scholarly journals Occurrence of Alternaria dichondrae, Cercospora sp., and Puccinia sp. on Dichondra repens in France and Italy

Plant Disease ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. 1012-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Cardin ◽  
B. Delecolle ◽  
B. Moury

Dichondra repens (kidneyweed or ponysfoot), family Convolvulaceae, is a perennial plant with persistent leaves and is grown alone or in association with turfgrass in subtropical and Mediterranean regions. Because of its prostrate growth habit, it does not need to be mowed. It is also used as a potted plant for house decoration. During surveys of lawns in public gardens of the Franco-Italian Riviera conducted from 1993 to 2003, we noticed 0.1- to 0.5-cm-diameter, brownish, necrotic spots on leaves of D. repens in Antibes, Cannes, Menton, Nice, and Vallauris (France) and in Arma di Taggia, Diano Marina, Imperia, La Mortola, Ospedaletti, San Remo, and Ventimiglia (Italy). Symptoms were more intense in the spring on young leaves but lesions remained all year on older leaves. Two species of fungal pathogens were frequently isolated from these spots. One fungus produced brown, erect conidiophores with brown, pear-shaped conidia and bifid, subhyaline beaks. Conidia formed singly, were composed of 8 to 10 cells with transverse and longitudinal crosswalls, and had one to four hyaline spurs frequently longer than the conidia. Conidia measured 90 to 260 × 16 to 29 μm. The pathogen, identified as Alternaria dichondrae (1), was previously characterized in Italy, New Zealand, and Argentina. The second fungus species produced clumps of erect, brown conidiophores with hyaline, filiform conidia composed of 10 to 20 cells. These conidia measured 90 to 310 × 3 to 3.5 μm. This fungus was identified as a Cercospora sp. (2), a genus not previously reported on D. repens. For both fungi, necrotic spots similar to those observed in natural infections were obtained after spraying a suspension of mycelium and conidia onto leaves of D. repens seedlings that had two to four expanded leaves that had been pricked with a pin. The plants were maintained under high humidity. Assays of mycelium growth on agar media containing various fungicides showed that 1 ppm of pyremethanil completely inhibited the growth of A. dichondrae, whereas a mixture of 10 ppm of diethofencarb and 10 ppm of carbendazine completely inhibited Cercospora sp. growth. Telia were also observed on the lower surface of D. repens leaves, sometimes in association with disease symptoms of A. dichondrae and Cercospora sp. Disease symptoms of the rust were yellowing and curling of the leaf surface with erect petiole, whereas healthy plants were prostrate with plane leaf surfaces. The two-celled teliospores had smooth cell walls, a single germinative pore per cell, and measured 32 to 34 × 12 to 13 μm with a thin unattached pedicel. This rust fungus was consequently classified in the genus Puccinia (2), also not previously reported as a pathogen of D. repens. It is possible that Poaceae plants such as Poa pratensis grown in association with D. repens were the inoculum source. Whereas A. dichondrae and Cercospora sp. do not induce severe diseases and are not widespread, the prevalence of Puccinia sp. tends to increase over time, requiring appropriate treatments to manage infected turf grasses. References: (1) P. Gambogi et al. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 65:322, 1975. (2) G. Viennot-Bourgin. Les Champignons Parasites des Plantes Cultivées, Masson ed. Paris, 1949.

Author(s):  
Ivana Šafránková ◽  
Jiří Müller

Marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) is an ornamental plant, that is used as a potted and landscape plant. In 2006, disease symptoms were observed on marguerite daisy (A. frutescens cv. ‘Butterfly’) in greenhouses in Brno-Tuřany. The pathogen primarily affected newly expanded young leaves and shoot tips. They were chlorotic, twisted and stunted. The affected leaf tips were necrotic. Bud flowers and flowers were deformed and get dry. The extensive purplish brown growth of downy mildew colonized the lower surface of infected leaves. Older leaves were unaffected.


Plant Disease ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 548-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Minutolo ◽  
B. Nanni ◽  
F. Scala ◽  
D. Alioto

In 2013 to 2014, a disease causing severe crop losses was observed in several growing areas of the Campania region in southern Italy. Disease symptoms consisted of necrotic spots on leaves, bracts, and shells along with vein necrosis. Nuts were necrotic or aborted and symptomatic fruit dropped prematurely. A fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissues and morphologically identified as Sphaceloma coryli. The fungus was first reported in France and Italy (Campania) over 30 years ago and was not subsequently documented until 2006 in the Latium region of Italy. When artificially inoculated on healthy hazelnut plants, disease symptoms were reproduced. The teleomorph of S. coryli was recorded for the first time on overwintering tissues of hazelnut trees. It was also induced in vitro. The morphology of asci and ascospores together with phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer sequences indicated that the teleomorph is an undescribed species within the genus Elsinoë for which the name of Elsinoë coryli is proposed. Optimum temperatures for ascospore and conidium germination and mycelium growth were determined in vitro. The inhibition effect of some commercial fungicides on S. coryli was also evaluated in vitro.


2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenna M. Malcolm ◽  
Gretchen A. Kuldau ◽  
Beth K. Gugino ◽  
María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco

Much of the current knowledge on population biology and ecology of soilborne fungal pathogens has been derived from research based on populations recovered from plants displaying disease symptoms or soil associated with symptomatic plants. Many soilborne fungal pathogens are known to cause disease on a large number of crop plants, including a variety of important agronomical, horticultural, ornamental, and forest plants species. For instance, the fungus Verticillium dahliae causes disease on >400 host plants. From a phytopathological perspective, plants on which disease symptoms have not been yet observed are considered to be nonhosts for V. dahliae. This term may be misleading because it does not provide information regarding the nature of the plant–fungus association; that is, a nonhost plant may harbor the fungus as an endophyte. Yet, there are numerous instances in the literature where V. dahliae has been isolated from asymptomatic plants; thus, these plants should be considered hosts. In this article, we synthesize scattered research that indicates that V. dahliae, aside from being a successful and significant vascular plant pathogen, may have a cryptic biology on numerous asymptomatic plants as an endophyte. Thus, we suggest here that these endophytic associations among V. dahliae and asymptomatic plants are not unusual relationships in nature. We propose to embrace the broader ecology of many fungi by differentiating between “symptomatic hosts” as those plants in which the infection and colonization by a fungus results in disease, and “asymptomatic hosts” as those plants that harbor the fungus endophytically and are different than true nonhosts that should be used for plant species that do not interact with the given fungus. In fact, if we broaden our definition of “host plant” to include asymptomatic plants that harbor the fungus as an endophyte, it is likely that the host ranges for some soilborne fungal pathogens are much larger than previously envisioned. By ignoring the potential for soilborne fungal pathogens to display endophytic relationships, we leave gaps in our knowledge about the population biology and ecology, persistence, and spread of these fungi in agroecosystems.


1961 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Neelakantan ◽  
B. V. Mehta

1. Symptoms of copper deficiency and toxicity were studied in guar, bottle gourd, eggplant and blue panic grass using sand culture technique.2. The visual deficiency symptoms are: curling of the young leaves along the margins, chlorosis of the leaflets, necrotic spots on the leaves and drying of very young leaves in guar; loss of turgidity and drooping of lower leaves followed by chlorosis and drying of leaves in bottle gourd; faint green colour of the leaves, chlorosis of the outer rim of the older leaves, white necrotic spots and leaf scorch in eggplant; yellowish green colour of leaves, brownish white spots and depressed growth in blue panic grass.3. The toxicity symptoms are: stunted growth, drying of the lower leaves and formation of few seedless pods in guar; chlorosis of the lower leaves and marked stunted growth in bottle gourd; dull green colour and chlorosis of the leaves in eggplant; stunted growth, leaf chlorosis and burning appearance of the plant in blue panic grass.4. There is an increase in copper uptake with increase in the rates of application of copper.5. There is a decrease in. the molybdenum content with increase in copper applications indicating the inverse copper-molybdenum relationship.


Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (12) ◽  
pp. 1660-1660
Author(s):  
A. Garibaldi ◽  
D. Bertetti ◽  
A. Poli ◽  
M. L. Gullino

Verbascum nigrum L., common name black mullein, family Scrophulariaceae, is a rustic perennial plant belonging to the native flora in Italy. The plant, which produces bright yellow flowers densely grouped on the tall stem, is used in low-maintenance gardens. During fall 2012, plants grown in mixed planting borders in a garden located in Biella Province (northern Italy) showed extensive foliar disease. Approximately 100 plants were affected by the disease. Early symptoms were small, light brown, necrotic spots on leaves, later reaching 10 mm diameter, with an irregular shape, showing a chlorotic halo. Necrotic areas often coalesced surrounded by yellowing. In some cases, the internal part of the necrotic areas dried with the appearance of holes. The disease progressed from the base to the apex of plants. In some cases, most of leaves turned completely necrotic and plants were severely damaged. Symptomatic tissues were immersed in a solution containing 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 to 3 s and rinsed with sterile distilled water. Small fragments were excised from the margin of lesions and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Petri dishes were incubated at temperatures ranging between 20 and 25°C under alternating daylight and darkness (12 h light, 12 h dark). A single fungus was consistently isolated and subcultured on malt extract agar (MEA). On MEA, colonies were felty, white cream, and produced dark globose or subglobose pycnidia measuring 68 to 185 × 62 to 177 (average 122 × 113) μm, containing hyaline (light grey in mass), ellipsoid, non-septate conidia measuring 3.1 to 5.7 × 1.5 to 2.7 (average 4.0 × 2.0) μm after 15 days. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1/D2 regions of rDNA were amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 and NL1/NL4, respectively, and then sequenced (GenBank Accession Nos. KC411473 and KF041823). BLAST analysis of both fragments showed 99% homology with the sequences GU237753 and JQ768403 of Phoma novae-verbascicola Aveskamp, Gruyter & Verkley (Basionym: Phyllosticta verbascicola Ellis & Kellerm.). Morphological characteristics of the fungus also were consistent with the descriptions of P. poolensis var. verbascicola (Ellis & Kellerm.) Aa & Boerema (2) (Syn.: P. novae-verbascicola). Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying a conidial suspension (4 × 104 CFU/ml) obtained from 15-day-old PDA cultures of the fungus onto leaves of three healthy 3-month-old V. nigrum. Three plants inoculated with sterile water served as controls. Plants were maintained in a growth chamber for 5 days at 25 ± 1°C under 70 to 90% relative humidity. The first foliar lesions developed on leaves 2 days after inoculation and after 5 days, 80% of leaves were severely infected. Control plants remained healthy. The organism reisolated on PDA from leaf lesions was identical in morphology to the isolate used for inoculation. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. Phoma spp. has been reported on Verbascum spp. P. novae-verbascicola has been very recently described (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of P. novae-verbascicola on V. nigrum in Italy. At present, the economic importance of this disease is limited, but may become a more significant problem if the cultivation of this species increases. References: (1) M. M. Aveskamp et al. Studies in Mycology, 65: 1, 2010. (2) J. de Gruyter et al. Persoonia 15 (3): 369, 1993.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Fang Liang ◽  
Xiong Du ◽  
Jiarui Zhang ◽  
Xiaoying Li ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
...  

In this study we analysed the expression patterns of TaLr35PR2 and confirmed its role in Lr35-mediated adult resistance to leaf rust fungus. β-1,3-glucanase, a pathogenesis-related protein, has a critical function in plant defence response against fungal pathogens. We previously described the full-length gene TaLr35PR2, which encodes a protein exhibiting amino acid and structural similarity to β-1,3-glucanase, in the wheat near-isogenic line TcLr35 (GenBank accession number DQ294235.1). This work aimed to further assess TaLr35PR2 expression patterns and function in Lr35-mediated adult resistance to Puccinia triticina. Immunoblot was performed to demonstrate that TaLr35PR2 expression was triggered early by P. triticina, with expression levels markedly elevated in incompatible interaction compared with those in compatible one. Additionally, TaLr35PR2 accumulation steadily increased and overtly peaked after challenge with P. triticina through the various developmental stages of TcLr35 wheat, and remaining at similar levels after mock inoculation. Furthermore, TaLr35PR2 expression was significantly reduced in barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-induced gene knockdown plants, in which pathological assessment revealed that TaLr35PR2-silenced plants was obviously susceptible to leaf rust fungus compared with wild-type TcLr35, indicating that Lr35-mediated resistance to leaf rust was diminished. These findings strongly suggest that TaLr35PR2 is involved in Lr35-mediated wheat defence against the leaf rust pathogen.


2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leszek Orlikowski ◽  
Magdalena Pļaszek ◽  
Adam Wojdyļa ◽  
Czesļaw Skrzypczak

First Notice ofPhytophthoraAerial Blight and Crown Rot on Pansies in PolandPhytophthora cactorumwas detected on &9/10; of pansies showing yellowing of leaves and crown rot symptoms and constituted about 90% of isolates obtained.Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium avenaceum, F. solaniandPythium ultimumwere also isolated from diseased tissues. Using rhododendron leaves as the bait,P. cactorumwas detected in pansy substratum as well as from soil under the mata. Isolates obtained from diseased plants, substratum and soil under mata colonized leaves, stem parts and roots of pansy. Necroses spread faster on organs inoculated with cultures from plants and substratum. Among 25 cultivars inoculated withP. cactorum, disease symptoms did not occur on 3 of them, whereas the fastest spread of necrotic spots (3.8 mm/24 hrs) was noticed on 3 cultivars. Isolates ofP. cactorumfromBegonia semperflorensandMalus domesticacolonized leaf petioles of pansy with significantly faster spread when isolates from begonia and pansy were used for inoculation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 55 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 552-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udo Roth ◽  
Annette Friebe ◽  
Heide Schnabl

Abstract Resistance inducing effects of an extract of Lychnis viscaria L. seeds, containing different brassinosteroids (BR), were investigated. Application of aqueous solutions in concentrations from 0.5 to 10 mg/l (dry wt. of extract) resulted in an enhanced resistance of tobacco, cucumber and tomato to viral and fungal pathogens of up to 36% compared with water-treated control plants. No direct anti-fungal effects in mycelium growth assays with Phytophthora infestans could be observed. After treatment and inoculation with powdery mildew a stimulation of different PR-proteins (ca. + 20% for peroxidase, + 30% for chitinase and up to + 68% for β-1,3-glucanase) in cucumber was found. A chitinase in gel-electrophoresisassay showed a stronger induction of a distinct isoform under the same conditions. Time course of peroxidase induction and changes of apoplastic protein patterns revealed by SDS-PAGE indicated an earlier triggering of defence responses after plant-extract treatment and pathogen attack, probably being responsible for the increased resistance. Involvement of the brassinosteroids in the plant extract is discussed to elicit or mediate the activation of defence-mechanisms.


Plant Disease ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 1401-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Perrotta ◽  
S. O. Cacciola ◽  
A. Pane ◽  
R. Faedda

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), an evergreen tree typical of the Mediterranean flora, has been grown in Sicily (Italy) from time immemorial for its fruits, used mainly as food for cattle and horses as well as for industrial production of alcohol. Although the economic importance of carob as a commercial crop has declined over the last decades, carob trees still are a characteristic aspect of the landscape in southeastern Sicily. In early April 1998, a severe outbreak of a foliar disease was noted on carob trees in the Ragusa province. Symptoms initially consisted of small (2 to 3 mm wide) dark brown, vein-limited spots, visible on both sides of the leaf and, later in the season, surrounded by a pale halo. In a humid atmosphere, spots scattered over the leaf blade but usually were most numerous along the midrib, enlarged, and coalesced, forming large blotches. Severely affected leaflets dropped, leaving the petiole attached to the tree. As a result, the trees appeared defoliated. Severely defoliated trees did not produce fruits. The causal agent of this disease was identified as Pseudocercospora ceratoniae (Pat. & Trab.) Deighton (1), an hyphomycetous fungus reported previously as a pathogen of carob under the name Cercospora ceratoniae Pat. & Trab. (3). On carob leaflets, P. ceratoniae formed grayish caespituli, confined to the lower surface of the necrotic spots. Caespituli consisted of dense fascicles of conidiophores (up to more than 50 conidiophores per fascicle) emerging through the stomata. Conidiophores were simple, slightly ampulliform, and geniculate at the conidial scars, which were conspicuous and unthickened. Old scars often were situated laterally on a short denticle. Conidia, borne singly as terminal blastospores and varying considerably in length, were pluriseptate, filiform, substraight or slightly curved, frequently slightly obclavate, with an obtuse apex and a short constriction at the base toward the truncate, unthickened hilum. Conidia from pure cultures of the fungus grown on water agar under black light were suspended in water and sprayed onto pot-grown carob plants. Inoculated plants were kept in a moist chamber for 48 h and subsequently transferred to the greenhouse. After 12 to 14 days leaf spots similar to those observed on naturally infected trees developed on inoculated plants and the pathogen was reisolated. Control plants sprayed with distilled water remained symptomless. C. ceratoniae had been recorded previously on carob in various Mediterranean countries, including Italy (2), but since has attracted little attention, being regarded as a sporadically occurring pathogen. Both mild temperatures during the winter and exceptionally frequent and persistent rain during the spring may have favored the epidemic outbreak of the disease caused by this fungus. References: (1) F. C. Deighton. 1976. Mycol. Pap. No. 140. Commonw. Mycol. Inst., Kew, England. (2) R. Parisi. Boll. Orto Bot. R. Univ. Napoli 10:155, 1932. (3) L. Roger. 1953. Phytopathologie des Pays Chauds. Vol. 2. P. Lechevalier, Paris.


Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 706-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Ramallo ◽  
L. D. Ploper ◽  
M. Ontivero ◽  
M. P. Filippone ◽  
A. Castagnaro ◽  
...  

Isolates were obtained from strawberry tissue with anthracnose symptoms from several locations near Tucumán, Argentina. Isolates were characterized using several criteria. Isolates produced fusiform conidia, tapered to a point at both ends, and averaged 13.5 × 4.9 μm. On potato dextrose agar, colonies produced a white cottony mycelial colony that turned orange in older cultures. Compared with Colletotrichum fragariae, the new isolates produced fewer appressoria. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on detached leaves and plants in the greenhouse and field. Detached immature leaves of cvs. Chandler, Fern, and Sweet Charlie were inoculated with a 20-μl droplet of an aqueous conidial suspension (106 conidia per ml) placed on the adaxial surface. Control leaves were inoculated with sterile distilled water. Leaves were maintained under white light (2,000 lux, 12 h/day) at 26°C, and 100% relative humidity. Necrotic spots were visible 4 days after inoculation. Greenhouse and field plants were spray-inoculated and covered for 48 h. Disease symptoms were mainly observed on petioles and runners 9 days after inoculation. No lesions were observed on control detached leaves or plants. Koch's postulates were confirmed in all cases. Based on morphological and cultural characteristics, isolates were identified as C. acutatum Simmonds (1). This is the first report of C. acutatum causing strawberry anthracnose in northwestern Argentina. Reference: (1) B. Smith and L. L. Black. Plant Dis. 74:69, 1990.


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