Screening biological activities of soil-borne Streptomyces sp. against several phytopathogenic fungi

About 70 Streptomyces species, isolated from soils of greenhouses and citrus orchards were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against Verticillium dahliae, Fusarium subglutinans, Fusarium sambucinum, Phoma glomerata and Nattrassia mangiferae. Preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity was determined by dual culture method. The soils of Kerman are rich sources of micro-organisms with potent biological activities, and screening programmes are to be conducted to reveal the presence of active Actinomycetes isolates against phytopathogenic fungi.     

Approaching risk assessment of complex disease development in horse chestnut trees: a chemical ecologist's perspective

Abstract The chemo‐ecological predispositions were investigated for the development of a complex disease on the basis of an insect–fungus mutualism using the system of horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus x carnea), the horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella) and the biotrophic powdery mildew (Erysiphe flexuosa). Both C. ohridella and E. flexuosa can appear on the same horse chestnut leaf tissue simultaneously. The olfactory detection of fungal infection by the insect, its ability to discriminate the potentially mutualistic fungus from other fungi and the impact of fungal infection on insect oviposition were examined. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopic and electroantennographic detection by C. ohridella (GC‐MS/EAD) was used to assess the olfactory detection of fungal‐infected A. hippocastanum and A. x carnea leaves by C. ohridella. Infection‐related compounds, such as benzyl alcohol, dodecane, tridecane and methyl salicylate as well as fungus‐related C8 compounds, are perceived by C. ohridella. The discrimination of E. flexuosa from another phytopathogenic fungus, such as Guignardia aesculi, is based primarily on the differing pattern of C8 compounds of these fungi. Oviposition on fungal‐infected leaves of A. hippocastanum and leaves treated with fungal‐related compounds showed that C. ohridella is able to respond to the modifications in the leaf volatile profiles of horse chestnuts caused by the different fungal infections. Thus, from the perception point of view, the necessary predispositions for the development of a close insect–fungus relation between the biotrophic fungus E. flexuosa and the leaf‐mining insect C. ohridella are fulfilled. However, decreased oviposition on infected leaves does not enhance the selective contact between the species. As a consequence, an important predisposition for forming an insect–fungus mutualism is not fulfilled by these two species and, according to this approach, the risk of forming a complex disease can be assessed as low.     

金沙江干热河谷地区芒果畸形病的病原菌

从金沙江干热河谷地区采集芒果畸形病组织,运用柯赫氏法则证实分离物MG6为该病的致病菌。菌株MG6在马铃薯蔗糖琼脂培养基（PSA）上菌丝白色,无色素产生,米饭培养基浅粉红色;在康乃馨叶片培养基（CLA）上以单瓶梗或复瓶梗假头状产孢,不产生链状孢子;小型分生孢子卵形或长椭圆形,具0－1个分隔,3.1－10.2×1.5－2.2μm;大型分生孢子呈镰刀形,通常3个分隔,18－38×1.8－2.4μm。EF-1α测序结果在Fusarium数据库中进行同源性分析显示,菌株MG6与F. mangiferae的同源性最高,达99.68%。综合培养性状、形态学特征和EF-1α序列分析,将菌株MG6鉴定为Fusarium mangiferae。     

Role of stressed mango host conditions in attraction of and colonization by the mango bark beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae Stebbing (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and in the symptom development of quick decline of mango trees in Pakistan

The mango sudden death syndrome has become a serious threat to the mango industry and caused significant decline in mango production worldwide. The bark beetle Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Stebbing) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) has been suggested as a potential vector of the disease based primarily on field observations with little or no supporting empirical data. In this study, we investigated the role of infected mango trees in host attraction and colonization by H. mangiferae to determine if beetle attack and colonization contributes to the disease progression on mango trees. Initially, the role of various stress factors on beetle attraction and disease progression was assessed under lathe house conditions from 2008 to 2009. Results suggest that symptomatic or recently inoculated mango trees (without any obvious symptoms) are preferentially colonized by H. mangiferae. Although not significant, high numbers of beetles attacked stressed or wounded mango trees, compared to healthy or dead mango trees. Disease symptoms after beetle colonization, such as bark splitting, wilting and oozing, were further evaluated. These symptoms showed positive correlation with the degree of disease severity and host plant condition. Furthermore, two fungi, Ceratocystis fimbriata and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, were frequently isolated from the beetle and beetle-colonized trees. Based on these findings, they suggests that H. mangiferae can vector multiple fungi associated with mango sudden decline disease and play a significant role in outbreaks of this disease.     

Epidemiology,identification and disease management of grape black rot and potentially useful metabolites of black rot pathogens for industrial applications – a review

Phyllosticta ampelicida (teleomorph: Guignardia bidwellii) is the fungal plant pathogen that causes black rot on grapevine. It is able to infect all green, expanding grape tissues. Black rot poses a threat to both yield and wine quality; a severe attack can virtually cause a complete crop loss. The fungus is native to North America, and was spread to Europe at the end of the 19th century. With the beginning of the 21st century, an increasing importance of the disease was observed in several European winegrowing regions. Successful black rot control strategies combine sanitary measures, cultural techniques, growing cultivars with reduced susceptibility and the use of effective fungicides. Berries are most susceptible to infections between flowering and bunch closure and consequently, fungicide applications against black rot need to focus on this period. In this paper, forecast models and decision support systems that help to achieve satisfactory control with a minimum of fungicide input are presented. Black rot in grapevine was reported to be well controlled in field experiments by a broad range of fungicide classes including quinone outside inhibitors (98 ± 3% efficacy), demethylation inhibitors (98 ± 3% efficacy) and dithiocarbamates (92 ± 7% efficacy). Average efficacies of other fungicide classes tested so far ranged from 32 to 69%; meta data on the efficacy of fungicides in numerous field trials are given. At present, black rot causes major problems primarily if vineyard management and fungicide use were reduced or abandoned. Organically managed vineyards are highly affected. Hence, site and cultivar selection as well as cultural measures are of the highest importance especially in organic viticulture. Recent studies showed that some strains formerly classified as G. bidwellii in fact belong to a distinct species (P. parthenocissi). Black rot pathogens produce some phytotoxic secondary metabolites, such as phenguignardic acid, guignardic acid, alaguignardic acid and the guignardianones A, E and F, which could stimulate the development of new herbicides of natural origin.     

双间柱顶孢的研究进展

双间柱顶孢是一种暗色真菌,能感染植物和人类。主要存在于热带、亚热带地区。世界各地均有散在报道,泰国的感染最高,但我国很少有报道。为进一步认识该菌,现就双间柱顶孢的分类和命名学的研究进展、流行病学现状、形态特点、生物化学、致病性及治疗等情况进行综述。     

Extensive host range of an endophytic fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Guignardia endophyllicola</Emphasis> (anamorph: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllosticta capitalensis</Emphasis>)

Isolation of endophytic species of Guignardia (anamorph: Phyllosticta) from healthy leaves of 94 plants (91 species and 3 varieties) in 69 genera, 42 families, was carried out in a test site (Kyoto Herbal Garden) to investigate the host range of Guignardia endophyllicola (anamorph: Phyllosticta capitalensis). Species of Guignardia and Phyllosticta were isolated from the leaves of 67 plants (66 species and 1 variety) belonging to 54 genera, 38 families. Among them, 53 isolates from different plants belonging to 43 genera in 36 families were similar in morphology, and sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosome DNA revealed these isolates to be conspecific with G. endophyllicola. In addition, this fungus was isolated from leaves of various plants collected in different places in Japan and Thailand. Thus, this endophytic fungus has been revealed to live within various vascular plants, angiosperms, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes.     

Pustulan and branched β-galactofuranan from the phytopathogenic fungus Guignardia citricarpa, excreted from media containing glucose and sucrose

Guignardia citricarpa is a phytopathogenic fungus and the causal agent of citrus black spot. Incubation in a semi-defined media resulted in formation of exopolysaccharides [EPS(s)]. A medium containing glucose gave rise to a (1→6)-linked β-glucan (200 kD), pustulan, which was characterized by NMR and methylation analysis. A sucrose-containing medium provided a homogalactan (376 kD) and methylation analysis showed nonreducing end- (20%), 6-O- (53%) and 5,6-di-O-substituted Galf units (27%). An HMQC spectrum of the homogalactan showed C-1/H-1 signals at δ 108.2/4.820, 108.3/4.820 and 107.1/5.079, corresponding to three types of β- -Galf units. A DEPT analysis showed inverted signals (CH₂) at δ 67.8 and 67.2, corresponding to 6-O-substituted β- -Galf units, whereas a C-5 signal at δ 77.0 suggests 5-O-substitution, confirming a novel structure for a β-galactofuranan.