• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 2015

Spot blotch caused by the hemibiotrophic pathogen Cochliobolus sativus has been the major yield-reducing factor for barley production during the last decade. Monitoring transcriptional reorganization triggered in response to this fungus is an essential first step for the functional analysis of genes involved in the process. To characterize the defense responses initiated by barley resistant and susceptible cultivars, a survey of transcript abundance at early time points of C. sativus inoculation was conducted. A notable number of transcripts exhibiting significant differential accumulations in the resistant and susceptible cultivars were detected compared to the non-inoculated controls. At the p-value of 0.0001, transcripts were divided into three general categories; defense, regulatory and unknown function, and the resistant cultivar had the greatest number of common transcripts at different time points. Quantities of differentially accumulated gene transcripts in both cultivars were identified at 24 h post infection, the approximate time when the pathogen changes trophic lifestyles. The unique and common accumulated transcripts might be of considerable interest for enhancing effective resistance to C. sativus.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.421-423
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• 2010

New sources of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) resistant to spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, are needed to provide effective resistance because of the rapid change pathotype patterns of C. sativus in fields. The purposes of our study were to develop a method to screen barley for resistance to spot blotch disease and then use this methodology to screen barley genotypes for resistance to the major virulent pathotype Pt4 in barley populations in Syria. A transparent tape method, in which a conidial suspension of C. sativus was dropped onto transparent tape and placed, treated-side down, on the second leaf surface of barley plants. Disease symptoms of fungus were easily detected on the leaves covered by the transparent tape after 48h of inoculation. The transparent tape method was repeatable and the disease scores obtained were correlated (r = 0.91, P = 0.001) with those obtained by the seedling assay. This method may be beneficial in various plant pathology breeding programs.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.451-453
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• 2013

Common root rot caused by Cochliobolus sativus is a serious disease of barley. A simple and reliable method for assessing this disease would enhance our capacity in identifying resistance sources and developing resistant barley cultivars. In searching for such a method, a conidial suspension of C. sativus was dropped onto sterilized elongated subcrown internodes and incubated in sandwich filter paper using polyethylene transparent envelopes. Initial disease symptoms were easily detected after 48h of inoculation. Highly significant correlation coefficients were found in each experiment (A, B and C) between sandwich filter paper and seedling assays, indicating that this testing procedure was reliable. The method presented facilitates a rapid pre-selection under uniform conditions which is of importance from a breeder's point of view.

• Mycobiology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2003

The primary objective of the current research was to detect genetic variations within the Indonesian isolates of Cochliobolus heterostrophus collected from ecologically different places of the country at molecular level using PCR-RFLP analyses. The primer pair of NS3 and NS6 produced amplification fragment in all of the isolates tested. A single fragment of estimated 907 bp was observed in the PCR product pattern. RFLP analysis of the PCR product employing three restriction enzymes, HaeIII, HhaI, and RsaI, respectively, did not reveal intraspecific variations within the fungus. Similarly, nucleotide sequences of portion of small subunit of the ribosomal DNA gene of two of the isolates collected showed no appreciable differences, indicating the absence of genetic diversities among the isolates tested. A phylogenetic tree was constructed and the Indonesian C. heterostrophus, represented by SM-1 isolate, was found to be phylogenetically located near C. sativus, a closely related species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-117
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• 1992

Chemotactic responses of five motile saprophytic and one phytopathogenic bacteria e.g. Agrobacterium radiobacter, Bacillus subtilis, B. polymyxa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and Xanthomonas malvacearum towards exudate of Cochliobolus sativus conidia, Fusarium of oxysporum f. sp. ciceri chlamydospores, Macrophomina phaseolina sclerotia and Phytophthora drechsleri f. sp. cajani oospores were determined in vitro at different abiotic conditions. In general, a positive correlation (r=0.76 to 0.89; P=0.05) was observed between concentration of fungal exudates and attraction of bacterial cells. Similarly, a significant (P=0.05; r=+0.82 to 0.95) positive correlation was noticed between chemotactic response and incubation period. The chemotactic response of bacteria was greatly influenced by temperature and pH of the test fungal exudate. The optimum temperature for maximum chemotaxis was $25^{\circ}C$ for A. radiobacter, $30^{\circ}C$ for B. polymyxa, P. aerugionosa, P. fluorescens and X. malvacearum and $35^{\circ}C$ for B. subtilis. Fungal exudates maintained at pH 7 attracted maximum number of bacteria. The response of bacterial cells to exudates at pH 3 and 11 was not significantly (P=0.05) different than that to the buffer (control). Chemotaxis of bacteria was observed towards attractants (fungal propagules and their exudates) when they were kept apart and bridged with the capillaries filled with non-attractant (buffer) or attractant (exudate).

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.328-332
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• 2002

Wheat samples showing typical spot blotch symptoms on stems and sheaths were collected from the field after physiological maturity, and were sealed in paper bags and stored in the laboratory at room temperature to study the survival of Bipolaris sorokiniana conidia on wheat straw. The materials were observed at monthly intervals to assess the conidia viability during storage. After 4 months, the frequency of individual conidia already present on wheat straw at the time of sampling was reduced and appeared to be progressively replaced by the formation of round structures consist-ing of conidia aggregates. After 5 months, distinct, individual conidia were no longer detected, and only 'clumps of conidia' were observed. These dark black aggregates or 'clumps of conidia’measured 157-170$\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter and were grouped into boat-shaped olivacious conidia showing thick wall and measuring 50-82$\times$20-30$\mu\textrm{m}$. The germination was unipolar and below 0.5%, suggesting the occurrence of dormancy, In contrast, individual conidium produced on wheat during the growing season were 96-130$\times$16-20$\mu\textrm{m}$, slightly curved, hyaline to light pale, and euseptate with a bipolar germination reaching 98-100%. Bipolaris sorokiniana conidia produced on PDA were 55-82$\times$20-27$\mu\textrm{m}$, tapered at both ends, dark brown to olivacious, distoseptate, showed up to 1% germination, and were predominantly unipolar. Results of the present study suggest that B. sorokiniana conidia belonged to two different physiological categories corresponding to the pathogen's infection phase and its survival, respectively. The infection phase is characterized by a high germination percentage as opposed to the survival phase harboring apparent dormancy.