Development and Application of a qPCR-Based Method Coupled with Spore Trapping to Monitor Airborne Pathogens of Wheat Causing Stripe Rust, Powdery Mildew, and Fusarium Head Blight.

Common wheat ( L.) production in China is challenged by stripe (yellow) rust, powdery mildew, and Fusarium head blight. Airborne inoculum of these pathogens is the causative driver of disease epidemics.

MinION Sequencing of Fungi in Sub-Saharan African Air and a Novel LAMP Assay for Rapid Detection of the Tropical Phytopathogenic Genus .

To date, there have been no DNA-based metabarcoding studies into airborne fungi in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa. In this initial study, 10 air samples were collected onto Vaseline-coated acrylic rods mounted on drones flown at heights of 15-50 meters above ground for 10-15 min at three sites in Ghana. Purified DNA was extracted from air samples, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using fungal-specific primers, and MinION third-generation amplicon sequencing was undertaken with downstream bioinformatics analyses utilizing GAIA cloud-based software (at genus taxonomic level).

Indirect Evidence Based on Mating-Type Ratios for the Role of Sexual Reproduction in European and Chinese Populations of (Blackleg of Oilseed Rape).

Blackleg (Phoma) disease, caused by the ascomycete fungi and , threatens oilseed rape (OSR; ) crops internationally. In many parts of the world, both species co-occur, but in China only has so far been reported. reproduces asexually (pycnidiospores), but also sexually (pseudothecia-yielding ascospores), via a heterothallic mating system requiring and genotypes.

Effective control of Leptosphaeria maculans increases importance of L. biglobosa as a cause of phoma stem canker epidemics on oilseed rape.

Background: Phoma stem canker is a damaging disease of oilseed rape caused by two related fungal species, Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa. However, previous work has mainly focused on L.

Genetic Analysis of Populations from Different Hosts and Counties in Hainan, China, Using Microsatellite Markers.

was demonstrated as the dominant species among spp. that infected rubber tree, areca palm, and coffee in Hainan, China. However, the extent of genetic differentiation within the species in relation to geographical regions and host species is not known.

Epidemiological Studies of Pan-Azole Resistant Populations Sampled during Tulip Cultivation Show Clonal Expansion with Acquisition of Multi-Fungicide Resistance as Potential Driver.

Pan-azole resistant isolates are found in clinical and environmental () populations. Azole resistance can evolve in both settings, with directly targeted by antifungals in patients and, in the environment, unintendedly exposed to fungicides used for material preservation and plant disease control. Resistance to non-azole fungicides, including methyl benzimidazole carbamates (MBCs), quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), has recently been reported.

Novel Multiplex and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays for Rapid Species and Mating-Type Identification of and (Causal Agents of Cereal Eyespot), and Application for Detection of Ascospore Dispersal and In Planta Use.

Eyespot, caused by the related fungal pathogens and , is an important cereal stem-base disease in temperate parts of the world. Both species are dispersed mainly by splash-dispersed conidia but are also known to undergo sexual reproduction, yielding apothecia containing ascospores. Field diagnosis of eyespot can be challenging, with other pathogens causing similar symptoms, which complicates eyespot management strategies.

Eight Species, Including a Novel Species, Are Associated With Areca Palm Anthracnose in Hainan, China.

Genus is one of the most important genera of plant-pathogenic fungi affecting numerous species, particularly tropical and subtropical crops and fruit trees. In this study, 43 strains were isolated from areca palm leaves with anthracnose symptoms in 11 areca palm plantations in eight counties of Hainan, China. Based on the morphology, phylogenetic analysis of six loci (internal transcribed spacer, actin, chitin synthase 1, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, β-tubulin, and mating type locus MAT1-2), and pathogenicity tests, eight species were distinguished, comprising five previously known species (, , , , and ), one unidentified species, a new species () in the gloeosporioides species complex, and in the boninense species complex.

First application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for rapid identification of mating type in the heterothallic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.

Background: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays, which operate at a single temperature and require no postreaction processing, have been described for rapid species-specific detection of numerous fungi. The technology has much less commonly been applied to identification of other key genetic traits such as fungicide resistance, and has not yet been applied to mating-type determination in any fungus.

Objectives: To develop first LAMP assays for mating-type identification in a fungus, in this instance with the saprophytic mould and human opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, a heterothallic ascomycete requiring isolates of opposite mating type (MAT1-1, MAT1-2) for sexual reproduction.

A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay for Rapid and Specific Detection of Airborne Inoculum of Uromyces betae (Sugar Beet Rust).

Sugar beet rust disease (causal agent Uromyces betae) represents a serious threat to worldwide sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) crops, causing yield losses of up to 10% in the United Kingdom. Currently, the disease is managed mainly by application of fungicides after rust disease symptoms appear. Development of a future forecasting system, incorporating data on environmental factors and U.

Three Colletotrichum Species, Including a New Species, are Associated to Leaf Anthracnose of Rubber Tree in Hainan, China.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum have been reported to be causal agents of anthracnose disease of rubber tree. Recent investigations have shown that both C.

Detecting Wheat Powdery Mildew and Predicting Grain Yield Using Unmanned Aerial Photography.

High-resolution aerial imaging with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to quantify wheat powdery mildew and estimate grain yield. Aerial digital images were acquired at Feekes growth stage (GS) 10.5.

Distribution and Fungicide Sensitivity of Colletotrichum Species Complexes from Rubber Tree in Hainan, China.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum species complexes are causal agents of Colletotrichum leaf disease (CLD) of rubber trees worldwide. To determine the geographic distribution of Colletotrichum species complexes associated with CLD of rubber trees in Hainan, China, and their sensitivity to fungicides used in the region, a total of 275 Colletotrichum isolates were collected from 52 rubber tree plantations in 11 counties.

Fungal Communities Including Plant Pathogens in Near Surface Air Are Similar across Northwestern Europe.

Information on the diversity of fungal spores in air is limited, and also the content of airborne spores of fungal plant pathogens is understudied. In the present study, a total of 152 air samples were taken from rooftops at urban settings in Slagelse, DK, Wageningen NL, and Rothamsted, UK together with 41 samples from above oilseed rape fields in Rothamsted. Samples were taken during 10-day periods in spring and autumn, each sample representing 1 day of sampling.

Novel Technologies for the detection of Fusarium head blight disease and airborne inoculum.

Many pathogens are dispersed by airborne spores, which can vary in space and time. We can use air sampling integrated with suitable diagnostic methods to give a rapid warning of inoculum presence to improve the timing of control options, such as fungicides. Air sampling can also be used to monitor changes in genetic traits of pathogen populations such as the race structure or frequency of fungicide resistance.

Detection of powdery mildew in two winter wheat plant densities and prediction of grain yield using canopy hyperspectral reflectance.

To determine the influence of plant density and powdery mildew infection of winter wheat and to predict grain yield, hyperspectral canopy reflectance of winter wheat was measured for two plant densities at Feekes growth stage (GS) 10.5.3, 10.

Alterations in the predicted regulatory and coding regions of the sterol 14α-demethylase gene (CYP51) confer decreased azole sensitivity in the oilseed rape pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae.

The incidence and severity of light leaf spot epidemics caused by the ascomycete fungus Pyrenopeziza brassicae on UK oilseed rape crops are increasing. The disease is currently controlled by a combination of host resistance, cultural practices and fungicide applications. We report decreases in sensitivity of modern UK P.

Evolutionary relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and other Rhynchosporium species on grasses.

The fungal genus Rhynchosporium (causative agent of leaf blotch) contains several host-specialised species, including R. commune (colonising barley and brome-grass), R. agropyri (couch-grass), R.

Simultaneous real-time PCR detection of Fusarium asiaticum, F. ussurianum and F. vorosii, representing the Asian clade of the F. graminearum species complex.

Due to the repeated discovery of new members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), some of the F. graminearum sensu stricto (s.s.

Detection and molecular characterisation of Pyrenopeziza brassicae isolates resistant to methyl benzimidazole carbamates.

Background: Methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) fungicides are used to control the oilseed rape pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae. Resistance to MBCs has been reported in P. brassicae, but the molecular mechanism(s) associated with reductions in sensitivity have not been verified in this species.

Effects of disease control by fungicides on greenhouse gas emissions by U.K. arable crop production.

Background: The U.K. government has published plans to reduce U.