Screening of mulberry germplasm lines against Powdery mildew,Myrothecium leaf spot and Pseudocercospora leaf spot disease complex

Abstract

Fifty-six indigenous and 29 exotic mulberry varieties were screened against powdery mildew, Myrothecium leaf spot, Pseudocercospora leaf spot for a period of three years under field conditions. The percent disease index (PDI) was recorded during the peak season of the diseases. Out of 85 germplasm lines studied four-germplasm lines viz. Thailand lobed (0.43), M. multicaulis (2.63), Italian (2.83) and M. australis (4.56) were found highly resistant; nine lines were resistant; 43 lines were moderately resistant and 29 were susceptible to the disease complex. Powdery mildew showed significant positive correlation with Pseudocercospora leaf spot. Highly resistant varieties may be utilized for future disease resistance breeding programme to evolve multiple disease resistant mulberry varieties.     

Pathogenesis of mulberry leaf spot in response to meteorological aspects of Kashmir,India

In this study, the influence of climatic factors on the development of leaf spot diseases of mulberry (Morus alba L.) in Kashmir, India was studied. It was found that the highest disease incidence and severity of Goshoerami variety was found in tree type (13.86% and 1.98%) followed by dwarf (7.53% and 1.67%) and bush (3.38% and 0.99%), respectively. Due to infection of pathogen, the relative water content and chlorophyll content of leaves were consistently decreased. The order of reduction in relative water content of infected leaves was found as: bush?>?dwarf?>?tree, while as the reduction in chlorophyll content: bush?>?tree?>?dwarf. It was also found that temperature of 25–30?°C and relative humidity of above 80% favoured the development of the disease. Rapid development of disease was found during the month of June, July and August when average temperature and relative humidity was about 25–30°C and 80%, respectively.     

A novel strain of Pseudozyma aphidis from mulberry parasitises the conidia of mulberry powdery mildew fungus Phyllactinia sp. and its biocontrol effect in the fields

Plant surface is colonised with a vast community of non-pathogenic epiphytic microorganisms which play an important role in host defence. In the present study, we reported a fungus from mulberry leaf surface that showed an antagonistic effect against mulberry powdery mildew fungal pathogen Phyllactinia sp. This novel isolate is a yeast-like fungus that was identified as Pseudozyma aphidis CNm2012 based on morphologic and phylogenetic analysis. According to our research, P. aphidis CNm2012 directly acted on the powdery mildew conidia via parasitism which caused conidial atrophy, collapse and eventually, cleavage and death. During the parasitic process, we found the isolate could gather around the conidia of Phyllactinia sp. and form hyphae that grew on the conidial surface and utilise the conidia as a nutrient source. Field studies revealed that P. aphidis CNm2012 could suppress the disease incidence of mulberry powdery mildew caused by Phyllactinia sp., and reduce the disease severity. To our knowledge, it is the first report of P. aphidis directly against powdery mildew fungus Phyllactinia spp. by parasitism. Our results indicated that P. aphidis CNm2012 could be served as an environmentally friendly alternative of chemical pesticides to manage mulberry powdery mildew disease.     

苦瓜叶片结构与白粉病抗性的关系

以不同抗白粉病的苦瓜品系幼苗为材料,对它们的叶片及上下表皮厚度、栅栏组织及海绵组织厚度、叶片结构紧密度及疏松度、蜡质含量、比叶重、气孔及茸毛密度等叶片结构进行观察比较,探讨苦瓜白粉病抗性与其主要叶片结构指标的关系。结果显示:（1）抗病苦瓜品系叶片的蜡质含量显著高于感病品系,与病情指数呈显著负相关关系,蜡质层是其抵抗和延迟病原菌侵入的一个有力结构屏障。（2）感病品系叶片的气孔和叶背面茸毛数量显著多于抗病品系,且叶背面的气孔及茸毛密度与病情指数呈显著正相关关系,即气孔和茸毛越少越抗病。（3）抗病苦瓜品系的叶片栅栏组织以及海绵组织排列整齐、紧密,而高感品系的叶片组织出现大量孔隙,较难观察到完整细胞。（4）抗病品系叶片厚度、下表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、叶片结构紧密度明显高于感病品系,而感病品系的海绵组织厚度、叶片结构疏松度明显高于抗病品系;且苦瓜比叶重与其白粉病抗性关系不大。研究认为,苦瓜叶片蜡质含量、叶背面气孔及茸毛密度可以作为苦瓜白粉病抗性鉴定的参考指标。     

Leaf yield loss assessment due to Macrophomina root rot disease in mulberry gardens of south India

Abstract

Leaf yield loss in mulberry due to Macrophomina root rot disease was assessed in three different states of south India at field level. The highest leaf yield loss recorded was in V-1 variety (34.74%), whereas the lowest leaf yield loss was in K-2 variety (28.54%). However, the leaf yields losses in other varieties viz., MR-2 (32.90%), S-36 (32.06%), RFS-175 (31.75%) and S-13 (29.0%) recorded were medium. The average leaf yield loss was 31.49% due to root rot disease caused by M. phaseolina in mulberry.     

Ethnobotanical observations in the Ladakh Region of Northern Jammu and Kashmir state,India

A field trip was undertaken in Ladakh, the northernmost frontier of Jammu and Kashmir State, India. A collection of plants was made from this remote trans-Himalayan region at an altitude ranging from 3000 to 5500 m. Local people were contacted for the local names and uses of plants growing there. They are used as vegetables, in ceremonial observation, in material culture, in personal hygiene, and as fodder or suspected stock poison.     

Amphibians and squamates from the Neogene Siwalik beds of Jammu and Kashmir, India

The Neogene Siwalik deposits of Jammu Province (India) have yielded amphibians and squamates. The collection includes the first amphibians and the first colubroid snakes from the Siwalik Group. Amphibians comprise only anurans: a possible Ranidae and one, or perhaps two, non-ranid frogs Squamates include one lizard,Varanus sp. (Varanidae), whereas snakes are represented by three taxa:Acrochordus dehmi (Acrochordidae), an indeterminate Colubridae, and a snake that is either a Colubridae or an Elapidae.Varanus sp. andA. dehmi have been yielded by the Upper Miocene Ramnagar Member, whereas the anurans and colubroid snakes come from the Upper Pliocene Labli Member. These taxa are indicative of aquatic palaeoenvironment.     

Loss of actin cytoskeletal function and EDS1 activity,in combination,severely compromises non-host resistance in Arabidopsis against wheat powdery mildew

Plant immunity against the majority of the microbial pathogens is conveyed by a phenomenon known as non-host resistance (NHR). This defence mechanism affords durable protection to plant species against given species of phytopathogens. We investigated the genetic basis of NHR in Arabidopsis against the wheat powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt). Both primary and appressorial germ tubes were produced from individual Bgt conidia on the surface of the Arabidopsis leaves. Attempted infection occasionally resulted in successful penetration, which led to the development of an abnormal unilateral haustorium. Inoculation of a series of Arabidopsis defence-related mutants with Bgt resulted in the attenuation of reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) production and salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defence gene expression in eds1, pad4 and nahG plants, which are known to be defective in some aspects of host resistance. Furthermore, Bgt often developed bilateral haustoria in the mutant Arabidopsis lines that closely resembled those formed in wheat. A similar decrease in NHR was observed following treatment of the wild-type Arabidopsis plants with cytochalasin E, an inhibitor of actin microfilament polymerisation. In eds1 mutants, inhibition of actin polymerisation severely compromised NHR in Arabidopsis against Bgt. This permitted completion of the Bgt infection cycle on these plants. Therefore, actin cytoskeletal function and EDS1 activity, in combination, are major contributors to NHR in Arabidopsis against wheat powdery mildew.     

Screening of chilli germplasm for resistance to Alternaria leaf spot disease

Chilli is one of the spices used to enhance the flavour and taste of cooked food. Fungal diseases are the main biological constraints in chilli production, and Alternaria leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata is one of the most devastating diseases of chilli. One of the effective and environmentally friendly ways to control this disease is introgress resistance from wild relative/varieties to the cultivated one. The first step towards introgression of resistance genes is to screen the chill germplasm for leaf spot resistance. In the current study, we screened the chilly germplasm and identified the sources of leaf spot resistance, which can be harnessed in resistance breeding programmes.     

Tropic failure of Phyllactinia corylea contributes to the mildew resistance of mulberry genotypes

Different mulberry genotypes show great variation in their resistance to the powdery mildew Phyllactinia corylea. Conidial germination and hyphal growth of P. corylea on the leaf surface of two susceptible mulberry genotypes, viz., Kanva 2 (K2) and Victory 1 (V1) varieties of Morus indica, and on two resistant species, viz., M. laevigata and M. serrata were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Conidial germination and growth of germ tubes were normal on all the leaves. The hyphae of P. coryleaidentify stomata on host leaves by their topographical features to produce the stomatopodia precisely over them. The holes and/or the grooves of stomata appear to provide the signals for the initiation of stomatopodia and similar structures are erratically developed over many local depressions or grooves on leaf surface. The abaxial surface of K2 leaf is smooth without prominent undulations of epidermal cell surface, and the stomata are flush with the leaf surface. Although successful penetration is also achieved on V1 leaf, its slightly undulated surface occasionally provides inaccurate tropic signals to the hyphae, inducing the development of stomatopodia away from the stomata. The leaf surfaces of M. laevigata and M. serrata are very rough with highly sculptured cuticle and abundant epidermal outgrowths. Stomata mostly remain sunken or hidden amidst the cuticular ornamentations and the hyphae fail to recognise the precise signals from them. As the surface architecture of the leaves provides many immense sources of tropic signals, stomatopodia are often produced over local depressions or grooves. In these cases the fungus fails to penetrate the leaf, does not develop beyond 24 h and penetration is rarely achieved on the leaves of the resistant plants. The study indicates that the stimulatory effect of the leaf surface topography of resistant varieties misleads the pathogen from successful penetration, thus contributing to the plant's resistance.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

一株桑树内生拮抗菌的分离、鉴定及发酵条件优化

【目的】利用植物内生拮抗菌防治植物病害是一种有效的生物防治手段。本研究从健康桑树中分离筛选桑椹菌核病拮抗性内生细菌,为桑椹菌核病生物防治提供优良菌种。【方法】釆用组织分离培养法及抑菌圈法分离、筛选桑椹菌核病拮抗性内生细菌;根据菌体形态、培养特征、生理生化特性及基于16S rDNA序列的系统发育分析,对抑菌活性显著且稳定的菌株进行菌种鉴定;进而利用菌丝生长速率法检测活性发酵液的抑菌谱与热稳定性,并通过单因素及正交试验优化该菌株产生抑菌活性物质的发酵条件。【结果】从健康桑树中共分离获得55株内生细菌,其中XP-27菌株对核盘菌PZ-2的抑菌活性稳定且拮抗效果明显;XP-27菌株形态、培养特征、生理生化特性与芽孢杆菌属相符,基于16S rDNA序列的系统发育分析结果显示该菌株与多株甲基营养型芽孢杆菌(Bacillus methylotrophicus)的亲缘关系最近,且处于系统发育树的同一分枝,故将XP-27菌株鉴定为甲基营养型芽孢杆菌,命名为B.methylotrophicusXP-27;抑菌谱与热稳定性实验结果表明XP-27菌株对灰霉菌SWU5、腐霉菌SWU3等10种常见植物病原菌具不同程度的抑制作用,且其发酵滤液热稳定性强;发酵条件优化结果表明该菌株最佳培养基配方与培养条件为:牛肉膏1.00%,淀粉1.50%,K_2HPO_4 0.05%,MgSO_4·7H_2O 0.10%,初始pH值为8.0,培养温度为30°C,接种量为7%,发酵时间为120 h。【结论】筛选获得的桑树内生细菌B. methylotrophicus XP-27对桑椹菌核病病原菌核盘菌PZ-2具有显著拮抗作用,可作为开发桑椹菌核病生防制剂的候选菌株。     

Field resistance of spring barley cultivars to powdery mildew in Lithuania

During vegetative period 2004–2005 powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. hordei Em. Marchal) field resistance of spring barley cultivars was investigated at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture. The spring barley genotypes tested were Lithuania-registered cultivars, cultivars from genetic resources collection, and the new cultivars used for initial breeding. In total, 23 resistance genes were present in the 84 cultivars studied. Among mono-genes only mlo and 1-B-53 showed very high resistance. Slight powdery mildew necroses (up to 3 scores) formed on cultivars possessing these genes. The maximal powdery mildew (PM) severity reached a score of 8.5 and the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) a value of 1216.8. The cultivars ‘Primus’, ‘Astoria’, ‘Power’, ‘Harrington’ and ‘Scarlett’ were the most resistant among the non mlo cultivars. Severity of PM on ‘Primus’ reached a score of 3.5 (3.0 of PM necrosis) in average, the other cultivars were diseased from 4.5 (3.0) to 5.0 (2.0). The AUDPC values for these cultivars except ‘Scarlett’ were the lowest (85.0–145.3) among the other cultivars. The highest contrast in development of the other leaf diseases was between highly resistant and susceptible to PM cultivar groups. The fast development of PM depressed development of the other diseases 4.7 times.     

Influence of NaCl salinity on the behavior of hydrolases and phosphatases in mulberry genotypes: Relationship to salt tolerance

Two genotypes (Tr4 and Tr10) of mulberry(Morus indica) were cultured using aqueous solutions that contained different concentrations of NaCl (0 to 30 mM). Electrical conductivity (EC) values ranged from 0.52 to 4.60 mS cm^-1, with a pH of 7.0. Analyses were conducted to envisage the effects of NaCl salinity on some hydrolytic enzymes. Neither nitrate reductase nor nitrite reductase activities were affected by salt treatment in roots and leaves of either genotype. The activities of β- and α-amylases were higher in leaves than in roots. Both alkaline and acid phosphatases exhibited significant increases in the roots and leaves of Tr4; no such trend was observed in Tr10. The levels of peroxidase and Superoxide dismutase increased quite significantly in the leaves as well as the roots of both genotypes. Increased enzymatic activities may suggest a stress-tolerant nature for these genotypes against NaCl toxicity. This was also evidenced by the unaffected levels in percent rooting, chloroplast pigments, osmoprotectants, nitrogenous compounds, and some biomolecules, as had been observed in earlier studies.     

Incidence and severity of foliar diseases of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.)

This study evaluates the effects of different row arrangements on incidence and severity of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) and Alternaria leaf blight (ALB) diseases and seed health of sesame intercropped with maize. Row arrangements were: sesame intercropped with maize in alternate pair of rows (2:2), two rows of sesame intercropped with one row of maize (2:1), sesame intercropped with maize in single alternate rows (1:1) with sole sesame as control. Intercropping maize with sesame reduced the incidence and severity of diseases. Sesame intercropped with maize in a (1:1) ration recorded a significantly lower number of infected leaves by CLS and ALB incidence than other row arrangements. ALB lesion number was between 17 and 20 in the (1:1) arrangement relative to 65–104 and 28–43 in the sole crop and other row arrangements, respectively. ALB lesion size was also reduced in the (1:1) than other row arrangements. Fungal infection of harvested sesame seeds was significantly reduced in the intercrop relative to the sole crop. CLS incidence was significant and negatively correlated with seed weight while defoliation was significant and positively correlated with ALB or CLS incidence. Rainfall was significant and positively correlated with CLS or ALB incidence while intercropping induced microclimatic effects that influenced disease incidence. Grain yield, weight of 1000-seed, number of capsules/plant and weight of seed/plant were significantly higher in the (1:1) row arrangement than the sole crop or other row arrangements. The study demonstrates that intercropping sesame with maize in a single alternate row (1:1) arrangement can be used to reduce foliar diseases of sesame.     

Integration of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and chemical elicitors for induction of systemic resistance in mulberry against multiple diseases

Abstract

In mulberry (Morus alba L.), various individual strains of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and synthetic analogs of naturally occurring plant activators have demonstrated their potential to elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) against either brown leaf spot (Cercospora moricola) or leaf rust (Cerotelium fici) diseases. However, these biological and chemical elicitors have not been evaluated so far against multiple infections of both these diseases which commonly occur during the post-rainy season. The present study was therefore aimed to assess the capability of PGPR strains and chemical plant activators, as individual and in integration, in elicitation of ISR against multiple infections. Three PGPR strains, Azotobacter chroococcum strain Azc-3, Bacillus megaterium strain Bm-1 and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain Psf-4, and plant activators, acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA), sodium salicylate (NaS) and 4-amino-n-butyric acid (ABA) were selected for the study. Under in vitro tests, all the plant activators up to 2000 ppm concentration exhibited their compatibility with the PGPR strains tested. Upon assaying of elicitors with plant-pathosystem, disease suppression was significantly (p = 0.05) high with integrated application of PGPR strains and plant activators when compared to their individual applications. All the elicitors at individual application varied in their response to multiple infections with the plant age. However, integration of Azc-3 + ASA provided greater suppression to multiple infections of brown leaf spot and leaf rust diseases during the entire growth period of mulberry plants. Thus, this combination of biological and chemical elicitors holds great promise to provide an effective ecofriendly alternative to the toxic chemical fungicides presently recommended for the control of brown leaf spot and leaf rust diseases in mulberry.     

富士苹果MdWRKY40b基因克隆及其对白粉病的抗性分析

WRKY是植物抗病相关的一个大转录因子家族基因,为了揭示WRKY40基因在调控白粉病抗性方面的作用,以富士苹果(Malus domestica Borkh.cv.Fuji)为试材,利用特异引物进行RT-PCR基因克隆,并用实时荧光定量PCR方法分析组织中基因的表达及接种苹果白粉菌和用1 mmol·L^-1水杨酸(SA)喷施处理后对基因表达的影响。结果表明:（1）克隆到的片段长度为1 240 bp,包含一个完整的开放阅读框,长1 002 bp,编码334个氨基酸,其氨基酸序列与AtWRKY40、HvWRKY1/2/3等8个序列一致性为48.96%;该基因与拟南芥AtWRKY40同源,故命名为MdWRKY40b,GenBank登录号为JX112907。（2）基因表达分析表明,MdWRKY40b在苹果根、茎、叶、花均有表达,其中根、叶、花中表达量基本相当,茎中表达量最低。（3）该基因明显受苹果白粉菌和SA的强烈诱导表达且持续时间较长,并且两者表达趋势相同、出现最高表达量的时间相近。研究推测,富士苹果容易感白粉病的主要原因可能与MdWRKY40b的持续长时间的高表达有关。     

Serum protein polymorphisms (HP,GC, PI) in Muslims and Bodhs of Jammu and Kashmir,India

Two population groups of Jammu and Kashmir (India) — Muslims and Bodhs-have been typed for haptoglobin and for CG and PI subtype polymorphisms. The allele frequencies do not show significant differences between these two populations. HP and GC allele frequencies of Bodhs and Muslims differ considerably from with that observed in other North Indian populations. The PI allele frequencies of Bohds and Muslims differ considerably from those found in other Indian populations and are more similar to Mongoloid ones.     

桑叶营养对家蚕血淋巴阳离子水平的调节作用

调查了取食不同品种桑树（M-5, S-36和V-1）叶片的家蚕（多化性品种Pure Mysore、 二化性品种NB4D2和CSR2）5龄幼虫血淋巴中阳离子的变化。结果表明: 家蚕幼虫血淋巴中Na+浓度低, K+和Mg2+浓度很高, Ca2+浓度较高。在幼虫活跃取食期间, 血淋巴中阳离子水平显著提高。血淋巴中阳离子水平与排泄物的量呈负相关。血淋巴中阳离子水平受阳离子外泌的控制。与非取食阶段相比, 取食阶段的阳离子清除速率低。家蚕二化性品种的血淋巴阳离子水平比多化性品种PM高出30%。结果说明家蚕品种对家蚕血淋巴阳离子变化的影响显著大于桑树品种或家蚕个体发育的影响。