bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Report of Colletotrichum acutatum on Strawberry in Bulgaria
Authors: Bobev S. G. , Zveibil A. , Freeman S. 
Published: May 2007

Recently, there has been increasing interest in growing strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) in Bulgaria. During the spring seasons of 2001 and 2002, progressive fruit damage in some producers' plots was observed in the Plovdiv Region. Appearance and development of symptoms were typical of anthracnose on aboveground plant structures. On immature fruits, lesions were single or in groups of two or three, circular, small (1 to 3 mm), sunken, and dark brown to black. Lesions on ripe fruits were similar in shape and color, larger (10 to 15 mm), and when coalesced, they covered most or the entire surface. Elliptical, sunken lesions with lighter centers were also found on petioles and stolons, and blighted flowers and infected immature fruits became dark in color. Under wet conditions, salmon-colored masses of conidia were produced mainly on mature but also on unripe fruits, and on petioles and stolons. Conidia were hyaline, cylindrical, and attenuated at both ends measuring 11.5 (9.2 to 13.3) × 4.5 (4.2 to 5.0) μm (2). Colonies of the isolated fungus growing on potato dextrose agar were white with mycelium becoming gray and aerial. Symptoms were reproduced by artificial inoculation of healthy, ripe strawberry fruits. Fruits were wounded with a sterile scalpel, and 5-mm plugs of agar cultures of two isolates were placed on each wound (12 fruits per isolate). An equal number of wounded and noninoculated fruits were used as a control. Fruits were kept in a humidity chamber at 25°C, and 3 to 5 days later, necrotic sunken zones containing acervuli were observed around the wounds of inoculated fruits, and the pathogen was subsequently reisolated. Identical symptoms were obtained after inoculation of raspberry fruits. Intact strawberry stolons and stalks were also successfully inoculated in the lab with two additional isolates using the same technique and tightly covering wounds with adhesive tape. No symptoms were found in the controls of all tests. On the basis of symptoms and pathogen characteristics, the disease was confirmed as anthracnose (black spot) caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. Additionally, the identity of six isolates was confirmed as C. acutatum by species-specific polymerase chain reaction amplification resulting in a single fragment of 490 bp using primers ITS4 and CaInt2 (1). To our knowledge this is the first report of C. acutatum on strawberry in Bulgaria. References: (1) S. Freeman et al. Pathogenic and non-pathogenic lifestyles in Colletotrichum acutatum from strawberry and other plants. Phytopathology 91:986, 2001. (2) P. S. Gunnell, and W. D. Gubler. Taxonomy and morphology of Colletotrichum species pathogenic to strawberry. Mycologia 84:157, 1992.
First Report of Zonate Leaf Spot of Artocarpus altilis Caused by Cristulariella moricola in Taiwan
Authors: Hu B. Y. , Hsiao W. W. , Fu C. H. 
Published: May 2007

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg) is an important landscape and garden tree in Taiwan. During the spring of 2002, zonate leaf spots of breadfruit were observed at a Taipei nursery in northern Taiwan. Initially, several small, brown, zonate lesions developed on leaves. As lesions enlarged, they coalesced, leading to blighting of leaves and premature defoliation. Sporophores on the host were generally hypophyllous but sometimes amphigenous, solitary, erect, easily detachable, and as much as 850 μm long. The upper portion of the sporophore is considered an individual conidium and consisted of a pyramidal head that was fusiform to ventricose and cristulate, 495 to 534 μm long and 210 to 290 μm wide at the broadest point. Branches within the pyramidal head were short and compact, and dichotomously or trichotomously branched. The conidia were hyaline, broad, septate, tapering toward an acute apex, and sometimes constricted at the basal septum. Conidiophores were 400 to 680 × 20 to 100 μm. The fungus was isolated from infected tissue and maintained on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Sclerotia were produced on PDA after 4 to 5 weeks at 20°C without light, but conidia were not observed in culture. The fungus was identified as Cristulariella moricola (Hino) Redhead based on morphological characteristics (1,2). To complete Koch's postulates, three sporophores from infected leaves or three sclerotia from cultures were placed individually on each of 10 breadfruit leaves. The plants were placed in plastic bags and incubated at 16 to 20°C. Symptoms were observed after 2 to 3 days on 100% of plants inoculated with sporophores and after 6 days on 50% of plants inoculated with sclerotia. The pathogen was reisolated from lesions on plants inoculated with sporophores and sclerotia. No symptoms were observed on the control plants. C. moricola has been known to cause a bull's eye or zonate leaf spot and defoliation on woody and annual plants, including at least 51 host species and 36 families distributed in the central and eastern United States (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of zonate leaf spot and defoliation of breadfruit caused by C. moricola. References: (1) T. T. Chang. Bull. Taiwan For. Res. Inst. New Ser. 10 (2):235, 1995. (2) S. A. Redhead. Can. J. Bot. 53:700, 1975.
A Twig Canker on English Hawthorn Caused by Coniothyrium sporulosum in Italy
Authors: Montecchio L. , Causin R. , Vettorazzo M. 
Published: May 2007

Large, open, irregularly shaped cankers on trunks and twigs of 4- to 12-year-old Crataegus monogyna Jacq. in a mixed oak forest in northern Italy were observed in 2001. Radial sections through the cankers, which often occurred at sites of hail damage from the previous year, showed a brown discoloration in the xylem. Foliage distal to the cankers became chlorotic, wilted, and finally died. When the disease was severe, the entire top of the plant died, and epicormic shoots developed below the cankers. Fruiting bodies were not present on the canker surface, and symptoms were not observed on root collars or roots. Microscopic examination of cankers showed that vessels frequently contained mycelium. Five symptomatic plants were selected, and from each of these plants isolations were made from one canker. Two chips, 3 mm wide, were cut from the necrotic margin of each canker, superficially sterilized with sodium hypochlorite, rinsed, plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 20 ± 1°C for 8 days in the dark. Among a variety of microorganisms isolated from the necrotic tissues, Fusarium solani (Mart) Sacc. and Coniothyrium sporulosum (Gams & Domsch) van der Aa (1,2) were isolated from 70 and 100% of the chips, respectively. Artificial inoculations were made on 3-year-old, container-grown Crataegus monogyna seedlings obtained from the same seed stock using two isolates each of the two fungi. Where the stems measured 5 mm in diameter, the bark was surface sterilized with sodium hypochlorite, rinsed, wounded with a 2-mm-diameter cork borer, inoculated with a PDA disk containing mycelium and spores, and the wound sealed with Parafilm. Controls were treated the same but using sterile discs of PDA. Each treatment was replicated on five seedlings, incubated in the greenhouse (20 ± 2°C, 80% relative humidity, and 12-h natural light per day) for 60 days. After 20 days, the 10 plants treated with C. sporulosum showed small necrotic lesions, which developed into small patches of dead bark that cracked and formed spindle-shaped cankers. Radial sections through the stem at the canker site from four of the inoculated plants showed the presence of mycelium in the vessels, and C. sporulosum was reisolated from the infected tissue. After 60 days, the cankers measured as much as 22 mm, and the microscopic observations on the remaining six plants confirmed the presence of the fungus. No disease symptoms or mycelium in the inner tissues were observed for control plants, or plants inoculated with Fusarium spp. The present work adds the genus Crataegus to the wide list of hosts (e.g., Rubus, Malus, Quercus, Picea, Taxus, Juniperus, Chamaecyparis, Cupressocyparis, and Mahonia) susceptible to C. sporulosum, which may act as an important pathogen under forest conditions, in orchards, and in breeding programs. References: 1) W. Gams and K. H. Domsch. Nova Hedwigia, 18:1, 1969. 2) I. Vegh and A. Le Berre. Pepinieristes Hort. Maraich. Rev. Hortic. 331:11, 1992.
Sclerotinia Root Rot: A New Threat to Buckwheat Seedlings in India
Authors: Mondal K. K. , Rana S. S. , Sood P. 
Published: May 2007

In the temperate regions of India, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench and F. tataricum Gaertn.) is produced extensively. During the first week of June in 2001 and 2002, a severe incidence of root rot (35% seedling mortality) was observed in the Sangla Valley of Himachal Pradesh when the crop was at the seedling stage. The disease was more severe on F. tataricum, resulting in a poor crop stand. The disease appeared as water-soaked areas on the upper portion of the root, which turned brown. The brown patches gradually proceeded downward covering the whole root system. The above ground foliage wilted and died. The disease spread rapidly with cloudy, humid weather and day temperatures ranging from 15 to 20°C. Mycelium of the causal fungus was inter- and intracellular type with hyaline, branched, and septate hyphae. Sclerotia were pink but later turned black, measuring 3.0 to 3.5 mm in diameter. The pathogenicity of the causal fungus was proved following Koch's postulates. The pathogen was identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary (2). In Japan, the association of S. libertiana on buckwheat has been reported (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sclerotinia root rot on buckwheat from India. References: (1) H. Singh and T. A. Thomas. Indian Counc. Agric. Res. New Delhi, India, 1978. (2) H. J. Willets and J. A. L. Wong, Bot. Rev. 46:101,1980.
First Report of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli as a Pathogen of Gramma in Australia
Authors: Martin H. L. , Horlock C. M. 
Published: May 2007

In March 2001, a foliar bacterial disease was observed on gramma seedlings (Cucurbita moschata L.) cv. Ken Special Hybrid 864 in a commercial nursery in Bowen, north Queensland, Australia. Symptoms included chlorosis of cotyledons and angular, water-soaked lesions from the tips of the cotyledons to the petioles. Brown, angular, water-soaked lesions that were delimited by the leaf veins were also present on newly emerged true leaves. Streaming of bacterial cells from the edges of cut lesions was seen in a droplet of water with ×100 magnification. Isolations attempted on King's medium B consistently yielded a slow-growing, cream to white, gram-negative bacterium. Bacterium was identified as Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli based on carbon source utilization profiles (Biolog, Hayward CA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a primer pair based on the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer region. When tested in rep-PCR with the BoxA1R primer (2), the isolate produced a banding pattern similar to other Australian A. avenae subsp. citrulli isolates previously shown to be pathogenic to rockmelon (1). Koch's postulates were completed with 20 2-week-old glasshouse-grown gramma (cv. Ken Special Hybrid 864) seedlings. Seedlings were misted until runoff with a 3 × 108 CFU/ml bacterial suspension and enclosed in plastic bags for 48 h at 23°C. Water-soaked lesions developed on cotyledons of all seedlings 6 days after inoculation, and bacterium was reisolated from symptomatic tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. avenae subsp. citrulli as a pathogen of C. moschata References: (1) R. G. O'Brien and H. L. Martin. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 39:479, 1999 (2) J. Versalovic et al. Methods Mol. Cell Biol. 5:25, 1994.
First Report of a Distinct Begomovirus Infecting Cassava from Zanzibar
Authors: Maruthi M. N. , Colvin J. , Seal S. , Thresh J. M. 
Published: May 2007

In 1998, cassava plants exhibiting extremely mild mosaic disease symptoms were collected from Uguja Island, Zanzibar. Total DNAs extracted from symptomatic leaves did not produce diagnostic PCR bands using primers specific to known Cassava mosaic viruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) (2). Degenerate primer pair A/B (1), however, produced a 564-nucleotide (nt) band in the common region of DNA-A to the conserved amino acid sequence CEGPCKYG within the coat protein gene for begomoviruses. Virus-specific primers were designed and the begomoviral genome was amplified and cloned to obtain the full-length DNA-A (2,785 nt) (AF422174) and the partial DNA-B (2,403 nt) (AF422175) component comprising the 5′ end of the BV1 open reading frame (ORF) to eight (A) of the conserved nanonucleotide TAATATTAC in the common region. Phylogenetic comparisons of DNA-A and -B sequences of the cassava begomivirus showed they were most closely related to East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) from Tanzania (Z83256, 83% identity) and Uganda (AF126805, 87% identity). Based on DNA-A and -B components, its closest relatives among African cassava mosaic virus strains were the Nigerian (X17095, 67% identity) and Ugandan (AF126800, 38% identity) isolates respectively. The number and arrangement of the viral ORF was identical to other bipartite begomoviruses from the Old World. Work is in progress to determine whether this begomovirus is a new strain of an existing EACMV or a new species. References: (1) D. Deng et al. Ann. App. Biol. 125:327, 1994. (2) X. Zhou et al. J. Gen. Virol. 78:2101, 1997.
First Report of Puccinia polysora on Corn in Argentina
Authors: Hernández J. R. , Romero M. Yasem de , Díaz C. G. , Ramallo J. C. 
Published: May 2007

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in northwest Argentina but acreage has declined over the last several years due to disease problems. During the 2000 to 2001 growing season, leaf diseases were observed on corn growing in northeastern Tucumán Province (Departamiento Leales), which resulted in yield losses. One of the most prevalent diseases was caused by a rust fungus that produced both uredinial and telial stages. At the time of flowering 32% of the leaf area was infected, and 3 weeks later 69% was infected. Three rust fungi are known from corn (2), and this fungus was identified as Puccinia polysora Underw. based on the morphology of the two types of sori and spores (1). Although known from most tropical and subtropical regions, to our knowledge, this is the first report of P. polysora in Argentina (voucher BPI 841342). Tucumán Province, where the disease was observed, is a subtropical region with temperatures during the growing season >24°C and a relative humidity >90%. P. polysora has not been observed in the Pampas Humedas, the corn belt of Argentina, possibly because the area is more temperate than northwest Argentina and therefore the environment is not conducive to disease development or perhaps P. polysora has not been introduced into the region. References: (1) G. B. Cummins. The Rust Fungi of Cereals, Grasses and Bamboos. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1971. (2) J. K. Pataky. Rusts. Pages 35–38 in: Compendium of Corn Diseases, 3rd ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1999.
Calopogonium golden mosaic virus Identified in Phaseolus vulgaris from Western and Northern Regions of Costa Rica
Authors: Diaz M. , Maxwell D. P. , Karkashian J. P. , Ramírez P. 
Published: May 2007

Bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV, GenBank Accession No. M91604) is reported to be the main bean-infecting (Phaseolus vulgaris) begomovirus in Central America (1,2). Another begomovirus, Bean calico mosaic virus (BCaMV, GenBank Accession No. AF110189), is known to infect P. vulgaris in central Mexico. Bean samples with the viral symptom of foliar chlorosis were collected in different regions of Costa Rica from 1994 to 2001. Total nucleic acids were extracted and tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with degenerate primer pair PBL1v2039/PCRc2 for DNA-B, which can give a different fragment size for some begomoviruses (4). PCR fragments were obtained from 119 bean samples. Fifty samples from the central valley produced 600-bp PCR fragments, which is typical for BGYMV (4), and one sample produced two fragments (500 and 600 bp). One sample from western Costa Rica had a 550-bp fragment, and 69 samples from the western and northern regions produced 500-bp fragments. One of the latter samples (No. 01-1152) was selected for PCR with degenerate primer pairs PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 for DNA-A and PBL1v2039/PBR1v800 for DNA-B (4). The amplified PCR fragments were 1.35 and 1.4 kb for DNA-A and DNA-B, respectively. These are expected sizes for a Western Hemisphere begomovirus. The DNA-A fragment was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. AF439402). Sequence comparisons indicated that this uncharacterized begomovirus (No. 01-1152) had 98, 97, and 93% nucleotide identities with the rep gene, common region, and coat protein gene promoter of Calopogonium golden mosaic virus (CalGMV, GenBank Accession Nos. AF439748 and AF439749, respectively) (3). CalGMV had been isolated from a weed, Calopogonium sp., collected in 1991 near Quepos in the west and Tilaran in the north of Costa Rica (3). Phylogenetic analysis of the viral sequence of the begomovirus associated with No. 01-1152 placed it in the Squash leaf curl virus clade (1). BCaMV is also in this phylogenetic clade, but sequence comparisons between CalGMV and BCaMV had <90% nucleotide identity, and so are distinct species. CalGMV is the begomovirus associated with No. 01-1152, and this is an example of the movement of a weed-infecting begomovirus into an agricultural crop. Since this Calopogonium sp. is widespread in Central America, it is important to determine if CalGMV is present in beans in other regions. The data also indicate that BGYMV and CalGMV infect beans in two geographically distinct regions of Costa Rica. References: (1) J. C. Faria et al. Phytopathology 84:321, 1994. (2) W. McLaughlin et al. Plant Dis. 78:1220, 1994. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Annu. Rep. Bean Improv. Coop. 35:150, 1992. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.
First Report of Nectria haematococca Causing Wilt of Olive Plants in Argentina
Authors: Babbitt S. , Gally M. , Pérez B. A. , Barreto D. 
Published: May 2007

Death of 8- to 12-month-old olive plants (Olea europaea L. ‘Arbequina’, ‘Arauco’, and ‘Picual’) has been observed since 1998 in northwestern Argentina. No mycelium or perithecium was observed when examining rotting roots of greenhouse-collected plants. Root segments of diseased plants were plated on potato dextrose agar. Cultures developed a white mycelium after 2 to 3 days, producing microconidia, macroconidia, and chlamydospores identified as Fusarium solani (1). After 15 days of incubation at 23 ± 2°C, reddish perithecia developed infrequently on root segments and adjacent substratum. Single-septate ascospores were hyaline and turned light brown with longitudinal striations at maturity. Microscopic measurements agreed with Nectria haematococca (1). To conduct Koch's postulates (two experiments, two treatments including inoculated and controls, 10 replicates per treatment), young rooted cuttings (6- to 12-month-old) were transferred to pots with a soilless mix and F. solani-colonized oat grains (10:1 vol/vol) and placed in growth chamber (25 to 28°C). First symptoms of the disease were leaf drooping and apex bending after 5 days. At approximately 9 days, leaves turned brownish, developed wilting from the tip downward, and plant death. Controls remained healthy. The fungus was reisolated, and perithecia of N. haematococca developed. F. solani has been reported causing wilt and sudden death in olive previously (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of perithecial development associated with F. solani on olive. References: (1) C. Booth. The Genus Fusarium. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1971. (2) R. L. Munjal et al. Studies on diseases of olive in himachal pradesh. Pages 437–440 In: Improvement of Forest Biomass. Symposium Proceedings. Indian Society of Tree Scientists. P. K. Kosla, ed. Sdan, India, 1982. (3) B. A. Pérez et al. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 91 (suppl):S71, 2001.
First Report of Phytophthora cryptogea in Walnut Stands in Italy
Authors: Vettraino A. M. , Belisario A. , Maccaroni M. , Anselmi N. , Vannini A. 
Published: May 2007

English (Persian) walnut (Juglans regia L.) is among the most widely cultivated species in pure and mixed plantations of broadleaved trees in Italy. A decline of walnut of increasing occurrence has been reported recently in new plantations in central and northern Italy. Symptoms of the decline were typically characterized by yellowing of the foliage, defoliation, and plant death. Dark, flame-shaped necroses were often present at the collar. Phytophthora cactorum, P. cambivora, and P. cinnamomi were among the species associated with necrotic tissues of the collar and main roots (1). Furthermore, a Phytophthora sp. was isolated from soil removed from the lateral root zone of 6 of 15 declining trees in 3 walnut plantations, 2 in northern Italy and 1 in central Italy. Isolations were made by baiting with Rhododendron leaves and plating on PARBhy selective medium (3). The species isolated was identified as P. cryptogea on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics (2). All isolates produced oval to obpyriform, nonpapillate sporangia and were mating type A2. Identification of the isolates was confirmed by comparing the restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA with those obtained from previously identified Phytophthora species. Pathogenicity tests on potted 2-year-old walnut seedlings were conducted using two isolates of P. cryptogea. Inoculum was prepared by growing isolates on sterilized millet seeds added to soil at 2.5% (wt/vol). Sporulation was induced by 24-h flooding of the soil. Symptoms were assessed 1 month after inoculation. Ten uninoculated seedlings were used as controls. Inoculated seedlings showed no symptoms on the tap root, but there were extensive necroses of lateral roots ranging from 14 to 75% (average 38.6 ± 6.7 SE) of total lateral root (dry weight) compared with values of 0 to 11% (average 3 ± 1.5 SE) for uninoculated seedlings. P. cryptogea was easily reisolated from infected lateral roots and from the soil of inoculated pots. The inoculation trials confirmed P. cryptogea as a feeder-root pathogen of walnut in Italy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. cryptogea on English walnut in Italy. This species often has been associated with walnut decline in the United States (2) and on other woody plants in Italy (3). References: (1) A. Belisario et al. Petria 11:127, 2001. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Association, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (3) A. M. Vettraino et al. Plant Pathol. 50:90, 2001.