Tolerance to Virulence Phenotypes of Phytophthora capsici in Pasilla Pepper Cultivars

Phytophthora capsici is the most important limiting factor in the production of chile pepper in Mexico. This pathogen presents virulence phenotypes capable of infecting diverse cultivars of this crop. The search and development of resistance in chile pepper is an excellent alternative for the management of P. capsici. The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of four pasilla pepper cultivars to infection with five virulence phenotypes of P. capsici. Pasilla pepper landraces PAS-1, PAS-2, PAS-3, and PAS-4 were inoculated with P. capsici isolates MX-1, MX-2, MX-7, MX-8, and MX-10. Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions from April through June 2017 and April through June 2018. ‘California Wonder’ was included as a susceptible control, and uninoculated plants were included as a negative control. In each experiment, groups of six 56-day-old plants from each pepper cultivar were inoculated with each virulence phenotype. Disease severity was evaluated 20 days after inoculation using an individual plant severity scale. All pepper cultivars were classified as resistant = R, moderately resistant (MR), tolerant (T), moderately tolerant (MT), or susceptible (S), according to the frequency of resistant plants (severity 0–1). ‘California Wonder’ and ‘PAS-4’ were susceptible to all five virulence phenotypes. The rest had different responses to the virulence phenotypes, but ‘PAS-2’ and ‘PAS-3’ were susceptible to only one of the five virulence phenotypes. Pasilla peppers with low severity exhibited a slow rate of infection, which is a mechanism we have called “slow wilting.” The pasilla pepper cultivars PAS-1, PAS-2, and PAS-3 could be used in plant breeding programs as sources of genetic tolerance and moderate resistance against P. capsici.

Genetic tolerance to Ceratocystis wilt in melina (Gmelina arborea Roxb.)

Gmelina arborea is the second most planted tree species in Costa Rica, and one of the most important in several Latin American countries. In recent years, a disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, has spread throughout Latin America, leading to the complete root of the tree in a few months. This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence, severity and genetic tolerance control of the Ceratocystis wilt in G. arborea. Data is based on a 2.4-year-old clonal trial, with 34 elite genotypes, at Río Jiménez, Guácimo in the Costa Rican Caribbean region. The variables diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, disease incidence and disease severity were evaluated. A pathogenicity index was proposed as a new selection criterion. SELEGEN (EMBRAPA) software was used for the evaluation of the genetic control in all traits investigated. Overall incidence rate was 39 % and severity was 13 %. Mean clonal heritability for severity was h2mc= 0.59 and for incidence h2mc= 0.47, these values were high evidencing that both traits are under a strong genetic control. The pathogenicity index becomes a useful discrimination criterion for ranking genotypes by their disease tolerance. An infection pattern inversely proportional to the DBH was observed. Although none of the 34 genotypes evaluated recorded total resistance to C. fimbriata, eight of these genotypes show strong genetic tolerance to the disease, and high productivity. Their use can be encouraging and will contribute to the reduction of Ceratocystis wilt impact in the country, as well as in the tropical Latin America region.

Zucchini lineages with levels of resistance to ZYMV and SqMV viruses

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) is a horticultural plant species of great socioeconomic value in tropical countries such as Colombia and Brazil. The production of zucchini is qualitatively and quantitatively affected by many diseases, especially viruses belonging to the Potyvirus (Zucchini yellow mosaic virus - ZYMV) and Comovirus (Squash mosaic virus - SqMV) groups. The primary strategy to reduce the spread of potentially damaging plant viruses is the development of genotypes with genetic tolerance; however, there are not many zucchini genotypes with multiple tolerance. Therefore, this study evaluated 66 zucchini genotypes to find sources of tolerance to the ZYMV and SqMV viruses. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design using genotypes from the germplasm bank of the Federal University of Uberlândia, including the genotypes: Emanuela (common commercial genotype) ‘Tronco Caserta’ (susceptible genotype) and PX 13067051 (resistant genotype). Leaf extracts containing viral particles were used as inoculant, and the distribution of grades of tolerance was recorded at the seedling stage. The lineages UFU-C×UFU-A#18#3;1, UFU-C×UFU-F#19#11;3, UFU-F#4#9;1, and UFU-D×UFU-F#7#21;1 and the Emanuela cultivar are alternatives for the production of new zucchini genotypes or hybrids with tolerance to the viruses ZYMV and SqMV. More severe symptoms were observed, as well as a larger number of susceptible genotypes for the ZYMV virus, indicating that this virus has great potential for causing damage and losses to zucchini crops.

Evaluation of Resistance to Fescue Toxicosis in Purebred Angus Cattle Utilizing Animal Performance and Cytokine Response

Fescue toxicosis is a multifaceted syndrome common in cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue; however, varying symptomatic responses potentially imply genetic tolerance to the syndrome. It was hypothesized that a subpopulation of animals within a herd would develop tolerance to ergot alkaloid toxicity. Therefore, the goals of this study were to develop selection criteria to identify tolerant and susceptible animals within a herd based on animal performance, and then examine responsive phenotypic and cytokine profiles to fescue toxicosis. Angus cows grazed endophyte-infected tall fescue at two locations for 13 weeks starting in mid-April 2016. Forage measurements were collected to evaluate ergot alkaloid exposure during the study. A post hoc analysis of animal performance was utilized to designate cattle into either tolerant or susceptible groups, and weekly physiological measurements and blood samples were collected to evaluate responses to chronic exposure to endophyte-infected tall fescue. Findings from this study support the proposed fescue toxicosis selection method formulated herein, could accurately distinguish between tolerant and susceptible animals based on the performance parameters in cattle chronically exposed to ergot alkaloids, and provides evidence to warrant additional analysis to examine the impact of ergot alkaloids on immune responsiveness in cattle experiencing fescue toxicosis.

Acuities into tolerance mechanisms via different bioassay during Brassicaceae-Alternaria brassicicola interaction and its impact on yield

Heavy losses by dark leaf spot disease in oilseed Brassica have incited research towards identifying sources of genetic tolerance against causal pathogen, Alternaria brassicicola. Several morpho-molecular parameters were evaluated to test the performance of field mustard and rapeseed genotypes under artificial inoculation with this pathogen. During Brassica-Alternaria interaction, physio-biochemical defense response was witnessed in tolerant genotypes. Two tolerant genotypes (one for field mustard and one for rapeseed), i.e., EC250407 and EC1494 were identified. However, necrotic lesions were more prominent in susceptible genotypes with minimum chlorophyll (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll) and carotenoids contents. Contrary to photosynthetic pigments, increase in total soluble protein (TSP) contents was observed with disease progression in susceptible genotypes. Tolerant genotypes of field mustard and rapeseed displayed remarkable increase in the activities of redox enzyme in infected leaves with least yield loss (6.47% and 5.74%) and disease severity index (DSI) of 2.9 and 2.1, respectively. However, yield/plant showed close association with other morpho-yield parameters, photosynthetic pigments and redox enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD)) activities except silique length and TSP. Based on the results of morpho-biochemical analyses, redox enzymes and morphological parameters; their interplay is proposed to determine the tolerance outcome of the Brassica-A. brassicicola interaction.

Wide-ranging transcriptomic analysis of Poncirus trifoliata, Citrus sunki, Citrus sinensis and contrasting hybrids reveals HLB tolerance mechanisms

Huanglongbing (HLB), caused mainly by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), is the most devastating citrus disease because all commercial species are susceptible. HLB tolerance has been observed in Poncirus trifoliata and their hybrids. A wide-ranging transcriptomic analysis using contrasting genotypes regarding HLB severity was performed to identify the genetic mechanism associated with tolerance to HLB. The genotypes included Citrus sinensis, Citrus sunki, Poncirus trifoliata and three distinct groups of hybrids obtained from crosses between C. sunki and P. trifoliata. According to bacterial titer and symptomatology studies, the hybrids were clustered as susceptible, tolerant and resistant to HLB. In P. trifoliata and resistant hybrids, genes related to specific pathways were differentially expressed, in contrast to C. sinensis, C. sunki and susceptible hybrids, where several pathways were reprogrammed in response to CLas. Notably, a genetic tolerance mechanism was associated with the downregulation of gibberellin (GA) synthesis and the induction of cell wall strengthening. These defense mechanisms were triggered by a class of receptor-related genes and the induction of WRKY transcription factors. These results led us to build a hypothetical model to understand the genetic mechanisms involved in HLB tolerance that can be used as target guidance to develop citrus varieties or rootstocks with potential resistance to HLB.

Witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth] control using imazapyr seed coating in maize hybrids in the Nigerian savannah

Witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth] is a major parasitic weed of most cereal crops in Africa, including maize. Seed treatment with low doses of acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides, such as imazapyr, was introduced in the 1990s to control witchweed. Field trials were conducted in four locations in Nigeria in 2007 and 2008, to assess the effect of coating seeds of several maize hybrids with imazapyr on witchweed control. The hybrids had genes for imidazolinone herbicide resistance (IR), as well as genetic tolerance to witchweed (ST). Treatments were 12 IR maize hybrids with ST and three checks without the IR gene (commercial, witchweed tolerant, and witchweed susceptible hybrids). Averaged across all locations, the coated IR hybrids with ST yielded more and supported fewer witchweed plants than the uncoated IR hybrids with ST. The IR hybrids with ST yielded 57%–60% more than the commercial and witchweed tolerant hybrid checks that were not coated. The witchweed susceptible hybrid check suffered a yield loss of 88% under infestation without seed coating. The IR hybrids with ST yielded 3564 kg ha−1 of grain when coated with imazapyr and 3266 kg ha−1 otherwise. The findings indicate that coating of IR/ST maize seeds with imazapyr improved tolerance to witchweed.

Genetic Tolerance in Capsicum Chinense to Low pH Constraints on Root Growth

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are valuable cash crops in developing countries of the tropics and subtropics where acidic soils represent a substantial amount of arable land. [...]

Wheat yield losses in India due to ozone and aerosol pollution and their alleviation: A critical review

This review examines estimations made over the last two decades of the wheat yield losses in India due to elevated tropospheric ozone (O3) and to aerosol pollution. Notwithstanding the poor record of O3 and solar radiation measurement in wheat regions, a reasonable estimate can be made yield losses around 2010. From an average of the more credible studies, this is around 30% compared to the yield which would have been achieved with 1970 solar radiation and O3 assumed to be <40 ppb (parts per billion by volume). The results suggest that O3 causes two-thirds of the loss and reduced total solar radiation due to aerosols (but corrected for increased diffuse radiation) one-third. Ozone, in particular, appears to be still increasing. It is likely that increased stomatal conductance (e.g. due to more irrigation (97% of production now irrigated) and the unwitting consequence of breeding for increased potential yield) has added to current O3 losses. Much is known about the physiology of O3 damage in the wheat leaf and plant. What is lacking is a thorough search for genetic tolerance independent of stomatal conductance and potential yield penalties, and this requires, at least initially, many chamber and/or FACE (free-air CO2 enhancement) experiments under typical Indian field conditions. Genetic engineering could offer a solution for O3 but only in the long term. Other solutions to pollution damage are very limited, but earlier planting should help wheat escape the rising O3 level in the spring. The 40 million tonnes of wheat currently foregone annually by India due to these two pollutants, even if an overestimate, far exceeds estimates of wheat yield loss to date due to climate change and demands concerted action to reduce the sources of this pollution, bringing added direct advantages for other crops and for human health.