New Races of Sunflower Downy Mildew (Plasmopara Halstedii) in Germany

Plasmopara halstedii, the causal agent of downy mildew of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus), was documented in Germany for the first time in commercial fields. The pathogen was first observed in the Württemberg area, where races 1 and 4 were identified using a set of differential lines. Later, commericial fields near Baden were found to be infected by race 5, which is the first occurrence of that race outside of North America. Withthe discovery of race 5, there are now eight races of the sunflower downy mildew fungus that have been found in Europe. The sunflower cultivars most frequently grown in Germany were investigated for resistance to race 1, 4 and 5; while all were resistant to race 1, none were resistant to either race, 4 or 5.     

New Races of the Sunflower Downy Mildew Pathogen (Plasmopara halstedii) in Europe and North and South America

Collections of the causal agent of sunflower downy mildew (Plasmopara balstedii) (PH) from several European and North and South American countries were used to inoculate a series of sunflower inbred lines to differentiate races. Race 3 was identified from Argentina; race 4 from France, Hungary, and Bulgaria; race 6 from Canada and France; and race 7 from Argentina. This is the first report of race 3 in South America and of race 4 in Europe, and is the first identification of races 6 and 7. Reactions of USDA lines RHA-274, RHA-325, and DM-2 differentiate races 2, 6, and 7, with RHA-274 resistant to all three. Thirty-three commercial hybrids from 11 countries were tested; 70 % were resistant to race 2, only 27 % had resistance to race 6, and none were resistant to race 4. Surveys to determine the relative proportions of the various races within each country are needed to assess their potential impact. The USDA lines HA-335, HA-336, HA-337, HA-338, HA-339, RHA-340, HA-R4, and HA-R5 are resistant to all seven mildew races and could be utilized for the production of PH resistant hybrids. For the short term, it appears that seed treatment with metalaxyl may be the most effective control.     

A Method to Measure Aggressiveness of Plasmopara halstedii (Sunflower Downy Mildew)

For the first time, a method was used to measure aggressiveness of two Plasmopara halstedii races (100 and 710), the parasite causing sunflower downy mildew. Two sunflower lines showing different levels of quantitative resistance were used to measure two aggressiveness criteria: latent period and sporulation density. A strain of race 100 had a shorter latent period and greater sporulation density than a strain of race 710. The sunflower inbred line BT, rather susceptible in the field, presented a greater sporulation density and a shorter latent period than another inbred line FU, which shows greater resistance in the field. These results indicated that race 100 was more aggressive than race 710. The behaviour in the field of the two inbred lines was confirmed in the laboratory observations.     

Histopathological Studies of Resistance of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to Downy Mildew (Plasmopara halstedii)

Histopathological studies of the infection of sunflower seedlings by downy mildew ( Plasmopara halstedii ) have shown that penetration of roots and the lower part of the hypocotyl occurs for both compatible combinations (suseptibility) and incompatible combinations (resistance). After penetrating susceptible genotypes, the parasite develops intercellular hyphae and intracellular haustoria, leading to systemic invasion. In contrast, in resistant plants, as soon as colonization develops, hypersensitive-like reactions occur in the parenchyma, with the appearance of necrotic zones surrounded by dividing cells. Growth of the parasite is strongly inhibited and most hyphae are blocked before they reach the cotyledonary node.     

Isolation of Oospores of Sunflower Downy Mildew, Plasmopara halstedii, and Microscopical Studies on Oospore Germination

A method was elaborated to isolate oospores of Plasmopara halstedii from tissue of its host, Helianthus annuus . Isolated oospores were studied microscopically and germination was documented with respect to the time course and the mode of germination. Formation of primary sporangia was similarly observed in oospores, harvested from 4- to 6-week-old systemically infected sunflower plants, grown under constant conditions at 16°C, as well as from field plants, harvested late in the season. Pretreatment of oospores with cold temperatures, previously assumed to stimulate the rate and to accelerate the speed of oospore germination, did not result in such effects. Germination usually occurred within 10–30 days of incubation at a highly variable rate of about 1 to 17% (average 6.7%) in deionized water.     

Effect of Host-race Combination on Resistance of Sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., to Downy Mildew Plasmopara balstedii

Study of resistance of sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., to downy mildew, Plasmopara halstedii , shows that both susceptible and resistant seedlings are always infected by the fungus, then hypersensitive-like reactions occur in the parenchyma and necroses form around the parasite. Comparison of 21 incompatible combinations (resistance) shows that the extent of the fungus growth differs according to the host-race combination. With type I resistance, the fungus is limited to the roots andthe lower part of the hypocotyl. With the type II resistance, the fungus grows throughout the whole length of the hypocotyl and may sporulate on the cotyledons.     

Presence of Sunflower Downy Mildew in an Integrated Weed Control Field Trial

Surveys were carried out during May–June 2004 to investigate the presence of sunflower plants (cv. Sanbro) showing systemic downy mildew infections in an experimental field located in central Italy (Umbria) where chemical and mechanical weed control measures were being compared. Race characterization of Plasmopara helianthi isolates, using the triplet coding system, resulted in race 703. Furthermore, greenhouse and laboratory experiments on the sensitivity of pathogen isolates to metalaxyl revealed an insufficient seed dressing of the commercial hybrid compared with the registered rate and a decreased sensitivity of P. helianthi isolates to metalaxyl. Besides, an increase of the disease incidence following some mechanical weed control measures was also noted. Plasmopara helianthi attacks could probably be attributed to agronomic (short crop rotation), phytosanitary (insufficient seed dressing) and genetic (lack of resistance genes) factors influenced by favourable climatic conditions.     

Mutants of Downy Mildew Resistance in Lactuca Sativa (Lettuce)

As part of our investigation of disease resistance in lettuce, we generated mutants that have lost resistance to Bremia lactucae, the casual fungus of downy mildew. Using a rapid and reliable screen, we identified 16 distinct mutants of Latuca sativa that have lost activity of one of four different downy mildew resistance genes (Dm). In all mutants, only a single Dm specificity was affected. Genetic analysis indicated that the lesions segregated as single, recessive mutations at the Dm loci. Dm3 was inactivated in nine of the mutants. One of five Dm1 mutants was selected from a population of untreated seeds and therefore carried a spontaneous mutation. All other Dm1, Dm3, Dm5/8 and Dm7 mutants were derived from γ- or fast neutron-irradiated seed. In two separate Dm1 mutants and in each of the eight Dm3 mutants analyzed, at least one closely linked molecular marker was absent. Also, high molecular weight genomic DNA fragments that hybridized to a tightly linked molecular marker in wild type were either missing entirely or were truncated in two of the Dm3 mutants, providing additional evidence that deletions had occurred in these mutants. Absence of mutations at loci epistatic to the Dm genes suggested that such loci were either members of multigene families, were critical for plant survival, or encoded components of duplicated pathways for resistance; alternatively, the genes determining downy mildew resistance might be limited to the Dm loci.     

An Attempt to Predict Response of Sunflowers to Races of Plasmopara halstedii Using Cultured Sunflower Cells

Cultured sunflower cells reacted alike to inoculation in compatible and incompatible combinations with three races of Plasmopara halstedii, cause of downy mildew. Infection structures formed on the surfaces of cells derived from both resistant and susceptible sunflowers, but no intracellular fungal structures or other signs of penetration were evident in either case. There was no indication of a hypersensitive reaction (rapid death) in cells within 20 h of inoculation in incompatible combinations. The reaction of cells in culture was not like that of intact plants in either compatible or incompatible combinations.     

Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) epidemics on grapevine under climate change

As climate is a key agro‐ecosystem driving force, climate change could have a severe impact on agriculture. Many assessments have been carried out to date on the possible effects of climate change (temperature, precipitation and carbon dioxide concentration changes) on plant physiology. At present however, likely effects on plant pathogens have not been investigated deeply. The aim of this work was to simulate future scenarios of downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) epidemics on grape under climate change, by combining a disease model to output from two general circulation models (GCMs). Model runs corresponding to the SRES‐A2 emissions scenario, characterized by high projections of both population and greenhouse gas emissions from present to 2100, were chosen in order to investigate impacts of worst‐case scenarios, among those currently available from IPCC. Three future decades were simulated (2030, 2050, 2080), using as baseline historical series of meteorological data collected from 1955 to 2001 in Acqui Terme, an important grape‐growing area in the north‐west of Italy. Both GCMs predicted increase of temperature and decrease of precipitation in this region. The simulations obtained by combining the disease model to the two GCM outputs predicted an increase of the disease pressure in each decade: more severe epidemics were a direct consequence of more favourable temperature conditions during the months of May and June. These negative effects of increasing temperatures more than counterbalanced the effects of precipitation reductions, which alone would have diminished disease pressure. Results suggested that, as adaptation response to future climate change, more attention would have to be paid in the management of early downy mildew infections; two more fungicide sprays were necessary under the most negative climate scenario, compared with present management regimes. At the same time, increased knowledge on the effects of climate change on host–pathogen interactions will be necessary to improve current predictions.     

黄瓜霜霉病抗性遗传分析

通过2个抗感杂交组合,采用多世代联合的分离分析方法研究了黄瓜霜霉病抗性的遗传机制.结果显示,2个组合的最适遗传模型分别是2对加性-显性-上位性主基因 加性-显性-上位性多基因模型和2对等加性主基因 加性-显性多基因模型.组合I最优模型的主基因遗传率是56.84%~87.16%,多基因遗传率是0~34.93%;2个主基因的加性效应均为-15.191,加性效应较强,显性效应较弱,它们之间的加性与加性和加性与显性上位性效应较强.组合Ⅱ最优模型的主基因和多基因遗传率分别为48.92%和42.11%;2个主基因的加性效应皆为-13.505,显性效性均为0,它们之间不存在互作效应.结果表明,黄瓜霜霉病抗性,以加性效应为主,主基因遗传力较高,但是微效多基因效应也占相当的比重,所以,在霜霉病抗性育种中,要重视主基因,同时兼顾多基因效应.     

Control of Downy Mildew, Plasmopara viticola (de Bary) Berlese et de Toni, on Grapevine Leaves through Water Extracts from Composted Organic Wastes

Watery extracts of composted manure-straw-soil mixtures induced increased resistance of grapevine leaves against downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola, if applied by dipping or spraying. The extracts had no direct fungicidal or fungitoxic effects.