OBSERVATIONS ON THE INFECTION OF COX'S ORANGE PIPPIN APPLES BY GLOEOSPORIUM PERENNANS ZELLER & CHILDS

Conidia of Gloeosporium perennans germinating on the surface of Cox's Orange Pippin apples in the orchard, produce a germ tube which generally swells to form a thick-walled appressorium. If the underlying tissues are not suberized the appressorium then produces an infection thread which penetrates the wall of the epidermal cell. If the underlying tissue is suberized no infection thread is formed. Subsequent rotting takes place either by penetration via a point of weakness in the suberized layer of cells across the lenticel as in Cox's Orange Pippin or by direct invasion of this layer as in the variety Sunset. Some lenticels have been observed where the suberized layer has not formed.
Fruit infected in August and September rots at a greater rate than fruit infected in June and July of the same year. In years when susceptibility to rotting is high, infections initiated in July may develop more rapidly than those initiated later in the season in a year when susceptibility to rotting is relatively low. The rate of rotting has been found to increase with the size of fruit.     

Freckle disease of banana in Hawaii caused by Phyllostictina musarum (Cke.) Petr

‘Freckle’ (‘black-spot’ disease) of bananas is common on leaves and fruit of Dwarf Cavendish and other varieties in Hawaii, especially after rainy periods. On fruit, symptoms may appear 2–4 weeks after the bunch has opened, and become more severe as maturity is approached. The disease is usually confined to older leaves on affected plants. Freckled tissue contains numerous pycnidia of Phyllostictina musarum and disease was experimentally induced by inoculating leaves and fruit with conidia of this fungus. This appears to be the first record of successful inoculation with P. musarum. Conidia of P. musarum germinate after 3–6 h in a film of water on banana peel, appressoria being formed after 18–30 h. Penetration of the epidermis occurs 24–96 h after inoculation, and is brought about by an infection hypha which grows from the appressorium. The progressive increase in severity of freckle as fruit matures is due to repeated infection by further conidia of P. musarum, rather than to enlargement of original infections. Some banana clones, including Gros Michel, appear to be resistant to the fungus Dispersal of P. musarum conidia immediately after discharge from the pycnidium is chiefly by rainwater and dew. Secondary infections contribute greatly to the total number of infections. Conidium dispersal by water often results in the development of characteristic patterns of spotting, chiefly in the form of streaks or circular areas, coinciding with the directions of movement of rainwater and dew. Large numbers of conidia of P. musarum are washed on to fruit in rainwater and dew running from diseased, overhead leaves.     

The development of Botrytis cinerea on cut flowers of carnation

Enclosing carnation blooms in polythene increased rotting associated with naturally occurring Botrytis infections and accelerated the rate of conidia development when flowers were artificially inoculated before being stored at 1·7 °C. Petal infections were observed 16 and 48 h after inoculation and incubation at 18·3 and 1·7 °C respectively. The products of exosmosis from petals kept at 18·3 °C for 7 days stimulated germination of B. cinerea conidia. Slight pectic enzyme activity was detected in a liquid medium, derived from carnation petals, after incubating B. cinerea cultures at 18·3 °C for 6 days. Although cultures of Botrytis evolved virtually no ethylene, the surge of ethylene produced by uncontaminated ageing flowers occurred sooner after inoculation. A spray containing 1·2% a.i. of 2-aminobutane controlled rotting but damaged flowers.     

Susceptibility of apples to infection by Gloeosporium album

A rain simulator was used to show that the susceptibility of apples to infection by conidia of Gloeosporium album was markedly influenced by the amount of water falling on the fruit prior to inoculation. The rate of infection by G. perennans was also increased by this treatment.     

The infection of apples by Phytophthora syringae

Contamination with infected soil has led to high wastage of apples in storage due to rotting by Phytophthora syringae. At 3-3 ^oC lesions formed 3–4 wk after inoculation with zoospores; the percentage infection fell if the suspensions dried after 48 h at this temperature and after 22 h at 15 ^oC. Infected soil rotted fruit only if kept moist; at 3-3 ^oC a 3-day period of wetness resulted in 37-5% rotting after 8 wk. Fruit dipped in soil slurry remained wet in some parts of a 4361(12 bushel) bin for at least 3 wk. There was a 10-fold increase in rotting by contact between sound and rotting fruit after 11 wk at 3-3 ^oC. Captan gave effective protection against rotting derived from zoospores or infected soil; it had no eradicant action.     

THE ROTTING OF APPLES BY GLOEOSPORIUM PERENNANS ZELLER & CHILDS

The extent of rotting of commercially stored Cox's Orange Pippin apples by Gloeosporium species has been severe in recent years. G. perennans has been found to be mainly responsible.
Tree infections of this fungus have usually been found to be prevalent in the orchards on farms where storage losses of fruit have occurred, and conidia of G. perennans have been found on cankers at all seasons during the year. Winter as well as summer pruning cuts have been found to become infected. Detached leaves of Cox's Orange Pippin have been successfully inoculated with G. perennans in the laboratory and the fungus has also been found on dead detached leaves in the orchard after picking time. Considerable variations have been found in the susceptibility to rotting of samples of different varieties of apple and samples of Cox's Orange Pippin apples from different orchards. Periodic loading of fruit with spores after picking has shown that resistance declines with length of storage. Wide variation in the time at which rotting commences in commercially stored samples has been observed. A series of inoculations on picked and unpicked immature fruit has shown that the apple loses its resistance to attack on picking. Lenticels which are impermeable to gaseous exchange have been shown to be resistant to penetration by the fungus. Temperature affects the development of lenticel rotting by G. perennans , infection being most rapid at temperatures of about 20°. Rotting can occur at 0° C.     

Susceptibility of nymphs and adults of Diaphorina citri to the entomophathogenic fungus Hirsutella citriformis

The susceptibility of nymphs and adults of Diaphorina citri to infection by Hirsutella citriformis was evaluated. We also studied the ability of adult D. citri that had been contaminated with fungal conidia to transmit infection to nymphs. Diaphorina citri nymphs were more susceptible than adults. Adults were not able to transmit conidia to nymphs and cause infection.     

Infection of red raspberry styles and carpels by Botrytis cinerea and its possible role in post-harvest grey mould

The gynecium was selected for histological studies of infection of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) flowers in the laboratory because it is one of several possible infection sites leading to fruit grey mould. Infection of emasculated flowers occurred when dry conidia were dusted on to receptive stigmas. The conidia germinated in the stigmatic fluid of both non-pollinated flowers and flowers pollinated before inoculation, their germ tubes then penetrated the stigma and hyphae grew intercellularly through the transmitting tissues of the style to enter the carpel within 7 days. The possible roles of stylar infections and endophytic mycelium are discussed in the context of grey mould development.     

The use of heat to control the rotting of Cox's Orange Pippin apples by Gloeosporium spp

Dipping in warm water successfully reduced the incidence of infection of Cox's Orange Pippin apples by Gloeosporium spp. Treatment of fruit loaded after harvest with spores of G. perennans was most successful if carried out 3–9 days after inoculation; later treatment was less effective. Infection taking place late in the growing season was relatively more susceptible to treatment than infections established on less mature fruit. Steam/air mixtures provided a successful, alternative source of heat; accelerated cooling after treatment with such mixtures did not reduce their effect. Browning of the skin and increased incidence of rotting by Penicillium spp. may follow heat treatment. With liquid cultures heat has a greater effect on germinated than on ungerminated spores and over the range of temperatures used for treating apples results in delayed fungal development rather than eradication.     

Cellular and humoral immune defenses of Oxya japonica (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae

One Indonesian isolate of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, named Majalengka strain, was evaluated not only for its virulence but also for the immune response of rice grasshopper Oxya japonica (Orthoptera: Acrididae) as a target organism. Five aqueous suspensions with different conidia concentrations in logarithmic series were prepared. The fungus showed high virulence as it caused 100% mortality at low conidia concentration (1.5 × 10² conidia/mL). Remarkable changes in the cellular and humoral responses were also observed when adult grasshoppers were infected with the fungus. The number of hemocytes decreased significantly within 12 h after infection. In addition, the total number of granulocytes increased rapidly in the first 12 h then gradually decreased 24 and 48 h after infections, while the number of coagulocytes fluctuated over time. The infection influenced the humoral response by increasing the phenoloxidase activity.     

Epidemiology of eyespot (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides) on winter wheat, with particular reference to the period of infection

The period of infection by Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides was investigated by transplanting winter wheat from uninfested to infested sites at Cambridge. Maximum infection was found on plants moved between November and March; most conidia were trapped during winter but infection was not closely related to the numbers of conidia. Plants exposed at intervals on infested land and incubated in a standard environment became infected throughout the period from October to July; infection was not closely related to the numbers of conidia trapped or plant age, but was positively correlated with the number of wet days/wk. Thus, while enough P. herpotrichoides conidia were dispersed throughout the life of winter wheat crops to cause substantial infection, environmental factors limited the development of new infections from April onwards. Practical implications of these results for the choice of sowing date, the development of resistant varieties, and fungicide use, are discussed.     

Influence of substrate and relative humidity on the efficacy of three entomopathogenic fungi for the hide beetle,Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera,Dermestidae)

Dermestes maculatus De Geer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is a carrion feeder that is also a pest of poultry houses, museums, silkworm culture, and many stored foods. The Hypocreales, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff), and Isaria fumosorosea Wize, were tested for efficacy against D. maculatus larvae on concrete, plastic, leather, and wood surfaces. Only wood had a significant negative effect on efficacy, and B. bassiana was the most efficacious species. The conidia of all three species lost viability quickly on wood with various responses on the other surfaces. When beetle larvae were exposed to deposited B. bassiana and incubated at 43, 56, 75, or 82% relative humidity, mortality was greatest at the lowest humidity suggesting enhancement of fungal infection by desiccation stress. The results indicate that entomopathogenic Hypocreales, especially B. bassiana, may be useful for control of hide beetles when applied at a low dose to surfaces that do not impact the viability of conidia.     

Pustules on wood as sources of inoculum in apple scab and their response to chemical treatments

The green stems and leaves of potted Cox's Orange Pippin trees were susceptible to infection by Venturia inaequalis from June to August. Some isolates of the fungus showed conspicuous ability to attack the wood. In the orchard, many conidia were released from pustules in early March (2—3 wk before bud-burst) but in the 3 years examined (1967—9) most were liberated in April and May. In 1969 it was shown that a decline in numbers in June was accompanied by a decrease in viability of conidia. Infections near the tips of leading shoots were partially controlled by a single treatment with 5% urea (aqueous solution) in October 1966 or 2% urea or 0·01% phenylmercuric chloride (PMC) in March 1967. The subsequent reduction in inoculum was correlated with a reduction in the numbers of primary infections developing on leaves. Basal infections on leading shoots were not susceptible to treatment in October 1967 or March 1968, but in 1969 similar infections were controlled with PMC applied mid-April when the pustules had burst and were actively sporulating.     

Wetting and temperature requirements for infection of mature apples by Venturia inaequalis in South Africa*

Conidia of Venturia inaequalis were used to inoculate mature (picking ripe stage) Granny Smith fruit in greenhouse inoculation chambers and in the orchard. Wetting periods necessary for fruit infection were longer than those previously reported for leaves, while continuous wetting was followed by heavier infection than intermittent wetting. Temperatures during storage affected symptom development and the degree of infection was greatly influenced by the inoculum potential (number of conidia). At high inoculum potentials and with infection indices [fruit wetting period (h) × mean temperature (°C)] of 440–600, 601–1000 and >1000 subsequent disease development was ‘light’, ‘moderate’ and ‘heavy’, respectively if fruit was unprotected by fungicides. It was concluded that after conditions favouring infection, fruit should not be stored for long periods, but should be marketed for consumption immediately after harvest.     

Antifungal effects of dimethyl trisulfide against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection on mango

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, one of the main agents of mango anthracnose, causes latent infections in unripe mango and can lead to huge losses during fruit storage and transport. Dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) is an antifungal agent produced by several microorganisms or plants, but its effects on the infection process of C. gloeosporioides have not been well characterized. A histological investigation demonstrated that DMTS exhibits strong inhibitory effects on the infection process of C. gloeosporioides in planta by inhibiting the germination of conidia and formation of appressoria, damaging cytoplasm to cause cells to vacuolate and contributing to deformation of appressoria prior to penetration. This is the first study to demonstrate antifungal activity of DMTS against C. gloeosporioides on mango by suppression of the infection process, thus providing a novel postharvest biorational control for mango anthracnose.     

A model for estimating infection levels of anthracnose disease of mango

Anthracnose disease of mango caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides var. minor, spreads by water-borne conidia from vegetative parts of the tree to attack inflorescences and prevent fruit set. An analysis of data from laboratory studies demonstrated that infection by conidia during wet periods was related both to the temperature and to the duration of the wet period. A model was used to estimate infection levels of anthracnose disease in two mango orchards over three seasons. The number of infection periods recorded and the estimated percentage of conidia forming appressoria in these periods matched disease development during flush growth and flowering. In 1980, only two infection periods were detected during flowering in one of these orchards and blossom blight did not prevent fruit set. In 1981 and 1982 however, higher estimated levels of infection were recorded more frequently during the same time and severe blossom blight developed. A second orchard, situated in an area less favourable to disease, was also monitored during 1982. Nine infection periods were recorded during flowering in this orchard compared to 14 in the first. A moderate level of blossom blight developed in this orchard.     

Infection byBeauveria bassiana ofLeptinotarsa decemlineata larvae as a consequence of fecal contamination of the integument followingper os inoculation

A study ofper os inoculated larvae was undertaken to determine if the entomopathogenic fungus,Beauveria bassiana, is able to infect the Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata, via the alimentary tract. Surface orper os inoculated larvae which were immediately surface sterilized post inoculation did not succumb to infection, whereas those larvae not sterilized became infected. Histological studies of fed or starved, agnotobiotic (with microbial flora) and axenic larvae revealed that conidia can germinate in the gut regardless of the presence of gut microflora. However, infection via the alimentary tract was never observed in fed larvae and only noted in a single starved individual. It is concluded that infections ofper os inoclated larvae occurred after surface contamination of the integument by viable conidia contained in the frass. The rate of food passage through the gut is probably important in preventingper os infections.     

The life-history and epidemiology of American gooseberry mildew on black currants

It is shown that conidia of Sphaerotheca mors-uvae (Schw.) Berk, from gooseberry readily infect black currant; therefore it is unlikely that a new race of S. mors-uvae specifically pathogenic to black currants has recently appeared. However, the life-cycle on black currants differs from that on gooseberry. Incubation, infection and sporulation of the fungus have been examined under the optimum conditions of 18 °C and 100% relative humidity. The establishment of infections and sporulation was encouraged by a relatively low soil moisture content, temperatures above 15 °C, 60% relative humidity and good illumination-factors which promote vigorous plant growth. High phosphorus and high potassium nutrition also increased the susceptibility of black currants to infection.     

Airborne Aspergillus fumigatus conidia: a risk factor for aspergillosis

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes invasive aspergillosis, a usually fatal infection. The disease has risen in prominence in recent years due to the increasing numbers of severely immunocompromised patients becoming infected. The fungus is ubiquitous in the environment, producing large numbers of conidia that are dispersed in the air. Humans inhale numerous conidia everyday, but infections are not seen in healthy individuals. As inhalation of conidia is the main route of infection, considerable efforts are required to prevent infection in susceptible patients. This review summarises the current knowledge on airborne concentrations of A. fumigatus conidia, their background levels in outdoor air and seasonal distribution patterns. New and established methods of air sampling for airborne A. fumigatus conidia are discussed. Common environmental sources of the fungus are reviewed, including its presence in compost heaps. Finally, the lack of stringent guidelines on the monitoring and control of airborne A. fumigatus concentrations in hospitals is discussed.