A Cucumber Disease Caused by Alternaria alternata and its Control

A severe leaf spot disease of cucumber caused by a pathotype of Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler was recorded recently in plastic houses in Crete. Lesions ranged in size of a pin point to over 5 cm in diameter, with necrotic tissue on most of their area and a surrounding yellow zone. The pathogen grew satisfactorily on PDA at temperatures between 5 °C–40 °C and spore germination occurred in the range less than 10 °C to over 37 °C. Optimum temperature in both cases was near 26 °C. Of,13 fungicides tested in vitro, sodium omadine, etem, dichlofluanid, captan and folpet were the most inhibitory on spore germination, and iprodione, sodium omadine and dichlofluanid on mycelial growth. Of 25 fungicides applied on two leaf cucumber plants 24 h before inoculation, maneb, etem, dichlofluanid and chlorothalonil were the most effective. When the last fungicides, plus mancozeb, were applied 24 h after inoculation only maneb was effective. In greenhouse experiments, iprodione, prochloraz-manganese-complex, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, guazatine, maneb and etem were the most effective for disease control, while mancozeb was less effective. The local cucumber cv. Knossos and the Dutch F₁ hybrids Evadan, Frella, Herta, Malfa, Mazourka, Pepinex 69 and Renova were all susceptible to infection.     

Wind Dispersal of Alternaria alternata, a Cause of Leaf Blight of Cotton

Introducing Alternaria alternata, the cause of blight disease of cotton plants, into a field of young healthy plants growing in rows cross-wind, yielded disease foci which were spread downwind up to 7 m from the infection sources. Only light disease incidence was found in the remainder of the field. When the disease was introduced into a field of mature cotton plants grown in rows cross-wind, randomly scattered disease foci occurred. In mature plantations where rows were parallel to the average wind direction, only limited size disease foci developed downwind, up to 16 m from the source. These foci did not developed further during the season. The number of air-borne spores of A. alternata was significantly increased by the presence of diseased cotton plants, being highest close to the diseased plants. The spores were transferred to a distance of at least 20 m. However, the number of air-borne spores significantly decreased 6 m from the infection source. Periodical trapping of air-borne spores of A. alternata in a cotton growing region for 2 years, revealed that their air dispersal is local, probably at the field level. A. alternata in a cotton growing region for 2 years, revealed that their air dispersal is local, probably at the field level. A. alternata air-borne spores were also trapped in rather low numbers regardless of the presence of infected cotton plants. However, the number of the air-borne spores trapped was dependent mainly on the average wind direction and on the Alternaria blight epidemics occurring in the fields twice a year. It is suggested that A. alternata spores are transferred by wind for short distances but are constantly present in small numbers in the atmosphere throughout the whole year. The two peaks recorded for the number of spores present in the air above cotton crops correlate with the annual two outbreaks of Alternaria blight epidemics. In addition, both wind and plant row direction affect disease development in the fields.     

First Report of Black Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria alternata on Ramie in China

In 2012 and 2013, black leaf spot disease was observed on ramie plants in Hunan and Hubei Provinces, China. In the field, the symptoms of this disease included dark green to black big spots on leaves, often resulting in upwardly curled leaf margins. The pathogen isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler on the basis of morphology and sequence similarity of 99–100% to the published data for internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (gdp). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Alternaria leaf spot of ramie in China.     

诱导子对长春花生物碱生物合成的诱导与调控

真菌诱导子、信号分子、植物生长调节物质等诱导子对长春花生物碱的生物合成具有调控作用。文章介绍了诱导子种类、诱导效果与调控机理等方面的研究进展。     

Stability of Sweet Potato Cultivars to Alternaria Leaf and Stem Blight Disease

Alternaria leaf petiole and stem blight is an economically important disease of sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatus L.) in tropical and sub-tropical environments. Published research on cultivar resistance to the sweet potato disease is limited. To evaluate cultivar reaction and stability to the disease, multi-location and replicated experiments were established in 12 environments in Uganda. Disease severity (area under disease progress curves – AUDPC), and cultivar root yield were also assessed. Significant differences (P < 0.001) in AUDPC were detected among cultivars. Mean AUDPC ranged from 46.3 (Araka Red) to 78.4 (New Kawogo) across locations and seasons and the genotypes Araka Red and Tanzania had the lowest disease values. The location and season effects accounted for 67.1% and 7.5% of the total variance of AUDPC recorded among cultivars. The ranking of cultivars based on predicted AUDPC from Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interactive model (AMMI) showed that the NASPOT 1, the susceptible check, and New Kawogo were most susceptible to the disease in 11 of the 12 environments. Low and stable disease was consistently recorded and predicted on NASPOT 3 and the landrace cultivars Tanzania, Dimbuca, and Araka Red across environments. These results suggest that landrace cultivars had relative stability to the disease and wide adaptation across environments. These results suggest that AMMI statistical model and other multivariate techniques can be utilized for prediction of Alternaria disease stability in these locations.     

2种植物生长调节剂诱导烟草抗链格孢菌研究

以链格孢菌Alternaria alternata和烟草Nicotiana tabacum品种云烟87为试材,研究不同浓度茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)和水杨酸(SA)处理下,链格孢菌菌丝生长情况以及成熟期烟叶防御酶活性与多酚含量变化,探讨植物生长调节剂对烟草抗链格孢菌的影响。结果表明,1 mmol·L^–1 MeJA对链格孢菌的抑制效果最好,抑菌率高达59%以上,其次是3.5 mmol·L^–1SA;MeJA和SA对链格孢菌的抑制效果随药剂浓度升高而增强;0.1 mmol·L^–1 MeJA和2.5 mmol·L^–1 SA能诱导烟草叶片SOD、POD、CAT等防御酶活性,并能降低H₂O₂活性氧含量,尤其以MeJA诱导效果较好。2种植物生长调节剂处理并接种链格孢菌能诱导提高烟叶多酚代谢相关酶PPO及PAL活性,但对烟草多酚类物质影响较小;成熟烟叶中含量较高的前3种多酚物质是绿原酸、芸香苷、隐绿原酸。     

Volatilization of Selenium by Alternaria alternata

Seleniferous water continues to be a serious problem to wildlife in the central valley of California. Water samples collected from Kesterson Reservoir, Peck Ranch, and Lost Hills evaporation pond facilities contained between 0.005 and 5 mg of Se per liter. The objective of this study was to isolate Se-methylating organisms in evaporation pond water and to assess, through enrichment and manipulation of their optimal growth parameters, the environmental factors which govern microbial Se methylation. Alternaria alternata was isolated as an active Se-methylating organism. The volatile product was identified as dimethylselenide. The effects of pH, temperature, Se substrates, and methyl donors on the ability of A. alternata to methylate Se were investigated in liquid medium containing 100 mg of Se per liter. The optimum pH and temperature for methylation were 6.5 and 30 degrees C, respectively. Selenate and selenite were methylated more rapidly than selenium sulfide and various organic Se compounds (6-selenoguanosine, 6-selenoinosine, seleno-dl-methionine, and 6-selenopurine). l-Methionine and methyl cobalamine (0.1 muM) stimulated dimethylselenide production. This study demonstrates that Se-methylating organisms are present in evaporation pond water and are capable of liberating substantial quantities of Se in the volatile dimethylselenide form. By determining the optimum environmental conditions which stimulate volatilization, it may be possible to design a way to remove Se from seleniferous water in situ.     

Evidence of Alternaria alternata Causing Leaf Spot of Aloe vera in Iran

A leaf spot and leaf blight disease was observed on Aloe vera plants as small, circular to oval dark brown necrotic sunken spots on leaves. Infected tissues collected from different sites in diseased fields were cultured on potato carrot agar medium, and the pathogen was identified as Alternaria alternata on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. The conidiophores were branched, straight, golden brown, smooth‐walled, measuring up to μm long by 3 μm wide with one conidial scar. The conidia were golden brown in colour and produced in long branched chains, obclavate in shape and in short conical flask. Pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy potted aloe plants in a glasshouse showed typical leaf spot symptoms after 4–7 days. The optimal temperature for the growth of A. alternata was 25°C.     

Analysis of Catharanthus roseus alkaloids by HPLC

Catharanthus roseus is a medicinal plant from which secondary metabolites used in chemotherapy to treat diverse cancers are extracted. The well known high value metabolites vincristine and vinblastine are just 2 of 130 alkaloids that can be found in C. roseus. However, only few (∼11) of this high number of chemical entities are frequently analyzed and even fewer (∼8) are available commercially. For more than 30 years, different analytical techniques have been developed to isolate and identify C. roseus metabolites, and then allowing revealing the therapeutic potential of C. roseus metabolites. Among few approaches, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique is still widely used for the separation and analysis of secondary metabolites such as those from C. roseus. This article thus reviews the most recent developments in HPLC analysis of alkaloids from C. roseus. Diverse considerations that are crucial to the efficiency of secondary metabolites separation and identification steps, such as biomass manipulation, extraction phase and protocols, HPLC separation and analysis protocols are reviewed in details. Examples of spectra obtained using the most common detectors are also shown and suggestions are made on how to proceed in developing efficient separation and identification methods at the analytical and semi-preparative scales.     

Induction of Protective Immunity Against Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcus neoformans, the predominant etiological agent of cryptococcosis, is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections of the central nervous system in immune compromised individuals resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, several studies have endeavored to understand those mechanisms that mediate resistance and susceptibility to Cryptococcus infection. In this review, we will examine the contributions of various components of the innate and adaptive immune response toward protection against cryptococcosis. We will focus our discussion on studies presented at the 8th International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC). Remarkable progress has been made toward our understanding of host immunity and susceptibility to cryptococcal infection and the potential for vaccine development.     

Induction of de-novo synthesis of tryptophan decarboxylase in cell suspensions of Catharanthus roseus

Tryptophan decarboxylase (EC 4.2.1.27) is synthesized de-novo by Catharanthus roseus cells shortly after the cells have been transferred into culture medium in which monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are formed. The enzyme production, monitored by in-vivo labelling with [³⁵S]methionine and immunoprecipitation, precedes the apparent maximal enzyme activity by 10–12 h. From the time course of the descending enzyme activity after induction, a half-life of 21 h for tryptophan decarboxylase in C. roseus cell suspensions is calculated. A comparison of the polyadenylated-RNA preparations from C. roseus cells indicates that mRNA activity for tryptophan decarboxylase is only detected in cells grown in the production medium. The importance of tryptophan decarboxylase induction with respect to the accumulation of th corresponding alkaloids is discussed.Abbreviation TDC tryptophan decarboxylase     

Red-Light-Induced Resistance in Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.) to Leaf Spot Disease Caused by Alternaria tenuissima

The effect of different light wavelengths on the development of lesions induced by Alternaria tenuissima in broad bean leaves was investigated. Lesion development was completely suppressed in red‐light‐irradiated broad bean leaflets, irrespective of isolate or spore concentration. Pre‐treatment of leaflets with red light for 24 h before inoculation also suppressed lesion development. Alternaria tenuissima failed to produce infection hyphae in red‐light‐irradiated broad bean leaflets. These results indicate that disease suppression in broad bean leaflets is due to light‐induced resistance. Spore germination fluid (SGF) of A. tenuissima allowed non‐pathogenic Alternaria alternata to infect wounded and unwounded broad bean leaflets kept in the dark, results suggesting that SGF induced susceptibility. Red light suppressed susceptibility induced by A. tenuissima SGF; thus, lesion formation and development were suppressed when leaflets inoculated with the spores of A. alternata suspended in A. tenuissima SGF were kept under red light. From these results, we conclude that red light induced resistance in broad bean to leaf spot disease caused by A. tenuissima, and that SGF induced susceptibility of broad bean leaflets to a non‐pathogenic isolate of A. alternata.     

Incidence of Alternaria Species Associated with Watermelon Leaf Blight in Korea

Alternaria leaf blight is one of the most common diseases in watermelon worldwide. In Korea, however, the Alternaria species causing the watermelon leaf blight have not been investigated thoroughly. A total of 16 Alternaria isolates was recovered from diseased watermelon leaves with leaf blight symptoms, which were collected from 14 fields in Korea. Analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) were not competent to differentiate the Alternaria isolates. On the contrary, analysis of amplicon size of the histone H3 (HIS3) gene successfully differentiated the isolates into three Alternaria subgroups, and further sequence analysis of them identified three Alternaria spp. Alternaria tenuissima, A. gaisen, and A. alternata. Representative Alternaria isolates from three species induced dark brown leaf spot lesions on detached watermelon leaves, indicating that A. tenuissima, A. gaisen, and A. alternata are all causal agents of Alternaria leaf blight. Our results indicate that the Alternaria species associated watermelon leaf blight in Korea is more complex than reported previously. This is the first report regarding the population structure of Alternaria species causing watermelon leaf blight in Korea.     

First Report of Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Fusarium verticillioides (Teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis) in Kentucky Bluegrass

Leaf blight symptom caused by Gibberella moniliformis was observed in the seedlings of Kentucky bluegrass (cv. Perfection) in Jinju, Korea, in January 2013. The symptoms first appeared as brown to yellow lesions on leaves, which later became white and bleached. The pathogen was isolated from turfgrass leaves and identified as G. moniliformis by using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and ITS4 sequences of rRNA. G. moniliformis was confirmed by a pathogenicity test, and the causal agent was reisolated from infected turfgrass.     

Nitrogen inhibition of mycotoxin production by Alternaria alternata

Alternaria alternata produces the polyketides alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) during the stationary growth phase. Addition of 12 mM NaNO3 to the cultures before initiation of polyketide production reduced the AOH and AME content to 5 to 10% of that of controls. Glutamate and urea also reduced AOH and AME accumulation, whereas increasing the ionic strength did not affect the polyketide content. Adding NaNO3 after polyketide production had started did not inhibit further AOH accumulation, although over 90% of the added NO3- disappeared from the medium within 24 h. Activity of an AME-synthesizing enzyme, alternariol-O-methyltransferase (AOH-MT), appeared in control mycelia during the early stationary growth phase. No AOH-MT activity appeared in mycelia blocked in polyketide synthesis by addition of NaNO3. Later addition of NaNO3 reduced the AOH-MT specific activity to 50% of that of the control, whereas the total of activity per mycelium was the same. The AOH-MT activity in vitro was not affected by 100 mM NaNO3. The results suggest that nitrogen in some way inhibited the formation of active enzymes in the polyketide-synthesizing pathway in A. alternata when it was added before these enzymes were formed.     

枯草芽孢杆菌菌剂对人参黑斑病的生物防治效果

为明确枯草芽孢杆菌可湿性粉剂(WP)对人参黑斑病的防治效果及对人参生长的安全性,采用生长速率法测定枯草芽孢杆菌对人参黑斑病菌的室内抑菌效果,采用田间小区试验评价枯草芽孢杆菌对人参黑斑病的防治效果及其对人参的安全性.室内抑菌试验结果表明:枯草芽孢杆菌对人参黑斑病菌的菌丝生长具有较好的抑制作用,EC50和EC90分别为0....     

Alkaloid production by transformed root cultures of Catharanthus roseus

Transformed roots of Catharanthus roseus were obtained following infection of detached leaves with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Roots would not grow in full strength Gamborg's B5 medium but would grow satisfactorily if the medium was diluted to one half strength. Little alkaloid appeared in the growth medium but root tissue contained a high level and wide variety of alkaloids. Ajmalicine, serpentine, vindolinine and catharanthine were prominent components. Vinblastine could also be detected by a combination of HPLC and radioimmunoassay, though at a level of only 0.05g/g dry weight.Abbreviations B5 Gamborg's B5 nutrient salts - LC/MS combined liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry - FW fresh weight - Kb kilobase     

A Rapid and Efficient Method for In Vitro Screening of Taro for Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Phytophthora colocasiae

Taro leaf blight caused by Phytophthora colocasiae presents the single biggest constraint for taro cultivation globally. To accelerate breeding and selection for disease resistance to leaf blight, it is important to develop bioassays which could differentiate resistant and susceptible cultivars efficiently. In this study, thirty taro accessions and four released cultivars were evaluated for resistance to leaf blight using a modified floating leaf disc assay. A novel method for mass production of P. colocasiae zoospores was developed and used as inoculum for the assay. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences among accessions in their response to P. colocasiae infection in the detached leaf assay. The accessions could be efficiently classified into various resistance groups based on a 0–4 score. Also, the assay results were consistent with the field evaluation scores of taro accessions. Thus, this study reports the development of a rapid, simple and repeatable assay that can be used to screen large numbers of taro cultivars for resistance to P. colocasiae.     

青霉TS67菌株对大豆根腐病和玉米小斑病的防治效果评价

采用盆栽试验的方法,通过病情指数和防治效率等指标研究青霉TS67菌株的发酵液、发酵上清液和菌体对大豆根腐病及玉米小斑病的影响,实验结果的SPSS统计分析表明,青霉TS67的所有处理均能显著(P<0.01)抑制大豆根腐病及玉米小斑病的发生,其中采用TS67菌株与大豆尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum)的混合物进行拌种,对大豆根腐病的防治效果最好,防治效率迭63.98%;在玉米小斑病发病前喷洒TS67菌株的发酵液,对玉米小斑病的防治效果最好,防治效率达到53.34%.此外实验结果还表明用青霉TS67进行大豆拌种能有效促进大豆幼苗生长.