Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov, Hemiptera, Aphididae) commonly known as the Russian wheat aphid (RWA), is a small phloem-feeding pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Virulent D. noxia biotypes that are able to feed on previously resistant wheat cultivars continue to develop and therefor the identification of factors contributing to virulence is vital. Since energy metabolism plays a key role in the survival of organisms, genes and processes involved in the production and regulation of energy may be key contributors to virulence: such as mitochondria and the NAD+/NADH that reflects the health and metabolic activities of a cell. The involvement of carotenoids in the generation of energy through a photosynthesis-like process may be an important factor, as well as its contribution to aphid immunity through mediation of oxidative stress. The complete mitochondrial genome of global Diuraphis noxia populations was characterised using Next Generation sequencing, and was found to be 15 721bp in size and consisting of 38 genes typically found within most insects. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses of the genomes of nine populations revealed 125 SNPs in the protein coding genes with the majority of the SNPs occurring in the ND genes, and the least in the ND4L gene. Low SNP variant frequency was found for the atp6 and atp8 genes, which differed from other reports in the Hemiptera. Variable ND5 expression levels were observed among the biotypes, although no correlation was apparent between ND5 expression and the virulence associated with each biotype. Whereas atp6 transcription was higher in the highly virulent biotype (SAM) under normal and stressful conditions in comparison to the least virulent biotype (SA1). A significantly higher NAD+/NADH ratio was also observed for the SAM biotype under stressful conditions in comparison to the lesser virulent biotypes. UPLC-MS analysis did not reveal any lycopene or β-carotene due to low compound concentrations in the extracted samples but various hydrophobic compounds were present in different concentrations among the biotypes. The carotene desaturase expression profile revealed that SA1 had the lowest relative expression of the gene involved in carotenoid products, while SAM had the highest, under normal and stressful conditions. The results indicate that sequence conservation in mitochondrial genes are associated with key energy processes to maintain a state of homeostasis under variable conditions and that the generation of energy is a contributing factor to the virulence development of D. noxia. The results also show that carotenoids may possibly contribute to fitness of D. noxia through reactive oxygen species scavenging or the production of additional energy, but further investigation is needed for confirmation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov, Hemiptera, Aphididae) algemeen bekend as die Russiese koringluis (RWA), is ‘n klein floëem-voedende pes van koring (Triticum aestivum L). Virulente D. noxia biotipes wat instaat is om op voorheen bestande koring kultivars te voed gaan ontwikkel voortdurend, en daarom is die identifisering van faktore wat kan bydrae tot virulensie so belangrik. Omdat energie-metabolisme ‘n sleutelrol in die oorlewing van organismes speel, kan gene en prosesse wat by die produksie en regulering van energie betrokke is belangrike bydraers tot virulensie lewer: soos onder andere mitokondria en die NAD+/NADH-verhouding wat die gesondheid en metaboliese aktiwiteit van ‘n sel reflekteer. Die betrokkenheid van karotenoïede in die produksie van energie deur 'n fotosintese-verwante proses kan 'n belangrike faktor bydraend tot luis fiksheid wees, asook die bydra daarvan tot plantluis-immuniteit deur bemiddeling van oksidatiewe stres. Die volledige mitochondriale genoom van globale Diuraphis noxia populasies is met behulp van volgende generasie DNA volgordebepaling gekarrakteriseer, en daar is bevind dat dit 15 721 bp in grootte is en uit 38 gene bestaan wat tipies binne insekte voorkom. Enkelnukleotied- polimorfisme (SNP) ontleding van die genome van nege populasies het onthul dat daar 125 SNPs in die proteïen-koderende gene voorkom, met die meerderheid van die SNPs in die ND-gene, en die minste in die ND4L-geen. Lae SNP-frekwensies is gevind vir die atp6- en atp8- gene, wat verskil van verslae oor ander Hemiptera. Veranderlike ND5-uitdrukkingsvlakke onder die biotipes is waargeneem, alhoewel geen korrelasie duidelik was tussen ND5-uitdrukking en die virulensie geassosieer met elke biotipe nie. Die transkripsie van atp6 was hoër in die hoogs virulente biotipe (SAM) onder normale en stresvolle toestande in vergelyking met die minste virulente biotipe (SA1). ‘n Aansienlike hoër NAD+/NADH-verhouding is ook waargeneem vir die SAM-biotipe onder spanningsvolle omstandighede in vergelyking met die minder virulente biotipes. UPLC-MS-analise het geen likopeen of β-karoteen geïdentifiseer nie as gevolg van lae verbinding konsentrasies in die onttrekte monsters, maar verskeie hidrofobiese verbindings was in verskillende konsentrasies tussen die biotipes teenwoordig. Die karoteen desaturase-uitdrukkingsprofiel het aangetoon dat SA1 die laagste relatiewe uitdrukking van gene betrokke by karotenoïed produksie het, terwyl SAM die hoogste relatiewe uitdrukking onder normale en spanningsvolle omstandighede het. Die resultate van die studie dui daarop dat die volgorde bewaring in mitochondriale gene verband hou met die sleutel energie prosesse om 'n toestand van homeostase onder wisselende omstandighede te handhaaf en dat die produksie van energie 'n bydraende faktor tot die ontwikkeling van virulensie in D. noxia is. Die resultate toon ook aan dat karotenoïede moontlik kan bydra tot fiksheid van D. noxia deur reaktiewe suurstofspesies te aas of deur die produksie van addisionele energie, maar verdere ondersoeke word benodig ter bevestiging.

Plants possess a complex and poorly understood network of defence mechanisms that enable them to counteract the effects of abiotic and biotic stress. Aphid phloem feeding is source of biotic stress in plants. Russian wheat aphid and Bird Cherry-Oat aphid feeding cause significant losses in the annual wheat crop, and control by conventional methods such as pesticide application, has proved to be ineffective. Infestation by the Russian wheat aphid has a particularly devastating effect in South Africa. Aphid-resistant wheat cultivars have been identified but an incomplete understanding of the mechanism of the plant’s resistance thwarts the development of improved cultivars. A two-dimensional gel electrophoresis method was developed, partially optimised and validated in order to determine the effect of Russian wheat aphid and Bird Cherry-Oat aphid phloem feeding on the Betta and Betta DN wheat proteome. Differentially expressed proteins that were up or down regulated more than two fold were identified using PDQuest™ Basic software and matched to known wheat proteins stored in the SwissProt protein database on the basis of their molecular mass and isolectric point. Initial analysis of the differential protein expression of Betta and Betta DN wheat in response to Russian wheat aphid and Bird Cherry-Oat aphid phloem feeding at different growth stages revealed that younger plants display higher levels of resistance than older plants. Feeding by the Bird-Cherry Oat aphid does not result in the upregulation of proteins implicated in a defence response, which indicates that the damage incurred by the plant due to feeding by this aphid is not enough to trigger a classic defence response. Feeding by the more damaging Russian wheat aphid resulted in a stress response in susceptible wheat cultivar Betta, and a defence response in resistant wheat cultivar Betta DN. The infestation of Betta DN resulted in the upregulation of putative thaumatins and amylase trypsin inhibitors, indicating that the Betta DN resistance response could be due to the combined effect of protease inhibitors that discourage aphid phloem feeding and the activation of the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid plant defence pathways.

The infestation of the cultivated grain crops by phloem feeding aphids has generated a great deal of interest over the years, due to the serious damage they cause to the crops and yield losses that result. The mechanism of the interaction between aphids and host plants remains largely unknown in spite of efforts to understand the basis of aphid feeding on grain crops. Greater efforts are required to explain the mechanism(s) of this interaction in order to achieve sustainable agriculture. This thesis focused on an investigation of the mechanism of feeding by the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko (RWA) and the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. (BCA) on barley and wheat cultivars. These two aphids co-occur naturally, but they inflict very different feeding effects on host plants. Structural and functional approaches were employed to investigate their feeding habits and these were then related to the observed differences in their host plants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to study the ultrastructural damage, while fluorescence microscopy techniques – using aniline blue fluorochrome (a specific stain for callose) and 5, 6-CFDA (a phloem-mobile fluorophore) – were employed to investigate the functional response to damage via wound callose formation and phloem transport capacity respectively. RT-PCR and quantitative real-time RT-PCR techniques were used to investigate the regulation of the genes involved in callose synthesis and degradation at the transcriptional level. Morphological observation of the damage caused by the aphids show that infestation by RWA results in extensive leaf chlorosis, necrosis and rolling, while infestation by BCA does not lead to any observable symptoms within the same period. Interestingly, the population study shows that BCA breeds faster than RWA within the two-week experimental period. The ultrastructural study of feeding damage caused by the two aphids on the vascular bundles of susceptible barley cv Clipper, shows a different patterns of damage. Probing the vascular bundles results in the puncturing of vascular parenchyma by both aphids, but severe damage occurs in sieve tubes-companion cell complex during sustained feeding by RWA. In contrast, less damage occurs when BCA feeds on the phloem. Drinking from the xylem by RWA results in deposition of a large quantity of electron-dense watery saliva, which apparently seals the xylem vessels completely, by blocking all the pit membrane fields between the xylem vessels and associated parenchyma cells. In contrast, drinking from xylem by BCA results in deposition of a dense, granular saliva into the xylem vessels only, which does not appear to totally occlude the pit membrane fields. This is the first known report in which ultrastructural evidence of aphids’ drinking in xylem is provided. The comparative effects of RWA feeding on a susceptible Betta and resistant Betta-Dn1 wheat cultivars showed that after two weeks, the Betta cultivar expressed damage symptoms such as chlorosis, necrosis and leaf roll, while few chlorotic patches and necrotic spots occur in resistant Betta-Dn1 cultivars. An ultrastructural investigation of the feeding damage caused to all leaf tissues revealed, for the first time, that RWA is capable of both intra- and inter-cellular probing within mesophyll cells. Probing in the mesophyll cells induces a more severe damage in susceptible Betta than in the resistant Betta-Dn1 counterpart. Similar differences in damage occurred during feeding in the thin-walled sieve tubes of the phloem, with the sieve tubes of the Betta showing more damage than that of the resistant Betta-Dn1. However, drinking from xylem resulted in the characteristic occlusion of metaxylem vessels by copious deposition of saliva by RWA in both Betta and Betta-Dn1 cultivars. In all cases of probing, feeding, and drinking by RWA in both cultivars, all probed cells with evidence of salivary material deposit and those cells adjacent to salivary material deposit, exhibit significant damage in susceptible Betta cultivar, whereas similar cells in Betta-Dn1 cultivars do not show as damage as severe. Investigation of the functional response of the plants to feeding by aphids through the deposition of wound-induced callose shows that formation and deposition of wound callose occurs in both longitudinal and cross veins within 24h of feeding by RWA. This deposition increases through short-term feeding (72h) and prolonged feeding (14d). This is in sharp contrast to the observations with BCA feeding,where little or no callose formation occurs within the same time frame. Callose formation and deposition occurs only when a higher population of BCA feeds on barley leaves. This is the first report of aphid-induced wound callose by BCA. In all cases of callose deposition, aphid stylet tracks were associated with callose and the deposition of callose appears to be a permanent feature, because wound callose remained in the leaf tissues even after 120h of the aphids’ removal. Wound callose signals (defence and anti-defence) are discovered to be transported in the phloem tissues and are dependent on the direction of assimilate flow. Examination of the possible regulation of wound callose genes at the transcriptional level shows that the two expressed glucan synthase gene sequences (GSL – genes involved in callose formation) analysed did not show any significant increase or regulation upon aphid infestation. Contrary to expectation, all three aphid-induced β-1, 3-glucanases (genes which are thought to be involved in callose degradation) showed higher expression in RWA-infested tissue than in BCA-infested tissue. The results of the feeding damage on the transport capacity of the phloem shows that BCA infestation does not lead to a significant reduction in the phloem transport capacity during short-term feeding (72h), while RWA-infested leaves showed considerable reduction in the transport capacity of the phloem within the same period. However, prolonged feeding (14d) by BCA induces a considerable reduction on the transport capacity of the phloem on the infested tissues. In contrast, a marked reduction in the transport capacity of the phloem occurs in RWA-infested leaves and in most cases, complete cessation of transport ensues. In conclusion, these data collectively suggest that RWA is a serious and most destructive phloem feeder in comparison to the BCA. RWA causes severe damage to all cellular tissues of the host plants, which result in apoplasmic and symplasmic isolation of xylem and phloem tissues, while BCA infestation does not result in such isolation within the same time and population levels. Resistance genes appear to function by conferring resistance to cell damage on the resistant cultivars during aphid feeding. Responses by plants to aphid infestation via wound callose deposition are again shown to be species-specific. A quick response results when RWA feeds, even at a very low population level, while a response occurs only at a higher infestation level by BCA, and this response was shown as not regulated at the transcriptional level. Differences in the damage to leaf tissues and wound callose deposition eventually lead to varying degrees of damage to the transport capacity of the phloem. These differences in the damage signatures are hereby suggested to be the cause of the diversity in the observed damage symptoms and the yield losses upon infestation by the two aphid species.

M.Sc. / Wheat is one of the most extensively grown small grain crops in Southern Africa. It is a staple food source used by humans, animals and other living organisms around the globe (Feldman, 2001). One of the major threats of wheat production in South Africa is the Russian wheat aphid (RWA), (Kurdjumov), (Diuraphis noxia, Homoptera: Aphididae) (Brooks et al., 1994; Du Toit & Walters, 1984). The RWA was first described as a pest in South Africa in 1978 and in the US in 1986. Thereafter it was rapidly reported as becoming a major pest of cereals in these countries (Brooks et al., 1994; Du Toit & Walters 1984). A short life span, asexual reproduction, the development of resistance towards insecticides and rapid colonisation of the host plant are all factors that have made the management of the RWA a difficult task (Dogimont et al., 2010; Hein et al., 1998). As a result of complications such as these, host plant resistance is the most viable option to counter the RWA (Dogimont et al., 2010). The method of feeding of the RWA is detrimental to the plant as they insert their stylets into, and feed primarily from, the phloem sieve elements. This damages the plants through nutrient drainage (Dixon, 1985; Klingler et al., 2009) and results in a variety of symptoms, the most common being chlorosis, necrosis, wilting, stunting, curling of the leaves (which provides the pest with a sheltered environment protected from predators and pesticides), misshapen or nonappearance of new growth, and localised cell death at the site of aphid feeding. The RWA elicits an increase in essential amino acids in the phloem sap, by triggering the breakdown of proteins in infested wheat leaves (Burd & Burton, 1992; Du Toit, 1986; Haley et al., 2004; Ma et al., 1998; Miller et al., 2001; Walters et al., 1980). It also reduces transport of labelled tracers (amino acids) from the feeding site to the roots and other sinks in the plant. This increases the nutrient concentration at the site of aphid feeding by increasing the import of resources from other sites in the plant, mobilising local resources and blocking their export to other organs. The damage of the foliar tissue that occurs as a result of the RWA feeding is thought to play a role in the pest’s ability to increase the nutritional quality of the host plant (Botha et al., 2006; Goggin, 2007; Shea et al., 2000).

Please read the summary in the section 02back (Appendix 1) of this document / Thesis (PhD (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Genetics / unrestricted

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced in cereal grains infected by Fusarium Head Blight produced by Fusarium graminearium and Deoxynivalenol-3-β-D-glucopyranoside (DON-3G), were studied during processing using LC-MS-MS and GC. DON reduced significantly (P<0.05) 61.8% during milling into flour. Therefore, DON was concentrated mostly in the bran and germ. DON increased 40.8% during the fermentation stage of baking. DON increased in dough more than flour and mixed dough. Milling reduced by 23.7% but fermentation did not. But bread was significantly lower in DON-3G at 0.15 ppm than flour and dough at 0.31 ppm. The baking increased DON and decreased DON-3G showing a difference in stability of the mycotoxins during processing. Enzyme hydrolysis on DON using α-amylase, cellulase, protease, and xylanase, showed a significant increase with cellulase (20.8%), protease (11.4%), and xylanase (35.6%) compared to wheat composite. DON may be bound to the cell wall or protein component of the kernel.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Genetics / unrestricted

Ten winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines selected from the 1982 International Winter Wheat Mildew and Rust Nurseries were studied to characterize gene number and mode of inheritance of powdery mildew resistance. Two experiments were conducted: 1) each of the lines was crossed to the susceptible cultivar Chancellor, which lacks any known’ gene _ for resistance, and seedlings of the parental lines, F₁, F₂, BC₁ (Chancellor X F₁), and F₃ populations were inoculated with isolate 127 of Blumeria graminis (DC.) E. 0. Speer f. sp. tritici Em. Marchal in the greenhouse and evaluated for powdery mildew reaction; 2) the ten lines were crossed with each other and to each of 13 host differential lines with known genes for powdery mildew resistance, and 300 to 800 F₂ seedlings from each cross were evaluated. All parents were resistant (Infection Type = 1-3), except for ST1-25, which had an intermediate (IT = 4-5) reaction type. Genetic analyses of crosses revealed that the resistance in C39 and SI5 is conferred by three dominant genes (Pm2, 4b, and 6), and resistance in A55-2, R107, and Bulk PV63-6 is governed by one partially dominant gene (Pm4b). Results from F₂, F₃, and BC₁ populations derived from crosses between ‘Armada’ and Chancellor, were inconsistent, but indicated that Armada has at least one dominant gene for resistance, which likely is Pm4b as suggested by others. The resistance gene in OK75R3645 most likely is an allele at the Pm3 locus, and it is probable that the resistance gene in GO4779 is Pm1. Single recessive genes were identified in VPM1 (Pm4b) and ST1-25 (Pm8). / Ph. D.

Thesis (MSc (Genetics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Microsatellites were used to differentiate Leaf (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) and Yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Eriks.) pathotypes. There was sufficient diversity in the Leaf rust microsatellite markers to differentiate the pathotypes and create a phylogenetic tree of Leaf rust. Three of the microsatellite markers were sufficient to differentiate all the Leaf rust pathotypes. Sufficient diversity in the Yellow rust microsatellite markers was also observed which made it possible to differentiate the pathotypes. Only three pathotypes were used so no phylogenetic inference was made. Two microsatellite markers were sufficient to differentiate all the yellow rust pathotypes. Microsatellite and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP) markers were used to differentiate Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. and Henn.) pathotypes, and the data was combined for phylogenetic analysis. AFLP bands unique to each Stem rust pathotype were converted to Sequence Characterised Amplified Region (SCAR) markers. A single specific SCAR marker was created for UVPgt52. A second SCAR marker amplified four of the eight pathotypes. None of the other SCAR markers were specific. A 270 basepair fragment of the ITS1 region of the rDNA gene of all the Puccinia spp. was also sequenced in order to develop pathotype specific primers that could be used in a Real Time-PCR to determine relative levels of pathogen inoculum in a sample. Unfortunately insufficient diversity in the sequences of the ITS1 region of the rDNA gene did not allow unique primers to be designed for each pathotype making it impossible to proceed with the relative quantification using Real Time-PCR. Following marker development ninety one field isolates were collected from eleven sites in the Overberg and Swartland regions during 2008 and 2009. In the field isolates, four different Leaf rust pathotypes were identifiable. UVPgt13 and UVPgt10 were most prevalent. The most prevalent Stem rust pathotypes were UVPgt50, UVPgt52, UVPgt54 and UVPgt57. Only 6E16A- was identifiable in the Yellow rust isolates. There were no apparent patterns in the distribution of Leaf, Stem or Yellow rust. Leaf and Stem rust were widely distributed, while Yellow rust was confined to three sites in the central South Cape, the only sites where climatic conditions were favourable for its development during the sampling period. The low levels of diversity found in the rust population when compared to international populations are probably due to the relatively small population size, the lack of a host for sexual reproduction, the small sample size, the effective monoculture and the strong selective pressure created by artificial control methods. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mikrosatellietmerkers is gebruik om Blaar- (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) en Geelroes-( Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Eriks.) patotipes te onderskei. Daar was genoeg diversiteit in die Blaarroesmerkers om verskillende patotipes te kon onderskei en om „n filogenetiese-boom te kon saamstel. Met drie van die mikrosatellietmerkers was dit moontlik om al die Blaarroespatotipes te kon onderskei. Daar was genoeg diversiteit in die Geelroesmerkers om al die patotipes te kon skei en met twee van die mikrosatellietmerkers kon al drie Geelroespatotipes van mekaar onderskei word. Mikrosatelliet- en ge-Amplifiseerde-Fragment-Lengte-Polimorfismes (AFLP) is gebruik om die Stamroes- (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. and Henn.) patotipes te skei. AFLP-fragmente uniek aan „n spesifieke patotipe is omgeskakel na Volgorde-Spesifieke-ge-Amplifiseerde-Streek (SCAR) merkers. „n Spesifieke SCAR-merker is gemaak vir UVPgt52. „n Tweede SCAR-merker het vier van die patotipes geidentifiseer. Nie een van die ander SCAR-merkers was spesifiek t.o.v. „n spesifieke patotipe nie. Die volgorde van „n 270 basispaar fragment van die ITS1-streek van die rDNS-geen van al die Puccinia spp. is bepaal om patotipe spesifieke inleiers te kon ontwerp. Hierdie inleiers kan gebruik word om „n Intydse-Polimerase-Ketting-Reaksie (RT-PCR) te ontwerp om sodoende die relatiewe vlakke van die patogeen besmetting in „n monster te bepaal. Daar was nie genoeg diversiteit in die bepaalde volgordes om die spes1fieke inleiers te kon identifiseer nie en dus is RT-PCR laat vaar. Na die ontwikkeling van die merkers was een-en-negentig veldmonsters ingesamel afkomstig van elf lokaliteite in die Overberg en Swartland gedurende 2008 en 2009. Vier Blaarroespatotipes was uitkenbaar. Blaarroespatotipes UVPrt10 en UVPrt13 was die mees algemeenste. UVPgt50, UVPgt52, UVPgt54 en UVPgt57 was die mees algemene Stamroespatotipes. Net 6E16A- is geidentifiseer by die Geelroes-isolate. Daar was geen patroon in die verspreiding van Blaar-, Stam- of Geelroes patotipes. Blaar- en Stamroes was die wydste versprei, maar Geelroes het net by drie lokale in die sentrale Suid-Kaap voorgekom. Die lokaliteite is die enigste waar die weersomstandighede gunstig was vir Geelroes ontwikkeling gedurende die periode van monsterneming. Die lae vlakke van diversiteit wat in die roespopulasie gevind was is in teenstelling met internasionale populasies. Dit mag moontlik wees as gevolg van die relatief beperkte populasie grootte, die afwesigheid van „n gasheer vir seksuele voortplanting, die beperkte hoeveelheid monsters wat ingesamel is en die sterk selektiewe druk weens kunsmatige beheer.

Barley yellow dwarf (BYD), caused by Barley yellow dwarf virus and Cereal yellow dwarf virus, and is a yield limiting disease of small grains. A research study was initiated in 2015 to identify the implications of BYD on small grain crops of North Dakota. A survey of 187 small grain fields was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to assess cereal aphid diversity; cereal aphids identified included, Rhopalosiphum padi, Schizaphis graminum, and Sitobion avenae. A second survey observed and documented field absence or occurrence of cereal aphids and their incidence. Results indicated prevalence and incidence differed among respective growth stages and a higher presence of cereal aphids throughout the Northwest part of North Dakota than previously thought. Field and greenhouse screenings were conducted to identify hard red spring wheat and durum responses to BYD. Infested treatments in the greenhouse had significantly lower number of spikes, dry shoot mass and yield.