scholarly journals First Report of Asian Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Soybean in Alabama

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Mullen ◽  
E. J. Sikora ◽  
J. M. McKemy ◽  
M. E. Palm ◽  
L. Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
First Report ◽  
Leaf Spots ◽  
Asian Soybean Rust ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
Soybean Leaves

On November 4, 2004, soybean leaves (Glycine max (L.) Merr) were submitted to the Auburn University Plant Diagnostic Lab by a State Department of Agriculture and Industries Inspector. Samples were collected from an 80-ha field of soybean plants in a late-reproductive-growth stage in Mobile County, Alabama. Under microscopic examination, leaves showed rust pustules in advanced stages of development with urediniospores and sori characteristic of Phakopsora spp. Uredinia were ostiolate in small, brown, angular leaf spots (2 to 3 mm) on lower leaf surfaces. Urediniospores were pale yellow-to-white, globose or ovate, 20 to 40 × 15 to 25 μm. In a subsequent visit to the field, symptoms and signs of the rust disease were observed on plants bordering the edge of the field since the majority of plants were senescent. Tan lesions on lower leaf surfaces contained small pustules surrounded by a small zone of slightly discolored necrotic tissue. Masses of tan spores covered the lower leaf surface pustules. Leaves were mailed overnight to the USDA National Identification Services (Mycology) Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. The fungal structures were confirmed to be a Phakopsora sp., and the sample was forwarded to the USDA National Plant Germplasm and Biotechnology Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. DNA was extracted from leaf pieces containing sori using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Phakopsora pachyrhizi was detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol (1) performed in a Cepheid SmartCycler (Sunnyvale, CA). The PCR master mix was modified to include OmniMix beads (Cepheid). The field and microscopic suspect diagnosis of P. pachyrhizi was confirmed officially by APHIS on November 18, 2004. This was the fourth USDA official confirmation of Asian soybean rust in the continental United States during 2004, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of the disease in Alabama. This report helps confirm that early occurrences of Asian soybean rust in the United States were present in other areas in addition to the first reported finding in Louisiana (2). References: (1) R. D. Frederick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002. (2) R. W. Schneider et al. Plant Dis. 89:774, 2005.

scholarly journals First Report of Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Erythrina herbacea (Coral Bean)

Plant Disease ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
pp. 1472-1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Gevens ◽  
N. Nequi ◽  
A. Vitoreli ◽  
J. J. Marois ◽  
D. L. Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rust Fungus ◽  
Lima Bean ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
New Host ◽  
First Report ◽  
Scarlet Runner Bean

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by the obligate fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & P. Syd., was initially reported on soybean (Glycine max L.) in Louisiana in 2004 and has since been reported on soybean and/or kudzu (Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi) in 9 states in 2005, 15 states in 2006, and 19 states in 2007 (1). The host range of P. pachyrhizi includes plants that are all in the Fabaceae or legume family. Six plant species in the United States have been reported as hosts of P. pachyrhizi: soybean, kudzu, Florida beggarweed (Desmodium tortuosum (Sw) DC.), dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lima bean (P. lunatus L.), and scarlet runner bean (P. coccineus L.) (4). On 17 April 2008, a rust disease was observed on a weedy legume host with red showy flowers that was growing with kudzu in an overgrown vacant lot in the understory of live oak trees (Quercus virginiana Mill.) in Citra, FL. The discovery was made during routine scouting of this Integrated Pest Management Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (IPM PIPE) mobile sentinel plot (3). The plant was confirmed by University of Florida botanists to be Erythrina herbaceae L., commonly known as coral bean. Coral bean is native to the southeastern United States and also is planted as a perennial ornamental. A sample of leaves exhibiting rust pustules characteristic of P. pachyrhizi uredinia was collected and examined with a microscope. Brown-to-brick red, angular lesions that were 3 to 11 mm in diameter (average 6.75 mm) were observed on the undersides of the leaves of two trifoliates. Within these lesions, there were several uredinia, some exuding hyaline, echinulate urediniospores (20 × 25 μm). The visual diagnosis and the species of the rust fungus were confirmed to be P. pachyrizi by a real-time PCR protocol (2). The diagnosis on this new host was verified by a USDA, APHIS National Mycologist in Beltsville, MD. Coral bean may serve as an additional overwintering host for P. pachyrhizi in the southeast. To our knowledge, this is the first report of soybean rust caused by P. pachyrhizi on E. herbaceae. References: (1) R. S. C. Christiano and H. Scherm, Phytopathology 97:1428, 2007. (2) R. D. Frederick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002. (3) S. A. Isard et al. Online publication. doi:10.1094/PHP-2006-0915-01-RV. Plant Health Progress, 2006. (4) T. L. Slaminko et al. Plant Dis. 92:767, 2008.

scholarly journals Pathogenic Variation of Phakopsora pachyrhizi Isolates on Soybean in the United States from 2006 to 2009

Plant Disease ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Twizeyimana ◽  
G. L. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Soybean Genotype ◽  
Pathogenic Variation ◽  
Differential Set ◽  
Soybean Genotypes ◽  
Soybean Leaves

The introduction of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the cause of soybean rust, into the United States is a classic case of a pathogen introduction that became established in a new geographical region overwintering on a perennial host (kudzu, Pueraria lobata). The objective of our study was to classify the pathogenic variation of P. pachyrhizi isolates collected in the United States, and to determine the spatial and temporal associations. In total, 72 isolates of P. pachyrhizi collected from infected kudzu and soybean leaves in the United States were purified, then established and increased on detached soybean leaves. These isolates were tested for virulence and aggressiveness on a differential set of soybean genotypes that included six genotypes with known resistance genes (Rpp), one resistant genotype without any known characterized resistance gene, and a susceptible genotype. Three pathotypes were identified among the 72 U.S. P. pachyrhizi isolates based on the virulence of these isolates on the genotypes in the differential set. Six aggressiveness groups were established based on sporulating-uredinia production recorded for each isolate on each soybean genotype. All three pathotypes and all six aggressiveness groups were found in isolates collected from the southern region and from both hosts (kudzu or soybean) in 2008. Shannon's index based on the number of pathotypes indicated that isolates from the South region were more diverse (H = 0.83) compared with the isolates collected in other regions. This study establishes a baseline of pathogenic variation of P. pachyrhizi in the United States that can be further compared with variation reported in other regions of the world and in future studies that monitor P. pachyrhizi virulence in association to deployment of rust resistance genes.

scholarly journals First Report of Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi on Pachyrhizus erosus in the United States

Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 1034-1034
Author(s):  
M. A. Delaney ◽  
E. J. Sikora ◽  
D. P. Delaney ◽  
M. E. Palm ◽  
J. Roscoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Infected Leaf ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
First Report ◽  
Pachyrhizus Erosus

Soybean rust, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, was detected on jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus L. Urban) for the first time in the United States in November 2009. The pathogen was observed on leaves of a single, potted jicama plant grown outdoors in a residential area and on leaves of all plants in a 12-m2 demonstration plot located at the Auburn University Teaching Garden in Auburn, AL. Symptoms on the upper leaf surfaces were isolated chlorotic areas near the leaf edges in the lower part of the canopy. The abaxial surface was first observed to exhibit brown lesions and subsequently produced volcano-shaped uredinia. These symptoms are consistent with a rust previously described on jicama in Mexico (1). Representative symptomatic plant tissue was sent to the USDA National Identification Services (Mycology) Laboratory in Beltsville, MD for diagnostic confirmation at both the Urbana, IL lab and the USDA National Plant Germplasm and Biotechnology Laboratory for DNA testing. From an infected leaf, samples of approximately 5 mm2 were excised from a microscopically observed rust lesion and an apparently noninfected area. Total DNA was purified with the FastDNA Spin Kit (MP Biomedicals, Solon, OH) followed by the E.Z.N.A. MicroElute DNA Clean-Up Kit (Omega Bio-tek, Inc, Doraville, GA) per manufacturer's instructions. Detection of P. pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae DNA was achieved by quantitative PCR using the method of Frederick et al. (2) and a DNA standard of previously prepared P. pachyrhizi spores. The observed rust pustule was found to contain P. pachyrhizi DNA in excess of 28,000 genomes, while no P. pachyrhizi DNA was observed from the asymptomatic sample. Both samples were negative for P. meibomiae. The fungal structures present were confirmed to be Phakopsora spp. DNA was extracted from sori aseptically removed from leaves with a Qiagen (Valencia, CA) DNeasy Plant Mini Kit and amplified with primers Ppa1 and NL4. The resulting partial ITS2 and 28S ribosomal RNA sequences were 100% identical to GenBank entry DQ354537 P. pachyrhizi internal transcribed spacer 2 and 28S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. Sequences from jicama from Alabama were deposited in GenBank. Voucher specimens were deposited in the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Fungus Collection (BPI). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the disease on jicama in the United States. References: (1) A. Cárcamo Rodriguez et al. Plant Dis. 90:1260, 2006. (2) R. D. Frederick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002.

scholarly journals First Report of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the Causal Agent of Asian Soybean Rust, on Florida Beggarweed in the United States

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 972-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. Sconyers ◽  
R. C. Kemerait ◽  
J. H. Brock ◽  
R. D. Gitaitis ◽  
F. H. Sanders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pcr Primers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Asian Soybean Rust ◽  
Abaxial Leaf Surface ◽  
Humidity Chamber ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Soybean Diseases

Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & P. Syd., which causes Asian soybean rust (SBR), was observed on Florida beggarweed, Desmodium tortuosum (Sw) DC., in Attapulgus, GA during late October and early November 2005. Tan to brown lesions (<1.0 mm in diameter) consistent with symptoms of SBR (2) were observed on older leaves of several plants collected near an SBR-infected soybean trial. Dissection (40 to 60×) and compound microscopy (×200 to 400) revealed conical pustules and ellipsoid, echinulate urediniospores (average size 15 × 20 μm) on the abaxial leaf surface. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (primers Ppm1 and Ppa2) (1) was conducted on four samples to confirm identification of P. pachyrhizi or P. meibomiae. Three were positive for P. pachyrhizi, and one was negative for both species. Using morphology and real-time PCR, SBR was confirmed as P. pachyrhizi by the USDA/APHIS in Beltsville, MD. Six noninfected Florida beggarweed plants were transplanted to pots during December 2005 and grown at 22 to 24°C in a greenhouse. On 11 January 2006, a water suspension of urediniospores collected from SBR-infected soybeans (1 × 105 spores per ml) was spray inoculated on all leaves to almost runoff and incubated for 48 h in a plastic humidity chamber. Lesions, pustules, and urediniospores consistent with SBR (2) were observed on 3 February 2006. A PCR assay was conducted on six samples from the infected greenhouse plants and all were positive for P. pachyrhizi. Florida beggarweed is widespread in the southern United States and may serve as an additional overwintering source for P. pachyrhizi and a potential inoculum source for the soybean crop. References: (1) R. D. Fredrick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002. (2) J. B. Sinclair and G. L. Hartman. Soybean rust. Pages 25–26 in: Compendium of Soybean Diseases. 4th ed. G. L. Hartman et al., eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1999.

scholarly journals First Report of Phakopsora pachyrhizi Telia on Kudzu in the United States

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Harmon ◽  
P. F. Harmon ◽  
T. A. Mueller ◽  
J. J. Marois ◽  
G. L. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Leaf Surface ◽  
The United States ◽  
Visual Observation ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Hypodermic Needle ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
First Report ◽  
Telial Stage

Soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi H. Sydow & Sydow was first reported in the continental United States during 2004 (2). By 10 November 2005, the disease was confirmed in eight southern states (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas). Diagnoses have been based on visual observation of uredinia and urediniospores of the pathogen followed by polymerase chain reaction confirmation. On 10 November 2005, uredinia and telia were identified on leaves of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) in central Florida. Telia first were noted as dark brown-to-black flecks on the abaxial leaf surface intermingled with abundant tan-to-light brown uredinia. Of 200 leaves examined, 143 (72%) had telia. The number of telia ranged from a few (1/cm2) that were scattered to many (73/cm2). Telia were approximately the same diameter as uredinia, but were appressed to the leaf surface and pigmented. Twenty telia were excised from host tissue with the aid of a dissecting microscope and a 20 gauge hypodermic needle. Telia averaged 89 × 100 μm (n = 20, σ = 17 and 16 μm, respectively). Four telia were crushed and five teliospores from each averaged 4.3 × 8.3 μm (n = 20, σ = 0.5 and 0.9 μm, respectively). Pale yellowish brown-to-hyaline teliospores were similar in color to urediniospores. Observations matched descriptions by Ono et al. (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the telial stage of P. pachyrhizi in the United States. References: (1) Y. Ono et al. Mycol. Res. 96:825, 1992. (2) R. W. Schneider et al. Plant Dis. 89:774, 2005.

scholarly journals First Report of Downy Mildew Caused by Peronospora lamii on Salvia splendens and Salvia coccinea

Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 1154-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Holcomb
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
The United States ◽  
Commonwealth Mycological Institute ◽  
First Report ◽  
Leaf Spots ◽  
Salvia Splendens ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
Pathogenicity Tests

Angular chlorotic spots were observed on adaxial leaf surfaces of Salvia splendens (scarlet sage cvs. Empire Purple, Empire White, Red Pillar, and Red Hot Sally) and S. coccinea (scarlet or Texas sage cv. Lady in Red) in early May in Baton Rouge area nurseries. Leaf spots sometimes became necrotic and resulted in leaf drop. Abaxial leaf surfaces contained scattered patches of white mycelia with brown spores. Microscopic examination of mycelia revealed irregular dichotomously branched conidiophores with pointed tips and brown oval conidia. Conidiophores averaged 485 × 9 µm and conidia averaged 21 × 18 µm (16 to 26 × 15 to 23 µm) in dimensions. The fungus was identified as Peronospora lamii A. Braun (= P. swinglei Ellis & Everh.) based on these characters and its known occurrence on Salvia spp. and five other genera in the family Lamiaceae (2). Pathogenicity tests were performed by washing conidia from infected leaves into distilled water and mistinoculating S. coccinea cv. Lady in Red and S. splendens cv. Empire Purple with 50,000 spores/ml. Plants were held in a dew chamber at 20°C for 3 days, then moved to a greenhouse where temperatures ranged from 18 to 32°C. Typical angular chlorotic leaf spots developed on inoculated plants within 6 to 8 days and noninoculated plants remained healthy. The fungus did not sporulate under these greenhouse temperatures, but infected leaves that were removed and placed in a moist chamber at 25°C produced conidiophores and brown conidia typical of P. lamii within 2 to 3 days. P. lamii has been reported previously on S. officinalis (3) and S. reflexa (1) in the United States. This is the first report of downy mildew on S. coccinea and S. splendens. Appearance of the disease in retail nurseries that obtained plants from out of state (Arkansas) suggests a widespread occurrence of the disease on these host plants. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. 1989. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. (2) S. M. Francis. 1981. Peronospora lamii. Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria No. 688. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, England. (3) R. T. McMillan and W. R. Graves. Plant Dis. 78:317, 1994.

scholarly journals Novel Phakopsora pachyrhizi Extracellular Proteins Are Ideal Targets for Immunological Diagnostic Assays

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 3890-3895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Luster ◽  
Michael B. McMahon ◽  
H. Herb Edwards ◽  
Britney L. Boerma ◽  
Melanie L. Lewis Ivey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Extracellular Proteins ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Asian Soybean Rust

ABSTRACTPhakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of Asian soybean rust (ASR), continues to spread across the southeast and midsouth regions of the United States, necessitating the use of fungicides by producers. Our objective in this research was to identify ASR proteins expressed early during infection for the development of immunodiagnostic assays. We have identified and partially characterized a small gene family encoding extracellular proteins in theP. pachyrhiziurediniospore wall, termed PHEPs (forPhakopsoraextracellularprotein). Two highly expressed protein family members, PHEP 107 and PHEP 369, were selected as ideal immunodiagnostic targets for antibody development, after we detected PHEPs in plants as early as 3 days postinfection (dpi). Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs; 2E8E5-1 and 3G6H7-3) generated against recombinant PHEP 369 were tested for sensitivity against the recombinant protein and extracts from ASR-infected plants and for specificity against a set of common soybean pathogens. These antibodies should prove applicable in immunodiagnostic assays to detect infected soybeans and to identify ASR spores from sentinel surveillance plots.

scholarly journals Characterization of three soybean landraces resistant to Asian soybean rust disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Nobuhiro Aoyagi ◽  
Yukie Muraki ◽  
Naoki Yamanaka
Keyword(s):  
Susceptible Variety ◽  
Soybean Rust ◽  
Resistance Locus ◽  
Chromosome 6 ◽  
Phakopsora Pachyrhizi ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
Asian Soybean Rust ◽  
The World ◽  
Trait Locus

Abstract Phakopsora pachyrhizi is an obligatory biotrophic fungus that causes Asian soybean rust (ASR) disease. ASR control primarily involves chemical control and the use of resistant soybean cultivars carrying an Rpp (resistance to P. pachyrhizi) gene. This study aimed to characterize the ASR resistance of three soybean Asian landraces. By screening the world core collection (WC) of soybean, which consists of 80 varieties, three landraces were identified in Southeast Asia as resistant to ASR. Genetic mapping using the F2 population derived from a cross with an ASR-susceptible variety, BRS 184, indicated that KS 1034 (WC2) has ASR resistance conferred by a single dominant resistance gene, mapped on chromosome 18, in the same region where Rpp1 was mapped previously. The BRS 184 × WC61 (COL/THAI/1986/THAI-80) F2 population, on the other hand, showed an ASR resistance locus mapped by quantitative trait locus analysis on chromosome 6, in the region where the resistance conferred by PI 416764 Rpp3 resides, with a logarithm of the odds score peak at the same position as the marker, Satt079, while the BRS 184 × WC51 (HM 39) population showed the resistance to ASR allocated between Satt079 and Sat_263 markers, also in the region where Rpp3 was mapped previously. Both WC51 and WC61 have the same infection profile as FT-2 and PI 462312 when tested against the same ASR isolate panel. These three WCs can be used in MAS programs for introgression of Rpp1 and Rpp3 and the development of ASR-resistant cultivars in the breeding program.

scholarly journals First Report of Impatiens Downy Mildew Outbreaks Caused by Plasmopara obducens Throughout the Hawai'ian Islands

Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Crouch ◽  
M. P. Ko ◽  
J. M. McKemy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
The United States ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Voucher Specimen ◽  
First Report ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
Impatiens Walleriana

Downy mildew of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.) was first reported from the continental United States in 2004. In 2011 to 2012, severe and widespread outbreaks were documented across the United States mainland, resulting in considerable economic losses. On May 5, 2013, downy mildew disease symptoms were observed from I. walleriana ‘Super Elfin’ at a retail nursery in Mililani, on the Hawai'ian island of Oahu. Throughout May and June 2013, additional sightings of the disease were documented from the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawai'i from nurseries, home gardens, and botanical park and landscape plantings. Symptoms of infected plants initially showed downward leaf curl, followed by a stippled chlorotic appearance on the adaxial leaf surfaces. Abaxial leaf surfaces were covered with a layer of white mycelia. Affected plants exhibited defoliation, flower drop, and stem rot as the disease progressed. Based on morphological and molecular data, the organism was identified as Plasmopara obducens (J. Schröt.) J. Schröt. Microscopic observation disclosed coenocytic mycelium and hyaline, thin-walled, tree-like (monopodial branches), straight, 94.0 to 300.0 × 3.2 to 10.8 μm sporangiophores. Ovoid, hyaline sporangia measuring 11.0 to 14.6 × 12.2 to 16.2 (average 13.2 × 14.7) μm were borne on sterigma tips of rigid branchlets (8.0 to 15.0 μm) at right angle to the main axis of the sporangiophores (1,3). Molecular identification of the pathogen was conducted by removing hyphae from the surface of three heavily infected leaves using sterile tweezers, then extracting DNA using the QIAGEN Plant DNA kit (QIAGEN, Gaithersburg, MD). The nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer was sequenced from each of the three samples bidirectionally from Illustra EXOStar (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ) purified amplicon generated from primers ITS1-O and LR-0R (4). Resultant sequences (GenBank KF366378 to 80) shared 99 to 100% nucleotide identity with P. obducens accession DQ665666 (4). A voucher specimen (BPI892676) was deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections, Beltsville, MD. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying 6-week-old impatiens plants (I. walleriana var. Super Elfin) grown singly in 4-inch pots with a suspension of 1 × 104 P. obducens sporangia/ml until runoff using a handheld atomizer. Control plants were sprayed with distilled water. The plants were kept in high humidity by covering with black plastic bags for 48 h at 20°C, and then maintained in the greenhouse (night/day temperature of 20/24°C). The first symptoms (downward curling and chlorotic stippling of leaves) and sporulation of the pathogen on under-leaf surfaces of the inoculated plants appeared at 10 days and 21 days after inoculation, respectively. Control plants remained healthy. Morphological features and measurements matched those of the original inoculum, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew on I. walleriana in Hawai'i (2). The disease appears to be widespread throughout the islands and is likely to cause considerable losses in Hawai'ian landscapes and production settings. References: (1) O. Constantinescu. Mycologia 83:473, 1991. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ July 16, 2013. (3) P. A. Saccardo. Syllogue Fungorum 7:242, 1888. (4) M. Thines. Fungal Genet Biol 44:199, 2007.

scholarly journals First Report of Alternaria Leaf Spot of Banana Caused by Alternaria alternata in the United States

Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (8) ◽  
pp. 1116-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Parkunan ◽  
S. Li ◽  
E. G. Fonsah ◽  
P. Ji
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Alternaria Alternata ◽  
Leaf Spot ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Its Sequencing ◽  
Single Spore ◽  
First Report ◽  
Alternaria Leaf Spot ◽  
Leaf Spots

Research efforts were initiated in 2003 to identify and introduce banana (Musa spp.) cultivars suitable for production in Georgia (1). Selected cultivars have been evaluated since 2009 in Tifton Banana Garden, Tifton, GA, comprising of cold hardy, short cycle, and ornamental types. In spring and summer of 2012, 7 out of 13 cultivars (African Red, Blue Torres Island, Cacambou, Chinese Cavendish, Novaria, Raja Puri, and Veinte Cohol) showed tiny, oval (0.5 to 1.0 mm long and 0.3 to 0.9 mm wide), light to dark brown spots on the adaxial surface of the leaves. Spots were more concentrated along the midrib than the rest of the leaf and occurred on all except the newly emerged leaves. Leaf spots did not expand much in size, but the numbers approximately doubled during the season. Disease incidences on the seven cultivars ranged from 10 to 63% (10% on Blue Torres Island and 63% on Novaria), with an average of 35% when a total of 52 plants were evaluated. Six cultivars including Belle, Ice Cream, Dwarf Namwah, Kandarian, Praying Hands, and Saba did not show any spots. Tissue from infected leaves of the seven cultivars were surface sterilized with 0.5% NaOCl, plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) media and incubated at 25°C in the dark for 5 days. The plates were then incubated at room temperature (23 ± 2°C) under a 12-hour photoperiod for 3 days. Grayish black colonies developed from all the samples, which were further identified as Alternaria spp. based on the dark, brown, obclavate to obpyriform catenulate conidia with longitudinal and transverse septa tapering to a prominent beak attached in chains on a simple and short conidiophore (2). Conidia were 23 to 73 μm long and 15 to 35 μm wide, with a beak length of 5 to 10 μm, and had 3 to 6 transverse and 0 to 5 longitudinal septa. Single spore cultures of four isolates from four different cultivars were obtained and genomic DNA was extracted and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) regions of rDNA (562 bp) were amplified and sequenced with primers ITS1 and ITS4. MegaBLAST analysis of the four sequences showed that they were 100% identical to two Alternaria alternata isolates (GQ916545 and GQ169766). ITS sequence of a representative isolate VCT1FT1 from cv. Veinte Cohol was submitted to GenBank (JX985742). Pathogenicity assay was conducted using 1-month-old banana plants (cv. Veinte Cohol) grown in pots under greenhouse conditions (25 to 27°C). Three plants were spray inoculated with the isolate VCT1FT1 (100 ml suspension per plant containing 105 spores per ml) and incubated under 100% humidity for 2 days and then kept in the greenhouse. Three plants sprayed with water were used as a control. Leaf spots identical to those observed in the field were developed in a week on the inoculated plants but not on the non-inoculated control. The fungus was reisolated from the inoculated plants and the identity was confirmed by morphological characteristics and ITS sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Alternaria leaf spot caused by A. alternata on banana in the United States. Occurrence of the disease on some banana cultivars in Georgia provides useful information to potential producers, and the cultivars that were observed to be resistant to the disease may be more suitable for production. References: (1) E. G. Fonsah et al. J. Food Distrib. Res. 37:2, 2006. (2) E. G. Simmons. Alternaria: An identification manual. CBS Fungal Biodiversity Center, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2007.

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