bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Report of Xylella fastidiosa Infecting Citrus in Costa Rica
Authors: Aguilar E. , Villalobos W. , Moreira L. , Rodríguez C. M. , Kitajima E. W. , Rivera C.
Published: May 2007

Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) is an important disease mainly of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) cultivars. It was first described in Brazil in the state of Sā Paulo in 1987 (4). The disease has spread to all Brazilian states that grow citrus and is affecting more than one-third of the orange trees grown in Brazil. CVC is caused by Xylella fastidiousa, a xylem-limited, gram-negative bacterium. During the last 4 years, symptoms including leaf interveinal chlorosis, stunting, canopy dieback, and hard and undersized fruits, similar to those caused by CVC (3), appeared in sweet orange trees used as shade plants for coffee plantations and as fence posts in Costa Rica. Necrotic lesions on the abaxial side of the leaves as reported in Brazil were rarely observed. Leaf petiole samples from 25 symptomatic sweet orange trees reacted positively with a X fastidiosa-specific antiserum (AGDIA Inc., Elkart, IN) in a double-sandwich antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). A fastidious, gram-negative bacterium identified as X. fastidiosa using DAS-ELISA was isolated on perwinkle wilt (PW) medium plates (1) from citrus stems showing CVC symptoms, but not from asymptomatic trees. The isolated colonies were circular and opalescent with diameters of 2 to 3 mm and were clearly visible within 6 to 7 days after streaking. Petiole sections from symptomatic plants observed with scanning electron microscopy showed rod-shaped bacteria with rippled cell walls tightly packed in xylem vessels, as described for X. fastidiosa previously (2), and with transmission electron microscopy, the bacteria were morphologically similar to those reported previously for CVC (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of X. fastidiosa associated with citrus in Costa Rica.

References: (1) M. J. Davis et al. Curr. Microbiol. 6:309, 1981. (2) J. S. Hartung et al. Phytopathology 84:591, 1994. (3) R. F. Lee et al. Summa Phytopathol. 19:123, 1993. (4) V. Rossetti et al. 1990, C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 310:345–349.
First Report of Downy Mildew of Arugula Caused by Peronospora parasitica in Argentina
Authors: Romero A. M. , Zapata R.
Published: May 2007

Acreage of arugula (Eruca sativa), a crucifer used as a component of green salad mixes, has increased recently in Argentina. During 2004, a foliar disease affected commercial crops in Pilar (northeast of Buenos Aires Province). Arugula plants were affected from the seedling stage to harvest. Severely diseased plants were unmarketable and not harvested. Sunken, round, necrotic lesions (1 to 4 mm in diameter) were observed on the cotyledons. Diseased leaves had irregular, necrotic lesions (2 to 3 mm in diameter) that sometimes became confluent, forming a linear pattern. Necrotic tan patches developed on older leaves. Lesions on the abaxial surface appeared depressed and a gray mold, a typical sign of a downy mildew, was visible. Sporangiophores had dichotomous branches ending in slender curved tips. Sporangia were ovoid with a mean length of 20 μm (17.8 to 22.1 μm) and a mean width of 16 μm (14 to 18.2 μm). Pathogenicity tests were conducted by placing excised diseased leaves onto healthy 30-day-old arugula plants (1). Inoculated plants were placed in plastic bags, previously sprayed with water, for 48 h and maintained in the greenhouse thereafter. Downy mildew symptoms and signs that were similar to those observed in the fields developed 10 days after inoculation. The pathogen was identified as Peronospora parasitica (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. parasitica on arugula in Argentina.

References: (1) S. T. Koike. Plant Dis. 82:1063, 1998. (2) W. D. Yerkes and C. G. Shaw. Phytopathology 49:499, 1959.
Characterization of the tufB-secE-nusG-rplKAJL-rpoB Gene Cluster of the Citrus Greening Organism and Detection by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
Authors: Okuda Mitsuru , Matsumoto Mitsuhito , Tanaka Yuko , Subandiyah Siti , Iwanami Toru
Published: May 2007

Thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction (TAIL-PCR) was performed to amplify the uncharacterized regions adjacent to the nusG-rplKAJL-rpoB gene cluster of citrus greening organism (GO) isolates from different locations in Japan and Indonesia. Conventional PCR was used to amplify the internal nusG-rplKAJL-rpoB gene cluster of these isolates, and the complete sequence of this 6.1-kb fragment was determined. Comparisons with other bacterial sequences showed that the fragment is the tufB-secE-nusG-rplKAJL-rpoB gene cluster. The organization of this gene cluster is similar to that of the homologous cluster found in Escherichia coli. Except for three nucleotide changes, the sequence was identical among Japanese and Indonesian isolates. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay based on the conserved sequence of the nusG-rplKAJL-rpoB gene cluster was developed for the detection of the GO. The LAMP product was rapidly detected on nylon membranes by staining with AzurB. LAMP could detect as low as about 300 copies of the nusG-rplKAJL-rpoB fragment of the Japanese and Indonesian isolates of GO. The LAMP-based detection method, which does not depend upon a thermal cycler and electrophoresis apparatus, will be useful for under-equipped laboratories, including those found in extension centers and quarantine offices.
Quantification of Airborne Inoculum as an Aid in the Management of Leaf Blight of Onion Caused by Botrytis squamosa
Authors: Carisse O. , McCartney H. A. , Gagnon J. A. , Brodeur L.
Published: May 2007

Botrytis leaf blight, caused by Botrytis squamosa, is a common and frequently damaging disease of onion crops, but the severity of epidemics varies widely from year to year. The disease is initiated and spread by airborne conidia. The relationship between airborne conidium concentration (ACC) and lesion development was studied in the field. A linear relationship was found between ACC and number of lesions per leaf: ACC values of 10 to 15 and 25 to 35 conidia m-3 were associated with 1 and 2.5 lesions per leaf, respectively. In 2000 and 2001, at three sites, four different criteria were used to start a fungicide spray program and their effect on epidemic development was compared with that of a grower's conventional schedule. The criteria were: at the fourth-true-leaf growth stage; according to an inoculum production index; when the ACC reached 10 to 15 conidia m-3; and when the ACC reached 25 to 35 conidia m-3. A nonsprayed control plot was included in the trial. Fungicide programs started when the ACC reached 10 to 15 conidia m-3 were as effective as the conventional program, but used fewer sprays. A fungicide spray program based on measurements of ACC and disease severity was evaluated in 2002 and 2003 in five and three commercial onion fields, respectively. At each site, half of the field was sprayed according to the grower's schedule and, in the other half, fungicide sprays were initiated when a threshold of 10 to 15 conidia m-3 or five lesions on the lower leaf (whichever came first) was reached. Overall, the number of fungicide applications was reduced by 75 and 56% in 2002 and 2003, respectively, without causing significant yield reduction. In both years, the reduction in number of fungicide applications was due mainly to the delay in initiation of the fungicide program.
Use of Boron for the Control of Eutypa Dieback of Grapevines
Authors: Rolshausen P. E. , Gubler W. D.
Published: May 2007

Eutypa dieback is a perennial canker disease of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) caused by Eutypa lata. The fungus produces ascospores, which infect grapevines through pruning wounds during the dormant season. Management of the disease has been achieved with fungicide applications during the dormant period. However, no effective fungicide was available for this purpose after Benlate was withdrawn from the market. Boric acid (17.5% a.i. boron), a potential alternative to Benlate, was tested in the present study against E. lata. The EC50 values for inhibition of mycelial growth and ascospore germination were 125 and 475 μg of boric acid per ml (22 and 83 μg a.i./ml), respectively. Two boron-based treatments were developed and tested in vitro and in four field trials during 2001 to 2003. One product, biopaste, contained 5% boric acid (8.75 mg a.i./ml) in a commercial paste. The second product, bioshield, contained 5% boric acid in a spore suspension of Cladosporium herbarum. Both products significantly reduced disease in vitro and in field trials in comparison with a water control treatment. Boron was not found to accumulate in leaves and shoots, but bud failure at the first node below the treated wound occurred at a higher rate than in untreated vines.
Absence of Oospores of Downy Mildew of Grape Caused by Plasmopara viticola as the Source of Primary Inoculum in Most Western Australian Vineyards
Authors: Killigrew B. X. , Sivasithamparam K. , Scott E. S.
Published: May 2007

Grapevine downy mildew, caused by the obligate, oomycete pathogen, Plasmopara viticola, was first recorded in Western Australia (W.A.) in 1998 (2) and has subsequently been observed in most viticultural regions of the state. Heterothallism in P. viticola was established by Wong et al. (3), whereby more than one mating type of the pathogen is required for sexual reproduction to occur. Oospores are considered to be the source of primary inoculum for this disease with further, secondary infection being advanced by asexual inoculum. However, recent research in European vineyards suggests that the majority of infection throughout the growing season arises via sexually derived (oosporic) inoculum (1). Since downy mildew is relatively new to W.A., few surveys have been conducted to study populations of the pathogen within the state. It is also noteworthy that the incidence of oospores in Australian vineyards has not been reported. The objective of this research was to assess the occurrence and type of inoculum of P. viticola in W.A. vineyards. A total of 1,266 P. viticola-infected leaf discs (LD) from eight wine-grape (775 LD), five table-grape (450 LD), and seven unknown (41 LD) cultivars grown in 16 vineyards in 10 geographically separate regions of W.A. were collected in the growing seasons of 2001-2003. These regions range from Chittering in the north to Albany in the south and received 700 to 1,200 mm annual rainfall, mostly in winter. Each LD was cleared in 1 M KOH at 60°C for 12 to 24 h and then was assessed for the presence of oospores with light microscopy. Leaves showing “mosaic”-type lesions (older infection) late in the season were collected where possible to ensure colony maturity and an increased likelihood of oospore formation. All LD from all regions were negative for the presence of oospores except for samples from a single vineyard (approximately 1,200 mm annual rainfall), where all 140 LD from six wine-grape cultivars contained oospores. The discovery that oospores were present in only one of 16 sampled vineyards provides a rare opportunity to study gene flow in field populations of the pathogen with time and to determine sources of primary inoculum where overwintering of P. viticola may not involve oospores.

References: (1) S. McKirdy et al. Plant Dis. 83:301, 1999. (2) A. Rumbou et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:379, 2004. (3) F. P. Wong et al. Plant Pathol. 50:427, 2001.
Virulence of Oat Crown Rust in Brazil and Uruguay
Authors: Leonard K. J. , Martinelli J. A.
Published: May 2007

Race-specific resistance to crown rust, the most important disease of oat (Avena sativa) in Bra-zil, often fails within a few years of use in Brazilian cultivars. Virulence of 144 isolates of Puccinia coronata from cultivated oat in Brazil in 1997 to 1999 and 36 isolates from Uruguay in 1994-95 and 1998 was tested on a set of 27 oat crown rust differentials lines, each with a different Pc gene for race-specific resistance. Frequencies of virulence and mean virulence complexity were compared among these five collections from Brazil and Uruguay as well as with mean virulence complexity for a collection of 17 isolates from cultivated oat in western Siberia in Russia. Virulence-avirulence for each of the 27 Pc genes was polymorphic in both Brazil and Uruguay. Virulence frequencies were similar for collections from Brazil in 1998 and 1999 and for the collection from Uruguay from 1998, but there were large differences between the 1997 collection and the 1998 and 1999 collections from Brazil. Mean virulence complexity in both Brazil and Uruguay was greater than reported in the United States and much greater than in the Russian collection of P. coronata. A large number of races of P. coronata were found, with no more than five isolates of any race found in a single year in Brazil or Uruguay. The high virulence complexity and great diversity of virulence polymorphisms in Brazil and Uruguay make it unlikely that race-specific resistance can be effective there even though the South American populations of P. coronata are apparently entirely asexual.
Incidence, Transmissibility, and Genotype Analysis of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) Isolates from CTV Eradicative and Noneradicative Districts in Central California
Authors: Yokomi R. K. , DeBorde R. L.
Published: May 2007

Growers in 45% (44,100 ha) of the citrus acreage in California stopped eradicating Citrus tristeza virus (CTV)-infected trees from their fields in 1995-96. The impact of leaving infected trees on the rate of CTV spread was determined by comparing temporal incidence of CTV in plots in Strathmore, Tulare County without eradication with incidence in a plot in McFarland, Kern County with eradication. From 1997 to 2003, CTV incidence in the Strathmore plots ranged from 6 to 42%, with annual spread rates from 1.6 to 3.6%. CTV incidence in the McFarland plot increased from 0 to 5% between 2001 and 2003 before infected trees were removed. Using a subplot hierarchical bulk sampling method, virus incidence over a 3-year period in a 6.5 km2 area near McFarland was estimated to range from 0.09 to 0.69%, which indicated that CTV suppression was still being achieved in this area. Vector tests using the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, identified highly transmissible isolates (30 to 61% transmission rate) and a larger proportion of highly transmissible isolates were found in the McFarland plots. Thirty-six CTV isolates from recently infected plot trees were obtained and analyzed. None of these isolates reacted with monoclonal antibody MCA13 that detects presumptive CTV severe strains. Molecular analysis using polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific primers showed that all isolates had a genotype identical to the T30 mild isolate from Florida.
Occurrence of Togninia minima Perithecia in Esca-Affected Vineyards in California
Authors: Rooney-Latham S. , Eskalen A. , Gubler W. D.
Published: May 2007

Togninia minima is an important pathogen causing esca and grapevine declines worldwide. Although perithecia of T. minima have been produced in the laboratory, their presence in diseased vineyards has not been shown. In our study, perithecia of T. minima were found on grapevines in the field in five California counties. Perithecia were clustered on dead vascular tissue in deep cracks along trunks and cordons or on the surfaces of decayed pruning wounds. Field-collected perithecia were characteristic of T. minima perithecia previously produced in vitro and molecular sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA additionally confirmed their identity. Ascospores from perithecia germinated on agar medium and formed colonies typical of T. minima. This is the first report of T. minima perithecia in diseased vineyards and suggests ascospores as an additional source of inoculum for new grapevine infections.
Absence of Potato spindle tuber viroid within the Canadian Potato Industry
Authors: De Boer S. H. , DeHaan T. L.
Published: May 2007

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) causes a serious disease of potato, affecting yield and tuber quality. To control the disease, the Canadian seed certification program maintains a zero tolerance for the disease and a requirement that all nuclear stock, the micropropagated plantlets from which each lot of seed potatoes is initiated, is tested using reverse polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (rPAGE) to ensure freedom from PSTVd. Moreover, seed potato fields are visually inspected during two or more annual field inspections for the presence of PSTVd and viruses. Symptoms of PSTVd have not been observed during field inspections for at least the last 25 years. Prior to 1989, seed potato stocks in the provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick were tested using rPAGE and nucleic acid dot blot hybridization for the presence of the viroid, and no infections were found (1). Similar surveys for PSTVd in Canada's western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan also failed to detect the viroid (2). During 2000–2004, the PSTVd survey was extended to the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland in which 211, 188, 95, 6, and 10 samples, respectively, were collected. Each sample consisted of 400 randomly selected leaves from selected potato fields representing seed lots registered in one of the four Elite seed classes or in the Foundation and Certified classes, except for a small number of samples (11%) that were from commercial nonseed fields. Leaves were tested using the dot blot procedure in composites of 50 leaves as described (2). Approximately 10% of the samples were retested using rPAGE followed by northern blotting to confirm dot blot results. All dot blot and rPAGE/northern blot results were negative for PSTVd. The cumulative results of the PSTVd surveys in all 10 Canadian provinces and the absence of the disease in the field as determined by annual visual inspection meets the International Standards of Phytosanitary Measures for the Requirements for the Establishment of Pest Free Areas (3). Hence, Canada declares that PSTVd is absent within its potato industry. A similar declaration was made by the United States recently on the basis of similar field inspection and survey data (4).

References: (1) D. Coates-Milne. FAO Plant Prot. Bull. 37:130, 1989. (2) S. H. De Boer et al. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 24:372, 2002. (3) FAO. ISPM Pub. No. 4, 1996. (4) M. Sun et al. Am. J. Potato Res. 81:227, 2004.
First Report of Wheat dwarf virus in Winter Wheat in Finland
Authors: Lemmetty A. , Huusela-Veistola E.
Published: May 2007

During June and July of 2004, several diseased plants in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were reported by agricultural advisers in the southern and southwestern coastal area of Finland. The plants showed extreme dwarfing, various yellowing symptoms, and reduced or no heading. The damage varied considerably. Yield loss estimates in direct-drilled winter wheat fields were approximately 20 to 40% and in worst cases as much as 100%. A few leafhoppers (Psammotettix alienus Dahlb.) were collected from the field with sweep nets and yellow traps. Roots and symptomatic leaves of winter wheat and the leafhoppers were first tested using a commercial polyclonal antibody (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany) specific for Wheat dwarf virus (WDV). For the leaf and root samples, routine double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) procedures were used. Five leafhoppers per sample were homogenized with the extraction buffer provided. The homogenate was centrifuged and the extract was evaluated using DAS-ELISA (2). The highest absorbance values were obtained from leafhoppers suspected to be viruliferous. The mean values varied from 1.002 to 1.990 after incubation in the substrate for 2 h. The absorbance values of several leaf samples exceeded the virus-positive threshold but were lower than those of the viruliferous leafhoppers. The virus was not detected in roots. Low absorbance values of virus-positive plants were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specific for WDV (1). Total DNA extracts (DNeasy Plant Mini Kit; Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) from symptomatic leaves were tested using puRe Taq Ready-To-Go PCR beads (Amersham Biosciences, Buckinghamshire, UK). The PCR amplicon was the expected size (1,201 bp). The high absorbance value of the leafhoppers showed that the leafhoppers were carriers of the virus. These results confirmed that the causal agent of dwarfing and yellowing symptoms in winter wheat was WDV (genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae).

References: (1) A. Kvarnheden et al. Arch Virol 147:205, 2002. (2) J. Vacke and R. Cibulka. Plant Prot. Sci. 35:41, 2000.
First Report of Crown and Stem Rot of Orchid (Orchis palustris) Caused by Sclerotinia minor
Authors: Eken C. , Ercişli S. , Eşitken A. , Demirci E. , Yuen G. Y.
Published: May 2007

Orchis palustris Jacq. is a wild orchid native to wetlands in eastern Anatolia. During June of 2003, near Erzurum, Turkey, a decline of this orchid was observed in several meadows that had been irrigated for forage production. Stems were chlorotic, wilted, and collapsed. There was a soft, watery rot at the crowns and lower stems. White mycelium and black sclerotia formed on necrotic stem and crown tissues. The fungus was isolated from sclerotia on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and identified as Sclerotinia minor Jagger on the basis of small sclerotia (0.5 to 2.5 mm long) scattered throughout the colonies (2). Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating stems of 8-week-old plants with mycelial plugs from 5-day-old PDA cultures and enclosing inoculated plants in transparent plastic bags for 3 days. After 2 weeks, symptoms similar to those in the field were observed, and S. minor was reisolated from inoculated plants. Noninoculated control plants remained asymptomatic. The disease was previously observed on O. laxiflora Lam. in Turkey (1), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of S. minor infecting O. palustris

References: (1) C. Eken et al. Plant Pathol. 52:802, 2003. (2) L.M. Kohn. Phytopathology 69:881, 1979.
Temperature and Leaf Wetness Requirements for Pathogen Establishment, Incubation Period, and Sporulation of Phytophthora infestans on Petunia × hybrida
Authors: Becktell M. C. , Daughtrey M. L. , Fry W. E.
Published: May 2007

The temperature and leaf wetness requirements for pathogen establishment (germination, infection, and colonization) and the temperature effects on incubation period and sporulation of Phytophthora infestans on petunia were compared with those on tomato. The responses to environmental parameters were found to be similar on petunia and tomato and agreed with those previously reported for late blight development on tomato and potato. In the current study, temperatures ranging from 13 to 23°C generally were conducive to establishment. Very little establishment occurred at 28°C. The minimum leaf wetness period that enabled pathogen establishment was 2 h, whereas most establishment occurred within 6 h of inoculation. The incubation period (time period from inoculation to lesion development) and the time required for development of sporangia after lesions were formed were shortest at 23 and 28°C, respectively. Production of sporangia was greatest (per square centimeter) at 18°C and was nearly absent at 28°C on both petunia and tomato. The sporulation density at 18°C was only slightly less on petunia compared with tomato (20,000 and 24,000 sporangia/cm2, respectively); however, the total lesion area on petunia was only 20% of that on tomato.
A PCR-Based Method for the Detection of Ophiosphaerella agrostis in Creeping Bentgrass
Authors: Kaminski John E. , Dernoeden Peter H. , O'Neill Nichole R. , Wetzel Henry C.
Published: May 2007

Dead spot is a relatively new disease of creeping bentgrass and hybrid bermudagrass that is incited by Ophiosphaerella agrostis. Initial symptoms are difficult to diagnose and clinicians generally rely on the presence of pseudothecia within infected tissue or isolation of O. agrostis on an artificial medium. The main goal of this study was to develop a polymerase chain reaction-based technique capable of quickly identifying O. agrostis within infected creeping bentgrass tissues. Oligonucleotide primers specific for O. agrostis were developed based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA regions (ITS1 and ITS2) of three previously sequenced isolates of O. agrostis. The 22-bp primers amplified a 445- or 446-bp region of 80 O. agrostis isolates collected from creeping bentgrass and bermudagrass in 11 states. Primers did not amplify DNA from other common turfgrass pathogens, including three closely related species of Ophiosphaerella. Selective amplification of O. agrostis was successful from field-infected creeping bent-grass samples and primers did not amplify the DNA of noninfected, field-grown creeping bent-grass or hybrid bermudagrass plants. Amplification of purified O. agrostis DNA was successful at quantities between 50 ng and 5 pg. The entire process, including DNA isolation, amplification, and amplicon visualization, may be completed within 4 h. These results indicate the specificity of these primers for assisting in the accurate and timely identification of O. agrostis and the diagnosis of dead spot in both bentgrass and bermudagrass hosts.
Epidemiology and Management of Petunia and Tomato Late Blight in the Greenhouse
Authors: Becktell M. C. , Daughtrey M. L. , Fry W. E.
Published: May 2007

Factors affecting the management of petunia and tomato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, under greenhouse conditions were investigated. Late blight-infected petunias (Petunia × hybrida) and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) each produced sporangia that were dispersed throughout the greenhouse via air currents. Infected petunias produced and released fewer sporangia than infected tomatoes, but infected petunias released sporangia two times longer. Surface-directed irrigation reduced disease incidence compared with overhead irrigation that wetted the foliage. The fungicides dimethomorph-mancozeb, fosetyl-Al, azoxystrobin, and dipo-tassium phosphonate/phosphate suppressed late blight development, as did the plant defense activator acibenzolar-S-methyl. All products were applied twice at 7-day intervals. The other plant defense activator (harpin protein) and the bioantagonists (Trichoderma harzianum, Glio-cladium virens, and Bacillus subtilis) were ineffective at the rates tested.
Temporal Progress of Septoria Leaf Spot on Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei)
Authors: Ojiambo P. S. , Scherm H.
Published: May 2007

Septoria leaf spot, caused by Septoria albopunctata, is an important disease on blueberry in the southeastern United States, yet its epidemiology is largely unknown. Disease severity and dissemination of pycnidiospores were monitored from 2002 to 2004 in a planting of susceptible Premier rabbiteye blueberry to characterize the temporal progress of the disease and determine the effect of inoculum dynamics and selected leaf attributes on disease development. Disease onset was observed between late April and mid-June, followed by a rapid increase in disease severity until mid- to late September; thereafter, disease severity decreased until the end of the season due to abscission of severely infected leaves. A logistic model was fitted to disease severity data using nonlinear regression, and parameter estimates were used to compare the effects of leaf position on the shoot and shoot location in the canopy on disease progress. Based on this model, the highest absolute rate of disease increase and the highest upper asymptote of disease severity were predicted for leaves in intermediate positions on the shoot and for shoots in the lower canopy. Data collected with funnel spore samplers showed that splash-dispersed pycnidiospores of S. albopunctata were available throughout most of the period from April through late October. Final disease severity on individual leaves was more strongly correlated with cumulative spore numbers throughout the entire season (from leaf emergence to the end of the assessment period in November) than with cumulative spore numbers during shorter periods around the time of leaf emergence; this suggests that infection is not limited to young, expanding leaves, but rather that leaves at all developmental stages can become infected by S. albopunctata seasonlong. Disease incidence on leaves of potted trap plants exposed to natural inoculum in the field during rain events in 2003 and 2004 was >70.0% irrespective of leaf developmental stage at the time of exposure. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that inoculum of S. albopunctata is present throughout most of the growing season and that infection can occur season-long on leaves of any age, giving rise to a polycyclic epidemic.
Development of an RT-PCR for High Plains virus Indexing Scheme in New Zealand Post-Entry Quarantine
Authors: Lebas B. S. M. , Ochoa-Corona F. M. , Elliott D. R. , Tang Z. , Alexander B. J. R.
Published: May 2007

High Plains virus (HPV) causes a potentially serious economic disease of cereals and is of quarantine importance for New Zealand. HPV is transmitted by the wheat curl mite Aceria tosichella, and neither the virus nor its vector is present in New Zealand. Cereal seeds imported to New Zealand are required to be certified HPV-free, as the virus is a regulated pest. A procedure was developed for inspecting plants and testing cereal seedlings in quarantine using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a detection method. A sample of 50,655 sweet corn seeds was taken from an imported commercial line and germinated in containment. Symptomatic seedlings were collected at 3 and 4 ½ weeks after sowing. Eight out of 27 symptomatic samples tested HPV positive by RT-PCR and were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sequence analysis revealed that the HPV isolates had a 99.3 to 100% nucleotide identity and 99.0 to 100% amino acid similarity with the HPV USA isolate (GenBank accession no. U60141). HPV variants were detected by single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis but not by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
First Report of a Lettuce-Infecting Sequivirus in Chile
Authors: Krause-Sakate R. , Jadão A. S. , Firmino A. C. , Pavan M. A. , Zerbini F. M. , Rosales I. M. , Bustamante P. , Gall O. Le
Published: May 2007

Sequiviruses are isometric aphidborne plant viruses. Dandelion yellow mosaic virus (DaYMV), genus Sequivirus, was isolated from dandelion and lettuce in Europe. Lettuce mottle virus (LeMoV), a putative sequivirus, is often found in mixed infections with Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) in Brazil (3). DaYMV, LeMoV and LMV cause similar mosaics in field-grown lettuce. Differences in biology and sequence suggest that DaYMV and LeMoV are distinct species (2). Forty-two and 101 lettuce samples with mosaic symptoms collected from two locations near Santiago during a survey of lettuce viruses in Chile in 2002 and 2003, respectively, were analyzed for the presence of LeMoV using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Total RNA was extracted (1) and used for RT-PCR with the specific LeMoV primers pairs Lmo3 (5′ ACATGAGCACTAGTGAGG 3′) and Lmo4 (5′ AGATAGAGCCGTCT GGCG 3′) (2). One of the 42 and three of the 101 samples produced the expected 300-bp fragment. Isometric particles of 30 nm diameter, typical of a sequivirus, were visualized by transmission electron microscopy. These samples were tested using RT-PCR for the presence of LMV and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), but no mixed infections were observed. One isolate, Ch36, was reamplified with the degenerate primer pairs DALE 1 (5′ GARTTCAACATGCACGCCAG 3′) and DALE 2 (5′ TTTTTCTCCCCATYCGTCAT 3′) which amplify part of the putative replicase gene (2) and produced a 563-bp fragment that was cloned on pGEM-T Easy (Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced. The Ch36 product (EMBL Accession No. AM039965) showed 97% amino acid identity with LeMoV from Brazil, 79% with DaYMV, 72% with the sequivirus Parsnip yellow fleck virus, and 34% with the waikavirus Maize chlorotic dwarf virus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a sequivirus in field lettuce in Chile, and although the virus was found at low incidence, this report extends the range of LeMoV to the western side of the Cordillera de Los Andes. The impact of LeMoV needs to be further analyzed in Chile, Brazil, and possibly other South American countries.

References: (1) Y. D. Bertheau et al. DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 1998. In: Methods for the Detection and Quantification of Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica on potatoes. M. C. N. Perombelon and J. M. van der Wolff, eds. Scott. Crop Res. Inst. Occasional Publ., Dundee, 1998. (2) A. S. Jadão. Caracterização parcial e desenvolvimento de oligonucleotídeos específicos para detecção de sequivirus infectando alface. Ph.D. thesis. FCA-UNESP-Botucatu, Brazil, 2004. (3) O. Stangarlin et al. Plant Dis. 84:490, 2000.
First Report of a 16SrII Group Phytoplasma Associated with Shoot Proliferation of a Cactus (Opuntia monacantha) in Lebanon
Authors: Choueiri E. , Massad R. , Jreijiri F. , Danet J. L. , Salar P. , Bové J. M. , Foissac X.
Published: May 2007

In October 2003, during a survey to evaluate the incidence of phytoplasma diseases in Lebanon, symptoms suggestive of phytoplasma infection in Opuntia monacantha (Haworth) were observed in Saghbine, Bekaa Valley. Symptoms were excessive stem and shoot proliferation. Three symptomatic and as well as symptomless plants were collected and analyzed for the presence of phytoplasmas. Nucleic acids were extracted from 0.5 g of shoot tissue and tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal phytoplasma primers (fU5rU3) for partial amplification of the ribosomal 16SrDNA (4). PCR resulted in amplification of an expected 881-bp rDNA fragment from the symptomatic but not from symptomless samples. For characterization, sequence of the amplified DNA was determined (Genbank Accession No. AY939815). The sequence showed a high similarity with several isolates of the 16srII group of phytoplasmas. The highest similarity has been oserved with 16S rDNA of two isolates of cactus witches'-broom phytoplasma found in China (1) and Mexico (3) (Genbank Accession Nos. AJ293216 and AF320575, respectively) (99.8%) as well as faba bean phyllody phytoplasma (Genbank Accession No. X83432) (99.7%) and “Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia” (Genbank Accession No. U15442) (99.3%). The presence of phytoplasmas was confirmed using nested-PCR with primers R16mF2/R1 and R16F2n/R2 (2). The Tru9I digestion pattern of the amplified product R16F2n/F16R2 detected in O. monacantha was identical to the digestion pattern obtained from periwinkle infected by “Ca. P. aurantifolia” (subgroup 16SrII-B) and soybean phyllody phytoplasma (subgroup 16SrII-C), but different from the Tru9I digestion pattern observed for cleome phyllody phytoplasma (subgroup 16SrII-A) and tomato big bud phytoplasma (subgroup 16SrII-E). To our knowledge, this is the first report of an infection with a phytoplasma belonging to16SrII group in Lebanon.

References: (1) H. Cai et al. Plant Pathol. 51:394, 2002. (2) D. E. Gundersen and I. M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (3) N. E. Leyva-Lopez et al. Phytopathology. (Abstr.) 89(suppl):S45, 1999. (4) B. Schneider et al. Pages 369–380 in: Molecular and Diagnostic Procedures in Mycoplasmology. Academic Press, NY, 1995.
Relationships Between Weather Conditions, Agronomic Practices, and Fermentation Characteristics with Deoxynivalenol Content in Fresh and Ensiled Maize
Authors: Mansfield M. A. , De Wolf E. D. , Kuldau G. A.
Published: May 2007

The deoxynivalenol (DON) content of maize silage was determined in samples collected at harvest and after ensiling in 2001 and 2002 from 30 to 40 Pennsylvania dairies. Information on cultural practices, hybrid maturity, planting, and harvest date was collected from each site. Site-specific weather data and a corn development model were used to estimate hybrid development at each site. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between weather data, hybrid development, cultural practices and preharvest DON. Fermentation characteristics (moisture, pH, and so on) of ensiled samples were measured to study their relationship to postharvest DON contamination. No significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) was noted between the numbers of samples containing DON in 2001 and 2002, although concentration was higher in 2002 samples. A positive correlation was observed between DON concentration of harvest samples and daily average temperature, minimum temperature, and growing degree day during tasselling, silking, and milk stages. A negative correlation was observed between daily average precipitation at blister stage and DON concentration in harvest samples. Samples from no-till or minimum-till locations had higher DON concentrations than moldboard or mixed-till locations. Harvest samples had higher DON concentration than ensiled samples, suggesting that some physical, chemical, or microbiological changes, resulting from ensiling, may reduce DON in storage.
Nematodes Associated with Carrot Production in Tasmania, Australia, and the Effect of Pratylenchus crenatus on Yield and Quality of Kuroda-Type Carrot
Authors: Hay Frank S. , Pethybridge Sarah J.
Published: May 2007

A survey for nematodes in carrot crops in northern Tasmania detected lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.) in 28 of 33 crops, with P. crenatus occurring most frequently and P. neglectus, P. thornei, and P. penetrans occurring infrequently. Root-knot nematode was detected in five of 33 carrot crops, with Meloidogyne fallax present in two crops. The effect of P. crenatus on yield and quality of Kuroda-type carrot was assessed in 42 plots arranged in a 6 × 7 lattice in each of two commercial crops. High numbers of P. crenatus were recovered from fine roots at 58 days after sowing (DAS). However, following formation of the taproot, low numbers were recovered. In both crops, there was a significant negative correlation between numbers of P. crenatus per gram dry weight of root at 58 DAS and the dry weight of root and shoot at 58 DAS. However, the low numbers of P. crenatus/g dry weight of root recovered at subsequent sampling times, and the lack of an increase in the number of P. crenatus in the soil during the season, suggested that Kuroda-type carrot became resistant to P. crenatus following taproot formation. In both crops, P. crenatus populations were significantly negatively correlated with plant density and in one crop with average carrot weight. Regression analysis predicted potential yield penalties of 12.1 to 22.3 t/ha between plots with the highest number of P. crenatus and those with none. There was no significant correlation between P. crenatus populations during the season and carrot defects. Spatial analysis using Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices determined that P. crenatus in soil were significantly aggregated at all times and in roots at 58 DAS were aggregated in one of two trials, with indices of aggregation (Ia ) ranging from 1.27 to 1.64.
Baseline Sensitivities of Fungal Pathogens of Fruit and Foliage of Citrus to Azoxystrobin, Pyraclostrobin, and Fenbuconazole
Authors: Mondal S. N. , Bhatia Alka , Shilts Turksen , Timmer L. W.
Published: May 2007

The baseline sensitivities for mycelial growth of foliar fungal pathogens of citrus, Colletotrichum acutatum, Alternaria alternata, Elsinoe fawcettii, Diaporthe citri, and Mycosphaerella citri, the causal agents of postbloom fruit drop, brown spot of tangerine, citrus scab, melanose, and greasy spot, respectively, were determined in vitro for azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, and fenbuconazole. The effective dose to reduce growth by 50% (ED50 values) was determined for each pathogen-fungicide combination using five isolates from different citrus areas of Florida and eight fungicide concentrations. A discriminatory dose for each combination was selected near the ED50, and the range of sensitivity of 50 to 62 isolates of each fungal species was determined. The effect of salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) on the sensitivity of the five fungal species to azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin was determined. Since mycelial growth of A. alternata was insensitive to azoxystrobin, the effect of that fungicide with and without SHAM on spore germination was assessed. The ED50 values for most fungal pathogens of citrus were relatively high compared with foliar pathogens of other tree crops. Values for azoxystrobin ranged from a low of 0.06 μg/ml with E. fawcettii to a high of >100 μg/ml with A. alternata. With pyraclostrobin, the values ranged from a low of 0.019 μg/ml with D. citri to a high of 0.87 μg/ml with A. alternata. With fenbuconazole, the lowest ED50 value was 0.21 μg/ml with M. citri and the highest was 1.01 μg/ml with C. acutatum, but A. alternata and D. citri were not tested. SHAM was inhibitory to all species and reduced growth of D. citri greatly. Inclusion of SHAM in the medium did not greatly affect the sensitivity of mycelial growth of these fungi to azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin, nor did it affect the ED50 values for conidial germination of A. alternata. The coefficients of variation for the sensitivity of 50 to 62 isolates of each species to these fungi ranged from 7.3% with the pyraclostrobin-C. acutatum combination to a high of 55.0% with the fenbuconazole- M. citri combination. Discriminatory doses have been established for these pathogen- fungicide combinations that should be useful for detecting major shifts in fungicide sensitivity.
Physiologic Specialization of Puccinia triticina on Wheat in the United States in 2003
Authors: Kolmer J. A. , Long D. L. , Hughes M. E.
Published: May 2007

Collections of Puccinia triticina were obtained from rust infected wheat leaves by cooperators throughout the United States and from surveys of wheat fields and nurseries in the Great Plains, Ohio Valley, Southeast, California, and the Pacific Northwest, in order to determine the virulence of the wheat leaf rust fungus in 2003. Single uredinial isolates (580 in total) were derived from the wheat leaf rust collections and tested for virulence phenotype on lines of Thatcher wheat that are near-isogenic for leaf rust resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2c, Lr3, Lr9, Lr16, Lr24, Lr26, Lr3ka, Lr11, Lr17, Lr30, LrB, Lr10, Lr14a, and Lr18. In the United States in 2003, 52 virulence phenotypes of P. triticina were found. Virulence phenotype MBDS, which has been selected by virulence to resistance gene Lr17, was the most common phenotype in the United States. MBDS was found in the Southeast, Great Plains, the Ohio Valley, and California. Virulence phenotype THBJ, which has been selected by virulence to genes Lr16 and Lr26, was the second most common phenotype, and was found in the southern and northern central Great Plains region. Phenotype MCDS, which has been selected by virulence to genes Lr17 and Lr26, was the third most common phenotype and occurred in the same regions as MBDS. The use of wheat cultivars with leaf rust seedling resistance genes has selected leaf rust phenotypes with virulence to genes Lr9, Lr16, Lr17, Lr24, and Lr26. The population of P. triticina in the United States is highly diverse for virulence phenotypes, which will continue to present a challenge for the development of wheat cultivars with effective durable resistance.
Comparative Field Efficacy of Management Strategies Containing Brassica napus Seed Meal or Green Manure for the Control of Apple Replant Disease
Authors: Mazzola Mark , Mullinix Kent
Published: May 2007

Alternative management strategies to the use of preplant soil fumigation for the control of apple replant disease (ARD), including cover crops and strategies incorporating Brassica napus seed meal (rape seed meal [RSM]) amendment as the central component, were evaluated in the orchard. A 1-year wheat cover crop consisting of three short-term cropping periods with plant material removed at the end of each growth period and a 3-year B. napus green manure significantly enhanced vegetative growth and yield of Gala/M26. However, in each instance, the resulting disease control and growth response were inferior to that achieved through preplant methyl bromide soil fumigation. A 3-year bare fallow and 1- or 2-year B. napus green manure neither suppressed disease development nor enhanced tree growth. Preplant RSM amendment in conjunction with a postplant mefenoxam soil drench provided effective suppression of ARD, and the resulting tree growth and yield were comparable with that attained in response to 1,3- dichloropropene-chloropicrin fumigation in one orchard. At a second orchard, the growth response attained with the alternative treatment was inferior to preplant soil fumigation, which was associated with an apparent re-infestation of RSM-treated soils and tree roots by Pratylenchus spp. Application of RSM after wheat cropping or in conjunction with soil solarization provided an intermediate level of disease control and a corresponding reduction in growth and yield of apple relative to preplant fumigation at both sites.
Peach latent mosaic viroid Detected for the First Time on Almond Trees in Tunisia
Authors: Hassen I. Fekih , Roussel S. , Kummert J. , Fakhfakh H. , Marrakchi M. , Jijakli M. H.
Published: May 2007

Almond (Prunus dulcis Mill) is an important crop in countries of the Mediterranean area. Until now, among viroids, only Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) is known to infect cultivated almond trees (2). In 2004, a survey of almond trees was carried out in orchards in different regions of Tunisia, a major producing and exporting country of almond. Symptoms such as mosaic and necrotic lesions, potentially caused by the Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd), were observed on leaves of cultivated almond trees. Since PLMVd was recently detected in peach and pear trees in Tunisia (4), the presence of this viroid in almond trees was studied. The detection method on the basis of one-tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays was previously described and validated for the detection of this viroid in fruit trees (4). Amplification products were obtained by using previously reported primer pairs of PLMVd (1). Positive controls included RNA preparations of twigs of PLMVd-infected GF 305 peach seedlings. These materials, provided by B. Pradier (Station de Quarantaine des Ligneux, Lempdes, France), were positive as revealed by chip budding on peach seedling indicator plants grown under greenhouse conditions. RT-PCR analysis of nucleic acid preparations from leaves of almond showed specific amplification products with the expected size of 337 bp for two almond trees among 17 trees tested. Nucleotide sequence analyses of cloned amplification products obtained with the PLMVd primers confirmed a size of 337 bp and revealed a sequence similar to sequences from other PLMVd isolates previously characterized. The sequences shared 94 to 98% identity with the reference isolates of PLMVd from peach (EMBL Accession No. M83545, AF170511, AF170514, and AY685181). The two infected almond trees are proximal to each other and peach trees infected with PLMVd. This suggests that one tree may have served as a source of inoculum for the other through agronomic practices such as pruning or the aphid Myzus percicae (3). Alternatively, PLMVd may have originated in an unknown host and was then transmitted to almond trees. Our investigation shows that almond is a new host for PLMVd.

References: (1) N. Astruc. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 102:837, 1996. (2) M. C. Cañizares et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 105:553, 1999. (3) J. C. Desvignes et al. Phytoma 444:70, 1992. (4) I. Fekih Hassen et al. Plant Dis. 88:1164, 2004.