Purification and characterization of an exopolygalacturonase produced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis lycopersici

Abstract An exopolygalacturonase produced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis lycopersici , a fungus that produces root rot, was purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. It had a M _r 68 K, a pH optimum of 5.6 and an optimum temperature of 60°C. This polygalacturonase was inhibited by calcium ions and had a K _m of 0.64 mM using sodium polypectate as substrate. The exo mode of action of this enzyme was revealed by thin-layer chromatography of hydrolysed substrate.     

Effect of flavonoids on the development of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Abstract

In the present study the effect of flavonoid compounds on the germination and fungal growth of the soil-borne tomato pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was studied. Out of 12 flavonoid compounds only myricetin and luteolin exhibited a low stimulating activity on microconidia germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, whereas the other flavonoids tested were inactive when applied at five different concentrations. In our study the tested flavonoids affect fungal growth differently to microconidia germination. Individual flavonoid concentrations resulted in a small increase of fungal growth, but the lowest flavonoid concentrations showed an inhibiting effect on fungal growth for all flavonoids tested. There is evidence to suggest, that low flavonoid concentrations exhibit slight antimicrobial properties against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici.     

Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt in Tomato Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici by AMF Glomus intraradices and some Rhizobacteria

In the present study, the effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith and four rhizobacteria (RB; 58/1 and D/2: Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar II; 17: P. putida; 21: Enterobacter cloacae), which are the important members of the rhizosphere microflora and biological control agents against plant diseases, were examined in the pathosystem of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici [(Sacc) Syd. et Hans] (FOL) and tomato with respect to morphological parameters (fresh and dry root weight) and phosphorous (P) concentration in the roots. Treatments with single and dual inoculation with G. intraradices and RB strains reduced disease severity by 8.6–58.6%. Individual bacteria inoculations were more effective than both the single AMF and dual (G. intraradices + RB) inoculations. In addition, the RB and G. intraradices enhanced dry root weight effectively. Significant increases in root weights were recorded particularly in the triple inoculations compared with single or dual inoculations. Compared with the non‐treated controls all biological control agents increased P‐content of treated roots of plants. Colonization with RB increased especially in triple (FOL + G. intraradices + RB) inoculations whereas colonization of G. intraradices was significantly decreased in treatment of FOL + G. intraradices compared with triple inoculations. The results suggest that suitable combinations of these biocontrol agents may ameliorate plant growth and health.     

农杆菌介导的香蕉枯萎病菌4号生理小种转化体系的优化

香蕉枯萎病是世界范围内香蕉种植区最为严重的病害之一,严重威胁和影响着香蕉产业的发展.本文针对香蕉枯萎病病原菌的4号生理小种,建立了农杆菌介导的转化体系,确定了影响转化效率主要因子的优化体系是:农杆菌在IM培养基诱导前农杆菌OD_(600)为0.15、农杆菌经IM液体培养基诱导的时间为7 h、乙酰丁香酮(AS)浓度为150 μmol/L、Focr4孢子浓度为1×10~6个/mL、共培养时间为48 h、培养温度为25℃、诱导培养基pH值为5.5.在此条件下,转化效率能达到700～800个转化子/10~6个香蕉枯萎病菌孢子.PCR验证表明外源的T-DNA已经成功随机地整合到该病原菌基因组中.目前,应用该转化体系已获得2 300多个转化子,为后续克隆相关致病基因打下了良好基础.     

Rapid detection of Phytophthora nicotianae by simple DNA extraction and real‐time loop‐mediated isothermal amplification assay

Phytophthora nicotianae is a phytopathogenic oomycete with a wide host range and worldwide distribution. Rapid detection and diagnosis at the early stages of disease development are important for the effective control of P. nicotianae. In this study, we designed a simple and rapid loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)‐based detection method for P. nicotianae. We tested three DNA extraction methods and selected the Kaneka Easy DNA Extraction Kit version 2, which is rapid and robust for LAMP‐based detection. The designed primers were tested using mycelial DNA from 35 species (81 isolates) of Phytophthora, 12 species (12 isolates) of Pythium, one isolate of Phytopythium and one isolate each from seven other soil‐borne pathogens. All of the 42 P. nicotianae isolates were detected by these primers, and no other isolates gave positive results. Three isolates were tested for the sensitivity of the reaction, and the lowest amounts of template DNA that could be detected were 10 fg for two isolates and 1 fg for the third. The target was detected within 25 min in all tested samples, including DNA extracted from both inoculated and naturally infected plants. In contrast, PCR assays with P. nicotianae‐specific primers failed or showed weakened detection in several samples. Thus, we found that the rapid DNA extraction and LAMP assay methods developed in this study can be used to detect P. nicotianae with high sensitivity, specificity and stability.     

pH值对香蕉枯萎病菌4号生理小种生长的影响

【背景】香蕉枯萎病菌4号生理小种(镰刀菌)是香蕉产业的致命威胁。已有研究表明土壤pH值越高,香蕉枯萎病发病率越低,但是现有pH值对镰刀菌影响的研究大都是用强酸强碱调节pH值,pH值没有缓冲体系保护,而且尚未检测试验终点时介质的pH值。此外,关于pH值对香蕉枯萎病菌4号生理小种(Foc4)影响的研究尚不系统,难以用于指导生产实践。【目的】为系统地了解土壤酸碱度对Foc4生长的影响。【方法】在pH 3.0-11.0之间设定9个pH值梯度,模拟酸性到碱性土壤pH值条件,于室内培养条件下系统研究pH值对Foc4生长、产孢、孢子萌发的影响及其生长过程对环境pH值的影响。【结果】弱酸性至中性环境(pH 5.0-7.0)最适宜于香蕉枯萎病菌的生长、产孢和孢子萌发。弱碱性处理(pH8.0和pH9.0)孢子平均萌发率较弱酸性环境处理(pH5.0和pH6.0)下降了73.1%。与pH 6.0酸性处理相比,pH 8.0和pH 9.0处理的产孢量分别下降了52.3%和68.1%。【结论】香蕉枯萎病菌Foc4生长和萌发过程会产酸,但是在缓冲体系液体培养基中,除了pH 9.0和pH10.0处理终点培养液pH值分别下降了0.34和0.27个单位外,其它处理起始和终点的pH值无差异。说明在缓冲体系液体培养基中的研究结果可以反映环境pH值对Foc4生长和萌发的影响。在作物可以生长的pH值范围内(pH5.0-9.0),碱性和微碱性条件(pH8.0-9.0)能明显抑制Foc4生长、产孢和孢子萌发。     

Interaction between Meloidogyne incognita and Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici on Tomato

Agrobacterium tumefaciens stimulated and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici inhibited development and reproduction of Meloidogyne incognita when applied to the opposite split root of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Tropic, plants. The lowest rate of nematode reproduction occurred after 2,000 juveniles were applied and the fungus was present in the opposite split root. The effects of all three pathogens alone on the growth of roots and shoots of tomato plants were evident, but M. incognita had a greater effect alone than did either of the other pathogens. The length of split roots was reduced by the infection of M. incognita and A. tumefaciens or F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The number of galls induced by nematodes on roots was higher where the bacterium was applied and lower where the fungus was applied to the opposite split root.     

Rapid and sensitive detection of Acidovorax citrulli in cucurbit seeds by visual loop‐mediated isothermal amplification assay

A rapid, sensitive and visual loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for detecting Acidovorax citrulli in cucurbit seed was developed in this study. The LAMP primers were designed to recognize the non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene (locus tag: Aave_4658) from A. citrulli. The LAMP assay was conducted at 64°C in 1 hr with calcein as an indicator. The sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP assay were further compared with those of a conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The LAMP assay is highly specific to A. citrulli, and no cross‐reaction was observed with other bacterial pathogen. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was 100‐fold higher than that of conventional PCR with a detection limit of 1 pg of genomic DNA. Using the LAMP assay, 7 of 12 cantaloupe seedlots collected from Xinjiang province were determined to be positive for A. citrulli. In contrast, only 2 of 12 seedlots showed positive for the pathogen with conventional PCR. Moreover, A. citrulli was detected in 100% of artificially infested seedlots with 0.01% infestation or greater. Our results demonstrated that the LAMP assay was simple, visual and sensitive for detecting A. citrulli, especially in seed health testing. Hence, this method has great potential application in routine detecting seed‐borne pathogens and reducing the risk of epidemics.     

Gerbera jamesonii, Osteospermum sp. and Argyranthemum frutescens: New Hosts of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi

The pathogenicity of five isolates of Fusarium oxysporum obtained from infected gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), Paris daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) and African daisy (Osteospermum sp.) plants was tested on some varieties of the following Compositae hosts: C. morifolium, G. jamesonii, Argyranthemum frutescens (Paris daisy) and Osteospermum sp. and compared with the host range and pathogenicity of an isolate of F. oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi obtained from the ATCC collection. The results indicated that isolates of F. oxysporum from G. jamesonii as well as those from A. frutescens and Osteospermum sp. belong to the forma specialischrysanthemi. The isolate from gerbera was virulent on all tested varieties of gerbera, C. morifolium, A. frutescens and Osteospermumsp. Similar results were obtained testing the isolates obtained from A. frutescens and Osteospermumsp. The strain from C. morifolium infected cultivar of gerbera, A. frutescens and Osteospermum sp. The pathogenicity of isolate of F. oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi obtained from the ATCC showed a different cultivar range particularly in the case of chrysanthemum and gerbera.     

应用PCR-RFLP和巢式PCR检测黄瓜尖镰孢菌

以3株黄瓜尖镰孢菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumarinum)、23株镰孢菌属(Fusariumspp.)真菌和分离自土壤的20株真菌、6株细菌和7株放线菌为材料,采用化学裂解法提取总DNA,进行PCR-RFLP和巢式PCR检测,试验证明PCR-RFLP程序不能完全区分Fusarium属内不同种,而巢式PCR对黄瓜尖镰孢菌具有特异性.运用优化的PCR-RFLP和巢式PCR检测程序对染病黄瓜组织进行了检测,结果表明,两种方法均可在接种发病早期(未显症时)检测出黄瓜枯萎病菌,PCR-RFLP在感病品种接种后3d即可检测到病原菌,而巢式PCR在接种后5d才能检测到病原菌.     

Identification of pathogenicity‐related genes in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae

Pathogenic isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, distinguished as formae speciales (f. spp.) on the basis of their host specificity, cause crown rots, root rots and vascular wilts on many important crops worldwide. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC) is particularly problematic to onion growers worldwide and is increasing in prevalence in the UK. We characterized 31 F. oxysporum isolates collected from UK onions using pathogenicity tests, sequencing of housekeeping genes and identification of effectors. In onion seedling and bulb tests, 21 isolates were pathogenic and 10 were non‐pathogenic. The molecular characterization of these isolates, and 21 additional isolates comprising other f. spp. and different Fusarium species, was carried out by sequencing three housekeeping genes. A concatenated tree separated the F. oxysporum isolates into six clades, but did not distinguish between pathogenic and non‐pathogenic isolates. Ten putative effectors were identified within FOC, including seven Secreted In Xylem (SIX) genes first reported in F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Two highly homologous proteins with signal peptides and RxLR motifs (CRX1/CRX2) and a gene with no previously characterized domains (C5) were also identified. The presence/absence of nine of these genes was strongly related to pathogenicity against onion and all were shown to be expressed in planta. Different SIX gene complements were identified in other f. spp., but none were identified in three other Fusarium species from onion. Although the FOC SIX genes had a high level of homology with other f. spp., there were clear differences in sequences which were unique to FOC, whereas CRX1 and C5 genes appear to be largely FOC specific.     

Control of chickpea wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris) using Trichoderma spp. in Ethiopia

Thirty-two Trichoderma isolates were collected from soils grown with chickpea in central highlands of Ethiopia. The eight isolates were identified by CAB-International as Trichoderma harzianum, T. koningii and T. pseudokoningii. In in vitro tests, all Trichoderma isolates showed significant (P < 0.05) differences in their colony growth and in inhibiting the colony growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris, race 3. In potted experiment, four Trichoderma isolates were tested as seed treatment on three chickpea cultivars (JG-62 susceptible, Shasho moderately susceptible and JG-74 resistant) against F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceris, race 3. The result showed that T. harzianum and unidentified Trichoderma isolate T23 significantly reduced wilt severity and delayed disease onset. The degree of wilt severity and delay of disease onset varied with chickpea cultivars. Our study revealed that biological control agents such as Trichoderma can be a useful component of integrated chickpea Fusarium wilt management.     

香蕉枯萎病菌Fow1基因的克隆及序列分析

为了解Fow1基因在尖镰刀菌古巴专化型侵染香蕉过程中的作用,及其与尖镰刀菌古巴专化型生理小种1号和生理小种4号之间的致病力差异的关系,采用PCR和RT-PCR方法扩增了2个生理小种的Fow1基因,并对扩增产物进行了克隆测序及相似序列搜索和比对,还对基因编码的蛋白进行了结构预测和功能分析。研究结果表明2个生理小种Fow1基因开放阅读框均为957bp,编码318个氨基酸,基因序列和氨基酸序列差异小,而且两个生理小种Fow1基因所编码的蛋白均具有酵母线粒体载体蛋白典型的结构特征,推测Fow1基因可能为香蕉枯萎病菌在香蕉组织中定殖所必需。从Fow1基因序列及其编码蛋白的氨基酸序列看,2个生理小种致病力的差异与Fow1基因并无明显对应关系,这为进一步研究Fow1基因功能奠定了基础。