scholarly journals Rapid molecular evolution of Spiroplasma symbionts of Drosophila

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gerth ◽  
Humberto Martinez-Montoya ◽  
Paulino Ramirez ◽  
Florent Masson ◽  
Joanne S. Griffin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Evolutionary Ecology ◽  
Genomic Evolution ◽  
Structural Genomic ◽  
Substitution Rates ◽  
Drosophila Hydei ◽  
Insect Pathogens ◽  
Insect Symbionts ◽  
Peculiar Nature

AbstractSpiroplasma are a group of Mollicutes whose members include plant pathogens, insect pathogens, and endosymbionts of animals. Spiroplasma phenotypes have been repeatedly observed to be spontaneously lost in Drosophila cultures, and several studies have documented a high genomic turnover in Spiroplasma symbionts and plant pathogens. These observations suggest that Spiroplasma evolves quickly in comparison to other insect symbionts. Here, we systematically assess evolutionary rates and patterns of Spiroplasma poulsonii, a natural symbiont of Drosophila. We analysed genomic evolution of sHy within flies, and sMel within in vitro culture over several years. We observed that S. poulsonii substitution rates are among the highest reported for any bacteria, and around two orders of magnitude higher compared with other inherited arthropod endosymbionts. The absence of mismatch repair loci mutS and mutL is conserved across Spiroplasma and likely contributes to elevated substitution rates. Further, the closely related strains sMel and sHy (>99.5% sequence identity in shared loci) show extensive structural genomic differences, which potentially indicates a higher degree of host adaptation in sHy, a protective symbiont of Drosophila hydei. Finally, comparison across diverse Spiroplasma lineages confirms previous reports of dynamic evolution of toxins, and identifies loci similar to the male-killing toxin Spaid in several Spiroplasma lineages and other endosymbionts. Overall, our results highlight the peculiar nature of Spiroplasma genome evolution, which may explain unusual features of its evolutionary ecology.

scholarly journals Rapid molecular evolution of Spiroplasma symbionts of Drosophila

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gerth ◽  
Humberto Martinez-Montoya ◽  
Paulino Ramirez ◽  
Florent Masson ◽  
Joanne S. Griffin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type Species ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Evolutionary Ecology ◽  
Structural Genomic ◽  
Substitution Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Insect Symbionts ◽  
Peculiar Nature

Spiroplasma is a genus of Mollicutes whose members include plant pathogens, insect pathogens and endosymbionts of animals. Spiroplasma phenotypes have been repeatedly observed to be spontaneously lost in Drosophila cultures, and several studies have documented a high genomic turnover in Spiroplasma symbionts and plant pathogens. These observations suggest that Spiroplasma evolves quickly in comparison to other insect symbionts. Here, we systematically assess evolutionary rates and patterns of Spiroplasma poulsonii , a natural symbiont of Drosophila. We analysed genomic evolution of sHy within flies, and sMel within in vitro culture over several years. We observed that S. poulsonii substitution rates are among the highest reported for any bacteria, and around two orders of magnitude higher compared with other inherited arthropod endosymbionts. The absence of mismatch repair loci mutS and mutL is conserved across Spiroplasma , and likely contributes to elevated substitution rates. Further, the closely related strains sMel and sHy (>99.5 % sequence identity in shared loci) show extensive structural genomic differences, which potentially indicates a higher degree of host adaptation in sHy, a protective symbiont of Drosophila hydei. Finally, comparison across diverse Spiroplasma lineages confirms previous reports of dynamic evolution of toxins, and identifies loci similar to the male-killing toxin Spaid in several Spiroplasma lineages and other endosymbionts. Overall, our results highlight the peculiar nature of Spiroplasma genome evolution, which may explain unusual features of its evolutionary ecology.

Effect of C6-Volatiles on Bioluminescent Plant Pathogens

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 557d-557
Author(s):  
Jennifer Warr ◽  
Fenny Dane ◽  
Bob Ebel
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Xanthomonas Campestris ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
The Other ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Signal Molecules ◽  
Low Concentrations

C6 volatile compounds are known to be produced by the plant upon pathogen attack or other stress-related events. The biological activity of many of these substances is poorly understood, but some might produce signal molecules important in host–pathogen interactions. In this research we explored the possibility that lipid-derived C6 volatiles have a direct effect on bacterial plant pathogens. To this purpose we used a unique tool, a bacterium genetically engineered to bioluminesce. Light-producing genes from a fish-associated bacterium were introduced into Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, enabling nondestructive detection of bacteria in vitro and in the plant with special computer-assisted camera equipment. The effects of different C6 volatiles (trans-2 hexanal, trans-2 hexen-1-ol and cis-3 hexenol) on growth of bioluminescent Xanthomonas campestris were investigated. Different volatile concentrations were used. Treatment with trans-2 hexanal appeared bactericidal at low concentrations (1% and 10%), while treatments with the other volatiles were not inhibitive to bacterial growth. The implications of these results with respect to practical use of trans-2 hexanal in pathogen susceptible and resistant plants will be discussed.

scholarly journals Alternative Control of Phragmidium rubi-idaei Infecting Two Rubus Species

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1452
Author(s):  
Raluca-Maria Pârlici ◽  
Aurel Maxim ◽  
Stefania Mirela Mang ◽  
Ippolito Camele ◽  
Lucia Mihalescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
In Vitro Tests ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
Conidia Germination ◽  
The Impact

Organic berry plantations have been gaining popularity among farmers during recent years. Even so, farmers experience serious challenges in disease control management, which is a concern in organic farming. Phragmidiumrubi-idaei (DC) P. Karst is the pathogen responsible for blackberry and raspberry rust disease, one of the most present and active diseases in plantations. The antifungal certified products found on the organic farming market offer the opportunity for an efficient control strategy over plant pathogens in fruit shrub plantations. In this study, 5 natural based products—namely Altosan, Mimox, Canelys, Zitron, and Zeolite—were tested for their fungistatic effect over P. rubi-idaei. The experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions, performing observations over the impact of organic products, used at different concentration levels, on rust conidia germination. Moreover, field experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of different treatments for rust control on raspberry (‘Polka’, ‘Veten’ and ‘Heritage’) and blackberry (‘Thorn Free’, ‘Chester’ and ‘Loch Ness’) varieties. Data analysis based on ANOVA tests showed significant differences between the tested variants and the control sample at p < 0.001. Furthermore, LSD test confirmed differences between all substances tested (p < 0.005). The natural products Canelys (formulated with cinnamon) and Zytron (based on citrus extract) have proven the highest inhibitory capacity for conidia germination during in vitro tests registering values of 80.42% and 78.34%, respectively. The same high inhibitory rates against rust pathogen were kept also in the field tests using the same two natural-based products mentioned earlier. In addition, outcomes from this study demonstrated that Zeolite is not recommended for raspberry or blackberry rust control.

scholarly journals The Potential of Rhizoctonia-Like Fungi for the Biological Protection of Cereals against Fungal Pathogens

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 349
Author(s):  
Dominik Bleša ◽  
Pavel Matušinský ◽  
Romana Sedmíková ◽  
Milan Baláž
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Fusarium Culmorum ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Organic Substrates

The use of biological control is becoming a common practice in plant production. One overlooked group of organisms potentially suitable for biological control are Rhizoctonia-like (Rh-like) fungi. Some of them are capable of forming endophytic associations with a large group of higher plants as well as mycorrhizal symbioses. Various benefits of endophytic associations were proved, including amelioration of devastating effects of pathogens such as Fusarium culmorum. The advantage of Rh-like endophytes over strictly biotrophic mycorrhizal organisms is the possibility of their cultivation on organic substrates, which makes their use more suitable for production. We focused on abilities of five Rh-like fungi isolated from orchid mycorrhizas, endophytic fungi Serendipita indica, Microdochium bolleyi and pathogenic Ceratobasidium cereale to inhibit the growth of pathogenic F. culmorum or Pyrenophora teres in vitro. We also analysed their suppressive effect on wheat infection by F. culmorum in a growth chamber, as well as an effect on barley under field conditions. Some of the Rh-like fungi affected the growth of plant pathogens in vitro, then the interaction with plants was tested. Beneficial effect was especially noted in the pot experiments, where wheat plants were negatively influenced by F. culmorum. Inoculation with S. indica caused higher dry shoot biomass in comparison to plants treated with fungicide. Prospective for future work are the effects of these endophytes on plant signalling pathways, factors affecting the level of colonization and surviving of infectious particles.

scholarly journals Assessing the Phytosanitary Risk Posed by an Intraspecific Invasion of Cryphonectria parasitica in Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (12) ◽  
pp. 2055-2063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Dennert ◽  
Joana Beatrice Meyer ◽  
Daniel Rigling ◽  
Simone Prospero
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Castanea Sativa ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cryphonectria Parasitica ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
New Host ◽  
Phytosanitary Measures

Intraspecific cryptic invasions may occur when new strains of an invasive species are introduced into an area where this species had already been introduced previously. In plant pathogens, such invasions are not well studied, even if, potentially, they can have severe consequences. Here, we investigated the effects of a potential intraspecific invasion in Europe of Cryphonectria parasitica, the causal agent of chestnut blight. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that (i) non-European strains are more virulent on Castanea sativa than those already present in Europe because they have never encountered this new host, and (ii) the variation in virulence among strains is higher within native than within introduced populations. In a greenhouse, 2-year-old C. sativa seedlings were inoculated with Cryphonectria parasitica strains from South Korea, the United States, and Switzerland, and lesion development and seedling mortality were recorded weekly. Additionally, growth and sporulation of the strains were measured in vitro on agar medium at 15 and 24°C. Although lesion growth was similar for all strains, seedlings inoculated with strains from South Korea and Switzerland died faster than seedlings inoculated with strains from the United States. Moreover, in vitro strains from South Korea grew faster and produced more spores at both temperatures than the strains from the other two countries. In conclusion, our results did not support the two hypotheses. All strains, regardless of their origin, were found to be highly virulent on the inoculated chestnut seedlings. Nevertheless, current phytosanitary measures to avoid the introduction of new genotypes of C. parasitica into Europe should be further implemented.

scholarly journals PHIALOMYCES MACROSPORUS REDUCES CERCOSPORA COFFEICOLA SURVIVAL ON SYMPTOMATIC COFFEE LEAVES

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Marie Caroline Ferreira Laborde ◽  
Deila Magna dos Santos Botelho ◽  
Gabriel Alfonso Alvarez Rodriguez ◽  
Mário Lúcio Vilela de Resende ◽  
Marisa Vieira de Queiroz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Disease Rate ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Necrotrophic Pathogen ◽  
Initial Inoculum ◽  
Saprobe Fungi ◽  
Cercospora Coffeicola ◽  
Brown Eye Spot

<p>Saprobe fungi and necrotrophic pathogens share the same niche within crop stubble and the search for fungi non-pathogenic to plants that are able to displace the plant pathogens from its overwintering substrate contributes to the disease management. Brown eye spot (<em>Cercospora coffeicola</em>) is among the most important coffee diseases, it is caused by a necrotrophic pathogen that has decaying leaves as its major source of inoculum. We have screened saprobe fungi for the ability to reduce <em>C. coffeicola</em> sporulation and viability and determined the possible mechanisms involved in the observed biocontrol. A selected saprobe fungus, <em>Phialomyces macrosporus</em>, reduced the pathogen’s viability by 40% both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. The fungus acts through antibiosis and competition for nutrients. It produced both volatile and non-volatile compounds that inhibited <em>C. coffeicola</em> growth, sporulation, and viability. It also produced the tissue maceration enzyme (polygalacturonase), which reduces the pathogen both in detached leaves or in planta. The reduction in the fungal viability either by the saprobe fungus or its polygalacturonase-fraction supernatant resulted in the reduction of the disease rate. Therefore, <em>P. macrosporus </em>is a potential microbial agent that can be used in an integrated management of brown eye spot through the reduction of the initial inoculum of the pathogen that survives and builds up in infected leaves.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of in-vitro methods to select effective streptomycetes against toxigenic fusaria

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Maria Colombo ◽  
Cristina Pizzatti ◽  
Andrea Kunova ◽  
Claudio Gardana ◽  
Marco Saracchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Dual Culture ◽  
In Planta ◽  
In Vitro Method ◽  
In Vitro Methods ◽  
Strain Diversity ◽  
Fungal Plant Pathogens

Biocontrol microorganisms are emerging as an effective alternative to pesticides. Ideally, biocontrol agents (BCAs) for the control of fungal plant pathogens should be selected by an in vitro method that is high-throughput and is predictive of in planta efficacy, possibly considering environmental factors, and the natural diversity of the pathogen. The purpose of our study was (1) to assess the effects ofFusariumstrain diversity (N= 5) and culture media (N= 6) on the identification of biological control activity ofStreptomycesstrains (N= 20) againstFusariumpathogens of wheat in vitro and (2) to verify the ability of our in vitro screening methods to simulate the activity in planta. Our results indicate that culture media,Fusariumstrain diversity, and their interactions affect the results of an in vitro selection by dual culture assay. The results obtained on the wheat-based culture media resulted in the highest correlation score (r= 0.5) with the in planta root rot (RR) inhibition, suggesting that this in vitro method was the best predictor of in planta performance of streptomycetes against Fusarium RR of wheat assessed as extension of the necrosis on the root. Contrarily, none of the in vitro plate assays using the media tested could appropriately predict the activity of the streptomycetes against Fusarium foot rot symptoms estimated as the necrosis at the crown level. Considering overall data of correlation, the activity in planta cannot be effectively predicted by dual culture plate studies, therefore improved in vitro methods are needed to better mimic the activity of biocontrol strains in natural conditions. This work contributes to setting up laboratory standards for preliminary screening assays ofStreptomycesBCAs against fungal pathogens.

scholarly journals Analysis of Carbohydrate Metabolism Genes of Spongospora subterranea Using 454 Pyrosequencing

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 7247-7260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Andrés Gutiérrez Sánchez ◽  
Juan Fernando Alzate ◽  
Mauricio Marín Montoya
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
454 Pyrosequencing ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Plasmodiophora Brassicae ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Spongospora Subterranea ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Intron Structure ◽  
Basic Biology

Spongospora subterranea, the causal agent of Potato powdery scab, is an important soil-borne obligate protozoan commonly found in Andean soils. This is a serious problem that causes cosmetic damage on the skin of tubers and induces root gall formation, diminishing the yield and commercial value of the potato. Genetic studies on S. subterranea are difficult due to its obligate parasitism, which explains the lack of available knowledge on its basic biology. S. subterranea is a member of the Plasmodiophorida order, a protist taxa that includes other important plant pathogens such as Plasmodiophora brassicae and Spongospora nasturtii. Little is known about the genomes of Plasmodiophorida; however, with the use of Next-Generation Sequencing technologies combined with appropriate bioinformatic techniques, it is possible to obtain genomic sequences from obligate pathogens such as S. subterranea. To gain a better understanding of the biology of this pathogen and Plasmodiophorida in general, DNA sequences from a cystosori-enriched sample of S. subterranea were obtained using 454 pyrosequencing technology. As a first step in understanding the nutritional requirements of S. subterranea as well as its infective and resistance structures, we present a bioinformatic analysis of 24 contigs related to genes involved in the glycolysis, starch, celullose and chitin metabolism. Intron structure and codon usage is also discussed. The genes analyzed in this study are a good source of information for studies aimed at characterizing these enzymes in vitro, as well as the generation of new methods for the molecular detection of S. subterranea in either soils or infected plants.

scholarly journals Effect of Fungal Metabolites and Amendments on Mycelial Growth of Rhizoctonia Solani

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Rhizoctonia Solani ◽  
Culture Filtrate ◽  
Mycelial Growth ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Organic Amendment ◽  
Test Organism ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Fungal Metabolites ◽  
Castor Cake

Effect of Fungal Metabolites and Amendments on Mycelial Growth ofRhizoctonia SolaniA shift towards organic farming suggests amalgamation of organic resources against soil borne plant pathogens. The influence of metabolites of most ubiquitousAspergillusspp., organic amendment extracts and their combined effect withTrichoderma virenswere evaluatedin vitroagainstRhizoctonia solani.The minimum (36.1 mm) growth was attained byR. solaniin co-culture withA. niger.The maximum (42.3 mm) inhibition of mycelial growth of the test organism was observed with culture filtrate ofA. ochraceousfollowed byA. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavusandA. terreus.Among organic amendment extractants, castor cake exhibited an additive effect on the growth ofT. virens, however, the maximum (41.8 mm) suppressive effect onR. solaniwas observed with vermicompost. With the advance in time, the effect of organic amendment extracts increased markedly. Inhibition potential of culture filtrate mixturte ofA. niger+T. virensandA. ochraceous+T. virensagainstR. solaniwas significantly higher in comparison to the other combinations.

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