Evaluation of Eupatorium cannabinum Linn. oil in enhancement of shelf life of mango fruits from fungal rotting

Essential oils extracted from 17 higher plants belonging to different families were screened against Botryodiplodia theobromae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing stem end rot disease and anthracnose disease in mango respectively. The essential oil of Eupatorium cannabinum was found to be fungitoxic in nature against both the mango-rotting fungi. Eupatorium oil was standardized through physico-chemical and fungitoxic properties. Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC) analysis of the oil led to the identification of 16 components, which represented 77.97% of the oil. Germacrene D (16.11%) was found to be the major component. The oil showed a broad fungitoxic spectrum and was recorded to be more efficient than some synthetic fungicides. The oil also showed an inhibitory effect on pectinase and cellulase enzymes. The oil enhanced the shelf life of mango fruits by protecting from fungal rotting when tested as a fumigant. The LD₅₀ of Eupatorium oil was found to be 22.01 ml/kg body weight on mammalian mice.     

Bioprospecting of Saprobe Fungi from the Semi‐Arid North‐East of Brazil for the Control of Anthracnose on Sorghum

Anthracnose, caused by the hemiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum sublineolum, is one of the most important diseases affecting sorghum production worldwide. The main goal of this study was to select saprobe fungi from the semi‐arid north‐east of Brazil that could increase sorghum resistance to anthracnose and investigate this increased resistance at both physiological and biochemical levels. Plants were sprayed with Curvularia inaequalis, Gonytrichum macroladum, Memnoniella levispora, Pithomyces chartarum, Periconia hispidula, Phaeoisaria clematidia, Dictyochaeta heteroderae, Sarcopodium circinatum, Periconia byssoides, Moorella speciosa, Stachybotrys chartarum, Pseudobotrytis terrestres, Memnoniella echinata, Stachybotrys globosa and Gonytrichum clamydosporium 24 h before inoculation with C. sublineolum. Plants sprayed with water served as the control treatment. The area under the anthracnose progress curve was significantly reduced in comparison with the control treatment only for plants sprayed with C. inaequalis. Therefore, C. inaequalis was selected for physiological and biochemical evaluations. The peroxidases, chitinases and β‐1,3‐glucanases activities were significantly higher for plants sprayed with C. inaequalis and inoculated with C. sublineolum than for plants not sprayed with C. inaequalis and inoculated with C. sublineolum. There was no apparent decrease in the values of net carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapour or transpiration rate for plants sprayed with C. inaequalis and infected by C. sublineolum in comparison with plants not sprayed with C. inaequalis and infected by C. sublineolum. In conclusion, sorghum resistance against C. sublineolum infection was greatly potentiated by C. inaequalis without any apparent change in the photosynthetic capacity of the infected plants.     

Growth promotion effect of Pichia guilliermondii in chilli and biocontrol potential of Hanseniaspora uvarum against Colletotrichum capsici causing fruit rot

In the present investigation, we have attempted to identify the potential two epiphytic yeast strains for growth promotion and management of chilli fruit rot. Seed treatment with Pichia guilliermondii showed increased seedling vigour index (55%), fresh weight (96%) and dry weight (45%) over untreated control. Furthermore, P. guilliermondii showed higher root colonisation ability, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilisation ability. On the other hand, seedling dip with Hanseniaspora uvarum induced higher levels of defence-related compounds in chilli seedlings challenge-inoculated with Colletotrichum capsici under glasshouse conditions. Among the different media tested, higher biomass of P. guilliermondii and H. uvarum was obtained in pine juice broth and sugarcane juice broth, respectively. Glycerol buffer formulation showed viability (>70%) of P. guilliermondii up to 4 months and H. uvarum up to 9 months when stored at ambient conditions. Seedling dip and foliar sprays with H. uvarum showed 37– 40% reduction in chilli fruit rot incidence under field conditions. It also showed higher (cumulative) accumulation of defence-related compounds in chilli leaves and ripe fruits under field conditions. The results of current investigation indicated a clear difference among the two epiphytic yeast strains. P. guilliermondii was identified as growth promoter of chilli and H. uvarum as antagonist of chilli fruit rot pathogen, C. capsici.     

Hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata) control in rice (Oryza sativa) with the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene formulated in an invert emulsion

In greenhouse and field experiments, an invert emulsion (MSG 8.25) was tested with dried, formulated spores of the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene, a highly virulent pathogen of the leguminous weed Aeschynomene virginica (northern jointvetch), but considered ‘immune’ against another more serious leguminous weed, Sesbania exaltata (hemp sesbania). A 1:1 (v/v) fungus/invert emulsion mixture resulted in 100% infection and mortality of inoculated hemp sesbania seedlings over a 21-day period under greenhouse conditions. In replicated field tests of the fungus/invert formulation conducted in Stuttgart, AR, and Stoneville, MS, hemp sesbania was controlled 85 and 90%, respectively. These results suggest that this invert emulsion expands the host range of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene, with a concomitant improvement of the bioherbicidal potential of this pathogen.     

Rapid Detection of Colletotrichum lagenarium,Causal Agent of Anthracnose of Cucurbitaceous Crops,by PCR and Real‐time PCR

Rapid and accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real‐time PCR methods were developed for the detection of Colletotrichum lagenarium, the causal agent of anthracnose, in tissues of squash (Cucurbita moschata), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo). PCR assays amplified different internal transcribed spacer sequences from C. lagenarium, so effectively detected this pathogen in infected tissues. PCR analysis with the primer co‐m‐337F1/R1 was able to differentiate C. lagenarium from other fungal pathogens, including Colletotrichum spp., Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp. and Didymella spp. An optimized real‐time PCR assay was developed to detect and monitor C. lagenarium in both infected plant tissues and soil samples. The sensitivity of real‐time PCR can detect down to 1 pg of DNA. Thus, PCR‐based analysis is a useful technique for rapid detection and diagnosis of C. lagenarium in infected plants or infested soils.     

京津水源区小流域土壤侵蚀空间模拟

针对京津水源区生态环境脆弱、水土流失空间分异大、突发性强等问题,以河北省平泉县东北沟典型小流域为例,采用GIS技术与CSLE模型对其土壤侵蚀进行二维空间模拟及侵蚀规律研究,并对模型模拟精度进行验证.结果表明:模型确定性系数>0.85,模拟结果可信度高;小流域侵蚀模数为2359.24t·km-2·a-1,属于轻度侵蚀,侵蚀主要源于15°以上坡面,占侵蚀总量的92.1%;土壤侵蚀模数随坡度先逐渐增加,当坡度>45°时,土壤侵蚀模数有减小的趋势;土壤侵蚀模数空间异质性显著,坡耕地侵蚀模数最大,为6112.90tkm-2·a-1;荒草地占总面积33.2%,侵蚀量却达总量的74.9% ;59.3%的侵蚀来自阳坡和半阳坡,而阴坡半阴坡仅占流域侵蚀量的16.2%.研究为利用CSLE模型对小流域土壤侵蚀进行空间模拟提供技术范例,为京津水源区土壤侵蚀规律研究及水土保持生态建设提供科学参考.     

Tête à tête inside a plant cell: establishing compatibility between plants and biotrophic fungi and oomycetes

'Compatibility' describes the complementary relationship between a plant species and an adapted pathogen species that underlies susceptibility and which ultimately results in disease. Owing to elaborate surveillance systems and defence mechanisms on the plant side and a common lack of adaptation of many microbial pathogens, resistance is the rule and compatibility the exception for most plant-microbe combinations. While there has been major scientific interest in 'resistance' in the past decade, which has revealed many of its underlying molecular components, the analysis of 'compatibility', although intimately intertwined with 'resistance', has not been pursued with a similar intensity. Various recent studies, however, provide a first glimpse of the pivotal players and potential molecular mechanisms essential for compatibility in both the plant and parasite partners. In this review we highlight these findings with a particular emphasis on obligate biotrophic and hemibiotrophic fungal and oomycete pathogens and discuss novel strategies that might help to uncover further the molecular principles underlying compatibility to these highly specialized pathogens.     

Antimicrobial metabolites produced by an intertidal Acremonium furcatum

In a screening for antimicrobial metabolites, amides of D-allo- and L-isoleucine derivatives were isolated from the culture of a marine strain of Acremonium furcatum. Structural elucidation of these compounds was performed by analysis of spectroscopic data and confirmed by synthesis. All of the compounds, natural and synthetic intermediates, were bioassayed against bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi, with many showing remarkable antifungal activities.     

Biochemical aspects of bean resistance to anthracnose mediated by silicon

This study investigated the effect of silicon (Si) on resistance of bean plants (cv. ‘Peróla’) to anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, grown in a nutrient solution containing 0 (?Si) or 2 mmol Si L^?1 (+Si). The concentration of Si in leaf tissue and the incubation period increased by 55.2% and 14.3%, respectively, in +Si plants in relation to ?Si plants. The area under anthracnose progress curve and the severity estimated by the software QUANT significantly decreased by 32.9% and 27%, respectively, for +Si plants. Si did not affect the concentration of total soluble phenolics. Chitinases activity was higher in the advanced stages of infection by C. lindemuthianum for leaves of ?Si plants. β‐1,3‐Glucanase activity increased after C. lindemuthianum infection, but it was not enhanced by Si. Peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities had no apparent effect on the resistance of bean plants to anthracnose, regardless of the presence of Si. The increase in lignin concentration as well as on the phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase and lipoxygenase activities were important for the resistance of +Si plants against anthracnose. The results of this study suggest that Si may increase resistance to anthracnose in bean plants by enhancing certain biochemical mechanisms of defence as opposed to just acting as a physical barrier to penetration by C. lindemuthianum.