Genetic discontinuities and disequilibria in recently established populations of the plant pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis

Dispersal processes of fungal plant pathogens can be inferred from analysis of spatial genetic structures resulting from recent range expansion. The relative importance of long‐distance dispersal (LDD) events vs. gradual dispersal in shaping population structures depends on the geographical scale considered. The fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis, pathogenic on banana, is an example of a recent worldwide epidemic. Founder effects in this species were detected at both global and continental scale, suggesting stochastic spread of the disease through LDD events. In this study, we analysed the structure of M. fijiensis populations in two recently (∼1979–1980) colonized areas in Costa Rica and Cameroon. Isolates collected in 10–15 sites distributed along a ∼250‐ to 300‐ km‐long transect in each country were analysed using 19 microsatellite markers. We detected low‐to‐moderate genetic differentiation among populations in both countries and isolation by distance in Cameroon. Combined with historical data, these observations suggest continuous range expansion at the scale of banana‐production area through gradual dispersal of spores. However, both countries displayed specific additional signatures of colonization: a sharp discontinuity in gene frequencies was observed along the Cameroon transect, while the Costa Rican populations seemed not yet to have reached genetic equilibrium. These differences in the genetic characteristics of M. fijiensis populations in two recently colonized areas are discussed in the light of historical data on disease spread and ecological data on landscape features.     

Analysis of aMusa spp. somaclonal variant resistant to yellow Sigatoka

Somaclonal variant CIEN BTA-03 resistant to yellow Sigatoka was obtained from a susceptible banana clone (Williams clone), by increasing the production of adventitious buds using 6-Belcilaminopurine at high concentrations. This somaclone has exhibited yellow Sigatoka resistance in the field for five consecutive years of asexual reproduction. We used RAPD markers to generate characteristic “fingerprints” for each probe, concluding that they are reliable tools for evaluating the genetic variability ofMusa regenerants obtained byin vitro culture.     

Relations entre production et localisation de mycosporine et morphogenèses reproductrices chez le Pyrénomycète Gnomonia leptostyla

Relations between production and localisation of mycosporin and reproductive morphogenesis in the Pyrenomycete Gnomonia leptostyla.
The production of mycosporin (P310) has been analysed in Gnomonia leptostyla (FT.) Ces. et de Not. during mycelial growth and reproductive morphogenesis (macroconidiogenesis, microconidiogenesis and differentiation of perithecia). Conidiogenesis is induced in illuminated cultures while darkness promotes perithecial development. At 20°C, the cultures produce either macroconidia or perithecia with abortive sporophyte. Microconidia differentiation and perithecia maturation require low temperature (10°C). Mycosporin is, at all times, present in the thallus. However, the concentration of mycosporin in highest in the conidiogenous thallus, intermediate in the perithecial thallus. and lowest in the vegetative mycelium. In the conidiogenous thallus, macroconidia and microconidia are both sites of mycosporin accumulation. On the contrary, in the perithecial thallus, mycosporin levels are not higher in perithecia than in mycelia, even during their maturation period. The quantitative variations of mycosporin during the thallus development and its accumulation inside conidia suggest translocation from sites of synthesis towards reproductive cells.     

Enhanced pathogenicity of Leptosphaeria maculans Pycnidiospores from paired co-inoculation of Brassica napus cotyledons with ascospores

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Blackleg, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, is a major disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) worldwide, including Australia. In most cases, the severity of the disease in the field is related to infections caused by airborne ascospores. In contrast, pycnidiospores originating from leaf and stem lesions and stubble are widely assumed to play only a relatively minor role in the epidemiology of blackleg. It is not clear whether, under certain conditions, pycnidiospores can cause severe disease in the field. The aim of the work reported was to determine if the pathogenicity of pycnidiospores is enhanced by paired co-inoculation of B. napus cotyledons with ascospores. METHODS: Three investigations were carried out under controlled-environment conditions using various L. maculans isolates and B. napus cultivars with different levels of host resistance to blackleg. KEY RESULTS: In all three experiments, co-inoculation with ascospores increased the ability of pycnidiospores to cause more disease on B. napus than when inoculations consisted of pycnidiospores alone. This effect was significantly influenced by the host resistance of the cultivar, but overall was independent of the L. maculans isolate used in the different experiments. This effect was also independent of timing of inoculation with the ascospores, with increased disease from pycnidiospores occurring on the cotyledon of the seedling in situations where inoculations with ascospores were carried out 0, 1 or 2 d after pycnidiospore inoculation. This enhanced pathogenicity of pycnidiospores was evident even when low concentrations of pycnidiospores were applied to the other cotyledon of the same seedling. CONCLUSIONS: These results may explain continuing severe blackleg disease cycles throughout the cropping season even when ascospore fallout was low or constrained only to a brief period or phase of the cropping season, and suggest that disease epidemics may be polycyclic rather than monocyclic.     

中国污核衣属地衣(污核衣科)四个新记录种

报道了中国污核衣科Porinaceae污核衣属Porina地衣的4个新记录种,分别是小溪污核衣P.fluminea、黄褐污核衣P.fulvella、四室污核衣P.tetramera和萨氏污核衣P.thaxteri.提供了各种的形态描述、形态及解剖照片.研究标本采自山东、贵州、广东及海南等地,保存于中国科学院菌物标本馆(...     

Movement ofMycosphaerella fijiensis spores and sigatoka disease development on plantain close to an inoculum source

Investigations into the short-distance dispersal of ascospores and conidia ofMycosphaerella fijiensis and subsequent disease development, from point sources of inoculum, were carried out in a small plot of 100 initially uninfected plantain plants in Costa Rica during 1995. Plants were examined every 4 days from the time of planting in early May for the first appearance of disease symptoms. After 3 months, all plants were infected. Levels of inoculum within the plot were monitored with spore traps and weather data were collected. Results suggested that Black Sigatoka disease was spread on the wind, with conidia ofM. fijiensis probably responsible for short-distance dispersal and ascospores for spread of the disease over longer distances. No evidence was found to support splash dispersal of these spores.     

印度东北部白垩纪-第三纪Xylariaceae化石孢子

在印度东北部白垩纪-第三纪沉积中发现了各种类型单沟无隔壁的Xylariaceae化石孢子,例如:Hypoxylonites,Spirotremesporites.Hypaxylonites等共计15种,其中6新种,它们是Hypoxylonites bhubanensis,H.elsikii,H.minimus,H.neogenicus,H.subrotundus和H.thindii,Hypoxylonites在本地区一般出现于晚白垩世地层中,占化石微体植物群总数的3%-4%,而在始新世它们的含量上升到植物群总数的20%-25%,从中新世直到早上新世这类孢子类型最多,含量最高,达植物群总数的40%-45%,到晚上新世含量突然下降,而Spirotremesporites在白垩纪未发现,到晚始新世时才出现,仅占孢粉总数的5%-6%,中新世时达25%-30%,到上新世末衰落,该属含5新种,Spirotremespores ellipticus,S.longilentus,S.miocenicus,S.reniformis,S.tertiarus.考虑到和这些种共生的Xylaria,Hypoxylon,Rosellinia及Daldina的孢子以及它们的地层分布,这类孢子的演化历史可能是受沉积盆地附近的古气候控制的.     

印度块菌子囊果内部解剖结构的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电镜对成熟印度块菌子囊果的内部结构进行了观察,以系统揭示其子囊果内部组织特征,为块菌属的分类以及块菌属真菌子囊果的生理研究奠定基础。观察结果进一步证明,成熟印度块菌子囊果横切面上的白色迷宫状脉络是由不育的侧丝构成,而暗脉则是被侧丝缠绕并包裹着的可育的菌丝组织,即产孢组织,这些白色脉络和暗脉就构成了印度块菌子囊果横切面上迷宫状的纹脉;产孢组织中,可观察到正在发育的大大小小的子囊被缠绕在一起的大量产囊丝与侧丝包裹着,形成密密麻麻微小的类似蜂巢状结构;子囊孢子游离于子囊中,成熟子囊孢子表面有刺状纹饰,刺的顶端有小弯钩。单个子囊内含的子囊孢子大小与其内含的子囊孢子数目有关,子囊内所含的子囊孢子越多,子囊孢子就越小。     

昆明地区印度块菌子囊果的解剖结构研究

通过印度块菌子囊果石蜡切片的显微观察,对印度块菌子囊果包被及子实层的显微结构、子囊及子囊孢子的发育过程进行研究.结果表明:(1)印度块菌子囊果是由包被和子实层构成,子囊果的表面密被大量大小不一的疣状突起,包被由外皮层和内皮层构成;子实层由封闭的、大小不一的产孢组织构成,在产孢组织中包含有侧丝、产囊丝、子囊和子囊内的子囊孢子;(2)成熟印度块菌子囊果横切面上有明暗相间的迷宫状纹脉;(3)子囊卵形,由产囊丝顶端的细胞发育而来;(4)成熟子囊孢子红褐色,椭圆形至近球形不等,子囊孢子双层壁,外壁密布有刺状纹饰.子囊孢子在子囊内的发育过程中常出现败育现象,每个成熟子囊中含有1～5个子囊孢子(常见4个).     

Airborne spore loads and mesoscale dispersal of the fungal pathogens causing Sigatoka diseases in banana and plantain

The mesoscale dispersal of ascospores and conidia of the fungal pathogenMycosphaerella fijiensis, causing Black Sigatoka disease in banana and plantain, was investigated under field conditions in Costa Rica. Spores were sampled daily during the period April–August 1995, using three volumetric spore traps positioned in a 5 km straight line across the floor and up one side of a valley, to an elevation of 1000 m. The number of spores in each trap suggested that spores were not being released from nearby sources, but that they may have been transported from inoculum sources up to 40 km away. The implications of this when assessing the longer-distance transport of viable spores to new infection sites are discussed.