The relation between diversity of pathogenicity on clubroot-resistant (CR) cultivars of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) bred in Japan and DNA polymorphisms in 17 populations of Plasmodiophora brassicae from cruciferous plants was examined by inoculation tests and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using 18 arbitrary primers. Four pathotypes (A-D) were identified after inoculation of six CR cultivars of Chinese cabbage in the 17 populations from cruciferous crops. A relatively high level of genetic diversity was also detected among these populations in the RAPD analysis. Although the four pathotypes could not be clearly differentiated using the RAPD data, most populations of three pathotypes had a consistent location on the dendrogram. All pathotype B (virulent on five cultivars except Utage 70) and D (avirulent on all cultivars) populations, which were common in incompatible interactions with cv. Utage 70, were located in a single subcluster. All five pathotype C populations (virulent only on cv. Utage 70) except for one population grouped in another single subcluster. Because four pathotype A populations (virulent on all six cultivars, races 4 and 9) fell in different subclusters, the populations may be genetically polyphyletic. Populations from cruciferous weed Cardamine flexuosa differed remarkably from those from cruciferous crops in pathogenicity on common cultivars of Chinese cabbage and turnip and C. flexuosa, but they grouped in a single cluster with all race 9 populations from crops. Race 9 populations from crops may thus be closely related to populations from the weed rather than to races 1 and 4 from crops.

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HighlightTobacco MPK4L is activated by wounding and ozone exposure in a pathway independent to that of MPK4 and plays a role in the control of stomatal aperture.

The gram-negative bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) causes potato zebra chip disease and carrot Lso disease, which resembles a physiological disorder, and has raised concern on its impact on carrot production and whether the pathogen can be transmitted via carrot seeds. Here, we evaluated the possibility of carrot seed transmission of the bacterium using grow-out tests and probability analyses. On the basis of the tests, we concluded that transmission is unlikely in practice. Therefore, this finding will help to promote the international trade of carrot seeds.

A resistant type of small, spheroid clubroot galls (SSGs) containing resting spores formed on the root surface of clubroot-resistant (CR) cultivars of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis) inoculated with an avirulent population of Plasmodiophora brassicae. Populations isolated from the SSGs severely affected a common (susceptible) cultivar but did not have the typical pathogenicity on CR cultivars, indicating similarity in pathogenicity between SSG and original spore populaions. Populations pathogenic on CR cultivars were not detected from SSGs. Therefore, the ability of the avirulent population among the SSGs to form resting spores may need to be considered to achieve clubroot control in common cultivars of crucifers.