Antagonism between Byssochlamys spectabilis (anamorph Paecilomyces variotii) and plant pathogens: Involvement of the bioactive compounds produced by the endophyte
In conclusion, the fungal endophyte B. spectabilis and/or its bioactive compounds showed antagonism towards several phytopathogens and deserves further study to investigate its actual potential for use as a biocontrol agent.
The fungal endophyte Byssochlamys spectabilis (anamorph Paecilomyces variotii) showed antagonism towards phytopathogens in vitro and in Lolium rigidum plants. The antibiotic activity seemed to be caused by the secondary metabolite viriditoxin produced by the endophyte (Source: Annals of Applied Biology)
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: S. Rodrigo, O. Santamaria, S. Halecker, S. Lled ó, M. Stadler Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
How do caterpillars cope with xenobiotics? The case of Mythimna unipuncta, a species with low susceptibility to Bt
Abstract
Mythimna unipuncta is a species with low susceptibility to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, and this insect occasionally causes devastating damage to maize. In the study region, M. unipuncta‐developed larvae were observed moving from a non‐Bt crop to a nearby Bt crop. Although the first response of many caterpillars to xenobiotics, such as the Bt toxin, is to reduce food intake and prolong development, few studies have focused on the causes and consequences of this response in terms of resistance evolution. To clarify the causes of this response, this work compared changes in the feeding behaviour, cytoc...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: C. L ópez, P. Muñoz, M. Pérez‐Hedo, M. Moralejo, M. Eizaguirre Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Grafting to manage infections of top stunting and necrogenic strains of cucumber mosaic virus in tomato
In this study, we examined the dynamics of infection of the CMV strains tomato top stunting (TTS) and 77 supporting replication of satRNA variants that codetermine top stunting (TTS‐satRNA) and necrotic (77‐satRNA) phenotypes in two tomato cultivars denoted Solanum lycopersicum Manduria (Sl‐Ma) and S. lycopersicum UC82 (Sl‐UC). Sl‐Ma but not Sl‐UC recovered from disease symptoms induced by CMV‐TTS while both the cultivars succumbed to the infection of CMV‐77 and its necrogenic satRNA. Ability to recover of the Sl‐Ma plants was transmitted by grafting to the susceptible genotype Sl‐UC. More interestingly...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: R. Span ò, D. Gallitelli, T. Mascia Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Incidence and control of black spot syndrome of tiger nut
ABSTRACT
Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentum) is a very profitable crop in Valencia, Spain, but in the last years, part of the harvested tubers presents black spots in the skin making them unmarketable. Surveys performed in two consecutive years showed that about 10% of the tubers were severely affected by the black spot syndrome whose aetiology is unknown. Disease control procedures based on selection of tubers used as seed (seed tubers) or treatment with hot‐water and/or chemicals were assayed in greenhouse. These assays showed that that this syndrome had a negative impact on the germination rate, tuber size and yield. Selec...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: D. Alvares, C. Armero, A. Forte, J. Serra, L. Galipienso, L. Rubio Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Phenological behaviour of Parthenium hysterophorus in response to climatic variations according to the extended BBCH scale
Abstract
Considering the importance of ecological and biological traits in imparting invasive success to the alien species, the phenological behaviour of an alien invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus was documented according to the extended BBCH scale in four different seasons. A phenological calendar was prepared using both two‐ and three‐ digit coding system, precisely describing the developmental stages of the weed. The phenological documentation is further supplemented with the dates corresponding to a particular growth stage, pictures of the representative growth stages and meteorological data of all the four se...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: A. Kaur, D.R. Batish, S. Kaur, H.P. Singh, R.K. Kohli Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Slavery in plants: how the facultative hemi ‐parasitic plant Rhamphicarpa fistulosa can completely dominate its host
Abstract
The rain‐fed lowland rice weed Rhamphicarpa fistulosa (Rice Vampireweed) is a facultative root parasitic plant. Growth and reproduction of R. fistulosa benefit considerably from parasitism, but how this affects the host plant is not well established. We determined accumulation and partitioning of rice–parasite biomass in two pot experiments. First, rice (cv. IR64) was grown under eight R. fistulosa densities (15–1000 seeds per pot) with two sampling times. Next, 2 parasite densities (6 and 13 plants per pot) were combined with 9 destructive samplings. Infection increased host root: shoot ratios and decreased...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: S. Kabiri, J. Rodenburg, A. van Ast, L. Bastiaans Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
How do weeds differ in their response to the timing of tillage? A study of 61 species across the northeastern United States
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated that the season in which soil is tilled (spring versus fall) can strongly influence weed community assembly and subsequent species composition and abundance in annual cropping systems. Despite this understanding, it is unknown whether finer‐scale, within‐season variation in the timing of tillage has similar impacts on weed community assembly. We conducted an experiment on four research farms across the northeastern USA to test the effects of tillage timing on weed emergence periodicity. Soil was tilled at 12 different times that were 2 weeks apart from 29 April to 30 Septembe...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - September 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: S. Cordeau, R.G. Smith, E.R. Gallandt, B. Brown, P. Salon, A. DiTommaso, M.R. Ryan Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Novel phytoplasma strains of X ‐disease group unveil genetic markers that distinguish North American and South American geographic lineages within subgroups 16SrIII‐J and 16SrIII‐U
Abstract
Phytoplasmas in the X‐disease group (16SrIII) are highly diverse in terms of geographic distributions, vectorship and plant host specificity. Such biological and ecological diversity is often correlated with distinctive genetic markers present in evolutionarily conserved genes. Based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers in the 16S rRNA gene sequences, 29 subgroups have been delineated, with most of them being found in the Americas. However, it has been unknown whether distinct geographic lineages are present within a given subgroup. Prior to this study, phytoplasmas belonging to subgroups 1...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - August 18, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: E. P érez‐López, W. Wei, J. Wang, R.E. Davis, M. Luna‐Rodríguez, Y. Zhao Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Relative importance of natural enemies and abiotic factors as sources of regulation of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Brazilian coffee plantations
In this study, we determined the critical stages and the key factors of mortality for Planococcus citri using a life table to understand the role of natural biological control on its population. Predators, parasitoids, rainfall, sunlight, physiological disturbances and fungal diseases were collectively responsible for 98.79% in the total mortality of P. citri. The generalist predators Harmonia axyridis, Chrysoperla genanigra and C. externa were the key mortality factors for P. citri. The third nymph stage was considered the critical mortality stage. Our results show that these generalist predators are important natural con...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - July 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: N. Rodrigues ‐Silva, S. Oliveira Campos, E. Sá Farias, T.C. Souza, J.C. Martins, M.C. Picanço Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Microbe ‐mediated control of Aspergillus flavus in stored rice grains with a focus on aflatoxin inhibition and biodegradation
In this study, we evaluated rice‐derived bacterial strains to identify biocontrol agents to inhibit Aspergillus flavus in stored rice grains. Consequently, we obtained three potential biocontrol strains (Microbacterium testaceum KU313, Bacillus megaterium KU143 and Pseudomonas protegens AS15) from 26 tested strains that were prescreened from the 460 strains isolated from rice grains. The three selected strains proved to be effective biocontrol agents showing antifungal activity against A. flavus and good colonisation ability on rice grains, along with inhibition of the fungal growth and aflatoxin production. In particula...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - July 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: M. Mannaa, J.Y. Oh, K.D. Kim Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
The role of invertebrates in seedling establishment in a heterocarpic plant, Atriplex sagittata
In this study, the timing of seed release and seedling establishment were ascertained, and their consumption by invertebrates (carabids, isopods and slugs) was studied. Seeds dispersed in the autumn passed the winter on the ground surface, protected from invertebrate predation by low temperatures. In the following vegetative season, ungerminated black seeds exposed to predation on ground surface were preferred by a large carabid species, Pseudoophonus rufipes. Some black and all brown seeds escaped predation by germinating in early spring. The seedlings were little endangered by carabids and isopods but were preferred by a...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - July 1, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: A. Honek, Z. Martinkova, S. Koprdova, P. Saska Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Recent advances and prospects in Prunus virology
Abstract
The stone fruit genus Prunus, within the family Rosaceae, comprises more than 230 species, some of which have great importance or value as ornamental or fruit crops. Prunus are affected by numerous viruses and viroids linked to the vegetative propagation practices in many of the cultivated species. To date, 44 viruses and three viroids have been described in the 9 main cultivated Prunus species. Seven of these viruses and one viroid have been identified in Prunus hosts within the last 5 years. This work addresses recent advances and prospects in the study of viruses and viroids affecting Prunus species, mostly con...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - June 30, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: M. Rubio, P. Mart ínez‐Gómez, A. Marais, J.A. Sánchez‐Navarro, V. Pallás, T. Candresse Tags: REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research
Brazilian melon landraces resistant to Podosphaera xanthii are unique germplasm resources
Podosphaera xanthii is the most important causal agent of powdery mildew in melon, a crop ranked within the most economically important species worldwide. The best strategy to face this fungus disease, which causes important production losses, is the development of genetically resistant cultivars. Genetic breeding programmes require sources of resistance, and a few ones have been reported in melon, mostly in Momordica and Acidulus horticultural groups. However, the existence of many races that reduces the durability of the resistance makes necessary to find new resistant genotypes with different genetic backgrounds.
In thi...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - June 30, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: E.W.L.P. Nunes, C. Esteras, A.O. Ricarte, E.M. Mart ínez, M.L. Gómez‐Guillamón, G.H.S. Nunes, M.B. Picó Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
Detection of Southern tomato virus by molecular hybridisation
Abstract
Southern tomato virus (STV) is a double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus belonging to the genus Amalgavirus from the family Amalgamaviridae. STV has been detected in tomato plants showing symptoms of stunting, fruit discoloration and size reduction, although its role on symptom development is unclear. Also, little is known about the incidence and epidemiology of this virus and how it spreads in tomato crops. In this work, we developed a molecular hybridisation method by using a digoxigenin‐labelled RNA probe based on the nucleotide sequence of the STV putative coat protein which was tested with different procedures ...
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - June 28, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: A.V. Puchades, C. Carpino, A. Alfaro ‐Fernandez, M.I. Font‐San‐Ambrosio, S. Davino, J. Guerri, L. Rubio, L. Galipienso Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
A chitinase from Euphorbia characias latex is a novel and powerful plant ‐based pesticide against Drosophila suzukii
In conclusion, ELC, a natural product, proved to be an effective tool for use in the development of an environmentally friendly integrated management strategy against D. suzukii, a pest whose control by conventional chemical insecticides is problematic. (Source: Annals of Applied Biology)
Source: Annals of Applied Biology - June 27, 2017 Category: Biology Authors: S. Martos, D. Span ò, N. Agustí, C. Poschenrieder, F. Pintus, L. Moles, R. Medda Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research
