Blight Of Tomato Research Articles

Comparison of three diagrammatic keys for the quantification of late blight in tomato leaves

Three diagrammatic grading keys were designed for the assessment of the severity of late blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans) in tomato leaves. Simplified and broad keys considered, respectively, six (3, 12, 22, 40, 60 and 77%) and eight (3, 6, 12, 22, 40, 60, 77 and 90%) levels of disease severity, whilst a modified key based on a previous proposal for potato late blight considered six levels (1, 5, 10, 16, 32 and 50%). The keys were validated by 24 evaluators who assessed digital images of tomato leaves exhibiting different areas with lesions. Evaluator errors were compared using a mixed model in which evaluators were considered as random effects and the keys and evaluations as fixed effects. The accuracy and precision of the evaluators were compared by simple linear regression between the estimated and actual values of disease severity. The repeatability of evaluators was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. There was significant (P ≤ 0·001) variability amongst the errors made by evaluators, although the precision of each of the three keys was high with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0·96, 0·93 and 0·83 for the simplified, broad and modified key, respectively. Repeatability of estimations amongst the evaluators was adequate (correlation coefficients of 0·91, 0·91 and 0·90 for the three keys, respectively). The simplified and broad keys resulted in higher precision and accuracy for the estimation of severity than did the modified key. Since the simplified key considers a smaller number of disease severity levels, its use is recommended in the assessment of late blight in tomato leaves.

Cellular Responses of the Late Blight Pathogen Phytophthora infestans to Cyclic Lipopeptide Surfactants and Their Dependence on G Proteins

Oomycete pathogens cause major yield losses for many crop plants, and their control depends heavily on agrochemicals. Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) were recently discovered as a new class of natural compounds with strong activities against oomycetes. The CLP massetolide A (Mass A), produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens, has zoosporicidal activity, induces systemic resistance, and reduces late blight in tomato. To gain further insight into the modes of action of CLPs, the effects of Mass A on pore formation, mycelial growth, sporangium formation, and zoospore behavior were investigated, as was the involvement of G proteins in the sensitivity of Phytophthora infestans to Mass A. The results showed that Mass A induced the formation of transmembrane pores with an estimated size of between 1.2 and 1.8 nm. Dose-response experiments revealed that zoospores were the most sensitive to Mass A, followed by mycelium and cysts. Mass A significantly reduced sporangium formation and caused increased branching and swelling of hyphae. At relatively low concentrations, Mass A induced encystment of zoospores. It had no effect on the chemotactic response of zoospores but did adversely affect zoospore autoaggregation. A loss-of-function transformant of P. infestans lacking the G-protein alpha subunit was more sensitive to Mass A, whereas a gain-of-function transformant required a higher Mass A concentration to interfere with zoospore aggregation. Results indicate that Mass A disturbs various developmental stages in the life cycle of P. infestans and suggest that the cellular responses of P. infestans to this CLP are, in part, dependent on G-protein signaling.

Molecular Diversity and Evolutionary Processes of Alternaria solani in Brazil Inferred Using Genealogical and Coalescent Approaches

Alternaria spp. form a heterogeneous group of saprophytic and plant-pathogenic fungi widespread in temperate and tropical regions. However, the relationship between evolutionary processes and genetic diversity with epidemics is unknown for several plant-pathogenic Alternaria spp. The interaction of Alternaria solani populations with potato and tomato plants is an interesting case study for addressing questions related to molecular evolution of an asexual fungus. Gene genealogies based on the coalescent process were used to infer evolutionary processes that shape the A. solani population. Sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the genes which encode the allergenic protein alt a 1 (Alt a 1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gpd) were used to estimate haplotype and nucleotide diversity as well as for the coalescent analyses. The highest number of parsimony informative sites (n = 14), nucleotide diversity (0.007), and the average number of nucleotide differences (3.20) were obtained for Alt a 1. Although the highest number of haplotypes (n = 7) was generated for ITS, haplotype diversity was the lowest (0.148) for this region. Recombination was not detected. Subdivision was inferred from populations associated with hosts but there was no evidence of geographic subdivision, and gene flow is occurring among subpopulations. In the analysis of the Alt a 1, balancing selection and population expansion or purifying selection could have occurred in A. solani subpopulations associated with potato and tomato plants, respectively. There is strong evidence that the subpopulation of A. solani that causes early blight in potato is genetically distinct from the subpopulation that causes early blight in tomato. The population of A. solani is clonal, and gene flow and mutation are the main evolutionary processes shaping its genetic structure.

Biological control of Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early blight of tomato.

Plant extracts and saprophytic fungi isolated from tomato phylloplane were evaluated against Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early blight of tomato, under screen house and field conditions. Foliar spray of Clerodendron leaf extract (15%) immediately after appearance of symptoms or foliar spray of Trichoderma viride (10 7 CFUs ml −1 ) 24h before challenge inoculation with the test fungus was found effective In reducing the disease severity under screen house conditions. Under field studies, effective control of the disease was recorded with three sprays of mancozeb (2000ppm). However, disease severity could be significantly reduced with initial spray of Clerodendron leaf extract (15%) or T. viride (107 CFUs ml −1 ) followed by two sprays of mancozeb.

Biological control of Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early blight of tomato.

Plant extracts and saprophytic fungi isolated from tomato phylloplane were evaluated against Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early blight of tomato, under screen house and field conditions. Foliar spray of Clerodendron leaf extract (15%) immediately after appearance of symptoms or foliar spray of Trichoderma viride (10 7 CFUs ml −1 ) 24h before challenge inoculation with the test fungus was found effective In reducing the disease severity under screen house conditions. Under field studies, effective control of the disease was recorded with three sprays of mancozeb (2000ppm). However, disease severity could be significantly reduced with initial spray of Clerodendron leaf extract (15%) or T. viride (107 CFUs ml −1 ) followed by two sprays of mancozeb.

Control of plant diseases by natural products: Allicin from garlic as a case study

This review aims to increase awareness of the potential for developing plant protection strategies based on natural products. Selected examples of commercial successes are given and recent data from our own laboratory using allicin from garlic are presented. The volatile antimicrobial substance allicin (diallylthiosulphinate) is produced in garlic when the tissues are damaged and the substrate alliin (S-allyl-l-cysteine sulphoxide) mixes with the enzyme alliin-lyase (E.C.4.4.1.4). Allicin is readily membrane-permeable and undergoes thiol-disulphide exchange reactions with free thiol groups in proteins. It is thought that these properties are the basis of its antimicrobial action. We tested the effectiveness of garlic juice against a range of plant pathogenic bacteria, fungi and oomycetes in vitro. Allicin effectively controlled seed-borne Alternaria spp. in carrot, Phytophthora leaf blight of tomato and tuber blight of potato as well as Magnaporthe on rice and downy mildew of Arabidopsis. In Arabidopsis the reduction in disease was apparently due to a direct action against the pathogen since no accumulation of salicylic acid (a marker for systemic acquired resistance, SAR) was observed after treatment with garlic extract. We see a potential for developing preparations from garlic for use in organic farming, e.g. for reducing the pathogen inoculum potential in planting material such as seeds and tubers. We have tested various encapsulation formulations in comparison to direct treatment.

Evaluation of Antibiotic Metabolites from Actinomycete Isolates for the Control of Late Blight of Tomatoes under Greenhouse Conditions

Evaluation of Antibiotic Metabolites from Actinomycete Isolates for the Control of Late Blight of Tomatoes under Greenhouse Conditions

Trichoderma communities in soils from organic, sustainable, and conventional farms, and their relation with Southern blight of tomato

The objectives of this research were to investigate the relationship between propagule numbers and genetic diversity of Trichoderma species and Southern blight of tomato caused by soilborne plant pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii in soils with long-term organic, sustainable, and conventional farms. Dilution plating was use to quantify the propagule numbers of Trichoderma, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequence analysis were used to identify Trichoderma species, and greenhouse assay were conducted for soil suppressiveness to Southern blight. The propagule numbers of Trichoderma tend to be higher in soils from conventional farms. There was no clear separation for the propagule numbers of Trichoderma based on different management systems using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). However, there was general separation for total microbial communities based on organic and conventional management systems using CCA. That suggests that the difference of soil suppressiveness to disease from organic, sustainable, and conventional farms is due to the difference of the total microbial diversity but not directly due to the Trichoderma populations in each farming system. The propagule numbers of soil Trichoderma did not significantly correlate with the diseases suppressiveness, although individual species of Trichoderma harzianum was shown to be related to disease suppressiveness. Moreover, several Trichoderma species were found in the soil tested based on DGGE and DNA sequence analysis. Trichoderma hamatum, T. harzianum, Trichoderma virens, and Trichoderma erinaecem were the most abundant species in tested soil.

Pests of Fruit Crops - by D.V. Alford, Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Peas and Beans - by A.J. Biddle & N.D. Cattlin, Plant Nematodes of Agricultural Importance - by J. Bridge & J.L. Starr and Vegetable Diseases - by S.T. Koike, P. Gladders, A.O. Paulus

Pests of Fruit Crops . Alford, D.V. . 462pp . £95 . ISBN 978-1-84076-051-4 . Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Peas and Beans . Biddle, A.J. & Cattlin, N.D. . 128pp . £35 . ISBN 978-1-84076-018-7 . Plant Nematodes of Agricultural Importance . Bridge, J. & Starr, J.L. , 152pp . £40 . ISBN 978-1-84076-063-7 . Vegetable Diseases . Koike, S.T., Gladders, P., Paulus, A.O. . 448pp . £95 . ISBN 978-1-84076-075-0 . All titles 27 × 20 cm . London UK : Manson Publishing Ltd [http://www.mansonpublishing.com/science/sci_plant.html] , 2007 (hardback) . Manson Publishing Ltd have published four new books in 2007 in their Plant Protection Handbook Series bringing the total to a dozen assorted Colour Handbook and Atlas titles. Under commissioning editor Jill Northcott the current publications once again deliver superb colour photographic images of pests and diseases with colour reproduction from Hong Kong and printing done in Spain. Together with generally excellent supporting text, readers will find quality and quantity of information in each book. David Alford's ‘Pests of Fruit Crops’ is European-based in scope and seeks to replace ‘A Colour Atlas of Fruit Pests’ published in 1984. Unlike the earlier text the present book excludes information on control – the author pointing out that available pesticides and particular strategies differ significantly between countries, and anyway are being constantly reviewed. The other three titles, however, offer advice, albeit briefly, on tackling parasites and disorders although each is differently labelled: ‘controlling’ in vegetables; ‘prevention and control’ in pulses; whilst Bridge & Starr provide readers with ‘management’ for dealing with nematodes. Diagnosticians and many others too, involved in crop production will find these new titles useful additions and perhaps replacements for existing library sources. I am sure all the information, including good images, are available via web sites and search engines, but here is fully indexed, high quality collated information by leading UK and US experts. Matching this scholarship is the high quality production producing books solid in content and form. In part, these titles compete with the APS Disease Compendium Series – the latter involving multiple authorship by experts with a handful of references for each listed disease or disorder. In the Handbooks, apart from ‘Vegetable Diseases’ there is just a single page or so of selected bibliography. In the vegetable-text all diseases of main-crops, or all of the specialty (this book adopts US spelling) crops, have listed references. This is both generous and, of course, ambitious and so mistakes will occur. For example, in late blight of tomato there are two errors with authors (one misspelt, the other missing) in two of the 21 listed references. Furthermore, and despite this long list, the authors are less than lucid in explaining different aspects of the interesting recent changes in the population biology of Phytophthora infestans. However, this is a minor gripe when considering the authors are covering more than 250 diseases and some disorders. In each case the supporting text is sectioned into; introduction and significance; symptoms and diagnostic features; causal agent; disease cycle; and control. In this particular book, Koike et al. rightly claim in the preface that the supporting colour images will increase recognition and diagnosis of diseases, of mainly temperate vegetable crops. The same can be said too, of the three other titles. For example, although Alford's book predominantly illustrates fruit pests in situ, symptoms of capsid attack confirmed these pests were responsible for recent damage to my father-in-law's apple and pear crops. One problem with an expanding list of titles is that of overlap. Consequently, approximately 50 pages on diseases of peas and beans are covered by both Koike et al. and Biddle and Cattlin. Diagnosticians, growers, teachers and students will appreciate these particular titles and benefit by consulting these books and others in the Series. They are not overpriced and indeed BSPP-members can purchase them at 20% discount, see Members’ Area at http://www.bspp.org.uk for further details.

Effects of nutrients on production of fungichromin by Streptomyces padanus PMS-702 and efficacy of control of Phytophthora infestans

The effects of carbon and nitrogen source on inhibitory activity of Streptomyces padanus PMS-702 culture filtrates were investigated using 12 saccharides, 12 nitrogen sources, and 7 organic compounds. Results showed that the carbon sources cellobiose, galactose, glucose, mannose and xylose; the organic compound peanut meal; and the nitrogen source glutamic acid were the most effective components for production of inhibitory substances by S. padanus and suppression of zoospore release of Phytophthora infestans. Production of the antibiotic fungichromin by S. padanus PMS-702 was high (145.5 ppm) in cultures grown in the liquid medium of peanut meal – glucose – glutamic acid (PMGG) containing 1.5% (w/v) peanut meal, 0.5% (w/v) glucose, and 0.5% (w/v) glutamic acid for 7 days. Spraying tomato plants with culture filtrates of S. padanus PMS-702 from the PMGG broth culture at a rate of 100-fold dilution significantly reduced severity of late blight of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) foliage caused by P. infestans both under controlled environment and field conditions.

Resistance to Phytophthora infestans in Lycopersicon pennellii

To determine if the desert tomato, Lycopersicon pennellii, possesses resistance to late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, two plant populations were analyzed. Resistance was identified through assessments of disease progress in an F2 mapping population (L. esculentum × L. pennellii) and in a series of introgression lines (L. pennellii into L. esculentum). Levels of resistance varied widely among individuals within each population. However, the response of individuals to different strains of P. infestans was consistent. In the mapping population, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) was detected near marker T1556 on chromosome 6. This QTL accounted for 25% of the phenotypic variance in the population. The occurrence of this QTL was confirmed from analysis of the introgression lines (ILs), where IL 6-2 (containing marker T1556) was the most resistant IL in 2002 and the second most resistant IL in 2001. The identification of an additional QTL for resistance to late blight in tomato will aid in the development of durable resistance to this devastating disease.

An Improved Method for Infecting Tomato Leaves or Seedlings with Oospores of Phytophthora infestans Used to Investigate F1 Progeny.

An improved, soil-free laboratory method was developed to induce late blight infection in detached tomato leaves or tomato seedlings with in vivo-produced oospores of Phytophthora infestans. Oospores were produced in detached tomato leaves infected with an inoculum mixture of A1 and A2 isolates. The infected leaves were homogenized in distilled water. The homogenates were exposed to two cycles of drying and wetting to kill sporangia, zoospores, and mycelia and, thereafter, mixed with perlite and water. Tomato leaves or seed were floated on the perlite mixture in petri dishes and incubated for up to 30 days. Results from 13 experiments showed that, in dishes containing oospores, 96 of 820 leaflets (11.7%) developed late blight lesions within 6 to 30 days; whereas, in 3 experiments with seedlings, 12 of 1,400 plants (0.9%) were blighted within 17 to 26 days. No late blight developed in leaflets or seedlings maintained in dishes containing homogenates of the control leaves infected with either A1 or A2 inoculum. In all, 234 single-sporangium F1 isolates recovered from 24 leaf lesions produced by four crosses and 27 isolates recovered from 12 seedlings infected with two crosses were examined for sensitivity to metalaxyl and mating type. Results showed that, although the parent isolates were either S (sensitive) or R (resistant) to metalaxyl, most F1 progeny isolates exhibited various levels of intermediate resistance to metalaxyl. Most isolates belonged to either the A1 or the A2 mating type, depending on the cross and lesion. However, some isolates belonged to the unusual mating type A1A2 or were sterile. Current experiments are intended to elucidate the virulence and aggressiveness of these F1 progenies to tomato. This improved method may facilitate our understanding of the role of in vivo-produced oospores in the epidemiology of late blight in tomato.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza reduces susceptibility of tomato to Alternaria solani

Mycorrhiza frequently leads to the control of root pathogens, but appears to have the opposite effect on leaf pathogens. In this study, we studied mycorrhizal effects on the development of early blight in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) caused by the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria solani. Alternaria-induced necrosis and chlorosis of all leaves were studied in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants over time course and at different soil P levels. Mycorrhizal tomato plants had significantly less A. solani symptoms than non-mycorrhizal plants, but neither plant growth nor phosphate uptake was enhanced by mycorrhizas. An increased P supply had no effect on disease severity in non-mycorrhizal plants, but led to a higher disease severity in mycorrhizal plants. This was parallel to a P-supply-induced reduction in mycorrhiza formation. The protective effect of mycorrhizas towards development of A. solani has some parallels to induced systemic resistance, mediated by rhizobacteria: both biocontrol agents are root-associated organisms and both are effective against necrotrophic pathogens. The possible mechanisms involved are discussed.

New report ofAlternaria alternatacausing leaf blight of tomato in Pakistan

New report of<i>Alternaria alternata</i>causing leaf blight of tomato in Pakistan

Resistance to early blight of tomato with respect to various parameters of disease epidemics

Resistance to early blight in the tomato was assessed by examining various parameters of the progress of the disease. Artificial inoculation and the scoring technique were standardized. Test plants were inoculated with 125 cfu/ml of a 12-day-old culture of a pathogenic isolate of Alternaria solani. Screening under artificial conditions was more informative than that under natural epidemic conditions. Tomato cultivars CLN-2071-C, CLN-2070-A, BSS-174, and DTH-7 with resistance expressed as slow blighting against four pathogenic isolates of A. solani, were selected for cultivation in disease-prone areas. Disease intensity increased with the age of plants under the same inoculum load. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was positively correlated with the percentage disease index and negatively with resistance. Calculation of the apparent infection rate (r) was more informative for natural epidemics than for artificial conditions. The sequential apparent infection rate between observation periods was better correlated with disease progress than was the total apparent infection rate between the first and last observations. A double sigmoidal disease progress curve during the same cropping season was characteristic of some varieties when fungal infection took place during the vegetative phase of crop growth.

Broad-Spectrum Protection Against Several Pathogens by PGPR Mixtures Under Field Conditions in Thailand.

Prior greenhouse experiments showed that four mixtures of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains (all Bacillus spp.) elicited induced systemic resistance in several plants against different plant pathogens. Based on these findings, we sought to determine if systemic resistance induced by these PGPR would lead to broad-spectrum protection against several pathogens under field conditions in Thailand. Experiments were conducted during the rainy season (July to October 2001) and winter season (November 2001 to February 2002) on the campus of Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. The specific diseases and hosts tested were southern blight of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, anthracnose of long cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum) caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and mosaic disease of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) caused by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Results showed that some PGPR mixtures suppressed disease more consistently than the individual PGPR strain IN937a. One PGPR mixture, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a + B. pumilus strain IN937b, significantly protected (P = 0.05) plants against all tested diseases in both seasons. Further, cumulative marketable yields were positively correlated with some treatments.

가지과 작물에서 분리한 Alternaria 속 균의 형태적, 분자생물학적 특징

국내의 가지과 작물에서 분리한 Alternaria 25 균주를 공시하여 분생포자의 형태적 특징을 조사하였고 A. solani와 A. tomaotphilad의 대표균주와 비교하였다. 분리균주 중 형태적으로 구별되는 몇 균주들과 대표균주를 공시하여 감자, 토마토, 가지, 고추에 대한 병원성 검정을 실시하였다. 대표균주를 포함한 Alternaria 17개 균주를 공시하여 ITS 영역과 histone h3 유전자의 염기서열분석, URP (universal rice primer)에 의한 핵산지문분석을 실시하였다. Alternaria 균주들은 분생포자의 형태적 특징에 의하여 A. tomaotophila(ATO), A. solani(ASO) 및 미동정의 Alternaria sp.(ASP)의 group으로 나눌 수 있었고 A. solani(ASO)는 분생포자 부리(beak)의 특징에 의하여 다시 ASO(1)과 ASO(2)의 2 type으로 나눌 수 있었다. ATO와 ASO 균주들은 실험에 사용한 감자, 토마토, 가지, 고추에 모두 병원성이 있었고 ATO 균주는 특히 토마토에 강한 병원성이 있었으나, ASP 균주는 감자에만 병원성이 있었다. 이 연구에서 사용한 molecular marker중 ITS와 histon H3 유전자의 염기서열 분석은 4개의 형태적 group을 명확히 구분할 수 없었지만, URP-PCR 핵산지문분석법은 이들 group을 명확히 구분할 수 있었다. 분생포자의 형태, 병원성검정, 분자생물학적 특징을 종합할 때 토마토 겹무늬병에 관여하는 A. tomatophila는 감자겹둥근무늬병에 관여하는 A. solani와 뚜렷이 구분할 수 있었다. 또한 감자에서 분리한 Alternaria sp.(ASP)는 A. solani(ASO)와 형태적으로 유사하였지만 분생포자의 폭이 두껍고 부리(beak)가 작다는 점에서 ASO와 구별되었으며 가지과 작물에서 보고된 바 없는 신종으로 추정되었다. Twenty five isolates of Alternaria were obtained from various solanaceous crops in Korea. For all isolates, morphological characteristics of the conidia were determined and compared with those of representative isolates of A. solani and A. tomatophila. A selection of the isolates and the representative Alternaria isolates were evaluated for Pathogenicity to potato, tomato, egg plant and red pepper. Molecular characteristics of 17 isolates of Alternaria inculding the representative isolates were determined using sequence analysis of IRS rDNA and histone H3 gene, and URP-PCR analysis. Based on morphological characteristics, the isolates from the solanaceous crops were grouped as identical or very similar to either A. tomatophila (ATO), A. solani (ASO), and unidentified Alternaria sp. (ASP). Isolates of ASO were moderately pathogenic to all the solanaceous crops tested, but ATO isolates were highly pathogenic to tomato and the ASP isolate was pathogenic only to potato. Among the molecular markers used in this study, the URP-PCR analysis was found to be appropriate for taxonomic resolution of these species. Based on the conidial morphology, pathogenicity test and molecular characteristics, A. tomatophila (early blight of tomato) could be distinguished from A. solani (early blight of potato), and the Alternaria sp. (ASP) from potato, which was closely related to ASO in conidial morphology, was considered as a new species.

Integration of soil solarization with chemical, biological and cultural control for the management of soilborne diseases of vegetables.

The long-term effectiveness of soil solarization integrated with (integration of pest management [IPM]) a biological control agent (Trichoderma virens), chemical fungicide (pentachloronitrobenzene [PCNB]), organic amendment (chicken litter) or physical method (black agriplastic mulch) to reduce southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) and southern root-knot diseases (Meloidogyne incognita) were evaluated on vegetable production. Results showed that the long-term effectiveness of IPM plus soil solarization reduced soilborne diseases of vegetables more than two years following the termination of solarization. These disease management strategies in 1991 and 1992, following soil solarization in 1990, reduced the numbers of sclerotia in the soil, and the number of plants killed by southern blight and root-knot of tomatoes, compared to nonsolarized bare soil treatment. The integration of a reduced dosage level of PCNB or T. virens in field plots, reduced southern blight of tomatoes by 100% and 71%, respectively, in solarized soil, compared to nonsolarized bare soil two years following soil solarization. PCNB effectively controlled southern blight in nonsolarized bare soil both years. All solarized treatments, except PCNB plus solarized soil increased tomato yields compared to nonsolarized bare soil plots. In the second study (1992) following soil solarization in 1991, the effectiveness of solarized bare soil, and nonsolarized bare soil mulched with black agriplastic film, with or without Reemay spunbounded polyester row cover, were effective in reducing root-knot of tomatoes as indicated by the root-knot gall index. Following a one year fallow period in 1994 three years following soil solarization, the root-knot gall index for severity of tomato roots grown in solarized bare soil, nonsolarized bare soil, black agriplastic mulched bare nonsolarized soil and black agriplastic mulched solarized bare soil, were 1.0, 3.0, 3.0 and 2.0, respectively, on a 0–5 scale, where 0=0% and 5=100% root-knot galled. In the third study 1992 and 1993, different dosage levels of chicken litter were used to amend soil artificially infested with sclerotia of S. rolfsii at different depths following solarization, decreased the number of viable sclerotia by 85–100%. All solarized treatments and nonsolarized bare soil amended with 18.8 MT/ha of chicken litter, were effective in controlling southern root-knot damage, and postharvest storage root rots of sweetpotato storage roots (Fusarium root rot [Fusarium solani] and Java black rot [Diplodia tubericola]). Our study showed that all soil solarization treatments, and soils amended with chicken litter, stimulated a shift in the soil microbial population dynamics. Rhizobacteria of Bacillus spp. and fluorescent pseudomonads increased significantly in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and interior root tissues of tomatoes and sweetpoatoes, grown in solarized soil compared to nonsolarized soil. These microorganisms may have contributed to the increased growth response of vegetables and some were probably suppressive to soilborne diseases

Synthesis and biological activity of novel N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐substitutedbenzoylhydrazines containing 2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl

AbstractIn a search for new insect growth regulators with unusual biological properties and different activity spectrum, we thought that the preservation of the bioactive unit and the introduction of 2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl in N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐dibenzoylhydrazine would enhance their larvicidal activities to a significant degree. Therefore, we designed and synthesized N′‐tert‐butyl‐N′‐[2‐methyl‐3‐(triphenylgermanyl)propoxycarbonyl]‐N‐benzoylhydrazine and analogs by two procedures. These novel compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and 1H NMR. At the same time, N‐tert‐butyl‐N‐substitutedbenzoylhydrazines were prepared by a new method, and some reactions involved were studied. The preliminary results indicate that some compounds have inhibitory effects against plant pathogenetic bacteria such as early blight of tomato. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Genetic diversity among isolates of stemphylium solani from cotton

The fungus Stemphylium solani causes leaf blight of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Brazil. In recent years, severe epidemics of a new leaf blight of cotton (Gossipium hyrsutum) caused by S. solani occurred in three major cotton-growing Brazilian states (PR, MT and GO). Molecular analysis was performed to assess the genetic diversity among the S. solani isolates from cotton, and to verify their relationship with representative S. solani isolates from tomato. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were used to compare 33 monosporic isolates of S. solani (28 from cotton and five from tomato). An isolate of Alternaria macrospora from cotton was also used for comparison. RAPD analysis showed the presence of polymorphism between the genera and the species. The A. macrospora and the S. solani isolates from cotton and tomato were distinct from each other, and fell into separate groups. Variation by geographic region was observed for the tomato isolates but not for the cotton isolates. Amplifications of the ITS region using the primer pair ITS4/ITS5 resulted in a single PCR product of approximately 600 bp for all the isolates. Similarly, when amplified fragments were digested with eight restriction enzymes, identical banding patterns were observed for all the isolates. Hence, rDNA analysis revealed no inter-generic or intra-specific variation. The genetic difference observed between the cotton and the tomato isolates provides evidence that S. solani attacking cotton in Brazil belongs to a distinct genotype.