Infezioni di Cylindrocarpon obtusisporium su piante di vite in Sicilia

Da barbatelle dell'ibrido 225 Ruggeri con sviluppo stentato e imbrunimenti del legno, ai quali corrispondevano accumuli di gomma nei vasi dello xilema, provenienti da un vivaio siciliano, è stata isolata una specie fungina identificata come Cylindrocarpon obtusisporium WOLLENW. Inoculando il fungo su talee dello stesso portinnesto è stata riprodotta la sindrome osservata nelle infezioni naturali e dal legno imbrunito si è potuto poi reisolare tale agente patogeno. Si conclude che i fenomeni di deperimento riscontrati sulle barbatelle di vite in vivaio sono causati da infezioni di C. obtusisporium, specie, a quanto risulta, non ancora segnalata su Vitis.Infections of Cylindrocarpon obtusisporium on grapevines in SicilyA decline of rooted cuttings of the grapevine hybrid 225 Ruggeri, caracterized by stunting, black discoloratìon of the wood and gum inclusions of xylem vessels, has been detected in a Sicilian nursery. A species of fungus, namely C. obtusisporium WOLLENW., has been isolated from the affected tissues. By artificial inoculations carried out on cuttings of the same rootstock, the isolate of C. obtusisporium has induced the syndrome observed in naturally occurring infections. The causal agent has been reisolated on an artificial medium from such affected vines. C. obtusisporium, apparently not yet reported on Vitis, seems to be the causal agent of the decline phenomena observed in the nursery. 

Decay control of cold stored Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan. fruit by pre- and postharvest application of potassium phosphite

The effectiveness of pre- and postharvest application of potassium phosphite against naturally occuring postharvest decay and storage disorders on clementine Monreal fruit (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.) was investigated. Phosphite solutions were applied according to the following experimental protocol: by spraying fruit on the trees (2.5 g/L), at fruit colour breaking and 15 days before harvest; by the combination of preharvest (2.5 g/L) and postharvest dipping application (4 g of a.i./L). Preharvest applications were compared to Phosethyl-Al solution (2.5 g/L) and water control. Decay and disorders were assessed after 30 days of cold storage at 6±1°C and 90-95% RH, followed by 7 days of shelf life at 20±2°C. The combination of pre- and postharvest application of phosphite was more effective in reducing green (Penicillium digitatum Sacc.) and blue mould (P. italicum Weh.) incidence, as compared to water control, but it was not so effective in reducing the incidence of minor decay. Potassium phosphite treatments, before harvest and in pre-postharvest combination, significantly reduced chilling injury and aging with respect to water control. Based on these results, pre and postharvest application of potassium phosphite can be considered a useful strategy to be included in an integrated approach for controlling green and blue mould of citrus fruit in storage

phytophthora cinnamomi involved in the decline of holm oak quercus ilex stands in southern italy

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Polyketide synthases of Diaporthe helianthi and involvement of DhPKS1 in virulence on sunflower

Background The early phases of Diaporthe helianthi pathogenesis on sunflower are characterized by the production of phytotoxins that may play a role in host colonisation. In previous studies, phytotoxins of a polyketidic nature were isolated and purified from culture filtrates of virulent strains of D. helianthi isolated from sunflower. A highly aggressive isolate (7/96) from France contained a gene fragment of a putative nonaketide synthase (lovB) which was conserved in a virulent D. helianthi population. Results In order to investigate the role of polyketide synthases in D. helianthi 7/96, a draft genome of this isolate was examined. We were able to find and phylogenetically analyse 40 genes putatively coding for polyketide synthases (PKSs). Analysis of their domains revealed that most PKS genes of D. helianthi are reducing PKSs, whereas only eight lacked reducing domains. Most of the identified PKSs have orthologs shown to be virulence factors or genetic determinants for toxin production in other pathogenic fungi. One of the genes (DhPKS1) corresponded to the previously cloned D. helianthi lovB gene fragment and clustered with a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) -PKS hybrid/lovastatin nonaketide like A. nidulans LovB. We used DhPKS1 as a case study and carried out its disruption through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in the isolate 7/96. D. helianthi DhPKS1 deleted mutants were less virulent to sunflower compared to the wild type, indicating a role for this gene in the pathogenesis of the fungus. Conclusion The PKS sequences analysed and reported here constitute a new genomic resource that will be useful for further research on the biology, ecology and evolution of D. helianthi and generally of fungal plant pathogens

Colletotrichum clavatum sp. nov. identified as the causal agent of olive anthracnose in Italy

Molecular analyses of a large population of isolates, previously identified as group B or genetic group A4 of the Colletotrichum acutatum species complex, mainly of Italian origin from olive, but also from other hosts collected since 1992, confirmed a well-resolved phylogenetic lineage with distinctive phenotypic characters which can be recognized as a separate species. Based on RAPD genomic fingerprinting, ITS and β-tubulin DNA sequences, this species was clearly distinct from C. acutatum sensu stricto, C. fioriniae and C. simmondsii as well as from the genetic groups A1, A6, A7 and A8, all previously referred to as C. acutatum sensu lato. Group A4 is widespread in Europe, being responsible for olive anthracnose epidemics in some Mediterranean countries, including Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal and Spain; moreover, it causes anthracnose diseases on a wide range of other hosts including about 20 different genera of woody and herbaceous plants, ornamentals and fruit trees. This new anamorphic taxon is described as Colletotrichum clavatum sp. nov

Phytophthora × pelgrandis Causes Root and Collar Rot of Lavandula stoechas in Italy.

In 2007, Phytophthora isolates with atypical morphological and biological characteristics were found associated with root and collar rot of potted plants of Stoechas lavender (Lavandula stoechas) in an ornamental nursery in Italy. A polyphasic approach, including morphological and cultural observations, sequencing the ITS-rDNA region, the Pheca and the mitochondrial coxI genes, multiplex PCRs with primers specific for P. nicotianae or P. cactorum, as well as random amplified polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction, was used to characterize these isolates. On the basis of morpho-cultural and molecular analyses, the isolates from Stoechas lavender were identified as Phytophthora × pelgrandis, a natural hybrid of P. nicotianae × P. cactorum previously reported in other European countries, the Americas, and Taiwan, as a pathogen of ornamentals and loquat plants. In pathogenicity tests using potted plants of Stoechas lavender, the P. × pelgrandis isolates, similarly to the parental species P. nicotianae, induced the symptoms observed on plants with natural infections and were reisolated only from artificially inoculated plants. Dispersal of P. × pelgrandis on this host could exacerbate the damage caused by Phytophthora root and collar rot, of which the main causal agent presently is P. nicotianae on lavender in Europe. Application of hygienic measures is important to reduce the proliferation and spread of the Phytophthora hybrids

Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries in nursing students: Development of the SNNIP scale

© 2020 The Authors. Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Aim: To develop an instrument to investigate knowledge and predictive factors of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students during clinical placements. Design: Instrument development and cross-sectional study for psychometric testing. Methods: A self-administered instrument including demographic data, injury epidemiology and predictive factors of NSIs was developed between October 2018–January 2019. Content validity was assessed by a panel of experts. The instrument's factor structure and discriminant validity were explored using principal components analysis. The STROBE guidelines were followed. Results: Evidence of content validity was found (S-CVI 0.75; I-CVI 0.50–1.00). A three-factor structure was shown by exploratory factor analysis. Of the 238 participants, 39% had been injured at least once, of which 67.3% in the second year. Higher perceptions of “personal exposure” (4.06, SD 3.78) were reported by third-year students. Higher scores for “perceived benefits” of preventive behaviours (13.6, SD 1.46) were reported by second-year students