ABSTRACT
Two novel mastreviruses (genus Mastrevirus; family Geminiviridae), with proposed names chickpea chlorosis virus (CpCV) and chickpea redleaf virus, are described from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) from eastern Australia. The viruses have genomes of 2,582 and 2,605 nucleotides, respectively, and share similar features and organisation with typical dicot-infecting mastreviruses. Two distinct strains of CpCV were suggested by phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, a partial mastrevirus Rep sequence from turnip weed (Rapistrum rugosum) indicated the presence of a distinct strain of Tobacco yellow dwarf virus (TYDV). In phylogenetic analyses, isolates of Bean yellow dwarf virus, Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Pakistan virus and Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Sudan virus from southern and northern Africa and south-central and western Asia clustered separately from these three viruses from Australia. An Australian, eastern Asian, or south-eastern Asian origin for the novel mastreviruses and TYDV is discussed.
Subject(s)
Cicer/virology , Geminiviridae/classification , Geminiviridae/isolation & purification , Plant Diseases/virology , Amino Acid Sequence , Base Sequence , Brassicaceae/virology , DNA, Viral , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/physiology , Genes, Viral , Molecular Sequence Data , New South Wales , Phylogeny , Queensland , Viral Proteins/chemistry , Viral Proteins/genetics , Viral Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Plants resist pathogens with combinations of constitutive and induced defences. Of the induced defences, phytoalexin production has received much attention since the phytoalexin concept was introduced over 50 years ago. However, the specific role of phytoalexins in disease resistance is not clear for the majority of host-parasite systems. Much of the research on phytoalexins has relied on the identification of induced antifungal compounds and correlating their presence with resistance. Although an important first step, more definitive studies are needed. Approaches that use in situ localization and quantification have provided good evidence that phytoalexins can accumulate at the right time, concentration, and location to be effective in resistance. Studies on phytoalexin tolerance in pathogenic fungi have also shown a relationship between virulence and the ability of fungi to detoxify phytoalexins. Use of mutants deficient in phytoalexin synthesis and elucidating biosynthetic pathways provide other approaches to evaluating the role of phytoalexins. These approaches will be illustrated using the Arabidopsis-camalexin system and other selected examples. Studies on natural variation in phytoalexin production and the accumulation of phytoalexins under field conditions will be presented as another means of evaluating the role of these compounds in resistance to pathogens and other pests.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts , Plants/immunology , Immunity, Innate , Models, Chemical , Plant Diseases , Sesquiterpenes , Terpenes , PhytoalexinsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Severity of Sclerotinia stem rot of soybean after treatment with lactofen (Cobra) and other herbicides was assessed in field experiments conducted in Michigan from 1995 to 1997. At sites where disease pressure was high, disease severity was reduced 40 to 60% compared with controls when lactofen was applied at the V3 (1995 and 1996) or R1 (1997) growth stages. Corresponding seed yields were unchanged or up to 20% greater when lactofen was applied at the R1 stage in 1997. Disease severity was not reduced by lactofen treatments in years and at sites where disease pressure was low to medium, and corresponding yields often were reduced by 10%. High levels of glyceollin accumulated in lactofen-injured leaves collected from field plots in 1996 and 1997. High glyceollin content in lactofen-treated leaves was associated with significant reductions in lesion size when leaves were challenge-inoculated with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
