scholarly journals Diagnosis of Fungal Plant Pathogens Using Conventional and Molecular Approaches

Author(s):  
Monika C. Dayarathne ◽  
Amin U. Mridha ◽  
Yong Wang

Fungi are a large group of eukaryotes found as saprophytes, pathogens or endophytes, which distribute in every corner of our planet. As the main pathogens, fungi can cause 70–80% of total plant diseases, leading to huge crop yield reduction and economic loss. For identification of fungal plant pathogens, mycologists and plant pathologists have mainly gone through two stages, viz. morphological observation and morphology/phylogeny, and the next era might be utilizing DNA barcodes as the tool for rapid identification. This chapter accounts i) the brief history of development for fungal identification tools and main concepts, ii) the importance and confusion of “One fungus, one name” for pathogen identification, iii) more or fewer species that we need in agricultural practice, and iv) the foreground of fungal plant pathogen identification. These will help to solve the practical problems of identification of fungal pathogens in agricultural production.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Suffert ◽  
Muriel Suffert

AbstractThe experience presented here relates to 2020, a particularly timely year for plant disease-related communication (‘International Year of Plant Health’ IYPH2020), but also a unique year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal was to illustrate the diversity and beauty of fungal plant pathogens through a naturalist approach that could be followed by any amateur. We achieved this end through ‘phytopathological strolls’, in which we observed and determined the origin of symptoms on diseased plants found in our garden, in the local streets, in nearby open spaces, and sharing this matter with a broad public. The lockdown imposed in France created an additional motivation to take up the challenge, and to involve our children, even under strong constraints, such as movement restrictions. We observed and described fungal pathogens through hundreds of photographs, shared our findings with a large audience on Twitter, and received feedback. The material used was deliberately simple and transportable: a digital reflex camera, an old microscope, a mobile phone, some books and an Internet connexion. Between March 17 March and December 15, 2020 we found 148 plant pathogens, including 72 rusts, 22 powdery mildews and 22 septoria-like diseases. We discuss here the importance of promoting searches for plant pathogens, their description and conservation, through a combination of classical approaches and digital tools in tune with the times, such as Twitter, by treating pathogen identification like a detective game and, more surprisingly, by making use of the addictive nature of collection approaches, drawing a parallel with Pokémon Go.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1096
Author(s):  
Chitrabhanu S. Bhunjun ◽  
Alan J. L. Phillips ◽  
Ruvishika S. Jayawardena ◽  
Itthayakorn Promputtha ◽  
Kevin D. Hyde

Fungi are an essential component of any ecosystem, but they can also cause mild and severe plant diseases. Plant diseases are caused by a wide array of fungal groups that affect a diverse range of hosts with different tissue specificities. Fungi were previously named based only on morphology and, in many cases, host association, which has led to superfluous species names and synonyms. Morphology-based identification represents an important method for genus level identification and molecular data are important to accurately identify species. Accurate identification of fungal pathogens is vital as the scientific name links the knowledge concerning a species including the biology, host range, distribution, and potential risk of the pathogen, which are vital for effective control measures. Thus, in the modern era, a polyphasic approach is recommended when identifying fungal pathogens. It is also important to determine if the organism is capable of causing host damage, which usually relies on the application of Koch’s postulates for fungal plant pathogens. The importance and the challenges of applying Koch’s postulates are discussed. Bradford Hill criteria, which are generally used in establishing the cause of human disease, are briefly introduced. We provide guidelines for pathogenicity testing based on the implementation of modified Koch’s postulates incorporating biological gradient, consistency, and plausibility criteria from Bradford Hill. We provide a set of protocols for fungal pathogenicity testing along with a severity score guide, which takes into consideration the depth of lesions. The application of a standard protocol for fungal pathogenicity testing and disease assessment in plants will enable inter-studies comparison, thus improving accuracy. When introducing novel plant pathogenic fungal species without proving the taxon is the causal agent using Koch’s postulates, we advise the use of the term associated with the “disease symptoms” of “the host plant”. Where possible, details of disease symptoms should be clearly articulated.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (15) ◽  
pp. 6846-6863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-Yi Lee Marzano ◽  
Berlin D. Nelson ◽  
Olutoyosi Ajayi-Oyetunde ◽  
Carl A. Bradley ◽  
Teresa J. Hughes ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMycoviruses can have a marked effect on natural fungal communities and influence plant health and productivity. However, a comprehensive picture of mycoviral diversity is still lacking. To characterize the viromes of five widely dispersed plant-pathogenic fungi,Colletotrichum truncatum,Macrophomina phaseolina,Diaporthe longicolla,Rhizoctonia solani, andSclerotinia sclerotiorum, a high-throughput sequencing-based metatranscriptomic approach was used to detect viral sequences. Total RNA and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from mycelia and RNA from samples enriched for virus particles were sequenced. Sequence data were assembledde novo, and contigs with predicted amino acid sequence similarities to viruses in the nonredundant protein database were selected. The analysis identified 72 partial or complete genome segments representing 66 previously undescribed mycoviruses. Using primers specific for each viral contig, at least one fungal isolate was identified that contained each virus. The novel mycoviruses showed affinity with 15 distinct lineages:Barnaviridae,Benyviridae,Chrysoviridae,Endornaviridae,Fusariviridae,Hypoviridae,Mononegavirales,Narnaviridae,Ophioviridae,Ourmiavirus,Partitiviridae,Tombusviridae,Totiviridae,Tymoviridae, andVirgaviridae. More than half of the viral sequences were predicted to be members of theMitovirusgenus in the familyNarnaviridae, which replicate within mitochondria. Five viral sequences showed strong affinity with three families (Benyviridae,Ophioviridae, andVirgaviridae) that previously contained no mycovirus species. The genomic information provides insight into the diversity and taxonomy of mycoviruses and coevolution of mycoviruses and their fungal hosts.IMPORTANCEPlant-pathogenic fungi reduce crop yields, which affects food security worldwide. Plant host resistance is considered a sustainable disease management option but may often be incomplete or lacking for some crops to certain fungal pathogens or strains. In addition, the rising issues of fungicide resistance demand alternative strategies to reduce the negative impacts of fungal pathogens. Those fungus-infecting viruses (mycoviruses) that attenuate fungal virulence may be welcome additions for mitigation of plant diseases. By high-throughput sequencing of the RNAs from 275 isolates of five fungal plant pathogens, 66 previously undescribed mycoviruses were identified. In addition to identifying new potential biological control agents, these results expand the grand view of the diversity of mycoviruses and provide possible insights into the importance of intracellular and extracellular transmission in fungus-virus coevolution.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. JALLI ◽  
P. LAITINEN ◽  
S. LATVALA

Fungal plant pathogens causing cereal diseases in Finland have been studied by a literature survey, and a field survey of cereal leaf spot diseases conducted in 2009. Fifty-seven cereal fungal diseases have been identified in Finland. The first available references on different cereal fungal pathogens were published in 1868 and the most recent reports are on the emergence of Ramularia collo-cygni and Fusarium langsethiae in 2001. The incidence of cereal leaf spot diseases has increased during the last 40 years. Based on the field survey done in 2009 in Finland, Pyrenophora teres was present in 86%, Cochliobolus sativus in 90% and Rhynchosporium secalis in 52% of the investigated barley fields. Mycosphaerella graminicola was identified for the first time in Finnish spring wheat fields, being present in 6% of the studied fields. Stagonospora nodorum was present in 98% and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in 94% of spring wheat fields. Oat fields had the fewest fungal diseases. Pyrenophora chaetomioides was present in 63% and Cochliobolus sativus in 25% of the oat fields studied.;


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. e296101522465
Author(s):  
Erika Valente de Medeiros ◽  
Lucas Figueira da Silva ◽  
Jenifer Sthephanie Araújo da Silva ◽  
Diogo Paes da Costa ◽  
Carlos Alberto Fragoso de Souza ◽  
...  

A better understanding of the use of biochar with Trichoderma spp. (TRI), considered the most studied tool for biological control, would increase our ability to set priorities. However, no studies exist using the two inputs on plant disease management. Here, we hypothesized that biochar and TRI would be used for the management of soilborne plant pathogens, mainly due to changes in soil properties and its interactions. To test this hypothesis, this review assesses papers that used biochar and TRI against plant diseases and we summarize the handling mechanisms for each input. Biochar acts by mechanisms: induction to plant resistance, sorption of allelopathic and fungitoxic compounds, increase of beneficial microorganisms, changes the soil properties that promote health and nutrient availability. Trichoderma as biocontrol agents by different mechanisms: mycoparasitism, enzyme and secondary metabolic production, plant promoter agent, natural decomposition agent, and biological agent of bioremediation. Overall, our findings expand our knowledge about the reuse of wastes transformed in biochar combined with Trichoderma has potential perspective to formulate products as alternative management tool of plant disease caused by soilborne fungal pathogen and add important information that can be suitable for development of strategy for use in the global health concept.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (S2) ◽  
pp. 680-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Bourett ◽  
K. J. Czymmek ◽  
T. M. Dezwaan ◽  
J. A. Sweigard ◽  
R. J. Howard

Specific gene products of both pathogens and hosts have been implicated as decisive elements during plant pathogenesis. While expression of some of these genes is constitutive, that of others is likely ephemeral and activated only during a particular stage of the interaction. Because the relative timing of expression may be critical, transcription and translation have often been addressed by extracting mRNA and proteins from infected plant tissue. This approach, however, cannot readily detect proteins of low abundance in bulk samples nor offer much useful information on cell-cell interaction. Only a cytological analysis that employs microscopy can resolve the temporal and spatial details of gene expression. Typically, such protein localization studies have required specific antibodies, but these large probe molecules do not diffuse into living or conventionally fixed cells of either fungal pathogens or plant hosts. For TEM analysis, these permeability-imposed limitations have been reduced by thin sectioning to render accessible antibody binding sites.


2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiyumi Shimada ◽  
Volker Lipka ◽  
Richard O'Connell ◽  
Tetsuro Okuno ◽  
Paul Schulze-Lefert ◽  
...  

Pathogenesis of nonadapted fungal pathogens is often terminated coincident with their attempted penetration into epidermal cells of nonhost plants. The genus Colletotrichum represents an economically important group of fungal plant pathogens that are amenable to molecular genetic analysis. Here, we investigated interactions between Arabidopsis and Colletotrichum to gain insights in plant and pathogen processes activating nonhost resistance responses. Three tested nonadapted Colletotrichum species differentiated melanized appressoria on Arabidopsis leaves but failed to form intracellular hyphae. Plant cells responded to Colletotrichum invasion attempts by the formation of PMR4/GSL5-dependent papillary callose. Appressorium differentiation and melanization were insufficient to trigger this localized plant cell response, but analysis of nonpathogenic C. lagenarium mutants implicates penetration-peg formation as the inductive cue. We show that Arabidopsis PEN1 syntaxin controls timely accumulation of papillary callose but is functionally dispensable for effective preinvasion (penetration) resistance in nonhost interactions. Consistent with this observation, green fluorescent protein-tagged PEN1 did not accumulate at sites of attempted penetration by either adapted or nonadapted Colletotrichum species, in contrast to the pronounced focal accumulations of PEN1 associated with entry of powdery mildews. We observed extensive reorganization of actin microfilaments leading to polar orientation of large actin bundles towards appressorial contact sites in interactions with the nonadapted Colletotrichum species. Pharmacological inhibition of actin filament function indicates a functional contribution of the actin cytoskeleton for both preinvasion resistance and papillary callose formation. Interestingly, the incidence of papilla formation at entry sites was greatly reduced in interactions with C. higginsianum isolates, indicating that this adapted pathogen may suppress preinvasion resistance at the cell periphery.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 882
Author(s):  
Shachar Jerushalmi ◽  
Marcel Maymon ◽  
Aviv Dombrovsky ◽  
Stanley Freeman

The use of and research on medical cannabis (MC) is becoming more common, yet there are still many challenges regarding plant diseases of this crop. For example, there is a lack of formal and professional knowledge regarding fungi that infect MC plants, and practical and effective methods for managing the casual agents of disease are limited. The purpose of this study was to identify foliar, stem, and soilborne pathogens affecting MC under commercial cultivation in Israel. The predominant major foliage pathogens were identified as Alternaria alternata and Botrytis cinerea, while the common stem and soilborne pathogens were identified as Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. Other important fungi that were isolated from foliage were those producing various mycotoxins that can directly harm patients, such as Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. The sampling and characterization of potential pathogenic fungi were conducted from infected MC plant parts that exhibited various disease symptoms. Koch postulates were conducted by inoculating healthy MC tissues and intact plants with fungi isolated from infected commercially cultivated symptomatic plants. In this study, we report on the major and most common plant pathogens of MC found in Israel, and determine the seasonal outbreak of each fungus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
B Oyuntogtokh ◽  
M Byambasuren

At present, plant diseases caused by soil borne plant pathogens have major constraints on crop production. Which include genera Fusarium spp, Phytophtora spp, Sclerotinia and Altenaria. Due to this reason, chemical fungicides are routinely used to control plant disease, which is also true in Mongolian case. However, use of these chemicals has caused various problems including environmental pollution with consequence of toxicity to human health also resistance of some pathogens to these fungicides are present. Fortunately, an alternative method to reduce the effect of these plant pathogens is the use of antagonist microorganisms. Therefore, some species of the genus Bacillus are recognized as one of the most effective biological control agent.Our research was focused to isolate Bacillus licheniformis, with antifungal potential, from indigenous sources. In the current study, 28 bacterial cultures were isolated from soil and fermented mare’s milk also named as koumiss. Isolated bacterial cultures were identified according to simplified key for the tentative identification of typical strain of Bacillus species. As a result 8 strains were positive and further screened for antifungal activity against Fusarium spp and Alternaria solani. Out of these 8 strains 5 strains are selected based on their high effectiveness against fungal pathogens and for further confirmation Polymerase Chain reaction run for effective bacterial strains using specific primers B.Lich-f and B.Lich-r. 


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shabir Hussain WANI

Plant diseases are caused by a variety of plant pathogens including fungi, and their management requires the use of techniques like transgenic technology, molecular biology, and genetics. There have been attempts to use gene technology as an alternative method to protect plants from microbial diseases, in addition to the development of novel agrochemicals and the conventional breeding of resistant cultivars. Various genes have been introduced into plants, and the enhanced resistance against fungi has been demonstrated. These include: genes that express proteins, peptides, or antimicrobial compounds that are directly toxic to pathogens or that reduce their growth in situ; gene products that directly inhibit pathogen virulence products or enhance plant structural defense genes, that directly or indirectly activate general plant defense responses; and resistance genes involved in the hypersensitive response and in the interactions with virulence factors. The introduction of the tabtoxin acetyltransferase gene, the stilbene synthase gene, the ribosome-inactivation protein gene and the glucose oxidase gene brought enhanced resistance in different plants. Genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes such as chitinase and glucanase, which can deteriorate fungal cell-wall components, are attractive candidates for this approach and are preferentially used for the production of fungal disease-resistant plants. In addition to this, RNA-mediated gene silencing is being tried as a reverse tool for gene targeting in plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens. In this review, different mechanisms of fungal disease resistance through biotechnological approaches are discussed and the recent advances in fungal disease management through transgenic approach are reviewed.


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