Detection of a Bacterium Associated with a Leaf Spot Disease of Maize in Brazil

A leaf spot disease of maize occurring in Brazil in the 1980s was described as being caused by the ascomycete Phaeosphaeria maydis (P. Henn) Rane. Payak and Renfro (imperfect form Phyllosticta sp.). Disease symptoms were dark-green water-soaked spots that later became necrotic lesions. There are no reports at present in the literature of re-infection by the fungus under controlled conditions, casting doubt on the true identity of the pathogen. In this study, cytological analyses of lesions at the initial stages did not detect the presence of fungal structures. Bacterial colonies with yellow pigmentation were isolated from the lesions, which reacted positively in hypersensitivity tests in tobacco plants. Maize plants were inoculated with the isolated bacteria. After 72 h incubation in a dew chamber, plants were transferred to a greenhouse, where they remained until evaluation. Typical symptoms of the disease were observed 5–7 days after inoculation of plants, only on treatments inoculated with the bacteria. The bacterium was re-isolated, which suggests its involvement in the initial phases of disease. The bacterium was identified as Pantoea ananas (synonym Erwinia ananas ).     

分子信标探针用于PCR检测对虾白斑杆状病毒

将对虾白斑杆状病毒的一段特异性DNA设计成分子信标探针,用于该病毒的PCR检测.温度与荧光强度之间的关系表明,所设计探针的发夹既可以形成也可以打开,符合PCR对分子信标探针的要求.结果表明,在PCR同时加入分子信标探针不影响PCR扩增,分子信标探针只能与目的DNA杂交,具有较高的特异性.随着PCR循环数的增加以及含目的DNA的质粒拷贝数的增加,荧光强度都随之增强.     

Molecular Identification and Genetic Diversity of Fusarium species Associated with Onion Fields in Turkey

To identify Fusarium species associated with diseases of root and basal plate of onion, surveys were conducted in seven provinces of Turkey in 2007. Samplings were performed in 223 fields, and 332 isolates belonging to 7 Fusarium spp. were obtained. The isolates were identified as F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. acuminatum, F. equiseti, F. proliferatum, F. redolens, and F. culmorum based on morphological and cultural characteristics. Also, species‐specific primers were used to confirm the identity of Fusarium species. F. oxysporum was the most commonly isolated species, comprising 66.57% of the total Fusarium species. F. redolens was identified for the first time in onion‐growing areas of Turkey. Selected isolates of each species were evaluated for their aggressiveness on onion plant. F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. acuminatum, F. proliferatum, and F. redolens were highly pathogenic, causing severe damping‐off on onion plants cv. Texas Early Grano. Inter‐simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers revealed a high degree of intra‐ and interspecific polymorphisms among Fusarium spp.     

2个玉米抗矮花叶病分子标记的有效性评价

玉米矮花叶病是玉米重要的病毒病害,培育抗病品种是防治该病最经济有效的方法,将常规育种方法与分子育种技术相结合可以大大提高抗病育种的效率。本研究利用前期研究开发的2个分子标记Indel186-9和SCAR112,检测100份常用玉米自交系的标记基因型,结合100份玉米自交系抗性表型鉴定结果进行2个分子标记辅助选择的有效性分析。结果表明,目前种质资源中高抗病材料较少,亟待进行抗病改良。本试验所用的自交系包括不同血缘,抗源主要来源于PB和四平头种质。Indel186-9标记和SCAR112标记的选择符合率均达到80%,同时使用两者选择符合率达到91.67%,其中抗病选择符合率达到100%。Indel186-9和SCAR112标记分别可以使抗病级别从平均7.26级提高到平均2.4级,平均7.63级提高到平均4.27级。试验证明2个标记均可用于对玉米抗矮花叶病材料的选择,正确组合使用可提高对玉米抗矮花叶病材料的选择效率。     

抗茎腐病分子标记在159份玉米自交系中的验证及实用性评价

为了评价抗茎腐病基因分子标记在辅助育种中的实用性,本研究对159份玉米自交系进行了茎腐病田间抗性鉴定,并检测了与4个茎腐病抗性QTL(qRfg1、qRfg2、Rpi QI319-1和Rpi QI319-2)紧密连锁的11个分子标记在上述材料中的扩增情况。结果表明:供试玉米自交系的平均发病率为26.30%,发病率低于30.0%的材料占67.92%,抗病资源丰富。来源于国外、东北、西南和黄淮海地区的材料平均发病率分别为27.67%、17.92%、15.12%和36.80%,与东北和西南地区种质相比,黄淮海地区抗性种质相对缺乏。通过比较分子标记扩增带型与田间茎腐病表型,发现与同一QTL连锁的不同分子标记的检测结果存在较大差异,其中分子标记STS01(qRfg1)、STSZ479(qRfg2)、bnlg1866(Rpi QI319-1)和bnlg1716(Rpi QI319-2)的阳性检测结果与田间表型符合度较高,分别为76.79%、78.95%、91.67%、73.33%,具有上述特异扩增多态性的材料平均发病率分别为22.06%、19.01%、10.65%、19.63%,可作为抗茎腐病分子检测的有效标记。本研究为开展玉米抗茎腐病分子育种提供了重要参考。     

利用RFLP、SSR、AFLP和RAPD标记分析玉米自交系遗传多样性的比较研究

利用 ＲＦＬＰ、ＳＳＲ．ＡＦＬＰ和ＲＡＰＤ ４种分子标记方法研究了 １５个玉米（Ｚｅａ ｍａｙｓ Ｌ．）自交系的遗传多样性,同时对４种标记系统进行比较。在供试材料中筛选到具多态性的ＲＦＬＰ探针酶组合５６个,６６对ＳＳＲ引物,２０个ＲＡＰＤ引物和９个ＡＦＬＰ引物组合,分别检测到多态性带１６７、２０１、８７和１０８条。ＳＳＲ标记位点的平均多态性信息量（ＰＩＣ）最大（０．５４）,ＡＦＬＰ标记位点最小（０．３６）,但ＡＦＬＰ标记具有最高的多态性检测效率（Ａｉ,３２．２）。４种分子标记所得遗传相似系数相关性显著,比较相关系数表明 ＲＡＰＤ可靠性较低。依据 ４种分子标记结果将 １５个供试自交系划分为塘四平头、旅大红骨、兰卡斯特、瑞德和ＰＮ共５个类群,与系谱分析基本一致。认为ＳＳＲ和ＲＦＬＰ两种分子标记方法适合进行玉米种质遗传多样性的研究。     

分子标记在家畜遗传多样性研究中的应用

家畜遗传多样性是生物多样性的重要组成部分,与人类未来的生存与发展密切相关。中国拥有丰富的地方家畜品种资源,但由于保种不当和盲目引进外来品种进行杂交、资金缺乏等原因,许多品种已濒临灭绝。如何保存利用好我国优良的家畜遗传资源已成为越来越严峻的问题。随着生物学技术的不断发展与完善,许多分子标记技术已经应用于畜禽遗传资源的研究。简要介绍了在家畜遗传多样性研究中应用最广的几种分子标记及其特性,讨论了在家畜遗传多样性的研究中如何选用适当的分子标记。     

Diversity,floristic and structural patterns of cerrado vegetation in Central Brazil

The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, but few phytogeographical studies have been undertaken in the region. A total of 70 land systems based on climate, landscape and soils have been identified in the region, but it remains to be seen if the distribution and structure of the plant communities support these divisions. The aim of this work was to compare the floristic and structural similarity of cerrado sensu stricto within and between three physiographic units, named Pratinha, Veadeiros and São Francisco, which contain six land systems in central Brazil and cover 10 degrees of latitude and five degrees of longitude. The woody vegetation of 15 selected sites of the cerrado sensu stricto physiognomy was surveyed under a standardized methodology. The number of species per site varied from 55 to 97, with most sites having around 60 to 70 species, and Shannon´s diversity indices ranged from 3.44 to 3.73, with most sites around 3.5 suggesting high alpha diversity. Sørensen´s floristic similarity index was high, with all Figures above 0.5 between the sites in the same land system in each physiographic unit but low between sites in different land systems in the Veadeiros. Czekanowski similarity indices were lower than Sørensen’s in the comparisons due to a high structural differentiation between the sites. There is a large overlap in species occurrence in the sites but the size of their populations is very different at each site. Therefore, the high beta diversity is mostly due to differences in abundance of species between sites. The sites were separated by physiographic units, considering the first three divisions of TWINSPAN classification. The first axis of DCA ordination showed a gradient going from the cerrado on deep soils in Pratinha, through to those on sandy soils in São Francisco and ending on the shallower soils of the Veadeiros. Land systems conformed well with the floristic and structural variations of the vegetation, indicating their potential use in designing a network of conservation areas in the cerrado region and as a basis for decision-making on management.     

Pathogenic Variability and Genetic Diversity of Phaeoisariopsis griseola Isolates from Two Counties in the State of Goias, Brazil

Angular leaf spot disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola, is one of the most important disease of this crop in Brazil. Control strategies for the disease include cultural practices, chemical control and genetic resistance. This pathogen is known to vary greatly in pathogenicity. For durable use of genetic resistance to control this disease, it is necessary to manage resistant cultivars by taking into account the population structure of P. griseola. Isolates of the pathogen from Goias, Brazil exhibited an important virulence polymorphism when inoculated on 12 differential cultivars. A total of 13 pathotypes was identified within a series of 96 isolates collected in Inhumas and Damolandia counties. Only pathotypes 63‐15, 63‐23, 63‐31 and 63‐63 were identified in both counties. Since all the isolates were capable of inducing disease in both Andean and Mesoamerican differential cultivars, they were considered to be of Mesoamerican origin. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis performed on the same 96 isolates revealed a great genetic diversity clustering the series into five groups at an Euclidean distance of 62.5%. Although the results did not show any clustering according to the isolate origin, it was possible to observe a tendency of the isolates to cluster in different groups according to their origin. No pathotype‐specific band was observed in the present study.     

灰霉病菌抗药位点及其分子检测方法研究进展

灰霉病由灰葡萄孢侵染所致,化学防治是目前最常用的治理方法,而随着杀菌剂的广泛使用,抗药菌株频繁出现。本文就近年来已研究报道的灰葡萄孢菌的抗药分子位点进行了系统总结,包括六大类杀菌剂,涉及5个基因;对灰霉病菌抗药位点的分子检测方法进行了综述,包括测序法、CAPS、ARMS、Tetra primer ARMS-PCR、AS real-time PCR、ASPPAA PCR和双杂交探针法,通过对不同检测方法进行比较分析,指出现有技术存在的问题并展望未来高通量的检测方法的发展方向。     

Characterization of Thielaviopsis paradoxa Isolates from Oil Palms in Colombia,Ecuador and Brazil

Ceratocystis paradoxa (Anamorph: Thielaviopsis paradoxa) is parasitic on a range of economic and food crops and is the cause of dry basal rot, a limiting disease in oil palm. The objective of this study was to determinate the pathogenic and genetic diversity of Thielaviopsis isolates from oil palms in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. A total of 164 strains of Thielaviopsis paradoxa were characterized using pathogenicity tests, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and PCR sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of 5.8 S ribosomal DNA. Oil palm seedlings were inoculated by injecting the base of stems in the seedling stage with a fungal suspension and severity scores of disease reactions were evaluated. PCR amplification of the ITS region resulted in a 590 base pair (bp) product. Digestion of the PCR product with two restriction enzymes produced three restriction patterns, which according to ITS sequences could be classified as T. paradoxa. Six RAPD primers gave polymorphic bands in T. paradoxa. Population structure analyses of the RAPD data suggested that most of the isolates obtained in this study belonged to a single population. The genetic diversity of the isolates from South America was intermediate, and therefore, T. paradoxa is likely to be predominantly clonal compared with Ceratocystis species. Sporadic sexual reproduction may occur for T. paradoxa but is secondary to clonal reproduction. Data on pathogen diversity will provide information on breeding strategies and population structures.     

AFLP and RAPD Characterization of Phaeoacremonium aleophilum Associated with Vitis vinifera Decline in Spain

The genetic diversity among Spanish isolates of the fungus Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, one of the major causes of grapevine decline, was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) techniques. Using RAPD, a large genetic variation was observed among 36 Pm. aleophilum single‐spore cultures, with 76 (82.6%) polymorphic bands generated by 12 RAPD primers. A neighbour‐joining dendrogram showing the RAPD patterns of diversity revealed four groups of haplotypes. The Bayesian and principal components clustering analysis revealed three groups of haplotypes. When more than one isolate of Pm. aleophilum was obtained from a single vine, different haplotypes were found. Seventeen single‐spore isolates were used for AFLP analysis. Five primer combinations produced 358 scorable markers, of which 309 (86.3%) were polymorphic. The analysis based on genetic distance as well as clustering analysis confirmed three main groups largely in agreement with those returned by the RAPD results. The Mantel correlation between the RAPD and AFLP distance matrices ranged from R = 0.5931 to R = 0.6294. The high level of haplotype diversity among the RAPD and AFLP markers suggests that sexual reproduction and genetic recombination may occur between Pm. aleophilum haplotypes in Spain. The AFLP approach revealed a greater number of polymorphic markers. A relationship between the genetic profile of the infecting isolate of Pm. aleophilum and the age or decline symptoms of the grapevines may exist.     

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Phytoplasma associated with Lethal Yellowing Disease of Coconut Palms in Cuba

Lethal Yellowing (LY) disease of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) in Cuba has been reported since the end of the 19th century. In order to ascertain the presence of phytoplasmas associated with this disease, leaf samples were taken from plants showing typical disease symptoms and assayed for the LY agent by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using LY‐specific primers. Selected PCR amplification products were cloned, sequenced and compared to that of a Mexican LY isolate from the Yucatán region. The results obtained confirm the presence of LY phytoplasma in Cuba. Cuban and Mexican isolates show an overall high degree of sequence similarity with occasional point mutations and small deletions or insertions. Based on these identified genetic differences, LY isolates from the Havana and the Yucatán region cluster together and apart from isolates originating at Maisí in eastern Cuba.     

Molecular,Biological and Phylogenetic Analysis of Chinese Isolates of Hop stunt viroid Associated with Citrus Cachexia Disease

Citrus cachexia is an economically important disease of citrus hosts caused by specific variants of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) that are usually referred to as Citrus cachexia viroid (CCaVd). Eight cachexia‐associated HSVd isolates were collected from six citrus growing areas of China, where citrus cachexia had not been reported previously. Forty‐seven independent cDNA clones were used for genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis. There were no sequence variant‐cultivar correlation and no distinct regional specificity among or within the cachexia‐associated HSVd populations analysed. Three clusters consisting of three major HSVd variants were identified by phylogenetic analysis, suggesting that most Chinese isolates contain a mixture of cachexia and non‐cachexia variants. Biological properties of eight CCaVd isolates were determined by inoculating Parson’s Special mandarin (Citrus reticulata). Our results suggest that the interactions between CCaVd and non‐CCaVd variants might play an important role in suppressing cachexia symptom expression.     

不同SSR标记检测技术及其在花生栽培种遗传多样性分析中的应用

以85份花生栽培种为材料,分别应用银染法和荧光检测法检测9对SSR引物的扩增产物。比较结果显示,荧光检测法具有灵敏度高、检测结果准确、效率高等优点。聚类分析表明,银染法与荧光检测法分别能够区分74个、82个花生品种,并分别聚成8个、9个类群;荧光检测法的聚类结果虽然反映的品种间遗传多样性较低,但与品种类型、产地及其亲缘关系相关程度更高,表明荧光检测数据更精确、可靠。遗传多样性分析发现,地方品种的遗传多样性指数最高,其次为多粒型育成品种,表明我国地方品种和多粒型育成品种蕴藏了丰富的优异性状,有利于对其挖掘和利用。     

Disease Resistance in Maize and the Role of Molecular Breeding in Defending Against Global Threat

Diseases are a potential threat to global food security but plants have evolved an extensive array of methodologies to cope with the invading pathogens. Non-host resistance and quantitative re- sistance are broad spectrum forms of resistance, and all kinds of resistances are controlled by extremely diverse genes called "R- genes". R-genes follow different mechanisms to defend plants and PAMP-induced defenses in susceptible host plants are referred to as basal resistance. Genetic and phenotypic diversity are vital in maize (Zea mays L.); as such, genome wide association study (GWAS) along with certain other methodologies can explore the maximum means of genetic diversity. Exploring the complete genetic archi- tecture to manipulate maize genetically reduces the losses from hazardous diseases. Genomic studies can reveal the interaction be- tween different genes and their pathways. By confirming the specific role of these genes and protein-protein interaction (proteomics) via advanced molecular and bioinformatics tools, we can shed a light on the most complicated and abstruse phenomena of resistance.     

Morphological and Genetic Analyses of Hellebore Leaf Spot Disease Isolates from Different Geographic Origins Show Low Variability and Reveal Molecular Evidence for Reclassification into Didymellaceae

Hellebore leaf spot, caused by Coniothyrium hellebori, is the most common fungal disease of Helleborus species not only in botanical and ornamental gardens but also in nurseries. To correct the current lack of knowledge regarding this widely distributed pathogen, this study investigated 25 C. hellebori isolates collected from different countries in North America and Europe, primarily Germany. The morphology, pathogenicity and molecular genetic relationships on the basis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of these isolates were studied. RAPD primers produced a total of 394 bands, of which 40% were polymorphic. Genetic distances were calculated, and a dendrogram with bootstrap analysis was constructed by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster method. All isolates were identified as C. hellebori, the causal agent of the disease. Two C. hellebori subclades were found, which could not be correlated with the geographic origin of the isolate, but with the plant host species and morphological characteristics. Sequence comparisons of the large subunit and internal transcribed spacer loci between C. hellebori and sequences from GenBank revealed that C. hellebori has to be grouped into the Didymellaceae family and rather belongs to Phoma or Microsphaeropsis than to Coniothyrium. This work represents the first study of this plant pathogen causing severe damage in Helleborus stocks and provides important information for the development of future Helleborus resistance breeding strategies.     

陕棉抗病种质及其衍生品种的遗传多样性与群体结构研究

通过72个分布于棉花全基因组的SSR标记,对54份陕棉抗病种质及其衍生品种的遗传多样性与群体结构进行了分析。结果表明:(1)54份陕棉种质间的遗传相似系数在0.733 3~0.987 2之间,其中材料间相似系数≤0.90的占11.1%,相似系数≥0.95的占55.6%,相似系数在0.90~0.95的占33.3%。(2)72个SSR标记等位基因变异的多态性信息含量(PIC值)在0.04~0.68,平均为0.33。(3)基于遗传距离的UPGMA聚类分析显示,在遗传相似系数为0.877时将54个品种分为5类,第Ⅰ类44个品种,第Ⅲ类7个品种,第Ⅱ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ类各1个品种。(4)基于数学模型的聚类和群体结构分析显示,54份种质归属于4个组群。研究认为,54份材料间遗传相似系数较大,遗传基础比较狭窄,多样性很低。     

北京地区呼吸道合胞病毒分离株G蛋白基因遗传变异特性研究

为了解北京地区人呼吸道合胞病毒（human respiratory syncytial virus,HRSV）的遗传变异和分子流行病学特征,首次对北京地区2003～2004年63株HRSV分离株进行了G基因3’末端的第2个高度变异区的序列测定,并进行了基因分型和遗传变异的分析。使用不同的型特异性引物对GPA—F1和GPB-F1分别扩增A、B血清型HRSVG基因3’末端核苷酸序列,特异性扩增产物和随后的序列测定结果均显示,北京地区2003～2004年63株HRSV毒株中,96．8％（61／63）为A血清型,3．2％（2／63）为B血清型,说明北京地区在2003～2004年间存在HRSVA、B血清型共循环,但以A血清型病毒为主。分别对北京流行的A和B血清型病毒进行了基因亲缘性关系分析,结果提示,61株北京A血清型分离株全部为GA2基因型;2株B血清型分离株为GB3基因型。由此看来,GA2基因型是北京地区2003～2004年的优势流行基因型。北京61株GA2分离株之问核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别在87．8％～100％和77．9％～100％之间;2株B血清型分离株之间核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为94．7％和88．1％。这说明在2003年和2004年有很多个不同的GA2基因型HRSV毒株在北京地区共循环,北京地区的HRSV流行存在着许多由不同病毒株引起的传播链。B血清型分离株Beijing04-11于G基因3’末端含有一个60个碱基的重复序列,这是HRSV多聚酶易于重复复制限定序列的一个极端的例子,有可能是HRSV逃逸免疫压力而不断进化的一种方式。该研究首次对北京地区2003年和2004年流行的HRSV进行了基因分型和遗传变异的研究,对于了解北京HRSV流行株的基因特征具有重要意义,可以为北京乃至中国疫苗株的选择提供参考依据,从而指导HRSV的免疫预防控制。