In the past two decades a new barley threat has emerged as the disease Ramularia leaf spot (RLS) became more prevalent in temperate regions worldwide. This disease, first identified in the late 19th century, is caused by the filamentous fungus Ramularia collo-cygni (Rcc) and can cause substantial yield losses as well as reduce grain quality. RLS typically occurs late in the growing season and characteristic disease symptoms are usually seen after the crop has flowered. Expression of RLS lesions is thought to be associated with the action of fungal secondary metabolism products. The one group of secondary metabolites (SMs) characterised to date from Rcc, the anthraquinone toxins rubellins, are known to cause necrosis to plant tissues in a non-host specific manner. Therefore, it appears that fungal secondary metabolism might be a key component in understanding the interaction between Rcc and its host. In this study, more than 23 core genes involved in the biosynthesis of SMs belonging to the polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide pathways were identified in the genome of Rcc. Putative clusters containing genes with a predicted function relating to secondary metabolism were identified by in silico genome walking in the genetic loci adjacent to Rcc SM core genes. Two gene clusters containing no SM core gene were also identified. Five of the putative SM clusters exhibited similarity to the known fungal SM biochemical pathways involved in gliotoxin, monodictyphenone, ferricrocin, betaenone and chaetoglobosins biosynthesis. Several gene clusters exhibited similarity to SM clusters from fungal species where the SM pathway is uncharacterised. Changes in transcript abundance of selected SM core genes during RLS development in artificially inoculated barley seedlings were tested. Transcript levels were found to be the highest at an early stage of disease development, typically during the asymptomatic and early lesions formation stages and declined over time, suggesting that the associated SMs in Rcc, may not necessarily be involved in symptoms appearance. The in planta mode of action of the non-host specific photoactivated toxin rubellin D was studied in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Rubellin-induced cell death appeared phenotypically reminiscent of programmed cell death (PCD). Full expression of rubellin D-induced cell death required the host salicylic acid (SA) pathway and the host proteasome supporting the PCD response to this fungal SM. However, a clear correlation between toxin sensitivity and disease susceptibility could not be found, suggesting a potential alternative role for rubellin in disease symptom development.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:39:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 355166 bytes, checksum: fca33886e7049d30889ecd53a351d550 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-17 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The infectious process of Ramularia areola, the causal agent of ramularia leaf spot, on leaves of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae), was studied by using the scanning electron microscope. Conidia started to germinate at 12 hours after inoculation (hai) and no appressoria were observed at this time. In most cases, conidia germinated and produced two germ tubes that grew towards the stomata where the penetration occurred. Fungus sporulation occurred at both adaxial and abaxial leaf epidermis through the stomata. Fungal hyphae suscefully colonized the mesophyll cells both inter and intra cellularly. Disease symptoms appeared at 12 dai with severity level of 1%, but reached 32% at 22 dai. / O processo infeccioso de Ramularia areola, o agente causal da mancha da ramulária, em folhas de algodoeiro, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae), foi estudado utilizando a microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os conídios iniciaram a germinação 12 horas após a inoculação (hai) e nenhum apressório foi observado nesse período. Na maioria dos casos, os conídios germinaram e produziram dois tubos germinativos que cresceram através dos estômatos onde a penetração ocorreu. A esporulação do fungo ocorreu em ambas as faces adaxial e abaxial da epiderme foliar através dos estômatos. As hifas do fungo colonizaram com sucesso as células do mesófilo inter e intra celularmente. Os sintomas da doença apareceram em 12 dai com um nível de severidade de 1%, porém alcançaram 32% em 22 dai.

Magistrantūros studijų baigiamojo darbo tyrimų tikslas buvo ištirti cukrinių runkelių ligotumą, nustatyti grybinių lapų ligų paplitimą ir žalingumą cukriniuose runkeliuose bei nustatyti apsaugos priemonių, mažinančių ligų plitimą efektyvumą. Lauko eksperimentas buvo atliktas 2012 m. Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro (LAMMC) Rumokų bandymų stotyje. Dirvožemis sekliai glėjiškas paprastasis išplautžemis (Haplic-Epihypogleyic Luvisol – Idg8-p). Darbo objektas - cukrinių runkelių (Beta vulgaris saccharifera) grybinės lapų ligos. Darbo metodai: Cukrinių runkelių lapų ligotumo, fungicidų biologinio efektyvumo, ligų žalingumo matavimai nustatyti tiesioginio matavimo, skaičiavimo ar svėrimo būdu pagal priimtas lauko eksperimento vykdymo metodikas (Šurkus, Gaurilčikienė, 2002). Tyrimų duomenys statistiškai įvertinti vieno veiksnio arba dviejų veiksnių kiekybinių požymių dispersinės analizės metodais, taikant kompiuterinę programą ANOVA (Tarakanovas, Raudonius, 2003). Darbo rezultatai: Tyrimų metais cukriniuose runkeliuose labiausiai plito cukrinių runkelių rudmargė ir baltuliai, kurių pažeidimo intensyvumas atitinkamai siekė 11,91 ir 1,81 proc. Didžiausias biologinis fungicido efektyvumas nuo cukrinių runkelių rudmargės nustatytas laukeliuose, kuriuose vieną ir du kartus buvo naudojamas fungicidas Maredo (vienkartinio purškimo norma 1,0 l ha-1, dukartinio - 0,75 l ha-1). Jo biologinis efektyvumas atitinkamai siekė 65,79 – 92,06 proc. ir 86,39 – 94,19 proc. Didžiausias... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The main objective of Master thesis research was to investigate the intensity of sugar beet diseases, determine the fungal disease prevalence and harmfulness of sugar beets, and determine the effect of chemical plant control against sugar beet diseases.The research was made in the Rumokai Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2012. The soil type – Haplic-Epihypogleyic Luvisol – Idg8-p. Object of the research – sugar beet (Beta vulgaris saccharifera) fungal leaf diseases. Working methods: biological effectiveness of fungicides and disease harmfulness measurements were determined while using direct measurements, calculations or weighing according field experimental techniques (Šurkus, Gaurilčikienė, 2002). Research data have been statistically evaluated with a single factor or two factor analysis of variance of quantitative methods of evidence, using a computer program ANOVA (Tarakanovas, Raudonius, 2003). Research results: The most effective fungicide against Cercospora leaf spot disease in the once and twice treatment field of sugar beet plants was Maredo (once treatment rate 1,0 l ha-1, twice treatment rate 0,75 l ha-1). Its efficiency was highest and reached 65,79 – 92,06 % and 86,39 – 94,19 %. The most effective fungicideagainst Ramularia leaf spot disease in the once and twice treatment field of sugar beet plants was also Maredo. Its efficiency reached 75,41 – 93,52 % and 82,76 – 93,89 %. The highest significant root... [to full text]