Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-101).

This study addressed the possibility of rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe grisea) as a potential bioherbicide for the control of crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), in turf/lawn plantings. Experiments were: (i) evaluation of the effect of bioherbicide inoculum dosage (titer) on disease severity in crabgrass; (ii) competition between crabgrass and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. 'Fawn') and the additive effect of rice blast bioherbicide on the competitiveness of crabgrass; (iii) survival of rice blast spores under non-conducive infection conditions on crabgrass; and (iv) effect of multiple inoculations of rice blast fungus and subsequent disease on crabgrass.Spore concentrations of 5 x 105 to 1 x 106 conidia/mI had no significant difference in effect on mean biomass reduction of treated crabgrass. All produced tissue death and loss of vigor in treated crabgrass, but no plant death. In one trial, a spore concentration of 2 x 106 conidia/ml produced 100% biomass loss in treated crabgrass.Competition studies indicated crabgrass will out-compete fescue 'Fawn' in plots of equal numbers of each plant, i.e., 3 fescue and 3 crabgrass. In 10 x 10 cm mini-lawns of fescue interspersed with 5 crabgrass plants, fescue will out-compete the crabgrass. In mini-lawns of fescue and crabgrass, infection of crabgrass with non-lethal doses of rice blast fungus improved fescue's ability to out-compete crabgrass. Three methods of investigating competition were tested. Mini-lawns sown with 0.5 g fescue seed (approx. 200 seeds) with crabgrass seed sown into centers of the four quadrants and in center of the mini-lawn, worked best.Survival of Magnaporthe grisea conidia under non-conducive conditions was tested by drying inoculated crabgrass seedlings for 0-48 hours prior to dew-deposition. Treatments verified spores remain viable at least 24 hours on crabgrass leaves under greenhouse conditions (25-40° C and 25-75% relative humidity).Two successive inoculations (at 3 days and 7 days after primary inoculation) of crabgrass with M. grisea conidia (5 x 105 conidia/ml) resulted in significant reduction in growth compared to a single spore application.Results suggested Magnaporthe grisea exhibits potential for future development as a commercial bioherbicide to control crabgrass (Digitaria sanquinalis). Current studies investigated integration in lawn grass, but should be applicable to situations anywhere crabgrass is considered a weed e.g., in corn (Zea mans) or soybeans (Glycine max). / Department of Biology

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2006 June 1.

A cultura de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) é a segunda maior do mundo e o Brasil ocupa o segundo lugar de produção na América do sul. Entretanto, a produtividade desta cultura pode ser limitada devido à ocorrência de doenças como a brusone, causada pelo fungo Pyricularia grisea e a doença denominada giberela, causada pelo fungo Fusarium graminearum Populações bacterianas associadas à rizosfera de trigo podem apresentar potencial como agentes de controle biológico de diferentes fitopatógenos. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa foi direcionada ao estudo da composição da comunidade bacteriana rizosférica do trigo e a busca por micro-organismos com potencial para o controle biológico da brusone e da giberela. Assim, para melhor compreensão das comunidades associadas ao trigo, foram realizadas coletas em duas regiões diferentes no Brasil, sendo possível a obtenção de 606 estirpes entre bactérias e actinobactérias da rizosfera do trigo e de solo de cultivo da mesma cultura. Destas, 16 apresentaram, em testes in vitro, potencial antagonista diante dos fungos fitopatogênicos Pyricularia grisea e Fusarium graminearum com diferentes porcentagens de inibição. Dez dos isolados selecionados apresentaram similaridade com a família Streptomycetaceae, porém, quatro linhagens necessitam de estudos mais detalhados, pois a similaridade foi baixa, podendo indicar uma espécie ainda não descrita; quatro linhagens demonstraram similaridade com a família Bacillaceae e dois com a família Paenibacillaceae. Na avaliação de produção de metabólitos secundários com efeito inibitório, apenas dez apresentam potencial, porém estudos mais detalhados se fazem necessários para a confirmação deste mecanismo. A análise de diversidade bacteriana demonstrou uma maior abundância do filo Actinobacteria, seguido pelo filo Proteobacteria e Acidobacteria em ambas as áreas amostradas, entretanto, o filo Acidobacteria foi o que demonstrou a maior variação entre as classes presentes nas diferentes regiões estudadas, indicando uma seleção da comunidade de acordo com a variedade do cultivar e o estádio de desenvolvimento do vegetal. A comunidade bacteriana de trigo apresenta micro-organismos com potencial para a inibição dos fungos causadores da brusone e da giberela, porém o efeito destas linhagens deve ser melhor investigado em condições de campo. A compreensão das comunidades bacterianas associadas ao trigo pode se apresentar como uma importante ferramenta para direcionar a busca por antagonistas. / Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the second largest crop in the world and Brazil is in the second position in the ranking of production in South America. However, its productivity can be limited due to the occurrence of diseases like wheat blast, caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea and the disease called Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum. Bacterial populations associated to wheat rhizosphere may have potential to act as biological control agents of different plant pathogens. In this context, this research aimed to look at wheat rhizosphere bacterial community and the pursuit of microorganisms with potential for the biological control of wheat blast and FHB. Given this, in order to study wheat bacterial communities, data collection was carried out in two different regions in Brazil, returning 606 bacterial and actinomycetes isolates from wheat rhizosphere and bulk soil. Among these,, 16 strains revealed antagonistic potential against both plant pathogens Pyricularia grisea and Fusarium graminearum, with different percentages of inhibition. Ten strains were selected out of the 16 and showed similarity with the family Streptomycetaceae, whereas four of them displayed a low similarity, requiring a deeper analysis and might indicate new species. Four isolates showed similarity with the family Bacillaceae and two with the family Paenibacillaceae. On the assessment of production of secondary metabolites with inhibitory effects, only ten strains were positive, but more detailed studies are necessary to confirm this mechanism. The analysis of bacterial diversity revealed a larger abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria, followed by the phylum Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria in both areas, however, the phylum Acidobacteria revealed more variation among its classes when both araes were compared, indicating a selection of the community according to the cultivar and the developmental stage. Wheat bacterial community presents microorganism with inhibition potential against fungi responsible for wheat blast and FHB, yet the effect of such strains should be investigated closely under field conditions. The understanding of bacterial communities associated to wheat may be seen as an important tool to help in the search for antagonists.

A cultura de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) é a segunda maior do mundo e o Brasil ocupa o segundo lugar de produção na América do sul. Entretanto, a produtividade desta cultura pode ser limitada devido à ocorrência de doenças como a brusone, causada pelo fungo Pyricularia grisea e a doença denominada giberela, causada pelo fungo Fusarium graminearum Populações bacterianas associadas à rizosfera de trigo podem apresentar potencial como agentes de controle biológico de diferentes fitopatógenos. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa foi direcionada ao estudo da composição da comunidade bacteriana rizosférica do trigo e a busca por micro-organismos com potencial para o controle biológico da brusone e da giberela. Assim, para melhor compreensão das comunidades associadas ao trigo, foram realizadas coletas em duas regiões diferentes no Brasil, sendo possível a obtenção de 606 estirpes entre bactérias e actinobactérias da rizosfera do trigo e de solo de cultivo da mesma cultura. Destas, 16 apresentaram, em testes in vitro, potencial antagonista diante dos fungos fitopatogênicos Pyricularia grisea e Fusarium graminearum com diferentes porcentagens de inibição. Dez dos isolados selecionados apresentaram similaridade com a família Streptomycetaceae, porém, quatro linhagens necessitam de estudos mais detalhados, pois a similaridade foi baixa, podendo indicar uma espécie ainda não descrita; quatro linhagens demonstraram similaridade com a família Bacillaceae e dois com a família Paenibacillaceae. Na avaliação de produção de metabólitos secundários com efeito inibitório, apenas dez apresentam potencial, porém estudos mais detalhados se fazem necessários para a confirmação deste mecanismo. A análise de diversidade bacteriana demonstrou uma maior abundância do filo Actinobacteria, seguido pelo filo Proteobacteria e Acidobacteria em ambas as áreas amostradas, entretanto, o filo Acidobacteria foi o que demonstrou a maior variação entre as classes presentes nas diferentes regiões estudadas, indicando uma seleção da comunidade de acordo com a variedade do cultivar e o estádio de desenvolvimento do vegetal. A comunidade bacteriana de trigo apresenta micro-organismos com potencial para a inibição dos fungos causadores da brusone e da giberela, porém o efeito destas linhagens deve ser melhor investigado em condições de campo. A compreensão das comunidades bacterianas associadas ao trigo pode se apresentar como uma importante ferramenta para direcionar a busca por antagonistas. / Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the second largest crop in the world and Brazil is in the second position in the ranking of production in South America. However, its productivity can be limited due to the occurrence of diseases like wheat blast, caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea and the disease called Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum. Bacterial populations associated to wheat rhizosphere may have potential to act as biological control agents of different plant pathogens. In this context, this research aimed to look at wheat rhizosphere bacterial community and the pursuit of microorganisms with potential for the biological control of wheat blast and FHB. Given this, in order to study wheat bacterial communities, data collection was carried out in two different regions in Brazil, returning 606 bacterial and actinomycetes isolates from wheat rhizosphere and bulk soil. Among these,, 16 strains revealed antagonistic potential against both plant pathogens Pyricularia grisea and Fusarium graminearum, with different percentages of inhibition. Ten strains were selected out of the 16 and showed similarity with the family Streptomycetaceae, whereas four of them displayed a low similarity, requiring a deeper analysis and might indicate new species. Four isolates showed similarity with the family Bacillaceae and two with the family Paenibacillaceae. On the assessment of production of secondary metabolites with inhibitory effects, only ten strains were positive, but more detailed studies are necessary to confirm this mechanism. The analysis of bacterial diversity revealed a larger abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria, followed by the phylum Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria in both areas, however, the phylum Acidobacteria revealed more variation among its classes when both araes were compared, indicating a selection of the community according to the cultivar and the developmental stage. Wheat bacterial community presents microorganism with inhibition potential against fungi responsible for wheat blast and FHB, yet the effect of such strains should be investigated closely under field conditions. The understanding of bacterial communities associated to wheat may be seen as an important tool to help in the search for antagonists.

Tobacco phylloplanins (T-phylloplanin) are a group of closely-related glycoproteins that are formed and disposed at the interface between the plant aerial surface (the phylloplane) and the atmosphere. They are synthesized in short procumbent trichomes and are secreted to aerial surfaces where they are thought to serve the plant as a first line of defense against fungal pathogens. Here it is shown using in vitro and in planta assays that tobacco and sunflower phylloplanins have broad-spectrum antifungal activities against spores - and also hyphae for two species - of several true fungi. Field tests show that T-phylloplanin reduces diseases caused by three important fungal pathogens of turf grasses. Tobacco phylloplanins are distinct proteins but they have properties in common with small, membrane-pore-forming, antimicrobial peptides formed by other organisms. To directly determine if T-phylloplanin has pore-forming activity we monitored conductivity change and specific ion leakage from spores and hyphae in suspension. Results indicate that phylloplanin causes fungal membrane disruption that leads to ion depletion and cell death. Having observed broad efficacy of T-phylloplanin against spores and/or hyphae of several true fungi, but no activity towards hyphae of the oomycetes, Pythium and Peronospora parasitica, we tested for possible effects on zoospores of the latter two pathogens. T-phylloplanin was shown to be effective against their zoospores, extending the efficacy of T-phylloplanin to include water molds. In the course of these experiments we also tested the effects of the diterpene cis-abienol that is secreted from tall trichomes of tobaccos and found this compound impacted zoospores and could prevent black shank disease caused by P. parasitica when applied to soil-grown tobaccos as a root drench. Thus, results of these studies with phylloplanins and cis-abienol, two different tobacco surface accumulated compounds are consistent with their serving the plant as first line of defense systems against a wide array of invading fungal pathogens. Phylloplanins and cis-abienol may be useful for controlling fungal diseases in tobacco float beds. The efficacy shown here for T-phylloplanin control of fungal pathogens of turf grasses in the field suggests that this natural product may find use in IPM of turf and other crops.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-71).

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-88).

Finger millet is the second most important cereal in Uganda after maize. The yields however, have remained low due to several constraints, such as finger millet blast disease and limited technology options. Therefore breeding investigations were conducted to determine farmer preferred traits, genetic variation, combining ability and genetic effects for head blast disease and head shapes, and other quantitative traits in finger millet. Among other traits, farmers preferred high grain yield potential, brown seed colour, compact head shape, tolerance to blast disease, high tillering ability, medium plant height, early maturity, tolerance to shattering and ease of threshing in new finger millet varieties. Path coefficient analysis indicated that the most important traits were grain mass head-1, tillering ability and reaction to head blast disease. Overall, the high heritabilities and genetic advance (GA) as a percentage of mean revealed the existence of variability which can be utilised through selection and/or hybridisation. The genotype x environment interaction (GEI) and stability analysis showed significant differences due to genotypes (58%), environments (10%) and GEI (32%). Twelve genotypes that combined high yield potential and stability were identified for advancement in the program. Both general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant for most traits, but GCA effects were more important for all the traits except for number of fingers head-1, finger width and panicle width. The Hayman genetic analysis confirmed importance of additive gene action for most of the traits and that additive-dominance model was adequate for explaining genetic variation in finger millet. The results also indicated that yield was controlled by recessive genes whereas blast resistance was controlled by dominant genes. At least two genes, probably three gene pairs and their interactions seemed to control head shape in finger millet. The interactions observed suggest recessive and dominant epistasis, and probably an inhibitor were involved. Seemingly, the gene for curving of fingers, when present in a dominant form prohibits opening of the heads; whereas the recessive form leads to open head shape irrespective of the gene conditions in the other loci. This study forms the baseline for future investigations and the basis for devising breeding strategy on finger millet head shapes. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) productivity in East Africa has remained low in all production agro-ecologies for decades owing to the low yielding potential of existing that are susceptible to the blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr. and the limited research on the crop. The region holds large finger millet germpasm collections whose value is not yet been fully exploited. However, with the ongoing breeding efforts through hybridization, there is a need to comprehensively characterize the germplasm to identify valuable traits to address biotic and abiotic stresses that affect finger millet productivity. Studies on gene action and inheritance of key traits that contribute to yield improvement are also required to help formulate an effective breeding strategy for finger millet improvement. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the genetic diversity in a set of germplasm from East Africa (ii) determine association between grain yield and its component traits (iii) identify genotypes for target production agro-ecologies (iv) identify blast resistant finger millet genotypes for use in breeding and production and (v) generate information on the inheritance of blast, grain yield and yield components for the development of an effective breeding strategy. A total of 340 finger millet accessions were collected from three countries in East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and 80 global minicore accessions sourced from ICRISAT-India. High phenotypic variability in the germplasm was recorded for 23 quantitative traits, blast reaction and five qualitative traits. Both morphological and molecular characterization (using SSR markers) of the 340 accessions revealed higher diversity within than among the countries Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Seven morphological clusters and three major genetic clusters were detected. Morphological diversity delineation was largely influenced by leaf sheath length, plant height, peduncle length, panicle exertion and grain yield. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 19 polymorphic markers was 0.606 with mean alleles of 195 with sizes that ranged from 148-474 base pairs. The Kenyan and Tanzanian accessions had higher diversity than the Ugandan with the Kenyan and Ugandan, and the Kenyan and Tanzanian accessions being closely related than the Tanzanian and Ugandan. The low diversity in the Ugandan accessions could be attributed to higher research intervention in the country leading to the promotion and use of improved cultivars. Efforts have to be directed towards collection and conservation of valuable diversity before it is lost. The diversity in plant height, maturity, yield and blast reaction and the cluster groups detected in the germplasm should provide a basis for finger millet improvement through hybridization and selection. Higher genotypic than phenotypic correlations were recorded for most of the traits studied with grain yield having high positive correlations with finger width, grains per spikelet, threshing percent, peduncle length and panicle exertion. Both grain yield and days to flowering had negative correlations with all three blast types (leaf, neck and finger). Path coefficient analysis revealed that productive tillers per plant, 1000 grain mass, grains per spikelet and threshing percent had positive direct genetic effects on grain yield with strong indirect effects from several of the other traits which necessitates simultaneous selection for those traits with strong direct effects and those with strong indirect effects for grain yield improvement. High broad sense heritability estimates and high genetic advance as percent of mean were recorded in fingers per panicle, flag leaf sheath length, 1000 grain mass, finger length, peduncle length, panicle exertion, number of leaves per plant and leaf sheath length probably indicating the predominance of additive gene effects in controlling these traits hence the potential for improvement through selection. Adaptation and stability analysis using the GGE biplot model identified Lanet 2012 long rains, Serere 2012 long rains and Miwaleni 2012 long rains as the most discriminating environments for the low temperature, sub-humid mid altitude and dry lowland areas, respectively. Alupe 2012 long rains was the ideal environment for genotype discrimination for blast while Lanet 2012 long rains was best for grain yield. Genotypes G3, G5, G17, G25, G28, G36 and G71 were identified as being stable across environments and G1, G18, G19, G37, G54, G61, G74, G75, and G77 were found ideal for specific adaptation. Disease severity scores were highly negatively (P<0.01) correlated with days to flowering and grain yield suggesting that early lines suffered more disease damage leading to reduced yield. Resistant genotypes were slow blasting (probably associated with horizontal resistance) which may enable them to withstand blast pathogen variability for longer periods. Nine genotypes were identified with high resistance to blast and will be useful for breeding as blast resistance sources. Resistant genotypes had low AUDPC values and disease severity rating for the three blast types and vice-versa for susceptible genotypes. Further investigations need to be carried out to determine the possibility of the three blast types being controlled by the same genes. Early maturing blast susceptible genotypes with good yield potential could be utilized in areas with low blast prevalence. To understand the gene action for inheritance of the various traits 16 F2 families plus their four female and four male parents were evaluated at Alupe and Kakamega western Kenya under artificial blast inoculation. Significant additive genetic effects were recorded for all traits (except for finger width and grains per spikelet) meaning that improvement for these traits would be possible through the common selection methods for self pollinating crops. Parent lines KNE 392, and KNE 744 and IE 11 were found to be suitable for blast resistance breeding while Okhale 1 was found to be suitable for high grain yield and blast resistance improvement due to their high desirable GCA effects. Most of the F2 families showed transgressive segregation for the three blast types in either direction which gives hope for the development new pure lines with better blast resistance than the parents. Crosses IE 3104 x KNE 796, KAT FM 1 x Okhale 1, IE 11 x Okhale, IE 11 x P 224 and KNE 744 x KNE 392 have potential to generate lines with blast resistance due to their high desirable SCA effects. The F2 segregation distributions for blast indicated quantitative inheritance. However the one to four minimum number of genes (effective factors) detected for resistance control in all the three blast types was not in sync with the segregation patterns in the F2 families and further investigations are required. There were differences in segregation patterns between crosses which may suggest the presence of different resistance genes in the different parents used. This would call for gene pyramiding for durable resistance. These results confirm the potential of sourcing valuable parental stocks in the local germplasm for the development of genotypes to improve finger millet productivity in East Africa. Already some of the high yielding and blast resistant genotypes identified here have been incorporated in the regional cultivar trials. The diversity information generated will facilitate effective conservation and utilization of this germplasm. Results of gene action for inheritance of the various traits from this study will enable breeders to develop sound breeding strategies for finger millet improvement in the region. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.