Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1958. / Typescript. Abstracted in Dissertation abstracts, v. 19 (1958) no. 4, p. 627. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [60]-63).

In a minimal medium supplemented with glucose and yeast extract, the optimum pH for the growth of C. poinsettias was found to be 7.5. The organism requires thiamine, biotin, and pantothenic acid for growth. No absolute requirement was found for any amino acid, purine or pyrimidine although an amino acid mixture was stimulatory. Casamino acids could be substituted for the synthetic amino acid mixture. Yeast extract provided an additional factor(s) necessary for maximal growth. The results suggest that the unknown factor found in yeast extract might be purified by a combination of solvent extraction, and adsorption and elution from charcoal.

Gray leaf spot (GLS) of corn (Zea mays L.), caused by the fungus Cercospora zeaemaydis (CZM) (Tehon and Daniels) has increased in incidence and severity with increasing use of no-tillage and continuous corn practices. This disease can be yield limiting. Corn hybrids were evaluated under natural disease pressure for three years (1989, 90, and 91) at two locations (Montgomery and Wythe Co., VA). Yield losses ranged from 2127.4 kg/ha (Wythe Co., 1991) to 4242.2 kg/ha (Wythe Co., 1990). It was estimated that 77% of the variability in yield was due to GLS. Fungicides were evaluated for the control of GLS over three years on a susceptible hybrid, Pioneer Brand 3320. All fungicides, with the exception of mancozeb, provided significant control over nontreated check in all years. Benomyl, propiconazole and terbutrazole were the most effective fungicides. As much as 93% of the variablilty in yield was attributed to blighting. Reduction in blighting also increased the kernel weight. The toxin, cercosporin, produced by CZM was evaluated for its ability to elicit differential responses in corn germplasm by three methods, ie., vein inoculation, root, and shoot uptake. No consistant differential reponses were found with vein inoculation, but 31-day old plants were significantly more sensitive to the toxin than 21-day old plants, as measured by lesion width. Root and shoot uptake of the toxin by inbred germplasm produced lesions that resembled those produced by CZM in the field. Microscopic, yellow fluorescing crystals were found associated with necrotic tissue from toxin-treated inbreds. Significantly more injury occurred to toxin-treated inbreds exposed to light than to darkness. By chromatographic analysis, 407.1-1076.7 ng of toxin/g of tissue was recovered from leaf lesion extracts of plants exposed to light. Five inbreds (B73, H99, Va59, NC250a, and NC264) showed consistent and differential responses to the toxin. H99 and NC250a showed differential responses to the same concentration of toxin, thus suggesting that some germplasm are more sensitive to the toxin than others. Tests using the toxin as a means to identify resistant germplasm did not provide reliable predictions of germplasm response to CZM in the field. / Master of Science

Development of early leafspot, caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori, was monitored on' Florigiant' peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at two field sites in Suffolk, Virginia. In one study, plants in 27-cm-diameter plots were inoculated with 20,000 conidia and inoculation dates were replicated in five randomized complete blocks. At location one in 1985 and 1986, lesions/leaf at two weeks after inoculation correlated significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with infection indices (IND) developed by the Virginia leafs pot advisory and hours of relative humidity (RH) ≥ 95%. At location two, correlations between lesions/leaf and IND as well as hours of RH ≥ 95% were significant in 1986, but not in 1985. Certain site specific factors were believed to have altered plant susceptibility to leafspot at this site in 1985. In another study, pots with greenhouse-grown peanut were placed between unsprayed rows of field plants, heavily colonized by C. arachidicola. Plants were removed after 3, 5, and 7 days of field exposure for six consecutive weeks in 1986 and returned to the greenhouse. Lesions/leaf at two weeks after initial exposure were correlated with IND values computed by five versions of the leaf spot advisory. Significant correlations were found between lesions/leaf on plants with field exposures of 5 and 7 days and cumulative IND values and hours of RH ≥ 90% and 95%. The low incidence of lesions resulting with field exposures of only 3 days coupled with a lack of significant correlations between disease and cumulative IND values for 3 days after inoculation in both studies suggests that infection processes require several days, and that fungicides may be applied to achieve disease control during this time. / M.S.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gray leaf spot (GLS) of maize, caused by the fungus Cercospora zeae-maydis, can reduce grain yields by up to 60% and it is now recognized as one of the most significant yield-limiting diseases of maize in many parts of the world. The most sustainable and long-term management strategy for GLS will rely heavily on the development of high-yielding, locally adapted GLS resistant hybrids. Molecular markers could be useful to plant breeders to indirectly select for genes affecting GLS resistance and to identify resistance genes without inoculation and at an early stage of plant development. Only two studies in the USA have examined quantitative trait loci (QTL) association with GLS resistance. The aim of this study was to map GLS resistance genes in a resistant Seed Co LTD, Zimbabwean inbred line. Molecular markers linked to the GLS resistance QTL were identified by using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique together with bulked segregant analysis. Eleven polymorphic AFLP fragments were identified and converted to sequence-specific PCR (polymerase chain reaction) markers. Eight of the 11 converted AFLP markers were added to the maize marker database of the University of Stellenbosch. Five of the 8 converted AFLP markers were polymorphic between the resistant and the susceptible parent. They were amplified on the DNA of 230 plants of a segregating F2 population and linkage analysis was performed with MAPMAKER/EXP. Two linkage groups consisting of two markers each, with a linkage distance of 10.4 cM (LOD 22.83) and 8.2 cM (LOD 55.41) between the two markers, were identified. QTL mapping with MAPMAKER/QTL confirmed the presence of QTL in both linkage groups. Two publicly available recombinant inbred families (Burr et a/., 1988) were used to localize the converted AFLP markers on the genetic map of maize. The QTL, which were identified with the AFLP markers, were mapped to chromosomes 1 and 5. Another AFLP marker was mapped to chromosome 2 and a further to chromosome 3. To obtain more precise localizations of the QTL on chromosomes 1 and 5, sequence-tagged site markers and microsatellite markers were used. The markers were amplified on the DNA of the 230 plants of the F2 population and linkage analysis was performed with MAPMAKER/EXP. The order of the markers was in agreement with the UMC map of the Maize Genome Database. Interval mapping using MAPMAKERlQTL and composite interval mapping using QTL Cartographer were performed. The QTL on chromosome 1 had a LOD score of 21 and was localized in bin 1.05/06. A variance of 37% was explained by the QTL. Two peaks were visible for the QTL on chromosome 5, one was localized in bin 5.03/04 and the other in bin 5.05/06. Both peaks had a LOD score of 5 and 11% of the variance was explained by the QTL. To test the consistency of the detected QTL, the markers flanking each QTL were amplified on selected plants of two F2 populations planted in consecutive years and regression analysis was performed. Both the QTL on chromosome 1 and the QTL on chromosome 5 were detected in these populations. Furthermore, the presence of a QTL on chromosome 3 was confirmed with these populations. A variance of 8 -10% was explained by the QTL on chromosome 3. In this study, a major GLS resistance QTL was thus mapped on chromosomes 1 and two minor GLS resistance QTL were mapped on chromosomes 3 and 5 using a resistant Seed Co LTD, Zimbabwean inbred line. Markers were identified which could be used in a marker-assisted selection program to select for the GLS resistance QTL. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Grys blaarvlek (GBV) van mielies, veroorsaak deur die swam Cercospora zeaemaydis, kan graanopbrengs met tot 60% verlaag en word beskou as een van die vernaamste opbrengs-beperkende siektes wêreldwyd. Die toepaslikste langtermyn stragtegie vir GBV beheer sal wees om plaaslike mieliebasters met hoë opbrengs en GBV weerstand te ontwikkel. Molekulêre merkers kan nuttig deur plantetelers gebruik word om weerstandsgene te selekteer. Seleksie is moontlik in die afwesigheid van inokolum en op 'n vroeë stadium van plant ontwikkeling. Slegs twee vorige studies (in die VSA) het kwantitatiewe-kenmerk-Iokusse (KKL), vir GBVweerstand ondersoek. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die GBV weerstandsgene in 'n weerstandbiedende ingeteelde lyn (Seed Co BPK, Zimbabwe) te karteer. Molekulêre merkers gekoppel aan die GBV weerstands KKL is geïdentifiseer deur gebruik te maak van die geamplifiseerde-fragmentlengte-polimorfisme- (AFLP-) tegniek en gebulkte-segregaat-analise. Elf polimorfiese merkers is geïdentifiseer en omgeskakel na volgorde-spesifieke PKR (polimerase kettingreaksie) merkers. Agt van die elf omgeskakelde AFLP-merkers is by die mieliemerker databasis van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gevoeg. Vyf van die 8 omgeskakelde AFLP-merkers was polimorfies tussen die bestande en vatbare ouers. Hulle is geamplifiseer op die DNA van 230 plante van 'n segregerende F2-populasie en is gebruik in 'n koppelingstudie met MAPMAKER/EXP. Twee koppelingsgroepe, elk bestaande uit twee merkers, met onderskeidelik koppelingsafstande van 10.4 eM (LOD 22.83) en 8.2 eM (LOD 55.41) tussen die merkers, is geïdentifiseer. KKL-kartering het getoon dat KKL in albei koppelingsgroepe aanwesig is. Twee kommersieël beskikbare, rekombinant-ingeteelde families (Burr et aI., 1988) is gebruik om die omgeskakelde AFLP-merkers op die mielie genetiese kaart te plaas. Die KKL wat met die AFLP-merkers geïdentifiseer is, is gekarteer op chromosome 1 en 5. 'n Verdere AFLP-merker is op chromosoom 2 gekarteer en 'n ander op chromosoom 3. Ten einde die KKL op chromosome 1 en 5 meer akkuraat te karteer, is volgordege- etikeerde en mikrosatelliet merkers gebruik. Die merkers is geamplifiseer op die DNA van die 230 plante van die F2-populasie en koppelings-analises is uitgevoer. Die volgorde van die merkers was dieselfde as die van die UMC-kaart in die Mielie Genoom Databasis. Interval kartering met MAPMAKER/QTL en komposiet interval kartering met QTL Cartographer is uitgevoer. Die KKL op chromosoom 1 het 'n LOD-telling van 21 gehad en is in bin 1.05/06 geplaas. Die KKL was verantwoordelik vir 37% van die variansie. Twee pieke was onderskeibaar vir die KKL op chromosoom 5, een in bin 5.03/04 geleë en die ander in bin 5.05/06. Elke piek het 'n LOD-telling van 5 gehad en die twee KKL was verantwoordelik vir 11% van die variansie. Om die herhaalbaarheid van die effek van die KKL te toets is die merkers naaste aan elke KKL geamplifiseer op geselekteerde plante van twee F2-populasies wat in opeenvolgende jare geplant is. Regressie analise is op die data gedoen. Beide die KKL op chromosoom 1 en die KKL op chromosoom 5 kon in hierdie populasies geïdentifiseer word. Verder kon die aanwesigheid van 'n verdere KKL op chromosoom 3 in hierdie populasies bevestig word. Laasgenoemde KKL was verantwoordelik vir 8-10% van die totale variansie. In hierdie studie is daar dus 'n hoof GBV-weerstands KKL gekarteer op chromosoom 1 en twee kleiner GBV-weerstands KKL gekarteer op chromosome 3 en 5. Merkers is geïdentifiseer wat moontlik in merker-gebaseerdetelingsprogramme gebruik kan word om plante te selekteer wat die GBVweerstands KKL het.

In Quebec, bacterial leaf spot of lettuce was observed for the first time in 1994. Since this first mention, the disease has been observed each year and the severity varied with environmental conditions. Little information was available on this disease because until recently it was only sporadically observed around the world following the first mention in 1918. In this project, we found that two groups of Xanthomonas caused the bacterial leaf spot of lettuce according to the BIOLOG profiles. From the results of strain characterization, a semi-selective medium has been developed to detect and quantify X. campestris pv. vitians. This medium is made of maltose, tryptone, methyl green, phosphate salts, amoxicillin, cephalothin, cycloheximide and trace elements. It allowed us to carry out studies on the ecology of the pathogen and on the disease epidemiology. The effect of weather conditions on bacterial population size and the bacterial leaf spot development has been studied. Weather parameters influencing the bacterial population were the number of hours with temperature higher than 28°C, the number of hours with wind velocity lower than 1 km per hour, the number of hours with relative humidity lower than 45% and the minimum relative humidity. The weather parameters that significantly discriminated between disease increase categories were the mean solar radiation, the number of hours with relative humidity higher than 90%, the mean relative humidity and the maximum temperature. Looking at the relationship between X. campestris pv. vitians population size and host plant development, it was shown that both bacterial population size and disease severity increased with leaf age. Mathematical models were developed to show these relationships. This information will be useful in disease management to decide when to apply bactericides and when to harvest. Finally, an exploratory study was conducted looking at the effects of nutrients on the size of saprophytic bacterial

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

No description available.

Master of Science

Gray leaf spot, caused by Cercospora zeae-maydis, can be a yield-limiting factor in maize where continuous minimum tillage practices are followed. Commercial corn hybrids were evaluated for response to gray leaf spot for seven years at two Virginia locations (Shenandoah and Wythe Counties) and one year at a third location in Virginia (Montgomery County). Yield losses, when comparing resistant to susceptible classes, were approximately 2,000 kg ha⁻¹ at Wythe County in 1982, 750 kg ha⁻¹ at Shenandoah County in 1984, and 2,150 kg ha⁻¹ at Montgomery County in 1988. The inheritance of reaction to gray leaf spot was studied using a 14 inbred diallel in Montgomery and Wythe Counties, Virginia in 1987 and 1988 planted in randomized complete block designs. Resistance was found to be highly heritable and controlled by additive gene action. Inbreds producing high yielding, resistant, and agronomically superior hybrids were identified (B68, NC250, Pa875, Va14, Va17, and Va85); and several hybrids between these lines had high levels of resistance, high yield, and good general agronomic characters (B68 x KB1250, KB1250 x Pa875, and NC250 x Pa875). Currently available inbreds could be used to produce hybrids with higher levels of resistance than hybrids currently available to growers, and these could serve as a basis for gray leaf spot breeding programs. Lesion size measurements were not correlated with disease scores. Late-season photosynthesis rates were associated positively with resistance. The hybrids of some inbreds were found to produce high levels of pigment (believed to be anthocyanins) around the gray leaf spot lesions. These did not limit the size of the individual lesion later in the season. Some pigment(s)-producing genotypes were found to be resistant when the pigment character was expressed. This type of resistance must prevent or inhibit infection of the leaf but not later colonization, once established. Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) also limits maize production in some areas where johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L.) is a problem. Resistance to MDMV was found to be mainly additive and highly heritable. However, a strong specific combining ability component was found, indicating that the background of the material receiving resistance genes may have a strong effect on the expression of resistance. Inbreds capable of producing high-yielding, resistant, and agronomically acceptable hybrids are available (B68, NC250, A632, Pa875, Va17, and Va85); and several hybrids between these lines have high levels of resistance, high yield, and good general agronomic characters (B68 x KB1250, KB1250 x Pa875, and NC250 x Pa875). / Ph. D.