Differential response of bacteria and fungi to drought on the decomposition of Sarcocornia fruticosa woody stems in a saline stream.

Inland saline ecosystems suffer multiple stresses (e.g., high radiation, salinity, water scarcity) that may compromise essential ecosystem functions such as organic matter decomposition. Here, we investigated the effects of drought on microbial colonization and decomposition of Sarcocornia fruticosa woody stems across different habitats in a saline watershed: on the dry floodplain, submerged in the stream channel and at the shoreline (first submerged, then emerged). Unexpectedly, weight loss was not enhanced in the submerged stems, while decomposition process differed between habitats. On the floodplain, it was dominated by fungi and high cellulolytic activity; in submerged conditions, a diverse community of bacteria and high ligninolytic activity dominated; and, on the shoreline, enzyme activities were like submerged conditions, but with a fungal community similar to the dry conditions. Results indicate distinct degradation paths being driven by different stress factors: strong water scarcity and photodegradation in dry conditions, and high salinity and reduced oxygen in wet conditions. This suggests that fungi are more resistant to drought, and bacteria to salinity. Overall, in saline watersheds, variations in multiple stress factors exert distinct environmental filters on bacteria and fungi and their role in the decomposition of plant material, affecting carbon cycling and microbial interactions.

Spatial distribution and community composition of endophytic fungi within Mussaenda pubescens stems.

Endophytic fungi, pivotal in facilitating plant co-evolution, significantly enhance plant growth, stress resistance, and environmental adaptability. Despite their importance, the spatial distribution of stem endophytic fungi (SEF) within host plants remains poorly characterized. Here, we employed high-throughput sequencing to conduct a comparative analysis of SEF communities in Mussaenda pubescens on a regional scale. Our findings reveal that whole-SEF communities were overwhelmingly dominated by members of the phylum Ascomycota, accounting for 85.9 %, followed by Basidiomycota at 13.9 %, and that alpha diversity within the whole-SEF community of M. pubescens remains relatively consistent across sampling sites. However, significant variation was observed within conditionally abundant taxa (CAT), conditionally rare or abundant taxa (CRAT), and conditionally rare taxa (CRT). Climatic factors emerged as the primary influence on SEF community distribution, followed by spatial distance and stem chemical properties. Neutral community modeling results suggested that both stochastic and deterministic processes play a role in shaping whole-SEF communities, with deterministic processes having a stronger influence on CRT subcommunities. Furthermore, the CRT co-occurrence network exhibited a more complex structure, characterized by higher values of network betweenness and degree relative to CAT and CRAT subcommunities. These findings enhance our understanding of community assembly and ecological interactions between stem fungal endophytes, presenting opportunities for harnessing fungal resources for the benefit of humanity.

Unsaturated fatty acid, Nonacosenoic acid isolated from an endophyte Chaetomium nigricolor inhabiting the stem of Catharanthus roseus and its bioactivity.

The endophytic fungus Chaetomium nigricolor culture filtrate's hexane extract was used to identify a cytotoxic very long-chain fatty acid. Based on multiple spectroscopic investigations, the structure of the compound was predicted to be an unsaturated fatty acid, Nonacosenoic acid (NA). Using the MTT assay, the compound's cytotoxic potential was evaluated against MCF-7, A-431, U-251, and HEK-293 T cells. The compound was moderately cytotoxic to breast carcinoma cell line, MCF-7 cells and negligibly cytotoxic to non-cancerous cell line HEK-293 T cells. The compound exhibited mild cytotoxic activity against A-431 and U-251 cells. The compound also induced ROS generation and mitochondrial depolarization in MCF-7 cells when assessed via the NBT and JC-1 assays, respectively. This is the first report on the production of nonacosenoic acid from the endophytic fungus Chaetomium nigricolor and the assessment of its bioactivity.

Metataxonomic analysis of endophytic bacteria of blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) across tissues and environmental conditions.

(1) Background: Endophytic bacteria represent an important component of plant wellness. They have been widely studied for their involvement in plant development and enhancement of stress tolerance. In this work, the endophytic communities of roots, stems, and leaves of blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) were studied in three different niches: natural, riverside, and human-impacted niches. (2) Results: The microbiome composition revealed that Sphingomonadaceae was the most abundant family in all samples, accounting for 9.4-45.8%. In contrast, other families seem to be linked to a specific tissue or niche. Families Microbacteriaceae and Hymenobacteraceae increased their presence in stem and leaf samples, while Burkholderiaceae abundance was important in riverside samples. Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed that root samples were the most diverse, and they gathered together in the same cluster, apart from the rest of the samples. (3) Conclusions: The analysis of the microbiome of R. ulmifolius plants revealed that the composition was essentially the same in different niches; the differences were primarily influenced by plant tissue factors with a core genome dominated by Sphingomonadaceae. Additionally, it was observed that R. ulmifolius can select its own microbiome, and this remains constant in all tissues evaluated regardless the niche of sampling.

Resurgence of wheat stem rust infections in western Europe: causes and how to curtail them.

Ten years ago, (black) stem rust - the most damaging of wheat (Triticum aestivum) rusts - re-emerged in western Europe. Disease incidences have since increased in scale and frequency. Here, we investigated the likely underlying causes and used those to propose urgently needed mitigating actions. We report that the first large-scale UK outbreak of the wheat stem rust fungus, Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), in 2022 may have been caused by timely arrival of airborne urediniospores from southwest Europe. The drive towards later-maturing wheat varieties in the UK may be exacerbating Pgt incidences, which could have disastrous consequences. Indeed, infection assays showed that two UK Pgt isolates from 2022 could infect over 96% of current UK wheat varieties. We determined that the temperature response data in current disease risk simulation models are outdated. Analysis of germination rates for three current UK Pgt isolates showed substantial variation in temperature response functions, suggesting that the accuracy of disease risk simulations would be substantially enhanced by incorporating data from prevailing Pgt isolates. As Pgt incidences continue to accelerate in western Europe, we advocate for urgent action to curtail Pgt losses and help safeguard future wheat production across the region.

Microbial communities of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. and the correlations between microbial community and the active secondary metabolites.

Background: Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, great differences exist in the content of active secondary metabolites in various parts of S. sphenanthera. Do microorganisms critically influence the accumulation of active components in different parts of S. sphenanthera? Methods: In this study, 16S/ITS amplicon sequencing analysis was applied to unravel microbial communities in rhizospheric soil and different parts of wild S. sphenanthera. At the same time, the active secondary metabolites in different parts were detected, and the correlation between the secondary metabolites and microorganisms was analyzed. Results: The major components identified in the essential oils were sesquiterpene and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The contents of essential oil components in fruit were much higher than that in stem and leaf, and the dominant essential oil components were different in these parts. The dominant components of the three parts were γ-muurolene, δ-cadinol, and trans farnesol (stem); α-cadinol and neoisolongifolene-8-ol (leaf); isosapathulenol, α-santalol, cedrenol, and longiverbenone (fruit). The microbial amplicon sequences were taxonomically grouped into eight (bacteria) and seven (fungi) different phyla. Community diversity and composition analyses showed that different parts of S. sphenanthera had similar and unique microbial communities, and functional prediction analysis showed that the main functions of microorganisms were related to metabolism. Moreover, the accumulation of secondary metabolites in S. sphenanthera was closely related to the microbial community composition, especially bacteria. In endophytic bacteria, Staphylococcus and Hypomicrobium had negative effects on five secondary metabolites, among which γ-muurolene and trans farnesol were the dominant components in the stem. That is, the dominant components in stems were greatly affected by microorganisms. Our results provided a new opportunity to further understand the effects of microorganisms on the active secondary metabolites and provided a basis for further research on the sustainable utilization of S. sphenanthera.

Effective Control of Sclerotinia Stem Rot in Canola Plants Through Application of Exogenous Hairpin RNA of Multiple Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Genes.

Sclerotinia stem rot is a globally destructive plant disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Current management of Sclerotinia stem rot primarily relies on chemical fungicides and crop rotation, raising environmental concerns. In this study, we developed an eco-friendly RNA bio-fungicide targeting S. sclerotiorum. Six S. sclerotiorum genes were selected for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) synthesis. Four genes, a chitin-binding domain, mitogen-activated protein kinase, oxaloacetate acetylhydrolase, and abhydrolase-3, were combined to express hairpin RNA in Escherichia coli HT115. The effect of application of total RNA extracted from E. coli HT115 expressing hairpin RNA on disease progressive and necrosis lesions was evaluated. Gene expression analysis using real-time PCR showed silencing of the target genes using 5 ng/µl of dsRNA in a fungal liquid culture. A detached leaf assay and greenhouse application of dsRNA on canola stem and leaves showed variation in the reduction of necrosis symptoms by dsRNA of different genes, with abhydrolase-3 being the most effective. The dsRNA from a combination of four genes reduced disease severity significantly (P = 0.01). Plants sprayed with hairpin RNA from four genes had lesions that were almost 30% smaller than those of plants treated with abhydrolase-3 alone, in lab and greenhouse assays. The results of this study highlight the potential of RNA interference to manage diseases caused by S. sclerotiorum; however, additional research is necessary to optimize its efficacy.

Multiple Forms of Resistance to the Phomopsis Stem Canker Pathogens Diaporthe helianthi and D. gulyae in Sunflower.

Phomopsis stem canker of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) can be caused by multiple necrotrophic fungi in the genus Diaporthe, with Diaporthe helianthi and D. gulyae being the most common causal agents in the United States. Infection begins at the leaf margins and proceeds primarily through the vasculature, progressing from the leaf through the petiole to the stem, resulting in formation of brown stem lesions centered around the petiole. Sunflower resistance to Phomopsis stem canker is quantitative and genetically complex. Due to the intricate disease process, resistance is possible at different stages of infection, and multiple forms of defense may contribute to the overall level of quantitative resistance. In this study, sunflower lines exhibiting field resistance to Phomopsis stem canker were evaluated for stem and leaf resistance to multiple isolates of D. helianthi and D. gulyae in greenhouse experiments, and responses to the two species were compared. Additionally, selected resistant and susceptible lines were evaluated for petiole transmission resistance to D. helianthi. Lines with distinct forms of resistance were identified, and results indicated that responses to stem inoculation were strongly correlated (Spearman's coefficient 0.598, P < 0.001) for the two fungal species, while leaf responses were not (Spearman's coefficient 0.396, P = 0.076). These results provide a basis for genetic dissection of distinct forms of sunflower resistance to Phomopsis stem canker and will facilitate combining different forms of resistance to potentially achieve durable control of this disease in sunflower hybrids.

Surviving the Potato Stems: Differences in Genes Required for Fitness by Dickeya dadantii and Dickeya dianthicola.

Bacteria belonging to the genus Dickeya cause blackleg and soft rot symptoms on many plant hosts, including potato. Although there is considerable knowledge about the genetic determinants that allow Dickeya to colonize host plants, as well as the genes that contribute to virulence, much is still unknown. To identify the genes important for fitness in potato stems, we constructed and evaluated randomly barcoded transposon mutant (RB-TnSeq) libraries of Dickeya dadantii and Dickeya dianthicola. We identified 169 and 157 genes important for growth in D. dadantii and D. dianthicola in stems, respectively. This included genes related to metabolic pathways, chemotaxis and motility, transcriptional regulation, transport across membranes, membrane biogenesis, detoxification mechanisms, and virulence-related genes, including a potential virulence cluster srfABC, c-di-GMP modulating genes, and pectin degradation genes. When we compared the results of the stem assay with other datasets, we identified genes important for growth in stems versus tubers and in vitro conditions. Additionally, our data showed differences in fitness determinants for D. dadantii and D. dianthicola. These data provide important insights into the mechanisms used by Dickeya when interacting with and colonizing plants and thus might provide targets for management.

Roseomonas populi sp. nov., an acetate-degrading bacteria isolated from the stem of Populus tomentosa.

Strain CN29T, isolated from the stem of 5- to 6-year-old Populus tomentosa in Shandong, China, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of CN29T were Gram-stain negative, aerobic, nonspore-forming, and nonmotile coccoid. Growth occurred at 20-37 °C, pH 4.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0), and with 0-1% NaCl (optimum, 1%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain CN29T was closely related to members of the genus Roseomonas and closest to Roseomonas pecuniae N75T (96.6%). This classification was further supported by phylogenetic analysis using additional core genes. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA‒DNA hybridization values between strain CN29T and Roseomonas populi CN29T were 82.7% and 27.8%, respectively. The genome size of strain CN29T was 5.87 Mb, with a G + C content of 70.9%. The major cellular fatty acids included summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c), C19:0 cyclo ω8c and C16:0. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, aminolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol. Strain CN29T can utilize acetate as a carbon source for growth and metabolism. Additionally, it contains acid phosphatase (2-naphthyl phosphate), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphoric monoesters. The CN29T strain contains several genes, including maeB, gdhB, and cysJ, involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling. These findings suggest that the strain may actively participate in ecosystem cycling, leading to soil improvement and promoting the growth of poplar trees. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and genotypic characteristics, strain CN29T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas populi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CN29T (= JCM 35579T = GDMCC 1.3267T).

Flavobacterium endoglycinae sp. nov., an endophytic bacterium isolated from soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Gwangan) stems.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped, oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterial strain, designated BB8T, was isolated from the stems of a Korean soybean cultivar (Glycine max L. cv. Gwangan). The strain produced a yellow pigment on tryptic soy agar. Growth of strain BB8T occurred at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0), at 10-35 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C) and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain BB8T formed a lineage within the genus Flavobacterium and was most closely related to Flavobacterium artemisiae SYP-B1015T (96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Flavobacterium ustbae T13T (96.8%). The complete genome sequence of strain BB8T was 5 513 159 bp long with a G+C content of 34.1 mol%. The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain BB8T were iso-C15 : 0 (21 %), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c, 20.3%) and iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (13.7%). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified aminolipids, and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. Based on these phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain BB8T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium endoglycinae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BB8T (=KCTC 82167T=CCTCC AB 2020070T).

Comparison of the Responses of Soil Fungal Community to Straw, Inorganic Fertilizer, and Compost in a Farmland in the Loess Plateau.

The Loess Plateau is located in the arid and semi-arid regions in northern China. The ecosystem is particularly sensitive to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Fungi can produce extracellular enzymes, decompose a variety of organic matter, and regulate carbon and nutrient balance. We studied the changes of soil fungal community compositions in response to straw, inorganic fertilizer, and compost in a typical farmland in the Loess Plateau. Our results demonstrated that the addition of straw significantly reduces the Shannon index of the fungal community, in addition, the participation of straw significantly affects the composition of the fungal community. Functional prediction based on FUNGuild showed that straw significantly reduced the relative abundance of saprotrophs, pathotrophs, symbiotrophs, lichenized, ectomycorrhizal, and plant pathogens. Although fertilization practices destroyed the co-occurrence pattern among the fungal species, the addition of straw alleviated this affect. No significant effect of straw, compost, and inorganic fertilizers on the co-occurrence pattern among species in the soil fungal community was observed. Compared with compost and inorganic fertilizer, the addition of straw shaped the community composition by changing the relative abundance of fungal functional taxa. Thus, in the fragile Loess Plateau environment, over-fertilizing or non-order-fertilizing may destroy the co-occurrence pattern of the fungal communities and Loess Plateau ecosystem. IMPORTANCE Determining the response of soil fungi in sensitive ecosystems to external environmental disturbances is an important, yet little-known, topic in microbial ecology. In this study, we evaluated the impact of traditional fertilization management practices on the composition, co-occurrence pattern, and functional groups of fungal communities in loessial soil. Our results show that in the fragile Loess Plateau environment, fertilizer management changed the composition of the fungal community and disrupted the co-occurrence pattern between fungi. The application of straw alleviates the destroying of the co-occurrence pattern. The current research emphasizes the necessity of rational fertilization of farmland in loessial soil.

Sulfur Induces Resistance against Canker Caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidae via Phenolic Components Increase and Morphological Structure Modification in the Kiwifruit Stems.

Bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) has led to considerable losses in all major kiwifruit-growing areas. There are no commercial products in the market to effectively control this disease. Therefore, the defense resistance of host plants is a prospective option. In our previous study, sulfur could improve the resistance of kiwifruit to Psa infection. However, the mechanisms of inducing resistance remain largely unclear. In this study, disease severity and protection efficiency were tested after applying sulfur, with different concentrations in the field. The results indicated that sulfur could reduce the disease index by 30.26 and 31.6 and recorded high protection efficiency of 76.67% and 77.00% after one and two years, respectively, when the concentration of induction treatments was 2.0 kg/m3. Ultrastructural changes in kiwifruit stems after induction were demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and the accumulation of lignin were determined by biochemical analyses. Our results showed that the morphological characteristics of trichomes and lenticels of kiwifruit stem were in the best defensive state respectively when the sulfur concentration was 3.0 kg/m3 and 1.5 kg/m3. Meanwhile, in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 kg/m3, the sulfur could promote the chloroplast and mitochondria of kiwifruit stems infected with Psa to gradually return to health status, increasing the thickness of the cell wall. In addition, sulfur increased the activities of PAL, POD and PPO, and promoted the accumulation of lignin in kiwifruit stems. Moreover, the sulfur protection efficiency was positively correlated with PPO activity (p < 0.05) and lignin content (p < 0.01), which revealed that the synergistic effect of protective enzyme activity and the phenolic metabolism pathway was the physiological effect of sulfur-induced kiwifruit resistance to Psa. This evidence highlights the importance of lignin content in kiwifruit stems as a defense mechanism in sulfur-induced resistance. These results suggest that sulfur enhances kiwifruit canker resistance via an increase in phenolic components and morphology structure modification in the kiwifruit stems. Therefore, this study could provide insights into sulfur to control kiwifruit canker caused by Psa.

Mixed Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Possible Interaction Mechanisms between Zizania latifolia and Ustilago esculenta Inducing Jiaobai Stem-Gall Formation.

The smut fungus Ustilago esculenta infects Zizania latifolia and induces stem expansion to form a unique vegetable named Jiaobai. Although previous studies have demonstrated that hormonal control is essential for triggering stem swelling, the role of hormones synthesized by Z. latifolia and U. esculenta and the underlying molecular mechanism are not yet clear. To study the mechanism that triggers swollen stem formation, we analyzed the gene expression pattern of both interacting organisms during the initial trigger of culm gall formation, at which time the infective hyphae also propagated extensively and penetrated host stem cells. Transcriptional analysis indicated that abundant genes involving fungal pathogenicity and plant resistance were reprogrammed to maintain the subtle balance between the parasite and host. In addition, the expression of genes involved in auxin biosynthesis of U. esculenta obviously decreased during stem swelling, while a large number of genes related to the synthesis, metabolism and signal transduction of hormones of the host plant were stimulated and showed specific expression patterns, particularly, the expression of ZlYUCCA9 (a flavin monooxygenase, the key enzyme in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis pathway) increased significantly. Simultaneously, the content of IAA increased significantly, while the contents of cytokinin and gibberellin showed the opposite trend. We speculated that auxin produced by the host plant, rather than the fungus, triggers stem swelling. Furthermore, from the differently expressed genes, two candidate Cys2-His2 (C2H2) zinc finger proteins, GME3058_g and GME5963_g, were identified from U. esculenta, which may conduct fungus growth and infection at the initial stage of stem-gall formation.

Genetic diversity, antifungal evaluation and molecular docking studies of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles as prospective stem rust inhibitor candidates among some Egyptian wheat genotypes.

Wheat has a remarkable importance among cereals worldwide. Wheat stem and leaf rust constitute the main threats that destructively influence grain quality and yield production. Pursuing resistant cultivars and developing new genotypes including resistance genes is believed to be the most effective tool to overcome these challenges. This study is the first to use molecular markers to evaluate the genetic diversity of eighteen Egyptian wheat genotypes. Moreover, the molecular docking analysis was also used to assess the Cu-chitosan nanoparticle (CuChNp) treatment and its mode of action in disease control management. The tested genotypes were categorized into two main cluster groups depending on the similarity matrix, i.e the most resistant and susceptible genotypes to stem and leaf rust races. The results of SCoT primers revealed 140 polymorphic and 5 monomorphic bands with 97% polymorphism. While 121 polymorphic and 74 monomorphic bands were scored for SRAP primers (99% polymorphism). The genotypes Sakha 94, Sakha 95, Beni Sweif 4, Beni Sweif 7, Sohag 4 and Sohag 5 were resistant, while Giza 160 was highly susceptible to all stem rust races at the seedling stage. However, in the adult stage, the 18 genotypes were evaluated for stem and leaf rust-resistant in two different locations, i.e. Giza and Sids. In this investigation, for the first time, the activity of CuChNp was studied and shown to have the potential to inhibit stem and leaf rust in studied Egyptian wheat genotypes. The Spraying Cu-chitosan nanoparticles showed that the incubation and latent periods were increased in treated plants of the tested genotypes. Molecular modeling revealed their activity against the stem and leaf rust development. The SRAP and SCoT markers were highly useful tools for the classification of the tested wheat genotypes, although they displayed high similarities at the morphological stage. However, Cu-chitosan nanoparticles have a critical and effective role in stem and leaf rust disease control.

Detecting Phytophthora cinnamomi associated with dieback disease on Carya cathayensis using loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Chinese hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.) is an economically and ecologically important nut plant in China. Dieback and basal stem necrosis have been observed in the plants since 2016, and its recent spread has significantly affected plant growth and nut production. Therefore, a survey was conducted to evaluate the disease incidence at five sites in Linan County, China. The highest incidence was recorded at the Tuankou site at up to 11.39% in 2019. The oomycete, Phytophthora cinnamomi, was isolated from symptomatic plant tissue and plantation soil using baiting and selective media-based detection methods and identified. Artificial infection with the representative P. cinnamomi ST402 isolate produced vertically elongated discolorations in the outer xylem and necrotic symptoms in C. cathayensis seedlings in a greenhouse trial. Molecular detections based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) specific to P. cinnamomi ST402 were conducted. Result indicated that LAMP detection showed a high coherence level with the baiting assays for P. cinnamomi detection in the field. This study provides the evidence of existence of high-pathogenic P. cinnamomi in the C. cathayensis plantation soil in China and the insights into a convenient tool developed for conducting field monitoring of this aggressive pathogen.

Optimization of factors affecting the rooting of pine wilt disease resistant Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) stem cuttings.

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a devastating disease affecting trees belonging to the genus Pinus. To control the spread of PWD in the Masson pine forest in China, PWD resistant Masson pine clones have been selected by the Anhui Academy of Forestry. However, because Masson pine is a difficult-to-root species, producing seedlings is challenging, especially from trees older than 5 years of age, which impedes the application of PWD resistant clones. In this study, we investigated the factors affecting rooting of PWD resistant clones and established a cheap, reliable, and simple method that promotes rooting. We tested the effects of three management methods, four substrates, two cutting materials, two cutting treatments, and three collection times on the rooting of cuttings obtained from 9-year-old PWD resistant clones. Rooting was observed only in stem cuttings treated with the full-light automatic spray management method. Additionally, stem cuttings showed a significantly higher rooting rate and root quality than needles cuttings. Compared with other substrates, stem cuttings planted in perlite produced the longest adventitious root and the highest total root length and lateral root number. Moreover, stem cuttings of PWD resistant clones collected in May showed a significantly higher rooting rate and root quality than those collected in June and July. Moreover, stem cuttings prepared with a horizontal cut while retaining the needles showed significantly higher rooting rate and root quality than those prepared with a diagonal cut while partly removing the needles. This study promotes the reproduction of seedlings of PWD-resistant Masson pine clones which helps control the spread of PWD, meanwhile, provides a technical reference for the propagation of mature pine trees via cuttings.

A recombined Sr26 and Sr61 disease resistance gene stack in wheat encodes unrelated NLR genes.

The re-emergence of stem rust on wheat in Europe and Africa is reinforcing the ongoing need for durable resistance gene deployment. Here, we isolate from wheat, Sr26 and Sr61, with both genes independently introduced as alien chromosome introgressions from tall wheat grass (Thinopyrum ponticum). Mutational genomics and targeted exome capture identify Sr26 and Sr61 as separate single genes that encode unrelated (34.8%) nucleotide binding site leucine rich repeat proteins. Sr26 and Sr61 are each validated by transgenic complementation using endogenous and/or heterologous promoter sequences. Sr61 orthologs are absent from current Thinopyrum elongatum and wheat pan genome sequences, contrasting with Sr26 where homologues are present. Using gene-specific markers, we validate the presence of both genes on a single recombinant alien segment developed in wheat. The co-location of these genes on a small non-recombinogenic segment simplifies their deployment as a gene stack and potentially enhances their resistance durability.

Niche specificity and functional diversity of the bacterial communities associated with Ginkgo biloba and Panax quinquefolius.

Plant-associated bacteria can establish mutualistic relationships with plants to support plant health. Plant tissues represent heterogeneous niches with distinct characteristics and may thus host distinct microbial populations. The objectives of this study are to investigate the bacterial communities associated with two medicinally and commercially important plant species; Ginkgo biloba and Panax quinquefolius using high Throughput Sequencing (HTS) of 16S rRNA gene, and to evaluate the extent of heterogeneity in bacterial communities associated with different plant niches. Alpha diversity showed that number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) varied significantly by tissue type. Beta diversity revealed that the composition of bacterial communities varied between tissue types. In Ginkgo biloba and Panax quinquefolius, 13% and 49% of OTUs, respectively, were ubiquitous in leaf, stem and root. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were the most abundant phyla in Ginkgo biloba while Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Plantomycetes and Acidobacteria were the most abundant phyla in Panax quinquefolius. Functional prediction of these bacterial communities using MicrobiomeAnalyst revealed 5843 and 6251 KEGG orthologs in Ginkgo biloba and Panax quinquefolius, respectively. A number of these KEGG pathways were predicted at significantly different levels between tissues. These findings demonstrate the heterogeneity, niche specificity and functional diversity of plant-associated bacteria.

Diversity and antibacterial activity of fungal endophytes from Eucalyptus exserta.

BACKGROUND: Eucalyptus bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is an important eucalyptus disease. Endophytic fungi, an important source of natural active substances, provide a new breakthrough for the control of plant diseases. RESULTS: In the present study, 80 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from the healthy branches and fruits of Eucalyptus exserta. Fifteen distinct isolates (MK120854-MK120868) were selected for further taxonomic identification through morphological trait assessments and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region-rRNA gene sequence analysis. Thirteen genera, namely, Phyllosticta, Penicillium, Eutypella, Purpureocillium, Talaromyces, Lophiostoma, Cladosporium, Pestalotiopsis, Chaetomium, Fusarium, Gongronella, Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria, were identified on the basis of their morphological characteristics. Members of the genus Phyllosticta were the primary isolates, with a colonization frequency (CF) of 27.5 %. Most of the fungal isolates displayed antibacterial activity. The crude extracts obtained from Lophiostoma sp. Eef-7, Pestalotiopsis sp. Eef-9 and Chaetomium sp. Eef-10 exhibited strong inhibition on the test bacteria, and Lophiostoma sp. Eef-7 was further cultured on a large scale. Three known compounds, scorpinone (1), 5-deoxybostrycoidin (2) and 4-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2 H-pyran-2-one (3), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Lophiostoma sp. Eef-7 associated with E. exserta. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra and a comparison of their spectral data with published values. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak antimicrobial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum. CONCLUSIONS: Endophytic fungi from Eucalyptus exserta may represent alternative sources of antimicrobial agents. Lophiostoma sp. Eef-7 can produce 2-azaanthraquinone derivatives and shows weak antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum.