First record of genus leveillula on a member of the moraceae: Leveillula taurica on Ficus carica

A powdery mildew fungus Leveillula taurica (Erysiphales) is reported for the first time on fig tree ( Ficus carica ) (Moraceae) in Sistan region, Iran. One hundred fungal organs including clistothecia, asci, ascospores and conidia, were micrometried by the calibrated Olympus BH2 microscope. All characters of the organs were recorded and drawn using a drawing tube. Conidiophores were with cylindrical foot cells, bearing a single conidium or occasionally with short chains of 2-3 conidia. The fungus produced both primary and secondary conidia. Primary conidia were lanceolate and secondary ones were ellipsoid to cylindrical. Cleistothecia were 160-230 \u3bcm in diameter and cleistothecia appendages were myceliod. There were 20-30 cases in each cleistothecia which were clavate stalked. In each ascus, there were 1-4 ascospores which were ellipsoid-ovoid shaped. On the basis of morphological characters of the anamorph and telemorph, this fungus was identified as Leveillula taurica. This fungi is the second powdery mildew species in addition to Oidium erysipheoide reported for Moraceae. This is also the first report of genus Leveillula on Moraceae in the world making Moraceae the latest host family for Leveillula taurica.Le champignon Leveillula taurica (Erysiphales), mildiou poudreux, a \ue9t\ue9 signal\ue9 pour la premi\ue8re fois sur le figuier ( Ficus carica ) (Moraceae) dans la r\ue9gion de Sistan en Iran. Cent organes fongiques comprenant l\u2019asci, les ascospores et les conidia ont \ue9t\ue9 measur\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019aide d\u2019un microm\ue8tre \ue0 microscope calibr\ue9, l\u2019Olympus BH2. Tous les caract\ue8res des organes ont \ue9t\ue9 enregistr\ue9s et dessin\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019aide d\u2019un tube pour dessin. Les conidiophores avaient des pattes \ue0 cellules cylindriques, munis d\u2019une seule de conidium ou occasionnellement avec des cha\ueenes courtes de 2-3 conidia. Les champignons avaient produit des conidia primaries \ue0 bout en forme de lance, ainsi que des conidia secondaires ellipsoides voire cylindriques. Les cl\ue9istoth\ue8ces avaient un diam\ue8tre de 160-230 \uecm ainsi que des appendices \u201cmyceliod\u201d. Le nombre d\u2019\u201dasci\u201d variait de 20 \ue0 30 dans chaque cl\ue9istoth\ue8ces, et \ue9taient claviformes et p\ue9tiol\ue9s. Les ascospores variaient de 1-4 dans chaque ascus, et \ue9taient en forme ovo\uefde ellipso\uefdale. Sur base des caract\ue8res morphologiques de l\u2019anamorphe et le t\ue9l\ue9morphe, ce champignon \ue9tait identifi\ue9 comme \ue9tant Leveillula taurica. Il est la seconde esp\ue8ce du mildiou podreux, en plus de l\u2019 Oidium erysipheoide reconnu pour Moraceae. Ceci est aussi le premier rapport du g\ue8ne Leveillula sur les Moraceaes dans le monde, faisant du Moraceae la derni\ue8re famille d\u2019acceuil pour Leveillula taurica

Brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum extract-based product, Dalgin Active®, triggers defense mechanisms and confers protection in both bread and durum wheat against Zymoseptoria tritici

International audienceAlternative control strategies are increasingly encouraged to develop sustainable crop protection. In this aim, we assessed the ability of Dalgin Active ® , an Ascophyllum nodosum extract-based product, to induce resistance in bread wheat and durum wheat against Zymoseptoria tritici, a major fungal pathogen on these crops. Foliar application of the product provided a strong and significant reduction of disease intensity on both wheat species without any direct effect against the pathogen. Infection process monitoring revealed that Dalgin Active ® did not prevent fungal epiphytic growth and leaf colonization, but its application results in an inhibition of sporulation as well as fungal cell wall-degrading enzyme and protease activities. During the early stages of infection, Dalgin Active ® activated several plant defense markers on both wheat species, including PR protein, antioxidant metabolism, phenylpropanoid, and octadecanoid-based pathways. Although few differences were recorded, the induced defense reaction patterns were overall similar in both wheat species, suggesting that Dalgin Active ® could be used to biocontrol Z. tritici on both crops

Algae and Cyanobacteria as Biocontrol Agents of Fungal Plant Pathogens

none2noAbstract: Since long time, algae are used in agriculture as soil amendment for their beneficial effects on plant health and productivity. In fact, algae contain several molecules such as plant growth hormones (cytokinins, auxins, abscisic and gibberellic acid), polysaccharides, betaines and micronutrients. The research on algae, their compounds and their effects on plants have started in the middle 1950s and brought to the formulations of liquid products containing extracts with compounds readily available for plants. The algae extracts, besides having effects on plant growth, have demonstrated to improve plant resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Among biotic stresses, algae showed antifungal activity against different pathogens especially of horticultural plants. From the middle of last century, plant management has always been dependent from the market demand that required growing quantity of ‘perfect’ fruits and vegetables over the year. In this scenario, the chemical industry of fertilizers and pesticides developed new products that have been used for years. In particular, pesticides have represented the base of the management of fungal plant pathogens. During the last decades, the use of both pesticides and chemical fertilizers has represented a serious risk for human health and brought disorder of ecosystem equilibrium. Consequently, algae for their biostimulant and antifungal effects may be considered useful tools to reduce the input of chemicals in integrated pest management strategies. In line with these strategies, the European Regulation EC 1107/2009, concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/ EEC and 91/414/EEC, recommends that priority should be given to non-chemical and natural alternatives wherever possible.mixedHillary Righini; Roberta RobertiHillary Righini; Roberta Robert