Interaction of Population Levels of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum and Meloidogyne incognita on Cotton

In autoclaved greenhouse soil without Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, Meloidogyne incognita did not cause leaf or vascular discoloration of 59-day-old cotton plants. Plants had root galls with as few as 50 Meloidogyne larvae per plant. Root galling was directly proportional to the initial nematode population level. Fusarium wilt symptoms occurred without nematodes with 77,000 fungus propagules or more per gram of soil. As few as 50 Meloidogyne larvae accompanying 650 fungus propagules caused Fusarium wilt. With few exceptions, leaf symptoms appeared sooner as numbers of either or both organisms increased. In soils infested with both organisms, the extent of fungal invasion and colonization was well correlated with the extent of nematode galling and other indications of the Fusarium wilt syndrome.     

Effect of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. glycines and Sclerotium rolfsii on the pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita race 2 to soybean

Screenhouse studies were conducted to investigate the effects of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. glycines and Sclerotium rolfsii on the pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita race 2 on soybean and the influence of the nematode on wilt incidence and growth of soybean. The interaction of each fungus with the nematode resulted in reduced shoot and root growth. Final nematode population was also reduced with concomitant inoculation of nematode and fungus or inoculation of fungus before nematode. While M. incognita suppressed wilt incidence in two nematode-susceptible cultivars of soybean (TGX 1485-2D and TGX 1440-IE), it had limited effect on wilt incidence in the nematode resistant cultivar of soybean (TGX 1448-2E). When F. oxysporumwas inoculated with the nematode, the mean number of nematodes that penetrated soybean roots decreased by 75% in TGX 1448-2E, 68% in TGX 1485-1D and 65% in TGX 1440-1E. Similarly when the soil was treated with S. rolfsii, the number decreased by 78% in TGX 1448-2E, 77% in TGX 1485-1D and 68% in TGX 1440-1E. The nematode did not develop beyond second-stage juvenile in TGX-1448-2E.     

Pathological Relationship of Ditylenchus dipsaci and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis on alfalfa

Ditylenchus dipsaci and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis synergistically affected the mortality and plant growth of Ranger alfalfa, a cultivar susceptible to stem nematode and Fusarium wilt. The nematode-fungus relationship had an additive effect on mortality and plant growth of Lahontan (nematode resistant and Fusarium wilt susceptible) and of Moapa 69 (nematode susceptible and Fusarium wilt resistant). Mortality rates were 13, 16, 46, and 49% for Ranger; 4, 18, 26, and 28% for Lahontan; and 19, 10, 32, and 30% for Moapa 69 inoculated with D. dipsaci, F. oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis, and simultaneously and sequentially with D. dipsaci and F. oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis, respectively. Shoot weights as a percentage of uninoculated controls for the same treatments were 52, 84, 26, and 28%, for Ranger; 74, 86, 64, and 64% for Lahontan; and 50, 95, 44, and 39% for Moapa 69. Plant growth suppression was related to vascular bundle infection and discoloration of alfalfa root tissue. Disease severity and plant growth of alfalfa did not differ with simultaneous or sequential inoculations of the two pathogens. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis affected alfalfa growth but not nematode reproduction.     

Interaction of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and Meloidogyne javanica on Cicer arietinum

Interaction of Meloidogyne javanica and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri was studied on Fusarium wilt-susceptible (JG 62 and K 850) and resistant (JG 74 and Avrodhi) chickpea cultivars. In greenhouse experiments, inoculation of M. javanica juveniles prior to F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri caused greater wilt incidence in susceptible cultivars and induced vascular discoloration in roots of resistant cultivars. Nematode reproduction was greatest (P = 0.05) at 25 °C. Number of galls and percentage of root area galled increased when the temperature was increased from 15 °C to 25 °C. Wilt incidence was greater at 20 °C than at 25 °C. Chlorosis of leaves and vascular discoloration of plants did not occur at 15 °C. The nematode enhanced the wilt incidence in wilt-susceptible cultivars only at 25 °C. Interaction between the two pathogens on shoot and root weights was significant only at 20 °C, and F. o. ciceri suppressed the nematode density at this temperature. Wilt incidence was greater in clayey (48% clay) than in loamy sand (85% sand) soils. The nematode caused greater plant damage on loamy sand than on clayey soil. Fusarium wilt resistance in Avrodhi and JG 74 was stable in the presence of M. javanica across temperatures and soil types.     

First record of Fusarium vascular wilt on grapevine in Egypt

During the summer season of 2003 and 2004, wilt syndromes of grapevine leaves (Cv. crimson) and vascular discolouration of roots have been observed in 2-year-old grapevine plants in the field at two sides in Gharbeia Governorate, Egypt. First, symptoms of wilt began on bottom leaves borderline as chlorosis and then these turned to necrotic spots and the leaves died. Wilt symptoms were spread to apical associated with vascular discolouration of roots and stem basal. Routine isolations of discoloured root tissue from diseased plant yielded eight isolates of Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend only where no other fungi were developed. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of three shapes of microconidia, first is avoid shape non-septate measuring 2.5–3.0 μm × 6–10 μm, second is cylindrical with one septa measuring 2.6 μm × 17.0 μm and third shape also cylindrical with two septate measuring 3.0 μm × 20.0 μm. Macroconidia was rarely with three septate measuring 3.5– 4.0 μm × 35.0–38.0 μm, and chlamydospores were found singly or in pairs or chains. F. oxysporum isolates attacked grapevine plants (Cv. crimson) causing vascular wilt (66.7%) and root-rot syndrome (33.3%). In vitro isolates of F. oxysporum causing wilt of grapevine (Cv. crimson) varied for producing lytic enzymes, i.e. polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulase. The reactions of several grapevines (Cvs.) with a virulent isolate of F. oxysporum indicated the presence of two different symptoms, i.e. vascular wilt only on grapevine plants (Cv. crimson) and root-rot on the other grapevine (Cvs.), i.e. superior, Thompson, King robi and flame seedless. All F. oxysporum isolates caused vascular wilt of grapevine Cv. crimson, successfully reisolated from symptomatic vascular infected tissue and complete identification on the basis of colony, conidia morphology and host range at formae speciales level as F. oxysporum f. sp. herbemontis (Tochetto) Gordan. This is the first report of Fusarium wilt on grapevine in Egypt.     

Interactions of Concomitant Species of Nematodes and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on Cotton

Meloidogyne incognita, Hoplolaintus galeatus, and North Carolina and Georgia populations of Belonolaimus longicaudatus were introduced singly and in various combinations with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on wilt-susceptible ''Rowden'' cotton. Of all the nematodes, the combination of the N. C. population of B. longicaudatus with Fusarium promoted greatest wilt development. H. galeatus had no effect on wilt. With Fusarium plus M. incognito or B. longicaudatus, high nematode levels promoted greater wilt than low levels. The combination of either population of B. longicaudatus with M. incognita and Fusarium induced greater wilt development than comparable inoculum densities of either nematode alone or where H. galeatus was substituted for either of these nematodes. Nematode reproduction was inversely related to wilt development. Without Fusarium, however, the high inoculum level resulted in greater reproduction of all nematode species on cotton. Combining M. incognita with B. longicaudatus or H. galeatus gave mutually depressive effects on final nematode populations. The interactions of H. gateatus with B. longicaudatus varied with two populations of the latter.     

Dispersal capacity of Monochamus galloprovincialis,the European vector of the pine wood nematode,on flight mills

The pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), which causes the symptoms of pine wilt disease, is recognized worldwide as a major forest pest. It was introduced into Portugal in 1999. It is transmitted between trees almost exclusively by longhorn beetles of the genus Monochamus, including, in particular, M. galloprovincialis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in maritime pine forests. Accurate estimates of the flight capacity of this insect vector are required if we are to understand and predict the spread of pine wilt disease in Europe. Using computer‐linked flight mills, we evaluated the distance flown, the flight probability and speed of M. galloprovincialis throughout adulthood and investigated the effects of age, sex and body weight on these flight performances, which are proxies for dispersal capacity. The within‐population variability of flight performance in M. galloprovincialis was high, with a mean distance of 16 km flown over the lifetime of the beetle. Age and body weight had a significant positive effect on flight capacity, but there was no difference in performance between males and females. These findings have important implications for managing the spread of the pine wood nematode in European forests.     

Ralstonia solanacearum colonization of tomato roots infected by Meloidogyne incognita

Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is one of the most serious diseases of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Concomitant infection of R. solanacearum and root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita increases the severity of bacterial wilt in tomato, but the role of this nematode in disease complexes involving bacterial pathogens is not completely elucidated. Although root wounding by root‐knot nematode infection seems to play an important role, it might not entirely explain the increased susceptibility of plants to R. solanacearum. In the present study, green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labelled R. solanacearum distribution was observed in the root systems of the tomato cultivar Momotaro preinoculated with root‐knot nematode or mock‐inoculated with tap water. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that GFP‐labelled R. solanacearum mainly colonized root‐knot nematode galls, and little or no green fluorescence was observed in nematode‐uninfected roots. These results suggest that the gall induced by the nematode is a suitable location for the growth of R. solanacearum. Thus, it is crucial to control both R. solanacearum and root‐knot nematode in tomato production fields to reduce bacterial wilt disease incidence and effects.     

Transmission of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus between Monochamus alternatus and Monochamus saltuarius through interspecific mating behaviour

Cerambycid adults of the genus Monochamus transmit the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus [Steiner et Buhrer] Nickle), the causative agent of pine wilt disease. To confirm the transmission of B. xylophilus between vector species, nematode‐infected Monochamus alternatus Hope and nematode‐free Monochamus saltuarius (Gebler) adults were paired and their behaviour was observed for 107–220 min. In three pairs that exhibited mounting without copulation, nematode transmission occurred, whereas it was not found in another pair without mountings. The effect of nematode transmission between different vector species on the invasion biology of B. xylophilus is discussed.     

Spread of the pinewood nematode vectored by the Japanese pine sawyer: modeling and analytical approaches

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causative agent of pine wilt of Pinus thunbergii and P. densiflora in Japan. The nematode is vectored by cerambycid beetles of the genus Monochamus. It is inferred to have been introduced from North America early in the 1900s and then to have distributed in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Intensive and/or long-term studies of pine wilt systems have elucidated the pattern and mechanism of the nematode’s spread within a pine stand, dispersal of vector beetles, and spread pattern of pine wilt within a prefecture. The modeling of nematode spread over pine stands, which involves beetle reproduction within a pine stand, has been developing and should elucidate the factors influencing the rate at which the nematode range expands. In this review, we summarize the biologies of the nematode, beetle, and tree, and then characterize the spread of the nematode within a pine stand, locally over pine stands, and regionally over unit administrative districts. Local and regional spreading of the nematode is related primarily to long-distance dispersal by insect vectors and to the artificial transportation of pine logs infested with the nematode and its vector, respectively.     

Physiology and Molecular Characteristics of a Pine Wilt Nematode-Trapping Fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monacrosporium megalosporum</Emphasis>

We isolated the nematode-trapping fungus Monacrosporium megalosporum from nature and examined its morphology, physiology and molecular characteristics. The nematode-trapping device of this fungus is a three-dimensional network. This fungus captures the pine wilt nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), but not a non-phytopathogenic nematode that is morphologically similar to B. xylophilus. The phylogenic relationship of the nucleotide sequence of the rDNA ITS region was close to those of M. thaumasium and Geniculifera eudermata, which also have nematode-trapping devices that are three-dimensional networks. Acidic pH inhibited both the liberation and regeneration of protoplasts. Moreover, cytoplasmic granulation of protoplasts was found below pH 6.0. Mycelial growth on agar media was also inhibited below pH 4, but not at pH 9. These results strongly suggest that the activity of this fungus is inhibited by acid rain in the field. Therefore, development of pine wilt disease might be a secondary effect of acid rain.     

Influence of Soil Fumigation on the Fusarium-Root-knot Nematode Disease Complex of Cotton in California

For control of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, and the pathogenic wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, on cotton, soil fumigants were applied in the field at conventional and higher rates. Conventional rates suppressed Fusarium wilt but higher rates gave quicker early growth, better stands, less stand loss over the season, a lower percentage of plants infected with wilt, fewer plants with vascular discoloration, and fewer nematodes. The best treatment about doubled the yields of untreated controls in one experiment and quadrupled them in another.     

The Effect of Temperature on Symptom Expression and Colonization in Resistant and Susceptible Carnation Cultivars Infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi

Six commercial carnation cultivars were inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi race 2, and grown under three different temperature regimes. Colonization by the pathogen and development of wilt symptoms were assessed at intervals up to 40 days. No symptoms and very little colonization were seen in any of the cultivars at 14–15°C. At a temperature of 22°C, the cultivars were clearly differentiated into three groups: those with resistance, partial resistance or susceptibility to the pathogen depending on the severity of symptoms and the extent of fungal colonization. Symptom severity was associated with the extent of colonization. This differentiation was not seen at 26°C, when all cultivars except the most resistant, cv.‘Carrier 929′, rapidly became diseased and died by 23 days after inoculation. ‘Carrier 929’ also showed some wilt symptoms at this temperature and was colonized throughout the height of the stem after 40 days. The pathogen caused disease at 26°C by a combination of vascular wilting and stem base and root rotting. Fungal colonization was assayed at 22°C by the dilution plate/homogenization method and by estimation of fungal chitin in a highly resistant (‘Carrier 929′) and in a highly susceptible (‘Red Baron’) cultivar. Both methods of assay gave similar results. In ‘Red Baron’, colonization increased slowly up to 20 days after inoculation then progressed rapidly, closely following the development of severe wilt symptoms. In ‘Carrier 929’, colonization remained very low. The low level of fungal biomass in ‘Carrier 929’ compared with ‘Red Baron’ indicated that the former cultivar showed true resistance as opposed to tolerance to the disease.     

A Nondestructive Method of Determining Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Infestation of Monochamus spp. Vectors

Pine wilt is caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is transported to host trees in the trachea of Monochamus spp. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The study of the relationship between the nematode and its beetle vectors has been hampered by the inability to estimate nematode presence or density within live beetles. This report describes a rapid method for estimating nematode load within live M. carolinensis and M. alternatus by visual examination of the atrium of the first abdominal spiracle. Visual estimates of nematode numbers correlated highly with actual nematode numbers. This method is a timesaving technique for determining relative numbers of B. xylophilus in pine wilt research.     

Effect of Meloidogyne incognita,M. hapla,and M. javanica on the Severity of Fusarium Wilt of Chrysanthemum

Rooted cuttings of Chrysanthemum morifolium ''Yellow Delaware'' (Fusarium-susceptible) and ''White Iceberg'' (Fusarium-resistant) were greenhouse-grown in: (i) non-infested soil; (ii) soil infested with Fusarium oxysporum alone; (iii) soil infested with Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica or M. hapla; and (iv) each nematode separately plus the fungus. All nematode species infected roots of both cultivars and caused characteristic root-knot symptoms but did not appreciably affect growth meassured by plant weight. Nematodes did not break Fusarium wilt resistance of ''White Iceberg''; however, wilt symptoms appeared earlier and were more severe among ''Yellow Delaware'' plants inoculated with Meloidogyne javanica and F. oxysporum than with similar combinations of the fungus and M. incognita or M. hapla or with the fungus alone.     

Pine wilt disease as promising causal agent of the mass mortality of Pinus armandii Franch. var. amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima in the field

The causal agent of the mass mortality of field populations of Pinus armandii Franch. var. amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima (PAA) was investigated with special respect to the involvement of pine wilt disease. Wood chips, branches and/or increment cores for detecting the pinewood nematode, feeding marks of the vector insect and environmental stress in the past, respectively, were taken from live and dead PAA trees grown in three locations, Yaku-shima and Tanega-shima Islands and a plantation in Kagoshima City, from 1997 to 1998. Five trees died after the spring of 1996 and, of these, four were inhabited by the pinewood nematode. Feeding marks of the vector insects were found on the branches of all dead trees and most of the live trees investigated. These results suggest that the infection of pine wilt disease in PAA trees occurs in the field. Annual ring growth of the sample trees showed neither intervention nor growth reduction, which implies strong environmental stress that may cause mortality in PAA trees.     

Control of Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici using leaf extract of Piper betle L.: a preliminary study

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of crude chloroform extract of Piper betle L. (PbC) in controlling Fusarium wilt of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. It was observed that 1% (w/w) amendment of the PbC in soil was more efficient in reducing the Fusarium population in soil than carbendazim and the combined amendment of carbendazim and PbC. Fusarium wilt control studies were carried out in a greenhouse. Variation in different parameters like shoot growth, root growth and mean fresh weights of tomato seedlings in all the treatments were recorded. Accumulation of total phenolics was also studied from the root tissues of tomato. Higher accumulation of total phenolics was observed in the Fusarium-infested plants as compared to that of healthy control and PbC-treated plants. Moreover, it was observed that the extract could reduce the symptoms and disease development. Electron microscopy studies were also done to observe the Fusarium infestation in the vascular bundles and to show the accumulation of total phenolics in the vacuoles of root tissue.     

Verticillium wilt of cacao in Uganda: symptoms and establishment of pathogenicity

Pathogenicity tests have shown that Verticillium dahliae Kleb. causes a vascular wilt disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Uganda. Isolates of V. dahliae from cacao, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Medik.), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) induced similiar symptoms on artificially inoculated cacao seedlings. External symptoms of the disease include acute wilting, foliar chlorosis and abscission, stunting of roots and shoots, and production of suckers at lower nodes of severely affected plants. The internal symptoms are vascular discoloration, tylosis, and presence of gum deposits and mycelium of V. dahliae in xylem vessels.     

Bacteria associated with the pinewood nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</Emphasis> collected in Portugal

In this study, we report on the bacterial community associated with the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus from symptomatic pine wilted trees, as well as from long-term preserved B. xylophilus laboratory collection specimens, emphasizing the close bacteria–nematode associations that may contribute to pine wilt disease development.     

The effect of reduced phytoalexin production on the resistance of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to verticillium and fusarium wilts

The effect on disease development of inhibiting the production of the sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin hemigossypol (HG) in cotton resistant to both verticillium and fusarium wilts was investigated. Inhibition was achieved by treating the plants with the sodium salt of compactin, a competitive inhibitor of hydroxy-methylglutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase. Compactin treatment (150 μg litre^-1) reduced HG production by a mean of 48%. The enzyme inhibitor did not mimic symptoms in uninfected plants or significantly reduce the ability of the conidia of either Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum or Verticillium dahliae to germinate. Treatment of infected plants with compactin resulted in a breakdown of resistance to verticillium wilt but not to fusarium wilt. These results support the view that HG production is the primary mechanism of resistance to verticillium wilt, but not to fusarium wilt.