bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity ofMonilinia oxycoccito Fenbuconazole and Propiconazole in vitro and Control of Cranberry Cottonball in the Field
Authors: McManus P. S. , Best V. M. , Voland R. P. , Leininger B. L.
Published: May 2007

The efficacy of fungicides in controlling cottonball disease of cranberry was tested during 1996 to 1998 at three locations in Wisconsin. For some fungicides, the efficacy of four applications, two each during shoot elongation and bloom, was compared with two applications during bloom only. Spraying twice during bloom was as effective in controlling secondary infection as spraying twice during shoot elongation plus twice during bloom. Azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, and propiconazole were equally effective. None of the treatments affected yield, fruit retention, or berry weight compared with the controls. Sensitivity of M. oxycocci, the cottonball pathogen, to fenbuconazole and propiconazole was tested in vitro by comparing the distributions of ED50values of populations collected from three sites that differed in previous exposure to fungicides. Median ED50values for fenbuconazole were significantly greater at sites where sterol demethylation inhibitor fungicides had been used compared with a site where fungicides had never been used, but median ED50values for propiconazole did not differ among sites. There was no correlation between the sensitivities to fenbuconazole and propiconazole. The data will form the basis of recommendations aimed at delaying the onset of fungicide resistance and will provide a baseline for monitoring resistance to fenbuconazole and propiconazole in populations of M. oxycocci in the future.
Exploring Differential Interactions Between Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-t Isolates and Tulip Cultivars
Authors: Schneider J. H. M. , Van den Boogert P. H. J. F. , Zadoks J. C.
Published: May 2007

Experiments were conducted to explore differential interaction of Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-t isolates on tulip cultivars in soil artificially infested under different experimental conditions. Comparison of residual variances obtained by analysis of variance and by analysis of additive main effects and multiplicative interaction effects (AMMI) showed that open-air experiments should be used for interpretation of isolate by cultivar interaction. In open-air experiments, variability was lower than in greenhouse tests. In the biplot, derived after AMMI-analysis over isolates by years and by cultivars, isolates tended to occur in year clusters, indicating a differential effect of year on disease expression. Three isolates occurred in isolate clusters, thus accounting for a significant year by isolate by cultivar interaction. One cluster consisted of three isolates high in aggressiveness on all tested tulip cultivars, and another cluster consisted of three isolates low in aggressiveness. Greenhouse conditions and inoculum carrier significantly influenced quantitative differential interaction patterns. Isolates grown on oat kernels were more aggressive than those grown on autoclaved perlite particles soaked in liquid malt peptone. Differential interaction of AG 2-t isolates on tulip cultivars does occur, although it cannot yet be disentangled completely.
First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria alternata on Kiwifruit in Italy
Authors: Corazza L. , Luongo L. , Parisi M.
Published: May 2007

A leaf spot of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang & A. R. Ferg.) leaves was recently observed on plants of the cultivar Hayward in an orchard near Salerno, in southern Italy. The affected plants showed early severe defoliation. The fungus isolated from the infected leaves was identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.:Fr.) Keissl., based on conidial morphological characteristics. Pathogenicity tests were made by inoculating detached leaves of male pollinator cultivar Tomuri and the female cultivars Hayward and Bruno with a 7-mm disk taken from actively growing cultures of the fungus on potato dextrose agar (PDA). After 14 days, necrotic leaf spots developed and A. alternata was consistently isolated from the inoculated leaves. A. alternata has been observed as a pathogen on leaves and fruits in New Zealand. In the Mediterranean, it has been reported in Israel (2) and in the island of Crete (1). This is the first report of Alternaria leaf spot on kiwifruit in Italy.

References: (1) V. A. Bourbos and M. T. Skoudridakis. Petria 7:111, 1997. (2) A. Sive and D. Resnizky. Alon Hanotea 41:409, 1987.
First Report of Powdery Mildew of Greenhouse-grown Tomatoes in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Bains P. S. , Bennypaul H. , Mirza M.
Published: May 2007

In Alberta, powdery mildew disease of greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) appeared for the first time in 1995 as circular white colonies on leaves, petioles, and stems. Since then it has been found every year and is becoming an economically important disease of tomatoes. This is the first report of the disease from Alberta, Canada. In Canada, powdery mildew on greenhouse tomatoes was previously reported in 1994 from the province of Quebec (1). The pathogen had unbranched conidiophores with average length and width of 62.3 μm and 8.5 μm, respectively. Conidia were clear or hyaline, elliptical to oval in shape, and were borne singly or in short chains. Average length and width of conidia were 36.0 μm and 17.6 μm, respectively. The conidia contained numerous vacuoles but fibrosin bodies were not observed. Germ tubes were straight and formed at the ends or very close to the ends of conidia. Rarely, a conidium produced two germ tubes. Cleistothecia were not found. Six-week-old, greenhouse-grown, healthy tomato cv. Trust plants were inoculated by shaking conidia from powdery mildew-infected plants onto the leaves of the healthy plants. The plants developed powdery mildew symptoms within 9 days after the inoculation. The symptoms on inoculated plants and morphological characteristics of the pathogen were similar to those for naturally infected plants. Based on the characteristics of the asexual stage, the pathogen was identified as an Erysiphe sp. until its identity is confirmed by the characteristics of its sexual stage. An Erysiphe sp. has also been reported to cause powdery mildew of greenhouse-grown tomatoes in Canada (1), the U.S. (3), and Spain (2). Optimal temperature and relative humidity for germination of conidia of the pathogen were 20 to 25°C and >90%, respectively. Myclobutanil, fenarimol, sulfur, triademefon, and triforine showed promise for effective management of this disease. Myclobutanil and sulfur are now registered for control of this disease in Canada. Since cleistothecium has not been found, there is a need to identify the sources of primary inoculum to understand the disease cycle and effective management of the disease.

References: (1) R. R. Bélanger and W. R. Jarvis. Plant Dis. 78:640, 1994. (2) L. Olalla and J. A. Torés. Plant Dis. 82:592, 1998. (3) J. F. White, Jr., et al. Plant Dis. 81:227, 1997.
Using Airborne Digital Imagery for Detecting Oak Wilt Disease
Authors: Everitt J. H. , Escobar D. E. , Appel D. N. , Riggs W. G. , Davis M. R.
Published: May 2007

Color-infrared (CIR) digital imagery was evaluated as a remote sensing tool for detecting oak wilt disease in live oak (Quercus fusiformis). Aerial CIR digital imagery and CIR photography were obtained concurrently of a live oak forested area in south-central Texas affected by oak wilt. Dead, diseased, and healthy live oak trees could generally be delineated as well in the digital imagery as in the CIR photography. Light reflectance measurements obtained in the field showed that dead, diseased, and healthy trees had different visible and near-infrared reflectance values.
Relationship Between Late-Season Severity of Stewart's Bacterial Wilt and Seed Infection in Maize
Authors: Block C. C. , Hill J. H. , McGee D. C.
Published: May 2007

The relationship between the amount of foliar disease on maize plants and seed contamination by the causal bacterium, Pantoea stewartii, was studied by comparing disease severity on adult plants with results from laboratory seed tests. Seventy-seven naturally infected maize lines (25 in 1990 and 52 in 1992) were selected and assigned to one of six disease severity classes based on the percentage of ear leaf tissue killed by Stewart's wilt: trace to 2%, 6 to 14%, 25 to 34%, 35 to 49%, 50 to 74%, and 75 to 100%. Ears were harvested from 10 to 20 plants representative of the disease class for each maize line, and seeds were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of bulk-seed samples. Seed infection percentages were estimated from the bulk-test results by using statistical equations for group testing. The accuracy of the bulk-seed method for estimating seed infection was validated by comparison with 300-kernel single-seed tests. Infected seed was detected only from seed of plants with ≥25% disease severity; however, 45 of 63 such seed lots had no infection. Three seed lots had >5% infected seeds, all from plants with >50% disease severity. The results suggest a possible threshold level between 15 and 25% disease severity for Stewart's wilt on leaves before bacteria are detected in seed. This study describes a relatively simple method for estimating the incidence of infected seeds in a seed lot and contributes additional evidence to indicate that the chance of spreading P. stewartii from U.S.-produced maize seeds is low.
Effect of Leaf Wetness Duration, Temperature, and Conidial Inoculum Dose on Apple Scab Infections
Authors: Hartman J. R. , Parisi L. , Bautrais P.
Published: May 2007

Apple seedlings (2 months old, ‘Idared’ × ‘Golden Delicious’) were inoculated with conidia of Venturia inaequalis in order to study the effects of inoculum dose and leaf wetness duration on development of apple scab symptoms. For each experiment, the C3 curve (indicating heavy infection levels) was used as the basis for relating infection to temperature and leaf wetness duration. In one series of experiments, seedlings were treated with inoculum doses of 1.5, 5.4, 15.6, 32.2, 81.2, and 250 × 103 conidia/ml and leaves were kept wet during C3 infection periods at temperatures of 6, 11, 16, and 22°C. At all four temperatures, disease incidence (scab lesions/plant) increased with increasing inoculum doses up to about 81.2 × 103 conidia/ml. Disease incidence was lower at 22°C than at the other temperatures. In a second series of experiments, seedlings inoculated with 10 × 103 conidia/ml were kept moist for infection periods ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 times the C3 leaf wetness duration curve at 6, 11, 16, and 22°C. Disease incidence increased with increasing duration of leaf wetness and generally leveled off between 150 and 200% of the C3 curve. At this inoculum dose (10 × 103 conidia/ml), doubling the leaf wetness duration indicated by the C3 curve resulted in high disease incidence, similar to levels obtained with a higher inoculum (250 × 103 conidia/ml) and shorter wetness period (1.0 C3).
Effects of the Southwestern Corn Borer onAspergillus flavusKernel Infection and Aflatoxin Accumulation in Maize Hybrids
Authors: Windham G. L. , Williams W. P. , Davis F. M.
Published: May 2007

Field studies were conducted in 1995 to 1997 to determine the effect of the southwestern corn borer (SWCB) on Aspergillus flavus kernel infection and aflatoxin accumulation in maize hybrids. In 1995, when A. flavus conidia were applied to silks in a spray and SWCB neonate larvae in maize cob grits were placed in the leaf axil at the top ear of commercial hybrids, aflatoxin contamination and A. flavus kernel infection were highest in plants treated with both the fungus and the insect. In 1996, using the same inoculation and infestation techniques, aflatoxin levels and kernel infection were much lower than in 1995 and SWCB had no effect on aflatoxin contamination or kernel infection. In another study in 1996, the effect of SWCB on aflatoxin contamination and A. flavus kernel infection in hybrids resistant and susceptible to A. flavus was determined. The inoculation-infestation technique involved applying maize cob grits containing A. flavus conidia and SWCB larvae to silks. When SWCB was combined with A. flavus, aflatoxin levels and kernel infection were dramatically higher than in hybrids inoculated with A. flavus alone, regardless of whether the hybrids were resistant or susceptible to A. flavus. In 1997, the interaction of A. flavus and SWCB was determined on hybrids resistant and susceptible to A. flavus and on a commercial hybrid with and without the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin. Maize cob grits were used to inoculate A. flavus and infest SWCB on the silks 7 or 21 days after midsilk (50% of the plants in a row had silks emerged). All four hybrids had the highest levels of Aspergillus spp. kernel infection and aflatoxin contamination when A. flavus and SWCB were applied at 21 days after midsilk. These studies indicate that SWCB can substantially increase aflatoxin levels when combined with A. flavus. However, inoculation and infestation techniques, placement of the fungus and the insect, and timing of inoculation and infestation are all critical in demonstrating a synergistic relationship between A. flavus and SWCB on aflatoxin contamination of maize.
Analysis of Bacterial Leaf Streak Epidemics on Winter Wheat in Louisiana
Authors: Tubajika K. M. , Russin J. S. , Harrison S. A.
Published: May 2007

Studies were conducted to characterize spatial and temporal progress of bacterial leaf streak disease (Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens) on susceptible (Florida 304) and moderately resistant (Terral 101) winter wheat cultivars. Epidemics were initiated with rifampicin-resistant strain 88–14rif of X. translucens pv. translucens by establishing point sources of inoculum in plot centers. Incidence of bacterial leaf streak was assessed five times in 1995 and three times in 1996, starting from the first observation of leaf streak symptoms. Rainfall, temperature, and wind speed were significantly related to disease incidence, but relative humidity was not. The Gompertz model gave the best statistical fit for the progression of disease incidence over time. Average rates of disease progress (k) obtained from the regression of bacterial leaf streak incidence against time provided a good method of comparing the cultivars Florida 304 and Terral 101 and were consistent across locations. Bacterial leaf streak disease gradients were best described by the negative exponential model. Bacterial leaf streak incidence decreased with distance from inoculum source for both cultivars. Disease incidence on Terral 101 was near 0% at 2 m from the source, and disease incidence close to the source was consistently lower on Terral 101 than on Florida 304 at all growth stages sampled. This was not unexpected because the two cultivars differed in susceptibility. Disease incidence data were more useful than severity data in providing a good estimate of disease spread away from the source.
Fruit Resistance toColletotrichum acutatumin Strawberries
Authors: Denoyes-Rothan B. , Lafargue M. , Guerin G. , Clerjeau M.
Published: May 2007

Evaluation of strawberry resistance to anthracnose is generally limited to the crown rot phase of the disease. The major objective of this study was to develop a screening test for resistance to anthracnose fruit rot (Colletotrichum acutatum) using detached strawberries under controlled-environment conditions. Inoculation was carried out on detached fruits harvested at the stage when they were turning white-pink. Lesion diameter and percentage of diseased fruits (disease incidence) were measured. An incubation temperature of 18°C allowed a better discrimination between resistant and susceptible genotypes than 25°C. At 18°C and 8 days after inoculation, 26 genotypes differed greatly in susceptibility to anthracnose fruit rot, and lesion size ranged from 0 to 17 mm with disease incidence of 10 to 100%. A relationship between lesion size and disease incidence was established. The 26 genotypes were classified into three groups of susceptibility according to lesion size and percentage of diseased fruits. The susceptible group included nine genotypes with lesion sizes of 8.2 to 14.4 mm and 81 to 100% diseased fruits. In this group, Pajaro and Elsanta were the most susceptible. The four genotypes belonging to the resistant group, Dover, Capitola, US159, and US438, showed small fruit lesion sizes of 0.4 to 1.0 mm and a limited disease incidence (10 to 17%). The resistance of two genotypes to anthracnose fruit rot was evaluated under field conditions (plastic tunnel). The relatively resistant genotype, Sequoia, displayed reduced incidence of anthracnose fruit rot in the sections closest to the source of inoculum compared with the susceptible genotype Elsanta.
First Report of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Tospovirus (INSV) in Israel
Authors: Gera A. , Kritzman A. , Cohen J. , Raccah B.
Published: May 2007

In January 1999, Anemone coronaria L. imported from Europe and grown in open fields near Jerusalem in Israel developed foliar ringspots and foliar necrosis. Within a few weeks of the first appearance of these symptoms, further anemone plants in the surrounding area were affected and seriously damaged. Impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus (INSV) was detected in affected plants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; anti-INSV monoclonal antibodies were provided by H. T. Hsu, USDA, Beltsville, MD, and a polyclonal antibody to INSV was purchased from Loewe, Otterfing, Germany). Crude sap extracted from symptomatic tissue was mechanically transmitted to Emilia spp., Petunia hybrida, Nicotian glutinosa, N. benthamiana, and N. rustica plants that developed symptoms characteristic of INSV infection (1). ELISAs of leaf sap extracted from anemone plants and mechanically inoculated indicator plants gave a strong positive reaction to INSV. Leaf-dip preparations prepared from leaf samples of anemone plants were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Virus particles typical of a tospovirus were observed in samples taken only from symptomatic plants. TEM studies with ultrathin sections of infected anemone and Emilia spp. leaves revealed the presence of tospovirus-like particles. This first report of INSV interception in Israel brings the count of the Tospovirus members in Israel to three, including tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which was found in the past to infect anemone and other ornamental crops, and the Iris yellow spot tospovirus, infecting onion (2). INSV is known to occur in Europe and in the U.S., mostly in flowers grown in greenhouses. The virus is transmitted by the Western flower thrips (WFT; Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande). Although all infected plants were destroyed, precautions to prevent further introduction of the virus must be made. INSV might spread by the WFT, which is abundant in Israel year round, and might also infect other greenhouse or field crops.

References: (1) M. Daughtrey et al. Plant Dis. 81:1220, 1997. (2) A. Gera et al. Plant Dis. 82:127, 1998.
First Report of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus in the French West Indies
Authors: Daugrois J. H. , Jean-Baptiste I. , Lockhart B. E. L. , Irey M. S. , Chatenet M. , Rott P.
Published: May 2007

Unusually severe leaf yellowing symptoms, similar to those described for yellow leaf syndrome (1), have been observed in several sugarcane clones in Guadeloupe since 1994, and since 1997 in Martinique. Leaf samples exhibiting various types of yellowing were taken from five different sugarcane clones, and analyzed by immunosorbent electron microscopy. Spherical particles, 24 to 28 nm in diameter and characteristic of luteoviruses, were found in two of five samples. The two infected samples showed yellowing on the underside of the midrib and one had a pinkish coloration on the upper side. The presence of sugarcane yellow leaf virus (ScYLV), the causal agent of sugarcane yellow leaf disease, was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (2) in these two samples and in 36 of 184 sugarcane clones bred in Guadeloupe and sent to Cirad's quarantine station in Montpellier, France. Following these observations, surveys were undertaken with a tissue blot enzyme immunoassay to analyze the distribution of ScYLV in sugarcane clones in the French West Indies. The midrib base of the first visible dewlap leaf was used to detect the presence of the virus in the phloem. In a first survey, clones of various origins worldwide were taken from germplasm collections. Two to three leaf samples per clone were analyzed from 78 clones in a collection in Guadeloupe and from 36 in a collection in Mar-tinique. Fifty of the 114 clones were infected by ScYLV, and ScYLV was detected in 21 of the 32 clones exhibiting severe leaf yellowing (score 3 or higher on a 1 to 5 scale). In a second survey, 19 leaf samples were taken from each of 53 clones from plants produced by Cirad's breeding program in Guadeloupe. The virus was detected in at least one sample for 25 of these 53 clones. ScYLV incidence in commercial fields was tested in Martinique in the variety B5992, which constitutes 57% of the cultivated area. Twenty leaves from different stools were sampled in six different fields, five of which had ScYLV-infected plants. The percentage of virus-infected stalks ranged from 0 to 90% whereas the percentage of stalks showing symptoms ranged from 50 to 100%. ScYLV appears widespread in the French West Indies, perhaps because a vector (Melanaphis sacchari) exists in Martinique and Guadeloupe. However, ScYLV was not found in all symptomatic plants, indicating that even if this luteovirus is a causal agent of leaf yellowing in the French West Indies, there may be other causal agents as well.

References: (1) J. C. Comstock et al. Sugar J. 3:33, 1994. (2) J. C. Comstock et al. Sugar Cane 4:21, 1998.
The Influence of Diurnal Temperatures on the Susceptibility of Bedding Plants to Gray Mold Caused by Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Prichard P. M. , Hausbeck M. K. , Heins R. D.
Published: May 2007

Plant height can be regulated by manipulation of day (DT) and night temperatures (NT). Traditionally, commercial flower crops are grown with a DT higher than the NT, which results in greater internode length than when the regimen is reversed. Because temperature manipulation is a popular height-control tool among growers, the influence of DT/NT regimens of 16/16, 19/19, 22/22, 16/19, 19/22, 16/22, 19/16, 22/19, and 22/16°C on foliage susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea was investigated. After a minimum 3-week temperature treatment, seed geraniums (Pelargonium × hortorum), petunias (Petunia × hybrida), and impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) were inoculated with 2.7 × 105 B. cinerea conidia per ml of water and incubated at 20°C for the duration of the experiment. When averaged over two experiments, the maximum proportion of geranium, petunia, and impatiens foliage infected was 81.5, 35.5, and 27.0%, respectively. The maximum proportion of leaves supporting sporulating B. cinerea was 59.5% for geraniums, 25.5% for petunias, and 5.5% for impatiens. Area under the disease progress curve data indicated that susceptibility of bedding plant foliage was not influenced by the difference in DT/NT regimens. Results suggest that growers that use higher NT than DT to limit plant height do not increase host susceptibility to B. cinerea. However, more rigorous disease management strategies are needed for production of seed geraniums than for petunias or impatiens.
First Report of Myrothecium verrucaria from Muskmelon Seeds
Authors: Belisario A. , Forti E. , Corazza L. , van Kesteren H. A.
Published: May 2007

Myrothecium verrucaria (Albertini & Schwein.) Ditmar:Fr. was isolated from muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds of Charentais-T, a culti var used as a differential host with no resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis races. A white floccose mycelial mat developed on melon seeds during incubation on moist blotters. Mycelia were mass transferred from melon seeds onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. At 25°C in the dark, a mycelial mat with characteristic annelations of greenish-black sporodochia, without setae, was produced. Conidia (2 to 3 × 6 to 10 μm) were lemon shaped, with a typical conical mucous appendage at one end, which was visible with Loeffer's flagella stain (1). Based on these characteristics, the fungus was identified as M. verrucaria. For pathogenicity studies, surface sterilized seeds of C. melo cv. Charentais-T were coated with M. verrucaria conidia by gently rubbing the seeds on sporodochia produced on 15-day-old cultures on PDA. Once coated, seeds were plated onto water agar and on sterile moist blotters in 9-cm-diameter petri dishes. Plates were incubated at 28°C in the dark. Five seeds per plate and three plates per experiment were used. Experiments were replicated three times. Control seeds were plated without coating. After 7 days, on water agar, 90% of melon seeds failed to germinate while the remaining 10% produced young seedlings that died from root rot and necrotic lesions on the hypocotyl. After 12 days on moist blotters, 100% of the melon seedlings died, showing necrotic lesions on the hypocotyl and on the main root. The pathogen was reisolated from symptomatic melon seedlings. All control seeds germinated and grew into healthy seedlings. M. verrucaria, known to be a seed-borne pathogen, has been isolated from soil and plants worldwide (2). This is the first report of M. verrucaria pathogen on muskmelon. This fungus is not a serious concern when seeds are dressed with fungicides.

References: (1) K. V. A. Thompson and S. C. Simmens. Nature. 193:196, 1962. (2) S.-M. Yang and S. C. Jong. Plant Dis. 79:994, 1995.
First Observation of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Race T2P7 Isolated from Pepper in the Philippines
Authors: Sahin F. , Kotan R. , Gergon E. , Miller S. A.
Published: May 2007

Thirteen strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, causal agent of bacterial spot of pepper (Capsicum spp.) and tomato (Lycopersicum spp.), were isolated from six different pepper fields in the vicinity of Bongabon, Luzon, the Philippines. The strains were characterized based on sensitivity to copper and streptomycin, physiological tests, analysis of whole cell fatty acids (fatty acid methyl ester; FAME), serology, amplification of the 16S–23S rDNA spacer region, pathogenicity, and virulence on pepper and tomato differential genotypes as previously described (1,2). All of the Philippine strains were copper resistant (50 μg/ml), and streptomycin sensitive (20 μg /ml). None of the strains were pectolytic or amylolytic. FAME analysis showed that all strains had similar fatty acid profiles, and matched the strains to X. campestris (similarity indices [S.I.] = 0.186–0.455). With the universal primers 4F/7R, a DNA fragment (680 bp) was amplified from 16S–23S rDNA spacer regions of all Philippine strains. Serological fingerprints of the strains with a set of eight monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that all Philippine strains were serovar A1. Existence of the avrRxv gene in X. campestris pv. vesicatoria race T1 strains was also confirmed for all Philippine strains by amplifying a DNA fragment (approximately 0.7 kb) with the primer set RST 27/28. This is genetic evidence for race identity of the Philippine strains with T1. However, hypersensitive test results on pepper and tomato differential lines identified the Philippine strains as T2P7. These results showed that X. campestris pv. vesicatoria strains may contain the avrRxv gene, but it may not be functional. This is the first report of the observation of X. campestris pv. vesicatoria race T2P7 on pepper.

References: (1) H. Bouzar et al. Phytopathology 84:664, 1994; (2) F. Sahin and S. A. Miller. Plant Dis. 82:794, 1998.
Recent Outbreak of Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome in Iowa
Authors: Sanogo S. , Yang X. B.
Published: May 2007

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean, caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, was first found in four Iowa counties in 1993 at low intensities. Following the first report of the disease, a statewide survey in 1994 and 1995 showed an overall low prevalence of the disease, mainly in eastern Iowa (2). In 1998, an epidemic of the disease occurred with drastic increases in prevalence and severity at regional, local, and field levels. The disease was found in 31 Iowa counties covering five out of the nine Iowa crop-reporting districts, with expansion in occurrence northward and westward. There were 12 SDS-affected counties in the North Central and Central districts, and 19 in the East Central, Southeast, and Northeast districts. To assess the extent of SDS increase at the local level, extensive surveys were conducted in 1998 in three areas where previous surveys were made in 1994 or 1995. In Washington County (Southeast District), the frequency of infestation has increased from 5% (2 of 40 fields surveyed) in 1995 to 30% in 1998. In Black Hawk County (East Central District), 26% of the fields examined had SDS, compared with 4.5% in 1995 (2 of 44 fields). In Story County (Central District), 35% of soybean fields were found with SDS in 1998, as opposed to 3% (2 of 62 fields) in 1994. In previous surveys (2), large disease patches (about 1 ha) were not found in central Iowa and were mainly limited to eastern counties along the Mississippi River. However, approximately 30% of the infested fields surveyed in 1998 had two to five patches with areas from 0.5 to 2.5 ha. The remaining 70% of the fields had several patches of diseased soybean plants with areas ranging from 3 m2 to 0.5 ha. The largest disease patch observed was about 10 ha, covering half of a field in Black Hawk County. Percentage of field area affected by SDS varied from 3 to 15% in 60% of the fields where the disease was found, and from about 20 to 60% in the remainder. In all fields surveyed, SDS was confirmed based on the presence of bluish sporulation or isolation from taproots of representative plants. The outbreak supports the 1996 risk assessment (1) that SDS would become a major production concern in Iowa.

References: (1) H. Scherm and X. B. Yang. Phytopathology 87:S86, 1997. (2) X. B. Yang and P. Lundeen. Plant Dis. 81:719, 1997.
A New Pathotype of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici on Wheat in South Africa
Authors: Boshoff W. H. P. , Pretorius Z. A.
Published: May 2007

Following the detection of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici for the first time on wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the Western Cape in August 1996, stripe rust has spread to all the important wheat production areas in South Africa. Only the introduced pathotype (pt. 6E16) was detected in surveys of these areas during 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a severe stripe rust epidemic occurred in the eastern Free State on the extensively grown cultivars Hugenoot and Carina, both which are resistant to pt. 6E16. Stripe rust severities of 100% were common on flag and lower leaves, and widespread applications of fungicides were necessary. Avirulence/virulence characteristics of P. striifomis f. sp. tritici isolates collected from Hugenoot and Carina were determined on 17 standard stripe rust differential wheat lines and 11 supplementary testers. The latter testers included the wheat lines TP981 and TP1295 (supplied by R. Johnson, Cambridge, UK), both of which have a major resistance gene in common with the differentials Heines Peko, Reichersberg 42, Strubes Dickkopf, Clement, and Heines VII (1). Isolates obtained from Hugenoot and Carina differed from pt. 6E16 based on virulence to Reichersberg 42 (Yr7,25), Heines Peko (Yr2,6,25), TP981 (Yr25), and TP1295 (Yr25). The new variant, designated as 6E22, was also identified in collections from the province KwaZulu-Natal. Seedling tests with 6E16 and 6E22 have shown that Hugenoot, Carina, and Tugela-DN are the only local cultivars affected by the new pathotype. The occurrence of pt. 6E22, which appears to be a single-step adaptation from 6E16 adding virulence to Yr25, emphasizes the vulnerability of monogenic resistance to this disease.

Reference: (1) R. A. McIntosh et al. Wheat Inform. Serv. 85:56, 1997.
Comparison of Effects of Acidic Electrolyzed Water and NaOCl on Tilletia indica Teliospore Germination
Authors: Bonde M. R. , Nester S. E. , Khayat A. , Smilanick J. L. , Frederick R. D. , Schaad N. W.
Published: May 2007

Definitive identification of free teliospores of Tilletia indica, causal agent of Karnal bunt of wheat, requires polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic tests. Since direct PCR amplification from teliospores has not been reliable, teliospores first must be germinated in order to obtain adequate DNA. We have routinely surface-sterilized teliospores for 2 min with 0.4% (vol/vol) sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to stimulate germination and produce axenic cultures. However, we observed that some spores were killed even with a 2-min NaOCl treatment, the shortest feasible duration. Decreasing the NaOCl concentration in our study from 0.4% to 0.3 and 0.2%, respectively, increased teliospore germination, but treatment times longer than 2 min still progressively reduced the germination percentages. In testing alternative methods, we found “acidic electrolyzed water” (AEW), generated by electrolysis of a weak solution of sodium chloride, also surface-sterilized and increased the rate of T. indica teliospore germination. In a representative experiment comparing the two methods, NaOCl (0.4%) for 2 min and AEW for 30 min increased germination from 19% (control) to 41 and 54%, respectively, by 7 days after treatment. Because teliospores can be treated with AEW for up to 2 h with little, if any, loss of viability, compared with 1 to 2 min for NaOCl, treatment with AEW has certain advantages over NaOCl for surface sterilizing and increasing germination of teliospores of suspect T. indica.
RT-PCR Method for Detecting Cowpea Mottle Carmovirus in Vigna Germ Plasm
Authors: Gillaspie A. G. , Mitchell S. E. , Stuart G. W. , Bozarth R. F.
Published: May 2007

A highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was developed to detect cowpea mottle carmovirus (CPMoV) in newly acquired germ plasm of Vigna spp. It detected virus in tissues diluted up to 10-9. The preferred primers were designed from the RNA replicase cDNA sequence of CPMoV. These primers were able to detect CPMoV in plants infected with 10 different isolates of the virus. There were no cross-reactions with either bean mild mosaic or melon necrotic spot carmoviruses or any of the common cowpea viral pathogens tested. The RT-PCR method was up to 105 times more sensitive than direct antigen coating enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA) in detecting CPMoV. The RT-PCR method gave no false positive reaction as is sometimes seen with ELISA.
Leaf Rust Resistance of Spring, Facultative, and Winter Wheat Cultivars from China
Authors: Singh R. P. , Chen W. Q. , He Z. H.
Published: May 2007

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in China. Sixty-one spring and 102 facultative or winter growth habit wheat cultivars from China and a set of testers, carrying named Lr genes, were evaluated for resistance at the seedling growth stage with an array of Mexican Puccinia triticina races. Variation in seedling infection types of the cultivars was compared with that of the testers, and genes conferring low infection types were postulated. In total, nine named genes, Lr1 (in 13 cultivars), Lr3 (12), Lr3bg (2), Lr10 (1), Lr13 (4), Lr14a (1), Lr16 (49), Lr23 (9), and Lr26 (81), were identified. Thirty-one cultivars displayed intermediate reactions to one or more races that could not be attributed to any named gene. Twenty-eight spring cultivars were also evaluated at two field sites in Mexico using two common races. About half of them displayed good to moderate adult resistance that may be partly due to the presence of slow rusting gene Lr34 in at least seven cultivars. Diversity in adult plant responses of these wheats indicated the presence of additional slow rusting genes. Presence of 1B.1R translocation in 12 wheat cultivars, supposedly derived from intergeneric crosses involving T. durum, Haynaldia villosa, and Avena fatua, indicated that their pedigrees were incorrect.
First Report of Root and Collar Rot by Sclerotium rolfsii on Apple Trees in Italy
Authors: Corazza L. , Belisario A. , Forti E.
Published: May 2007

Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. (teleomorph Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough) is a polyphagous, soilborne plant pathogen. In summer 1998, a sudden death of 2-year-old apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Royal Gala grafted on M9 rootstock was observed in an orchard near Rome, Italy. Symptoms were stunted vegetation, leaf chlorosis, and root and collar rot. A fungus identified as S. rolfsii was observed producing sclerotia and whitish mycelial strands on root and collar bark. Isolations from roots and at the margin of subcortical necrosis on the collar consistently yielded S. rolfsii colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA); sclerotia developed within 7 days. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by inoculating 10 1-year-old apple tree cv. M9 rootstocks, grown in 3.5-liter pots, with an S. rolfsii isolate grown for 1 week on PDA at 25°C. One ground plate per plant was used, placed around collar and main roots. Five control plants were treated with PDA only. Rootstocks were kept in the greenhouse at 26 ± 2°C. Within 2 months, 70% of inoculated plants died, with marked necrosis girdling the collar. The other inoculated plants showed a general decline, with widespread necrosis on collars and main roots. Control plants remained healthy. S. rolfsii was reisolated from collars and roots of symptomatic plants. S. rolfsii has been recorded on apple trees in the U.S., India, China, and Israel. In Italy, it is destructive on several crops, and was recently recorded on walnut (1). This first outbreak of S. rolfsii on apple in Italy may have been favored by exceptionally warm late spring and summer temperatures.

Reference: (1) A. Belisario and L. Corazza. Plant Dis. 80:824, 1996.
Characterization and Pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia Species on Canola
Authors: Khangura Ravjit K. , Barbetti Martin J. , Sweetingham Mark W.
Published: May 2007

A total of 112 Rhizoctonia isolates were collected from various canola (Brassica napus) growing areas of Western Australia. Pectic enzyme electrophoresis differentiated these isolates into six distinct zymogram groups: R. solani, 54% ZG5 (AG2-1), 8% ZG6 (AG2-1), and 1% ZG9 (AG10); binucleate Rhizoctonia, 12% CZG1 (CAG1), 4% CZG4, and 6% CZG5 (AGK); and the remainder unidentified binucleate groups (15%). Binucleate groups were also confirmed by fluorescent nuclear staining and hyphal morphology. One or more isolates from each of the above zymogram groups (including four unidentified binucleate groups) and an isolate of ZG1-1 (AG8) that causes bare patch in cereals and legumes were tested for their pathogenicity on canola. Isolates of ZG5 and ZG1-1 were highly pathogenic on canola, delayed seedling emergence, and caused severe hypocotyl and root rot, respectively. ZG5 also induced postemergence damping-off. Increasing the depth of sowing from 1 to 3 cm significantly delayed seedling emergence and increased disease severity. Four unidentified binucleate isolates (WAC9316, WAC9297, WAC9307, and WAC9290) were moderately pathogenic to canola, while two isolates (WAC9307 and WAC9316) caused significant preemergence damping-off. Two CZG5 isolates were weakly pathogenic. Isolates of ZG5 and ZG1-1 were also tested for their pathogenicity on other rotational crops (narrow-leafed lupin, subterranean clover, wheat, oats, barley, and mustard) and two weed species (wild radish and annual ryegrass). ZG5 caused a severe hypocotyl rot on mustard and mild symptoms of hypocotyl rot on narrow-leafed lupin and clover, but failed to infect any of the cereal hosts, such as wheat, oats, barley, and ryegrass. In contrast, all crops tested were highly susceptible to ZG1-1 except mustard, which was only moderately susceptible. Results indicate that ZG5 is most pathogenic to crucifers and is a mildly virulent pathogen of the leguminous crops but not of cereal crops tested. ZG1-1, known to cause bare patch in legumes and cereals, also can cause severe root rot in canola. This is the first report of hypocotyl rot and pathogenicity of ZG5 on canola in Australia.
Variation Associated with Silk Channel Inoculation for Common Smut of Sweet Corn
Authors: du Toit Lindsey J. , Pataky Jerald K.
Published: May 2007

Efforts at breeding for resistance to common smut of maize (Zea mays), caused by Ustilago maydis, are hampered by the lack of a reliable and efficient method of inoculation. Silk channel injection is one of the most efficient methods of inoculating for ear galls but is less consistent than acceptable for accurate assessment of the response of genotypes. The objective of this study was to examine how the silk channel inoculation method can be modified to reduce variation while maintaining efficiency for large-scale field inoculations. Variation associated with inoculum concentration and variation among people inoculating were examined. Incidence and severity of symptomatic ears increased with inoculum concentration. Concentrations between 105 and 106 sporidia/ml are recommended. Variation among people was greater than variation among inoculum concentrations. Incidence and severity ratings were lower for people inexperienced at inoculating with U. maydis than for experienced people. Variation among people inoculating can be controlled by appropriate experimental design.
Lethal Cankers Caused by Phytophthora spp. in Almond Scions: Specific Etiology and Potential Inoculum Sources
Authors: Browne G. T. , Viveros M. A.
Published: May 2007

Etiology of a new lethal canker syndrome of almond trees was investigated in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Phytophthora citricola was isolated most frequently from cankers limited to the aboveground scion portions of trees; whereas P. cactorum usually was isolated from cankers originating at or below the soil surface. Repeated observations and isolations indicated that some of the cankers associated with each species were perennial. In pathogenicity tests, isolates of P. cactorum and P. citricola caused bark cankers in excised segments of almond shoots and branches, as well as root and crown rot on potted almond seedlings. Only P. citricola caused significant disease in root and crown tissues of peach seedlings. When pear fruits and almond seedlings were used as bait, P. cactorum and P. citricola were isolated from orchard soil, debris collected in natural depressions where scaffold branches and the tree trunk joined at a common point, and debris deposited on tree surfaces during nut harvest. Control strategies for Phytophthora diseases of almond should consider aboveground as well as belowground modes of attack by P. citricola and P. cactorum. Debris infested with these pathogens and deposited on trees during harvest may play a role in the disease epidemiology.
Brown Root Rot of 10 Species of Fruit Trees Caused by Phellinus noxius in Taiwan
Authors: Ann P. J. , Lee H. L. , Huang T. C.
Published: May 2007

Wilt and death of fruit trees was surveyed from 1990 to 1996. Most trees with decline symptoms in central and southern Taiwan had brown root rot caused by Phellinus noxius. The infected trees included litchi, sugar-apple, plumum, pear, loquat, persimmon, carambola, wax apple, grape, and jellyfig, with ages ranging from young seedlings up to 10-year-old trees. Symptoms were leaf discoloration, unthrifty appearance, and eventual death. Upon inoculation of the roots with P. noxius grown in a wheat-oat medium, healthy seedlings of these 10 tree species were killed. P. noxius was reisolated from diseased tissues of inoculated roots. The isolates of P. noxius obtained from different hosts were similar in morphological characteristics. Host specificity among the tested isolates was not observed in the cross-inoculation test, but variability in virulence was noted in some tests. Mycelial growth of different isolates of P. noxius showed similar temperature response, but the growth rates varied dramatically. Fruiting bodies were rarely found in the field. However, the fungus produced fruiting bodies artificially, on a sawdust medium, that were similar to those produced on the lower stems of declining trees. Brown root rot can be induced by replanting seedlings in infested soil or by contact with the diseased or dead roots. P. noxius causing brown root rot of these 10 fruit trees has not been previously reported.
First Report of the Green Rosette Variant of Groundnut Rosette Disease in Kenya
Authors: Wangai A. W. , Pappu S. S. , Pappu H. R. , Okoko N. , Deom C. M. , Naidu R. A.
Published: May 2007

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important food crop in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the major production constraints is groundnut rosette disease, which is caused by a complex of two viruses, groundnut rosette assistor luteovirus (GRAV) and groundnut rosette umbravirus (GRV) together with the associated satellite RNA (satRNA) (1). Two main forms of the disease have been described: chlorotic and the green rosette. Variants of the satRNA have been shown to be largely responsible for the different forms of the disease (1). Chlorotic rosette has been the predominant form in all of sub-Saharan Africa while green rosette has been reported in the western and southern regions of Africa (2). During the 1997-1998 crop season, disease surveys conducted in Kenya showed the incidence of the rosette disease in farmers' fields to be 24 to 40% in a total of 23 fields surveyed in the western regions of the country (Homabay, Kendubay, Kisumu) and 30% in 8 fields sampled in the Rift Valley (Cheplamus, Marigat) regions. Representative peanut plants showing rosette symptoms were analyzed for the presence of GRV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). With primers specific to a portion of ORF4 of GRV RNA (3), RT-PCR gave a product of expected size (approximately 300 bp). The PCR product was cloned in pGEM-T vector and sequenced. The sequenced region showed 89% nucleotide sequence identity with published GRV sequences. Green rosette was observed on groundnut cultivars Nyaela Red and Homabay Local in the Kendu Bay region. The incidence of the green rosette was 5.3% of the plants with rosette symptoms.

References: (1) A. F. Murant and I. K. Kumar. Ann. Appl. Biol. 117:85, 1990. (2) R. A. Naidu et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 132:525, 1998. (3). M. E. Taliansky et al. J. Gen. Virol. 77:2335, 1996.
Application of Organic and Inorganic Salts to Field-Grown Potato Tubers Can Suppress Silver Scurf During Potato Storage
Authors: Olivier Claudia , MacNeil Carol R. , Loria Rosemary
Published: May 2007

Silver scurf, caused by Helminthosporium solani, is an economically important postharvest disease of potato tubers. Organic and inorganic salts were evaluated for their ability to suppress silver scurf lesion development and sporulation of H. solani on potato tubers. Tubers were treated immediately after harvest with 0.2-M solutions of potassium sorbate, calcium propionate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, or water. Tween 20 was added as a surfactant to most treatments. Potassium sorbate (0.1 M), acidified potassium sorbate and calcium propionate treatments (0.2 M), and calcium chloride treatments (0.136 M) were included in additional experiments. Tubers were stored under commercial storage conditions for 4 to 6 months prior to disease evaluation. The extent of disease suppression varied among experiments; however, some treatments consistently reduced disease. Lesion formation on the tuber surface was reduced by 26 to 60% using potassium sorbate (in three of four experiments) compared to water-treated or untreated tubers. Sporulation was suppressed by 0.2 M potassium sorbate (78 to 99% reduction) in all four experiments. Sodium carbonate reduced lesion formation in two experiments and sporulation in three of four experiments. Other treatments inconsistently suppressed lesion formation or sporulation, or did not reduce disease. Addition of Tween or acidification of organic salt solutions did not improve silver scurf suppression in most cases. Potassium sorbate has very low mammalian toxicity and great potential as an innocuous and inexpensive postharvest fungicide for suppression of silver scurf during potato storage.