Southern corn leaf blight (SCLB), caused by the fungus Bipolaris maydis, is a disease that significantly affects maize productivity across the globe. A detached leaf assay (DLA) was developed to rapidly assess maize resistance to SCLB. Several experiments were conducted to: (i) identify a highly virulent B. maydis isolate; and to determine the most appropriate (ii) phytohormone to maintain viability of maize leaf tissue, (iii) leaf age for the assay, and (iv) inoculum concentration. Once optimized, the DLA was compared with screenhouse and field experiments. Use of DLA required a maximum of 28 days for resistance assessment, in contrast to screenhouse and field tests at a minimum of 33 and 72 days, respectively. DLA positively correlated with screenhouse (r = 0.48, P = 0.08) and field experiments (r = 0.68, P = 0.008). Assessments of diverse B. maydis strains and host genotypes indicated that the DLA could be used to detect both highly virulent SCLB strains and highly resistant maize genotypes. Here we report that DLA is a rapid, reliable technique to screen maize resistance to SCLB. Use of this tool in maize breeding programs can speed up the process of identification of sources of resistance to multiple variants of SCLB.
Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible mushroom cultivated worldwide, with economic, nutritional and medicinal values, which requires a shorter growing period compared to other edible mushrooms. Fungal and insect pests of cultivated P. ostreatus were examined. Fungi from infected mother spawn of P. ostreatus were isolated, characterized and identified, while various insect pests on P. ostreatus were also collected and analysed. The plates showing micrographs, morphological and cultural characteristics of fungal isolates obtained were recorded. Fungi species isolated from infected mother spawn of P. ostreatus were identified as Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Cladosporium sp., Penicillium oxalicum, Fusarium oxysporium and F. verticilliodes. The growth of Cladosporium sp. was slow on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates compared to Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. which was very fast. Insect belonging to the orders Collembola, Diptera and Araneae were encountered on the cultivated P.ostreatus. These groups of insects were found at adult stage of life. Infestation by order Collembola (springtail) on P. ostreatus was found to be higher in incidence with percentage composition of 50.0%, followed by order Diptera (fruit flies) and order Araneae (spider) with 33.3% and 16.67% composition respectively. Distinguishing features of each pest and the features of damage done on mushroom were also observed and recorded.
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