bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Report of Tomato chlorosis virus in Israel
Authors: Segev L. , Wintermantel W. M. , Polston J. E. , Lapidot M.
Published: May 2007

During December 2003, symptoms were observed in greenhouse tomato plants in Bet Dagan, Israel that resembled those of Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), a crinivirus common in the southeastern United States and southern Europe (2,3). Middle-aged leaves showed interveinal chlorosis, while more mature leaves showed more intense interveinal chlorosis with some interveinal bronzing. Symptoms were associated with the presence of Bemisia tabaci, an efficient vector of ToCV. Total nucleic acids were extracted (1) from middle-aged and mature leaves from two symptomatic plants, as well as from healthy tomato, Physalis wrightii infected with ToCV, and Nicotiana benthamiana infected with Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV), another crinivirus that produces identical symptoms on tomato. Extracts were tested using hybridization with probes specific to the coat protein (CP) gene of ToCV and the HSP70h gene of TICV. Hybridization results identified the presence of ToCV in all samples from symptomatic tomato plants and ToCV-infected P. wrightii, but not in those from healthy tomato or TICV-infected N. benthamiana. TICV was only detected in TICV-infected N. benthamiana. Extracts were also subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using primers specific to the CP gene of ToCV (GenBank Accession No. AY444872; Forward primer: 5′ ATGGAGAACAGT GCCGTTGC 3′; Reverse Primer: 5′ TTAGCAACCAGTTATCGATGC 3′). All samples from symptomatic tomato and ToCV-infected P. wrightii produced amplicons of the expected size, but no amplicons were produced from extracts of healthy tomato. Laboratory results and observed symptoms confirm the presence of ToCV in symptomatic tomatoes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ToCV in Israel.

References: (1) S. Dellaporta et al. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 1:19, 1983. (2) J. Navas-Castillo et al. Plant Dis. 84:835, 2000. (3) G. C. Wisler et al. Phytopathology 88:402, 1998.
First Record of Hop stunt viroid in Canada
Authors: Michelutti R. , Al Rwahnih M. , Torres H. , Gomez G. , Luffman M. , Myrta A. , Pallás V.
Published: May 2007

“Tissue-printing” hybridization (3) for Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) was used to assess the sanitary status of stone fruit accessions in the Canadian Clonal Genebank (CCG) located in Harrow (Ontario). The Prunus spp. accessions in the CCG are primarily of Canadian origin; other countries of origin include the United States, the United Kingdom, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Former Soviet Union, Spain, New Zealand, and Italy. All Prunus spp. accessions were donated to the Genebank from Canadian or American sources. Leaves were harvested in November 2003 from 336 trees (116 peach and nectarine, 84 sweet and sour cherries, 54 plum, 44 apricot, and 38 of other cherries) representing 267 accessions. No visible symptoms were observed during the collection of the accessions to be evaluated. The petioles were excised at the base and imprinted on a nylon membrane in triplicate for each sample. The membranes were air dried and submitted by mail to the laboratory. The digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes used for hybridization were obtained by T7 RNA polymerase transcription of the linearized plasmids pHSVd (1) and pPLMVd (2). Thirty stone fruit samples were infected by viroids. PLMVd occurred in 28 peach and nectarine samples, representing the following cultivars and selections: Harblaze Hardired, Harko, Earlyvee, Harbelle, Harken, Harland, Harrow Beauty, Harrow Rubirose, HW264, Redhaven, Silver Gold, Suncling, V68101, Vanity, Veeglo, Velvet, Vesper, Villa Doria, and Vulcan. PLMVd-infected samples represented 24.1% of the tested peaches and nectarines. PLMVd finding confirms previous reports of the viroid in Canada from British Columbia and Ontario. Two CCG apricot accessions, ‘Bulida’ and ‘Velkopavlovicka’, were found to be infected with only HSVd, representing 4.5% of tested apricot samples. These samples, determined to be positive by tissue-printing hybridization, were also positive by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (1). In addition, nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were obtained. The ‘Bulida’ isolate showed 100% homology to a Spanish isolate, apr9, while the ‘Velkopavlovicka’ isolate showed 99% homology to an Italian isolate. Since HSVd has not been previously reported in Canada (4), to our knowledge, this report documents its first detection in the country. This report may prompt the inclusion of regular testing for HSVd in existing Prunus spp. virus testing programs in Canada.

References: (1) N. Astruc et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 102:837, 1996. (2) M. Badenes et al. Acta Hortic. 472:565, 2001. (3) V. Pallás et al. Page 135 in: Virus and Virus-Like Diseases of Stone Fruits, with Particular Reference to the Mediterranean Region. A. Myrta et al., eds. CIHEAM-IAMB, 2003. (4) R. Singh et al. Page 255 in: Viroids. A. Hadidi et al., eds. CSIRO Publishing, Australia, 2003.
Downy Mildew Caused by Peronospora radii on Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) in California
Authors: Koike S. T. , Fogle D. , Tjosvold S. A. , King A. I.
Published: May 2007

In California, marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens [= Chyrsanthemum frutescens]) is an important, commercially grown, perennial flowering plant that is used as a potted plant, cutflower, and landscape plant. For two seasons (2003 and 2004), a downy mildew disease has been affecting marguerite daisy at wholesale container and field cutflower nurseries and retail nurseries in coastal California (Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties). The disease occurred early in the season (January) and continued to infect new foliage throughout the year whenever cool, foggy weather occurred. The disease primarily affected newly expanded young leaves on shoot tips. Such leaves were chlorotic, twisted and bent, and stunted. In some cases, leaflet tips turned black and necrotic. The abaxial sides of affected leaves were heavily colonized by the extensive purplish brown growth of downy mildew. Older, fully expanded foliage was unaffected. Flowers could be infected with the fungus growing on the undersides of petals and resulting in slightly twisted, bent shapes. Symptomatic plants and cutflower stems were unmarketable. Hyaline conidiophores emerged from stomata, branched dichotomously (rarely trichotomously), and had branches ending in slender, curved branchlets that did not have swollen tips. Conidia were slightly brown, ovoid, mostly nonpapillate, and measured 28.5 to 40.0 × 19.0 to 28.0 μm. Oospores were not observed in plant tissue. On the basis of symptoms and morphology of the organism, the pathogen was identified as Peronospora radii (1,2). To prove pathogenicity, plants were spray inoculated with conidial suspensions, incubated for 24 h in a dew chamber (18 to 20°C), and then maintained in a greenhouse (22 to 24°C).After 18 to 20 days, symptoms and signs of downy mildew developed only on the newest foliage of inoculated plants, and the pathogen morphology matched that of the originally observed pathogen. Untreated control plants did not develop downy mildew. To our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew caused by P. radii on marguerite daisy in California and the United States. The pathogen has not been reported on other hosts in California. P. radii is found on marguerite daisy in England, Germany, Israel, Mexico, and the former Yugoslavia (1,2).

References: (1) I. S. Ben-Ze'ev et al. Phytoparasitica 15:51, 1987. (2) O. Constantinescu. Sydowia Ann. Mycol. 41:79, 1989.
Citrus Viroids: Symptom Expression and Effect on Vegetative Growth and Yield of Clementine Trees Grafted on Trifoliate Orange
Authors: Vernière C. , Perrier X. , Dubois C. , Dubois A. , Botella L. , Chabrier C. , Bové J. M. , Vila N. Duran
Published: May 2007

Citrus are natural hosts of five viroid species: Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd), Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), Citrus viroid III (CVd-III), and Citrus viroid IV (CVd-IV). CEVd and specific sequence variants of HSVd are the causal agents of the wellknown diseases of citrus, exocortis and cachexia. Other viroids have been found to induce different degrees of stunting. Since commercial citrus trees are commonly infected with mixtures of these viroids, only limited information is available on their effect in species other than Etrog citron. A field assay was conducted to establish the effect of each viroid on Commune clementine trees grafted on Pomeroy trifoliate orange. Infected trees were periodically monitored over a 12-year period (1990 to 2002) for symptom expression, growth, and fruit yield. Only CEVd caused bark scaling on the trifoliate orange rootstock and marked dwarfing, both characteristic of exocortis disease as initially described. In addition, very conspicuous bumps were observed in the wood of the rootstock after removing the bark. Only those HSVd variants, previously characterized as pathogenic in several cachexia-sensitive species, induced pits and gum deposits characteristic of this disease in the clementine scion. Bark cracking symptoms on the trifoliate orange rootstock were also observed. They were associated with CVd-IV, HSVd, or CEVd infection, but in the latter, they were only clearly observed in trees that showed mild scaling. Other abnormalities (deep pits, crests, and gummy pits) were not associated with viroid infection. No specific symptoms resulted from infection with CBLVd and CVd-III. HSVd, CVd-IV, and CBLVd had little or no effect in growth and yield, whereas CEVd and CVd-III caused a significant reduction of growth and yield, which became more pronounced over time with CEVd infection. Yield reduction was associated mainly with loss of production of large fruits. In general, there was a good correlation between reduction in vegetative growth and yield.
Identification and Management of Colletotrichum acutatum on Immature Bell Peppers
Authors: Lewis Ivey Melanie L. , Nava-Diaz Cristian , Miller Sally A.
Published: May 2007

Farmers in northwestern Ohio reported severe losses due to anthracnose in immature (green) bell pepper as early as 1998. Two fungal isolates (AN1 and AN2) were recovered from immature fruit showing severe anthracnose symptoms. The pathogen was identified as Colletotrichum acutatum based on morphological and cultural characteristics, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with the C. acutatum species-specific primer (CaInt2), and nucleotide sequencing. Isolate AN1 was pathogenic on immature pepper, tomato, and strawberry. Twenty-two bell pepper cultivars evaluated in field trials were all susceptible to C. acutatum AN1 and AN2, but the degree of susceptibility varied among cultivars. ‘Crusader’, ‘Valiant’, and ‘ACX229’ were the most susceptible, while ‘North Star’ and ‘Paladin’ were least susceptible. The fungicides pyraclostrobin (Cabrio) alternated with manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (Manex), chlorothalonil (Bravo Ultrex) alone, Manex plus copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000), and pyraclostrobin + boscalid (BAS 516 = Pristine) alternated with Manex significantly reduced anthracnose incidence and intensity in bell peppers compared with the untreated control.
Common and Newly Identified Foliar Diseases of Seed-Producing Lucerne in France
Authors: Leyronas C. , Broucqsault L. M. , Raynal G.
Published: May 2007

A 4-year survey of seed-producing lucerne fields in the three main production regions of France, representing 10.000 ha and three types of climates, confirmed the presence of the foliar pathogens Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Ascochyta imperfecta, Stemphylium spp., Leptosphaerulina briosiana, and Uromyces striatus. Surprisingly, A. imperfecta often was found in association with Stemphylium-like symptoms. Further investigation revealed the presence of fungi until now only rarely found or unreported in France, such as Leptotrochila medicaginis, Cercospora medicaginis, and Stagonospora meliloti. The results showed that P. medicaginis and A. imperfecta were present on more than 50% of the samples. U. striatus and C. medicaginis also commonly were found and infected about 25% of the samples. L. medicaginis occurred primarily in the Southwest region.
Identification of Monilinia fructigena, M. fructicola, M. laxa, and Monilia polystroma on Inoculated and Naturally Infected Fruit Using Multiplex PCR
Authors: Côté Marie-José , Tardif Marie-Claude , Meldrum Allison J.
Published: May 2007

Monilinia fructigena, M. fructicola, M. laxa, and Monilia polystroma each have a different regulatory status. To monitor imported and exported fruit for the presence of quarantined Monilinia or Monilia species, a timely identification method is required. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis was used to generate an M. fructigena-specific band that was characterized by sequencing. Using the sequence obtained, primers were designed to amplify bands in the same genomic region of M. fructicola and M. laxa. These bands were also characterized by sequencing. From all three sequences, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on a common reverse primer (MO368-5) and three species-specific forward primers (MO368-8R, MO368-10R, and Laxa-R2) was established for the differentiation of the three Monilinia species. The multiplex PCR was tested with additional isolates and consistently produced a 402-bp PCR product for M. fructigena, a 535-bp product for M. fructicola, and a 351-bp product for M. laxa. The method was also used with isolates of the recently characterized Monilia polystroma, and all isolates amplified a 425-bp PCR product. The identification method was shown to amplify a PCR product directly from inoculated apples, and the PCR band produced was specific to the inoculated Monilinia or Monilia species. Furthermore, the multiplex PCR was used to identify Monilinia species on naturally infected stone fruits. The method correctly identified infections by both M. laxa and M. fructicola by successful amplification of corresponding PCR products for each species.
Plant Hosts ofXylella fastidiosaIn and Near Southern California Vineyards
Authors: Costa H. S. , Raetz E. , Pinckard T. R. , Gispert C. , Hernandez-Martinez R. , Dumenyo C. K. , Cooksey D. A.
Published: May 2007

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterium that causes Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevines. A variety of plant species found near a severe outbreak of PD in vineyards in the Temecula Valley of California were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, culture on media, and polymerase chain reaction to identify potential inoculum sources in the area. Species that consistently tested positive for X. fastidiosa were the known hosts, grape, almond, and oleander, and two new hosts, Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) and wild mustard (Brassica spp). Sequence analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region found that strains isolated from grapevine, Spanish broom, wild mustard, and almond clustered with previously sequenced PD strains. Thus, these species could serve as sources of inoculum for infection of grapevines and should be removed or monitored for signs of infection. Sequences from oleander isolates from Temecula formed another cluster with a previously published oleander strain sequence. Oleander strains do not infect grapevines and thus do not appear to cause a direct threat to grapevines. Two additional isolates from almond were determined to be genetically different from PD strains, and the ability of these strains to infect grapevine is not known. Greenhouse transmission studies indicate that the glassy-winged sharpshooter was able to transmit a PD strain of X. fastidiosa to Spanish broom, black mustard, and other hosts.
First Report of Blight on Ipomoea purpurea Caused by Phytophthora ipomoeae
Authors: Badillo-Ponce G. , Fernández-Pavía S. P. , Grünwald N. J. , Garay-Serrano E. , Rodríguez-Alvarado G. , Lozoya-Saldaña H.
Published: May 2007

Several wild species of Ipomoea grow in the central highlands of Mexico. During the summer of 1999, in Metepec, Mexico, blighted leaves and petioles of Ipomoea purpurea were collected from diseased plants and placed in a moist chamber to induce sporulation. Sporangia that formed on the lesions were transferred with a piece of agar to selective rye agar medium (2). Phytophthora ipomoeae was consistently isolated. Species identification was based on sporangial and gametangial characteristics of five cultures grown on rye agar. Sporangia were mainly ellipsoid but occasionally ovoid, semipapillated, and deciduous with a short pedicel. All isolates were homothallic with smooth-walled and aplerotic oospores. Genotypic analysis for the allozymes Peptidase (Pep) and Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi) indicated that all five isolates belonged to one genotype with alleles 78/78 (Pep) and 108/108 (Gpi). Morphological characteristics and the allozyme genotype correspond to the new, recently described species P. ipomoeae Flier & Grünwald (1) isolated from I. orizabensis (Pelletan) Ledeb. ex Steud. (I. tyrianthina) Lindl. and I. longepedunculata (Mart. & Gal.) Hemsl. Pathogenicity tests were carried out with leaves from greenhouse-grown I. purpurea plants. Detached leaves were inoculated with a suspension of 103 sporangia per ml and kept in a moist chamber at room temperature (17 ± 3°C). Lesions were observed between 7 and 15 days after inoculation and were characteristic of those observed in the field. The pathogen was reisolated from inoculated symptomatic tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first report of blight on I. purpurea caused by P. ipomoeae.

References: (1) W. Flier et al. Mycol. Res. 106:848, 2002. (2) N. J. Grünwald et al. Phytopathology 91:882, 2001.
First Report of Downy Mildew Caused by Plasmopara helianthi Races 700 and 703 of Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in Italy
Authors: Tosi L. , Zazzerini A.
Published: May 2007

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants showing systemic downy mildew (Plasmopara helianthi Novot.) symptoms (stunting and leaf chlorosis) were collected during May and June 2001-2003 in fields located in four regions of central Italy (Umbria, Tuscany, The Marches, and Emilia-Romagna). Generally restricted, a low disease incidence (2 to 12%) was observed in fields planted with commercial hybrids. In the surveyed areas, higher field incidences (20 to 30%) of downy mildew were only observed where suitable climatic conditions occurred. To determine pathogen race variability of P. helianthi, 18 isolates (one for each field) were recovered directly from infected leaves showing sporulation or after 24 h of incubation in a humid chamber at room temperature. After increasing initial inocula on the susceptible cv. Ala, race identification of all isolates was determined by the whole-seedling immersion technique (2) on three sets of nine differential sunflower lines (three lines per each set): HA-304, RHA 265, RHA 274; PMI-3, PMI-17, 803-1; and HAR-4, QHP-1, HA 335 using triplet coding (1). All differential lines were tested twice with 40 seeds per replicate (three replicates per line). Twelve days after inoculation, plants were placed in a chamber maintained at 20°C and 100% relative humidity for 24 h and then evaluated for a susceptible (sporulation on cotyledons and/or first true leaves) or resistance (absence of sporulation) reaction. Races 700 and 703 were identified during the 3-year survey. Race 700 was recovered frequently (56% of isolates) from the Italian regions except Emilia-Romagna. Race 703 was not detected in Tuscany. Races 700 and 703 have been previously isolated in other European countries (3,4), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of either race in Italy. Our results confirm previous investigations and suggest that the restricted presence of downy mildew should be attributed to several factors: (i) lack of any source of resistance to both races in commercial hybrids; (ii) insufficient seed dressing with metalaxyl as observed on remnants of commercial hybrid treated seeds tested in laboratory analyses; and (iii) short rotation of cereals (often only 2- to 3-year interval) with sunflower crops. Although greenhouse tests showed most P. helianthi isolates were not controlled by metalaxyl seed treatment at the registered rate (2.1 g kg-1) loss of fungicide efficiency in fields has not yet been observed indicating that appropriate phytosanitary measures and proper seed treatment can provide control of sunflower downy mildew.

References: (1) T. J. Gulya. Pages 76–78 in: Proc. 17th Sunflower Res. Workshop, Fargo, ND, 1995. (2) T. J. Gulya et al. Helia 14:11, 1991. (3) M. L. Molinero-Ruiz et al. Plant Dis. 86:736, 2002. (4) F. Virany and T. J. Gulya. Plant Pathol. 44:619, 1995.
First Report of Lettuce big-vein virus and Mirafiori lettuce virus in Chile
Authors: Rosales I. M. , Sepúlveda P. , Bruna A.
Published: May 2007

Lettuce big-vein disease (BVD) is a serious virus disease of lettuce. Recent evidence has brought into question the role of Lettuce big-vein virus (LBVV) in the etiology of BVD, and suggested that Mirafiori lettuce virus (MiLV) and not LBVV is the causal agent of BVD (1,2). Lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) with symptoms similar to those of BVD were observed during the winter of 2003 in open-field and hydroponic-grown lettuce plants located in the Chacabuco Province of central Chile. Symptomatic plants exhibited leaves with chlorotic vein banding that became ruffled and distorted. Symptoms were usually accompanied by reduced plant size and absence of head formation. Roots from symptomatic plants were analyzed by light microscopy-acid fuchsin staining. Zoosporangia and resting spores of Olpidium brassicae were identified on the basis of their morphology and structure. Additionally, soil transmission experiments were performed with 50 healthy lettuce seedlings replanted into contaminated soil collected from lettuce fields having symptomatic crops. After 3 weeks, one-half of the seedlings showed differing degrees of big-vein symptoms, and the presence of spores of O. brassicae was confirmed in the roots by light microscopy. Seedlings raised in sterilized soil showed no symptoms after the same period of time. On the basis of nucleotide sequences of LBVV and MiLV from the GenBank database, primers specific to the coat protein genes of each virus were designed as follows: MiLVV-CP1: 5′-CAAATCTGTCCACAATTCC-3′; MiLVV-CP2: 5′-TCTCACTTGAAAACCTTCC-3′; MiLVV-CP3: 5′-TTGCAACGTGATGAAACC-3′; MiLVV-CP4: 5′-AAAGAAGAGAAGCCTGTTCC-3′; LBVV-CP1: 5′-AAGCTTTCCGTACTGTCC-3′; LBVV-CP2: 5′-CCTTGATACAGTTTTTGACC-3′; LBVV-CP3: 5′-GTATGCTGATTTCTGTAGACC-3′; LBVV-CP4: 5′-TAGATGTTCTTCGCCACC-3′. The primers were used in reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays with dsRNA as a template. Amplicons of the expected size were obtained in each of the five symptomatic plants analyzed, using each of the designated primer sets: MiLVV-CP1/MiLVV-CP2: 562 bp; MiLVV-CP3/MiLVV-CP4: 743 bp; LBVV-CP1/LBVV-CP2: 485 bp; and LBVV-CP3/ LBVV-CP4: 570 bp. No amplicons were obtained from healthy lettuce plants. The identity of both viruses was verified by cloning and sequencing of the amplicons. Nucleotide sequences were compared with those in the GenBank database. Sequences derived from the Chilean isolates resulted in identities of 87 to 97% for MiLV and 97 to 99% for LBVV. All samples analyzed were from the Chacabuco Province where 43% of the lettuce crops in Chile are grown. Thus, the impact that BVD may have on lettuce availability for local consumption may be significant. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Lettuce big-vein disease and Mirafiori lettuce virus infecting lettuce and the first report of BVD in Chile.

References: (1) H. Lot et al. Phytopathology 92:288, 2002. (2) P. Roggero et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 109:261, 2003.
Detection of Geminiviruses in Sweetpotato by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Li Ruhui , Salih Sarbagh , Hurtt Suzanne
Published: May 2007

Geminivirus infection of sweetpotato (Ipomoea spp.) germplasm acquired from foreign regions is common. Graft inoculation of the indicator host, Ipomoea setosa, is the accepted detection method for these viruses, but the assay is laborious and requires up to 8 weeks. When infected sweetpotato is subjected to meristem tip culture to eliminate these viruses, the eradication rate is low. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection assay was developed for the detection of geminiviruses in a variety of sweetpotato cultivars. Different methods were evaluated to extract nucleic acids suitable for PCR from Ipomoea spp., and a reliable and simple extraction method was developed for large-scale sample preparation. PCR products of the expected sizes were amplified from infected plants using degenerate and virus-specific primers, but not from noninoculated indicator plants. PCR assays using three primer pairs detected nine uncharacterized isolates of the geminiviruses in sweetpotato from Asia and America. However, the best PCR result was obtained with degenerate primers SPG1/SPG2, which detected a Taiwan isolate of Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV-Taiwan) in a sample diluted to 10-9. Viral identities of three amplicons from SPLCV-Taiwan were confirmed by sequencing. The degenerate primers had a broader detection range than virus-specific primers; therefore, they were used to detect geminiviruses in in vitro plantlets and greenhouse-grown sweetpotato plants, and in several Ipomoea hosts. PCR was shown to be as reliable for virus detection as grafting.
Impact of White Mold Incidence on Dry Bean Yield Under Nonirrigated Conditions
Authors: del Río L. E. , Venette J. R. , Lamey H. A.
Published: May 2007

Studies on chemical control of white mold, conducted between 1994 and 2001 at several locations in North Dakota, resulted in diverse levels of white mold incidence and severity. Navy bean cultivars were evaluated in on-farm trials between 1994 and 1996, while pinto bean cultivars were used between 1997 and 2001. The relationship between yield and white mold incidence in these trials was examined using correlation and regression analysis. White mold incidence was correlated to severity using a second-degree polynomial equation (R 2 = 0.90, P = 0.0001) in pinto bean experiments. For every percent unit increase in white mold incidence, yield was reduced by 12 kg/ha (range 7 to 19 kg/ha) in pinto bean and by 23 kg/ha (range 19 to 26 kg/ha) in navy bean. In both instances, the coefficients of determination were significant (P < 0.04) for most locations or years, and ranged from 0.42 to 0.87 for pinto bean and from 0.98 to 0.99 for navy bean. Fungicide-protected plots had an average white mold incidence of 34 and 50% compared with 76 and 73% in nonprotected plots for pinto and navy bean, respectively. Fungicide applications increased yields by 33 and 26% (P ≤ 0.05) for pinto and navy bean, respectively.
Suppression of Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon by Soil Amendment with Hairy Vetch
Authors: Zhou X. G. , Everts K. L.
Published: May 2007

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) as a soil amendment was evaluated for suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon and soil populations of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in greenhouse, microplot, and field studies. When mixed at 1 or 5% (wt/wt) in a loamy sand soil that was artificially or naturally infested with race 2 of F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum, pulverized dry hairy vetch, crab shell, and urea provided the best suppression (53 to 87% reduction) of Fusarium wilt on watermelon seedlings among 13 plant and animal residues screened. Soil amended with hairy vetch at 0.25 or 0.5% (wt/wt) in microplots resulted in 54 to 69% decreased wilt incidence and 100 to 220% increase of watermelon plant biomass. Hairy vetch winter cover crop incorporated into field plots under black plastic provided 42 to 48% reduction of wilt incidence, 64 to 100% increase of plant biomass, and a 34 to 68% increase in weight of fruit, comparable to improvements achieved by the soil fumigants methyl bromide or 1,3-dichloropropene plus 35% chloropicrin. Soil amendment with hairy vetch also increased the sugar content of watermelon fruit 10 to 15%. Significant reductions in the populations of F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum were not observed in hairy vetch-amended soil in microplots and field plots, but were observed in greenhouse pot soil amended with 5% (wt/wt) hairy vetch, which was attributed primarily to increased levels of fungicidal ammonia produced during decomposition. Incorporating hairy vetch into mulched soil can be an alternative or supplement to cultivar resistance and crop rotation for management of Fusarium wilt of watermelon.
Aspergillus flavus in Soils and Corncobs in South Texas: Implications for Management of Aflatoxins in Corn-Cotton Rotations
Authors: Jaime-Garcia Ramon , Cotty Peter J.
Published: May 2007

Aspergillus flavus causes aflatoxin contamination in both cottonseed and corn. Corn-cotton rotations are common in South Texas, where reduced tillage frequently results in long-term residence of corncobs on soil surfaces. Corncobs are colonized by A. flavus either prior to harvest or while in the soil. This study sought to determine the potential of corncobs as sources of inoculum for cotton and corn in South Texas. A. flavus communities in corncob and soil samples were collected during the planting seasons of 2001 to 2003 from 29 fields extending from Calhoun and Victoria Counties in the north to the Rio Grande Valley. In order to assess persistence of A. flavus in corncobs, A. flavus communities in corncobs and soil were contrasted every 2 to 3 months in four fields throughout the 3-year study. To assess seasonal variation, similar contrasts were performed in two fields on a biweekly basis. The results indicate that corncobs are major sources of A. flavus inoculum. Corncobs from the previous season contained, on average, over 190 times more A. flavus propagules than soil from the same field, and 2-year-old corncobs still retained 45 times more propagules than soil. There was no significant difference in the incidence of A. flavus strain S on corncobs and soil. The quantity of A. flavus in corncobs decreased with corncob age (r 2 = 0.54; P = 0.002).
First Report of Dollar Spot Caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa on Agrostis stolonifera in Argentina
Authors: Rivera M. C. , Wright E. R. , Goldring L. V. , Pérez B. A. , Barreto D.
Published: May 2007

During the summer of 2000, circular, yellow-to-brown, blighted, 2- to 4-cm-diameter patches were observed on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) putting greens (cv. Pennlinks) maintained at a 4- to 5-mm height on a golf course in Pilar (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Symptomatic leaves had transverse chlorotic bands that sometimes extended to the tip with brown lesions inside the bands. A fungus was isolated from symptomatic tissue after surface sterilization with 2% bleach for 1 min and plating on 2% potato dextrose agar (PDA). The mycelium was fluffy and white. The culture turned olive to brown and developed black stromata on the lower side of the plate base after 2 weeks. Pathogenicity tests were performed on 2-month-old healthy plants of A. stolonifera (cv. Crenshaw) grown in sterilized sand. Recently cut, 14-mm-diameter plugs of A. stolonifera were placed in 22- × 17-cm plastic trays filled with a sterilized mixture of 50:50 soil/sand (vol/vol). Plants were maintained at a 7-mm height. Two sources of inoculum were prepared; one was cultured on PDA at 22 to 25°C for 10 days and the other was prepared by incubating in sterilized soil at room temperature for 14 days. Twenty pieces of 1-cm-diameter agar blocks containing mycelium were placed in each plug at the base of the plants. In the infested soil inoculation, 25 g of soil were distributed among the plants on the substrate surface. Control plants were treated with either sterile PDA pieces or noninfested soil. The trays were irrigated with sterilized distilled water, covered with polyethylene bags, and kept in a controlled environment chamber at 25°C with 12 h per day of fluorescent light for 30 days. Leaf chlorosis appeared 7 and 10 days after inoculation for the agar-plug and infested-soil methods, respectively. Leaf necrosis was observed at day 23. Controls remained asymptomatic. The inoculated fungus was reisolated from symptomatic leaf tissue. The pathogen was identified as Sclerotinia homoeocarpa (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa causing dollar spot disease on Agrostis stolonifera in Argentina and the first report of a disease on golf courses in our country.

References: (1) J. E. M. Mordue. Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. No. 618 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1979. (2) R. W. Smiley. Dollar Spot. Pages 14–16 in: Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1983.
Nature, Incidence, and Symptomatology of Viruses Infecting Vanilla tahitensis in French Polynesia
Authors: Grisoni M. , Davidson F. , Hyrondelle C. , Farreyrol K. , Caruana M. L. , Pearson M.
Published: May 2007

A survey was carried out to identify the viruses infecting vanilla in French Polynesia and to assess their incidence. Virus identification was based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and, for potyviruses, on the sequence of part of the coat protein and inoculation assays. Between 1998 and 1999, 3,610 vanilla plants from 49 plots in the Society Islands were indexed. Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) was detected in 500 vines from 10 plots in the Leeward Islands. The data suggest that this virus has spread widely since its first detection in French Polynesia in 1986, most likely through the dissemination of symptomless infected cuttings. Viruses belonging to the Potyvirus genus were found in 674 plants from 27 plots in the four islands surveyed. Three distinct potyviruses have been identified: (i) Vanilla mosaic virus, (ii) Watermelon mosaic virus, and (iii) and a virus related to Bean common mosaic virus. The symptoms induced on Vanilla tahitensis by the three potyviruses can be differentiated from each other and from those due to CymMV. A significant proportion of the plants surveyed (97/476) were symptomatic but tested negative by ELISA for CymMV and the Potyvirus group. Odontoglossum ringspot virus was not detected in any sample tested.
Effects of Timing of Copper Sprays, Defoliation, Rainfall, and Inoculum Concentration on Incidence of Olive Knot Disease
Authors: Teviotdale Beth L. , Krueger William H.
Published: May 2007

The olive knot pathogen, Pseudomonas savastanoi, causes galls on shoots, branches, fruit, and leaves. Shoots girdled by galls die. Any fresh wound is susceptible to infection, but the most common entry sites are leaf scars. Leaf scars are most susceptible to infection during the first 2 days after leaf fall and remain susceptible for 7 more days. Simulated leaf scars on ‘Manzanillo’ olive trees were created by removing leaves from healthy shoots at approximately monthly intervals from December through June 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-2000. Trees were treated with a water suspension of cupric hydroxide (Kocide DF40) at 3 g/liter one, two, or three times in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 with a hand-gun sprayer. Generally, disease control improved with more applications (P = 0.008 and 0.032 in 1999 and 2000, respectively). Disease incidence was greatest on shoots that were defoliated in March 1998, April and June 1999, and March and May 2000. Cumulative rainfall 2 and 9 days after each defoliation was recorded. Disease incidence was positively correlated (P = 0.031 and 0.023 for 2 and 9 days, respectively) with spring (March through June) but not winter (December through February) rainfall. Comparable simulated leaf scars were inoculated in December and April 1997-98 and 1998-99 with 104, 106, and 108 CFU/ml of the pathogen and treated with a water suspension of cupric hydroxide at 3 g/liter using a handheld pump sprayer. Inoculated and noninoculated, nontreated shoots were included. More disease developed in April than in December inoculations (P = <0.0001) in both years. Disease incidence increased with increasing inoculum concentration (P = <0.0001) in both years and was lower in shoots treated with Kocide DF40 (P = <0.0001). Our work demonstrated that the common grower practice of one post-harvest application of copper bactericide provides only minimal protection against olive knot, and that additional sprays in spring are needed to substantially improve disease control.
Outbreaks of Bacterial Spot Caused by Xanthomonas gardneri on Processing Tomato in Central-West Brazil
Authors: Quezado-Duval Alice M. , Leite Rui P. , Truffi Daniela , Camargo Luis E. A.
Published: May 2007

Severe epidemics of bacterial spot have been observed in central-west Brazil in fields of processing tomato. Several xanthomonads, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, or X. gardneri, can cause the disease; therefore, attempts were made to identify the pathogen species present in this region. A total of 215 strains were obtained from 10 commercial areas in 1997, 1998, and 2000. The strains were characterized using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and by their amylolytic and pectolytic activities. Representative strains from each PFGE haplotype then were tested for pathogenicity on tomato and pepper, carbon source utilization, and whole protein sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. rRNA sequence comparisons also were performed. All strains recovered from six fields were classified as X. gardneri, whereas X. vesicatoria and X. axonopodis pv. vesicatoria also were detected in the remaining four fields. Strains of X. gardneri, which could be grouped into two PFGE haplotypes, were unable to hydrolyze starch and pectate and to utilize gentiobiose and maltose. They expressed the β protein of 27 kDa and were pathogenic on tomato but variable on pepper. This is the first report of outbreaks of bacterial spot on tomato caused by X. gardneri.
Reaction of a Diverse Collection of Barley Lines to Fusarium Head Blight
Authors: McCallum B. D. , Tekauz A. , Gilbert J.
Published: May 2007

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is currently the primary disease of concern in barley in Canada and sources of FHB resistance need to be identified. A diverse collection of 77 two-rowed and 81 six-rowed barley lines was screened for resistance to FHB in inoculated, irrigated nurseries from 1995 to 1998. Barley spikes were spray inoculated with conidia of Fusarium graminearum and visual symptoms of FHB were scored to determine an FHB index. Deoxynivalenol (DON) content was determined from harvested seed samples during 1997 and 1998. Although there was variation in the average FHB index and DON content among the different years of testing, the rankings of the lines generally were correlated among the years of testing and the two measures of FHB. Based on the FHB index from 1995 and 1996, a subset of 18 lines with low FHB and 12 lines with high FHB were compared with 20 FHB resistance sources and 7 Canadian lines or cultivars during 1997 and 1998 in both inoculated and noninoculated nurseries. Lines Nepolegajuscij, Krasnojarskij, Nordic, Murakaki-mochi, Golozernyj 1, Maris Mink, Symko, Ussurijskij 8, Suvenir, and Canadian cultivars AC Sterling and Morrison were similar to the best resistance sources (Zhedar1, Seijo II, and Chevron) and had consistently low DON content.
Activity of Chlorine Dioxide in a Solution of Ions and pH Against Thielaviopsis basicola and Fusarium oxysporum
Authors: Copes W. E. , Chastaganer G. A. , Hummel R. L.
Published: May 2007

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a disinfestant used to control pathogens in water. To determine if interactions between inorganic ions and pH levels effect ClO2 activity in vitro, concentrations of ClO2 (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 22, 24, 46, 58, and 70 mg/liter) were mixed for 10 min in solutions containing a nitrogen and hard water solution with equal concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, and synthetic hard water (0 and 100 mg/liter) and a divalent metal ion solution with equal concentrations of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc (0, 1, 3, and 5 mg/liter) at pH 5 and 8. Macro- and microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. narcissi or conidia and aleuriospores of Thielaviopsis basicola were injected into each suspension for 30 s, captured on filter paper disks that were flushed with water, and plated on 50% potato dextrose agar. Spore germination was quantified after 1 day. ClO2 activity had a similar effect on both fungal species and all types of propagules with interactions among the divalent metal ion solution, nitrogen and hard water solution, and pH treatments. A higher concentration of ClO2 was required at pH 8 than at pH 5 to achieve a lethal dose resulting in 50% mortality of spores (LD50). The addition of the divalent metal ion solution required an increase in ClO2 concentration to maintain a LD50. When combined with the nitrogen and hard water solution, the divalent metal ion solution placed a higher demand on ClO2 at pH 5 and a lower demand on ClO2 at pH 8, thus requiring an increase and decrease in a ClO2 concentration, respectively, to achieve a LD50. Chlorine dioxide doses resulting in 50% mortality ranged from 0.5 to 7.0 mg/liter for conidia of F. oxysporum, 0.5 to 11.9 mg/liter for conidia of T. basicola, and 15.0 to 45.5 mg/liter for aleuriospores of T. basicola.
First Report of Occurrence of Papaya ring spot virus Infecting Papaya in Bangladesh
Authors: Jain R. K. , Nasiruddin K. M. , Sharma Jyoti , Pant R. P. , Varma A.
Published: May 2007

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is an important fruit crop in Bangladesh. During surveys conducted in Dhaka and Mymensingh regions from April to June 2003, >50% of papaya plants were observed to have leaf mottling, mosaic and mild distortion, and water-soaked streaks on petioles and stem, which are typical symptoms of Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV) infection. Electron-microscopic examination of negatively stained leaf-dip preparations from 10 symptomatic samples revealed the association of flexuous virus particles that were decorated with polyclonal antibodies raised to an isolate from India (PRSV-D). The identity of PRSV associated with the papaya disease in Bangladesh was further confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis (2). By using PRSV specific primers (2), the 3′-terminal region comprising a part of the nuclear inclusion b gene, the coat protein (CP) gene, and the untranslated region were amplified and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. AY423557). The CP gene consisted of 286 amino acids and the conserved regions common to the genus Potyvirus, such as WCIEN and QMKAA, were present. Like all known PRSV sequences (1), a stretch of glutamic acid and lysine repeats (EK region) after the aphid transmission motif (DAG) also was present. Comparative CP amino acid sequence analyses revealed that the virus infecting papaya in Bangladesh, designated as PRSV-Bd, shared 89 to 92% identity with PRSV isolates from India and 88 to 93% identity with isolates from other parts of the world. To our knowledge, this is the first report of occurrence of PRSV infecting papaya in Bangladesh.

References: (1) M. F. Bateson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 83:2575, 2002. (2) R. K. Jain et al. Ann Appl. Biol. 132:413, 1998.
A Virus Related to Clover Yellow Mosaic Virus Found East of the Mississippi River in Verbena canadensis in Florida
Authors: Baker C. A. , Beckham K. , Hiebert E.
Published: May 2007

In September 2002, several unthrifty Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead purple’ plants were received at the Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville, FL. Symptoms included very subtle yellowing and distortion or stunting of the younger leaves, symptoms that could be overlooked as a nutritional problem. Symptomatic leaves were ground in phosphate buffer and mechanically inoculated to a variety of plants that included Antirrhinum majus, Chenopodium amaranticolor, Datura stramonium, Gomphrena globosa, Pisum sativum, Trifolium pratense, T. repens, Vicia faba, and Vigna unguiculata. These hosts showed symptoms similar to those described for infection by Clover yellow mosaic virus (ClYMV) (3). In addition, the virus systemically infected Arachis hypogaea, Catharanthus roseus, C. quinoa, Nicotiana benthamiana, and healthy seed-grown Verbena × hybrida. No symptoms were seen in inoculated Zinnia elegans, N. glutinosa, N. clevelandii, Lycopersicon esculentum, Cucumis sativus, or Capsicum annuum. However, back inoculations of Cucumis sativus to C. amaranticolor gave typical local and systemic symptoms. Microscopic examination of leaf strips of infected V. faba revealed banded inclusions typical of the genus Potexvirus (1). Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate primers for the genus Potexvirus (2) produced a 750-bp product that is the expected product for the genus Potexvirus. The RT-PCR product was cloned in pGem-T easy (Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced. BLAST ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ BLAST/ ) analysis of the sequence showed an 82% identity at the nucleotide level with the RNA polymerase gene of ClYMV. Leaf extracts of the original verbena, several inoculated hosts, and a known sample of ClYMV in N. benthamiana were tested in sodium dodecyl sulfate immunodiffusion (4) against antiserum to the degraded capsid protein of ClYMV. A reaction of identity was seen with infected samples but not with samples for comparable virus-free plants. To our knowledge, this is the first time this virus has been found in the eastern United States. It is not known how or if the presence of this noninsect transmitted virus in an ornamental will affect the agricultural, forage, or ornamental industries in the east or how widely distributed Verbena sp. infected with this virus may be at this time.

References: (1.) R. G. Christie and J. R. Edwardson. Fla. Agric. Exp. Stn. Monogr. 9, 1994. (2.) A. Gibbs et al. J. Virol. Methods 74:67,1998 (3.) M. J. Pratt. Can. J. Bot. 39:655. 1961. (4) D. E. Purcifull and D. L. Batchelor. Fla. Agric. Ext. Stn. Bull. 788, 1977.
First Report of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) as a Natural Host Plant for Tomato chlorosis virus
Authors: Lozano G. , Moriones E. , Navas-Castillo J.
Published: May 2007

Since 1997, epidemics of a tomato yellowing disease have occurred in the Málaga and Almería provinces of southern Spain. These epidemics have been associated with infections of Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae) (2). During the past few years, an increasing incidence of the disease was observed and it spread to new areas including eastern Spain and the Balearic and Canary Islands (G. Lozano, E. Moriones, and J. Navas-Castillo, unpublished results and [1]). In 1999, plants of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) exhibiting symptoms of interveinal yellowing, mild upward leaf curling, and stunting were observed in greenhouses of Almería that were heavily infested with the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Symptomatic plants were tested for the presence of the begomovirus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, a virus previously reported in sweet pepper (3) by molecular hybridization or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Some of these plants tested positive. Total RNA extracts from the symptomatic plants were also analyzed for the presence of tomato criniviruses using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primers MA59 and MA60 for the HSP70h gene (2). A PCR DNA product of the expected size (587 bp) was obtained from several samples. The cloning and sequencing of the PCR product obtained from one of these samples confirmed the presence of ToCV, with a sequence 100% identical to the equivalent region of the first ToCV isolated from tomato in Málaga (2). Total RNA extracts from plants that tested positive using RT-PCR were also positive with molecular hybridization using a probe for the HSP70h gene of ToCV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of sweet pepper as a natural host of a tomato crinivirus, which may have important epidemiological consequences in regions where both crops are grown. Association between ToCV infection and specific symptoms observed in sweet pepper plants is under study.

References: (1) M. I. Font et al. Bol. San. Veg. Plagas 29:109, 2003. (2) J. Navas-Castillo et al. Plant Dis. 84:835, 2000. (3) J. Reina et al. Plant Dis. 83:1176, 1999.