Rubus kaznowskii (Rosaceae), a new bramble species from south-central Poland

Based on field research in south-central Poland, supplemented with a review of herbarium materials, we identified a stable bramble biotype with a range large enough (190 km distance between the outermost stands) to be described as a new regional agamic species, Rubus kaznowskiisp.nov. It belongs to the series Subthyrsoidei(sect. Corylifolii). Although R. kaznowskii has a unique combination of features, it can be potentially mistaken for R. gothicus. It differs from the latter species in many aspects, including: pruinose primocanes, denser indumentum of the abaxial leaf surface, and more curved prickles on the petiole. R. kaznowskii has mainly been observed on rusty soils, in habitats of mixed coniferous and mixed broadleaf forests, usually in sunny places, along forest margins and roads, in clearings and roadside thickets.

Cirsium taiwanense (Compositae, Cirsium sect. Onotrophe, subsect. Australicirsium), a new species from Taiwan

A new species of Cirsium, C. taiwanense Y.H.Tseng & Chih Y.Chang from central-northern Taiwan is reported in this article. This species is similar to C. hosokawae Kitam. in having a densely cobwebby abaxial leaf surface, but differs in its yellow (vs. vivid purplish red) corolla and the angle between the midrib and the lateral veins of the leaf, which is acute as opposed to nearly at a right angle in C. hosokawae. Cirsium taiwanense has 2n = 32 chromosomes, which is different from the other species in the Taiwanese subsect. Australicirsium Kitam. (2n = 34). An identification key to the Cirsium taxa of Taiwan is presented.

Strobilanthes medahinnensis (Acanthaceae) a new species, based on morphological and molecular data, from the Peak Wilderness Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka

Strobilanthes medahinnensis, a new species of Acanthaceae is described and illustrated from Sri Lanka. The new species is similar to S. anceps in having ovate leaves, yellow gland dots of abaxial leaf surface and reflexed bracts but differs by rounded stem, leaves with acuminate apex, elongated spikes, lanceolate outermost bract with long acuminate apex. The establishment of the new species is supported by complete plastome genome analyses.

A new broad-leaved species of loquat from eastern Myanmar and its phylogenetic affinity in the genus Eriobotrya (Rosaceae)

Eriobotrya shanense, a new species from the karst region of Shan State, eastern Myanmar, is described and illustrated. This evergreen tree is similar to the autumn and winter-flowering, large-leaved species E. malipoensis and E. japonica by having tomentose hairs on the abaxial leaf surface, but can be distinguished by its obovate, widely obelliptic or oval blade shape, leaf length-width ratio of 2:1 (vs. 3:1), and rounded or obtuse apex (vs. acute). The species also resembles less-known, undercollected Myanmar broad-leaved species E. wardii and E. platyphylla in leaf shape and length-width ratio, but can be easily differentiated by the presence of tomentose hairs on the leaves, and inflorescence. Phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA ITS region supported its close affinity with E. malipoensis and E. japonica. Molecular data also generally grouped the 17 congeneric taxa accessions in congruence to their leaf morphology, with the entire Eriobotrya clade strongly supported to be monophyletic and separate from Rhaphiolepis.

Population Density and Damage Caused by Two Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch on Different Pinto Bean Lines Under Field Conditions

In this study, population density and yield loss caused by two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) on eight lines of pinto bean were studied under field conditions during two successive years (2009-2010). The experiment was arranged in completely randomized block design with subdivided plots and four replications in Lordegan fields, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Iran. The main plots and sub-plots consisted of bean lines and acaricides application, respectively. Population density of TSSM was recorded at weekly intervals, beginning from the seedling stage and continued to harvesting time on different lines. Yield loss caused by the mite on each line, was calculated by subtracting the average yields in sprayed subplots versus unsprayed subplots. For this purpose, 10 plants from each subplot were selected randomly and the yield and yield components including; the number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod and weight of 100 seeds were recorded. Moreover, the grain yield (kg. ha-1) was determined by harvesting the central area (10 m2) in each subplot. Our results indicated significant differences in TSSM population (eggs, juveniles and adults) among the studied lines. In 2009, the highest number of mite was recorded on line ‘L29’ (120.20 ± 18.79) whereas, the lowest on line ‘L1’ (22.51 ± 4.96 mites/ 2 cm2 of the abaxial leaf surface). Moreover, during 2010, the highest and the lowest population density of the mite were supported by line ‘D3’ (55.53 ± 5.68) and line ‘L1’ (9.33 ± 0.79 mites/ 2 cm2 of the abaxial leaf surface), respectively. Mean yield loss of pinto bean lines due to the mite attack calculated 1460.6 kg. ha-1 (64.1 ± 10.2%) and 1278.7 kg. ha-1 (61.4 ± 8.6%) in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The highest grain yield loss presented by line ‘L1’ (91.1 ± 12.1% and 86.4 ± 8.9%) followed by lines ‘L29’and ‘L30’, whereas, the lowest observed in lines ‘J29’ (41.5 ± 7.7% and 37.5 ± 7.6%) and ‘L19’ (50.7 ± 6.6% and 47.4 ± 5.4% in 2009 and 2010, respectively).

First report: Co-infection of Sarcococca hookeriana (sweetbox) by Coccinonectria pachysandricola and Calonectria pseudonaviculata causes a foliar disease of sweetbox in Pennsylvania

Sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana) are high value ornamental shrubs susceptible to disease caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata (Cps) and Coccinonectria pachysandricola (Cpa) (Malapi-Wight et al. 2016; Salgado-Salazar et al. 2019). In July 2018, 18-month old sweetbox with leaf spots and defoliation were observed in a residential landscape in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Small tan leaf spots grew to cover half of the leaf, developing a concentric banding with dark brown rings and a yellow halo (Sup. Doc. 1: Sup. Fig. 1). The symptoms agreed with those of Cpa disease of sweetbox reported from Washington D.C. (Salgado-Salazar et al. 2019). Diseased plants were located ~1.5 m from Buxus sempervirens with boxwood blight. Morphological and genetic characterization of isolated fungi and pathogenicity tests followed Salgado-Salazar et al. (2019) (Sup. Doc. 2). White to salmon pink spore masses developed on the abaxial leaf surface after humid chamber incubation. Two distinct fungal cultures were recovered (JAC 18-61, JAC 18-79) on potato dextrose agar (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburg, PA). JAC 18-61 presented cultural and morphological characteristics as described for Cps (Crous et al. 2002). JAC 18-79 produced flat, filamentous, light salmon colonies with tan centers and white filiform borders containing pale pink sporodochia, verticillate and simple conidiophores (x̄: 61.8 ± 20.12 µm, N = 20) with lateral, cylindrical phialides (x̄ = 18.1 ± 5.83 x 2.4 ± 0.7 µm, N = 20), and ellipsoid, hyaline conidia without septa (x̄ = 15.2 ± 1.9 x 3.3 ± 0.7 µm, N = 20). Sexual structures and chlamydospores were not observed. The characteristics of JAC 18-79 agree with those reported for Cpa (Salgado-Salazar et al. 2019). Bidirectional sequencing of the ITS, beta-TUB, and RPB1 and RPB2 regions was performed as described (Salgado-Salazar et al. 2019). BLASTn comparisons against NCBI GenBank revealed JAC 18-61 sequences (MT318150 and MT328399) shared 100% identity with Cps sequences (JX535321 and JX535307 from isolate CB002). Sequences from JAC 18-79 (MT318151, MT341237 to MT341239) were 100% identical to Cpa sequences (MH892596, MH936775, MH936703 from isolate JAC 16-20 and JF832909, isolate CBS 128674). The genome of JAC 18-79 was sequenced and yielded an assembly of 26.3 Mb (204 contigs > 1000 bases, N50 = 264.3 kb, 92x coverage, JABAHV0000000000) that contained the MAT1-2 mating-type idiomorph and shared 98.9% similarity with Cpa BPI910731. Isolate JAC 18-61 (Cps) caused lesions on wounded and unwounded sweetbox and boxwood leaves (Sup. Table 1). In general, JAC 18-79 (Cpa) infected only wounded leaves of both hosts; however, in one trial, one unwounded sweetbox and two unwounded boxwood plants developed lesions, possibly due to the presence of natural wounds. Control plants did not develop symptoms. These results diverge to some degree from previous reports of Cpa infecting unwounded sweetbox and not infecting wounded boxwood (Salgado-Salazar et al. 2019). These results indicate that virulence variation among Cpa isolates might occur. Plating of symptomatic tissue and examination of spores fulfilled Koch’s postulates for both pathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cpa blight on sweetbox in Pennsylvania, and the second U.S. report of the disease. This is also the first report of co-infection of Cpa and Cps on diseased sweetbox foliage. Given the capacity of Cpa to infect both sweetbox and boxwood, inspection for Cpa on both hosts is advisable.

Screening for Sarawak Paddy Landraces with Resistance to Yellow Rice Stem Borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The yellow rice stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) is a prevalent pest in paddy fields worldwide. In Sarawak, a survey on pest of paddy carried out from 2009 to 2011 covering 166 paddy fields revealed that rice stem borers caused 11.4% of total paddy damage. In order to reduce the damage, identifying resistance paddy variety is crucial. The objective of this study was to screen Sarawak paddy landraces with resistance to S. incertulas. Twelve Sarawak paddy landraces were selected randomly for this study. Antixenosis resistance screening was performed in aquariums (60 x 28 x 33 cm). Three replications of one-month-old seedlings were randomly arranged in aquarium and exposed to adult S. incertulas. The number and position of egg mass on each plant were recorded. Egg mass abnormalities were also observed. For antibiosis, rice culms of two-month old seedlings from each landrace were infested with larvae. The length of surviving larvae from five rice culms was measured. The experiment revealed variations in landrace of preference for ovipositing. Among the twelve Sarawak paddy landraces, Kanowit was more preferred by S. incertulas for ovipositing in comparison to other paddy landraces suggesting susceptibility towards the pest. Abaxial leaf surface was the preferred oviposition site. There was no clear antibiosis response of the paddy landraces towards S. incertulas larvae in this study.

Anatomical changes induced by isolates of Trichoderma spp. in soybean plants

In the current work we evaluated the anatomical changes induced by T. harzianum and T. asperellum in two soybean cultivars, BRSGO Caiaponia and NA 5909 RG. Soybean production represents a growing market worldwide, and new methods aimed at increasing its productivity and yield are constantly being sought. Fungi of the genus Trichoderma have been widely used in agriculture as a promising alternative for the promotion of plant growth and for biological control of various pathogens. It is known that Trichoderma spp. colonize plant roots, but the anatomical changes that this fungus can cause are still less studied. Experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to collect leaves and soybean roots to perform analysis of growth parameters, enzymatic activity of defense-related enzymes and anatomical changes. It was observed that inoculation of Trichoderma spp. caused anatomical alterations, among them, increase in stomatal index at the abaxial leaf surface, thickness of the root cortex, thickness of adaxial epidermis, mean diameter of the vascular cylinder, thickness of the mesophyll, and thickness of the spongy parenchyma of the soybean plants. These results indicate that the alterations in these factors may be related to the process of plant resistance to pathogens, and better performance against adverse conditions. This study demonstrates that the anatomical study of plants is an important tool to show the effects that are induced by biological control agents.

An Acylsucrose-Producing Tomato Line Derived from the Wild Species Solanum pimpinellifolium Decreases Fitness of the Whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum

A combination of biological control and host plant resistance would be desirable for optimally controlling the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum in tomato crops. Whitefly settlement preference, oviposition, and survivorship were evaluated on ABL 10-4 and ‘Moneymaker’, two nearly-isogenic tomato lines with, and without, whitefly-resistance traits based on type IV leaf glandular trichomes derived from the tomato wild species Solanum pimpinellifolium, respectively. Significantly reduced preference of T. vaporariorum adult whiteflies for ABL 10-4 leaves was observed. Moreover, T. vaporariorum altered its abaxial–adaxial settling performance on leaves of ABL 10-4 plants. A significantly lower tendency to settle on abaxial leaf surface was observed in ABL 10-4 compared to Moneymaker plants. Furthermore, T. vaporariorum deposited fewer eggs and exhibited a significantly reduced egg to adult survivorship in ABL 10-4 than in Moneymaker plants. Therefore, reduced fitness and distorted performance were observed for T. vaporariorum on ABL 10-4 tomato plants supporting that type IV leaf glandular trichomes might protect them from this pest and, indirectly, from the viruses it transmits.