Volatiles and Nonvolatiles in Flourensia campestris Griseb. (Asteraceae), How Much Do Capitate Glandular Trichomes Matter?

The distribution and ultrastructure of capitate glandular trichomes (GTs) in Flourensia species (Asteraceae) have been recently elucidated, but their metabolic activity and potential biological function remain unexplored. Selective nonvolatile metabolites from isolated GTs were strikingly similar to those found on leaf surfaces. The phytotoxic allelochemical sesquiterpene (–)‐hamanasic acid A ((–)‐HAA) was the major constituent (ca. 40%) in GTs. Although GTs are quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)‐accumulating species, glycine betaine was not found in GTs; it was only present in the leaf mesophyll. Two (–)‐HAA accompanying surface secreted products: compounds 4‐hydroxyacetophenone (piceol; 1 ) and 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxyacetophenone ( 2 ), which were isolated and fully characterized (GC/MS, NMR), were present in the volatiles found in GTs. The essential oils of fresh leaves revealed ca. 33% monoterpenes, 26% hydrocarbon‐ and 30% oxygenated sesquiterpenes, most of them related to cadinene and bisabolene derivatives. Present results suggest a main role of GTs in determining the volatile and nonvolatile composition of F. campestris leaves. Based on the known activities of the compounds identified, it can be suggested that GTs in F. campestris would play key ecological functions in plant‐pathogen and plant‐plant interactions. In addition, the strikingly high contribution of compounds derived from cadinene and bisabolene pathways, highlights the potential of this species as a source of high‐valued bioproducts.     

Use of Arabidopsis recombinant inbred lines reveals a monogenic and a novel digenic resistance mechanism to Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris

Infiltration of the Arabidopsis thaliana accession Landsberg erecta (Ler) with Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris isolate 2D520 results in extensive necrosis and limited chlorosis within 5–6 days post-inoculation (d.p.i.), which can lead to systemic necrosis within 23 d.p.i. In contrast, the accession Columbia (Col) remains asymptomatic after infiltration. Although both accessions support bacterial growth, 5–28-fold more bacteria are present in Ler than in Col leaf tissue. Inheritance studies indicate that three independent, dominant or partially dominant, nuclear genes condition resistance to X. c. campestris 2D520. The major gene, termed RXC2, conditions monogenic resistance to X. c. campestris and was mapped to a 5.5 cM interval of chromosome V. Segregation data indicate that the locus RXC3 in conjunction with RXC4 confers digenic resistance to X. c. campestris. The combined action of RXC3 and RXC4 is correlated with a suppression of in planta bacterial levels and a suppression of symptoms relative to Ler. The RXC3 + RXC4-mediated resistance is novel in that although the Col allele of RXC4 contributes positively to resistance, it is the Ler and not the Col allele of RXC3 that contributes positively to resistance. RXC3 was mapped to the bottom arm of chromosome V in a 2.7 cM interval within the major recognition gene complex MRC-J, a cluster of genes involved in disease resistance. RXC4 was mapped to a 12 cM interval on chromosome II that also contains RXC1, a gene conferring tolerance to X. c. campestris.     

Essential Oil Variability in Natural Populations of Artemisia campestris (L.) and Artemisia herba‐alba (Asso) and Incidence on Antiacetylcholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities

The intraspecific variability of Artemisia herba‐alba and A. campestris essential oils and the evaluation of their antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities were determined. Artemisia herba‐alba essential oil was found rich in camphor (19.61%), α‐thujone (19.40%), β‐thujone (9.44%), chrysanthenone (9.26%), and trans‐sabinyl acetate (8.43%). The major compounds of A. campestris essential oil were germacrene D (16.38%), β‐pinene (16.33%), and limonene (9.17%). Significant variation in the essential oil composition was observed among populations of each species. The divergence between populations was attributed to the variation of some climatic factors such as altitude, annual rainfall, winter cold stress, summer precipitation, summer drought stress, evapotranspiration, and humidity. Artemisia herba‐alba and A. campestris essential oils exhibited promising antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities. The level of activity varied significantly according to the species and the essential oil. The highest scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 0.14 mg/ml) and the uppermost capacity to prevent β‐carotene bleaching (IC₅₀ = 0.10 mg/ml) characterized A. campestris from population 6. A. campestris population 3 possessed the uppermost ability to reduce ferric ions (450.7 μmol Fe²⁺/g EO). The population 2 of A. campestris showed the strongest antiacetylcholinesterase activity (IC₅₀ = 0.02 mg/ml). The variation of these activities between the essential oils was explained by their composition differences.     

Defence-related enzymatic response in cabbage to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Black rot of cabbage caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is one of the most important diseases of crucifers worldwide. Expression of defence-related enzymes in cabbage in response to X. campestris pv. campestris was investigated in the current experiment. Among the defence-related enzymes (phynylalanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase [SOD] and chitinase) and quantity of phenolic compounds studied in the present investigation, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), the key enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway was the first enzyme suppressed at three days after inoculation in X. campestris pv. campestris-cabbage system. Correlation analysis indicated that PAL and phenolic compounds are the two most important compounds determining the susceptibility of cabbage to X. campestris pv. campestris. Induction of peroxidase isoform-1 (Rf value: 0.059) and SOD isoform-1 (Rf value: 0.179) three days after pathogen inoculation implicated the role of these isozymes in susceptible cabbage – X. campestris pv. campestris interaction. This study demonstrates the susceptibility of cabbage to X. campestris pv. campestris is a result of declination of PAL and phenolic contents at biochemical level as a manifestation of increase in bacterial population at the cellular level within the host tissues.     

Bacterial Streak Disease of Maize (Zea mays L.) in South Africa

Bacterial streak disease of maize is currently causing some concern among breeders in South Africa. The causal organism of this previously undescribed disease was successfully isolated and its pathogenicity established using KoCH's postulates. Standard physiological and biochemical tests used to identify phytopathogenic bacteria indicated that the bacterium is a Xanthomonas campestris pathovar. Comparisons between this organism and other recognized X. campestris pathovars of the Poaceae indicated that apart from some minor differences the maize streak pathogen is physiologically similar to X. campestris pv. holcicola. However, in repeated reciprocal inoculation experiments all attempts to induce disease symptoms in sorghum with the maize streak pathogen were unsuccessful. Conversely, X. campestris pv. holcicola did produce symptoms in maize leaves. In all the maize cultivars tested the symptoms produced by the maize streak pathogen were, however, always considerably more severe than those caused by X. campestris pv. holcicola. Notwithstanding its physiological similarity to X. campestris pv. holicola it would appear that on the grounds of host specificity the maize streak pathogen warrants new pathovar status. The name X. campestris pv. zeae is proposed.     

Nutritional Similarity between Leaf-Associated Nonpathogenic Bacteria and the Pathogen Is Not Predictive of Efficacy in Biological Control of Bacterial Spot of Tomato

It has been demonstrated that for a nonpathogenic, leaf-associated bacterium, effectiveness in the control of bacterial speck of tomato is correlated with the similarity in the nutritional needs of the nonpathogenic bacterium and the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. This relationship was investigated further in this study by using the pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, the causal agent of bacterial spot of tomato, and a collection of nonpathogenic bacteria isolated from tomato foliage. The effects of inoculation of tomato plants with one of 34 nonpathogenic bacteria prior to inoculation with the pathogen X. campestris pv. vesicatoria were quantified by determining (i) the reduction in disease severity (number of lesions per square centimeter) in greenhouse assays and (ii) the reduction in leaf surface pathogen population size (log₁₀ of the number of CFU per leaflet) in growth chamber assays. Nutritional similarity between the nonpathogenic bacteria and X. campestris pv. vesicatoria was quantified by using either niche overlap indices (NOI) or relatedness in cluster analyses based upon in vitro utilization of carbon or nitrogen sources reported to be present in tomato tissues or in Biolog GN plates. In contrast to studies with P. syringae pv. tomato, nutritional similarity between the nonpathogenic bacteria and the pathogen X. campestris pv. vesicatoria was not correlated with reductions in disease severity. Nutritional similarity was also not correlated with reductions in pathogen population size. Further, the percentage of reduction in leaf surface pathogen population size was not correlated with the percentage of reduction in disease severity, suggesting that the epiphytic population size of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria is not related to disease severity and that X. campestris pv. vesicatoria exhibits behavior in the phyllosphere prior to lesion formation that is different from that of P. syringae pv. tomato.     

Inhibition of Seed Germination and Root Development Caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria in Pepper and Tomato

Inoculation of pepper seeds with the leaf pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria inhibited pepper germination. The inhibitory effect, which was stronger in non-sterilized light textured soils, decreased with time, and after 20, days or more, there was no difference between inoculated and non-inoculated seeds. Inhibitory substance(s) within the cytoplasmatic fraction of pathogen cells inhibited the germination of non-host tomato seeds. No relationship between pathogenicity to pepper leaves and inhibition of pepper seed germination was detected. The inhibitory substance(s) was found in two out of four X. campestris pv. vesicatoria strains. Heat-killed bacteria suppressed growth of pepper but not tomato seedlings. It is, therefore, suggested that the inhibition of seed germination and the decrease in root development are different modes of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria pathogenesis toward pepper plants.     

Specific Detection of Xylella fastidiosa Pierce's Disease Strains

Pierce's disease (PD, Xylella fastidiosa) of grapevine is the primary pathogen limiting vinifera grape production in Florida and other regions of the southeastern United States. Quick and accurate detection of PD strains is essential for PD studies and control. A unique random amplified polymorphic DNA (PD1-1-2) was isolated from a PD strain from Florida. Fragment PD1-1-2 was cloned, sequenced, and found to be 1005 bp in length. PCR primers were designed to utilize these sequence data for PD strain detection. One primer set (XF176f–XF954r) amplified a 779-bp DNA fragment from 34 PD strains including seven pathotypes of X. fastidiosa, but not from strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Xan. vesicatoria or Escherichia coli. A second primer set (XF176f and XF686r) amplified a 511-bp fragment specific to 98 PD strains, but not from strains of citrus variegated chlorosis, mulberry leaf scorch, oak leaf scorch, periwinkle wilt, phony peach, or plum leaf scald. Sequence analysis indicated that RAPD fragment PD1-1-2 contains a Ser-tRNA gene. The PD-specific region includes a TaqI restriction site (TCGA) and is 150 bp downstream of the Ser-tRNA gene. Received: 1 March 1999 / Accepted: 5 April 1999     

Studies on the bacterial diseases of Sudan crops

New records are presented of bacterial diseases affecting the following weed plants: Heliotropium sudanicum, Rhynchosia memnonia, Vigna radiata, V. pubigera, Euphorbia acalyphoides and Phyllanthus niruri. Bacterial leaf blight of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) caused by Xanthomonas phaseoli f. cajani is reported for the first time from the Sudan. The causal bacteria, all of which belong to the genus Xanthomonas, are compared with related pathogens. The differences between these bacteria are considered of little diagnostic value. Pathogenically, they can be separated into three groups: (i) the Heliotropium pathogen; (ii) the bacteria affecting leguminous plants; and (iii) the bacteria affecting species of the family Euphorbiaceae. Because of the diversity in opinion on speciation in the genus Xanthomonas, two alternative proposals are put forward. In the first, Xanthomonas is considered a monotypic genus with X. campestris as the sole species. The pathogens reported in this work from previously unrecorded hosts, which proved to differ in pathogenicity from established ones, are considered to be new formae speciales. These are X. campestris f.sp. heliotropii from H. sudanicum, X. campestris f.sp. rhynchosiae from R. memnonia, X. campestris f.sp. vigna-radiatae from V. radiata, X. campestris f.sp. euphorbiae from E. acalyphoides and X. campestris f.sp. phyllanthii from P. niruri. The organism from V. pubigera is accordingly identified as X. campestris f.sp. vignicola. Other bacteria used for comparison are also reduced to ff.sp. of X. campestris. The other proposal is to lump together pathogens with overlapping host ranges in a single species that comprises a number of ff.sp. differing in pathogenicity. Thus the bacteria from leguminous plants are all considered to belong to X. phaseoli as previously suggested by Sabet. New ff.sp. are created for the pathogens from R. memnonia (X. phaseoli f.sp. rhynchosiae), and V. radiata (X. phaseoli f.sp. vigna-radiatae). The organism from V. pubigera is identified in this case as X. phaseoli f.sp. vignicola. The bacteria from members of the Euphorbiaceae are considered to belong to X. ricini on priority grounds. X. cassavae and X. poinsettiaecola which have been used for comparison are reduced to the ff.sp. X. ricini f.sp. cassavae and f.sp. poinsettiaecola respectively. Two new ff.sp. are created: for E. acalyphoides pathogen, X. ricini f.sp. euphorbiae and for P. niruri pathogen, X. ricini f.sp. phyllanthii. The creation of a new species (X. heliotropii sp.nov.) is proposed for the Heliotropium pathogen. The present study shows that many weed plants may be affected with new bacterial strains that can also infect cultivated crops.     

Larvicidal and Nematicidal Activities of the Leaf Essential Oil of Croton regelianus

The chemical composition of the leaf essential oil of Croton regelianus collected from wild plants growing in two different sites at Ceará State (Brazil) was analyzed by GC/MS and GC‐FID. Twenty monoterpenoids, representing more than 96% of the chemical composition of the oils, were identified and quantified. The oils showed similar chemical composition but considerable variation in the levels of each constituent. Ascaridole (33.9–17.0%), p‐cymene (22.3–21.6%), and camphor (13.0–3.1%) were the predominant constituents. The monoterpene ascaridole was isolated and characterized by spectroscopic data. The essential oils and the isolated compounds were tested against Aedes aegypti and Artemia sp. larvae, and the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The bioassay results show that the essential oil of C. regelianus and ascaridole were moderately active against the M. incognita, but strongly effective against both A. aegypti and Artemia sp. larvae.     

Dispersal of Neophilaenus campestris,a vector of Xylella fastidiosa,from olive groves to over-summering hosts

Neophilaenus campestris is one of the spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea) able to transmit Xylella fastidiosa to olive trees. Considering its vector ability and the wide distribution of this species in Spain, N. campestris should be considered a serious threat to key crops such as olive, almonds and grapevines. Migration and dispersal abilities of insect vectors have profound implications in the spread of vector-borne diseases. Thus, knowledge on the dispersal ability of N. campestris is essential to model, predict and limit the spread of the diseases caused by X. fastidiosa. A mass-mark-recapture technique was developed to track between-field movements of N. campestris during its late spring migration from the ground cover grasses within olive groves to sheltered areas dominated by pine trees. The fluorescent dust used for marking did not affect the survival nor the flying ability of N. campestris. Spittlebug adults captured in olive groves during late spring were dusted with fluorescent colours and released in different locations. Six recapture samplings were performed 23–42 days after release in 12 different sites located within a maximum distance of 2.8 km from the release point. Results indicated that N. campestris was able to disperse a maximum distance of 2,47 m in 35 days. Furthermore, flight mill studies showed that N. campestris was able to fly long distances, reaching 1.4 km in an 82-min single flight. Altogether, our findings suggest that eradication measures are of limited value because vectors are able to disperse rapidly over distances much longer than expected.     

Role of Pseudomonas fluorescens and INA against Black Rot of Cabbage

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is an important vegetable crop among crucifers. It is affected by a bacterial disease known as black rot. Black rot is caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris a disease of worldwide importance. The present study highlights the effect of biotic inducer—Pseudomonas fluorescens—and an abiotic inducer—2,6‐dichloro‐isonicotinic acid—in combating black rot, followed by their effect on the seed treatment and disease incidence, role of antioxidant enzymes followed by validation of the defence‐related genes by quantitative real‐time PCR. The resistant (Pusa mukta) and the highly susceptible (NBH boss) cabbage cultivars were analysed for defence‐related enzymes such as peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. An increase in total peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity was observed upon inoculation with X. campestris pv. campestris. The activity was greater in resistant cultivar when compared to susceptible ones. Both enzyme activity assays and qPCR analyses for the expression of the defence genes in susceptible and resistant cultivars demonstrated that the peroxidase gene was up‐regulated in resistant cultivar compared to susceptible cultivar. The present study proved that P. fluorescens‐induced resistance against X. campestris pv. campestris in cabbage seedlings is more efficient as compared to the use of INA—abiotic inducer.     

Phytochemical Diversity of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. from Western Himalaya

Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. (Rutaceae), commonly known as ‘curry leaf tree’, is a popular spice and condiment of India. To explore the diversity of the essential‐oil yield and aroma profile of curry leaf, growing wild in foot and mid hills of north India, 58 populations were collected during spring season. M. koenigii populations were found to grow up to an altitude of 1487 m in north India. Comparative results showed considerable variations in the essential‐oil yield and composition. The essential‐oil yield varied from 0.14 to 0.80% in shade‐dried leaves of different populations of M. koenigii. Analysis of the essential oils by GC and GC/MS, and the subsequent classification by statistical analysis resulted in four clusters with significant variations in their terpenoid composition. Major components of the essential oils of investigated populations were α‐pinene ( 2 ; 4.5–71.5%), sabinene ( 3 ; <0.05–66.1%), (E)‐caryophyllene ( 11 ; 1.6–18.0%), β‐pinene ( 4 ; <0.05–13.6%), terpinen‐4‐ol ( 9 ; 0.0–8.4%), γ‐terpinene ( 8 ; 0.2–7.4%), limonene ( 7 ; 1.1–5.5%), α‐terpinene ( 6 ; 0.0–4.5%), (E)‐nerolidol ( 14 ; 0.0–4.1%), α‐humulene ( 12 ; 0.6–3.5%), α‐thujene ( 1 ; 0.0–2.5%), β‐elemene ( 10 ; 0.2–2.4%), β‐selinene ( 13 ; 0.2–2.3%), and myrcene ( 5 ; 0.5–2.1%). Comparison of the present results with those in earlier reports revealed new chemotypes of M. koenigii in investigated populations from Western Himalaya. The present study documents M. koenigii populations having higher amounts of sabinene ( 3 ; up to 66.1%) for the first time.     

Chemodiversity of Essential Oils in Seseli libanotis (L.) W.D.J.Koch (Apiaceae) in Central Europe

Seseli libanotis is an aromatic umbelliferous plant distributed sporadically on dry grassland edges in Europe and Western Asia. The essential oil composition in the different plant parts was studied from plants collected on nine sites in Austria and one site in Alto Adige, Italy. Monoterpenes such as α‐pinene, sabinene and β‐myrcene and the sesquiterpene germacrene D were present in all essential oils from the aerial parts. Inflorescences and fruits had the highest essential oil contents. These essential oils from four sites were rich in acorenone B, while from other three sites they had carotol as a major component. Osthole as furocoumarin occurred in some oils. The root essential oils were dominated by α‐pinene. The essential oil variability has been studied by principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) with plant parts or sampling site as a priori groups. PCA could well separate inflorescence and fruit essential oil samples from leaf and stem essential oil samples. DA differentiated well between the plant parts and most of the sampling sites.     

Cocculus hirsutus extract inhibits the Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae,the bacterial leaf blight pathogen in rice

Plant-derived natural bactericides and their possible applications in agriculture to control plant bacterial diseases has intensified as this approach has enormous potential to inspire and influence modern agro-chemical research. Naturally occurring and biologically active plant products such as essential oils and organic extracts could be a source of alternative classes of natural biopesticides to serve as templates for new and more effective compounds in controlling plant pathogenic micro-organisms. In the present study, the efficacy of six plants extracts from different solvent system were tested for their antibacterial activity aganist Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae both in vitro and in vivo. Among these extracts, Cocculus hirsutus leaf chloroform extract exhibits significant antibacterial activity against X. oryzae pv. oryzae. Data obtained from the experiments such as minimum inhibitory concentration, effect of C. hirsutus leaf chloroform extract on the incidence of X. oryzae pv. oryzae, phytotoxicity test and effect of C. hirsutus leaf chloroform extract on seed germination and seedling vigour, along with the in vivo experiments under greenhouse conditions showed significant improvement over controls. Thus, the present study demonstrated that the C. hirsutus leaf chloroform extract posses antibacterial activity against bacterial leaf blight pathogen of rice.     

Chemical Composition and Allelopathic Potential of Essential Oils from Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze Cultivated in Tunisia

In Tunisia, Tipuana tipu (Benth .) Kuntze is an exotic tree, which was introduced many years ago and planted as ornamental street, garden, and park tree. The present work reported, for the first time, the chemical composition and evaluates the allelopathic effect of the hydrodistilled essential oils of the different parts of this tree, viz., roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and pods gathered in the area of Sousse, a coastal region, in the East of Tunisia. In total, 86 compounds representing 89.9 – 94.9% of the whole oil composition, were identified in these oils by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. The root essential oil was clearly distinguished for its high content in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (β‐caryophyllene, 1 (44); 24.1% and germacrene D, 2 (53); 20.0%), while those obtained from pods, leaves, stems, and flowers were dominated by non‐terpene hydrocarbons. The most important ones were n‐tetradecane (41, 16.3%, pod oil), 1,7‐dimethylnaphthalene (43, 15.6%, leaf oil), and n‐octadecane (77, 13.1%, stem oil). The leaf oil was rich in the apocarotene (E)‐β‐ionone ( 4 (54); 33.8%), and the oil obtained from flowers was characterized by hexahydrofarnesylacetone ( 5 (81); 19.9%) and methyl hexadecanoate (83, 10.2%). Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses separated the five essential oils into three groups and two subgroups, each characterized by the major oil constituents. Contact tests showed that the germination of lettuce seeds was totally inhibited by the root essential oil tested at 1 mg/ml. The inhibitory effect on the shoot and root elongation varied from ?1.6% to ?32.4%, and from ?2.5% to ?64.4%, respectively.     

Evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial activity of leaf and stem essential oils of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chloroxylon swietenia</Emphasis> DC.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of leaves and stems of Chloroxylon swietenia DC. were analysed by GC and GC-MS. The main components in the leaf oil were limonene, pregeijerene, geijerene and germacrene D, while stem oil was rich in limonene, methyl eugenol, pregeijerene and geijerene. The essential oils were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria and four pathogenic fungi using agar disc diffusion technique. Subsequently, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) from oils was determined by broth microdilution. Both the oils exhibited moderate to strong activities against all the organisms tested. Bacillus subtilis was most susceptible at 100 μg/ml of leaf and stem oils with inhibition zones of 15.9 and 13.1 mm respectively. Among all the fungi tested, A. niger inhibited effectively with a zone of inhibition of 14.9 and 11.5 mm for leaf and stem oils respectively. The results obtained suggest that the essential oils of the plant possess antimicrobial properties and serve as a biofriendly source of antimicrobial ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Evaluation of the anti-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp <Emphasis Type="Italic">cicer</Emphasis> and anti-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria porri</Emphasis> effects of some essential oils

The anti-Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cicer (FOC) and anti-Alternaria porri (A. porri) effects were evaluated for 75 different essential oils. The most active essential oils found were those of lemongrass, clove, cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, cassia, fennel, basil and evening primrose. However, the effectiveness of these essential oils with both the tested fungi showed different responses. The level of inhibition was compared with Hexaconazole. GC–MS analysis for five oils amongst the 75 essential oils tested was performed. The potential of these essential oils as an ecofriendly and economic approach as a fungicide for FOC and A. porri is discussed.     

Antifungal and Herbicidal Effects of Fruit Essential Oils of Four Myrtus communis Genotypes

The chemical composition of the essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation from the fruits of four selected Myrtus communis L. genotypes from Turkey was characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. 1,8‐Cineole (29.20–31.40%), linalool (15.67–19.13%), α‐terpineol (8.40–18.43%), α‐pinene (6.04–20.71%), and geranyl acetate (3.98–7.54%) were found to be the major constituents of the fruit essential oils of all M. communis genotypes investigated. The oils were characterized by high amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes, representing 73.02–83.83% of the total oil compositions. The results of the fungal growth inhibition assays showed that the oils inhibited the growth of 19 phytopathogenic fungi. However, their antifungal activity was generally lower than that of the commercial pesticide benomyl. The herbicidal effects of the oils on the seed germination and seedling growth of Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop ., Lactuca serriola L., and Rumex crispus L. were also determined. The oils completely or partly inhibited the seed germinations and seedling growths of the plants. The findings of the present study suggest that the M. communis essential oils might have potential to be used as natural herbicides as well as fungicides.     

核桃黑斑病拮抗放线菌WMF106的筛选、鉴定及防效

【背景】核桃黑斑病是由2种病原菌引起的细菌性病害,目前缺乏有效的生物防治方法。【目的】从核桃树根际土壤中筛选对核桃黑斑病病原菌具有拮抗效果的放线菌菌株,为该病害生防菌剂的开发提供基础。【方法】采用稀释涂布法分离放线菌,并以病原菌野油菜黄单胞菌(Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris)和成团泛菌(Pantoea agglomerans)作为指示菌,利用平板对峙法和改良牛津杯法筛选具有高拮抗活性的菌株,通过形态学特征、生理生化特性和16SrRNA基因序列分析确定其分类地位,并测定其无菌发酵液的抗菌谱和室内防效。【结果】筛选到一株对野油菜黄单胞菌和成团泛菌均有较强拮抗作用的放线菌菌株WMF106,该菌株对2种病原菌的抑菌圈直径分别为2.38 cm和1.82 cm,无菌发酵液对2种病原菌的抑菌圈直径分别为1.75 cm和1.55 cm。根据菌株形态学、生理生化特性及16SrRNA基因序列分析,将菌株WMF106鉴定为暗蓝色链霉菌(Streptomyces caeruleatus)。该菌株对尖孢镰刀菌、腐皮镰孢菌、辣椒刺盘孢菌、灰葡萄孢菌、胶孢炭疽菌5种植物病原菌及大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、白色念珠菌、黑曲霉5种指示菌均有抑制作用,抗菌性能广谱高效,其无菌发酵液原液对离体叶片上由野油菜黄单胞菌和成团泛菌造成的核桃黑斑病防效分别为77.44%和58.33%。【结论】菌株WMF106可作为防治核桃黑斑病的生防材料,具有良好的开发价值和应用前景。