First report of a γ 3-proteobacterium associated with diseased strawberries in Italy

International audienc

Il giallume europeo delle drupacee su albicocco in Emilia-Romagna: il punto sulla situazione attuale.

E' stata valutata l'evoluzione del giallume europeo delle drupacee (ESFY) in albicoccheti dell'Emilia Romagna dal 2007 ad oggi, mediante rilievi periodici e saggi molecolari con la tecnica della Real time PCR. E'stato studiato il ciclo biologico di Cacopsylla pruni, vettore del fitoplasma responsabile della malattia, infine sono state effettuate prove di valutazione sulla sensibilit\ue0 a ESFY delle combinazioni variet\ue0/portinnesto pi\uf9 diffuse in Emilia-Romagna. I risultati ottebuti mostrano un incremento della malattia che ha raggiunto un incidenza del 4% nelle 1630 piante oggetto della prova; i danni pi\uf9 gravi sono stati riscontrati: 1) in aziende con presenza di piante con et\ue0 superiore ai 10 anni, di variet\ue0 particolarmente suscettibili, 2) su piante innestate su "GF 677", 3) in aziende ubicate vicino fasce boscose con abbondante prugnolo. Individui di C. pruni sono stati catturati in numerose aziende, le popolazioni catturate sono di bassa entit\ue0 anche se la percentuale di insetti infetti dal fitoplasma \ue8 risultata superiore al 10% in tutte le annate. I dati ottenuti sulla sensibilit\ue0 mostrano come la maggior parte delle cultivar presenti mosrti un preoccupante livello di sensibilit\ue0 alla malattia; sono cos\uec in corso ulteriori prove di valutazione di nuove variet\ue0 che possano associare elevati parametri qualitativi a una scarsa sensibilit\ue0 alla malattia

Recovery phenomena in Japanese plum trees grafted with apricot that stably recovered from european stone fruit yellows

European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) is the most destructive phytoplasmas disease of apricot and Japanese plum in Europe. All conventional preventive defence strategies have been ineffective in the past, however it has been demonstrated that individual plants can recover from the disease, behaving as completely tolerant to ESFY. The status of tolerance seems transmissible by grafting, so investigations about the possibility to transmit this status from visually recovered apricot to Japanese plums in the field, under high ESFY-infection pressure were carried out

Viral infections in one collection field of pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Italy.

Pomegranate has gained considerable popularity in many countries worldwide due to its health benefits. The competitive nature of fruit marketing forces improving the quality attributes, while keeping yield at an optimum level. To pursue this objective, in 2012 in the Ravenna province of the Emilia Romagna region (Italy) was established one coll ection field, wherein 57 cvs. from different countries of the world are maintained. As pomegranate is propagated by hardwood cuttings, healthy propagation material is required to avoid virus epidemics. We therefore focused our research on this collection field, which may play a pivotal role to spread new pomegranate propagation material. Moreover, we recently reported cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) in the collection field and in a consistent amount of ornamental pomegranate plants in public gardens in Bologna (almost 10% of the analyzed samples, two expressing leaf deformation symptoms). Field inspections during spring 2015 showed several cvs. exhibiting virus-like symptoms on the leaves such as calico mosaic, chlorotic rings and malformations suggesting infection by some viral agent. Serological (ELISA) and molecular analysis (RT-PCR) are ongoing on leaf extracts from all 57 cvs., most symptomless, in order to detect the presence of several viruses such as: alfa alfa mosaic virus (AMV), arabis mosic virus (ArMV), CLRV, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRV), tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV) and tomato ringspot virus (ToRSV)

First detection of Tomato Ringspot Virus in pomegranate plants.

Cuttings of Punica granatum for fruit production and ornamental usage have been introduced in accordance with EC directives in the Emilia-Romagna region from the USDA/ARS clonal germplasm repository (California) due to the increasing of pomegranate production all over the Italian territory. This planting material, before its delivering throughout the territory, was subjected to specific analysis in order to ensure a proper sanitary selection. Samples from symptomatic (yellowing, deformation or discoloration of leaves) and symptomless pomegranate trees were tested by ELISA assay using antibodies specific for several viruses affecting fruit crops. In many samples Tomato Ringspot Virus (ToRSV, EPPO A2 list) was detected and its infection confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Biological characterization of the viral isolates was carried out. Buds were grafted into indicator peach rootstocks and sap from symptomatic tissues was mechanically inoculated onto herbaceous test plants on which typical symptoms of chlorotic ringspot, necrotic lesions, wilting and leaf curling were observed. Phylogenetic analysis revelead high sequence identity of RNA1 and RNA2 3'UTR regions of 4 pomegranate isolates. Official phytosanitary measures have been taken to eradicate the disease. All pomegranate plants of US origins have been uprooted and destroyed. These measures were aimed to avoid the ToRSV diffusion, with the intent to prevent the virus establishment in our territory where it would be harmful not only to pomegranates but also to other economically important fruit crops, as it is happening in USA

New insights into kiwifruits-infecting viruses in Italy

In Italy, for protecting kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) production by restraining the spread of new and harmful diseases on both nurseries and orchards, a specific Decree has been issued by the Italian Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Forest Policies (Decree 7th February 2011 \u2013 published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic n. 69, 25th March 2011). According to this Decree, primary source material must be free, at least, from 6 different virus species: Actinidia virus A (AVA), Alfa alfa mosaic virus (AMV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), Citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV), and also from the Stolbur phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma solanii). Deeper information on biological and molecular proprieties of kiwifruit viruses is therefore necessary to ensure the development of diagnostic tools for a rapid, sensitive and reliable analysis of kiwifruit vegetative propagation material. A CMV isolate (K35) has been recently identified in kiwifruit plants collected in the Emilia Romagna (northern Italy). A deep molecular characterization of this isolate has been developed in order to establish the virus origin. Moreover agroinfectious K35 clones have been produced with the purpose to infect new kiwifruit plants on which to perform studies on natural transmission of the virus and evaluate performances of developed detection methodologies. New viral isolates have been identified during survey carried out in 2011. Molecular characterization is in progress, but these new reports suggest that viral infections occur more extensively than expected on Italian kiwifruit nurseries and orchards

Primi interventi contro il virus del melograno.

Dato il grande interesse che la coltura del melograno st\ue0 riscuotendo negli ultimi anni ,in Italia ed in particolare nella nostra regione, il Servizio fitosanitario regionale in collaborazione con i ricercatori del DIPsA di Bologna, ha avviato un monitoraggio del melograno in campi e vivai per capire se sono presenti organismi nocivi in grado di arrecare danni alla coltura o di diffondersi in altre specie. Nel 2013 sono cos\uec iniziate le indagini di campo e le ricerche di laboratorio mediante analisi sierologiche e molecolari per accertare la presenza su questa specie di agenti di malattie infettive, quali virus e fitoplasmi. Sono cos\uec state ispezionate piante in moltiplicazione presso alcuni vivai, nonch\ue9 altre presenti i collezioni varietali per il miglioramento genetico; controllati anche impianti produttivi e piante utilizzate per scopi ornamentali. In alcuni casi sono stati individuati sia in primavera che in autunno, sintomi sospetti attribuibili a virus quali: ingiallimenti, scolorazioni perinervali, deformazioni del lembo ed arrossamenti. Per la prima volta nel 2013 su alcuni melograni ornamentali \ue8 stato individuato il virus dell'accartocciamento fogliare del ciliegio (cherry leaf roll virus, CLRV), molto diffuso nei nostri areali su piante di noce e sambuco. Nel 2015, su diverse piante di origine americana, \ue8 stata invece accertata la presenza del virus della maculatura anulare del pomodoro (tomato ring spot virus, ToRSV); ben 62 campioni sono risultati positivi: si tratta di un organismo da quarantena in Europa, ubiquitario in USA, ma mai trovato in precedenza in melograno. Pu\uf2 causare deperimento e stentata crescita in molte specie come la vite, il melo, il pesco, il susino, il ciliegio, la fragola, il pomodoro, il geranio. Si trasmette per polline e per seme e con specifici nematodi vettori, fino ad oggi mai identificati in Italia. In seguito al ritrovamento di questo virus tutte le piante di melograno dei lotti risultati positivi sono cos\uec state estirpate e distrutte, le possibili piante ospiti limitrofe sono state ispezionate a campione, risultando tutte negative. Anche le analisi effettuate nel terreno circostante le piante infette alla ricerca del nematode vettore, non hanno dato risultato positivo. L'intento \ue8 quello di impedire che tale virus si insedi nel nostro territorio, dove risulterebbe dannoso non solo per il melograno, ma anche per tutte le altre specie arboree da reddito, come gi\ue0 avviene negli USA, dove \ue8 annoverato fra le principali avversit\ue0 di molte colture. le ricerche sui virus e fitoplasmi del melograno saranno approfondite anche nel prossimo futuro, rivolgendo particolare attenzione alla filiera vivaistica

Presence and spread of stone fruit viruses in Northern Italy

Stone fruit cultivation is very important in the Emilia-Romagna region, as well as in other areas in Northern Italy, in particular in the Trento Province, where extension of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) orchards has been recently increased. Symptoms of fruit necrosis and deformation, necrotic lesions and spots on leaves were observed in both regions. For this reason, regional Plant Protection Services (PPS) carried out a detailed survey in orchards and nurseries in order to avoid the spread of dangerous viral diseases that can cause quality losses and plant decline of fruit trees. During the recent five years, 5480 stone fruit samples were analyzed by ELISA or RT-PCR in the Virology laboratory of PPS, in order to detect Plum pox virus (PPV), Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), Prune dwarf virus (PDV) and Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), both in symptomatic and symptomless samples. Peach cultivars represent the main group of samples (3262), and one third of these were infected by PPV (1008). PPV was the most prevalent infectious agent also in apricot and plum, but it was not detected on cherry. Cherry samples, collected in orchards where fruit showed deformations and discoloration, were found positive for PDV, PNRSV and/or ACLSV. Furthermore, the flexiviridae Cherry virus A (CVA) and Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV), and the foveavirus Little cherry virus 1 (LChV-1) were also discovered by analyses performed in the Virology Lab of the University of Bologna, using RT-PCR. In Trento Province, the same symptoms on cherry fruit were observed in 2015 and 2016 and a proper investigation was carried out to evaluate the presence of viruses infecting the cherry trees. Samples collected in 13 different orchards (399 in total) were analyzed by ELISA in the Fondazione Edmund Mach Virology Laboratory, resulting in mainly presence of ACLSV and PNRSV. CVA was detected by RT-PCR in some sample

Involvement of the nitric oxide system in the anti-atherosclerotic potential of lacidipine in the ApoE-deficient mouse: a morphological, functional, and electrochemical study.

The present study investigated the anti-atherosclerotic activity of lacidipine, a calcium antagonist with antioxidant properties in apoE-deficient mice. These mice show widespread vascular lesions which closely resemble the inflammatory-fibrous plaques seen in humans in atherosclerosis. Mice were fed a Western-type diet (WTD), and treated for 8 weeks with either vehicle or lacidipine at 3 or 10 mg/kg/day. In parallel with histological studies of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta, functional studies on vascular acetylcholine (ACh) reactivity and analysis of voltammetric levels of nitric oxide (NO) were performed. Recent work has suggested that dihydropyridines (DHPs) modulate vascular relaxation via an increase in the release of NO. Lacidipine treatment had no effect on the plasma lipid profile. However, a significant (p < 0.01) dose-related reduction of 36.4% and 43.3% of the aortic lesion area in respect to methocel-treated mice was observed. Moreover, the aortic ring from control apoE-deficient mice fed a WTD for 8 weeks showed a lower relaxation in response to ACh in comparison to wild-type C57BL/6J mice; on the contrary, lacidipine-treated apoE-deficient mice lacidipine-treated displayed a response similar to that of wildtype C57BL/6J mice. Voltammetric analyses demonstrated a significant decrease of NO release in apoE-deficient mice, while lacidipine-treated mice showed enhanced activity of the NO system. We conclude that lacidipine reduced the extent of atherosclerotic area in hypercholesterolemic apoE-deficient mice, and this reduction may be associated with the capacity of the drug to maintain endothelial NO levels at concentrations useful to protect against vascular damage