Rust fungi on Panicum.

Rusts are economically important diseases of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and other Paniceae grasses. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the nuc rDNA 5.8S internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2), partial 28S region, and intergenic spacer region (IGS) of nuc rDNA showed that species of rust fungi infecting switchgrass are closely related within Puccinia.

Sarcococca Blight: Use of Whole-Genome Sequencing for Fungal Plant Disease Diagnosis.

Early and accurate diagnosis of new plant pathogens is vital for the rapid implementation of effective mitigation strategies and appropriate regulatory responses. Most commonly, pathogen identification relies on morphology and DNA marker analysis. However, for new diseases, these approaches may not be sufficient for precise diagnosis.

LAMP Detection Assays for Boxwood Blight Pathogens: A Comparative Genomics Approach.

Rapid and accurate molecular diagnostic tools are critical to efforts to minimize the impact and spread of emergent pathogens. The identification of diagnostic markers for novel pathogens presents several challenges, especially in the absence of information about population diversity and where genetic resources are limited. The objective of this study was to use comparative genomics datasets to find unique target regions suitable for the diagnosis of two fungal species causing a newly emergent blight disease of boxwood.

Microcyclic rusts of hollyhock ( Alcea rosea ).

Rust fungi infecting hollyhock and other plants in Malveae are frequently intercepted at ports of entry to the USA, particularly Puccinia malvacearum and P. heterogenea. These two species can be difficult to distinguish and can be further confused with other, less common species of microcyclic rust fungi infecting hollyhock: P.

Evolution of Nine Microsatellite Loci in the Fungus Fusarium oxysporum.

The evolution of nine microsatellites and one minisatellite was investigated in the fungus Fusarium oxysporum and sister taxa Fusarium redolens and Fusarium verticillioides. Compared to other organisms, fungi have been reported to contain fewer and less polymorphic microsatellites. Mutational patterns over evolutionary time were studied for these ten loci by mapping changes in core repeat numbers onto a phylogeny based on the sequence of the conserved translation elongation factor 1-α gene.

Fusarium Oxysporum Volatiles Enhance Plant Growth Via Affecting Auxin Transport and Signaling.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have well-documented roles in plant-plant communication and directing animal behavior. In this study, we examine the less understood roles of VOCs in plant-fungal relationships. Phylogenetically and ecologically diverse strains of Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal species complex that often resides in the rhizosphere of assorted plants, produce volatile compounds that augment shoot and root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco.

Draft Genome Sequence of Dactylonectria macrodidyma, a Plant-Pathogenic Fungus in the Nectriaceae.

Dactylonectria macrodidyma is part of the Nectriaceae, a family containing important plant pathogens. This species possesses the ability to induce disease on grapevine, avocado, and olive. Here, we report the first draft genome of D.

IMA Genome-F 3: Draft genomes of Amanita jacksonii, Ceratocystis albifundus, Fusarium circinatum, Huntiella omanensis, Leptographium procerum, Rutstroemia sydowiana, and Sclerotinia echinophila.

The genomes of fungi provide an important resource to resolve issues pertaining to their taxonomy, biology, and evolution. The genomes of Amanita jacksonii, Ceratocystis albifundus, a Fusarium circinatum variant, Huntiella omanensis, Leptographium procerum, Sclerotinia echinophila, and Rutstroemia sydowiana are presented in this genome announcement. These seven genomes are from a number of fungal pathogens and economically important species.

A Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of Puccinia horiana and P. chrysanthemi on Chrysanthemum.

Puccinia horiana, the cause of chrysanthemum white rust, is a regulated fungal plant pathogen in the United States, while P. chrysanthemi, the cause of chrysanthemum brown rust, is a widespread but less destructive pathogen. Accurate identification is essential to enforce quarantine measures, but the two species cannot be differentiated visually in the absence of mature spores or symptoms.

Highly diverse endophytic and soil Fusarium oxysporum populations associated with field-grown tomato plants.

The diversity and genetic differentiation of populations of Fusarium oxysporum associated with tomato fields, both endophytes obtained from tomato plants and isolates obtained from soil surrounding the sampled plants, were investigated. A total of 609 isolates of F. oxysporum were obtained, 295 isolates from a total of 32 asymptomatic tomato plants in two fields and 314 isolates from eight soil cores sampled from the area surrounding the plants.

Examination of the binding ability of bovine spermatozoa to the zona pellucida as an indicator of fertility.

Despite the development of many new techniques, laboratory assays still do not predict male fertility accurately. To identify targets for laboratory assessment, we first need to determine which steps in fertilization are most often defective in subfertile males. We developed a competitive in vitro fertilization assay in which spermatozoa from 2 different males, stained with different lipophilic dyes, are incubated together with oocytes in a droplet.