Investigation and Identification of Fungal Diseases of Kiwifruit in Qiandongnan Prefecture

[Objectives]The paper was to investigate and identify the fungal diseases of wild and red heart kiwifruit in Qiandongnan Prefecture.[Methods]The pathogenic fungi were isolated from diseased leaves and fruits of wild and red heart kiwifruit by tissue separation method.DNA sequencing was carried out by using the sequence analysis of ribosomal r DNA-ITS region,and molecular evolutionary trees were built by using MEGA 4.0 software.Finally,the pathogenic fungi were classified and identified by combining morphological observation.[Results]The main fungal diseases were anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on wild kiwifruit,fruit anthracnose caused by C.acutatum on red heart kiwifruit,leaf soft rot caused by Fusarium incarnatum on red heart kiwifruit,and brown spot caused by Alternaria alternata on red heart kiwifruit.[Conclusions]The study may provide some theoretical basis for the control of kiwifruit diseases in Qiandongnan Prefecture.

Heterologous expression of the Haynaldia villosa pattern-recognition receptor CERK1-V in wheat increases resistance to three fungal diseases

Wheat production is under continuous threat by various fungal pathogens.Identification of multipledisease resistance genes may lead to effective disease control via the development of cultivars with broad-spectrum resistance.Plant Lysin-motif(LysM)-type pattern-recognition receptors,which elicit innate immunity by recognizing fungal pathogen associated molecular patterns such as chitin,are potential candidates for such resistance.In this study,we cloned a LysM receptor-like kinase gene,CERK1-V,from the diploid wheat relative Haynaldia villosa.CERK1-V expression was induced by chitin and Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici,the causal agent of wheat powdery mildew.Heterologous overexpression of CERK1-V in wheat inhibited the development of three fungal pathogens,thereby increased resistance to powdery mildew,yellow rust,and Fusarium head blight.CERK1-V physically interacted with the wheat Lys M protein Ta CEBi Ps.CERK1-V/Ta CEBi Ps interaction promoted chitin recognition and activated chitin signal transduction in wheat.Transgenic plants with excessively high CERK1-V expression showed high resistance but abnormal plant growth,whereas plants with moderate expression level showed adequate resistance level with no marked impairment of plant growth.In transgenic lines,RNA-seq showed that gene expression involved in plant innate immunity was activated.Expression of genes involved in photosynthesis,ER stress and multiple phytohormone pathways was also activated.Optimized expression of CERK1-V in wheat can confer disease resistance without compromising growth or defense fitness.

Preliminary Investigation on the Main Fungal Diseases of Sugarcane in Guangxi Province of China

[ Objective ] The purpose was to understand species and occurrence status of major fugal diseases in sugarcane cultivation areas of Guangxi in China, so as to provide scientific references for integrated control against sugarcane diseases. [ Method] Species and occurrence degrees of major fugal diseases in sugarcane cultivation areas of Guangxi were investigated through randomized surveys, farmer interviews, literature references and location investigations from 2009 to 2011. Diseased sugarcane samples were collected and their species were identified through pathogen isolated culture and other relevant methods. [ Result] Thirteen spe- cies of fungal diseases were identified in the survey, including pineapple disease [ Thielaviopsis paradoxa （ de Seynes ） V. Hohnel ], smut （ Ustilago scitaminea Sydow）, top rot disease （Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon）, rust （Puccinia melanocephala H. ＆ P. Syd. ）, leaf scald disease （Stagonospora sacchari Lo et Ling）, red rot disease （Colletotrichumfalcatum Went）, zonate spot disease （Phyllosticta saccharicola P. Henn. ）, leaf red spot disease [ Pellicularia sasakii （Shirai） Ito], white rash disease （Elsinoe sacchari L. ）, eye spot [Helminthosporium sacchari （Breda de Haan） Butler], yellow spot [Mycovellosiella koepkei （kruger） Deighton], brown stripe [Bipolaris stenospilum （Drechs.） Shoem. ] and brown spot （Cercospora longipes Butler）. Smut, rust, top rot, and pineapple disease were the most rampantly detrimental to quality and yield of sugarcane. [ Conclusion] Smut is the most serious sugarcane disease; it is urgent to breed sugarcane varieties with high resistance and excellent agronomic characters to replace current sugarcane varieties susceptible to diseases.

Intravenous-oral itraconazole versus oral posaconazole in preventing invasive fungal diseases for acute leukemia patients

Invasive fungal diseases(IFDs)are major and lethal infectious complications for patients with neutropenia after chemotherapy.Prophylaxis with intravenous and oral suspended itraconazole(200 mg Q12h intravenously×2 days followed by 5 mg/kg·d orally in twice)or oral suspension of posaconazole(200 mg Q8h)was administered for preventing IFDs.The only 2 episodes of proven IFDs were not included after propensity-score matching(PSM),while the incidence of possible IFDs was 8.2%(9/110)in itraconazole group and 1.8%(2/110)in posaconazole group,respectively(P=.030).In clinical failure analysis,the failure rate of posaconazole group was lower as compared to the itraconazole group(2.7%vs 10.9%,P=.016).Both intravenous-oral itraconazole and posaconazole suspension are effective in preventing IFDs,while posaconazole suspension seems more tolerable.

TiO_2 photocatalytic antifungal technique for crops diseases control

TiO2 and 1% Ce^3＋-TiO2 prepared by hydrothermal method were characterized by means of XRD and UV-visible diffusive reflectance spectra（DRS）. The results of DRS analysis indicated that the 1% Ce^3＋-TiO2 catalyst had significant optical absorption in the visible region between 400-450 nm because electrons could be excited from the valence band of TiO2 or cerium oxides to Ce 4f level. To investigate the photocatalytic activity of different catalysts for crop fungal disease control, a series of Quine tests were carried out for cucumber powdery mildew and litchi downy blight control in home-made photocatalytic reactor. The results showed that TiO2 photocatalysis technique should be effective to inhibit the growth of fungal diseases to some extent and P-25 had a higher activity for antifungal control than home-made TiO2 catalysts. TiO2-A prepared with Ti（SO4）2 is more active to contro 1 antifungal disease than TiO2-B prepared with TiOSO4 as precursor because the crystalline of TiO2-A was higher than that of TiO2-B. The antifungal index litchi downy blight control was greatly enhanced by doping 1% cerium ion. The antifungal index of 1.0%Ce3^＋-TiO2 was（47.0 ± 4.7）%, （82.2 ± 3.5）%, （100 ±0.0）% under indoor weaker light, solar light and black light, respectively. The results of field experiments showed that the antifungal index of 1.0%Ce^3＋-TiO2 was more than that of P-25. The antifungal index of 1.0%Ce^3＋-TiO2 was （81.7 ± 6.5）%, （67.5 ±4.7）%, （38.6±1.9）% for litchi downy blight, maize southern leaf spot, and rice blast, respectively. It was concluded that TiO2 photocatalysis technique should be an effective way for litchi fungal disease control in practice.

Meta-QTL analysis for mining of candidate genes and constitutive gene network development for fungal disease resistance in maize(Zea mays L.)

The development of resistant maize cultivars is the most effective and sustainable approach to combat fungal diseases.Over the last three decades,many quantitative trait loci(QTL)mapping studies reported numerous QTL for fungal disease resistance(FDR)in maize.However,different genetic backgrounds of germplasm and differing QTL analysis algorithms limit the use of identified QTL for comparative studies.The meta-QTL(MQTL)analysis is the meta-analysis of multiple QTL experiments,which entails broader allelic coverage and helps in the combined analysis of diverse QTL mapping studies revealing common genomic regions for target traits.In the present study,128(33.59%)out of 381 reported QTL(from 82 studies)for FDR could be projected on the maize genome through MQTL analysis.It revealed 38 MQTL for FDR(12 diseases)on all chromosomes except chromosome 10.Five MQTL namely 1_4,2_4,3_2,3_4,and 5_4 were linked with multiple FDR.Total of 1910 candidate genes were identified for all the MQTL regions,with protein kinase gene families,TFs,pathogenesis-related,and disease-responsive proteins directly or indirectly associated with FDR.The comparison of physical positions of marker-traits association(MTAs)from genome-wide association studies with genes underlying MQTL interval verified the presence of QTL/candidate genes for particular diseases.The linked markers to MQTL and putative candidate genes underlying identified MQTL can be further validated in the germplasm through marker screening and expression studies.The study also attempted to unravel the underlying mechanism for FDR resistance by analyzing the constitutive gene network,which will be a useful resource to understand the molecular mechanism of defense-response of a particular disease and multiple FDR in maize.

Main Diseases of Zucchini and Their Prevention and Control Methods

This paper elaborates the symptom characteristics and control methods of virus diseases including squash leaf curl china virus(SLCCNV),watermelon mosaic virus(WMV),cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus(CCYV),cucumber mosaic virus(CMV)and zucchini yellow mosaic virus(ZYMV),as well as fungal diseases including zucchini powdery mildew,zucchini downy mildew and zucchini scab that harm zucchini production,in order to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for disease prevention and control of zucchini.

Mini-review of Major Diseases of Rosa chinensis Jacq in China

Rose （Rosa chinexis Jacq）, a traditional Chinese ornamental flower, is widely planted for landscaping in China. Diseases, together with their typical symptoms on R. chinensis in China, are presented in this review. Ten fungal, one bacterial, one viral and one physiological disease are noted in this study respec- tively. Two newly recorded diseases, rose leaf spot caused by ChaetomeUa raphigera and rose leaf blotch caused by Pestalotiopsis clavispom, are also described and illustrated. With the warming climate, the geographic distribution of rose diseases may expand and the losses cause by rose diseases are becoming more serious. Therefore, we must strengthen researches on host-pathogen-changing climate and pay more attentions on adapted management measures as well.

An Integrated QTL Map of Fungal Disease Resistance in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr):A Method of Meta-Analysis for Mining R Genes

Diseases caused by fungal pathogens account for approximately 50% of all soybean disease losses around the world. Conflicting results of fungal disease resistance QTLs from different populations often occurred. The objectives of this study were to： （i） evaluate evidence for reported fungal disease resistance QTLs associations in soybean and （ii） extract relatively reliable and useful information from the ＂real＂ QTLs and mine putative genes in soybean. An integrated map of fungal disease resistance QTLs in soybean was established with soymap 2 published in 2004 as a reference map. QTLs of fungal disease resistance developed from each of separate populations in recent 10 years were integrated into a combinative map for gene cloning and marker assisted selection in soybean. 107 QTLs from different maps were integrated and projected to the reference map with the software BioMercator 2.1. A method of meta-analysis was used to narrow down the confidence interval, and 23 ＂real＂ QTLs and their corresponding markers were obtained from 12 linkage groups （LG）, respectively. Two published R genes were found in these ＂real＂ QTLs intervals. Sequences in the ＂real＂ QTLs intervals were predicted by GENSCAN, and these predicted genes were annotated in Goblet. 228 resistance gene analogs （RGAs） in 12 different terms were mined. The results will lay the foundation for a bioinformatics platform combining abundant QTLs, and offer the basis for marker assisted selection and gene cloning in soybean.

Identification and Control of Main Diseases of Cotton

The main symptoms of cotton viral diseases,bacterial diseases,fungal diseases and physiological diseases are introduced,and the corresponding prevention and control techniques are put forward,in order to provide a certain basis for the improvement of cotton yield and quality.

Molecular identification and in vitro interaction of molds associated with dry rot of potato(Solanum tuberosum L.)collected in La Trinidad,Benguet,Philippines

Solanum tuberosum L.from the Solanaceae family is one of the most important agricultural crops grown in the Philippines next to rice.Unfortunately,harvested potatoes were plagued with various fungal diseases resulting to occurrence of dry rot affecting the production and harvest of potatoes.Dry rot in potatoes is caused by several fungal species in the genus Fusarium.Hence,this study aimed to isolate and identify fungal species associated with dry rot disease of potato.Potatoes showing diseased symptoms of dry rot were randomly selected and collected from various traders in La Trinidad,Benguet and were subjected for fungal isolation through serial dilution and plating.Identification was done through observation of cultural and morphological characteristics as well as DNA barcoding using ITS region.A total of six fungal species were subjected into BLAST which revealed the following species:Aspergillus flavus(100.00%),A.fumigatus(100.00%),A.niger(99.82%),Fusarium oxysporum(95.06%),F.solani(100.00%)and Mucor velutinosus(96.45%).To establish possible fungal species as potential biocontrol agent that would lessen the use of harmful chemicals,the identified fungal organisms were interacted with one another through in vitro interaction.Results showed that fungi exhibited antagonistic interaction against each other.Hyphal denaturation,hyphal penetration,hyphal coiling and cell lysis,were observed through microscopic observation.Meanwhile,M.velutinosus showed the ability to penetrate the host hyphae of the F.solani and F.oxysporum.Therefore,Mucor velutinosus could be a potential biological control agent against Fusarium species,which can reduce the use of harmful fungicides in controlling fungal diseases in potato that causes dry rot.

First Report on Rhizome Rot Disease of Curcuma longa Caused by Fusarium solani in Bangladesh

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a valuable medicinal plant as well as spice crop in Bangladesh. The rhizome rot disease is a severe danger to turmeric cultivation. The current study sought to identify the fungal pathogen linked to turmeric rhizome rot disease. Rhizome of turmeric with distinct rotted symptoms was collected from the experimental site of the Botanical Garden, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. The sample was screened to isolate the causative fungal pathogen through the tissue planting technique. Macro and micro-morphological characterization based on colony appearance, mycelial and conidial characteristics primarily identified the fungus as Fusarium sp. The ITS sequence of rDNA of the fungus exhibited 99 to 100 percent similarity with the other F. solani species formerly deposited in the NCBI database which confirmed the fungal identity as F. solani. An in vitro pathogenicity test validated the pathogenic nature of the fungus. Growth behaviors of the fungus were evaluated on different solid culture media viz., Potato dextrose agar, Potato sucrose agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar and Hansen’s agar;temperature conditions (10?C, 15?C, 20?C, 25?C, 30?C and 35?C) and pH levels (pH 4, pH 5, pH 6, pH 7 and pH 8). Maximum mycelial growth was obtained on PSA medium at 30?C temperature and pH 7 conditions. Current findings also conclude that F. solani favors a wide range of temperature and pH levels. To the best of our search, the present investigation revealed the relationship of F. solani with the rhizome rot disease of turmeric for the first time in Bangladesh.

Pleural involvement in cryptococcal infection

Pleural involvement of cryptococcal infection is uncommon and is more commonly observed in immunocompromised hosts than in immunocompetent ones.Pleural involvement in cryptococcal infections can manifest with or without pleural effusion.The presence of Cryptococcus spp.in the effusion or pleura is required for the diagnosis of cryptococcal pleural infection,which is commonly determined by pleural biopsy,fluid culture,and/or detection of cryptococcal antigen in the pleura or pleural fluid.

Assessing global fungal threats to humans

Fungi are an integral part of the earth's biosphere.They are broadly distributed in all continents and ecosystems and play a diversity of roles.Here,I review our current understanding of fungal threats to humans and describe the major factors that contribute to various threats.Among the 140,000 or so known species out of the estimated six million fungal species on Earth,about 10%directly or indirectly threaten human health and welfare.Major threats include mushroom poisoning,fungal allergies,infections of crop plants,food contamination by mycotoxins,and mycoses in humans.A growing number of factors have been identified to impact various fungal threats,including human demographics,crop distributions,anthropogenic activities,pathogen dispersals,global climate change,and/or the applications of antifungal drugs and agricultural fungicides.However,while models have been developed for analyzing various processes of individual threats and threat managements,current data are primarily descriptive and incomplete,and there are significant obstacles to integration of the diverse factors into accurate quantitative assessments of fungal threats.With increasing technological advances and concerted efforts to track the spatial and temporal data on climate and environmental variables;mycotoxins in the feed and food supply chains;fungal population dynamics in crop fields,human and animal populations,and the environment;human population demographics;and the prevalence and severities of fungal allergies and diseases,our ability to accurately assess fungal threats will improve.Such improvements should help us develop holistic strategies to manage fungal threats in the future.

Analysis on the imaging features of AIDS with pulmonary fungal infection

Background Pulmonary fungal infection is one type of the common opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. The disease is hard to diagnose because of its complicated imaging features. The objective of this study was to investigate the imaging performance characteristics of pulmonary fungal infection in AIDS patients.Methods Fifty-one patients with AIDS complicated with pulmonary fungal infection and 56 patients of non-AIDS with pulmonary fungal infection were examined by CT scans and high-resolution CT scans. The contrast enhanced scans were performed in patients with the mass or suspected enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Results were compared between the two groups.Results The most common fungal infection in the two groups of patients was Candida albicans. The infection rates were 54.8% （28 cases） in the group （AIDS patients with pulmonary fungal infection） and 58.3% （32 cases） in another group （non-AIDS patients with pulmonary fungal infection）. In the two groups, the difference in diffuse distribution and the difference in incidence of affected upper and lower lobes in the bilateral lung fields were statistically significant. The differences in patchy or large consolidation shadow, cavitas, enlarged lymph nodes in mediastinum and pleural effusion were also significant when comparing the two groups.Conclusions The lesion in most of AIDS patients with pulmonary fungal infection tends to exhibit diffuse distribution,patchy or large consolidation shadow covering a more extensive region. The differences between AIDS with pulmonary fungal infection and non-AIDS with pulmonary fungal infection are statistically significant in lesion location and complicated imaging features. The most common fungal infection in AIDS patients is Candida albicans.

Chromosome-scale assembly reveals asymmetric paleo-subgenome evolution and targets for the acceleration of fungal resistance breeding in the nut crop, pecan

Pecan(Carya illinoinensis)is a tree nut crop of worldwide economic importance that is rich in healthpromoting factors.However,pecan production and nut quality are greatly challenged by environmental stresses such as the outbreak of severe fungal diseases.Here,we report a high-quality,chromosome-scale genome assembly of the controlled-cross pecan cultivar‘Pawnee’constructed by integrating Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technologies.Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses reveal two whole-genome duplication(WGD)events and two paleo-subgenomes in pecan and walnut.Time estimates suggest that the recent WGD event and considerable genome rearrangements in pecan and walnut account for expansions in genome size and chromosome number after the divergence from bayberry.The two paleo-subgenomes differ in size and protein-coding gene sets.They exhibit uneven ancient gene loss,asymmetrical distribution of transposable elements(especially LTR/Copia and LTR/Gypsy),and expansions in transcription factor families(such as the extreme pecan-specific expansion in the far-red impaired response 1 family),which are likely to reflect the long evolutionary history of species in the Juglandaceae.A whole-genome scan of resequencing data from 86 pecan scab-associated core accessions identified 47 chromosome regions containing 185 putative candidate genes.Significant changes were detected in the expression of candidate genes associated with the chitin response pathway under chitin treatment in the scab-resistant and scabsusceptible cultivars‘Excell’and‘Pawnee’.These findings enable us to identify key genes that may be important susceptibility factors for fungal diseases in pecan.The high-quality sequences are valuable resources for pecan breeders and will provide a foundation for the production and quality improvement of tree nut crops.

Initial computed tomography findings of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in non-hematological patients

Background The computed tomography （CT） findings of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis （IPA） are unclear in non- hematological patients. The present study was a retrospective evaluation of CT images in non-hematological patients with IPA. Methods All adult patients who met the 2008 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group （EORTC/MSG） criteria for proven or probable IPA were included during a 5-year study at our institutions. Initial CT findings in our cohort were retrospectively reviewed by two independent thoracic radiologists blinded to patient demographics and clinical outcomes. The presence, pattern, and distribution of abnormalities were recorded. Results Twenty-three non-hematological patients with pathologically confirmed IPA were included in our study. Areas of ground-glass opacities were present in 14 patients （61%）, which were bilateral in 10 patients and unilateral in four. This pattern mainly involved the middle and upper lung zones. Air-space consolidation was identified in 12 patients （52%）, and the areas were distributed along the bronchus or subpleura in most cases. Other findings, including five small nodules （22%）, three macronodules （13%）, and one halo sign （4%）, were less common. Conclusions CT findings of IPA in non-hematological patients frequently manifested as acute bronchopneumonia, and ground-glass opacities and air-space consolidations were the most common CT findings of IPA in these patients.

Blastomycosis in China： a case report and literature review

Blastomycosis is a fungal disease that is endemic in parts of North America. It is very rare in China and also commonly misdiagnosed, often as cancer or other infectious diseases. The clinical profile of a case of disseminated blastomycosis with pulmonary changes and skin ulcers was described. He had been misdiagnosed with tuberculosis, after adequate therapy with a lipid formulation of amphotericin B, followed by itraconazole, the lung and skin lesions improved. Then the five cases reported in China and literatures were reviewed. The aim of this report was to improve the knowledge regarding blastomycosis for physicians in China to avoid delaying adequate therapy.

High risk factors for pulmonary fungous infection in intensive care units of neurosurgery

By analyzing the high risk factors for pulmonary fungous infection in intensive care units of neurosurgery,the strategy of early diagnosis and treatment was explored.According to the domestic diagnostic standard on pulmonary fungous infection,clinical data on 58 patients with the infection in our department were analyzed.One hundred and seventeen strains of fungi were separated from the 58 cases.Candidiasis was the most frequent type,accounting for 92.3%of the cases.Conditions such as the severity of primary diseases,long-time coma,long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotic,abuse of glucocorticoid,the open airway,and some invasive intubations,may be regarded as high risk factors for pulmonary fungous infection.Fluconazole showed good clinical effects on the treatment of fungous infection.To eliminate these high risk factors,early diagnosis and the use of prophylactic antifungal agents can help reduce the incidence of pulmonary fungous infection.