bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Dispersal of the Oak Wilt Fungus by Colopterus truncatus and Carpophilus sayi in Minnesota
Authors: Ambourn Angie K. , Juzwik Jennifer , Moon Roger D.
Published: May 2007

Sap beetles (Nitidulidae) are considered important overland vectors of the oak wilt pathogen, Ceratocystis fagacearum, in the north central United States. Colopterus truncatus and Carpophilus sayi are thought to be the principal sap beetle vectors in Minnesota. Field studies using windoriented funnel traps baited with aggregation pheromones of the insects were conducted during 2 years in east central Minnesota. The studies compared temporal flight dynamics of Colopterus truncatus and Carpophilus sayi from April through October, measured the proportion of dispersing adults of each species carrying viable pathogen propagules, and estimated the populations of contaminated dispersing beetles in oak (Quercus spp.) stands with and without oak wilt. Abundance of Colopterus truncatus peaked in either April or May, but the pathogen was most frequently isolated (20 to 45%) from beetles obtained from oak wilt sites from July through September. However, the highest contaminated insect population (CIP) generally occurred during April and May. Abundance of Carpophilus sayi peaked in October of both years, but the pathogen was most commonly isolated from beetles collected during May and June. The CIP was highest in June. The infective insect potential, as indexed by CIP, was greatest for both species in the spring and was greater for Colopterus truncatus than for Carpophilus sayi.
Variation in Septoria musiva and Implications for Disease Resistance Screening of Poplars
Authors: Ward K. T. , Ostry M. E.
Published: May 2007

A set of isolates of Septoria musiva differed in aggressiveness in hybrid poplar leaf disk and stem assays and culture growth in vitro. Clone × isolate interactions were observed in one of the stem assay experiments, but not in the leaf disk assay experiments. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses were performed using 52 isolates of S. musiva collected from hybrid poplars and a native poplar species in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. There was a large degree of genetic similarity, although each isolate had a unique RAPD pattern. No relationships among isolates were found for molecular genetic distance and host clone, parentage, or taxonomic classification section; location or date of collection; or the previously determined level of field resistance of the host clones to Septoria canker. Results of the stem and leaf disk assays indicate that it may not be necessary to choose the most aggressive isolate for disease resistance screening. It may be more useful to select isolates that will discriminate the greatest variation in levels of disease resistance among the clones that are being screened.
Persistence ofXylella fastidiosain Riparian Hosts Near Northern California Vineyards
Authors: Baumgartner Kendra , Warren Jeremy G.
Published: May 2007

The spread of Pierce's disease (PD) from riparian hosts to grapevines in California's northcoastal grape-growing region is a function of the proportion of Graphocephala atropunctata (blue-green sharpshooters [BGSSs]) that acquire Xylella fastidiosa from infected plant tissue. Riparian hosts that do not maintain sufficient X. fastidiosa populations for acquisition may not be significant inoculum reservoirs. We examined X. fastidiosa populations in systemically infected riparian hosts (California blackberry, California grapevine, elderberry, Himalayan blackberry, periwinkle) at two coastal locations (Mendocino and Napa) with two methods of quantitation (culturing and real-time polymerase chain reaction) from 2003 to 2004. In summer and autumn, X. fastidiosa populations were above the threshold for BGSS acquisition in periwinkle, Himalayan blackberry, and California grapevine at both locations. The only X. fastidiosa-positive plants detected in spring at both locations were periwinkle and Himalayan blackberry, suggesting that these species may contribute to long-term survival of X. fastidiosa. California blackberry and elderberry may not be important reservoirs of X. fastidiosa, given that very few plants of either species maintained infections. Higher X. fastidiosa populations in California grapevine, Himalayan blackberry, and periwinkle in Napa, relative to plants in Mendocino, may partially explain the higher PD incidence in Napa vineyards.
Development of a Fungicide-Based Management Strategy for Foliar Disease Caused by Phoma ligulicola in Tasmanian Pyrethrum Fields
Authors: Pethybridge Sarah J. , Hay Frank S. , Wilson Calum R. , Groom Tim
Published: May 2007

The efficacy of a range of fungicides were assessed under in vitro conditions in four field trials over three seasons for the management of ray blight of pyrethrum, caused by the fungus Phoma ligulicola in Tasmania. Fungicides belonging to the demethylation inhibitor group, including prochloraz, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, and cyproconazole, produced the most significant reduction in mycelial growth in vitro compared with unamended controls. Significant reductions in germination of conidia resulted from low concentrations of azoxystrobin. In the field, azox-ystrobin (as Amistar) at a rate of 300 g of product/ha significantly decreased disease intensity and increased pyrethrin yield (kg/ha) in all seasons. Applications of either azoxystrobin or difenoconazole (as Score) at a rate of 250 ml of product/ha in early spring were the most effective, whereas no significant benefit was demonstrated from applications in autumn. Over all seasons, azoxystrobin applications resulted in double the weight of flowers produced compared with nontreated areas, whereas increases in pyrethrin content within the flowers were season and location specific. Application of azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil (as Bravo 720) at a rate of 1.4 liters of product/ha resulted in a 45 to 48% increase in flowers, reduced defoliation, and increased stem diameter. The weight of individual flowers and flower maturity was not significantly affected by fungicide application. These data provide the basis for cost-effective management of this disease.
Azoxystrobin Rate and Timing Effects on Rice Sheath Blight Incidence and Severity and Rice Grain and Milling Yields
Authors: Groth D. E.
Published: May 2007

Lack of sheath blight resistant varieties requires rice (Oryza sativa) farmers to use fungicides to avoid significant reductions in grain yield and milling yield. Studies were conducted to determine the best rate and rice growth stage for a single application of azoxystrobin, a fungicide recently labeled for this use, to effectively control sheath blight. Azoxystrobin was applied foliarly to inoculated field plots in 2000 to 2002 using rates of 0.22, 0.17, and 0.11 kg a.i. ha -1 at 7 days after panicle differentiation (PD+7), boot (B), and heading (H) growth stages and at 0.17 kg a.i. ha-1 at 5, 10, and 15 days after heading. Sheath blight severity (measured on a 0 to 9 scale) and incidence (percent tillers infected) were assessed 1 to 2 weeks before harvest. A fungicide application made between PD+7 and H significantly reduced sheath blight severity, which resulted in significantly higher yield and head rice milling yield compared with inoculated unsprayed plots. There were no significant effects of fungicide rate at the PD+7, B, and H growth stages. Fungicide-treated plots had yield and milling yield similar to the very lightly diseased, uninoculated check plots included for comparison. With fungicide application made postheading, rice had higher disease severity, resulting in lower yields and milling yield compared with rice receiving earlier applications.
Effect of Seed-Tuber Generation, Soilborne Inoculum, and Azoxystrobin Application on Development of Potato Black Dot Caused by Colletotrichum coccodes
Authors: Nitzan N. , Cummings T. F. , Johnson D. A.
Published: May 2007

The effect of azoxystrobin on potato black dot and the role of seed- and soilborne inocula of Colletotrichum coccodes in the development of black dot were evaluated in the field using two potato seed generations (generation 1 and 3) of the susceptible cvs. Norkotah Russet and Russet Burbank over 3 years (2002 to 2004). Plants of Norkotah Russet and Russet Burbank treated with azoxystrobin had 13 and 23% higher yields, respectively, than nontreated plants in 2003. Disease severity on both cultivars was reduced 19 to 81%, and 22 to 81% on above- and belowground stem sections, respectively, when plants were treated with azoxystrobin. Plants of both cultivars that were treated with azoxystrobin had 9 to 26% less infected progeny tubers than the nontreated plants. These results indicated the efficacy of azoxystrobin to reduce black dot severity on both stems and progeny tubers. The roles of seed- and soilborne inocula in disease development were evaluated in 2003 and 2004 using generation 1 and 3 seed tubers. The incidence of C. coccodes in generation 1 mother tubers of Norkotah Russet and Russet Burbank were 2 and 16% in 2003, respectively, and 0 and 30% in 2004, respectively. The incidence of C. coccodes in generation 3 mother tubers of Norkotah Russet and Russet Burbank were 14 and 49% in 2003, respectively, and 12 and 38% in 2004, respectively. Generation 1 plants of Norkotah Russet had 36 and 13% greater yield than generation 3 plants in 2003 and 2004, respectively. In 2004, generation 1 plants of Norkotah Russet and Russet Burbank had 26 and 15% greater disease severity, respectively, on belowground stem than generation 3 plants. Generation 1 plants of Norkotah Russet had 7.5 and 11% more infected progeny tubers in 2003 and 2004, respectively, than generation 3. Significant differences for yield reduction and incidence of infected progeny tubers between the two seed generations were not recorded for Russet Burbank, suggesting that the effect of inoculum source of C. coccodes on black dot severity may be cultivar specific.
Fitness of Races 0 and 1 of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae
Authors: Sullivan M. J. , Melton T. A. , Shew H. D.
Published: May 2007

Deployment of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) varieties with complete resistance to race 0 of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae has led to a rapid increase in the field populations of race 1 in North Carolina. In a field study, population levels of race 1 decreased relative to race 0 when cultivars with partial resistance to both races were planted, suggesting that race 1 isolates were less fit than race 0 isolates. Experiments were conducted to quantify differences in aggressiveness and survivability of the two races. Tobacco varieties with low, moderate, or high levels of partial resistance were inoculated with 60 pathogen isolates, and symptom development was monitored for 3 weeks. Race 0 isolates were more aggressive than race 1 isolates on cultivars with moderate or high levels of partial resistance; incubation periods were shorter and root rot severity was greater with race 0 isolates. Isolates of race 1, however, caused greater stunting of plants with moderate and high levels of partial resistance than race 0 isolates. Field microplots were infested with either a single race or an equal mixture of each race. Soil samples were collected at the end of two growing seasons and again the following spring. Pathogen populations declined from 40 to 80% during winter months, but population declines for race 0 were lower than for race 1 in each treatment over each winter. Race shifts from race 1 to race 0 that were observed in the presence of cultivars with partial resistance appear to be primarily the result of differences in aggressiveness of the races, with a possible minor effect of enhanced overwintering survival of race 0 compared with race 1.
First Report of the Occurrence of Potato Wart Disease Caused by Synchytrium endobioticum in Turkey
Authors: Basim H. , Basim E. , Gezgin S. , Babaoglu M.
Published: May 2007

Potato wart caused by Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilberszky) Pervical was observed in Turkey on different cultivars (Agria, Granola, Marabel, Marfona, Russet Burbank and Van Gogh) during the 2004 harvest season in the Misli (Bud) Plain where approximately 40,000 ha of potatoes are grown. This plain, lying between Nigde and Nevsehir provinces in the central-eastern Anatolia Region, has a predominance of sandy soils (60 to 80% sand) and climatic conditions suitable for production that has been a long-term monoculture using heavy fertilization with nitrogen (500 to 1,500 kg of N per ha) and phosphorus (200 to 500 kg of P2O5 per ha). The wart symptoms were observed on tubers but not on roots and stems. The warts were white, almost spherical, and softer in texture than the tuber tissue. Resting sporangia, observed within the fresh wart tissue using light microscopy, were light brown, spherical to ovoid and 50 to 70 μm in diameter. Soil surveys confirmed that resting sporangia were present in the fields where wart was observed. Resting sporangia were isolated from infected tubers and surrounding soil (2). An average of <1 sporangium per gram of soil was detected in the infested fields. Pathogenicity of the causal agent was demonstrated on 10 tubers of potato cv. Granola. Sprouts on the tubers were cut off at 2 mm above the tuber surface, the eye fields were ringed with warm vaseline using a sterile syringe without a needle and then inoculated by placing fresh cauliflower-like warts containing summer sporangia in the vaseline wells. The tubers were first incubated at 8 to 12°C for 48 h in the dark and after removing the wart tissue, placed in moist peat at 18°C and kept in an 8-h lighting period per day as described by Glynne-Lemmarzalh (1). Sporangia were reisolated from the white, fresh wart tissues observed 8 to 10 weeks later on the inoculated tubers. Two tubers inoculated with sterile tap water did not develop warts. Koch's postulates were fulfilled. Currently, approximately 20,000 ha of the Misli Plain are under official quarantine due to the finding of potato wart. Because of the large-scale occurrence in 2004, it is suspected that the pathogen entered Turkey 3 to 4 years earlier through importation of seed potato tubers from European countries. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of wart on potatoes grown in Turkey. The importance of this occurrence in the middle of an area where 50% of Turkey potatoes are produced is duly noted.

References: (1) European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. OEPP/EPPO Bull. 34:213, 2004. (2) M. C. Hampson and P. R. Thompson. Plant Soil 46:659, 1977.
Spore Germination, Infection Structure Formation, and Colony Development of Erysiphe pulchra on Dogwood Leaves and Glass Slides
Authors: Li Y. H. , Windham M. T. , Trigiano R. N. , Fare D. C. , Spiers J. M. , Copes W. E.
Published: May 2007

Spore germination, infection structure formation, and colony development of Erysiphe pulchra on glass slides and leaf disks of a susceptible flowering dogwood line were examined using light and scanning electron microscopes. On both glass slides and leaf disks, germination of conidia started within 2 h after inoculation (hai). One to four germ tubes grew from two poles of a conidium, one or two of the germ tubes formed initial appressoria, and only one of the germ tubes with initial appressoria formed secondary appressoria. However, formation of initial and secondary appressoria was delayed on glass slides (48 and 72 hai, respectively) compared with that on dogwood leaf disks (3 and 24 hai, respectively). Branching hyphae did not grow from germinated conidia on glass slides. However, on dogwood leaf disks, branched hyphae were observed 48 hai. In epidermal cells, the fungus formed compact and globose haustoria. Conidia formation on conidiophores started on leaf disks 7 days after inoculation.
Suppression of Grapevine Powdery Mildew by a Mycophagous Mite
Authors: Melidossian Heather S. , Seem Robert C. , English-Loeb Greg , Wilcox Wayne F. , Gadoury David M.
Published: May 2007

Orthotydeus lambi reduced the severity of grape powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) on fruit and foliage of Vitis vinifera ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Riesling’ in repeated field and laboratory trials. Vines were infested with O. lambi at two densities (5 or 30 mites per leaf) at each of two times (2 to 3 weeks prebloom and 1 week postbloom). Overall, powdery mildew on the berries and foliage was suppressed by early (prebloom) mite releases at both densities, but only by the higher density in late (postbloom) releases. In a separate trial, when foliage was infested at 30 mites per leaf but mites were excluded from certain fruit clusters, severity of powdery mildew was significantly reduced on the mite-free clusters of mite-infested shoots. Thus, O. lambi may suppress powdery mildew on the fruit by reducing inoculum from foliar infections. In laboratory studies, both immature and mature mites reduced infection efficiency, colony expansion, and sporulation of the mildew colonies; but immature mites were more voracious feeders, consuming more pathogen biomass per unit of mite biomass. Mites tore at the mycelium and conidia with their palps during feeding, leading to leakage, rapid loss of hyphal turgor, and collapse of hyphae.
Development of a Reduced Use Fungicide Program for Control of Botrytis Fruit Rot on Annual Winter Strawberry
Authors: Legard D. E. , MacKenzie S. J. , Mertely J. C. , Chandler C. K. , Peres N. A.
Published: May 2007

Crop phenology and epidemiological information were used to design a reduced use fungicide program for control of Botrytis fruit rot in winter annual strawberry. Fungicide spray programs during early and late periods of the season using high and low rates of captan were evaluated with or without second peak bloom applications of fenhexamid during the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons. During the early harvest period, low rates of captan were as effective as high rates for controlling Botrytis fruit rot and maintaining yield. Late in the season, treatments with fenhexamid over the peak bloom period significantly improved control of Botrytis fruit rot and increased marketable yield. Application of both captan and fenhexamid during the second peak bloom did not reduce Botrytis fruit rot incidence or improve yield compared with fenhexamid alone during this time period. Late season applications of captan may be reduced or eliminated when bloom applications of fenhexamid are being applied without affecting Botrytis fruit rot control. The study generated new recommendations for use of low-rate applications of captan during the early season and applications of fenhexamid during the second peak bloom period for winter annual strawberry production in Florida.
Leaf Spot and Stem Blight Caused by Botrytis cinerea on Poinsettia in Argentina
Authors: Palmucci H. E. , Grijalba P. E.
Published: May 2007

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Will. ex. Klotzsch) is a worldwide potted or landscape ornamental plant that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. During 2003 and 2004, several symptoms were observed on poinsettia potted plants in nurseries and crops near Buenos Aires. Symptoms included irregular, brown, water-soaked spots on adult plants and leaf spots that extended causing stem blight in seedlings. Small pieces of diseased tissues were surface disinfected for 2 min in 2% sodium hypochlorite, plated on 2% potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 22°C for 48 h. Dense, whitish mycelia developed on PDA and then turned gray when asexual structures were formed. The fungus conidia were ellipsoid, hyaline, nonseptate, and were formed on botryose heads. The pathogenicity test was carried out on 10 plants using a conidial suspension (2 × 106 spores per ml) that was sprayed on leaves with and without injuries. All plants were incubated in a moist chamber at 22 ± 2°C for 48 h and then maintained in a greenhouse. After 3 days, symptoms similar to the original were observed on the inoculated plants. Control plants sprayed with distilled water remained symptomless. Koch's postulates were confirmed by reisolating the same fungus from diseased plants. In accordance with conidial and cultural characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Botrytis cinerea Pers: Fr. (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. cinerea causing leaf spot and stem rot on poinsettia in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Reference: (1) M. V. Ellis and J. M. Waller. No. 431 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1974.
First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera leucotricha on Photinia × fraserii in Italy
Authors: Garibaldi A. , Gilardi G. , Gullino M. L.
Published: May 2007

Photinia × fraserii, belonging to the family Rosaceae, is an evergreen shrub used in parks and gardens. During the spring of 2004, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown powdery mildew were observed in a public park at Torino (northern Italy) on established plantings of this species. The adaxial and abaxial surfaces of leaves were covered with white mycelium and conidia. Stems also had signs of powdery mildew and were chlorotic. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow and abscised. Conidia formed in chains and were hyaline, ellipsoid, and measured 16.8 to 33.6 × 12.0 to 24.0 μm (average 25.6 × 15.6 μm). On the basis of host, morphological characteristics, and the presence of fibrosin bodies, the pathogen was identified as Podosphaera leucotricha (Ellis & Everth.) E.S. Salmon (2). Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating young leaves of 2-year-old Photinia × fraserii plants with a spore suspension (3 × 105 spores per ml). Also, three 3-year-old cv. Golden Delicious potted apple plants were inoculated. Three noninoculated Photinia × fraserii and three noninoculated apple plants sprayed with deionized water served as a control. After inoculation, plants were maintained in a growth chamber at 25°C. After 17 days, powdery mildew symptoms were observed on inoculated plants of Photinia × fraserii and cv. Golden Delicious. Noninoculated plants remained healthy. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. The pathogenicity on apple supported the identification of the pathogen as P. leucotricha. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew on Photinia × fraserii in Italy. P. leucotricha was previously described on Photinia serrulata in Italy (1) and the United States (3). Voucher specimens are available at the AGROINNOVA Collection, University of Torino.

References: (1) E. Baldacci. Rev. Appl. Mycol. 16:358, 1937. (2) R. T. A. Cook et al. Mycol. Res. 101:975, 1997. (3) J. A. Milbraith. Rev. Appl. Mycol. 17:751, 1938.
Effect of Potato virus Y on Yield of Three Potato Cultivars Grown Under Different Nitrogen Levels
Authors: Whitworth Jonathan L. , Nolte Phil , McIntosh Chris , Davidson Robert
Published: May 2007

Previous studies have shown that Potato virus Y (PVY) reduces yield in many cultivars. Typical foliar symptoms can include veinal necrosis, leaf drop, and a mosaic pattern sometimes accompanied by leaf roughness. Infection by PVY in Russet Burbank produces identifiable PVY symptoms, whereas cv. Russet Norkotah expresses mild, almost latent symptoms. Yield also is influenced by nitrogen fertilizer levels. This research was conducted to determine whether increased nitrogen mitigates yield reduction caused by PVY. Russet Norkotah, CO80011-5, and Russet Burbank were used in replicated plots of non-PVY-infected and PVY-infected plants at three nitrogen levels in 1995 and 1996. There was a significant yield reduction between PVY-negative and PVY-positive plots in all cultivars, at most nitrogen levels. PVY yield reduction was similar (approximately 38%) in the mild symptom expression clones of Russet Norkotah and CO80011-5, whereas the yield reduction in Russet Burbank, which exhibits typical symptom expression, was 63.5%. We conclude that increased nitrogen can influence total yield, but does not significantly mitigate the yield reduction due to PVY infection.
Effects of Common Viruses on Yield and Quality of Beauregard Sweetpotato in Louisiana
Authors: Clark C. A. , Hoy M. W.
Published: May 2007

During cycles of vegetative propagation, sweetpotato accumulates viruses that are thought to contribute to decline in yield and quality of cultivars, but the effects of specific viruses, many of which have been described only recently, are unknown. Field plots planted with graft-inoculated plants of a virus-tested (VT) mericlone of cv. Beauregard were used to assess the effects of three common potyviruses, Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG), and Ipomoea vein mosaic virus (IVMV); and a begomovirus, Sweet potato leaf curlvirus (SPLCV), compared with natural inoculum introduced by grafting plants from farmers' stock. Single infections with SPFMV, SPVG, or IVMV did not significantly affect yield, whereas mixed infections with SPFMV + SPVG or SPFMV + SPVG + IVMV resulted in mean yields 14% less than the VT controls. Infection with SPLCV resulted in mean yields 26% less than the VT controls, despite not causing symptoms on the foliage. However, grafting with farmers' plants infected with an unknown mixture of pathogens resulted in mean yields 31 to 44% less than the VT controls. Infection with potyviruses resulted in storage roots with tan periderm and infection with SPLCV induced darker periderm than the rosy VT controls. Infection with the viruses known to occur commonly in the United States did not reproduce the magnitude of yield reduction that has been observed with naturally infected plants.
Pre- and Postharvest Treatments to Control Green Mold of Citrus Fruit During Ethylene Degreening
Authors: Smilanick J. L. , Mansour M. F. , Sorenson D.
Published: May 2007

Two approaches, fungicide applications to trees before harvest and drenching fruit after harvest, were evaluated to minimize postharvest green mold, caused by Penicillium digitatum, particularly among fruit subjected to ethylene gas after harvest, a practice termed “degreening” that eliminates green rind color. Preharvest applications of thiophanate methyl (TM) controlled postharvest green mold consistently. In five tests, green mold among degreened orange fruit was 16% when TM was applied 1 week before harvest; whereas, among fruit not treated, the incidence was 89.5%. Thiabendazole (TBZ) applied to harvested fruit in bins before degreening also was very effective. TBZ effectiveness was enhanced by mild heating (41°C), adding sodium bicarbonate, and immersing fruit, rather than drenching them, with the solution. With these measures, an isolate of P. digitatum with a high level of TBZ resistance was significantly controlled. In semicommercial tests with naturally inoculated fruit, TBZ and sodium bicarbonate treatment reduced green mold incidence from 11% among untreated orange fruit to 2%. TBZ residues in lemon fruit at 41°C were about twice those treated at 24°C. Neither TM before harvest nor TBZ and sodium bicarbonate applied after harvest influenced green color removal during degreening of orange fruit. Sodium bicarbonate slightly reduced the rate of lemon color change.
Use of Survival Analysis to Determine the Postincubation Time-to-Death of Papaya Due to Yellow Crinkle Disease in Australia
Authors: Esker Paul D. , Gibb Karen S. , Padovan Anna , Dixon Philip M. , Nutter Forrest W.
Published: May 2007

The current management recommendation for papaya (Carica papaya) plants exhibiting symptoms of yellow crinkle disease in Australia is the practice of ratooning infected plants. Ratooning involves removing the main stem of diseased papaya plants and allowing a lateral stem (supposedly pathogen-free) to develop and replace the diseased stem. Using nonparametric and parametric methods of survival analysis, we tested different hypotheses regarding plant factors that may influence the postincubation period survival time of phytoplasma-infected papaya. The factors included plant age, the season (wet versus dry) when papaya plants first became symptomatic, and the two predominant phytoplasma strains causing papaya yellow crinkle: tomato big bud (TBB) or sweet potato little leaf strain V4 (SPLL-V4). Median survival time was estimated to be from 4 to 5 months. Therefore, we estimated that the infectious period (incubation period plus the period from postincubation to time-to-death period) of infected papaya ranges from 6 to 9 months. Using parametric accelerated failure modeling and nonparametric Cox proportional hazard modeling, no significant improvement from a null model (no covariates) was found when analyzing plant age, the season a plant was observed to be symptomatic, or phytoplasma strain. However, the season in which a papaya plant became symptomatic differed between the two phytoplasma strains, indicating that the TBB and SPLL-V4 strains may have different modes of insect acquisition and transmission. Because of the long infectious period and the rate of plantto-plant spread, we question the use of ratooning as the primary management tactic for managing papaya yellow crinkle.
First Report of Brown Rot and Wilt of Fennel Caused by Phytophthora megasperma in Italy
Authors: Cacciola S. O. , Pane A. , Cooke D. E. L. , Raudino F. , Magnano di San Lio G.
Published: May 2007

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell.) in the Apiaceae family is native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is an economically important crop in Italy that produces approximately 85% of all fennel worldwide. The main producing regions are Apulia, Campania, Latium, and Calabria. During the late winter of 2004 in the Crotone Province of the Calabria Region, following heavy rains, patches of fennel plants with symptoms of brown, soft rot of the bulb-like structure formed by the thickened leaf bases, development of yellow leaves, stunting, and wilting of the entire plant were observed in fields. A homothallic Phytophthora sp. was isolated consistently from the brownish tissues of the stout stems and leaf bases of symptomatic plants using a selective medium (3). Pure cultures were obtained by single hyphal tip transfers. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), the diameter of oospores varied from 28 to 42 μm (mean = 36.3 ± 0.4). Antheridia were primarily paragynous. Sporangia were not produced on solid media but were formed in sterile soil extract solution. They were nonpapillate, noncaducous, ovoid and obpyriform (25 to 45 × 35 to 60 μm), and internally proliferating. Optimum and maximum temperatures for radial growth of the colonies on PDA were 25 and 30°C, respectively. At 25°C, radial growth rate was approximately 6 mm per day. On the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics, the isolates were identified as Phytophthora megasperma Drechsler. Electrophoretic patterns of mycelial proteins and four isozymes (acid and alkaline phosphatase, esterase, and malate dehydrogenase) on polyacrylamide gels of the fennel isolates were identical to those of reference isolates of P. megasperma of the BHR (broad host range) group included in P. gonapodyides-P. megasperma Clade 6 (1,3), but distinct from those of the isolates of other nonpapillate species included in Waterhouse's taxonomic group VI. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA sequences (2) confirmed that fennel isolates belonged to P. megasperma BHR group. Pathogenicity of a fennel isolate from Calabria (IMI 391711) was confirmed by pouring a zoospore suspension at 2 × 104 zoospores per ml on the soil of 10 3-month-old potted fennel plants. The soil of the inoculated and 10 control seedlings was flooded for 24 h. After 10 days, stems and leaf bases of the seedlings showed a brown rot. Chlorosis and wilting of all seedlings developed after 20 days. Controls inoculated with water did not develop any symptoms. The pathogen was reisolated from typical brown rot and tests were repeated with similar results. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. megasperma causing disease on fennel.

References: (1) S. O. Cacciola et al. For. Snow. Landsc. Res. 76:387, 2001. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (3) H. Masago et al. Phytopathology, 67:425, 1977.
First Report of Pustula tragopogonis, the Cause of White Rust on Cultivated Sunflower in Southern Germany
Authors: Thines M. , Zipper R. , Spring O.
Published: May 2007

Pustula tragopogonis (Pers.) Thines (2), formerly known as Albugo tragopogonis (Pers.) Gray, causes white rust on some members of the Asteraceae. It has been reported to attack cultivated sunflower in several parts of the world, for example, North America (1) and South Africa (3), but has not been previously reported on sunflower in Germany. During June 2003, the first diseased plants were observed in a sunflower field near Stuttgart, where sunflowers were grown as ornamentals. During 2004, P. tragopogonis was found in several ornamental sunflower fields in southern Germany. In some cases, P. tragopogonis co-occurred with Plasmopara halstedii (Farlow) Berl. & De Toni on the same plants. After a cold winter, the first diseased plants for 2005 were observed during June in the area around Stuttgart. The percentage of affected plants in the sunflower fields varied considerably, ranging from 20 to 80%. Only small lesions with oospores could be found on petioles and stems of infected plants. The typical spots with white blisters were observed mostly on leaves in the upper half of the plants, but also occurred on the bracteoles of the flower heads. Spots were chlorotic on the upper side of the leaf and exhibited whitish pustules on the lower side of the leaf. Pustules were concentrated around the margins of the leaves, but also were observed scattered on the whole lower surface. Light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as polymerase chain reaction and internal transcribed spacer sequencing were applied to identify the attacking pathogen as P. tragopogonis. Infection tests under laboratory conditions also proved the pathogenicity of the attacking agent to oilseed sunflower. Since the pathogen has survived the harsh winter months of early 2005 and appeared in three consecutive seasons, the disease seems now to be established in southern Germany and is expected to spread into other regions.

References: (1) T. J. Gulya et al. Plant Dis. 86:559, 2002. (2) M. Thines and O. Spring. Mycotaxon 92:443, 2005. (3) P. S. van Wyk et al. Helia 22:83, 1995.
First Report of Sclerotinia Blight Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on Peanut in Georgia
Authors: Woodward J. E. , Brenneman T. B. , Kemerait R. C. , Culbreath A. K. , Clark J. R.
Published: May 2007

Sclerotinia blight is one of the most economically important diseases of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Oklahoma and Virginia. Yield losses of 10% are common in these areas; however, losses may exceed 50% in highly infested fields (1). While Sclerotinia minor is considered the primary causal agent, S. sclerotiorum may also incite the disease. Symptoms typically appear late in the season and are favored by cool temperatures and high relative humidity (RH). Initial symptoms include wilting and yellowing of main or lateral branches. Dense mats of white mycelium develop on diseased areas, and small water-soaked lesions are apparent near the soil line. Lesions become bleached and infected tissues have a shredded appearance. Sclerotia are produced on and inside infected plant parts (2). During October 2004, following a period of heavy rainfall and cool temperatures, peanut plants (cv. Tifrunner) with these symptoms were observed in a field near Surrency, GA. The field had been planted to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for many years and peanut was strip-tilled into a heavy rye (Secale cereale L.) cover. Disease foci were found throughout the field and final incidence was 20%. Stem sections were surface disinfested in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Cultures of S. sclerotiorum (2) were recovered after incubation at 20°C for 2 weeks. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating wounded peanut mainstems with PDA plugs either with or without the fungus. Inoculation sites were wrapped with moistened cheesecloth, and plants were incubated in a dew chamber at 20°C and 95% RH. There were a total of four replications and the experiment was repeated once. Symptoms consistent with those observed in the field appeared after 3 days and lesion lengths were measured after 5 days. Average lesion lengths were 1.4 and 1.6 cm for cvs. Georgia Green and Tifrunner, respectively Controls remained symptomless. Sections of symptomatic tissue were plated on PDA, and S. sclerotiorum was reisolated from 100% of symptomatic tissue. Although S. sclerotiorum is a common pathogen of various winter crops and weeds found in the southeast, to our knowledge, this is a first report of Sclerotinia blight on peanut in the region. No other occurrences of the disease have been reported since the initial discovery; however, potential losses could be incurred if peanuts are planted in infested fields and harvest is delayed.

References: (1) H. A. Melouk and P. A. Backman. Management of soilborne fungal pathogens. Pages 75–85 in: Peanut Health Management. H. A. Melouk and F. M. Shokes, eds. The American Phytopathologicial Society, St. Paul, MN, 1995. (2) D. M. Porter and H. A. Melouk. Sclerotinia blight. Pages 34–36 in: Compendium of Peanut Diseases. 2nd ed. N. Kokalis-Burelle et al., eds. The American Phytopathologicial Society, St. Paul, MN, 1997.
First Report of Beet soilborne virus in Poland
Authors: Borodynko N. , Hasiów B. , Pospieszny H.
Published: May 2007

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the casual agent of rhizomania disease, was identified in sugar beet plants from several fields in the Wielkopolska Region of Poland (1). In greenhouse studies, sugar beets were grown in the soil from one of these fields to bait soilborne viruses. Of 200 sugar beet plants, three developed symptoms of vein clearing, vein banding, and mosaic. Crude sap from symptomatic plants was used for mechanical inoculation of various plants species. In Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, and Tetragonia expansa only local lesions were observed. Electron microscope examination of negatively stained leaf-dip preparations from symptomatic sugar beet plants showed a mixture of rod-shape particles from 70 to 400 nm long. Using double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests, two symptomatic sugar beet plants gave positive reactions with antiserum against BNYVV (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA) and a third plant gave a positive reaction with antisera against BNYVV and Beet soilborne virus (BSBV). Total RNA was extracted from roots and leaves of the symptomatic plants and used in a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) assay. Specific primers were designed to amplify a fragment of the RNA1 for BSBV and RNA2 for BNYVV and Beet virus Q (BVQ) (2). Two mRT-PCR products amplified with the primers specific to BNYVV and BSBV were obtained and sequenced. A 274-nt amplicon sequence (GenBank Accession No. DQ012156) had 98% nucleotide sequence identity with the German BNYVV isolate F75 (GenBank Accession No. AF19754) and a 376-nt amplicon sequence (GenBank Accession No. AY999690) had 98% nucleotide and 98% amino acid sequence identity with the German BSBV isolate (GenBank Accession No. Z97873). The Polish BSBV isolate had 88% nucleotide and 62% amino acid sequence identity with BVQ, another pomovirus (GenBank Accession No. AJ 223596 formerly known as serotype Wierthe of BSBV (2). In 2005, mRT-PCR was used on samples collected from two fields of the Wielkopolska Region. Of 15 tested sugar beet plants, 12 gave positive reactions with primers specific for BSBV and nine with primers specific to BNYVV. To our knowledge, this is first report of BSBV in Poland. In Europe, BSBV was previously reported in England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, France, and Finland (2,3).

References: (1) M. Jezewska and J. Piszczek. Phytopathol. Polonica, 21:165, 2001. (2) A. Maunier et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:2356, 2003. (3) C. M. Rush and G. B. Heidel. Plant Dis. 79:868, 1995.
SeedborneCladosporium variabileandStemphylium botryosumin Spinach
Authors: Hernandez-Perez Pablo , du Toit Lindsey J.
Published: May 2007

Assays of 77 spinach (Spinacia oleracea) seed lots produced in the United States, Denmark, the Netherlands, or New Zealand in 2000 to 2003 showed that Stemphylium botryosum, causal agent of Stemphylium leaf spot, was present in every lot, at a mean incidence of 29.1% per lot. Either Cladosporium variabile, causal agent of Cladosporium leaf spot, or the morphologically similar species C. macrocarpum, was present in 37 of the 77 lots, at a mean incidence of 1.8% per lot. Some seed isolates of S. botryosum and C. variabile proved pathogenic on spinach. Nonpathogenic isolates resembling C. variabile were identified as C. macrocarpum by the absence of torulose aerial hyphae. Pathogenic isolates of S. botryosum were also detected in each of 12 seed lots stored for up to 11 years at 4.4°C and 60% relative humidity. C. variabile or C. macrocarpum was detected in only 2 of the 11 lots, which had been stored for 3 and 8 years. Component seed assays demonstrated that S. botryosum and C. variabile (or C. macrocarpum) were internal and external in spinach seed. S. botryosum was detected in 5 to 76% of the embryos of five seed lots, but the two Cladosporium species were detected in only 0 to 1% of the embryos of these lots. This suggests greater potential difficulty at eradicating S. botryosum than C. variabile from infected spinach seed using seed treatments.
Genetic and Pathogenic Variation in Phytophthora cactorum Affecting Fruit and Nut Crops in California
Authors: Bhat R. G. , Colowit P. M. , Tai T. H. , Aradhya M. K. , Browne G. T.
Published: May 2007

Isolates of Phytophthora cactorum and 15 other species of Phytophthora were characterized according to their genomic DNA, pathogenicity, and sensitivity to mefenoxam. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was completed for 132 isolates of P. cactorum (30 from almond, 86 from strawberry, 5 from walnut, and 11 from other hosts) and 22 isolates of 15 other Phytophthora spp. from various hosts. All 16 Phytophthora spp. were distinguishable by unique AFLP banding patterns. Cluster analysis of the AFLP data revealed high coefficients of genetic similarity (>0.9) among all California isolates of P. cactorum. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that, among all 132 isolates of P. cactorum, 30.8 and 24.5% of the AFLP variation was associated with hosts and geographical sources of isolates, respectively, whereas 15.0% of the variation was associated with isolate niche (i.e., an aerial plant part, portion of the root system, or soil). Among the 86 isolates of P. cactorum from strawberry, characterization by source in the production system (i.e., fruiting field or plant nursery) did not account for a significant proportion of the variation (0.6%, P = 0.204). In pathogenicity tests on strawberry plants (cv. Diamante) in a greenhouse, isolates of P. cactorum from hosts other than strawberry and an isolate from a strawberry fruit caused only negligible amounts of disease, but isolates from strawberry root systems were highly aggressive. On excised shoot segments of almond (cv. Drake), all isolates of P. cactorum originally from almond were pathogenic, and 8 of 17 isolates of the pathogen from other hosts caused significantly less disease than the almond isolates. All 132 isolates of P. cactorum were sensitive to mefenoxam at 1 ppm. Populations of P. cactorum in California apparently are mefenoxam sensitive and exhibit host specificity with relatively minor variation in genomic DNA. The genetic variation observed in P. cactorum included significant geographical and host origin components, which has implications for disease management approaches.
Optimization and Application of a Multiplex RT-PCR System for Simultaneous Detection of Five Potato Viruses Using 18S rRNA as an Internal Control
Authors: Du ZhiYou , Chen JiShuang , Hiruki Chuji
Published: May 2007

Search for a host RNA molecule appropriate as an internal control for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of viruses in potato (Solanum tuberosum) was conducted. The 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was compared with the commonly used nad2 mRNA in terms of detection sensitivity and degradation kinetics. Detection of 18S rRNA was 5 magnitudes more sensitive than that of nad2 mRNA. The 18S rRNA also displayed degradation kinetics more similar to that of Potato virus X (PVX). Based on this result, reaction components and cycling parameters were optimized for a multiplex RT-PCR protocol for simultaneous detection of five potato viruses using 18S rRNA as an internal control. The protocol simultaneously amplified cDNAs from Potato virus A, PVX, Potato virus Y, Potato leaf roll virus, Potato virus S, and 18S rRNA. The multiplex RT-PCR protocol was able to detect all viruses in different combinations. The technique was 100-fold greater for detection of PVX than that of commercial double-antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), and also could detect viruses in some samples that DAS-ELISA failed to detect. This multiplex RT-PCR technique demonstrates a higher sensitivity of virus detection than DAS-ELISA.
Response of Canola Cultivars to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Controlled and Field Environments
Authors: Bradley C. A. , Henson R. A. , Porter P. M. , LeGare D. G. , del Río L. E. , Khot S. D.
Published: May 2007

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, can be a devastating disease of canola (Brassica napus) in the northern United States. No canola cultivars are marketed as having resistance to SSR. Field trials were established in Red Lake Falls, MN (2001, 2003, and 2004) and Carrington, ND (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004) to evaluate canola cultivars for resistance to SSR. These cultivars also were evaluated for resistance to SSR under controlled conditions using the following methods: petiole inoculation technique (PIT), detached leaf assay (DLA), and oxalic acid assay (OAA). Significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were detected among cultivars for SSR and yield in the field trials, with SSR levels varying from low to high among years and locations. Cultivars with consistent high levels and low levels of SSR in the field trials were identified. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were detected among cultivars for SSR using the PIT and OAA methods, but not the DLA method. No significant (P ≤ 0.05) correlations between SSR levels in the controlled studies with SSR levels in the field trials were detected; however, significant negative correlations were detected between SSR area under the disease process curve values from the PIT method and yield from Carrington, ND in 2001 and 2002. Although the PIT and OAA methods differentiated cultivars, neither method was able to predict the reaction of cultivars to SSR in the field, indicating that field screening for SSR resistance is still critical for the development of resistant cultivars.