Gene co-expression network analysis provides a novel insight into the dynamic response of wheat to powdery mildew stress

Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. Tritici, (Bgt)) is an important worldwide fungal foliar disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) responsible for severe yield losses. The development of resistance genes and dissection of the resistance mechanism will therefore be beneficial in wheat breeding. The Bgt resistance gene PmAS846 was transferred to the hexaploid wheat lines N9134 from Triticum dicoccoides, and it is still one of the most effective resistance genes. Here, by RNA sequencing, we identified three co-expressed gene modules using pairwise comparisons and weighted gene co-expression network analysis during wheat–Bgt interactions compared with mock-infected plants. Hub genes of stress-specific modules were significantly enriched in spliceosomes, phagosomes, the mRNA surveillance pathway, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and endocytosis. Induced module genes located on chromosome 5BL were selected to construct a protein–protein interaction network. Several proteins were predicted as the key hub node, including Hsp70, DEAD/DEAH box RNA helicase PRH75, elongation factor EF-2, cell division cycle 5, ARF guanine-nucleotide exchange factor GNOM-like, and protein phosphatase 2C 70 protein, which interacted with several disease resistance proteins such as RLP37, RPP13 and RPS2 analogues. Gene ontology enrichment results showed that wheat could activate binding functional genes via an mRNA transcription mechanism in response to Bgt stress. Of these node genes, GNOM-like, PP2C isoform X1 and transmembrane 9 superfamily member 9 were mapped onto the genetic fragment of PmAS846 with a distance of 4.8 Mb. This work provides the foundations for understanding the resistance mechanism and cloning the resistance gene PmAS846

Cloning and analysis of a powdery mildew responsive gene CmSAMDC from Cucumis melo L / 生物工程学报

In order to investigate the effect of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) gene in melon resistance to powdery mildew, according to the previous results of EST sequences from cDNA-AFLP library and the melon genome sequence data, the SAMDC gene was isolated from Chinese wild melon clone 'Yuntian930' by RT-PCR and designated as CmSAMDC (GenBank Accession No. KF151861). The mORF (main open reading frame) was 1 095 bp encoding 364 amino acids with a molecular mass of 40 kDa. The predicted protein sequence showed high similarity with Cucumis sativus and Citrofortunella microcarpa. The SDS-PAGE showed that the expression protein was a fusion protein with the molecular weight of 40 kDa, which perfectly matched the mass calculated from the amino acid sequence. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that the expression level of CmSAMDC reached a maximum at 48 hpi (hours post inoculation) that over 7-fold to 0 hpi, and the expression of CmSAMDC was also detected in tendril, root, leaf and stem. These results indicate that CmSAMDC gene may play protective roles in melon resistance to powdery mildew infection.

Chemical control of foliar diseases in soybean depends on cultivar and sowing date / O controle químico de doenças foliares na cultura da soja depende do cultivar e da época de plantio

The aim was to study the effect of early application of two fungicide mixtures on the control of Asian rust and powdery mildew, as well as on grain yield in five soybean cultivars at two sowing dates. The experiment was carried in the experimental area of FAMV/UPF. The cultivars A 4910 RG (super-early), BMX Apolo RR, A 6001 RR and Fundacep 55 RR (early) and Coodetec 214 RR (moderate), established at 13/11/2007 and 3/12/2007 were used. Trifolia of these cultivars were treated twice with the fungicides ciproconazol + azoxystrobin (Priori Xtra®, 0.3 L ha-1 plus Nimbus® adjuvant 0.6 L ha- 1) and epoxiconazol + pyraclostrobin (Opera®, 0.5 L ha-1), in three moments 1: pre-closure of the space between the lines and 21 days after; 2: pre-closure of space between rows and R5.1 stage (10% of beginning seed); and 3: R1 (beginning bloom) and R5.1 stages. The severity (% of affected leaf area) of powdery mildew and number of lesions cm2 of Asian rust were evaluated. After that plants were harvested, the thousand grain weight (g) and grain yield (kg ha-1) were quantified. The experimental design was a split-plot with four replicates, where the main plot were the five cultivars, and the subplots were the control treatment (untreated plants) and the six chemical control programs. Tukey and t-Student tests (p0.05) were used for separation of means of treatments and seasons, respectively. In general terms, foliar application of fungicides controlled both Asian rust and powdery mildew, as well as generated an increase on the thousand grain weight and grain yield. However, there seems to be an interaction among soybean genotypes and sowing date. Thus, our results allow us to infer that the chemical control of leaf diseases in the soybean crop depends of the cultivar and sowing date.

O objetivo foi estudar o efeito da aplicação antecipada de duas misturas de fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática e do oídio, bem como no rendimento de grãos em cinco cultivares de soja em duas épocas de semeadura. O experimento foi conduzido no campo experimental da FAMV/UPF. Utilizaram-se as cultivares A 4910 RG (super precoce), BMX Apolo RR, A 6001 RR e Fundacep 55 RR (precoces) e Coodetec 214 RR (moderado), estabelecidas em 13/11/2007 e 3/12/2007. Os fungicidas piraclostrobina + epoxiconazole e azoxistrobina + ciproconzole foram pulverizados duas vezes em 1: pré-fechamento do espaço entre as linhas e 21 dias após, 2: pré-fechamento do espaço entre as linhas e R5.1 (10% de granação), e 3: R1 (início da floração) e R5.1. Avaliaram-se a severidade (% da área foliar afetada) do oídio e o número de lesões cm2 da ferrugem asiática. Logo após as plantas foram colhidas, o peso de mil grãos (g) e rendimento de grãos (kg ha-1) foram quantificados. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de parcelas divididas com quatro repetições, onde a parcela principal foram as cinco cultivares, e as subparcelas foram o tratamento controle (plantas não tratadas) e os seis programas de controle químico. Para a separação das médias dos tratamentos e épocas, foram utilizados os testes de Tukey e t-Student (p0.05), respectivamente. De modo geral, a aplicação foliar de fungicidas controlou tanto a ferrugem asiática como o oídio, assim como também gerou um aumento do peso de mil grãos e rendimento de grãos. No entanto, parece existir uma interação entre os genótipos e data de semeadura. Assim, nossos resultados nos permitem inferir que o controle químico das doenças foliares na cultura da soja depende do cultivar e da data de semeadura.

Induction of Defense-Related Physiological and Antioxidant Enzyme Response against Powdery Mildew Disease in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Plant by Using Chitosan and Potassium Salts

Foliar sprays of three plant resistance inducers, including chitosan (CH), potassium sorbate (PS) (C₆H₇kO₂), and potassium bicarbonates (PB) (KHCO₃), were used for resistance inducing against Erysiphe cichoracearum DC (powdery mildew) infecting okra plants. Experiments under green house and field conditions showed that, the powdery mildew disease severity was significantly reduced with all tested treatments of CH, PS, and PB in comparison with untreated control. CH at 0.5% and 0.75% (w/v) plus PS at 1.0% and 2.0% and/or PB at 2.0% or 3.0% recorded as the most effective treatments. Moreover, the highest values of vegetative studies and yield were observed with such treatments. CH and potassium salts treatments reflected many compounds of defense singles which leading to the activation power defense system in okra plant. The highest records of reduction in powdery mildew were accompanied with increasing in total phenolic, protein content and increased the activity of polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase in okra plants. Meanwhile, single treatments of CH, PS, and PB at high concentration (0.75%, 2.0%, and/or 3.0%) caused considerable effects. Therefore, application of CH and potassium salts as natural and chemical inducers by foliar methods can be used to control of powdery mildew disease at early stages of growth and led to a maximum fruit yield in okra plants.

Genome-wide Identification, Classification and Expression Analysis of the Mildew Resistance Locus O ( MLO ) Gene Family in Sweet Orange ( Citrus sinensis )

ABSTRACT Mildew resistance Locus O (MLO), a gene family specific to plants, plays significant roles in the resistance to powdery mildew (PM) and response to a variety of abiotic stresses, plant growth and development. Despite their importance as barley, rice, wheat, few studies are reported in dicots except Arabidopsis; no global analysis has been performed in the burgeoning model fruit plant sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). The recent release of the genome sequences of C. sinensis provides an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive overview the evolution and features of the MLO gene family in sweet orange. In this study, amount to 14 members of the Citrus sinensis MLO gene (CisMLO) family according to their gene structures, conserved motifs, and similitude among their presumptive Arabidopsis and rice orthologs were identified in silico. Based on these analyses, all CisMLOs were grouped into six clades and expanded partly due to one tandem duplication and two segmental duplication events. Survey of their chromosomal distributions uncovered that 14 CisMLOs are localized across 6 chromosomes. Multiple-sequence alignments showed that 11 of them shared seven highly conserved transmembrane domains (TMs), while all of the sweet orange MLO proteins except CisMLO4/14 had a calmodulin-binding domain for MLO function. Expression analysis demonstrated that the MLO gene family has a diverse tissue-specific expression profiles in the sweet orange development and plays potential critical roles in stress responses. These findings will facilitate further studies of evolutionary pattern and biological functions of MLO genes in sweet orange.

Screening of Coriander Genotypes for Powdery Mildew Disease Resistance.

Twenty five genotypes of coriander were evaluated at Post Graduate Centre, UHS Campus, GKVK, Bangalore to screen the powdery mildew disease resistance, caused by Erisyphe spp is a serious disease. Among the genotypes, seventeen genotypes were highly susceptible, eight genotypes were susceptible and none of them showed resistance reaction.

Bacillus sp. BS061 Suppresses Powdery Mildew and Gray Mold

The use of a microorganism, or its secretions, to prevent plant disease offers an attractive alternative or supplement to synthetic fungicides for the management of plant disease without the negative effects of chemical control mechanisms. During a screening for microorganisms with the potential to be used as microbial fungicides, Bacillus sp. BS061 was isolated from a plant leaf. The strain BS061 potently inhibited the mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea, and significantly reduced disease incidence of powdery mildew in cucumber and strawberry. We also found that the culture filtrate of BS061 inhibited the mycelial growth of various plant pathogens.

Bacillus sp. BS061 Suppresses Gray Mold and Powdery Mildew through the Secretion of Different Bioactive Substances

A Bacillus sp. BS061 significantly reduced disease incidence of gray mold and powdery mildew. To identify the active principle, the culture filtrate was partitioned between butanol and water. The antifungal activity against B. cinerea was evident in the butanol-soluble portion, and active substances were identified as cyclic lipopeptides, iturin A series, by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR) and mass analysis. Interestingly, antifungal activity against powdery mildew was observed in the water-soluble portion, suggesting that cyclic lipopeptides have no responsibility to suppress powdery mildew. This finding reveals that biocontrol agents of Bacillus origin suppress gray mold and powdery mildew through the secretion of different bioactive substances.

Inhibition Effects of Silver Nanoparticles against Powdery Mildews on Cucumber and Pumpkin

Powdery mildew is one of the most devastating diseases in cucurbits. Crop yield can decline as the disease severity increases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of silver nanoparticles against powdery mildew under different cultivation conditions in vitro and in vivo . Silver nanoparticles (WA-CV-WA13B) at various concentrations were applied before and after disease outbreak in plants to determine antifungal activities. In the field tests, the application of 100 ppm silver nanoparticles showed the highest inhibition rate for both before and after the outbreak of disease on cucumbers and pumpkins. Also, the application of 100 ppm silver nanoparticles showed maximum inhibition for the growth of fungal hyphae and conidial germination in in vivo tests. Scanning electron microscope results indicated that the silver nanoparticles caused detrimental effects on both mycelial growth and conidial germination.

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a Mycoparasite of a Powdery Mildew Pathogen

Powdery mildews on over 40 plants in Bangalore were screened during July-December of 2003~2008. Isolates from mycoparasitised Oidium caesalpiniacearum of Bauhinia purpurea comprised Lasiodiplodia theobromae, in addition to Ampelomyces quisqualis. Koch's postulates were satisfied to establish the mycoparasitism of L. theobromae. This is the first report that L. theobromae acts as a mycoparasite of a powdery mildew.

An AFLP marker linked to the Pm-1 gene that confers resistance to Podosphaera xanthii race 1 in Cucumis melo

Brazil produced 330,000 metric tons of melons in 2005, principally in the Northeast region where one of the most important melon pathogens is the powdery mildew fungus Podosphaera xanthii. The disease is controlled mainly by incorporating single dominant resistance genes into commercial hybrids. We report on linkage analysis of the Pm-1 resistance gene, introgressed from the AF125Pm-1 Cantalupensis Charentais-type breeding line into the yellow-fleshed melon (Group Inodorus) breeding line AF426-S by backcrossing to produce the resistant line AF426-R, and the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker M75/H35_155 reported to be polymorphic between AF426-S and AF426-R. Segregation analysis of M75/H35_155 using a backcross population of 143 plants derived from [AF426-R x AF426-S] x AF426-S and screened for resistance to P. xanthii race 1 produced a recombination frequency of 4.9 percent, indicating close linkage between M75/H35_155 and Pm-1. Using the same segregating population, the M75/H35_155 marker had previously been reported to be distantly linked to Prv¹, a gene conferring resistance to papaya ringspot virus-type W. Since M75/H35_155 is linked to Prv¹ at a distance of 40.9 cM it is possible that Pm-1 and Prv¹ are also linked.

The Record of Erysiphe azaleae (Erysiphales) from Poland and Its Anamorph

Erysiphe azaleae, a powdery mildew fungus on Rhododendron spp., was originally described from North America, and has only recently been recorded in Germany, England, Switzerland and Poland. The present paper records plentiful collections of this species from Poland, and provides additional information of its anamorphic state for taxonomic purposes.

Occurrence of Powdery Mildew on Safflower Caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea in Korea

The powdery mildew of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) extensively occurred at 1999 at the experimental farm of Kyongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services. Both sides of the leaves and the older stems were covered with the fungus, and then the leaves and stems turned yellow. The conidia, conidiophores and perithecia were observed on the leaf lesion. Perithecia were ellipsoidal, 80-117microm in diameter. Asci were subglobose and 84~99x59~73microm in size. Ascospore were ellipsoidal to ovoid, and 15~34x11~23microm in size. Conidia were ellipsoid to barrel-shaped, 25~37x11~22microm in size and formed in long chains. The causal organism was identified as Sphaerotheca fuliginea. This is the first report on powdery mildew of safflower caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea in Korea.

EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY AND LIGHT ON THE GERMINATION OF CONIDIOSPORES OF SPRING WHEAT POWDERY MILDEW IN NINGXIA IRRIGATED AREA / 微生物学通报

In Ningxia irrigated area, the conidiospores of Erysipe graminis f. sp. tritici on spring wheat germinated at -3 -- 29℃ (optimum 10 — 15℃). At 33℃, no conidium germinated, although the conidiospores might germinate in the relative humidity of 0—100%, yet they did best in a saturated atmosphere. Ultra-violet light killed the conidiospores. Under the direct solar radiation the percenta ge of germination was 13.86%, in the diffused light, 34.33%, in the darkness, 38.57%.