bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Characterization of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) Isolates from Easter Island, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and Southern Africa
Authors: Rännäli M. , Czekaj V. , Jones R. A. C. , Fletcher J. D. , Davis R. I. , Mu L. , Valkonen J. P. T.
Published: August 2009

Strains of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV; Potyvirus; Potyviridae) infecting sweet-potato (Ipomoea batatas) in Oceania, one of the worlds' earliest sweetpotato-growing areas, and in southern Africa were isolated and characterized phylogenetically by analysis of the coat protein (CP) encoding sequences. Sweetpotato plants from Easter Island were co-infected with SPFMV strains C and EA. The EA strain isolates from this isolated location were related phylogenetically to those from Peru and East Africa. Sweetpotato plants from French Polynesia (Tahiti, Tubuai, and Moorea) were co-infected with SPFMV strains C, O, and RC in different combinations, whereas strains C and RC were detected in New Zealand. Sweetpotato plants from Zimbabwe were infected with strains C and EA and those from Cape Town, South Africa, with strains C, O, and RC. Co-infections with SPFMV strains and Sweet potato virus G (Potyvirus) were common and, additionally, Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (Carlavirus) was detected in a sample from Tahiti. Taken together, occurrence of different SPFMV strains was established for the first time in Easter Island, French Polynesia, and New Zealand, and new strains were detected in Zimbabwe and the southernmost part of South Africa. These results from the Southern hemisphere reflect the anticipated global distribution of strains C, O, and RC but reveal a wider distribution of strain EA than was known previously.
First Report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae Associated with Stem Blight of Southern Highbush Blueberries in Florida
Authors: Wright A. F. , Harmon P. F.
Published: August 2009

Stem blight of southern highbush blueberries has been attributed to Botryosphaeria dothidea (2). Symptoms include necrotic branches with attached leaves and brown discoloration of the vasculature extending the length of the affected branch. A 2007 field survey of stem blight in Florida resulted in isolates of the previously reported B. dothidea and Neofusicoccum ribis and isolates of unreported Lasiodiplodia theobromae (2). Isolates of L. theobromae were identified to species level by morphological characterization (3). Identity was confirmed by comparison of rDNA sequences of representative isolates (GenBank Accession No. FJ882072) to reference sequences (99% similarity to Accession No. EF622074) (1). Seven, fresh, pruning wounds on southern highbush blueberries cv. Misty were inoculated with a 10-mm V8 juice agar plug of isolate MixFC-6 taken from the margin of a 3-day-old colony. Seven wounds were inoculated with a sterile agar plug. All plugs were attached to the wounds with Parafilm. Mean lesion length 14 days after inoculation was 8.6 ± 2.4 cm. The pathogen was reisolated from the margin of lesions and identified by colony growth characteristics on potato dextrose agar. No lesions were observed on control plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report that stem blight of southern highbush blueberries in Florida can be caused by L. theobromae.

References: (1) A. Alves et al. Fungal Divers. 28:1, 2008. (2) F. L. Caruso and D. C. Ramsdell. Compendium of Blueberry and Cranberry Diseases. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1995. (3) P. W. Crous et al. Stud. Mycol. 55:235, 2006.
First Report of Chalara elegans on Roots of Black Elderberry
Authors: Michel V. V.
Published: August 2009

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) is organically grown in Switzerland primarily for the flowers, which are used for the production of candies. In June of 2006 in a commercial orchard in Knonau, Switzerland, leaves prematurely turned yellow and dropped off. Other symptoms included weak growth of new twigs in the spring and wilting of leaves during the hotter temperatures of summer. Chlamydospores of Chalara elegans Nag Raj & Kendrick (synonym Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk. & Broome) Ferr.) (1) were found on fine roots of 4-year-old trees. In 2004, similar aboveground symptoms had been observed in two elderberry orchards in Emmental, Switzerland, but no causal organism was detected at that time. All three orchards were planted during 2002 with plants obtained from the same nursery. The pathogenicity of C. elegans on black elderberry was confirmed at the Agroscope Changins Wädenswil ACW Research Center in Conthey. Black elderberry seedlings were produced from seeds collected from a healthy plant in the fall of 2007. Seeds were placed on wet filter paper in petri dishes and incubated at 1°C for 6 months. Germinated seeds were transplanted in seed trays filled with steam-sterilized peat substrate and maintained in a greenhouse at 16 to 22°C. In the spring of 2008, a strain of C. elegans was recovered from carrot on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for artificial inoculation of elderberry. Mycelium edges of the isolate were transferred on two pieces of PDA to a clay/V8 medium. The medium consisted of 50 ml of expanded clay granules and 20 ml of clarified V8 juice in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks that had been autoclaved for 30 min. C. elegans cultures were incubated in darkness at 24°C for 1 month. Sandy loam soil with a pH of 7.4 (soil/water; 1:1 (wt/vol)) was autoclaved twice for 45 min with a 1-day interval. Plastic pots (0.5 liter) were first filled with 300 ml of sterile soil. Twenty milliliters of C. elegans inoculum were then added and covered with 100 ml of sterile soil. One black elderberry seedling with two true leaves fully expanded (3 to 5 cm high) was transplanted into each of five pots with inoculated clay granules and noninoculated clay granules. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 18 to 25°C and watered with tap water. Inoculated and control pots were kept in two separate trays to avoid cross contamination by drainage water. After 2 months, inoculated plants were approximately half the size of control plants. Approximately 75% of the inoculated roots were brown because of the occurrence of chlamydospores of C. elegans, which was reisolated on PDA. To my knowledge, this is the first report of C. elegans on roots of black elderberry.

References: (1) K. H. Domsch et al. Compendium of Soil Fungi. Vol. 1. IHW-Verlag, Eching, Germany, 1993.
First Report of Sclerotium rolfsii on Ascocentrum and Ascocenda Orchids in Florida
Authors: Cating R. A. , Palmateer A. J. , McMillan R. T.
Published: August 2009

Southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is known to occur on several economically important orchid hosts, including Vanda species and hybrids (1–3). In the summer and fall of 2008, an outbreak of southern blight on Vanda orchids was seen in several commercial nurseries and landscapes throughout South Florida. More than a dozen orchids were affected at one of the locations, and symptoms of S. rolfsii were observed on Ascocentrum and Ascocenda orchids, which are also common in the trade and demand a resale value ranging from $20 to $150 for specimens in bloom. Affected Ascocentrum and Ascocenda orchids were found severely wilted at the apex, while around the base of the plants, tan, soft, water-soaked lesions were present. As the lesions progressed, leaves around the base of the plants began to fall off, leaving the stems bare. After 2 days, white, flabellate mycelium was seen progressing up the stem and numerous, tan-to-brown sclerotia were present. Leaves and portions of the stems were plated on acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA) and grown at 25°C. White, flabellate mycelium and tan sclerotia approximately 2 mm in diameter were produced in culture and microscopic examination revealed the presence of clamp connections. The fungus was identified as S. rolfsii and a voucher specimen was deposited with the ATCC. A PCR was performed on the ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2 and the sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. GQ358518). Pathogenicity of an isolate was tested by placing 6-mm plugs taken from APDA plates directly against the stem of five different Ascocentrum and Ascocenda orchids. Five Ascocentrum and Ascocenda orchids were inoculated with 6-mm plugs of plain APDA and five were untreated controls. Plants were housed under 50% shade, 60 to 95% humidity, and temperatures ranging from 75 to 88°F. Within 7 days, all inoculated plants developed symptoms that were identical to those observed on original plants and S. rolfsii was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissue. Ascocentrum and Ascocenda were previously reported under miscellaneous orchid species and hybrids as hosts for S. rolfsii (1). However, this report was highly ambiguous and the most current edition does not report the host fungus combination (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. rolfsii affecting Ascocentrum and Ascocenda orchids.

References: (1) S. A. Alfieri, Jr., et al. Diseases and Disorders of Plants in Florida. Bull. No. 11. Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL, 1984. (2) S. A. Alfieri, Jr., et al. Diseases and Disorders of Plants in Florida. Bull. No. 14. Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL, 1994. (3) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989.
First Report of Barley yellow dwarf virus-MAV in Oat, Wheat, and Barley Grown in the Czech Republic
Authors: Kundu J. K.
Published: August 2009

Barley yellow dwarf disease, a ubiquitous virus disease of cereal crops worldwide, is caused by a group of related, single-stranded RNA viruses assigned to Luteovirus (Barley yellow dwarf virus [BYDV] spp. PAV, PAS, MAV, and GAV) or Polerovirus (Cereal yellow dwarf virus-RPV) genera or unassigned to a genera (BYDV-SGV, BYDV-RMV, and BYDV-GPV) in the family Luteoviridae (1). Incidence of BYDV in cereal crops (e.g., barley, wheat, and oats) was high, and in recent years, reached epidemic levels in many regions of the Czech Republic. BYDV-PAV and BYDV-PAS have been identified in Czech cereal crops (2,4). Surveys of the incidence of BYDV were carried out using ELISA (SEDIAG SAS, Longvic, France) and one-step reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) (2) during 2007 and 2008. Samples (125) were collected from different fields around the Czech Republic and 96 were BYDV positive. Three of the field isolates, CZ-6815, CZ-1561, and CZ-10844, from oat (Avena sativa; cv. Auron), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum; cv. Apache), and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare; cv. Merlot), respectively, were identified as BYDV-MAV by sequencing of the RT-PCR product (641-bp fragment) used to identify BYDV, which spanned 2839–3479 of the BYDV genome (GenBank Accession Nos. EF043235 and NC_002160) (2). The partial coat protein gene sequence of 483 nt was compared with the available sequences of 12 BYDV-PAV isolates (PAV-JP, PAV-NY, PAV-ILL, PAV-AUS, PAV-WG2, PAV-whG4y3, PAV-on21-4, Tahoe1, CA-PAV, HB3, FH3, and MA9501); nine BYDV-PAS isolates (PAS-129, PAS-64, WS6603, WG13, PAS-Tcb4-1, PASwaw5-9, FL2, PAS-Vd29, and PAS-MA9516); and six BYDV-MAV isolates (MAV-CA, MAV-PS1X1, MAV-Alameds268, LMB2a, SI-o4, and MAV-CN) by MEGA4 (3). Nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities for the three isolates ranged from 92.9 to 99.4% and 88.0 to 95.8%, respectively, for available BYDV-MAV isolates; 76.8 to 78.2% and 62.7 to 67.6%, respectively, for available BYDV-PAS isolates; and 77.6 to 79.3% and 65.5 to 70.4%, respectively, for available PAV isolates. The sequence data indicates that these isolates (CZ-6815, CZ-1561, and CZ10844; GenBank Accession Nos. FJ645747, FJ645758, and FJ645746, respectively) are BYDV-MAV. To my knowledge, this is the first record of BYDV-MAV in the Czech Republic.

References: (1) C. J. D'Arcy and L. L. Domier. Page 891 in: Virus Taxonomy-8th Report of the ICTV. C. M. Fauquet et al., eds. Springer-Verlag, NY, 2005. (2) J. K. Kundu. Plant Dis. 92:1587, 2008. (3) K. Tamura et al. Mol. Biol. Evol. 24:1596, 2007. (4) J. Vacke. Page 100 in: Sbornik Referatu z Odborneho Seminare, Aktualni Problemy Ochrany Polnich Plodin, Praha, 1991.
First Report of Trichodorus variopapillatus (Nematoda: Trichodoridae) from the Czech Republic
Authors: Kumari S. , Decraemer W.
Published: August 2009

Members of the Trichodoridae can cause substantial crop losses directly by feeding on plant roots and indirectly as vectors of tobraviruses; both vector and virus are polyphagous. In April of 2008, soil samples from the rhizosphere of Ulmus minor Mill in a deciduous broadleaf forest at Krivoklat yielded a population of Trichodorus variopapillatus Hooper, 1972. Nematodes were identified by morphological and morphometric characters as well as by molecular analysis. For classical identification, specimens were extracted from soil by a decanting-sieving method, heat killed and fixed in triethanolamine formalin, and processed and mounted in anhydrous glycerin. For molecular analysis, specimens were stored at –20°C in 1 M NaCl. Specimens largely agreed with T. variopapillatus (1,3). Average morphometric data of five male specimens are: body length 766 μm; body width 33 μm; onchiostyle length 55 μm; and spicule length 43 μm. Number of anterior ventromedian cervical papillae and number of precloacal supplements was three each. Spicules are regularly curved and the manubrium is knob-like. Morphometric data of two female specimens are: body length 663 and 858 μm; body width 29 and 38 μm; onchiostyle length 52 and 53 μm; V 54 and 57%. Refractive thickenings at the vulva are very large and quandrangular in shape in the lateral optical section. Identification of these nematodes was further verified by sequencing two regions of rDNA (18S gene and D2/D3 expansion segments of the 28S gene). Single female and male specimens from NaCl storage were transferred to 0.5-ml Eppendorf tubes containing 0.25M NaOH. Total genomic DNA was prepared by a rapid technique (4). The 18S gene was amplified in three fragments using the primer SSU_F_04 + SSU_R_09 (first fragment), SSU_F_22 + SSU_R_13 (second fragment), and SSU_F_23 + SSU_R_81 (third fragment). D2/D3 expansion segments of the large subunit of rDNA were amplified using the forward primer D2A and the reverse primer D3B (2). The regions were sequenced in both directions after purification of PCR products. The sequences of female and male specimens were identical. The sequences were deposited in GenBank with Accession Nos. GQ148719 (28S) and GQ148719 (18S). The length of 18S was 1,760 bp and D2/D3 was 786 bp. The obtained sequences were compared by BLAST in NCBI. The D2/D3 sequence is not available in GenBank for T. variopapillatus. The best BLAST hits were obtained with Trichodorus species. BLAST results of 18S sequence showed 5% divergence (76 substitutions) after trimming unequal ends with published sequence of T. variopapillatus Accession No. AY284841. All substitutions were confirmed from the chromatographs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. variopapillatus associated with U. minor in the Czech Republic.

References: (1) W. Decraemer and P. Baujard. Fundam. Appl. Nematol. 21:37 1998. (2) P. De Ley et al. Nematology 1:591, 1999. (3) D. Hooper. Nematologica 17:59, 1972. (4) J. M. Stanton. Australas. Plant Pathol. 27:112, 1998.
First Report of Crenate Broomrape (Orobanche crenata) on White Lupine (Lupinus albus) Growing in Alkaline Soils in Spain and Egypt
Authors: Fernández-Aparicio M. , Emeran A. A. , Moral A. , Rubiales D.
Published: August 2009

Crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) is a parasitic weed known to threaten legume crops since antiquity. It is mainly restricted to the Mediterranean Basin, Southern Europe, and the Middle East where it is an important pest in grain and forage legumes and in some apiaceous crops such as carrot and celery (1). White lupines are cultivated in acid soils, which usually are free of O. crenata infestations. However, breeders are attempting to develop white lupine cultivars adapted to alkaline soils (2). We report here findings of O. crenata infection in field trials of this new lupine germplasm in alkaline soils in experimental farms with a known history of faba bean cultivation and heavy infestation of O. crenata in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt and Córdoba, Spain in the spring of 2009. Symptoms were typical of O. crenata infection with reduced growth and emergence of typical O. crenata nonbranched spikes close to the lupine plants. Infection was confirmed by digging up the plants to verify the attachment of the broomrape plant to the lupine. O. crenata plants growing on lupines were fully fertile, producing viable seeds. Plant morphology was typical of O. crenata (1). Voucher specimens were deposited at the Herbarium of the Botanic Department of the University of Córdoba. To our knowledge, this is the first report of O. crenata infecting lupine and is relevant because the expected introduction of alkaline-tolerant lupine cultivars will extend its area of cultivation into fields heavily infested with Orobanche. O. crenata is highly polymorphic and could easily adapt to, recognize, and infect this new host. Development of lupine-adapted O. crenata populations should be monitored because it could represent a major constraint on lupine introduction into alkaline soils.

References: (1) D. M. Joel et al. Biology and Management of Weedy Root Parasites. Page 267 in: Horticultural Reviews. Vol. 33. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ, 2007. (2) M. Vishnyakova and A. Mikic, White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) landraces and the breeding for tolerance to alkaline soil reaction. Page 142 in: Second GL-TTP Workshop: Integrating Legume Science and Crop Breeding. Novi Sad, Serbia, 2008.
First Report of Wheat Leaf Rust in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Progress of its Appearance over the 2003–2008 Period
Authors: El Jarroudi M. , Giraud F. , Vrancken C. , Junk J. , Tychon B. , Hoffmann L. , Delfosse P.
Published: August 2009

Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. was identified for the first time in 2000 in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on the basis of orange-to-brown, round-to-ovoid, erumpent uredinia (1 to 1.5 mm in diameter) scattered on the upper and lower leaf surfaces and producing orange-brown urediniospores that are subgloboid, approximately 20 μm in diameter, and with up to eight germ pore scattered in thick, echinulate walls. In a second phase, wheat was monitored weekly (starting from Zadoks growth stage 30, pseudo stem erection) during the 2003–2008 cropping seasons for wheat leaf rust. Disease severity (percentage of leaf area with symptoms) was recorded in four, replicated field experiments located in three villages (Diekirch District: Reuler; and Grevenmacher District: Burmerange and Christnach), which are representative of the different agroclimatological zones of Luxembourg. A significant difference in severity was observed between the sites (P < 0.01) and the years (P < 0.05). Over the 6-year period, Burmerange and Reuler consistently showed the highest and lowest disease severity, respectively. In 2003 and 2007, Burmerange (a southern site with the highest average spring temperatures of 13.6 and 14.0°C, respectively) showed the highest disease severity with 66 and 57%, respectively, whereas the lowest severity (<1% for both years) was observed in the north at Reuler (site with the lowest average spring temperatures of 12.0 and 12.4°C, respectively). Christnach, located midway between Reuler and Burmerange, showed an intermediate disease severity with 7% (2003) and 22% (2007). The disease appeared at growth stages 77 (late milk) and 87 (hard dough) in the period 2003–2005, but at an earlier stage (45, boots swollen) for 2006–2008 (P < 0.001). In 2005, low severity was recorded due to a severe drought during May, June, and July. A reason for this earlier appearance of leaf rust occurrences in the two districts may be related to an increase in the average spring temperature (average March to May temperature for Luxembourg was 8.3°C for the 1971–2000 period, 9.5°C for the 2003–2005 period, 9.9°C for the 2006–2008 period, 2007 was exceptional with 11.9°C, P < 0.01). In the past, cereal disease management strategies were oriented toward the control of predominant and yield-reducing diseases such as that caused by Septoria tritici Desm. Because the succession of mild winters and warm springs during the last 5 years allowed the early occurrence and the fast development of wheat leaf rust in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, it is advisable to take this disease into account in fungicide application schemes.
Xiphinema rivesi from Chile Transmits Tomato ringspot virus to Cucumber
Authors: Auger J. , Leal G. , Magunacelaya J. C. , Esterio M.
Published: August 2009

The dagger nematode, (Xiphinema rivesi Dalmasso), a member of the X. americanum group, was first reported in 2002 in Chile (3). X. rivesi is a vector of at least four North American nepoviruses including Cherry rasp leaf virus (CRLV), Tobacco ringspot virus (TobRSV), Tomato ringspot virus (TomRSV), and Peach rosette mosaic virus (PRMV) (2). TomRSV, first reported in Chile in 1984, was associated with raspberry decline and lately with brownline disease in D'Agen prune trees (1), however none of the Xiphinema spp. found in Chile have been reported to transmit this nepovirus. Two virus isolates, TomRSV (prune brownline isolate PBL-08) and Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) (Yellow mosaic isolate GFLV-012), from the virus collection of the Departamento de Sanidad Vegetal, Universidad de Chile were used in transmission tests with a population of X. rivesi found in Chile. X. rivesi is not known to transmit GFLV and this virus was included as a check. The nematodes were extracted from soil from a D'Agen prune orchard, and transmission tests were done in compliance with the criteria proposed by Trudgill et al. (4). Cucumis sativus cv. National Pickling were grown in a growth chamber at 25°C and used as acquisition hosts and transmission bait plants. Acquisition hosts were mechanically inoculated with GFLV or TomRSV, displaying systemic symptoms in 15 to 20 days. Noninoculated cucumber plants were included as controls. Virus infection was confirmed by double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA before the introduction of nematodes to the soil. After a 20-day acquisition feeding period, the nematodes were wet screened from the soil and added to the healthy bait plants and allowed a 20-day inoculation feeding period. X. rivesi transmitted TomRSV but not GFLV. TomRSV bait plants developed systemic symptoms 5 weeks after the nematodes were transferred. Transmission of TomRSV was confirmed by testing leaf and root sap of bait plants in a DAS-ELISA. High virus concentrations were detected in the roots and leaves of TomRSV symptomatic plants. Bait plants on which nematodes had been allowed to feed following virus acquisition from GFLV-infected or from virus-free control plants tested negative by ELISA. No symptoms appeared on bait plants used for GFLV transmission or the control bait plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of transmission of TomRSV with a Xiphinema population from Chile and South America.

References: (1) J. Auger. Acta Hortic. 235:197, 1988. (2) D. J. F. Brown et al. Phytopathology 84:646, 1994. (3) G. Leal et al. Fitopatología 37:75, 2002. (4) D. L. Trudgill et al. Rev. Nematol. 6:133, 1983.
First Report of Curvularia lunata on Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) in Malaysia
Authors: Hawa M. Masratul , Salleh B. , Latiffah Z.
Published: August 2009

Red-fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus [Weber] Britton & Rose) is a newly introduced and potential crop in the Malaysian fruit industry. Besides its nutritious value, the fruit is being promoted as a health crop throughout Southeast Asia. In April of 2007, a new disease was observed in major plantations of H. polyrhizus throughout five states (Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, and Perak) in Malaysia with 41 and 25% disease incidence and severity, respectively. Stems of H. polyrhizus showed spots or small, circular, faint pink-to-beige necrotic lesions that generally coalesced as symptoms progressed. Symptom margins of diseased stem samples were surface sterilized with a 70% alcohol swab, cut into small blocks (1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm), soaked in 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI) for 3 min, and rinsed in several changes of sterile distilled water (each 1 min). The surface-sterilized tissues were placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated under alternating 12-h daylight and black light for 7 days. A fungus was consistently isolated from the stems of symptomatic H. polyrhizus and identified as Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Beodijn (1–3) that showed pale brown multicelled conidia (phragmoconidia; three to five celled) that formed apically through a pore (poroconidia) in sympodially, elongating, geniculated conidiophores. Conidia are relatively fusiform, cylindrical, or slightly curved, with one of the central cells being larger and darker (26.15 ± 0.05 μm). All 25 isolates of C. lunata obtained from diseased H. polyrhizus are deposited at the Culture Collection Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia and available on request. Isolates were tested for pathogenicity by injecting conidial suspensions (1 × 106 conidia/ml) and pricking colonized toothpicks on 25 healthy H. polyrhizus stems. Controls were treated with sterile distilled water and noncolonized toothpicks. All inoculated plants and controls were placed in a greenhouse with day and night temperatures of 30 to 35°C and 23 to 30°C, respectively. Development of external symptoms on inoculated plants was observed continuously every 2 days for 2 weeks. Two weeks after inoculation, all plants inoculated with all isolates of C. lunata developed stem lesions similar to those observed in the field. No symptoms were observed on the control plants and all remained healthy. C. lunata was reisolated from 88% of the inoculated stems, completing Koch's postulates. The pathogenicity test was repeated with the same results. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. lunata causing a disease on H. polyrhizus.

References: (1) M. B. Ellis. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England, 1971. (2) R. R. Nelson and F. A. Hassis. Mycologia 56:316, 1964. (3) C. V. Subramanian. Fungi Imperfecti from Madras V. Curvularia. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 38:27, 1955.
Female presence influences sperm velocity in the guppy
Authors: Gasparini Clelia , Peretti Alfredo V. , Pilastro Andrea
Published: August 2009

As sperm production is costly, males are expected to strategically allocate resources to sperm production according to mating opportunities. While sperm number adjustments have been reported in several taxa, only a few studies investigated whether sperm quality shows adaptive plasticity as well. We tested this prediction in the guppy,
Poecilia reticulata
. A total of 46 males were initially stripped of all retrievable sperm before being randomly allocated to one of two treatments simulating different levels of mating opportunities (visual contact with females or female deprived). After 3 days, males were stripped and sperm velocity was assayed using Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis. Males in the presence of females produced significantly faster sperm than their counterparts. Implications for the evolution of this ejaculate plasticity in the light of results of sperm competition studies are discussed.
Should I stay or should I go? TheEctodysplasinlocus is associated with behavioural differences in threespine stickleback
Authors: Barrett Rowan D. H. , Vines Tim H. , Bystriansky Jason S. , Schulte Patricia M.
Published: August 2009

Adaptive divergence may be facilitated if morphological and behavioural traits associated with local adaptation share the same genetic basis. It is therefore important to determine whether genes underlying adaptive morphological traits are associated with variation in behaviour in natural populations. Positive selection on low-armour alleles at theEctodysplasin(Eda) locus in threespine stickleback has led to the repeated evolution of reduced armour, following freshwater colonization by fully armoured marine sticklebacks. This adaptive divergence in armour between marine and freshwater populations would be facilitated if the low allele conferred a behavioural preference for freshwater environments. We experimentally tested whether the low allele is associated with preference for freshwater by measuring the preference of eachEdagenotype for freshwater versus saltwater after acclimation to either salinity. We found no association between theEdalow allele and preference for freshwater. Instead, the low allele was significantly associated with a reduced preference for the acclimation environment. This behaviour may facilitate the colonization of freshwater habitats from the sea, but could also hinder local adaptation by promoting migration of low alleles between marine and freshwater environments.
Miocene skinks and geckos reveal long-term conservatism of New Zealand's lizard fauna
Authors: Lee Michael S. Y. , Hutchinson Mark N. , Worthy Trevor H. , Archer Michael , Tennyson Alan J. D. , Worthy Jennifer P. , Scofield R. Paul
Published: August 2009

The New Zealand (NZ) lizard fossil record is currently limited to late Quaternary remains of modern taxa. The St Bathans Fauna (early Miocene, southern South Island) extends this record to 19–16 million years ago (Myr ago). Skull and postcranial elements are similar to extant
Oligosoma
(Lygosominae) skinks and
Hoplodactylus
(Diplodactylinae) geckos. There is no evidence of other squamate groups. These fossils, along with coeval sphenodontines, demonstrate a long conservative history for the NZ lepidosaurian fauna, provide new molecular clock calibrations and contradict inferences of a very recent (less than 8 Myr ago) arrival of skinks in NZ.
High-fidelity X-ray micro-tomography reconstruction of siderite-hosted Carboniferous arachnids
Authors: Garwood Russell , Dunlop Jason A. , Sutton Mark D.
Published: August 2009

A new approach to maximize data recovery from siderite-hosted fossils is presented. Late Carboniferous trigonotarbids (Arachnida: Trigonotarbida) from Coseley, UK, were chosen to assess the potential of high-resolution X-ray micro-tomography (XMT). Three-dimensional computer reconstruction visualizes the animals at 20 µm or better resolution, resolving subtle and previously unseen details. Novel data recovered includes (possibly plesiomorphic) retention of endites on leg coxae ofCryptomartus hindi(Anthracomartidae) and highlights further similarities between this family and the Devonian Palaeocharinidae. Also revealed is a flattened body with robust anterior limbs, implying a hunting stance similar to modern crab spiders (Thomisidae).Eophrynus prestvicii(Eophrynidae) had more gracile limbs but a heavily ornamented body, with newly identified upward-pointing marginal spines on the opisthosoma. Its habitus is comparable with certain modern laniatorid harvestmen (Opiliones). These findings demonstrate the potential of XMT to revolutionize the study of siderite-hosted Coal Measures fossils.
Sex allocation conflict in insect societies: who wins?
Authors: Helanterä Heikki , Ratnieks Francis L. W.
Published: August 2009

Sex allocation in colonies of eusocial Hymenoptera is one of the best studied social conflicts. We outline a framework for analysing conflict outcome through power and the costs of manipulation and suggest that the conflict will often be unresolved because both major parties of interest, the queen and the workers, should manipulate allocation even at considerable costs to the colony. We suggest future work for analysing power in the conflict between queen and workers over sex allocation and discuss the extent of male power.
Rapid induction of immune density-dependent prophylaxis in adult social insects
Authors: Ruiz-González Mario X. , Moret Yannick , Brown Mark J. F.
Published: August 2009

The innate immune system provides defence against parasites and pathogens. This defence comes at a cost, suggesting that immune function should exhibit plasticity in response to variation in environmental threats. Density-dependent prophylaxis (DDP) has been demonstrated mostly in phase-polyphenic insects, where larval group size determines levels of immune function in either adults or later larval instars. Social insects exhibit extreme sociality, but DDP has been suggested to be absent from these ecologically dominant taxa. Here we show that adult bumble-bee workers (
Bombus terrestris
) exhibit rapid plasticity in their immune function in response to social context. These results suggest that DDP does not depend upon larval conditions, and is likely to be a widespread and labile response to rapidly changing conditions in adult insect populations. This has obvious ramifications for experimental analysis of immune function in insects, and serious implications for our understanding of the epidemiology and impact of pathogens and parasites in spatially structured adult insect populations.
Northern bald ibises follow others’ gaze into distant space but not behind barriers
Authors: Loretto Matthias-Claudio , Schloegl Christian , Bugnyar Thomas
Published: August 2009

Gaze following is the ability to use the visual orientation of others as a trigger to look in the same direction. Thereby, animals may either align their head and eye orientation with others (gaze following into distant space) or may even reposition themselves to look behind barriers impairing their perception (geometrical gaze following). It has been proposed that these two different modes are functionally and cognitively distinct, but experimental evidence for this claim is lacking. We here, to our knowledge, demonstrate for the first time, that adult animals may be capable of following gaze into distant space, but not geometrically around barriers. We tested Northern bald ibises (
Geronticus eremita
) for their ability to follow a conspecific's gaze in two standard tasks. The birds readily looked up after seeing a model bird looking up; however, when seeing a model looking behind a barrier, they responded by looking at the barrier instead of walking around. These findings are in stark contrast to results obtained with great apes and corvids and provide the first experimental evidence, to our knowledge, for cognitive differences in gaze following tasks.
Large facilities and the evolving ribosome, the cellular machine for genetic-code translation
Authors: Yonath Ada
Published: August 2009

Well-focused X-ray beams, generated by advanced synchrotron radiation facilities, yielded high-resolution diffraction data from crystals of ribosomes, the cellular nano-machines that translate the genetic code into proteins. These structures revealed the decoding mechanism, localized the mRNA path and the positions of the tRNA molecules in the ribosome and illuminated the interactions of the ribosome with initiation, release and recycling factors. They also showed that the ribosome is a ribozyme whose active site is situated within a universal symmetrical region that is embedded in the otherwise asymmetric ribosome structure. As this highly conserved region provides the machinery required for peptide bond formation and for ribosome polymerase activity, it may be the remnant of the proto-ribosome, a dimeric pre-biotic machine that formed peptide bonds and non-coded polypeptide chains. Synchrotron radiation also enabled the determination of structures of complexes of ribosomes with antibiotics targeting them, which revealed the principles allowing for their clinical use, revealed resistance mechanisms and showed the bases for discriminating pathogens from hosts, hence providing valuable structural information for antibiotics improvement.
An adjoint for likelihood maximization
Authors: Toal David J. J. , Forrester Alexander I. J. , Bressloff Neil W. , Keane Andy J. , Holden Carren
Published: August 2009

The process of likelihood maximization can be found in many different areas of computational modelling. However, the construction of such models via likelihood maximization requires the solution of a difficult multi-modal optimization problem involving an expensiveO(n3) factorization. The optimization techniques used to solve this problem may require many such factorizations and can result in a significant bottleneck. This article derives an adjoint formulation of the likelihood employed in the construction of a kriging model via reverse algorithmic differentiation. This adjoint is found to calculate the likelihood and all of its derivatives more efficiently than the standard analytical method and can therefore be used within a simple local search or within a hybrid global optimization to accelerate convergence and therefore reduce the cost of the likelihood optimization.
Role of the defect core in energetics of vacancies
Authors: Gavini Vikram
Published: August 2009

Electronic structure calculations at macroscopic scales are employed to investigate the crucial role of a defect core in the energetics of vacancies in aluminium. We find that vacancy core energy is significantly influenced by the state of deformation at the vacancy core, especially volumetric strains. Insights from the core electronic structure and computed displacement fields show that this dependence on volumetric strains is closely related to the changing nature of the core structure under volumetric deformations. These results are in sharp contrast to mechanics descriptions based on elastic interactions that often consider defect core energies as an inconsequential constant. Calculations suggest that the variation in core energies with changing macroscopic deformations is quantitatively more significant than the corresponding variation in relaxation energies associated with elastic fields. Upon studying the influence of various macroscopic deformations, which include volumetric, uniaxial, biaxial and shear deformations, on the formation energies of vacancies, we show that volumetric deformations play a dominant role in governing the energetics of these defects. Further, by plotting formation energies of vacancies and di-vacancies against the volumetric strain corresponding to any macroscopic deformation, we find that all variations in the formation energies collapse on to a universal curve. This suggests a universal role of volumetric strains in the energetics of vacancies. Implications of these results in the context of dynamic failure in metals through shock-induced spalling are analysed.
Large deviation bounds for
k
-designs
Authors: Low Richard A.
Published: August 2009

We present a technique for de-randomizing large deviation bounds of functions on the unitary group. We replace the Haar measure with a pseudo-random distribution, a
k
-design.
k
-Designs have the first
k
moments equal to those of the Haar measure. The advantage of this is that (approximate)
k
-designs can be implemented efficiently, whereas Haar random unitaries cannot. We find large deviation bounds for unitaries chosen from a
k
-design and then illustrate this general technique with three applications. We first show that the von Neumann entropy of a pseudo-random state is almost maximal. Then we show that, if the dynamics of the universe produces a
k
-design, then suitably sized subsystems will be in the canonical state, as predicted by statistical mechanics. Finally we show that pseudo-random states are useless for measurement-based quantum computation.
Randomized switching in the two-envelope problem
Authors: McDonnell Mark D. , Abbott Derek
Published: August 2009

The two-envelope problem is a conundrum in decision theory that is subject to longstanding debate. It is a counterintuitive problem of decidability between two different states, in the presence of uncertainty, where a player’s payoff must be maximized in some fashion. The problem is a significant one as it impacts on our understanding of probability theory, decision theory and optimization. It is timely to revisit this problem, as a number of related two-state switching phenomena are emerging in physics, engineering and economics literature. In this paper, we discuss this wider significance, and offer a new approach to the problem. For the first time, we analyse the problem by adopting Cover’s switching strategy—this is where we randomly switch states with a probability that is a smoothly decreasing function of the observed value of one state. Surprisingly, we show that the player’s payoff can be increased by this strategy. We also extend the problem to show that a deterministic switching strategy, based on a thresholded decision once the amount in an envelope is observed, is also workable.
Adaptation accentuates responses of fly motion-sensitive visual neurons to sudden stimulus changes
Authors: Kurtz Rafael , Egelhaaf Martin , Meyer Hanno Gerd , Kern Roland
Published: August 2009

Adaptation in sensory and neuronal systems usually leads to reduced responses to persistent or frequently presented stimuli. In contrast to simple fatigue, adapted neurons often retain their ability to encode changes in stimulus intensity and to respond when novel stimuli appear. We investigated how the level of adaptation of a fly visual motion-sensitive neuron affects its responses to discontinuities in the stimulus, i.e. sudden brief changes in one of the stimulus parameters (velocity, contrast, grating orientation and spatial frequency). Although the neuron's overall response decreased gradually during ongoing motion stimulation, the response transients elicited by stimulus discontinuities were preserved or even enhanced with adaptation. Moreover, the enhanced sensitivity to velocity changes by adaptation was not restricted to a certain velocity range, but was present regardless of whether the neuron was adapted to a baseline velocity below or above its steady-state velocity optimum. Our results suggest that motion adaptation helps motion-sensitive neurons to preserve their sensitivity to novel stimuli even in the presence of strong tonic stimulation, for example during self-motion.
The soft tissue of
Jeholopterus
(Pterosauria, Anurognathidae, Batrachognathinae) and the structure of the pterosaur wing membrane
Authors: Kellner Alexander W. A. , Wang Xiaolin , Tischlinger Helmut , de Almeida Campos Diogenes , Hone David W. E. , Meng Xi
Published: August 2009

The soft tissue preserved in the holotype (IVPP V12705) of
Jeholopterus ningchengensis
from the Daohugou Bed (Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous) of China is described in detail. The plagiopatagium can be divided into the distal, comparatively more rigid actinopagatium and a proximal, more tensile tenopatagium. The actinopatagium extends from the wing finger to the articulation between the humerus and the forearm, and shows the presence of at least three layers containing actinofibrils. In each layer, the actinofibrils are parallel to subparallel, but this direction diverges from layer to layer. When distinct layers of actinofibrils are superimposed (owing to taphonomic compression), a reticular pattern is generated. The presence of layers with differently oriented actinofibrils is widespread in this pterosaur. A well-developed integumental covering formed by fibres (here named pycnofibres) that are thicker than the actinofibrils is present. Ungual sheaths that extend the length of the pedal and manual claws of this taxon are also observed. Although the understanding of the mechanical properties of the wing membrane is hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding the composition of the actinofibrils, the configuration observed in
Jeholopterus
might have allowed subtle changes in the membrane tension during flight, resulting in more control of flight movements and the organization of the wing membrane when the animal was at rest.
Nystroemiaceae, a new family of Permian gymnosperms from China with an unusual combination of features
Authors: Wang Jun , Pfefferkorn Hermann W.
Published: August 2009

Nystroemiaceae is proposed as a new family of gymnosperms from the Permian of Cathaysia that adds to the diversity of gymnosperms known from this critical time in seed plant evolution. This family is characterized by bifurcating and highly branched pinnate ovuliferous organs bearing bicornute ovules (seeds) and entire leaves with anastomozing veins that are born on complex and modern-looking branching systems with clear axillary branching. The reconstruction is based on numerous large specimens from two localities in North China, in which the different plant parts are attached to each other. The ovulate structures show some apparently plesiomorphic (primitive) character states more typical of early seed plants, whereas the leaves and branches show the clearly apomorphic (derived) character states of broad-leaved gymnosperms.
Genetic variances and covariances of aerobic metabolic rates in laboratory mice
Authors: Wone Bernard , Sears Michael W. , Labocha Marta K. , Donovan Edward R. , Hayes Jack P.
Published: August 2009

The genetic variances and covariances of traits must be known to predict how they may respond to selection and how covariances among them might affect their evolutionary trajectories. We used the animal model to estimate the genetic variances and covariances of basal metabolic rate (BMR) and maximal metabolic rate (MMR) in a genetically heterogeneous stock of laboratory mice. Narrow-sense heritability (h2) was approximately 0.38 ± 0.08 for body mass, 0.26 ± 0.08 for whole-animal BMR, 0.24 ± 0.07 for whole-animal MMR, 0.19 ± 0.07 for mass-independent BMR, and 0.16 ± 0.06 for mass-independent MMR. Allh2estimates were significantly different from zero. The phenotypic correlation of whole animal BMR and MMR was 0.56 ± 0.02, and the corresponding genetic correlation was 0.79 ± 0.12. The phenotypic correlation of mass-independent BMR and MMR was 0.13 ± 0.03, and the corresponding genetic correlation was 0.72 ± 0.03. The genetic correlations of metabolic rates were significantly different from zero, but not significantly different from one. A key assumption of the aerobic capacity model for the evolution of endothermy is that BMR and MMR are linked. The estimated genetic correlation between BMR and MMR is consistent with that assumption, but the genetic correlation is not so high as to preclude independent evolution of BMR and MMR.
The smallest avian genomes are found in hummingbirds
Authors: Gregory T. Ryan , Andrews Chandler B. , McGuire Jimmy A. , Witt Christopher C.
Published: August 2009

It has often been suggested that the genome sizes of birds are constrained relative to other tetrapods owing to the high metabolic demands of powered flight and the link between nuclear DNA content and red blood cell size. This hypothesis predicts that hummingbirds, which engage in energy-intensive hovering flight, will display especially constrained genomes even relative to other birds. We report genome size measurements for 37 species of hummingbirds that confirm this prediction. Our results suggest that genome size was reduced before the divergence of extant hummingbird lineages, and that only minimal additional reduction occurred during hummingbird diversification. Unlike in some other avian taxa, the small amount of variation observed within hummingbirds is not explained by variation in respiratory and flight-related parameters. Unexpectedly, genome size appears to have increased in four unrelated hummingbird species whose distributions are centred on humid forests of the upper-tropical elevational zone on the eastern slope of the Andes. This suggests that the secondary expansion of the genome may have been mediated by biogeographical and demographic effects.