Research on the Infection Process of Sphaerotheca pannosa in Rose leaves

The researches through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) indicated that Sphaerotheca pannosa directly intrude in the place of concave of rose leaves,form filiform haustorium in the epidermal cells,absorb the nutrient and water,and destory the internal structure of mitochondrions,etc.when epidermal cells are filled with filiform haustorium.

Identification of a new Hazelnut disease in Liaoning Province:Hazelnut husk brown rot

Hazelnut husk brown rot has been identified as a new disease in Liaoning Province in recent years.The objective of this study as to identify the pathogen.[Method]In this study,a standard sample of hazelnut husk brown rot was collected from Songmudao Base in Dalian City,Liaoning Province.The pathogen was identified by the studies of the morphology,pathogenicity,and analyses of ITS and LSU sequences.The pathogen was isolated and purified,which was confirmed by Koch’s postulates.The symptoms after inoculation were the same as those collected directly from a diseased tree,which showed that it was the pathogenic fungus.The cultural characteristics and conidia and the morphology of the pathogenic fungi were similar to those of Botrytis cinerea’s.The ITS sequences and LSU sequences were compared to the associated strain sequences in GenBank,with 100%identity to Botrytis cinerea(GenBank accession number:MN589848.1)and Botrytis cinerea(GenBank accession number:KU140653.1),respectively.The infection status of the pathogen on the hazelnut husks was also observed.The studies suggested that the pathogen leading to the hazelnut husk brown rot as a new disease in Liaoning Province was Botrytis cinerea.

A PCR-based Rapid Neutralization Assay for GⅡ.4 Norovirus Infection in HIEC6 Cell Culture

Because of limited viral replication and lack of cytopathic effect in cell culture,a new PCR-based rapid seroneutralization assay for detection of GII.4norovirus neutralized antibodies was developed with serum samples from acute-phase patients,convalescent-phase patients and healthy controls.According to this study,neutralizing antibodies were detected in 100% ofconvalescent-phase sera, and in 2.5% of healthy controls sera. However, all of the acute-phase serum samples could not neutralize virus efficiently. Compared to the results from ELISA （96.2% at sensitivity and 80% at specificity）, the present in vitro neutralization assay is more specific and more sensitive.

Appressorial interactions with host and their evolution

Fungi have evolved diverse strategies to acquire nutrients as endophytes,saprobes,symbionts,or pathogens.Appressoria have been intensively studied due to their importance in attaching and breaching the host surface.These specialized infection structures have evolved into various morpho-types:proto-appressoria,hyaline appressoria,melanized(dark)appressoria,and compound appressoria.In this review,we discuss the differences in the formation,differentiation,and function of appres-soria among fungi with diverse life strategies.Using DNA sequence information,LSU,5.8S,SSU and rpb2 gene fragments,we reconstructed the ancestral states for appressorial types in the main phyla of fungi and fungus-like organisms and found that the hyaline appressoria was the most ancestral form.Our analysis estimated proto-appressoria diversification during the Mesozoic period(92-239 million years ago),however,its origin remains inconclusive.Our data suggest that these hyaline appressoria diversified into melanized or compound appressoria,with evidence of adaptive radiation.