique clade, thus confirming the morpho‐cultural identification. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests using the isolate SsSn‐24 and Let‐19 of S. nivalis on plants of S. sarmentosum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. nivalis on S. sarmentosum in the family Crassulaceae.     

First Report of Greeneria uvicola Causing Bitter Rot of Grape in China

In 2013, bitter rot of grape was observed in Changbei Vineyard located in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China. Greeneria species was consistently isolated from the diseased grape berries (Vitis labruscana cv. Kyoho) at approximately 91% of isolation rate in three independent experiments. The species was identified as Greeneria uvicola based on the morphological characteristics, cultural appearance and sequence analysis. Koch's postulates were fulfilled through pathogenicity tests on detached healthy Kyoho grape berries. To our knowledge, this is the first report of G. uvicola causing bitter rot of grape in China.     

Fusarium spp. are Responsible for Shoot Canker of Kumquat in China

Shoot and branch canker and tree decline of kumquat (Fortunella margarita cv. Guban) were recorded in Yangshuo County, Guilin City, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China during 2008–2011. Fusarium oxysporum and a new Fusarium species within the Gibberella fujikuroi complex (Fusarium sp. GLB1) were isolated repeatedly from the infected shoots and branches. Species identifications were verified by their high translation elongation factor 1‐alpha (TEF1) sequence similarity with those of the species epitypes. Koch's postulates were fulfilled on kumquat (cv. Guban) and mandarin establishing pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium shoot canker disease caused by F. oxysporum and Fusarium sp. on kumquat.     

First Report of Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Fusarium verticillioides (Teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis) in Kentucky Bluegrass

Leaf blight symptom caused by Gibberella moniliformis was observed in the seedlings of Kentucky bluegrass (cv. Perfection) in Jinju, Korea, in January 2013. The symptoms first appeared as brown to yellow lesions on leaves, which later became white and bleached. The pathogen was isolated from turfgrass leaves and identified as G. moniliformis by using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and ITS4 sequences of rRNA. G. moniliformis was confirmed by a pathogenicity test, and the causal agent was reisolated from infected turfgrass.     

First Report of Leaf Spot Disease in Angelica dahurica Caused by Phoma bellidis in China

Angelica dahurica is a perennial herb belonging to the Umbelliferae family that has been used as a valuable traditional Chinese medicine. In August 2013, leaf spot disease in A. dahurica was first observed at the Medicinal Herb Garden in Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Morphological assessment, evaluation of culture characteristics, internal transcribed spacer and beta‐tubulin sequence analysis and pathogenicity identified the causal agent as Phoma bellidis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot disease in A. dahurica that was caused by P. bellidis.     

First Report of Corn Whorl Rot Caused by Serratia marcescens in China

Whorl rot is a novel disease of corn found in the Huang‐Huai‐Hai Plain, China. Common symptoms of the disease in fields include yellowing and water‐soaked brown necrosis of young leaves in the whorl of corn plants, which often results in rot of the whorl. Bacterial streaming was always observed from diseased samples. Bacterial isolates were obtained from symptomatic tissue and further confirmed to be the casual agent of the disease using Koch's Postulates. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA, housekeeping gene groES‐groEL and BIOLOG tests revealed that the isolate B3R3 belongs to the bacterium Serratia marcescens. None of the corn cultivars evaluated showed acceptable resistance to the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report on corn whorl rot caused by Serratia marcescens.     

First Report of Fusarium proliferatum Causing Rot of Stored Garlic Bulbs (Allium sativum L.) in Italy

During 2011, Fusarium rot of stored garlic was detected on bulbs of ‘Aglio Bianco’ (white garlic) in Piacenza, Ferrara and Rovigo districts. Bulbs, harvested in July, were asymptomatic. During conservation in the drying sheds, approximately thirty percent of bulbs appeared emptied and softened. Fusarium proliferatum was consistently recovered from infected bulbs. The morphological identification was confirmed by Translation Elongation Factor 1‐alpha gene sequencing. Koch postulates were checked through pathogenicity tests. The disease has already been reported in Serbia, Germany, Spain, United States, China and India, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of F. proliferatum garlic bulb rot in Italy.     

First Report of Anthracnose of Ledebouriella seseloides Caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Korea

In 2012, dark brown spots were observed on leaves of Ledebouriella seseloides (Fang Feng) in several research plots located at the Goseong Agricultural Research Extension services in Gyeongam Province, Republic of Korea. A fungus was isolated from the infected plants which produced pink‐coloured spores in mucilage on PDA and conidial morphology suggested that the causal agent was Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Internal transcribed spacer sequences of the pathogen showed 99% identity to those of C. gloeosporioides. Pathogenicity of the isolate was proved by Koch's postulates. This is the first report of anthracnose in L. seseloides caused by C. gloeosporioides.     

First Report of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus undatus) Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum truncatum in China

Anthracnose disease was detected from dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) at a market of Yuanjiang County, Yunnan Province, China. The results of pathogenicity test, morphology studies and sequence analyses based on ITS and β‐tubulin loci indicated that the disease was caused by Colletotrichum truncatum. The pathogen produced elliptic, yellow spots with chlorotic halos on the surface of the fruit, and the lesion become depressed gradually. Grey to black acervuli appeared on the lesion surface in concentric circles later. This is the first report of dragon fruit anthracnose caused by this pathogen in China.     

First Report of Botryosphaeria dothidea on Mangifera indica L. in Gujarat

A leaf spot disease was observed on Mangifera indica L. located in the region of Rajkot, Gujarat, India. The symptoms included the appearance of small, circular to oval dark brown necrotic sunken spots on the leaves. The fungus formed grey to dark grey on potato dextrose agar and conidia were single‐celled, ovoid or oblong. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity test and molecular identification using 28S rDNA sequence and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the fungus was identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot on M. indica tree caused by Botryoshaeria dothidea in Gujarat, India.     

First Report of Frosty Mildew on Salix koreensis Caused by Mycopappus alni in Korea

A frosty mildew was observed on leaves of Salix koreensis in two localities of Korea during 2011 and 2012. The main signs and symptoms were expressed as conical white to cream coloured tufts of the causal fungus on the brown lesions, followed by premature defoliation. Based on morphological observations, cultural characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of rDNA‐ITS, the fungus was identified as Mycopappus alni, which has been known to be associated with frosty mildews on Alnus spp., Betula spp., Crataegus chlorosarca and Pyrus pyrifolia. Pathogenicity test was conducted twice with the same results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first case of Salix–Mycopappus association as well as the first report of frosty mildew on S. koreensis.     

Rapid Diagnosis of Soya Bean Root Rot Caused by Fusarium culmorum Using a Loop‐Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay

We report a rapid diagnosis of soya bean (Glycine max L.) root rot caused by Fusarium culmorum, using a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. We used the CYP51C gene sequence to design LAMP assay primers specific for F. culmorum. The LAMP assay amplified the target gene efficiently in 60 min at 63°C. The sensitivity of the assay was 100 pg/μl of genomic DNA. Among the tested soya bean pathogens, a positive colour (sky blue) was only observed in the presence of F. culmorum with the addition of hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) dye prior to amplification, whereas other species isolates showed no colour change. Suspected diseased soya bean samples collected in the field from Jiangsu, Shandong and Anhui provinces and Beijing were diagnosed successfully using the LAMP assay reported here. This study provides a new and readily available method for rapid diagnosis of soya bean root rot caused by F. culmorum.     

First report of Fusarium euwallaceae on avocado trees in Palestine

Abstract

A new die back symptoms in many avocado orchards had been reported in Palestine. The disease is associated with the Ambrosia beetle Euwallacea fornicatus. Stem samples from infected avocado trees with obvious symptoms were collected from different regions in Palestine. Stem cuttings and dissected adult and galleries of the insect were placed on potato dextrose agar media and incubated for 5–7?days at 25?°C. PCR amplification using EF1/2 specific primers was performed to identify the isolated fungus. The resulting PCR products were sequenced. BLASTn search showed 99% similarity with Fusarium euwallaceae (Accession Nos. JX891785.1, JQ723763.1, JQ723762.1 and JQ723761.1). The isolated fungus was identified as F. euwallaceae (Genbank accession no. MK054177).     

Fusarium cerealis Associated with Barley Seeds in Argentina

Fusarium head blight is a fungal disease caused by a complex of Fusarium species on cereals, such as barley and wheat. It has economic impacts due to yield reductions and mycotoxin contamination. As barley production has increased considerably in the last 5 years in Argentina, a survey was conducted for identifying Fusarium species associated with barley grains. Fusarium cerealis was isolated and identified based on morphological and molecular analysis. The potential production of nivalenol and zearalenone was assessed using specific PCR assays. Koch′s postulates were carried out to confirm the pathogenicity of the fungus.     

Identification and antibacterial characteristics of an endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum from Lilium lancifolium

Aims: The aim of this study is to isolate and identify an endophytic fungus with antibacterial activity from the Asian medicinal and culinary plant Lilium lancifolium and to study the characteristics of its major antibacterial fractions. Methods and Results: After strict sample sterilization, an endophytic fungus BH‐3 with great antibacterial activity against Leuconostoc mesenteroides was isolated from the bulbs of L. lancifolium and was identified as Fusarium oxysporum on the basis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence and morphological traits. After partial purification including superfiltration and gel filtration, the major antibacterial fractions were found to be the substances with the molecular mass ranging from 35 to 60 kDa, mainly 55 kDa. The partially purified antibacterial fractions were stable at thermal processes, with more than 80% of activity left at 60°C for 1 h, and even 70·75% left at 121°C for 15 min. 90·33–98·97% of activity was observed in the pH range of 4·0–7·0. But the fractions were sensitive to different proteases. Conclusions: Endophytic strain F. oxysporum BH‐3 isolated from the bulbs of L. lancifolium produced protein‐like antibacterial metabolites. The antibacterial assay against Leuc. mesenteroides indicated that the fractions were stable at thermal processes and wide pH conditions, but sensitive to proteolyses. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides an increasing understanding of endophytic F. oxysporum in L. lancifolium and its metabolites, which have a great potential in food industry as antibacterial agents.     

First Report of Choanephora Rot of Okra Caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum in Korea

In July and August 2013, blossom blight and soft rot of pods were observed on okra in experimental fields in Iksan and Jeju, Korea. Infection started in fading flower petals, spread to entire flowers and young pods, resulting in blighted blossoms and soft rot of pods. Severe infection caused early falling of blossoms and fruit drop, reducing plant vigour in the summer season. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of two molecular markers ITS rDNA and D1/D2 region of the LSU, the fungus was identified as Choanephora cucurbitarum. A pathogenicity test was carried out to fulfil Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. cucurbitarum on okra in Korea.     

First Report of Myrothecium roridum Causing Leaf Spot on Anthurium andraeanum in China

A new severe disease on Anthurium andraeanum Lind. was observed in the summer of 2011 in Beijing, China. The fungus was isolated from symptomatic leaves, and its pathogenicity was confirmed. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the pathogen was identified as Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr. This is the first report of M. roridum causing leaf spot on A. andraeanum in China.