No abstract

Based on partial sequence analysis of the b-tubulin gene, 19 isolates of fungi causing bull's eye rot on apple in Poland were classified into species: Neofabraea alba, N. perennans and N. kienholzii. To the authors' knowledge, the detection of N. kienholzii is the second in Europe and the first in Poland. Species affiliation of these fungi was confirmed by a new species-specific multiplex PCR assay developed on the basis of previously published methods. The new protocol allowed for the specific identification of bull's eye rot-causing species, both from pure cultures and directly from the skin of diseased or apparently healthy apples. In 550 samples of diseased fruits collected from nine cold storage rooms located in three regions of Poland, in 2011 and 2012, N. alba was detected as the predominant species causing bull's eye rot, occurring on average in 94% of the tested samples. Neofabraea perennans was found in a minority of apple samples, N. kienholzii was found only in two apple samples, while N. malicorticis was not detected in any sample tested. In tests on 120 apparently healthy fruits, only N. perennans was detected in a single sample. The results of genetic diversity analyses of bull's eye rot-causing fungi based on the b-tubulin gene sequence and an ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeat) PCR assay with two primers were consistent, showing the expected segregation of tested isolates with respect to their species boundaries. However, the genetic distance between N. perennans and N. malicorticis was very low, as reported previously.

Fungi in the genus Monilinia cause brown rot disease of stone and pome fruits. Here, we report the draft genome assemblies of four important phytopathogenic species: M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. polystroma, and M. laxa. The draft genome assemblies were 39 Mb (M. fructigena), 42 Mb (M. laxa), 43 Mb (M. fructicola), and 45 Mb (M. polystroma) with as few as 550 contigs (M. laxa). These are the first draft genome resources publicly available for M. laxa, M. fructigena, and M. polystroma.

Triggering the plant resistance induction phenomenon by chemical compounds, for example acibenzolar-S-methyl ester, has been known and described in scientific literature. Other benzothadiazole derivatives have been also described; however, their properties have not been sufficiently studied. The tested substance, N-methyl-N-methoxyamide-7-carboxybenzo(1.2.3)thiadiazole (BTHWA), is an amide derivative of benzothiadiazole, showing a stimulating effect on plant growth, apart from its plant resistance inducing activity. This article presents the impact of BTHWA, used solo and in the program with fungicides, on the strawberry plants development, fruits health, yield, and quality parameters of the crop. The results show that the combined use of BTHWA and fungicides had a positive impact on the plants health and fruit health and nutraceutical and nutritional composition of compounds when compared to the results obtained when strawberries were treated only with the BTHWA or the fungicide. As a result of BTHWA use, the partitioning of assimilates has changed, which directly translated into the results of the conducted experiments. A reduction in the respiration of the fruit during storage was also observed, possibly due to a reduced disease infestation and a lower dry matter content in the fruit. A correlation between the parameters determined during the experiment was found. The BTHWA mode of action was evidenced to be beneficial to strawberry plants and fruit.