Screening of Diverse Lupinus spp. Highlights New Resistances to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a serious, and sometimes devastating, disease of lupin (Lupinus spp.). Two hundred and thirty-six lupin accessions from across 12 Lupinus species were screened against the prevalent S. sclerotiorum isolate MBRS-1 (pathotype 76). L. angustifolius accession 21655 and L. albus var. albus accession 20589 showed immune and 'near-immune' responses, respectively. Thirteen accessions of L. angustifolius, three accessions each of L. albus and L. albus var. albus, and a single accession each of L. albus var. graecus, L. mutabilis, L. palaestinus and L. pilosus (totalling ~4%) showed a highly resistant (HR) response. A further 19 accessions of L. angustifolius, two accessions each of L. albus and L. pilosus, and a single accession of L. mutabilis (totalling ~10%) showed a resistant (R) response. The reactions of 16 (15 L. angustifolius, one L. digitatus) of these 236 accessions were also compared with their reactions to a different isolate, WW-3 (pathotype 10). Against this isolate, five L. angustifolius accessions showed a HR response and four showed a R response, and the L. digitatus accession showed a moderate resistance (MR) response. Overall, isolate WW-3 caused significantly (P<0.05) smaller lesions than MBRS-1 across tested accessions in common. In addition, 328 plants in a 'wild' naturalized field population of L. cosentini were screened in situ in the field against isolate MBRS-1. Five (~1.5%) of the 328 plants of wild lupin showed an immune response, 63 (~19%) showed a HR response, and 146 (~45%) showed a R response. We believe this is the first examination of diverse Lupinus spp. germplasm responses to a prevalent pathotype of S. sclerotiorum. Lupin genotypes exhibiting high level resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot identified in this study can now be used as parental lines for crosses in lupin breeding programs and/or directly as improved cultivars to reduce the adverse impact of this disease on lupin crops.

Genetic and molecular analysis of stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) resistance in Brassica napus (canola type)

Identifying the molecular and genetic basis of resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is critical for developing long-term and cost-effective management of this disease in rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus). Current cultural or chemical management options provide, at best, only partial and/or sporadic control. Towards this, a B. napus breeding population (Mystic x Rainbow), including the parents, F1, F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2, was utilized in a field study to determine the inheritance pattern of Sclerotinia stem rot resistance (based on stem lesion length, SLL). Broad sense heritability was 0.58 for SLL and 0.44 for days to flowering (DTF). There was a significant negative correlation between SLL and stem diameter (SD) (r = -0.39) and between SLL and DTF (r = -0.28), suggesting co-selection of SD and DTF traits, along with SLL, should assist in improving overall resistance. Non-additive genetic variance was evident for SLL, DTF, and SD. In a genome wide association study (GWAS), a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) was identified for SLL. Several putative candidate marker trait associations (MTA) were located within this QTL region. Overall, this study has provided valuable new understanding of inheritance of resistance to S. sclerotiorum, and has identified QTL, MTAs and transgressive segregants with high-level resistances. Together, these will foster more rapid selection for multiple traits associated with Sclerotinia stem rot resistance, by enabling breeders to make critical choices towards selecting/developing cultivars with enhanced resistance to this devastating pathogen.

Novel Resistances Provide New Avenues to Manage Alternaria Leaf Spot (Alternaria brassicae) in Canola (Brassica napus), Mustard (B. juncea), and Other Brassicaceae Crops

Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria brassicae) can be a devastating disease in canola (Brassica napus) and mustard (B. juncea), but there are no highly effective host resistances available. Screening of 150 diverse Brassicaceae varieties under glasshouse conditions highlighted important novel resistances. In particular, Camelina sativa '4076' and Diplotaxis erucoides 'Wasabi Rocket' had complete resistance across disease assessment parameters (leaf incidence [%LDI]; severity [%LAD]; consequent defoliation [%LCI]). The next most resistant varieties were C. sativa 'CSA' (%LDI 0.6; %LAD 0.4), '4144' (%LDI 1.2; %LAD 0.5), '405' (%LDI 1.7; %LAD 0.7), C. sativa '3274' (%LDI 2.5; %LAD 0.8), Carrichtera annua 'CAN3' (%LDI 7.7; %LAD 4.0), and Sisymbrium irio 'London Rocket' (%LDI 2.1; %LAD 0.8), all with %LCI values of 0. Other genotypes showing high-level resistance included S. erysimoides 'SER 4' (%LDI 11.8; %LAD 5.6; %LCI 0) and D. cardaminoides 'Wild Rocket' (%LDI 15.5; %LAD 7.2; %LCI 0), and those showing moderate resistance were Brassica carinata 'ML-EM-1' (Rungwe), B. insularis 'Moris', B. napus 'ZY006', B. oxyrrhina 'BOX1', B. oleracea var. capitata 'Sugarloaf', B. tournefortii 'CN01-104-2', and Sinapis alba 'Concerta' with %LDI 21.6 to 29.8, %LAD 12.8 to 21.0, and %LCI 0 to 5.7. In particular, B. napus 'ZY006' for canola and B. oleracea var. capitata 'Sugarloaf' can now be directly utilized (i.e., without crossing impairment) for Brassica species and vegetable breeding programs, respectively. While all B. juncea genotypes were susceptible, there were some less susceptible varieties from India in comparison with genotypes from Australia or China. The most susceptible test genotype was Rapistrum sativus (%LDI 89.4; %LAD 83.9; %LCI 71.0), highlighting the value of the resistances identified. These findings not only highlight a range of novel resistances against A. brassicae for canola, mustard, and other diverse Brassicaceae breeding programs to develop resistant commercial varieties, but also emphasize highly susceptible varieties to avoid in both breeding programs and commercial situations conducive to Alternaria leaf spot.

Faba Bean Gall Pathogen Physoderma viciae: New Primers Reveal Its Puzzling Association with the Field Pea Ascochyta Complex

Recent morphological and molecular studies confirmed Physoderma viciae, and not Olpidium viciae, to be the causative agent of the devastating Faba Bean Gall (FBG) disease on faba bean (Vicia faba) in Ethiopia and also highlighted its ability to cross-infect with other host genera such as Pisum and Trifolium. In this study, the first pair of specific primer 'Physo 1' and primer pair 'Physo D' are reported from molecular sequences of this pathogen from the conserved LSU (S28) gene. Whereas 'Physo 1' readily detects P. viciae, 'Physo D', clearly separates its identity from the common and confounding presence of Didymella/Phoma spp. The study also reports the presence of the Ascochyta blight pathogen complex, symptomless but almost universal on field pea (Pisum sativum), within faba bean infested by P. viciae. We emphasize historical evidence confirming such unique association in other legumes, such as the subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum). This new finding has significant implications for rotations involving different legume crop and/or forage legume genera and possibly provides the first explanation for the widespread occurrence of the field pea Ascochyta blight pathogen complex even in the absence of field pea cropping for many years.

Quantitative Inheritance of Sclerotinia Stem Rot Resistance in Brassica napus and Relationship to Cotyledon and Leaf Resistances

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic fungus causing devastating stem rot and associated yield losses of canola/rapeseed (Brassica napus) worldwide, including in Australia. Developing host resistance against Sclerotinia stem rot is critical if this disease in canola/rapeseed is to be successfully managed, as cultural or chemical control options provide only partial or sporadic control. Three B. napus breeding populations, C2, C5 and C6, including the parents, F₁, F₂, BC₁P1, and BC₂P2, were used in a field study with an objective of exploring the inheritance pattern of disease resistance (based on stem lesion length [SLL]) and the genetic relationships of disease with stem diameter (SD) or days to first flowering (DTF), and to compare these new adult plant stem resistances against S. sclerotiorum with those of seedling (cotyledon and leaf) resistances in earlier studies. Heritability (broad sense) of SLL was 0.57 and 0.73 for population C2 at 3 and 5 weeks postinoculation and 0.21 for population C5 at 5 weeks postinoculation. Additive genetic variance was evident within all 3 populations for DTF but not for SD. Narrow-sense heritability for DTF was 0.48 (C2), 0.42 (C5), and 0.32 (C6). SD, DTF, and SLL were all inherited independently, with no significant genetic covariance between traits in bivariate analysis. Genetic variance for SLL in populations C2 and C5 was entirely nonadditive, and there was significant nonadditive genetic covariance of SLL at 3 and 5 weeks postinoculation. Generation means analysis in population C2 supported the conclusion that complex epistatic interactions controlled SLL. Several C2 and C5 progeny showed high adult plant stem resistance, which may be critical in developing enhanced stem resistance in canola/rapeseed. Although population C6 showed no genetic variation for SLL resistance in this study, it showed significant nonadditive genetic variance at the cotyledon and leaf stages in earlier studies. We conclude that host resistance varies across different plant growth stages, and breeding must be targeted for resistance at each growth stage. In populations C2, C5, and C6, resistance to S. sclerotiorum in stem, leaf, and cotyledon was always controlled by nonadditive effects such as complex epistasis or dominance. Overall, our findings in relation to the quantitative inheritance of Sclerotinia stem rot resistance, together with the new high-level resistances identified, will enable breeders to select/develop genotypes with enhanced resistances to S. sclerotiorum.

Phoma medicaginis Isolate Differences Determine Disease Severity and Phytoestrogen Production in Annual Medicago spp

Phoma black stem and leaf spot disease of annual Medicago spp., caused by Phoma medicaginis, not only can devastate forage and seed yield but can reduce herbage quality by inducing production of phytoestrogens (particularly coumestrol and 4'-O-methylcoumestrol), which can also reduce the ovulation rates of animals grazing infected forage. We determined the consequent phytoestrogen levels on three different annual Medicago species/cultivars (Medicago truncatula cultivar Cyprus, Medicago polymorpha var. brevispina cultivar Serena, and Medicago murex cultivar Zodiac) after inoculation with 35 isolates of P. medicaginis. Across the isolate × cultivar combinations, leaf disease incidence, petiole/stem disease incidence, leaf disease severity, petiole disease severity, and leaf yellowing severity ranged up to 100, 89.4, 100, 58.1, and 61.2%, respectively. Cultivars Cyprus and Serena were the most susceptible and cultivar Zodiac was the most resistant to P. medicaginis. Isolates WAC3653, WAC3658, and WAC4252 produced the most severe disease. Levels of phytoestrogens in stems ranged from 25 to 1,995 mg/kg for coumestrol and from 0 to 418 mg/kg for 4'-O-methylcoumestrol. There was a significant positive relationship of disease incidence and severity parameters with both coumestrol and 4'-O-methylcoumestrol contents, as noted across individual cultivars and across the three cultivars overall, where r = 0.39 and 0.37 for coumestrol and 4'-O-methylcoumestrol, respectively (P < 0.05). Although cultivar Serena was most susceptible to P. medicaginis and produced the highest levels of phytoestrogens in the presence of P. medicaginis, cultivar Zodiac contained the highest levels of phytoestrogens in comparison with other cultivars in the absence of P. medicaginis. There was a 15-fold increase in coumestrol in cultivar Serena but only a 7-fold increase in cultivar Zodiac from infection of P. medicaginis. The study highlights that the intrinsic ability of a particular cultivar to produce phytoestrogens in the absence of the pathogen, and its comparative ability to produce phytoestrogens in the presence of the P. medicaginis, are both important and highly relevant to developing new annual Medicago spp. cultivars that offer improved disease resistance and better animal reproductive outcomes.

Pathogen Biocontrol Using Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPR): Role of Bacterial Diversity

A vast microbial community inhabits in the rhizosphere, among which, specialized bacteria known as Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) confer benefits to host plants including growth promotion and disease suppression. PGPR taxa vary in the ways whereby they curtail the negative effects of invading plant pathogens. However, a cumulative or synergistic effect does not always ensue when a bacterial consortium is used. In this review, we reassess the disease-suppressive mechanisms of PGPR and present explanations and illustrations for functional diversity and/or stability among PGPR taxa regarding these mechanisms. We also provide evidence of benefits when PGPR mixtures, rather than individuals, are used for protecting crops from various diseases, and underscore the critical determinant factors for successful use of PGPR mixtures. Then, we evaluate the challenges of and limitations to achieving the desired outcomes from strain/species-rich bacterial assemblages, particularly in relation to their role for plant disease management. In addition, towards locating additive or synergistic outcomes, we highlight why and how the benefits conferred need to be categorized and quantified when different strains/species of PGPR are used in combinations. Finally, we highlight the critical approaches needed for developing PGPR mixtures with improved efficacy and stability as biocontrols for utilization in agricultural fields.

Comparative analysis of draft genome assemblies developed from whole genome sequences of two Hyaloperonospora brassicae isolate samples differing in field virulence on Brassica napus

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We report first draft genome assemblies for two isolates Hyaloperonospora brassicae, differing for their virulence. These revealed genome sizes of genome sizes of 72.762 and 76.950Mb and 6,438 and 6,470 scaffolds respectively.

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In silico annotation allowed understanding of the genome architecture of H. brassicae  in terms of genes for pathogenicity and virulence.

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The observed reduction in virulence or loss of pathogenicity in a larger number of genes in the sample with low virulence in comparison to sample with high virulence may reflect differential rates of mutation and selection during host–parasite co‐evolution.

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Genomic resources develop will aid in monitoring field prevalence of H. brassicae pathotypes and to detect early any virulence changes within pathogen populations.

Hyaloperonospora brassicae causes downy mildew, a major disease of Brassicaceae species. We sequenced the genomes of two H. brassicae isolates of high (Sample B) and low (Sample C) virulence. Sequencing reads were first assembled de novo with software's SOAPdenovo2, ABySS V2.1 and Velvet V1.1 and later combined to create meta-assemblies with genome sizes of 72.762 and 76.950Mb and predicted gene densities of 1628 and 1644 /Mb, respectively. We could annotate 12.255 and 13,030 genes with high proportions (91-92%) of complete BUSCOs for Sample B and C, respectively. Comparative analysis revealed conserved and varied molecular machinery underlying the physiological specialisation and infection capabilities. BLAST analysis against PHI gene database suggested a relatively higher loss of genes for virulence and pathogenicity in Sample C compared to Sample B, reflecting pathogen evolution through differential rates of mutation and selection. These studies will enable identification and monitoring of H. brassicae virulence factors prevailing in-field.

Dimorphism in Neopseudocercosporella capsellae, an Emerging Pathogen Causing White Leaf Spot Disease of Brassicas

White leaf spot pathogen: Neopseudocercosporella capsellae causes significant damage to many economically important Brassicaceae crops, including oilseed rape through foliar, stem, and pod lesions under cool and wet conditions. A lack of information on critical aspects of the pathogen's life cycle limits the development of effective control measures. The presence of single-celled spores along with multi-celled conidia on cotyledons inoculated with multi-celled conidia suggested that the multi-celled conidia were able to form single-celled spores on the host surface. This study was designed to demonstrate N. capsellae morphological plasticity, which allows the shift between a yeast-like single-celled phase and the multi-celled hyphal phase. Separate experiments were designed to illustrate the pathogen's morphological transformation to single-celled yeast phase from multi-celled hyphae or multi-celled macroconidia in-vitro and in-planta. Results confirmed the ability of N. capsellae to switch between two morphologies (septate hyphae and single-celled yeast phase) on a range of artificial culture media (in-vitro) or in-planta on the host surface before infection occurs. The hyphae-to-yeast transformation occurred through the production of two morphologically distinguishable blastospore (blastoconidia) types (meso-blastospores and micro-blastospores), and arthrospores (arthroconidia).

Novel Disease Host Resistances in the World Core Collection of Trifolium subterraneum

Glasshouse and field investigations of the phenotypic expressions of resistance of a 97-member World Core Collection of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) collected from its native Mediterranean habitat and representing approximately 80% of the total genetic diversity within the known 10,000 accessions of the species against the most important damping-off and root rot (Phytophthora clandestina, and Pythium irregulare) and foliar (Kabatiella caulivora, Uromyces trifolii-repentis, and Erysiphe trifoliorum) pathogens were performed. An additional 28 diverse cultivars were also included. Associations of these genotypes among 18 disease parameters and 17 morphological traits, and among these disease parameters and 24 climatic and eco-geographic variables from their collection sites, were examined. Many genotypes showed strong phenotypic expression of novel host disease resistance against one or more pathogens, enabling their potential deployment as disease-resistant parents in subterranean clover breeding programs. These new sources of resistance enable future "pyramiding" of different resistance genes to improve resistance against these pathogens. Of particular value were genotypes with multiple disease-resistance across soilborne and/or foliar diseases, because many of these pathogens co-occur. All diseases had some parameters significantly correlated with one or more morphological traits and with one or more sites of origin variables. In particular, there were significant negative correlations between damping-off (i.e., germination) and 8 of the 17 morphological characters. The outcomes of these studies provide crucial information to subterranean clover breeding programs, enabling them to simultaneously select genotypes with multiple resistance to co-occurring soilborne and foliar diseases and desirable traits to offer renewed hope for re-establishing a more productive subterranean clover livestock feedbase despite multiple diseases prevailing widely.

Evidence for Niche Differentiation in the Environmental Responses of Co-occurring Mucoromycotinian Fine Root Endophytes and Glomeromycotinian Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Fine root endophytes (FRE) were traditionally considered a morphotype of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but recent genetic studies demonstrate that FRE belong within the subphylum Mucoromycotina, rather than in the subphylum Glomeromycotina with the AMF. These findings prompt enquiry into the fundamental ecology of FRE and AMF. We sampled FRE and AMF in roots of Trifolium subterraneum from 58 sites across temperate southern Australia. We investigated the environmental drivers of composition, richness, and root colonization of FRE and AMF by using structural equation modelling and canonical correspondence analyses. Root colonization by FRE increased with increasing temperature and rainfall but decreased with increasing phosphorus (P). Root colonization by AMF increased with increasing soil organic carbon but decreased with increasing P. Richness of FRE decreased with increasing temperature and soil pH. Richness of AMF increased with increasing temperature and rainfall but decreased with increasing soil aluminium (Al) and pH. Aluminium, soil pH, and rainfall were, in decreasing order, the strongest drivers of community composition of FRE; they were also important drivers of community composition of AMF, along with temperature, in decreasing order: rainfall, Al, temperature, and soil pH. Thus, FRE and AMF showed the same responses to some (e.g. soil P, soil pH) and different responses to other (e.g. temperature) key environmental factors. Overall, our data are evidence for niche differentiation among these co-occurring mycorrhizal associates.

Canola Growth Stage at Time of Infection Determines Magnitude of White Leaf Spot (Neopseudocercosporella capsellae) Impact

White leaf spot (Neopseudocercosporella capsellae) is a persistent and increasingly important foliar disease for canola (Brassica napus) across southern Australia. To define the role of plant growth stage in the development of disease epidemics, we first investigated the response of different canola cultivars (Scoop and Charlton) at five Sylvester-Bradley growth stages against N. capsellae. White leaf spot disease incidence and severity was dependent on plant growth stage and cultivar (both P < 0.001), with plants being most susceptible at plant growth stage 1.00 (cotyledon stage) followed by plant growth stage 1.04 (fourth leaf stage). Then, to quantify the impact of this disease on canola yield, we investigated the in-field relationship of white leaf spot disease incidence and severity with seed yield loss following artificial inoculation commencing at growth stage 1.04 (fourth leaf stage). White leaf spot significantly (P < 0.001) reduced seed yield by 24% in N. capsellae inoculated field plots compared with noninoculated field plots. To our knowledge, this is the first time that serious seed yield losses from this disease have been quantified in the field. The current study demonstrates that N. capsellae disease incidence and severity on canola is determined by host growth stage at which pathogen infestation occurs. Emerging seedling cotyledons were highly susceptible, followed by less susceptibility in first true leaves to emerge, but then increasing susceptibility as plants subsequently aged toward the fourth leaf stage. This explains field observances where white leaf spot readily establishes on emerging seedlings and subsequently becomes more prevalent and severe as plants age.

Challenges With Managing Disease Complexes During Application of Different Measures Against Foliar Diseases of Field Pea

Studies were undertaken across five field locations in Western Australia to determine the relative changes in disease severity and subsequent field pea yield from up to four foliar pathogens associated with a field pea foliar disease complex (viz. genera Didymella, Phoma, Peronospora, and Septoria) across four different pea varieties sown at three different times and at three different densities. Delaying sowing of field pea significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the severity of Ascochyta blight (all five locations) and Septoria blight (one location), increased the severity of downy mildew (four locations), but had no effect on seed yield. In relation to Ascochyta blight severity at 80 days after sowing, at all locations the early time of sowing had significantly (P < 0.05) more severe Ascochyta blight than the mid and late times of sowing. Increasing actual plant density from 20 to 25 plants m-2 to 58 to 78 plants m-2 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the severity of the Ascochyta blight (four locations) and downy mildew (one location), and it increased seed yield at four locations irrespective of sowing date and three locations irrespective of variety. Compared with varieties Dundale, Wirrega, and Pennant, variety Alma showed significantly (P < 0.05) less severe Ascochyta blight, downy mildew, and Septoria blight (one location each). Grain yield was highest for the early time of sowing at three locations. Varieties Alma, Dundale, and Wirrega significantly (P < 0.05) outyielded Pennant at four locations. The percentage of isolations of individual Ascochyta blight pathogens at 80 days after the first time of sowing varied greatly, with genus Didymella ranging from 25 to 93% and genus Phoma ranging from 6 to 23% across the five field locations. This fluctuating nature of individual pathogen types and proportions within the Ascochyta blight complex, along with variation in the occurrence of pathogens Peronospora and Septoria, highlights the challenges to understand and manage the complexities of co-occurring different foliar pathogens of field pea. While the search for more effective host resistance continues, there is a need for and opportunities from further exploring and exploiting cultural management approaches focusing on crop sequence diversification, intercropping, manipulating time of sowing and stand density, and application of improved seed sanitation and residue/inoculum management practices. We discuss the constraints and opportunities toward overcoming the challenges associated with managing foliar disease complexes in field pea.

White Leaf Spot Caused by Neopseudocercosporella capsellae: A Re-emerging Disease of Brassicaceae

White leaf spot can cause significant damage to many economically important Brassicaceae crops, including oilseed rape, vegetable, condiment, and fodder Brassica species, and recently has been identified as a re-emerging disease. The causal agent, Neopseudocercosporella capsellae, produces foliar, stem, and pod lesions under favorable weather conditions. N. capsellae secretes cercosporin, a non-host specific, photo-activated toxin, into the host tissue during the early infection process. The pathogen has an active parasitic stage on the living host and a sexual or asexual saprobic stage on the dead host. Where the sexual stage exists, ascospores initiate the new disease cycle, while in the absence of the sexual stage, conidia produced by the asexual stage initiate new disease cycles. Distribution of the pathogen is worldwide; however, epidemiology and disease severity differ between countries or continents, with it being more destructive in Subtropical, Mediterranean, or Temperate climate regions with cool and wet climates. The pathogen has a wide host range within Brassicaceae. Brassica germplasm show varied responses from highly susceptible to completely resistant to pathogen invasion and significant susceptibility differences are observed among major crop species. Cultural practices only provide effective disease control when the climate is not conducive. An increase in the susceptible host population and favorable weather conditions have together favored the recent rise in white leaf spot disease occurrence and spread. The lack of understanding of variation in pathogen virulence and associated resistant gene sources within brassicas critically limits the potential to develop efficient control measures.

Temperature Drives Contrasting Alternaria Leaf Spot Epidemic Development in Canola and Mustard Rape from Alternaria japonica and A. brassicae

Recent surveys of canola (Brassica napus) crops across southern Australia highlighted that Alternaria leaf spot on canola is not solely caused by Alternaria brassicae but that other Alternaria spp. are also involved, including A. japonica. Studies were undertaken into the effects of different temperatures (14 and 10°C [day and night] or 22 and 17°C [day and night]) on development of Alternaria leaf spot caused by A. japonica as compared with A. brassicae in cotyledons (embryonic leaves) and true leaves (first leaves) of canola (B. napus 'Thunder TT') and mustard rape (B. juncea 'Dune'). Both pathogens expressed less disease at lower temperatures of 14 and 10°C with percent disease index (%DI) of 19.1 for A. japonica and 41.8 for A. brassicae, but expressed significantly more disease at higher temperatures of 22 and 17°C with %DI of 80.8 and 88.2 for the same pathogens, respectively. At 14 and 10°C, mustard rape cotyledons showed less disease (percent cotyledons disease index [%CDI] = 18.1) from A. japonica but showed more disease (%CDI = 75.0) from A. brassicae. However, at 22 and 17°C, cotyledons and true leaves of both canola and mustard rape showed significantly more disease and varied in expressing the disease severity to the two pathogens; true leaves of mustard rape showed less disease (percent true leaf disease index [%TDI] = 48.4) from A. japonica but showed more disease (%TDI = 92.0) from A. brassicae. At 22 and 17°C, cotyledons of canola expressed more disease from A. japonica (%CDI = 99.1) than from A. brassicae (%CDI = 70.7). At the lower temperature, both host species showed the least disease, with mean %DI of 27.3 and 33.5 for canola and mustard rape, respectively, as compared with the higher temperatures, where there was a greater DI, with %DI values of 87.9 and 81.2 for these same host species, respectively. We believe that these are the first studies to highlight the critical role played by temperature for A. japonica as compared with A. brassicae in Alternaria leaf spot disease development and severity. These findings explain how temperature affects Alternaria leaf spot severity caused by A. japonica as compared with A. brassicae on different foliage components of canola and mustard rape.

Revisiting Sustainability of Fungicide Seed Treatments for Field Crops

The use of fungicide seed treatment (FST) is a very common practice worldwide. The purported effectiveness of many fungicides in providing broad-spectrum and systemic control of important diseases and the perception that FST reduces overall pesticide use, hence lowering environmental impacts, have greatly promoted the use of FST in the last five decades. Since there have been rapid advancements in the types, formulations, and application methods for seed treatments, there is a need to re-evaluate the benefits versus the risks of FST as a practice. While the use of seeds treated with neonicotinoid insecticides has come under scrutiny due to concern over potential nontarget effects, there are knowledge gaps on potential negative impacts of FST on operators' (those who apply, handle, and use treated seeds) health and nontarget soil organisms (both macro- and microorganisms). Here we review existing knowledge on key fungicides used for seed treatments, benefits and risks related to FST, and propose recommendations to increase benefits and limit risks related to the use of FST. We found FST is applied to almost 100% of sown seeds for the most important arable crops worldwide. Fungicides belonging to 10 chemical families and with one or several types of mobility (contact, locally systemic, and xylem mobile) are used for seed treatment, although the majority are xylem mobile. Seed treatments are applied by the seed distributor, the seed company, and the farmer, although the proportion of seed lots treated by these three groups vary from one crop to another. The average quantity of fungicide active ingredient (a.i.) applied via seed treatment depends on the crop species, environment(s) into which seed is planted, and regional or local regulations. Cost-effectiveness, protection of the seed and seedlings from pathogens up to 4-5 weeks from sowing, user friendliness, and lower impact on human health and nontarget soil organisms compared with foliar spray and broadcast application techniques, are among the most claimed benefits attributed to FST. In contrast, inconsistent economic benefits, development of resistance by soilborne pathogens to many fungicides, exposure risks to operators, and negative impacts on nontarget soil organisms are the key identified risks related to FST. We propose eight recommendations to reduce risks related to FST and to increase their benefits.

Understanding Why Effective Fungicides Against Individual Soilborne Pathogens Are Ineffective with Soilborne Pathogen Complexes

Annual forage legumes across southern Australia continue to be devastated by soilborne diseases. Nine fungicide seed treatments (thiram, metalaxyl, iprodione, phosphonic acid, propamocarb, fluquinconazole, difenoconazole + metalaxyl, ipconazole + metalaxyl, sedaxane + difenoconazole + metalaxyl) and four foliar fungicide treatments (phosphonic acid, metalaxyl, propamocarb, iprodione) were tested on four subterranean clover cultivars against individual oomycete soilborne pathogens Pythium irregulare, Aphanomyces trifolii, and Phytophthora clandestina and the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Best treatments were then further tested across southern Australia in 2 years of field experiments. Under controlled conditions, seed treatment with thiram was best against damping-off caused by P. irregulare across the four cultivars (Woogenellup, Riverina, Seaton Park, Meteora), while metalaxyl was the most effective for maximizing root and shoot weights. Against A. trifolii, metalaxyl, iprodione, difenoconazole + metalaxyl, ipconazole + metalaxyl, and sedaxane + difenoconazole + metalaxyl, all reduced damping-off; sedaxane + difenoconazole + metalaxyl, fluquinconazole, and ipconazole + metalaxyl all reduced lateral root disease across two or more cultivars; while iprodione, thiram, and sedaxane + difenoconazole + metalaxyl increased shoot dry weight. Against P. clandestina, metalaxyl was the most effective in reducing tap and lateral root rot followed by ipconazole + metalaxyl or phosphonic acid for tap and lateral rot, respectively. Against R. solani, there were no effects of fungicides. For P. irregulare and P. clandestina, there were strong seed fungicide × cultivar interactions (P < 0.001). Under controlled conditions for foliar fungicide spray treatments, phosphonic acid was best at preventing productivity losses from A. trifolii, but was ineffective against P. clandestina, P. irregulare, or R. solani. Overall, controlled environment studies highlighted strong potential for utilizing seed treatments against individual pathogens to ensure seedling emergence and early survival, with seed and foliar sprays enhancing productivity by reducing seedling damping-off and root disease from individual pathogens. However, in field experiments over 2 years across southern Australia against naturally occurring soilborne pathogen complexes involving these same pathogens, only rarely did fungicide seed treatments or foliar sprays tested show any benefit. It is evident that currently available fungicide seed and/or foliar spray treatment options do not offer effective field mitigation of damping-off and root disease on annual forage legumes that underpin livestock production across southern Australia. The main reason for this failure relates to the unpredictable and ever-changing soilborne pathogen complexes involved, highlighting a need to now refocus away from fungicide options, particularly toward developing and deploying new host tolerances, but also in deploying appropriate cultural control options.

Comparative Reaction of Camelina sativa to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Leptosphaeria maculans

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Leptosphaeria maculans are two of the most important pathogens of many cruciferous crops. The reaction of 30 genotypes of Camelina sativa (false flax) was determined against both pathogens. C. sativa genotypes were inoculated at seedling and adult stages with two pathotypes of S. sclerotiorum, highly virulent MBRS-1 and less virulent WW-1. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) among genotypes, between pathotypes, and a significant interaction between genotypes and pathotypes in relation to percent cotyledon disease index (% CDI) and stem lesion length. Genotypes 370 (% CDI 20.5, stem lesion length 1.8 cm) and 253 (% CDI 24.8, stem lesion length 1.4 cm) not only consistently exhibited cotyledon and stem resistance, in contrast to susceptible genotype 2305 (% CDI 37.7, stem lesion length 7.2 cm), but their resistance was independent to S. sclerotiorum pathotype. A F₅-recombinant inbred line population was developed from genotypes 370 × 2305 and responses characterized. Low broad-sense heritability indicated a complex pattern of inheritance of resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Six isolates of L. maculans, covering combinations of five different avirulent loci (i.e., five different races), were tested on C. sativa cotyledons across two experiments. There was a high level of resistance, with % CDI < 17, and including development of a hypersensitive reaction. This is the first report of variable reaction of C. sativa to different races of L. maculans and the first demonstrating comparative reactions of C. sativa to S. sclerotiorum and L. maculans. This study not only provides new understanding of these comparative resistances in C. sativa, but highlights their potential as new sources of resistance, both for crucifer disease-resistance breeding in general and to enable broader adoption of C. sativa as a more sustainable oilseed crop in its own right.

Inert Materials as Long-Term Carriers and Disseminators of Viable Leptosphaeria maculans Ascospores and Wider Implications for Ascomycete Pathogens

The viability of ascospores of the Phoma stem canker (blackleg) pathogen, Leptosphaeria maculans, was tested on a range of carrier materials, including metals, fabrics, woods, and plastics, and under different temperature conditions of 23 and 4, 36 and 14, and 45 and 15°C day and night, respectively. At 23 and 4°C (day and night, respectively), ascospores remained viable for up to 240 days on Tasmanian oak (Eucalyptus regnans) and pine wood (Pinus radiata). At 36 and 14°C (day and night, respectively), ascospores remained viable on pine wood for up to 180 days. At 45 and 15°C (day and night, respectively), ascospores remained viable up to 60 days on jute. There were also significant differences (P < 0.001) between carrier materials in their abilities to retain ascospores following washing. At least 30% of intact ascospores recovered from inert carrier materials were able to germinate on artificial growth media within 48 h of recovery and some ascospores were still viable after 240 days. These findings confirm that L. maculans ascospores remain viable for a much longer time in the absence of a host than previously considered. This demonstrates the importance of inert materials as long-term and long-distance carriers of viable L. maculans ascospores, and highlights their potential role for spread of L. maculans races to new regions and countries via farming equipment, clothing, and other associated materials. Local, national, and international biosecurity agencies need to be aware that the risks of spread of ascomycete plant, animal, and human pathogens via inert materials are significantly greater than currently assessed.

Virome Characterization of a Collection of S. sclerotiorum from Australia

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating plant pathogen that attacks numerous economically important broad acre and vegetable crops worldwide. Mycoviruses are widespread viruses that infect fungi, including S. sclerotiorum. As there were no previous reports of the presence of mycoviruses in this pathogen in Australia, studies were undertaken using RNA_Seq analysis to determine the diversity of mycoviruses in 84 Australian S. sclerotiorum isolates collected from various hosts. After RNA sequences were subjected to BLASTp analysis using NCBI database, 285 contigs representing partial or complete genomes of 57 mycoviruses were obtained, and 34 of these (59.6%) were novel viruses. These 57 viruses were grouped into 10 distinct lineages, namely Endornaviridae (four novel mycoviruses), Genomoviridae (isolate of SsHADV-1), Hypoviridae (two novel mycoviruses), Mononegavirales (four novel mycovirusess), Narnaviridae (10 novel mycoviruses), Partitiviridae (two novel mycoviruses), Ourmiavirus (two novel mycovirus), Tombusviridae (two novel mycoviruses), Totiviridae (one novel mycovirus), Tymovirales (five novel mycoviruses), and two non-classified mycoviruses lineages (one Botrytis porri RNA virus 1, one distantly related to Aspergillus fumigatus tetramycovirus-1). Twenty-five mitoviruses were determined and mitoviruses were dominant in the isolates tested. This is not only the first study to show existence of mycoviruses in S. sclerotiorum in Australia, but highlights how they are widespread and that many novel mycoviruses occur there. Further characterization of these mycoviruses is warranted, both in terms of exploring these novel mycoviruses for innovative biocontrol of Sclerotinia diseases and in enhancing our overall knowledge on viral diversity, taxonomy, ecology, and evolution.

Cercosporin From Pseudocercosporella capsellae and its Critical Role in White Leaf Spot Development

Pseudocercosporella capsellae, the causative agent of white leaf spot disease in Brassicaceae, can produce a purple-pink pigment on artificial media resembling, but not previously confirmed as, the toxin cercosporin. Chemical extraction with ethyl acetate from growing hyphae followed by quantitative (thin-layer chromatography [TLC] and high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]) and qualitative methods showed an identical absorption spectrum, with similar retardation factor (Rf) values on TLC papers and an identical peak with the same retention time in HPLC as for a standard for cercosporin. We believe this is the first report to confirm that the purple-pink pigment produced by P. capsellae is cercosporin. Confocal microscopy detected green autofluorescence of cercosporin-producing hyphae, confirming the presence of cercosporin inside hyphae. The highly virulent UWA Wlra-7 isolate of P. capsellae produced the greatest quantity of cercosporin (10.69 mg g^-1). The phytotoxicity and role of cercosporin in disease initiation across each of three Brassicaceae host species (Brassica juncea, B. napus, and Raphanus raphanistrum) was also studied. Culture filtrates containing cercosporin were phytotoxic to all three host plant species, producing large, white lesions on highly sensitive B. juncea, only water-soaked areas on least sensitive R. raphanistrum, and intermediate lesions on B. napus. It is noteworthy that sensitivity to cercosporin of these three host species was analogous to their susceptibility to the pathogen, viz., B. juncea the most susceptible, R. raphanistrum the least susceptible, and B. napus intermediate. The presence of cercosporin in the inoculum significantly increased disease severity on the highly cercosporin-sensitive B. juncea. We believe that this is the first study to demonstrate that P. capsellae produces cercosporin in liquid culture rather than agar media. Finally, this study highlights an important role of cercosporin as a pathogenicity factor in white leaf spot disease on Brassicaceae as evidenced by the ability of the cercosporin-rich culture filtrate to reproduce white leaf spot lesions on host plants and by the enhanced virulence of P. capsellae in the presence of cercosporin.

Attack modes and defence reactions in pathosystems involving Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Brassica carinata, B. juncea and B. napus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is a damaging disease of oilseed brassicas world-wide. Host resistance is urgently needed to achieve control, yet the factors that contribute to stem resistance are not well understood. This study investigated the mechanisms of resistance to SSR.

METHODS

Stems of 5-week-old Brassica carinata, B. juncea and B. napus of known resistance were infected via filter paper discs impregnated with S. sclerotiorum mycelium under controlled conditions. Transverse sections of the stem and portions of the stem surface were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The association of anatomical features with the severity of disease (measured by mean lesion length) was determined.

KEY RESULTS

Several distinct resistance mechanisms were recorded for the first time in these Brassica-pathogen interactions, including hypersensitive reactions and lignification within the stem cortex, endodermis and in tissues surrounding the lesions. Genotypes showing a strong lignification response 72 h post-infection (hpi) tended to have smaller lesions. Extensive vascular invasion by S. sclerotiorum was observed only in susceptible genotypes, especially in the vascular fibres and xylem. Mean lesion length was negatively correlated with the number of cell layers in the cortex, suggesting progress of S. sclerotiorum is impeded by more cell layers. Hyphae in the centre of lesions became highly vacuolate 72 hpi, reflecting an ageing process in S. sclerotiorum hyphal networks that was independent of host resistance. The infection process of S. sclerotiorum was analogous in B. carinata and B. napus. Infection cushions of the highly virulent isolate of S. sclerotiorum MBRS-1 were grouped together in dense parallel bundles, while hyphae in the infection cushions of a less aggressive isolate WW-3 were more diffuse, and this was unaffected by host genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

A variety of mechanisms contribute to host resistance against S. sclerotiorum across the three Brassica species. These complex interactions between pathogen and host help to explain variable expressions of resistance often observed in the field.

Relative Host Resistance to Black Spot Disease in Field Pea (Pisum sativum) is Determined by Individual Pathogens

Black spot, also known as Ascochyta blight, is the most important disease on field pea (Pisum sativum). It is caused by a complex of pathogens, the most important of which in Australia include Didymella pinodes, Phoma pinodella, and P. koolunga. The relative proportions of these and other component pathogens of the complex fluctuate widely across time and geographic locations in Australia, limiting the ability of breeders to develop varieties with effective resistance to black spot. To address this, 40 field pea genotypes were tested under controlled environment conditions for their individual stem and leaf responses against these three pathogens. Disease severity was calculated as area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), and subsequently converted to mean rank (MR). The overall rank (OR) for each pathogen was used to compare response of genotypes under inoculation with each pathogen. The expressions of host resistance across the field pea genotypes were largely dependent upon the individual test pathogen and whether the test was on stem or leaf. Overall, P. koolunga caused most severe stem disease; significantly more severe than either D. pinodes or P. pinodella. This is the first report of the host resistance identified in field pea to P. koolunga; the five genotypes showing highest resistance on stem, viz. 05P778-BSR-701, ATC 5338, ATC 5345, Dundale, and ATC 866, had AUDPC MR values <250.4, while the AUDPC MR values of the 19 genotypes showing the best resistance on leaf was less than 296.8. Two genotypes, ATC 866 and Dundale, showed resistance against P. koolunga on both stem and leaf. Against D. pinodes, the four and 16 most resistant genotypes on stem and leaf had AUDPC MR values <111.2 and <136.6, respectively, with four genotypes showing resistance on both stem and leaf including 05P770-BSR-705, Austrian Winter Pea, 06P822-(F5)-BSR-6, and 98107-62E. Against P. pinodella, four and eight genotypes showing the best resistance on stem and leaf had AUDPC MR values <81.3 and <221.9, respectively; three genotypes, viz. 98107-62E, Dundale, and Austrian Winter Pea showed combined resistance on stem and leaf. A few genotypes identified with resistance against two major pathogens of the complex will be of particular significance to breeding programs. These findings explain why field pea varieties arising from breeding programs in Australia fail to display the level or consistency of resistance required against black spot and why there needs to be a wider focus than D. pinodes in breeding programs.

Calcium oxalate crystals: an integral component of the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum/Brassica carinata pathosystem

Oxalic acid is an important virulence factor for disease caused by the fungal necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, yet calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals have not been widely reported. B. carinata stems were infected with S. sclerotiorum and observed using light microscopy. Six hours post inoculation (hpi), CaOx crystals were evident on 46% of stem sections and by 72 hpi on 100%, demonstrating that the secretion of oxalic acid by S. sclerotiorum commences before hyphal penetration. This is the first time CaOx crystals have been reported on B. carinata infected with S. sclerotiorum. The shape of crystals varied as infection progressed. Long tetragonal rods were dominant 12 hpi (68% of crystal-containing samples), but by 72 hpi, 50% of stems displayed bipyramidal crystals, and only 23% had long rods. Scanning electron microscopy from 24 hpi revealed CaOx crystals in all samples, ranging from tiny irregular crystals (< 0.5 μm) to large (up to 40 μm) highly organized arrangements. Crystal morphology encompassed various forms, including tetragonal prisms, oval plates, crystal sand, and druses. Large conglomerates of CaOx crystals were observed in the hyphal mass 72 hpi and these are proposed as a strategy of the fungus to hold and detoxify Ca2+ions. The range of crystal morphologies suggests that S. sclerotiorum growth and infection controls the form taken by CaOx crystals.

Effect of Timing and Duration of Soil Saturation on Soilborne Pythium Diseases of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Understanding combined abiotic (waterlogging) and biotic (Pythium spp.) stress resistance remains an important challenge to improving common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) productivity in disease-prone regions with irregular but intensive rainfall patterns. This study documented the effects of timing (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 days after sowing) and duration (3, 6, 12, and 24 h) of soil saturation (waterlogging) on damping-off, as well as hypocotyl and root diseases of common bean caused by Pythium irregulare. There were significant effects of timing of waterlogging as well as the presence or absence of the pathogen on emergence of the three bean varieties tested; namely, 'Gourmet Delight', 'Brown Beauty', and 'Pioneer'. The interaction between time of waterlogging and variety was significant for both root and hypocotyl disease severities. In the presence of P. irregulare, waterlogging 1 day after sowing resulted in the least emergence (55.2 ± 5.6%), although plants that survived after 5 weeks had less hypocotyl and root disease (percent hypocotyl disease index [%HDI] ± standard deviation [SD] = 42.0 ± 2.1% and percent root disease index [%RDI] ± SD = 42.4 ± 2.1%, respectively) than nonwaterlogged plants (%HDI = 50.8 ± 2.1% and %RDI = 48.0 ± 2.1%, respectively). The most severe disease assessed 5 weeks after sowing occurred when plants were subjected to waterlogging 9 days after sowing (%HDI = 61.3 ± 2.1% and %RDI = 56.0 ± 2.1%). In general, both hypocotyl and root disease severity increased as the duration of waterlogging increased from 1 to 24 h, with %HDI increasing from 53.9 ± 3.2% to 70.9 ± 3.2%, while %RDI increased from 57.2 ± 1.5% to 73.7 ± 1.5%. Varieties responded differentially in terms of disease development after waterlogging, with the least hypocotyl and root disease on Gourmet Delight (%HDI = 51.4 ± 3.2 and %RDI = 60.1 ± 1.5, respectively) and greatest on Pioneer (%HDI = 66.2 ± 3.2 and %RDI = 64.9 ± 1.5, respectively). Despite being susceptible to hypocotyl and root disease, Pioneer had the greatest emergence and shoot dry weight overall among the three varieties, suggesting that this variety has a degree of tolerance to waterlogging, P. irregulare infection, and the combination of these two stresses. Although the resistance of Gourmet Delight could be exploited to breed bean varieties that exhibit less hypocotyl and root disease when waterlogging occurs, the tolerance to both P. irregulare infection and waterlogging observed for Pioneer could also be exploited to breed varieties that incur less damage from hypocotyl or root disease or waterlogging. Furthermore, this study demonstrated what appears to be independent resistance to hypocotyl versus root infection by P. irregulare, which offers an opportunity to combine resistance to both stresses to reduce the impact of damping-off and root rot in conditions conducive for P. irregulare.

Species of Pythium Associated with Seedling Root and Hypocotyl Disease on Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Western Australia

The occurrence and distribution of Pythium spp. were determined by collecting isolates of Pythium from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants showing root or hypocotyl disease symptoms from different areas of Western Australia in 2012. Eight different Pythium species (Pythium conidiophorum, P. diclinum, P. intermedium, P. irregulare, P. lutarium, P. mamillatum, P. pachycaule, and P. perplexum) were isolated and identified according to molecular sequences. P. irregulare was the most widespread Pythium sp. All species, except P. perplexum, were pathogenic to the hypocotyl and root of common bean. We believe this is the first report of P. intermedium as a pathogen on common bean worldwide. This is also the first report of P. conidiophorum, P. intermedium, P. lutarium, P. mamillatum, P. pachycaule, and P. diclinum as pathogens on common bean in Australia and the first report of P. irregulare as a pathogen on common bean in Western Australia. P. intermedium was the most pathogenic species, causing the most severe disease on 'Gourmet Delight' (percent root disease index [%RDI] 75 ± 2.9 and percent hypocotyl disease index [%HDI] 59.2 ± 3.2) and 'Pioneer' (%RDI 75 ± 2.9 and %HDI 65.8 ± 3.2). That the relative susceptibility or resistance (the ability of a plant to reduce the extent of invasion by the pathogen) of a given bean variety to one Pythium sp. was, in general, similar across the other Pythium spp. was an important finding, because this opens up opportunities to utilize a single virulent isolate of one Pythium sp. to identify general resistance to a wider spectrum of Pythium spp.

Temporal and Spatial Changes in the Pea Black Spot Disease Complex in Western Australia

Black spot (also referred to as Ascochyta blight, Ascochyta foot rot and black stem, and Ascochyta leaf and pod spot) is a devastating disease of pea (Pisum sativum) caused by one or more pathogenic fungi, including Didymella pinodes, Ascochyta pisi, and Phoma pinodella. Surveys were conducted across pea-growing regions of Western Australia in 1984, 1987, 1989, 1996, 2010, and 2012. In total, 1,872 fungal isolates were collected in association with pea black spot disease symptoms. Internal transcribed spacer regions from representative isolates, chosen based on morphology, were sequenced to aid in identification. In most years and locations, D. pinodes was the predominant pathogen in the black spot complex. From 1984 to 2012, four new pathogens associated with black spot symptoms on leaves or stems (P. koolunga, P. herbarum, Boeremia exigua var. exigua, and P. glomerata) were confirmed. This study is the first to confirm P. koolunga in association with pea black spot symptoms in field pea in Western Australia and show that, by 2012, it was widely present in new regions. In 2012, P. koolunga was more prevalent than D. pinodes in Northam and P. pinodella in Esperance. P. herbarum and B. exigua var. exigua were only recorded in 2010. Although A. pisi was reported in Western Australia in 1912 and again in 1968 and is commonly associated with pea black spot in other states of Australia and elsewhere, it was not recorded in Western Australia from 1984 to 2012. It is clear that the pathogen population associated with the pea black spot complex in Western Australia has been dynamic across time and geographic location. This poses a particular challenge to development of effective resistance against the black spot complex, because breeding programs are focused almost exclusively on resistance to D. pinodes, largely ignoring other major pathogens in the disease complex. Furthermore, development and deployment of effective host resistance or fungicides against just one or two of the pathogens in the disease complex could radically shift the make-up of the population toward pathogen species that are least challenged by the host resistance or fungicides, creating an evolving black spot complex that remains ahead of breeding and other management efforts.

First Report of Phoma glomerata Associated with the Ascochyta Blight Complex on Field Pea (Pisum sativum) in Australia

The ascochyta blight complex on field pea (Pisum sativum) in Australia causes severe yield loss of up to 60% (1). This blight complex includes a range of different symptoms, including ascochyta blight, foot rot, and black stem and leaf and pod spot (together more commonly known as "black spot disease" in Australia). In Australia, disease is generally caused by one or more of the four fungi: Didymella pinodes, Phoma pinodella, Ascochyta pisi, and P. koolunga (1,2). However, in September 2012, from a field pea disease screening nursery at Medina, Western Australia, approximately 1% of isolates were a Phoma sp. morphologically different to any Phoma sp. previously reported on field pea in Australia. The remaining isolates were either D. pinodes or P. pinodella. Single spore isolations of two isolates of this Phoma sp. were made onto Coon's Agar and DNA extracted. Two PCR primers TW81 (5'GTTTCCGTAGGTGAACCTGC 3') and AB28 (5'ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT 3') were used to amplify extracted DNA from the 3' end of 16S rDNA, across ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2 to the 5' end of the 28S rDNA. The PCR products were sequenced and BLAST analyses used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. In each case, the sequence had ≥99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GeneBank for P. glomerata. Isolates also showed morphological similarities to P. glomerata as described in other reports (3). The relevant information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (Accession No. KF424434). The same primers were used by Davidson et al. (2) to identify P. koolunga, but neither of our two isolates were P. koolunga. A conidial suspension of 10⁶ conidia ml^-1 from a single spore culture was spot-inoculated onto foliage of 20-day-old plants of P. sativum variety WAPEA2211 maintained under >90% RH conditions for 72 h post-inoculation. Symptoms on foliage first became evident by 8 days post-inoculation, consisting of dark brown lesions 1 to 2.5 mm in diameter. P. glomerata was readily re-isolated from infected foliage to fulfill Koch's postulates. No lesions occurred on foliage of control plants inoculated with only deionized water. A culture of this representative isolate has been lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Accession No. WAC13652). While not reported previously on P. sativum in Australia, P. glomerata has been reported on other legume crop and pasture species in eastern Australia, including Cicer arietinum (1973), Lupinus angustifolius (1982), Medicago littoralis (1983), M. truncatula (1985), and Glycine max (1986) (Australian Plant Pest Database). Molecular analysis of historical isolates collected from P. sativum in Western Australia, mostly in the late 1980s and 1990s, did not show any incidence of P. glomerata, despite this fungus being previously reported on Citrus, Cocos, Rosa, Santalum, and Washingtonia in Western Australia (4). We believe this to be the first report of P. glomerata as a pathogen on field pea in Australia. The previous reports of P. glomerata on other crop legumes in eastern Australia and its wide host range together suggest potential for this fungus to be a pathogen on a range of leguminous genera/species. References: (1) T. W. Bretag et al. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 57:883, 2006. (2) J. A. Davidson et al. Mycologica 101:120, 2009. (3) G. Morgan-Jones. CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria No.134 Phoma glomerata, 1967. (4) R. G. Shivas. J. Roy. Soc. West. Aust. 72:1, 1989.

First Report of Alternaria Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria tenuissima on Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) in Western Australia

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) plants in a commercial plantation at Yanchep, Western Australia, in April and May 2013, showed a widespread leaf spotting condition. Leaf lesions were circular to irregular, light brown to gray, 1 to 5 mm in diameter, with distinct dark brownish red borders. A fungus was consistently recovered by plating surface-sterilized (1% NaOCl) sections of symptomatic leaf tissue onto water agar and sub-culturing onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). For conidial production, the fungus was grown on PDA under a 12-h/12-h dark/light photoperiod at 25°C. Fungal colonies had a dark olive color on both sides, with loose, cottony mycelium on the surface of cultures. Isolates showed morphological similarities to Alternaria tenuissima as described in other reports (1,3). Simple conidiophores ranged from 16.3 to 96.6 μm (mean 37.5 μm) and produced numerous conidia in long chains. Conidia ranged from 7.0 to 23.9 μm (mean 13.9 μm) in length and 3.9 to 7.5 μm (mean 5.7 μm) in width, contained two to five transverse septa, but only an occasional longitudinal septum was observed. Using a representative isolate, a PCR-based assay with the ITS1 and ITS4 primers was used to amplify from the 3' end of 16S rRNA, across ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, and ITS2 to the 5' end of the 26S rRNA (4). The DNA products were sequenced and BLAST analyses were used to compare sequences with those in GenBank (2). The sequence had ≥99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank (Accession No. KC568287) for A. tenuissima. The relevant information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (KF408355). A conidial suspension of 2.5 × 10⁵ conidia ml^-1 from a single-spore culture was spot inoculated onto 20 leaves, ranging from recently emerged to oldest, of 6-month-old V. corymbosum Nellie Kelly plants maintained at 18/13°C 12-h/12-h day/night and >90% relative humidity for 72 h post inoculation. Symptoms were evident by 18 days post inoculation and by 24 days consisted of pale brown lesions that were mostly 2.1 to 2.5 μm in diameter and with distinct dark brownish red borders. A. tenuissima, showing morphological characteristics identical to those described above, was re-isolated from lesions to fulfill Koch's postulates. No lesions occurred on an equivalent number of leaves of control plants inoculated with only deionized water. A culture of this representative isolate has been lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Accession No. WAC13639). A. tenuissima has been reported across Australia on a range of other hosts. However, on V. corymbosum, the pathogen has only previously been recorded in Tasmania (2009). It may also have been the cause of a leaf spotting condition on V. corymbosum recorded in Victoria (1976) and New South Wales (1984), but mistakenly listed with A. alternata as the cause. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of A. tenuissima on V. corymbosum in Western Australia. With 10 to 30% of leaves showing disease symptoms widely spread on many V. corymbosum plants in the commercial plantation, this pathogen could potentially adversely affect the future production of blueberries in Western Australia. References: (1) F. L. Caruso and R. C. Ramsdell, eds. Compendium of Blueberry and Cranberry Diseases. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1995. (2) J. C. Kang et al. Mycol. Res. 106:1151, 2002. (3) E. G. Simmons. Mycotaxon 70:325, 1999. (4) T. J. White et al. Pages 315-322 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

Seedling Resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as Expressed Across Diverse Cruciferous Species

Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a serious disease of many cruciferous crops and frequently poses a threat to the sustainable and profitable production of these crops worldwide. Differences in seedling resistance to S. sclerotiorum across 46 diverse cruciferous genotypes from 12 different species were assessed by comparing the extent of pathogenesis on inoculated cotyledons under controlled conditions. Selections of Brassica carinata, B. incana, B. juncea, B. napus, and B. napus introgressed with B. carinata, B. nigra, B. oleracea, B. rapa var. rosularis, B. rapa var. chinensis, B. tournefortii, Raphanus raphanistrum, R. sativus, and Sinapis arvensis were tested. The average size of lesions on cotyledons 48 h post inoculation varied from 0.8 to 7.3 mm. The three most resistant genotypes with the smallest lesions were all from B. oleracea (viz., B. oleracea var. italica 'Prophet' and B. oleracea var. capitata 'Burton' and 'Beverly Hills'). Representatives of R. raphanistrum, S. arvensis, B. juncea, and B. carinata were the most susceptible to S. sclerotiorum, with the largest lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of high levels of resistance to S. sclerotiorum in B. oleracea at the cotyledon stage and also the first report of the host cotyledon reactions against S. sclerotiorum for all tested species except B. napus and B. juncea. The mean lesion size for B. napus introgressed with B. carinata was 5.6 mm, which is midway between the lesion size for the two parent species B. napus (5.1 mm) and B. carinata (5.8 mm). Separate genetic control for cotyledon versus mature plant resistance was demonstrated by the lack of correlation between lesion size from S. sclerotiorum on the cotyledon with the severity of disease initiated by stem inoculation or natural processes in a previous field test. On the most resistant genotypes, B. oleracea var. italica Prophet and var. capitata Burton, growth of S. sclerotiorum on the cotyledon surface prior to penetration was severely impeded, production of appressoria inhibited, and both cytoplasm shrinkage and protoplast extrusion in S. sclerotiorum hyphae prevalent. This is the first report of such resistant mechanisms in B. oleracea. Genotypes with cotyledon resistance identified in this study will be of great value not only in furthering our understanding of resistance mechanisms across different cruciferous species but also could be exploited for developing commercial crucifer cultivars with high-level resistance against S. sclerotiorum.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe cruciferarum on Brassica campestris var. pekinensis, B. carinata, Eruca sativa, E. vesicaria in Australia and on B. rapa and B. oleracea var. capitata in Western Australia

Inspection of field plantings of diverse cruciferous species, mainly oilseed varieties sown for agronomic assessment at Crawley, (31.99°S, 115.82°E), Western Australia, in September 2012, indicated the occurrence of extensive leaf and stem colonization by powdery mildew at the late flowering stage, with whitish patches 3 to 4 cm in length on stems of Brassica campestris var. pekinensis, B. carinata, B. oleracea var. capitata, B. rapa, Eruca sativa, and E. vesicaria. These patches coalesced to form a dense, white, powdery layer. Infected leaves showed signs of early senescence. Pathogenicity was demonstrated from transferring field inoculum from the most susceptible variety by pressing diseased leaves onto leaves of the six potted plant species, and incubating plants in a moist chamber for 48 hours post-inoculation (hpi) in an air-conditioned glasshouse approximating 25°C. Signs of powdery mildew were evident by 7 days post-inoculation (dpi), and well developed symptoms by 10 dpi and as observed in the field. Uninoculated control plants did not develop powdery mildew. On all inoculated species, abundant conidia typical of those produced by Erysiphe cruciferarum were observed, matching the descriptions of conidia given by Purnell and Sivanesan (3), with cylindrical conidia typically borne singly or in short chains. Mycelia were amphigenous, in patches, often spreading to become effused. Conidiophores were 3 to 4 cells, unbranched, and foot cells cylindrical. Across all host species, conidia were mostly produced singly with overall mean measured lengths 19.7 to 35.4 μm (mean 26.9 μm), and measured widths 7.1 to 12.9 μm (mean 9.7 μm), from measurements taken on 200 conidia for each of the six different species. Spore sizes measured approximated those found for E. cruciferarum by Kaur et al. (1) on B. juncea in Western Australia (viz. 21.2 to 35.4 × 8.8 to 15.9 μm), but were smaller than those reported by Purnell and Sivanesan (3) (viz. 30 to 40 × 12 to 16 μm) or by Koike and Saenz (1) (viz. 35 to 50 × 12 to 21 μm). We confirmed a length-to-width ratio >2 (mean range 2.7 to 2.8 across all six species) as found by both Purnell and Sivanesan (3) and Koike and Saenz (2). Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and (ITS)2 regions flanking the 5.8S rRNA gene was carried out with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 and PCR products from E. cruciferarum from B. oleracea var. capitata and B. rapa sequenced. BLAST analyses to compare sequences with those in GenBank showed a >99% nucleotide identity for E. cruciferarum. In Western Australia, E. cruciferarum has been recorded on B. napus var. napobrassica since 1971 (4), B. napus since 1986 (4), and on B. juncea since 2008 (1). In other regions of Australia, E. cruciferarum has been recorded on B. campestris, B. oleracea var. capitata, B. oleracea var. acephala, B. napus, B. napus var. naprobrassica, and B. rapa var. rapa. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of E. cruciferarum on B. campestris var. pekinensis, B. carinata, E. sativa, and E. vesicaria in Australia and on B. rapa and B. oleracea var. capitata in Western Australia. Powdery mildew epidemics on other brassicas in Western Australia are generally sporadic and it remains to be seen what the impact of this disease will be on these new host species. References: (1) P. Kaur et al. Plant Dis. 92:650, 2008. (2) S. T. Koike and G. S. Saenz. Plant Dis. 81:1093, 1997. (3) T. J. Purnell and A. Sivanesan. No. 251 in IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, 1970. (4) R. G. Shivas. J. Royal Soc. West. Aust. 72:1, 1989.

First Report of Sarocladium oryzae Causing Sheath Rot on Rice (Oryza sativa) in Western Australia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been grown in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) in northern Western Australia since 1960. In 2011, a sheath rot of rice was observed in the ORIA. Symptoms were variable, appearing as either (i) oblong pale to dark brown lesions up to 3 cm length, (ii) lesions with pale grey/brown centers and with dark brown margins, or (iii) diffuse dark or reddish brown streaks along the sheath. Lesions enlarged and coalesced, often covering the majority of the leaf sheath, disrupting panicle emergence. Isolations from small pieces of infested tissues from plants showing sheath rot symptoms were made onto water agar, subcultured onto potato dextrose agar, cultures maintained at 20°C, and a representative culture lodged both in the Western Australian Culture Collection maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (as WAC 13481) and in the culture collection located at the DAFF Plant Pathology Herbarium (as BRIP 54763). Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and (ITS)2 regions flanking the 5.8S rRNA gene were carried out with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 according to the published protocol (4). The DNA PCR products from a single isolate were sequenced and BLAST analyses used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. The sequence had 99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for Sarocladium oryzae (Sawada) W. Gams & D. Hawksworth. Isolates showed morphological (e.g., conidiophore and conidia characteristics) (2) and molecular (1) similarities with S. oryzae as described in other reports. The relevant sequence information for a representative isolate was lodged in GenBank (GenBank Accession No. JQ965668). Spores of S. oryzae were produced on rice agar under "black light" at 22°C to induce sporulation over 4 weeks. Under conditions of 30/28°C (day/night), 14/12 h (light/dark), rice cv. Quest, grown for 11 weeks until plants reached the tillering stage, was inoculated by spraying a suspension 5 × 10⁷ spores/ml of the same single isolate onto foliage until runoff occurred. Inoculated plants were placed under a dark plastic cover for 72 h to maximize humidity levels around leaves and subsequently maintained under >90% relative humidity conditions. Symptoms of sheath rot as described in (i) and (ii) above appeared by 14 days after inoculation, with lesions up to 23 cm long by 15 days post-inoculation. Severe disease prevented young panicles from emerging. Infection studies were successfully repeated and S. oryzae was reisolated from leaf lesions 1 week after lesion appearance. No disease was observed on water-inoculated control rice plants. There have been records of S. oryzae on rice in New South Wales in the early 1980s (3) and in 2006 to 2007 (Australian Plant Pest Database), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of this pathogen in Western Australia. References: (1) N. Ayyadurai et al. Cur. Microbiol. Mycologia 50:319, 2005. (2) B. L. K. Brady. No. 673 in: IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, 1980. (3) D. Phillips et al. FAO Plant Prot. Bull. 40:4, 1992. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.

First Report of Rice Blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) on Rice (Oryza sativa) in Western Australia

Commercial rice crops (Oryza sativa L.) have been recently reintroduced to the Ord River Irrigation Area in northern Western Australia. In early August 2011, unusual leaf spot symptoms were observed by a local rice grower on rice cultivar Quest. A leaf spot symptom initially appeared as grey-green and/or water soaked with a darker green border and then expanded rapidly to several centimeters in length and became light tan in color with a distinct necrotic border. Isolations from typical leaf lesions were made onto water agar, subcultured onto potato dextrose agar, and maintained at 20°C. A representative culture was lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (WAC 13466) and as a herbarium specimen in the Plant Pathology Herbarium, Plant Biosecurity Science (BRIP 54721). Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and (ITS)2 regions flanking the 5.8S rRNA gene were carried out with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 (4). The PCR products were sequenced and BLAST analyses used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. The sequence had 99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for Magnaporthe oryzae B.C. Couch, the causal agent of rice blast, the most important fungal disease of rice worldwide (1). Additional sequencing with the primers Bt1a/Bt1b for the β-tubulin gene, primers ACT-512F/ACT-783R for the actin gene, and primers CAL-228F/CAL-737R for the calmodulin gene showed 100% identity in each case with M. oryzae sequences in GenBank, confirming molecular similarity with other reports, e.g., (1). The relevant sequence information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (GenBank Accession Nos. JQ911754 for (ITS) 1 and 2; JX014265 for β-tubulin; JX035809 for actin; and JX035808 for calmodulin). Isolates also showed morphological similarity with M. oryzae as described in other reports, e.g., (3). Spores of M. oryzae were produced on rice agar under "black light" at 21°C for 4 weeks. Under 30/28°C (day/night), 14/12 h (light/dark), rice cv. Quest was grown for 7 weeks, and inoculated by spraying a suspension 5 × 10⁵ spores/ml onto foliage until runoff occurred. Inoculated plants were placed under a dark plastic covering for 72 h to maximize humidity levels around leaves, and subsequently maintained under >90% RH conditions. Typical symptoms of rice blast appeared within 14 days of inoculation and were as described above. Infection studies were successfully repeated and M. oryzae was readily reisolated from leaf lesions. No disease symptoms were observed nor was M. oryzae isolated from water-inoculated control rice plants. There have been previous records of rice blast in the Northern Territory (2) and Queensland, Australia (Australian Plant Pest Database), but this is the first report of M. oryzae in Western Australia, where it could potentially be destructive if conditions prove conducive. References: (1) B. C. Couch and L. M. Kohn. Mycologia 94:683, 2002; (2) J. B. Heaton. The Aust. J. Sci. 27:81, 1964; (3) C. V. Subramanian. IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria No 169, Pyricularia oryzae, 1968; (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, New York, 1990.

First Report of Phoma herbarum on Tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) in Australia

Tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H. Stirton var. albomarginata) has been successfully established across the mixed-farming (wheat-sheep) region of Western Australia because this species has remarkable drought tolerance and can survive the dry-summer period with strong retention of green leaf. A leaf spot symptom involving pale brown lesions with distinct dark brown margins had been observed in genetic evaluation plots of tedera at Medina and Mount Barker, Western Australia, and a Phoma sp. was isolated. Single-spore isolations of a typical Phoma sp. isolate were made onto potato dextrose agar and maintained at 20°C, and a representative culture has been lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Accession No. WAC13435). Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS2 regions flanking the 5.8S rRNA gene were carried out with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 according to published protocol (3). The DNA PCR products were sequenced and BLAST analyses was used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. The sequence had 99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for Phoma herbarum. Isolates also showed morphological (e.g., 1) and molecular (e.g., 2) similarities with P. herbarum as described in other reports. The relevant sequence information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (Accession No. JQ282910). A conidial suspension of 10⁷ conidia ml^-1 from a single-spore culture was spray inoculated onto foliage of 6-week-old tedera plants maintained under >90% relative humidity conditions for 72-h postinoculation. Symptoms evident by 10 days postinoculation consisted of pale brown lesions, mostly 1.5 to 4 mm in diameter, which developed a distinct, dark brown margin. Occasional lesions also showed a distinct chlorotic halo extending 1 to 1.5 mm outside the boundary of the lesion. Infection studies were successfully repeated twice and P. herbarum was readily reisolated from infected foliage. No disease was observed on and no P. herbarum were isolated from water-inoculated control plants. Except for a recent published report of P. herbarum on field pea (Pisum sativum L.) (2), this pathogen has only been noted in the Australian Plant Pest Database as occurring on lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in Western Australia in 1985 and on a Protea sp. in 1991. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of P. herbarum as a pathogen on tedera in Australia or elsewhere. That P. herbarum occurs on other hosts in Australia and has a wide host range elsewhere together suggest its potential to be a pathogen on a wider range of host genera and species. References: (1) G. L. Kinsey. No. 1501 in: IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria. 2002. (2) Y. P. Li et al. Plant Dis. 95:1590, 2011. (3) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.

First Report of Black Spot Caused by Boeremia exigua var. exigua on Field Pea in Australia

Black spot is a major disease of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) production across southern Australia. Known causal agents in Australia include one or more of Mycosphaerella pinodes (Berk. & Bloxam) Vestergr., Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella (L.K. Jones), Ascochyta pisi Lib., or P. koolunga (Davidson, Hartley, Priest, Krysinska-Kaczmarek, Herdina, McKay & Scott) (2), but other pathogens may also be associated with black spot symptoms. Black spot generally occurs on most plants and in most pea fields in Western Australia (W.A.), and during earlier winter/spring surveys of blackspot pathogens, some isolates were tentatively allocated to P. medicaginis var. pinodella despite different cultural characteristics on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Recently, single-spore isolations of a single culture each from an infested pea crop at Medina, Moora, and Mt. Barker in W.A. were made onto PDA. A PCR-based assay with TW81 and AB28 primers was used to amplify from the ITS-5.8S rDNA region. Purified DNA products were sequenced for the three isolates and then BLASTn was used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. Our sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. JN37743, JN377439, and JN377438) had 100% nucleotide identity with P. exigua Desm. var. exigua accessions (GI13385450, GI169894028, and GI189163921), an earlier synonym of what is now known as Boeremia exigua var. exigua ([Desm.] Aveskamp, Gruyter & Verkley) (1). Davidson et al. (2) used the same primers to identify P. koolunga, but none of our isolates were P. koolunga. A suspension of 10⁷ conidia ml^-1 of each representative isolate was inoculated onto foliage of 15-day-old field pea cv. Dundale plants and maintained at >90% relative humidity for 72 h postinoculation. Control plants inoculated with just water remained symptomless. Brown lesions were evident by 8 to 10 days postinoculation and mostly 1 to 3 mm in diameter. B. exigua var. exigua was readily reisolated from infected leaves. Isolates have been lodged in the W.A. Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food W.A. (Accession Nos. WAC13500, WAC13502, and WAC13501 from Medina, Moora, and Mt. Barker, respectively). Outside Australia, its synonym P. exigua var. exigua is a known pathogen of field pea (4), other legumes including common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (4) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) (3), and is known to produce phytotoxic cytochalasins. In eastern Australia, P. exigua var. exigua has been reported on common bean (1930s and 1950s), phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides [L.] Urb.) and siratro (M. atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.) (1950s and 1960s), mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek.) (1960s), ramie (Boehmeria nivea [L.] Gaudich.) (1939), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) (1980s), and pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium [Trevir.] Schultz Bip.) (2004 and 2007) (Australian Plant Pest Database). To our knowledge, this the first report of B. exigua var. exigua on field pea in Australia, and because of its potential to be a significant pathogen on field pea, warrants further evaluation. References: (1) M. M. Aveskamp et al. Stud. Mycol. 65:1, 2010. (2) J. A. Davidson et al. Mycologia 101:120, 2009. (3) L. Irinyi et al. Mycol. Res. 113:249, 2009. (4) J. Marcinkowska. Biul. Inst. Hod. Aklim. Rosl. 190:169, 1994.

First Report of Phoma herbarum on Field Pea (Pisum sativum) in Australia

Black spot disease on field pea (Pisum sativum) in Australia is generally caused by one or more of the four fungi: Mycosphaerella pinodes (anamorph Ascochyta pinodes), Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella (synonym Phoma pinodella), Ascochyta pisi, and Phoma koolunga (1,2,4). However, in 2010 from a field pea blackspot disease screening nursery at Medina, Western Australia, approximately 25% of isolates were a Phoma sp. that was morphologically different to Phoma spp. previously reported on field pea in Western Australia, while the remaining 75% of isolates were either M. pinodes or P. medicaginis var. pinodella. Single-spore isolations of 23 isolates of this Phoma sp. were made onto potato dextrose agar. A PCR-based assay with the TW81 and AB28 primers was used to amplify from the 3' end of 16S rDNA, across ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2 to the 5' end of the 28S rDNA. The DNA products were sequenced and BLAST analyses were used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. In each case, the sequence had ≥99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for P. herbarum. Isolates also showed morphological similarities to P. herbarum as described in other reports (e.g., 3). The relevant information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (Accession No. JN247437). The same primers were used by Davidson et al. (2) to identify P. koolunga, but none of our 23 isolates were P. koolunga. A conidial suspension of 10⁷ conidia ml^-1 from a single-spore culture was spray inoculated onto foliage of 10-day-old Pisum sativum cv. Dundale plants maintained under >90% relative humidity conditions for 72 h postinoculation. Symptoms evident by 11 days postinoculation consisted of pale brown lesions that were mostly 1.5 to 2 mm long and 1 to 1.5 mm wide. Approximately 50% of lesions showed a distinct chlorotic halo extending 1 to 2 mm outside the boundary of the lesion. P. herbarum was readily reisolated from infected foliage. A culture of this representative isolate has been lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Accession No. WAC13499). Outside of Australia, P. herbarum, while generally considered a soilborne opportunistic pathogen, has been reported on a wide range of species, including field pea (3). Molecular analysis of historical isolates collected from field pea in Western Australia, mostly in the late 1980s, did not show any incidence of P. herbarum, despite this fungus being reported on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and soybean (Glycine max) in Western Australia in 1985 (Australian Plant Pest Database). In Western Australia, this fungus has also been recorded on a Protea sp. in 1991 and on Arabian pea (Bituminaria bituminosa) in 2010 (Australian Plant Pest Database). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. herbarum as a pathogen on field pea in Australia. These previous reports of P. herbarum on other hosts in Western Australia and the wide host range of P. herbarum together suggest the potential for this fungus to be a pathogen on a wider range of genera/species than field pea. References: (1) T. W. Bretag and M. Ramsey. Page 24 in: Compendium of Pea Diseases and Pests. 2nd ed. The American Phytopathologic Society, St Paul, MN, 2001. (2) J. A. Davidson et al. Mycologica 101:120, 2009. (3) G. L. Kinsey. Phoma herbarum. No 1501. IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, 2002. (4) T. L. Peever et al. Mycologia 99:59, 2007.

Salinity drives host reaction in Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) to Macrophomina phaseolina

Productivity of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) is often limited by diseases such as seedling blight and root and stem rot caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina and by abiotic stresses such as salinity. This paper reports controlled environment studies examining the interaction of biotic (M. phaseolina) and abiotic (NaCl) stresses. Studies were conducted at 32°C. On potato dextrose agar, the growth of two isolates of M. phaseolina (M1, M2) was differentially stimulated by 40mM NaCl with 1mM CaSO4. M. phaseolina was applied as either soil-borne inoculum or directly injected into P. vulgaris hypocotyls. For direct hypocotyl inoculation experiments, there was no difference in disease severity resulting from the two isolates. However, when soil inoculation was undertaken, isolate M2 caused more disease than M1. Addition of 40mM NaCl to the soil increased disease development and severity (evident 4 days after inoculation), particularly as demonstrated in the hypocotyl inoculation tests, suggesting that salinity stress predisposes plants to infection by this pathogen. Plants infested by M. phaseolina showed increased tissue concentrations of Na+ and Cl- but decreased K+ concentration. Hypocotyls generally contained higher Na+ concentrations than shoots. Inoculated plants had higher Na+ and lower K+ concentrations than uninoculated plants. Our studies indicate that M. phaseolina will be a more severe disease threat where P. vulgaris is cultivated in areas affected by soil salinity.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe cruciferarum on Brassica juncea in Australia

In Australia, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss (Indian mustard) has the potential as a more drought-tolerant oilseed crop than the B. napus L., with the first canola-quality B. juncea varieties released in Australia in 2006 and first sown for commercial production in 2007. Increased production of B. juncea is expected to result in the appearance of diseases previously unreported in Australia. In the spring of 2007 at the University of Western Australia field plots at Crawley (31.99°S, 115.82°E), Western Australia, plants of B. juncea genotypes from Australia and China had extensive stem colonization by powdery mildew at the end of the flowering period, with whitish patches ranging in size from 3 mm to 3 cm long. These patches coalesced to form a dense, white, powdery layer as they expanded. Pathogenicity was demonstrated by gently pressing infected stems containing abundant sporulation onto leaves of potted B. juncea seedlings of variety JM-18, incubating the plants in a moist chamber for 48 h, and then maintaining the plants in a controlled-environment room at 18/13°C for day/night. Signs of powdery mildew appeared at 7 days after inoculation, and by 10 days, it was well developed. Uninoculated control plants did not have powdery mildew. When symptomatic plants were examined, abundant conidia were typical of Erysiphe cruciferarum Opiz ex Junell, with cylindrical conidia borne singly or in short chains as described previously (2). Mycelia were amphigenous, in patches, and often spreading to become effused. Conidiophores were straight, foot cells were cylindrical, and conidia were mostly produced singly and measured 21.2 to 35.4 (mean 26.7 μm) × 8.8 to 15.9 μm (mean 11.9 μm) from measurements of 100 conidia. The spore size that we measured approximated what was found for E. cruciferarum (2) (30 to 40 × 12 to 16 μm), since we found 35 and 50% of spores falling within this range in terms of length and width, respectively. Conidia were, however, generally smaller in size than that reported on broccoli raab in California (1) (35 to 50 × 12 to 21 μm). We confirmed a length-to-width ratio greater than 2 as was found previously (1,2). Infected leaves showed signs of early senescence. While powdery mildew caused by E. cruciferarum is an important disease of B. juncea in India where yield losses as much as 17% have been reported (4), its potential impact in Australia is yet to be determined. To our knowledge, this is the first record of E. cruciferarum on B. juncea in Australia. In Western Australia, E. cruciferarum has been recorded on B. napus (oilseed rape) since 1986 and on B. napus L. var. napobrassica (L.) Reichenb. (swede) since 1971 (3). In other regions of Australia, it has been recorded on B. rapa in Queensland since 1913 and on B. napus (oilseed rape) in South Australia since 1973. References: (1) S. T. Koike and G. S. Saenz. Plant Dis. 81:1093, 1997. (2) T. J. Purnell and A. Sivanesan. No 251 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1970. (3) R. G. Shivas. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 72:1, 1989. (4) A. K. Shukla et al. Manual on Management of Rapeseed-Mustard Diseases. National Research Centre on Rapeseed-Mustard, Bharatpur, India, 2003.

First Report of White Leaf Spot Caused by Pseudocercosporella capsellae on Brassica juncea in Australia

Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss (mustard) has potential as a more drought-tolerant oilseed crop than the Brassica napus, and the first two canola-quality B. juncea cultivars will be sown as large strip trials across Australia in 2005. This will allow commercial evaluation of oil and meal quality and for seed multiplication for the commercial release Australia-wide in 2006. Inspection of experimental B. juncea field plantings at Beverley (32°6'30″S, 116°55'22″E), and Wongan Hills (30°50'32″S, 116°43'33″E), Western Australia in September 2004 indicated the occurrence of extensive leaf spotting during B. juncea flowering. Symptoms of this disease included as many as 15 or more grayish white-to-brownish spot lesions per leaf, often with a distinct brown margin. Some elongate grayish stem lesions were also observed as reported earlier for B. napus oilseed rape (1). When affected materials were incubated in moist chambers for 48 h, abundant conidia typical of Pseudocercosporella capsellae (Ellis & Everh.) Deighton were observed that matched the descriptions of conidia given by Deighton (2) and those on B. napus in Western Australia (1). Five single-spore cultures from lesions were grown on water agar (WA) where the colonies characteristically produced purple-pink pigment in the agar after 2 weeks growth in an incubator maintained at 20°C with a 12-h photoperiod (3). Since agar cultures of P. capsellae rarely produce conidia (3), this observation helped with the verification of the cultures. Mycelial inoculum from these cultures was used to inoculate cotyledons of 50 7-day-old plants of B. juncea to satisfy Koch's postulates. Small pieces of mycelia were teased out from the surface of the growing margin of potato dextrose agar (PDA) cultures and inoculated onto both lobes of each cotyledon and plants incubated in a 100% humidity chamber for 48 h within a controlled environment room maintained at 20/15°C (day/night) with a 12-h photoperiod. After 2 weeks, lesions 5 to 8 mm in diameter were observed on the cotyledons. There were no symptoms on control plants that were treated with water only. Lesions on infected cotyledons incubated on moist filter paper for 24 h produced abundant cylindrical conidia showing 2 to 3 septa measuring 42.9 to 71.4 μm long and 2.9 to 3.1 μm wide. Single-spore isolations from these conidia produced typical P. capsellae colonies showing purple-pink pigments in WA, and dark, compacted, and slow-growing colonies with a dentate margin on PDA. White leaf spot caused by P. capsellae is an important disease of crucifers worldwide, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of P. capsellae on B. juncea in Australia. In Western Australia, P. capsellae occurs on B. napus oilseed rape (1) and in 1956, 1984, and 1987, it was recorded on B. rapa, B. oleracea, and B. chinensis, respectively (4), and on the same range of Brassica hosts in other regions of Australia. References: (1) M. J. Barbetti and K. Sivasithamparam. Aust. Plant Pathol.10:43, 1981. (2) F. C. Deighton. Commonw. Mycol. Inst. Mycol. Pap. 133:42, 1973. (3) S. T. Koike. Plant Dis. 80:960, 1996. (4) R. G. Shivas. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 72:1, 1989.

First Report of an Alternaria Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria brassicae on Crambe abyssinicia in Australia

Crambe abyssinicia Hochst. is grown sporadically worldwide for its value as a source of high erucic acid industrial oils and secondary commercial products. While there is increasing interest in cropping C. abyssinicia in Australia, for these potentials and also as a source of oil for biodiesel production, currently, there have been no commercial crops of this species. In September 2004, inspection of a small experimental field crop in Beverley, Western Australia indicated the presence of significant leaf spotting just prior to commencement of flowering. The symptoms of this disease included as many as 10 to 15 spot lesions per leaf that were generally rounded and varied between 0.5 to 11 mm in diameter. Clusters of these lesions were often associated with chlorosis of the region of leaves where they occurred. More than 95% of plants inspected showed these symptoms. When affected leaves were incubated in moist chambers, typical conidia of Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. were observed. The description of these conidia matched that of the Commonwealth Mycological Institute for this pathogen (1) showing obclavate conidia 105 to 210 μm long and 20 to 30 μm thick, with 11 to 15 transverse septa and 0 to 3 longitudinal or oblique septa, predominantly with a pronounced beak 5 to 8 μm thick extending 0.3 to 0.5 μm of the length of the conidium. Single-spore isolations were made onto potato dextrose agar. Subcultures of these isolates were identified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- based assay (2). This assay involved the use of two sets of A. brassicae-specific primers selected for conventional and real-time PCR. The colonies were confirmed to belong to A. brassicae. In a pathogenicity test to confirm Koch's postulates, single-spore isolates were inoculated onto cotyledons and leaves of 10-day-old C. abyssinicia seedlings. Symptoms on inoculated plants appeared within a period of 14 days of inoculation, matching those found on the affected plants in the field, and A brassicae was reisolated. A. brassicae causes an important worldwide disease of crucifers, for example, it can be a devastating disease of rapeseed and the other cruciferous crops in the United States and Canada. Since A. brassicae has already been reported on other species of crucifers Australia-wide, it may pose a threat to any potential Crambe spp. industry in this country. References: (1) M. B. Ellis No. 162 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, England, 1966. (2) T. Guillemette et al. Plant Dis. 88:490, 2004.