M. A. S. Gama

Polyphasic Characterization of Pigmented Strains of Xanthomonas Pathogenic to Cashew Trees

The export of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nuts generates millions of dollars for the Brazilian economy annually. However, production may be limited by the occurrence of diseases that affect cashew trees, such as Xanthomonas spot and angular leaf spot, which are caused by pigmented strains of Xanthomonas and Xanthomonas citri pv. anacardii, respectively. Thirty-one pigmented strains of Xanthomonas were characterized for phenotypic, pathogenic, and molecular attributes. These strains were similar to X. citri pv. anacardii in phenotypical characteristics, sensitivity to antibiotics and copper compounds used in agriculture, epidemiology, and repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) profiles. When inoculated into Brazilian pepper, cashew, mango, and hog plum seedlings, the pigmented strains of Xanthomonas and X. citri pv. anacardii produced similar symptoms. However, the pigmented strains of Xanthomonas were more aggressive toward cashew plants than toward the other hosts tested, which confirms their specificity. We conclude that pigmented strains of Xanthomonas are very aggressive on cashew trees and should not be considered casual pathogens of these hosts. Moreover, based on our results from rep-PCR and IS1595-PCR amplification, we suggest that these strains constitute a variant of X. citri pv. anacardii.

Effect of acibenzolar-S-methyl, mannano-oligosaccharides and citrus bioflavonoids on the control of bacterial fruit blotch and growth of melon plant

The effect of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), mannano-oligosaccharides (MOS) and citrus bioflavonoids (BFC) was studied for control of bacterial fruit blotch of yellow melon (hybrid AF4945) and Pele de Sapo melon (hybrid Nilo), evaluating different application periods (10 and 15 days after plant emergence), and dosages (acibenzolar-S-methyl 25; 50 and 75 mg a.i. L-1; mannano-oligosaccharides 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 c.p. L-1; citrus bioflavonoids 2; 3 and 4 mL c.p. L-1) and also on plant growth in soil supplemented or not with NPK. The best period for application was 10 days after plant emergence. Considering both genotypes, ASM (50 mg a.i. L-1) and BFC (3 mL c.p. L-1) increased incubation period until 13 and 8 days and reduced disease incidence by 88 and 60%; disease index by 96 and 88%; and area under disease progress curve by 94 and 74%, respectively. However, independent of NPK level in the soil ASM and BFC reduced melon plant height by 24%; they also reduced fresh and dry shoot biomass by 41% and 34%, respectively.

Métodos de preservação e crescimento de Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola em meio de cultura variando temperatura, pH e concentração de NaCl

The phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola (Xcv) induces grapevine (Vitis vinifera) bacterial canker, causing severe losses in Brazil. Four preservation methods [dried paper strips (DPS), periodic transfer (PT), sterile distiled water (SDW) and dried leaves (DL)] were compared for storing two Xcv strains over a 12-month periods. Viability and pathogenicity were evaluated every month and estimated by bacterial growth and area under the disease incidence curve (AUDIC). Both the DPS and SDW methods maintained 100% of cell viability to and showed higher AUDIC values for 11 months. The PT did not permit growth at 30 days while DL maintained cell viability for up to five months. The growth of two Xcv strains in liquid culture medium at varying temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C), pH (5.0; 5.,5; 6.0; 6.5; 7.0; 7.5; 8.0; 8.5 and 9.0) and NaCl concentration (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7%) was evaluated with spectrophotometer. The Xcv growth was observed from 5 to 35 °C, with optimum growth from 27 to 29 °C. The Xcv did not grow at zero and 40 °C. The optimum pH for Xcv growth was 7.5. The pathogen growth declined from 3.0% NaCl and was null at 6.0%.

Polyphasic analysis of Acidovorax citrulli strains from northeastern Brazil

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of cucurbit plants is caused by Acidovorax citrulli and represents a serious concern to melon (Cucumis melo L.) growers worldwide, including those in Brazil. Thirty-four A. citrulli strains from different melon production areas of northeastern Brazil were characterized for their virulence on melon fruits and their substrate utilization and molecular profiles. Based on the analysis of BFB severity on melon fruits, the A. citrulli strains were divided into three groups, classified as mildly, moderately or highly virulent. Although host-related groups were not observed, the watermelon and ‘melao-pepino’ strains exhibited only low or moderate virulence on melon fruit. Substrate utilization profiles revealed that 94 % of the 95 tested compounds were used by A. citrulli strains as a carbon source. Overall, based on substrate utilization, low variability was observed with no relationship to host of origin. The formation of one group of A. citrulli strains based on Repetitive Sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) analysis confirmed the low variability observed in the substrate utilization analyses. Bayesian inference based on the analysis of 23S rDNA partial sequence data resulted in one well-supported clade and clustered the strains with the A. citrulli-type species with high posterior probability support. Based on the markers used, the Brazilian A. citrulli strains belong to a single group, which corresponds to the previously described Group I for this bacterium in the United States.

Complete Genome Sequence of Xanthomonas citri pv. anacardii Strain IBSBF2579 from Brazil

ABSTRACT The bacterium Xanthomonas citri pv. anacardii is the agent of angular leaf spot of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.). The complete genome sequencing of the strain IBSBF2579 was done on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The de novo assembly of the X. citri pv. anacardii strain IBSBF2579 genome yielded 133 contigs, with a size of 5,329,247 bp and a G+C content of 64.03%. The prediction was performed by GeneMarkS and the automatic annotation by Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology (RAST), with 4,406 identified genes.

Identificação de potenciais plantas hospedeiras alternativas de Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar possiveis hospedeiras alternativas de Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola (Xcv), visando a fornecer subsidios para o manejo do cancro bacteriano da videira. Vinte e seis especies vegetais foram inoculadas artificialmente com o isolado Xcv3 e mantidas em condicoes de casa de vegetacao, sendo avaliada a evolucao sintomatologica da doenca, como manchas necroticas angulares e lesoes nas nervuras. O Xcv3 foi reisolado a partir de cada hospedeiro alternativo com sintomas, sendo identificado por PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), com iniciadores especificos. As especies inoculadas que apresentaram os sintomas tipicos da doenca foram Glycine sp., Senna obtusifolia, Desmodium discolor, Amaranthus deflexus, Azadirachta indica, Solanum lycopersicum e Vigna unguiculata. As especies da familia Poaceae, Bidens pilosa, Emilia fosbergii, Praxelis pauciflora, Macroptilium lathyroides e Portulaca oleracea nao apresentaram sintomas durante o periodo da avaliacao.