First Report of Cucumber mosaic virus Infecting Chinese Mallow in China

The virus in naturally infected, stunted Chinese mallow plants and mosaic leaves was identified as Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Six symptomatic plants and one symptomless plant were collected in Chongqing, China. DAS‐ELISA suggested CMV was likely associated with the diseased Chinese mallow. Double‐stranded RNA was extracted from the samples, analysed by RT‐PCR, and the coding sequences of their coat proteins (CPs) were sequenced. The results further confirmed CMV was the pathogen causing Chinese mallow stunted, mosaic disease. The isolate was named CMV‐DXC. The full sequence of CMV‐DXC CP was determined, and it had the highest nucleotide identity (99.4%) of those of CMV‐lily, CMV‐WSJ and CMV‐Hnt, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis shows that CMV‐DXC belongs to CMV subgroup II. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV infecting Chinese mallow in China.     

First Report of Fusarium proliferatum Infecting Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) in China

In 2011, a wilt disease has been detected on carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivar ‘Light Pink Barbara’ in Kunming, Yunnan, China. A Fusarium sp. was consistently recovered from pieces of symptomatic tissues on Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA). On the basis of morphological characteristics and molecular identification by DNA sequencing of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA ITS) and partial translation elongation factor‐1α (TEF) gene region, following their phylogenetic trees construction, the putative causal agent was identified as Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg, and its pathogenicity was finally confirmed by Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a wilt disease caused by F. proliferatum on carnation in China.     

First Report of a 16SrI‐C Phytoplasma Infecting Celery (Apium graveolens) with Stunting,Bushy Top and Phyllody in the Czech Republic

Apium graveolens L. plants showing stunting, purplish/whitening of new leaves, flower abnormalities and bushy tops were observed in South Bohemia (Czech Republic) during 2011 and 2012. Transmission electron microscopy observations showed phytoplasmas in phloem sieve tube elements of symptomatic but not healthy plants. Polymerase chain reactions with universal and group‐specific phytoplasma primers followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses and sequencing of 16S rDNA enabled classification of the detected phytoplasmas into the aster yellows group, ribosomal subgroup 16SrI‐C. Identical analyses of the ribosomal protein genes rpl22 and rps3 were used for further classification and revealed affiliation of the phytoplasmas with the rpIC subgroups. This is the first report of naturally occurring clover phyllody phytoplasma in A. graveolens in both the Czech Republic and worldwide.     

First Report of Sclerotinia nivalis Causing White Mold Disease on Sedum sarmentosum in China

In 2010 and 2011, a disease exhibiting characteristics of white mold was found on Sedum sarmentosum, a crassulaceous weed under canopies of tea trees, in Zhushan County, Hubei Province, China. Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Sclerotinia nivalis Saito. In the phylogenetic tree inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)‐rDNA sequences, the pathogen was clustered with five previously characterized isolates of S. nivalis, forming a unique clade, thus confirming the morpho‐cultural identification. Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests using the isolate SsSn‐24 and Let‐19 of S. nivalis on plants of S. sarmentosum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. nivalis on S. sarmentosum in the family Crassulaceae.     

Orchid Fleck Virus Infecting Orchids in Paraguay: First Report and Use of Degenerate Primers for its Detection

The presence of Orchid fleck virus (OFV) in Paraguay was confirmed in orchid plants collected during a survey carried out in 2013. Leaves displayed ringspot and fleck symptoms, and in infected tissues, non‐enveloped, short, rodlike viral particles were observed. Partial OFV N and L genes were amplified using specific and degenerate primers, respectively; the nucleotide sequences demonstrated high identities (98%) with other OFV isolates. Degenerate primers for the L gene were designed considering conserved regions within all of the available OFV sequences and those from the closely related isolates citrus leprosis virus nuclear type (CiLV‐N) and citrus necrotic spot virus. Degenerate primers were also successfully used for the detection of CiLV‐N from infected citrus samples.     

Occurrence of Six Begomoviruses Infecting Tomato Fields in Venezuela and Genetic Characterization of Potato Yellow Mosaic Virus Isolates

Begomoviruses are one of the major pathogens in tomato crops worldwide. In Venezuela, six begomovirus species have been described infecting tomato: Potato yellow mosaic virus (PYMV), Euphorbia mosaic Venezuela virus (EuMVV), Merremia mosaic virus (MeMV), Tomato chlorotic leaf distortion virus (ToCLDV), Tomato yellow margin leaf curl virus (TYMLCV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). In this study, the occurrence of these viruses was analysed by PCR in 338 tomato plants exhibiting virus‐like symptoms. Sixty‐three per cent of the plants were positive at least to one of the begomoviruses tested. PYMV and TYLCV were the most frequent viruses showing 39.6 and 23.7% occurrence, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two groups of PYMV isolates from several Caribbean Basin countries. The first group clustered isolates from several countries, including Venezuela, and the second group clustered only Colombian isolates. Due to the high prevalence of PYMV and TYLCV in Venezuela, it is suggested that the surveillance and control strategies currently applied in the country should be focused on these two begomoviruses.     

First Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. Infecting Buffalo Calves in Brazil

With the aim of determining the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp., 222 fecal samples were collected from Murrah buffalo calves aged up to 6 mo. Fecal DNA was genotyped with a nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the 18S rRNA gene and sequencing of the amplified fragment. Nested 18S PCR was positive for 48.2% of the samples. Sequence analysis showed that the most frequent species in these animals was Cryptosporidium ryanae, which was present in buffalo calves as young as 5 d. The zoonotic species Cryptosporidium parvum was detected in one animal. An uncommon Cryptosporidium 18S genotype was found in buffaloes.     

Begomoviruses Infecting Tomato Crops in Panama

The key regions in Panama involved in open field‐ and greenhouse‐grown commercial tomato production, including the Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, Los Santos, Coclé and Panama Oeste provinces, were surveyed for the incidence and distribution of begomoviruses in the growing seasons of 2011 and 2012. The surveys took place in 14 of the 51 districts of the above‐mentioned provinces and comprised all relevant tomato production areas of the provinces. A total of 28 tomato plots were surveyed. The exact location of each plot was geo‐referenced using a hand‐held Global Positioning System unit. In total, 319 individual tomato plants (181 in 2011 and 138 in 2012) were sampled. Plants displayed diverse combinations of virus‐like symptoms of different severity, including necrosis, yellowing, mosaic, mottling, rolling, curling, distortion and puckering of leaves, reduced leaf size, and stunted growth. DNA was extracted from each plant for a subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, using two sets of degenerate primers able to detect members of the genus Begomovirus. The samples displaying a positive reaction were subsequently analysed with specific primer pairs to identify the affecting begomoviruses. A total of 42.3% of all collected samples showed a positive signal to PCRs. Three begomovirus species were detected with the species‐specific set of primers; in particular, in the samples obtained in 2011, Potato yellow mosaic Panama virus (PYMPV), Tomato leaf curl Sinaloa virus (ToLCSiV) and Tomato yellow mottle virus (TYMoV) were detected, while in the 2012 samples, only PYMPV and ToLCSiV were found. To our knowledge, this is the first reported incidence of ToLCSiV and TYMoV in Panamanian tomato crops.     

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Wild tomato mosaic virus Isolate Infecting Nicotiana tabacum in China

Virus particles of approximately 740–760 nm in length and 13 nm in diameter were observed from a diseased Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) plant in Sichuan Province, China. The complete genomic sequence of the virus isolate XC1 was determined to contain 9659 nucleotides without 3′ terminal poly(A) tail. XC1 has a genome typical of members of the genus Potyvirus, encoding a large polyprotein of 3075 amino acids. Putative proteolytic cleavage sites and a number of well characterized functional motifs were identified by sequence comparisons with those of known potyviruses. Sequence comparison revealed that XC1 shared the highest level of nucleotide sequence identity (76.5%) with Wild tomato mosaic virus (WTMV). Phylogenetic analysis showed that XC1 was closely related to the WTMV Guangdong isolate with an identity of 94.3% between CP gene sequence of the two viruses. We thus named XC1 WTMV‐XC‐1 as a novel isolate of WTMV. The full sequence of WTMV‐XC‐1 may serve as a basis for future investigations on the gene diversity of WTMV.     

First Report of Myrothecium roridum Causing Leaf Spot on Anthurium andraeanum in China

A new severe disease on Anthurium andraeanum Lind. was observed in the summer of 2011 in Beijing, China. The fungus was isolated from symptomatic leaves, and its pathogenicity was confirmed. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the pathogen was identified as Myrothecium roridum Tode ex Fr. This is the first report of M. roridum causing leaf spot on A. andraeanum in China.     

First Report of Anthracnose of Ledebouriella seseloides Caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Korea

In 2012, dark brown spots were observed on leaves of Ledebouriella seseloides (Fang Feng) in several research plots located at the Goseong Agricultural Research Extension services in Gyeongam Province, Republic of Korea. A fungus was isolated from the infected plants which produced pink‐coloured spores in mucilage on PDA and conidial morphology suggested that the causal agent was Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Internal transcribed spacer sequences of the pathogen showed 99% identity to those of C. gloeosporioides. Pathogenicity of the isolate was proved by Koch's postulates. This is the first report of anthracnose in L. seseloides caused by C. gloeosporioides.     

Identification and Molecular Characterization of a New Geminivirus Betasatellite Infecting Malvastrum coromandelianum in China

The complete nucleotide sequence of a satellite molecule associated with Malvastrum leaf curl Guangdong virus (MLCuGdV) infecting M. coromandelianum plants exhibiting leaf curl symptoms in a suburb of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China, is described and analysed. The molecule has typical features of betasatellites, containing a single ORF in the complementary‐sense strand, an A‐rich region, the satellite‐conserved region and a stem–loop structure. Compared with the geminivirus betasatellites in GenBank database, this molecule shows the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 71.9% with Tomato leaf curl Philippine betasatellite isolate Laguna1 (ToLCPB, AB307732). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that it is more related to isolate Laguna 1 and Laguna 2 of ToLCPB. According to the proposed species demarcation threshold of betasatellites (78% nucleotide identity), it is a novel betasatellite species, for which we propose the name Malvastrum leaf curl Guangdong betasatellite (MLCuGdB).     

First Report of Dieback of Mango Caused by Fusarium decemcellulare in China

During 2009–2011, a dieback disease of mango (Mangifera indica) has recently emerged on mango trees in Panzhihua City, Sichuan province of China. The disease is characterized by large irregular brown‐coloured speckles on the petioles and twigs, vascular necrosis and dry leaves and complete twig mortality. Fusarium species were isolated repeatedly from the infected petioles and twigs. The species was identified as Fusarium decemcellulare Brick based on morphology and sequence analysis of Translation Elongation Factor‐1alpha (TEF‐1α) gene. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by pathogenicity tests on potted mango seedlings. To our knowledge, this is the first record of dieback on mango caused by F. decemcellulare in China.     

Molecular genetics of coat colour variations in White Galloway and White Park cattle

White Galloway cattle exhibit three different white coat colour phenotypes, that is, well marked, strongly marked and mismarked. However, mating of individuals with the preferred well or strongly marked phenotype also results in offspring with the undesired mismarked and/or even fully black coat colour. To elucidate the genetic background of the coat colour variations in White Galloway cattle, we analysed four coat colour relevant genes: mast/stem cell growth factor receptor (KIT), KIT ligand (KITLG), melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and tyrosinase (TYR). Here, we show that the coat colour variations in White Galloway cattle and White Park cattle are caused by a KIT gene (chromosome 6) duplication and aberrant insertion on chromosome 29 (Cs₂₉) as recently described for colour‐sided Belgian Blue. Homozygous (Cs₂₉/Cs₂₉) White Galloway cattle and White Park cattle exhibit the mismarked phenotype, whereas heterozygous (Cs₂₉/wt₂₉) individuals are either well or strongly marked. In contrast, fully black individuals are characterised by the wild‐type chromosome 29. As known for other cattle breeds, mutations in the MC1R gene determine the red colouring. Our data suggest that the white coat colour variations in White Galloway cattle and White Park cattle are caused by a dose‐dependent effect based on the ploidy of aberrant insertions and inheritance of the KIT gene on chromosome 29.     

First Report of Root‐knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne arenaria) on Angelica dahurica in China

Angelica dahurica is an important Chinese herbal medicine plant, and its rhizome is of high medicinal value. In recent years, a severe decline in yield has been observed in Bozhou City (China's largest A. dahurica producing area), Anhui province, China. It showed symptoms of decline, stunting, yellowing and many galls in the roots, which was the characterization of infestation by root‐knot nematodes. A survey of root‐knot nematodes on its roots was conducted in this area from June to September, 2011. Based on our results, the nematode species on A. dahurica was identified as Meloidogyne arenaria by the morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. arenaria on A. dahurica in China.     

First Report of Frosty Mildew on Salix koreensis Caused by Mycopappus alni in Korea

A frosty mildew was observed on leaves of Salix koreensis in two localities of Korea during 2011 and 2012. The main signs and symptoms were expressed as conical white to cream coloured tufts of the causal fungus on the brown lesions, followed by premature defoliation. Based on morphological observations, cultural characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of rDNA‐ITS, the fungus was identified as Mycopappus alni, which has been known to be associated with frosty mildews on Alnus spp., Betula spp., Crataegus chlorosarca and Pyrus pyrifolia. Pathogenicity test was conducted twice with the same results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first case of Salix–Mycopappus association as well as the first report of frosty mildew on S. koreensis.     

First Report of Botryosphaeria dothidea on Mangifera indica L. in Gujarat

A leaf spot disease was observed on Mangifera indica L. located in the region of Rajkot, Gujarat, India. The symptoms included the appearance of small, circular to oval dark brown necrotic sunken spots on the leaves. The fungus formed grey to dark grey on potato dextrose agar and conidia were single‐celled, ovoid or oblong. On the basis of mycological characteristics, pathogenicity test and molecular identification using 28S rDNA sequence and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the fungus was identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot on M. indica tree caused by Botryoshaeria dothidea in Gujarat, India.