bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beet Root-Rot Inducing Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from Colorado and Montana
Authors: Hanson L. E. , Jacobsen B. J.
Published: May 2007

A root-tip rot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. emend. Snyd. & Hans. has been reported from Texas (2). This disease is typified by yellowing of the foliage, vascular discoloration, and a rot of the root tip. During 2002 and 2003, sugar beet samples from several fields in Colorado and Montana, some with tip rot symptoms, were received by the authors. Isolations were made from the root vascular tissue and tissue adjacent to the rot in Colorado and from the rot tissue in Montana. Isolates of Fusarium were obtained and identified as Fusarium oxysporum. At the ARS laboratory in Colorado, F. oxysporum isolates were tested for pathogenicity by dipping roots of 5-week-old sugar beet plants (FC716) in a suspension of 104 spores per ml for 8 min, 10 plants per isolate. One known isolate of F. oxysporum f. sp. betae that causes Fusarium yellows, Fob13, was used for comparison. For a negative control, plants were dipped in sterile water. Beets were planted in Cone-Tainers (3.8 cm in diameter × 21 cm) containing pasteurized potting mix. Plants were placed in a greenhouse at 24 to 27°C and fertilized with 15-30-15 fertilizer every 2 weeks to avoid chlorosis from nutrient deficiency. Plants were rated weekly for foliar symptoms for 6 weeks with a Fusarium yellows rating scale of 0 to 4, in which 0 = no disease and 4 = complete plant death (1). After the final rating, plants were removed from the soil and the taproot was examined for rot symptoms. Root segments were surface disinfested with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and cultured on potato dextrose agar to confirm the presence of the pathogen. The experiment was done twice. Six of ten F. oxysporum isolates tested caused root vascular discoloration and foliar symptoms, including interveinal yellowing and wilting, of inoculated plants. A rot of the root tip was observed on the roots of plants inoculated with three of the six pathogenic isolates. Isolate Fob13 caused only vascular discoloration and foliar symptoms with no rot. Similar experiments were done in Montana with the exception that 3-week-old plants (cv. Monohikari) were used and planted in 10-cm plastic pots with five seedlings per pot. Inoculum levels were 105 spores per ml of F. oxysporum f. sp. betae (isolate 216C) or tip rot isolates (3 isolates), and the experiments were terminated 4 weeks after planting. The root rot isolates caused foliar symptoms, vascular discoloration, and root rot similar to that seen in the field, whereas isolate 216C caused only foliar wilt symptoms and vascular discoloration. Isolations from inoculated plants in Colorado and Montana resulted in F. oxysporum cultures similar to those used in inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. oxysporum causing root rot of sugar beet outside of Texas.

References: (1) L. E. Hanson and A. L. J. Hill. Sugarbeet Res. 41:163, 2004. (2) R. M. Harveson and C. M. Rush. Plant Dis. 82:1039, 1998.
Dynamics of Lettuce Drop Incidence and Sclerotinia minor Inoculum Under Varied Crop Rotations
Authors: Hao J. J. , Subbarao K. V.
Published: May 2007

Field experiments were conducted to determine the population dynamics of Sclerotinia minor and incidence of lettuce drop at two sites during 1995 to 1998. Rotation treatments at the Spence site, which had a low density of inoculum (<7 sclerotia per 100 cm3 of soil) that was distributed randomly, included: continuous lettuce (LLL), lettuce rotated with broccoli (LBL), and lettuce followed by a fallow period (LFL). Treatments at the Hartnell site, which had a high density of inoculum (>7 sclerotia per 100 cm3 of soil) that was distributed uniformly, included: continuous lettuce (LLLL), alternate crops of broccoli and lettuce (BLBL), continuous broccoli or lettuce (BBLL), and fallow-lettuce-fallow-lettuce (FLFL). Under continuous lettuce cropping (LLLL) at the Hartnell site, a progressively aggregated spatial pattern of inoculum distribution developed, despite the initial uniform distribution of high inoculum density. In the fallow treatment (FLFL), the spatial pattern tended to be aggregated following a lettuce crop and less aggregated or random when left fallow. In contrast to these two treatments, treatments involving rotations with broccoli (BLBL and BBLL) exhibited consistently random spatial patterns of inoculum regardless of the crop in the field. The marginal increases in the number of sclerotia contributed by the few diseased lettuce plants were offset by the significant reductions in the number of sclerotia by the broccoli residue. Spatial patterns of disease incidence reflected the pattern of inoculum distribution in the soil at the Hartnell site. Higher inoculum density coupled with an aggregated distribution was associated with an aggregation in disease incidence. At Spence, this correlation was poor in most seasons because of progressive decline in the lettuce drop incidence and lack of treatment differences. In greenhouse experiments, the competence volume for S. minor sclerotia was quantified, which was calculated to be 25 3 for 100% infection and 200 cm3 for 50% infection. Thus, in 100 cm3 of soil, a minimum of four to five sclerotia are needed for 100% of infection, explaining the high correlation between inoculum density and disease incidence.
Intraplant Sampling of Grapevines for Pierce's Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Krell Rayda K. , Perring Thomas M. , Farrar Charles A. , Park Yong-Lak , Gispert Carmen
Published: May 2007

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. induces Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevine. This study was initiated to improve sampling protocols to identify X. fastidiosa-infected grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) in California vineyards. Several potential PD symptoms, including leaf necrosis and chlorosis, internodal distance, petiole length and weight, and extent of cane branching, were not reliable indicators of X. fastidiosa infection. The matchstick symptom (i.e., abscised leaf blades leaving behind a dried, burnt-appearing petiole tip) was the only consistent indicator of infection in X. fastidiosa-positive grapevines. Further study revealed that leaves selected from the most basal nodes of positive canes had the highest probability of X. fastidiosa detection, with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A symptom reliability index (SRI) was created to assess visual PD diagnosis by node location. The SRI values were the highest at basal node locations, but symptoms at any single node were not consistently reliable for PD diagnosis. Our results showed that PD diagnosis based on foliar symptoms was unreliable. However, taking samples from the basal portion of a cane increased the probability of X. fastidiosa detection.
Temperature Response of Chickpea Cultivars to Races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, Causal Agent of Fusarium Wilt
Authors: Landa Blanca B. , Navas-Cortés Juan A. , del Mar Jiménez-Gasco María , Katan Jaacov , Retig Baruch , Jiménez-Díaz Rafael M.
Published: May 2007

Use of resistant cultivars and adjustment of sowing dates are important measures for management of Fusarium wilt in chickpeas (Cicer arietinum). In this study, we examined the effect of temperature on resistance of chickpea cultivars to Fusarium wilt caused by various races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. Greenhouse experiments indicated that the chickpea cultivar Ayala was moderately resistant to F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris when inoculated plants were maintained at a day/night temperature regime of 24/21°C but was highly susceptible to the pathogen at 27/25°C. Field experiments in Israel over three consecutive years indicated that the high level of resistance of Ayala to Fusarium wilt when sown in mid- to late January differed from a moderately susceptible reaction under warmer temperatures when sowing was delayed to late February or early March. Experiments in growth chambers showed that a temperature increase of 3°C from 24 to 27°C was sufficient for the resistance reaction of cultivars Ayala and PV-1 to race 1A of the pathogen to shift from moderately or highly resistant at constant 24°C to highly susceptible at 27°C. A similar but less pronounced effect was found when Ayala plants were inoculated with F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race 6. Conversely, the reaction of cultivar JG-62 to races 1A and 6 was not influenced by temperature, but less disease developed on JG-62 plants inoculated with a variant of race 5 of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris at 27°C compared with plants inoculated at 24°C. These results indicate the importance of appropriate adjustment of temperature in tests for characterizing the resistance reactions of chickpea cultivars to the pathogen, as well as when determining the races of isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. Results from this study may influence choice of sowing date and use of chickpea cultivars for management of Fusarium wilt of chickpea.
First Report of Phomopsis Fruit Decay on Apple Caused by Phomopsis mali in Greece
Authors: Karaoglanidis G. S. , Bardas G.
Published: May 2007

From 2002 to 2005, a previously unreported disease causing significant yield losses was observed on apple fruits (cv. Red Chief) in the region of Imathia in northern Greece. Almost all apple orchards in that area, cultivated with Red Chief, showed disease symptoms on 3 to 10% of the fruits. Diseased fruits showed irregularly shaped, water-soaked areas on the skin and extensive decay internally. In most of the fruits, decay appeared to initiate internally from the calyx tube. Infected fruits remained firm during the early stages of decay. Fungal isolates obtained from small pieces of decayed tissue on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium were identified as Phomopsis mali Roberts on the basis of morphological characteristics (2). Cultures grew rapidly on PDA at 22°C in the dark. They were initially white, but approximately 30 days after inoculation they turned gray because of the formation of pycnidia that contained α- and β-spores. α -Spores were short and elliptical in shape (8 to 10 × 2 to 3 μm) while β-spores were long (22 to 25 × 1 to 2 μm). Pathogenicity of the isolated cultures was tested by wound inoculating five mature apple fruits (cv. Red Chief) after surface sterilization with 0.5% NaOCl. PDA plugs, 5 mm in diameter with actively growing mycelium, were transferred into the flesh of the fruits. Sterile PDA plugs were used to inoculate five control apple fruits. Inoculated fruits were kept at 23°C for 10 days in the growth chamber. Extensive decay, similar to that observed on diseased fruits in the field, was observed on the inoculated fruits, whereas control fruits showed no decay. P. mali was reisolated from the decayed tissues. Commercial losses due to fruit decay caused by the pathogen have previously been reported in the United States and Northern Ireland (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Phomopsis fruit decay on apples in Greece.

References: (1) A. C. Jones and H. S. Aldwinckle eds. Compendium of Apple and Pear Diseases. The American Phytopathological Society. St. Paul, MN, 1990. (2) D. A. Rosenberger and T. J. Burr.
First Report of Tomato spotted wilt virus on Tomatoes in Lebanon
Authors: Abou-Jawdah Y. , El Mohtar C. , Sobh H. , Nakhla M. K.
Published: May 2007

During the spring and summer of 2004, an epidemic of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae) was observed in an isolated tomato field at an elevation of 1,000 m in Lebanon. Symptoms were characteristic of TSWV (2). Seedlings came from a nursery in the coastal area of Byblos. In the spring of 2005, TSWV-like symptoms (2) appeared on tomato in the same mountainous area, as well as on tomato, pepper, and lettuce crops in the Byblos coastal area. Initial diagnosis using TSWV ImmunoStrip Tests (Agdia, IN) gave positive results on tomato and lettuce samples. When these samples were analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, a specific band (619 nt) was observed in symptomatic samples but not in healthy controls (1). Amplicons were cloned into the pGEM-T easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI) and three clones were sequenced in both directions (GenBank Accession No. DQ131804). Sequence analysis revealed more than 99% nucleotide identity (GenBank Accession Nos. AY744476, AJ297611, and AJ418781) and 99% amino acid identity and 100% amino acid similarity (GenBank Accession Nos. AAU95409, CAA85356, and CAD11452) to the nucleocapsid protein of several TSWV isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TSWV in Lebanon. To prevent rapid spread, farmers were informed about the disease, its vector, and appropriate preventive control measures.

References: (1) S. Adkins and E. N. Rosskopf. Plant Dis. 86:1310, 2002. (2) G. Marchoux et al. Plant Pathol. 40:347, 1991.
First Report of Onion (Allium cepa) Naturally Infected with Iris yellow spot virus in Peru
Authors: Mullis S. W. , Gitaitis R. D. , Nischwitz C. , Csinos A. S. , Rafael Mallaupoma Z. C. , Inguil Rojas E. H.
Published: May 2007

Onions have become an important export crop for Peru during the last few years. The onions produced for export are primarily short-day onions and include Grano- or Granex-type sweet onions. The first of two growing seasons for onion in Peru occurs from February/March until September/October and the second occurs from September/October to December/January. Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV [family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus]), primarily transmitted by onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), has been reported in many countries during recent years, including the United States (1,2). In South America, the virus was reported in Brazil during 1999 (3) and most recently in Chile during 2005 (4). During 2003, an investigation of necrotic lesions and dieback in onions grown near the towns of Supe and Ica, Peru led to the discovery of IYSV in this region. Of 25 samples of symptomatic plants collected from five different fields near Supe, 19 tested strongly positive and an additional three tested weakly positive for IYSV using double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). None of the samples tested positive for Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). A number of onions with necrosis and dieback symptoms were also observed during 2004 and 2005. During September 2005, 25 plants with symptoms suspected to be caused by IYSV or TSWV in the Supe and Casma valleys were collected and screened for both viruses using DAS-ELISA. All plants screened were positive for IYSV. There was no serological indication of TSWV infection in these samples. The positive samples were blotted onto FTA cards (Whatman Inc., U.K.) to bind the viral RNA for preservation and processed according to the manufacturer's protocols. The presence of IYSV was verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) using (5′-TCAGAAATCGAGAAACTT-3′) and (5′-TAATTATATCTATCTTTCTTGG-3′) as forward and reverse primers (1), respectively. The primers amplify the nucleocapsid (N) gene of IYSV, and the RT-PCR products from this reaction were analyzed with gel electrophoresis with an ethidium bromide stain in 0.8% agarose to verify the presence of this amplicon in the samples. Subsequent to the September 2005 sampling, 72 additional samples from regions in northern and southern Peru were analyzed in the same manner. The amplicons obtained were cloned, sequenced, and compared with known IYSV isolates for further verification. Onions have become a significant export crop for Peru, and more research is needed to determine the impact of IYSV on the Peruvian onion export crop. To our knowledge, this is the first report of IYSV in onion in Peru.

References: (1) L. du Toit et al. Plant Dis. 88:222, 2004. (2) S. W. Mullis et al. Plant Dis. 88:1285, 2004. (3) L. Pozzer et al. Plant Dis. 83:345, 1999. (4) M. Rosales et al. Plant Dis. 89:1245, 2005.
Natural Occurrence of Chilli veinal mottle virus on Capsicum chinense in China
Authors: Wang J. , Liu Z. , Niu S. , Peng M. , Wang D. , Weng Z. , Xiong Z.
Published: May 2007

An outbreak of a viral disease on chili pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacp. cv. Yellow Lantern) occurred in Hainan Province, China during 2003 and 2004. The disease was prevalent in five chili-producing counties surveyed. Leaves of infected plants initially displayed symptoms of dark green banding along veins and later became distorted with striking mosaic. Infected plants had reduced flower numbers and fruit set, resulting in a significant yield loss. The causative virus was characterized and identified as Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV) (3). An isolate of the virus was obtained via three single lesion passages through Chenopodium amaranticolor and was shown to reproduce the same symptoms on inoculated C. chinense cv. Yellow Lantern. Negative staining of crude extracts of the infected tissue and subsequent electron microscopy revealed flexuous rods of 12 to 13 × 750 nm, typical of a potyvirus. Pinwheel-like inclusion bodies were abundant in thin sections of infected leaves. Purified virus preparations contained one major protein of 32.8 kDa and one minor protein of 28 kDa when fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both of these protein bands were excised and subsequently analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Multiple peptide fragments from both proteins were identified as arising from ChiVMV capsid protein (CP) (1,2). Therefore, the 32.8-kDa protein is the full-length ChiVMV CP and the 28-kDa protein is presumably a degradation product of the CP. The combined biological and molecular data provided strong evidence that the viral disease on C. chinense was caused by ChiVMV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ChiVMV infection on C. chinense in China and the first report of C. amaranticolor as an experimental host for ChiVMV.

References: (1) P. Chiemsombat et al. Arch. Virol. 143:1855, 1998. (2). J. Joseph and H. S. Savithri. Arch. Virol. 144:1679, 1999. (3) P. Siriwong et al. Plant Pathol. 44:718, 1995.
Association of Plant Color and Pericarp Color with Colonization of Grain by Members of Fusarium and Alternaria in Near-Isogenic Sorghum Lines
Authors: Funnell Deanna L. , Pedersen Jeffrey F.
Published: May 2007

White sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grain from tan plants is more desirable for human or animal consumption. Colonization by Fusarium and Alternaria spp. was assessed for near-isogenic lines differing in wound response (purple or tan) and pericarp color (red or white) in field-grown grain and in greenhouse-grown plants. Seeds were screened on a semi-selective medium for Alternaria and Fusarium. Significantly fewer fungal colonies were obtained from tan plants with white seed, and fewer numbers of Alternaria colonies were obtained from white seed, regardless of plant color, from an irrigated field, while there were no differences in fungal composition of seeds grown at a nonirrigated field. Screening of seed from the nonirrigated field on Fusarium semi-selective medium yielded fewer Fusarium isolations from seed grown on purple plants compared with seed from tan plants. When inoculated with Alternaria sp. and F. moniliforme, there can be no differences in lesion lengths on tan/white plants when compared with purple/red plants in most assays; in one assay, tan/white plants had smaller lesion lengths following inoculation with F. moniliforme. These results suggest that plants with white seeds were as resistant as plants with the red pericarp trait to colonization by Alternaria and Fusarium spp. However, the results also suggest that under appropriate environmental conditions seed from tan plants may be more susceptible to Fusarium spp. than seed from purple plants.
A Soil Inoculant InhibitsArmillaria melleaIn Vitro and Improves Productivity of Grapevines with Root Disease
Authors: Baumgartner Kendra , Warnock Amy E.
Published: May 2007

A soil inoculant, Vesta (Biologically Integrated Organics, Inc., Sonoma, CA), was tested for its ability to inhibit Armillaria mellea, causal agent of Armillaria root disease of grapevine (Vitis vinifera). Colony diameter of A. mellea was significantly inhibited by undiluted inoculant (P < 0.0001) and by bacterial isolates cultured from the inoculant (Bacillus subtilis, B. lentimorbus, Comamonas testosteroni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. mendocina; P < 0.0001) relative to diameter of the nontreated control. Efficacy of the inoculant for postinfection control of Armillaria root disease of grapevine was examined in an A. mellea-infested vineyard in northern California. Inoculant was applied via drip-irrigation to vine rows in replicate blocks in 2003 and 2004. Yield, growth, mineral nutrition, and juice quality parameters of healthy and symptomatic vines were measured in treated and nontreated vine rows. Significantly decreased petiole P and K concentrations and significantly lower soluble solids content in fruit from symptomatic vines demonstrated that Armillaria root disease negatively affects vine mineral nutritional status and fruit quality, findings that have not been previously reported for an agronomic host of A. mellea. The inoculant significantly increased cluster weights of symptomatic vines (109.63 g/cluster), relative to those of symptomatic-nontreated vines (92.05 g/cluster), to levels comparable to those of healthy vines (122.09 g/cluster). However, the inoculant did not decrease the rate of symptom development or mortality of treated vines from 2002 to 2004. The results of our field experiment suggest that the inoculant may not prevent Armillaria root disease, but can provide therapeutic benefit by improving productivity of infected vines.
Preharvest Chitosan and Postharvest UV Irradiation Treatments Suppress Gray Mold of Table Grapes
Authors: Romanazzi G. , Gabler F. Mlikota , Smilanick J. L.
Published: May 2007

The effectiveness of chitosan treatment of table grapes, alone or in combination with ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation, to control postharvest gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea, was determined in California, United States. The influence of these treatments on catechin and resveratrol contents and chitinase activity in grape berry skins also was assessed. Clusters of cvs. Thompson Seedless, Autumn Black, and Emperor were sprayed in the vineyard with 1% chitosan, then harvested daily for 5 days. Promptly after harvest, they were inoculated with B. cinerea. Decay incidence and disease severity were significantly reduced by chitosan, which was most effective on berries harvested 1 or 2 days after treatment. In another experiment, grape berries were sprayed in the vineyard with chitosan, harvested 2 days later, irradiated for 5 min with UV-C (0.36 J/cm2), and inoculated with B. cinerea 2 days later. Combined chitosan and UV-C treatments applied to cv. Autumn Black or selection B36-55 were synergistic in reducing gray mold incidence and severity compared with either treatment alone. Preharvest chitosan treatment increased neither concentration of catechin or resveratrol nor activity of chitinase in berry skin. Conversely, UV-C irradiation, alone or combined with chitosan treatment, induced catechin in cv. Autumn Black berries and trans-resveratrol in both cv. Autumn Black and selection B36-55.
Green Stem Disorder of Soybean
Authors: Hobbs H. A. , Hill C. B. , Grau C. R. , Koval N. C. , Wang Y. , Pedersen W. L. , Domier L. L. , Hartman G. L.
Published: May 2007

Green stem disorder of soybean (Glycine max) is characterized by delayed senescence of stems with normal pod ripening and seed maturation. Three different field research approaches were designed to determine the relationship of green stem disorder to Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) and other potential factors that may be involved in causing this disorder. The first research approach surveyed green stem disorder and BPMV in individual plants monitored in several commercial soybean fields during three growing seasons. Leaf samples from maturing plants (growth stage R6) were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for BPMV. The percentage of monitored plants infected with BPMV at growth stage R6 in some fields was higher than the incidence of green stem disorder at harvest maturity. Many plants infected with BPMV did not develop green stem disorder, and conversely, many plants that had green stem disorder were not infected with BPMV. According to a chi-square test of independence, the data indicated that green stem disorder was independent of BPMV infection at growth stage R6 (P = 0.98). A second research approach compared green stem disorder incidence in an identical set of soybean entries planted in two locations with different levels of natural virus infection. Despite differences in virus infection, including BPMV incidence, 20 of 24 entries had similar green stem disorder incidence at the two locations. A third research approach completed over two growing seasons in field cages showed that green stem disorder developed without BPMV infection. BPMV infection did not increase green stem disorder incidence in comparison to controls. Bean leaf beetle, leaf hopper, or stinkbug feeding did not have an effect on the incidence of green stem disorder. The cause of the green stem disorder remains unknown.
Effects of Nocturnal Soil Temperatures and Meloidogyne incognita Densities on Cotton Seedling Growth and the Interaction with Thielaviopsis basicola
Authors: Monfort W. S. , Kirkpatrick T. L. , Rothrock C. S.
Published: May 2007

Controlled studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of soil temperatures typical of field conditions during the first 6 weeks of the growing season in Arkansas and different population densities of Meloidogyne incognita on damage to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seedlings associated with the interaction between M. incognita and Thielaviopsis basicola. Treatments consisted of varying nocturnal temperatures that approximated the temperatures that occurred during the 2001, 2002, and 2003 growing seasons in southeastern Arkansas. Nocturnal temperatures in the study were as follows: high, the first week at 15°C, followed by 3 weeks at 17°C, 1 week at 21°C, and 1 week at 17°C (approximating the 2002 season); medium, 3 weeks at 15°C and 3 weeks at 19°C (approximating the 2003 season); and low, 1 week at 15°C, 1 week at 13°C, 2 weeks at 17°C, 1 week at 15°C, and 1 week at 17°C (approximating the 2001 season). Pathogen population densities were either 0 or 100 chlamydospores of T. basicola per gram of soil and 0, 2,000, 4,000, or 8,000 eggs of M. incognita per 500 cm3of soil. Plant height and fresh top weight increased with an increase in nocturnal temperature across treatments. There were significant reductions in plant growth and development with T. basicola, but not with M. incognita, at these nocturnal temperatures, but decreased plant height and weight were seen where both pathogens were present in comparison with either pathogen alone. Trends of increased disease associated with T. basicola were observed with increasing inoculum rates of M. incognita, indicating that the interaction between T. basicola and M. incognita occurs even at soil temperatures below the minimum temperature reported as necessary for damage from M. incognita.
Pathogenic Isolates of Rhodococcus fascians from New Hosts in the United States
Authors: Putnam M. L. , Miller M.
Published: May 2007

Rhodococcus fascians is important to the nursery industry due to its broad host range (68 genera) (2) and potential for horizontal gene transfer of plasmid-borne virulence genes. Since 2001, many herbaceous ornamental plants with symptoms of leafy galls or basal or axillary shoot proliferation suggestive of infection by R. fascians have been submitted to the Oregon State University Plant Clinic for diagnosis. R. fascians was isolated from symptomatic plants by placing affected tissues into saline or liquid D2 medium (1) for 30 to 120 min and then dilution plating onto D2 agar. Orange colonies were purified by dilution streaking and identified as R. fascians by substrate utilization (Biolog, Hayward, CA) and fatty acid analysis (L. Barnes, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX). Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculation of 10 newly germinated Pisum sativum ‘Laxton Progress’ and ‘Sugar Pod’ seedlings with bacteria from 2-day-old cultures (107 CFU/ml) or water (controls). Our isolates produced shoot proliferations typical of R. fascians infection of peas, confirming pathogenicity. Control plants remained healthy. Pathogenic R. fascians isolates were associated with and isolated from eight species not previously reported as hosts: Acanthus mollis, Campanula sarastro, Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Loraine Sunshine’, Nemesia × ‘Natalie’, Hosta × ‘Blue Umbrella’, Verbascum ‘Sierra Sunset’, Veronica spicata ‘Minuet’ and Viola × ‘Purple Showers’.

References: (1) N. W. Schaad et al. Laboratory Guide to Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. The American Phytopathological Society, 2001. (2) D. Vereecke et al. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 6:53, 2003.
Reaction of Commercial Soft Red Winter Wheat Cultivars to Stagonospora nodorum in the Greenhouse and Field
Authors: Engle Jessica S. , Lipps Patrick E. , Minyo Richard J.
Published: May 2007

Thirteen cultivars were evaluated in the greenhouse and field for reaction to Stagonospora nodorum leaf and glume blotch. Coker 9663 exhibited consistent resistance across both greenhouse and field tests. In field plots, all cultivars tested had relatively high percentages of S. nodorum in harvested seed. Strong correlations between reactions from greenhouse and inoculated plots indicated that resistant and susceptible genotypes could be identified using either procedure. The amount of S. nodorum resistance expressed depended on the host organ assessed, but Coker 9663, and OH708 in inoculated field plots, had both leaf and glume blotch resistance. Cultivars reacted similarly in inoculated and naturally infested plots based on mean leaf or glume blotch severity, whereas severity was inconsistent between the greenhouse and naturally infested plots. Results indicated that leaf and glume blotch resistance could be identified in naturally infested plots in epidemic years, but that cultivar reactions should be confirmed in inoculated plots or greenhouse tests due to possible interference from other leaf blotch pathogens.
Temperature Sensitivity and Efficacy of Wheat streak mosaic virus Resistance Derived from CO960293 Wheat
Authors: Seifers D. L. , Martin T. J. , Harvey T. L. , Haber S. , Haley S. D.
Published: May 2007

Wheat yields often are limited by infection by Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). Host plant resistance to WSMV can reduce losses. This study was conducted to characterize a new source of temperature-sensitive resistance found in CO960293 wheat. The source of the temperature-sensitive resistance in CO960293 is unknown. Parental and other wheat lines were tested for WSMV resistance using 51 WSMV isolates under different temperatures to determine the stability of the resistance, and yield trials were conducted in the field for 3 years. All parental wheat lines became infected by WSMV at all temperatures and were infective in back assay to ‘Tomahawk’ wheat. No WSMV isolate defeated the resistance of CO960293 at 18°C. Yield of CO960293 in field trials was reduced in only 1 of 3 years. Our data demonstrate that this wheat line can be a valuable source of resistance to WSMV in wheat programs, particularly in areas where temperatures are cool following planting in the fall.
First Report of Cladocolea cupulata on Pinus douglasiana and P. herrerai in Northern Mexico
Authors: Kenaley S. , Howell B. , Mathiasen R.
Published: May 2007

The mistletoe Cladocolea cupulata Kuijt (Loranthaceae) has previously been reported parasitizing pines (Pinus spp., Pinaceae) in central Mexico (3). As of today, reported pine hosts have been Pinus jaliscana Pérez de la Rosa and P. lumholtzii B.L. Rob. & Fernald from the state of Jalisco (1,2). During July 2005, we found this mistletoe parasitizing P. douglasiana Martinez and P. herrerai Martinez along Route 40 in Durango approximately 8 km east of El Palmito (23°35′54″N, 105°50′45″W, elevation 2,000 m). We also found the mistletoe on P. douglasiana along Route 40 at approximately 18 km west of El Palmito (23°27′51″N, 105°49′58″W, elevation 1,780 m) in the state of Sinaloa. Additional populations of this mistletoe were observed along the roadside of Route 40 in the Sinaloa-Durango border region. Infected trees had one to five mistletoe plants on them. Comparing infected hosts with neighboring noninfected hosts, the mistletoe appeared to have no effect on the growth of the infected trees. No mortality associated with mistletoe infection was observed for either of these mistletoe-host combinations. C. cupulata can be distinguished from its closest relatives, C. grahami Kuijt and C. pringlei Kuijt, by its longer, narrower, opposite leaves, parallel venation, and the saddle-like peduncles that hold four flowers (3). The other taxa have predominantly alternate leaves with pinnate venation and lack the saddle-like peduncle. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C.cupulata parasitizing P. douglasiana and P. herrerai and the first report of this mistletoe from the states of Durango and Sinaloa (2,3). Specimens of C. cupulata and host material were collected and have been deposited at the Deaver Herbarium (ASC), Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (Accession Nos. 79532, 79533, and 79536).

References: (1) B. Chazado. Biosphera 1:3, 1990. (2) B. Geils et al. USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-98, 2002. (3) J. Kuijt. J. Arnold Arbor. Harv. Univ. 56:265, 1975.
First Report of Southern blight of Formosan Michelia Seedlings in Taiwan
Authors: Hsiao W. W. , Fu C. H. , Chen C. Y.
Published: May 2007

Formosan michelia (Michelia compressa (Maxim.) Sargent) is a native, giant evergreen tree in Taiwan. This species is used for afforestation, provision of shade in domestic situations, used in parks, and also for furniture. During the summer of 2004, a sudden wilt of 1-year-old plants was observed in a nursery of northern Taiwan. Initial symptoms included stem necrosis at the soil line, yellowing, and tan discoloration of leaves. As stem necrosis progressed, infected plants wilted and died. Necrotic tissues were covered with whitish mycelium that differentiated into reddish brown spherical (1 to 2 mm in diameter) sclerotia. Sclerotium rolfsii was consistently recovered from the surface of symptomatic stem sections that were disinfected for 1 min in 0.5% NaOCl and then plated on potato-dextrose agar amended with 100 ppm ampicillin. Pathogenicity of two S. rolfsii isolates was confirmed by inoculating 1-year-old Formosan michelia seedlings grown in pots. Inoculum consisted of mycelium and sclerotia of the pathogen placed on the soil surface around the base of each plant. Noninoculated plants served as controls. All plants were kept in a growth chamber at 25 to 35°C with relative humidity >95%. Inoculated plants developed symptoms within 14 days while control plants remained symptomless. Sclerotia developed on infected tissues, and S. rolfsii was reisolated from symptomatic tissues. This disease has been observed on many species of plants (1), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of southern blight of Formosan michelia seedlings caused by S. rolfsii in Taiwan.

Reference: (1) Y. P. Tsai, ed. List of Plant Diseases in Taiwan. The Plant Protection Society of the Republic of China and The Phytopathological Society of the Republic of China, 1991.
First Report of Gladiolus Rust Caused by Uromyces transversalis in Michoacán, México
Authors: Rodríguez-Alvarado G. , Fernández-Pavía S. P. , Valenzuela-Vázquez M. , Loya-Ramírez J. G.
Published: May 2007

During October 2005, rust lesions were observed on leaves of gladiolus (Gladiolus sp.) plants being grown for flower production in a 20-ha field in eastern Michoacán, México. Disease incidence was near 100% in the field. Five symptomatic plants were collected on 11 and 25 October 2005, from each of 10 farms for further examination. Uredinia were scattered, orange, elliptical to irregular, and arranged transversely across the leaf. The sori were covered by the epidermis initially and later were erumpent and pulverulent. Urediniospores were bright yellow gold, ovate to oblong, and measured 15 × 19 μm (average). The urediniospore wall was hyaline and minutely echinulate. Telia were scattered, dark brown, elliptical, arranged transversely across the leaf, and were covered by the epidermis. Teliospores were irregularly pyriform, ovate, irregular or angular, light to dark brown with a conical or truncate apex and measured 17 × 23 μm (average). The teliospore wall measured 1 μm (average) thick at the sides and 3 μm (average) thick at the apex. Pedicels were light yellow and measured as much as 60 × 3 μm (average). On the basis of these characters, the rust was identified as Uromyces transversalis (Thüm.) G. Winter (1). To our knowledge this is the first report of U. transversalis causing gladiolus rust in Michoacán, México. Originally reported from Africa, the disease has been reported from Argentina, Brazil, southern Europe, and Oceania (1). Gladiolus rust caused by Uromyces transversalis is a quarantine disease for Europe and the United States. There have been unpublished reports of interceptions of this rust on cut flowers of gladiolus going from México into the United States (1).

References: (1) J. R. Hernández. Invasive Fungi. Gladiolus Rust. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Online publication. ARS, USDA, 2004.
Resistance Conferred by the Ht1 Gene in Sweet Corn Infected by Mixtures of Virulent and Avirulent Exserohilum turcicum
Authors: Pataky J. K. , Ledencan Tatjana
Published: May 2007

The Ht1 gene conveys a chlorotic-lesion resistant reaction in corn infected by avirulent races of Exserohilum turcicum, the causal agent of northern corn leaf blight (NCLB). The widespread deployment of the Ht1 gene in field corn grown in North America since the 1960s resulted in an increased frequency of E. turcicum race 1, which is virulent against the Ht1 gene. The objective of this study was to assess the value of resistance conveyed by the Ht1 gene when initial inoculum consisted of different ratios of virulent and avirulent E. turcicum. Forty-two sweet corn hybrids with the Ht1 gene and 42 sweet corn hybrids without Ht1 were grown in five trials each in 2003 and 2004. In each trial, plants were inoculated with culture suspensions consisting of different percentages of E. turcicum race 0 and race 1, including: 100:0, 90:10, 75:25, 50:50, and 0:100. Severity of NCLB was rated visually from 0 to 100% leaf area infected when plants were about 3 to 4 weeks past the mid-silk growth stage. The Ht1 gene reduced severity of NCLB by as much as one-third when virulent isolates comprised 25% or less of the initial inoculum. Reduction in NCLB severity due to the Ht1 gene was more substantial on hybrids with susceptible backgrounds than on those with general resistance. When virulent isolates comprised 50% of the initial inoculum, NCLB severity was similar for hybrids with and without the Ht1 gene if hybrids had equivalent levels of general resistance (measured as NCLB severity from trials inoculated entirely with race 1). To accurately classify NCLB reactions of maize lines relative to their most probable performance in the United States, inoculum should consist of at least 50% E. turcicum race 1.
Control of Bacterial Wilt of Geranium with Phosphorous Acid
Authors: Norman D. J. , Chen J. , Yuen J. M. F. , Mangravita-Novo A. , Byrne D. , Walsh L.
Published: May 2007

Various bactericides were screened for efficacy in protecting geranium plants (Pelargonium hortorum) from Ralstonia solanacearum infection. Many of these bactericides were found to slow the disease progress; however, they were not able to protect the plants from infection and subsequent death. Potassium salts of phosphorous acid were found to be effective in protecting plants from infection when applied as a drench. The active portion of the potassium salts was found to be phosphorous acid (H3PO3). Phosphorous acid was found to inhibit in vitro growth of R. solanacearum. It is thought to be protecting plants from infection by acting as a bacteriostatic compound in the soil. The plants, however, are not protected from aboveground infection on wounded surfaces. Phosphorous acid drenches were shown to protect geranium plants from infection by either race 1 or 3 of R. solanacearum. Other phosphorous-containing products commonly used in the industry, such as phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), were not able to protect plants from bacterial wilt infection.
Sclerotinia Petiole and Crown Rot of Celery Caused by Sclerotinia minor in California
Authors: Koike S. T. , Daugovish O. , Downer J. A.
Published: May 2007

Celery (Apium graveolens) is grown extensively in the coastal counties (Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz) of California. In 2004 and 2005, field plantings of celery in Ventura and Monterey counties showed symptoms of a petiole and crown rot. Initial symptoms consisted of a light tan discoloration at the crowns and on outer petioles that were in contact with soil. These discolored areas developed a soft, brown, watery rot. Affected petioles wilted and later collapsed. White mycelium and small (0.5 to 3.0 mm in diameter), irregularly shaped, black sclerotia formed on diseased tissues. Isolations from symptomatic petioles, crowns, mycelium, and sclerotia produced colonies of Sclerotinia minor. Eight-week-old celery transplants (cv. Conquistador) grown in a peat-moss based rooting medium in 10-cm2 pots were used to test pathogenicity. Colonized agar plugs (one plug per plant) from eight celery isolates were inserted into slots made in the potting mix adjacent to the crowns and lower petioles of the transplants. Noncolonized plugs were placed in slots for control celery plants. Twenty plants were used for each isolate and control, and all test plants were incubated in a greenhouse at 21 to 23°C. Disease development was rapid, and after 4 days, inoculated celery plants exhibited brown necrosis at inoculation points. After 9 days, celery crowns were decayed and petioles collapsed. S. minor was reisolated from necrotic crown and petiole tissues. Noninoculated plants were asymptomatic. The experiment was repeated and results were similar. To our knowledge, this is the first report of celery as a host of S. minor in California (2). In the United States, S. minor has been reported on celery in Florida (1). Celery in California is only occasionally infected by S. minor and is more often infected by S. sclerotiorum.

Reference: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society. St. Paul, MN, 1989. (2) M. S. Melzer et al. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 19:272, 1997.
Occurrence of Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Watermelon Caused by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey
Authors: Mirik M. , Aysan Y. , Sahin F.
Published: May 2007

Turkey has the second highest production level of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) in the world, with 3.8 million tons produced in 2005. In the spring of 2005, a severe outbreak of a disease resembling bacterial fruit blotch was observed on watermelon cv. Crispy growing in a production area of 35,000 ha in Adana Province in the eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. In 13 commercial watermelon fields surveyed in this study, incidence of symptomatic fruit ranged from 30 to 45%. Characteristic symptoms were dark, gray-green stains or blotches on the surface of fruits. Cracks developed in the rind and released an amber-colored substance. Bacteria were consistently isolated from affected fruits and they formed nonfluorescent colonies on King's medium B. Identification of isolated bacterial strains was based on the methods described by Schaad et al. (2). All strains were oxidase positive, gram negative, arginine dyhydrolase negative, and produced a hypersensitive response on tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun). Strains were identified as Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (1,2) on the basis of the results of biochemical tests (1,2) and sole carbon substrate utilization (BIOLOG GN; Biolog Inc., Hayward, CA) with 75 to 93% similarity indices. A pathogenicity test was performed for nine identified strains by injecting a bacterial suspension (108 CFU/ml of saline) under the rind of three harvested watermelon (cv. Diyarbakir) fruits and into the stems of three seedlings. Saline was used as the negative control. The fruits and seedlings inoculated with each strain were incubated in polyethylene bags for 48 h at 25°C. Dark green water-soaked lesions developed on inoculated fruits and water-soaking and stem necrosis were observed on the seedlings 3 to 5 days after inoculation. The bacterium was readily reisolated from inoculated fruits and seedlings and identified as A. avenae subsp. citruli on the basis of BIOLOG GN. In 1995, bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon has been observed and eradicated in the Marmara Region of western Turkey (1). Therefore, to our knowledge, this is the first outbreak of bacterial fruit blotch on watermelon in the eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

References: (1) G. Demir. J. Turk. Phytopathol. 25:43, 1996. (2) N. W. Schaad et al. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. The American Phytopathological Society, St Paul, MN, 2001.
First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe (Golovinomyces) orontii on Veronica spicata in Italy
Authors: Garibaldi A. , Bertetti D. , Minerdi D. , Gullino M. L.
Published: May 2007

Veronica spicata (spike speedwell) is a perennial garden species belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. During the summer through fall of 2004 and 2005, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown powdery mildew were observed in several gardens near Biella (northern Italy). Upper surfaces of leaves were covered with a white mycelium and conidia, and as the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and died. Very rarely was the mycelium observed on the lower surface of leaves or on petioles and flowers. Foot cell was cylindric and measured 19.2 to 25.7 × 10.8 to 14.3 μm (average 21.9 × 12.0 μm). Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid, brought in short chains (three conidia per chain), and measured 22.2 to 40.8 × 13.6 to 21.6 μm (average 30.1 × 17.0 μm). Conidiophores measured 45.5 to 74.0 × 10.4 to 11.0 μm (average 59.4 × 10.6 μm). Fibrosin bodies were absent. Cleistothecia were never observed on the samples collected. The ITS region (internal transcribed spacer) of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS4/ITS6 (3) and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 504 bp obtained showed an E-value of 0.0 with Erysiphe (Golovinomyces) orontii (2). The nucleotide sequence has been assigned GenBank Accession No. DQ386696. Pathogenicity was confirmed by gently pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of five healthy Veronica spicata plants. Five noninoculated plants served as controls. Inoculated and noninoculated plants were maintained in a greenhouse where temperatures ranged between 15 and 28°C. After 15 days, typical powdery mildew symptoms developed on inoculated plants. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of powdery mildew on V. spicata in Italy. Sphaerotheca fuliginea has been reported as the causal agent of powdery mildew on V. spicata (4). Specimens of this disease are available at DIVAPRA Collection, University of Torino.

References: (1) S. F. Altschul et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389, 1997. (2) U. Braun. Nova Hedwigia 89:166, 1987. (3) D. E. L. Cooke and J. M. Duncan. Mycol. Res. 101:667, 1997. (4) B. Ing. Mycologist 4:125, 1990.