Diversity of Claviceps paspali reveals unknown lineages and unique alkaloid genotypes.

Claviceps species affecting Paspalum spp. are a serious problem, as they infect forage grasses such as Paspalum dilatatum and P. plicatulum, producing the ergot disease. The ascomycete C. paspali is known to be the pathogen responsible for this disease in both grasses. This fungus produces alkaloids, including ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes, that have potent neurotropic activities in mammals. A total of 32 isolates from Uruguay were obtained from infected P. dilatatum and P. plicatulum. Isolates were phylogenetically identified using partial sequences of the genes coding for the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), ß-tubulin (TUB2), and the nuc rDNA 28S subunit (28S). Isolates were also genotyped by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and presence of genes within the ergot alkaloid (EAS) and indole-diterpene (IDT) biosynthetic gene clusters. This study represents the first genetic characterization of several isolates of C. paspali. The results from this study provide insight into the genetic and genotypic diversity of Claviceps paspali present in P. dilatatum and suggest that isolates from P. plicatulum could be considered an ecological subspecies or specialized variant of C. paspali. Some of these isolates show hypothetical alkaloid genotypes never reported before.

Overwintering of Piezodorus guildinii (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) Populations.

Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) is a soybean pest that causes significant economic losses in the Americas. The variability of overwintering (diapause) traits was evaluated in populations of the Southwest (SW) (33°55'-34°17'S, 57°13'-57°46'W) during 2-year period (2011-2013) and of the Northwest (NW) (32°01'-33°02'S, 57°50'-57°24'W) during 1-year period (2014-2015) Regions of Uruguay. Samples were taken from different plant species (cultivated legumes, wild shrubs, and trees) and from overwintering sites (leaf litter and bark). Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. was the main host, with a collection period of 10-11 months in the SW and 12 months in the NW. Cluster analysis for each sex was carried out to group the months according to the similarity in diapause traits of populations (body size, body lipid content, immature reproductive organs, and clear type of pronotum band and connexivum in females). Female diapause in the SW was longer (beginning of autumn to end of winter) than that in the NW (mid-autumn to mid-winter). Male diapause was longer (mid-autumn to mid-winter) in SW1 (1st year) than in SW2 (2nd year) and NW (late-autumn to mid-winter). In both regions, male diapause was shorter than female. Differences were associated with maximum temperature at daylight hours ≤ 12.1, being necessary maximum temperatures below 23.8 °C for females and 19.2 °C for males to initiate diapause.

Performance of Nymph and Adult of Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Feeding on Cultivated Legumes.

Performance of nymphs and adults of Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) feeding on different cultivated legumes was studied under controlled laboratory conditions (25 ± 1°C, 80 ± 10% RH, 14 h of photophase) on soybean immature pod (SIP; R5.5-R6), birdsfoot trefoil immature pod (BTIP), alfalfa immature pod (AIP), and red clover flower with immature seeds (RCF). Food had significant effects on the life history of P. guildinii. The major differences in nymph survivorship were observed at second and third instars, with similar survivorship on SIP and AIP as hosts and higher than that recorded on BTIP and RCF. Total nymph mortality was much greater on BTIP (87.6%) than on SIP (32.6%) and AIP (54.2%); all nymphs died on RCF. Food did not affect nymph development time (about 20 days). Adult longevity was highest and lowest on AIP and RCF (62 and 32 days), respectively. Percentage of ovipositing females was highest (≈ 80%) on SIP and AIP, and intermediate on BTIP (52.2%); no females reproduced on RCF. Fecundity on SIP and AIP was similar (≈ 9 egg masses/female; and ≈ 141 eggs/female) and twice as higher than on BTIP (4.1 egg masses/female; and 60.2 eggs/female). Egg fertility (58%) did not vary with food sources. Adults fed on SIP and AIP gained weight during 43 days, remained unaltered on BTIP, and decreased on RCF. Data obtained indicated that SIP and AIP are suitable food sources, and emphasize the importance of alfalfa as a host plant of P. guildinii in Uruguay.

Species of Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae on native Myrtaceae in Uruguay: evidence of fungal host jumps.

Mycosphaerella species are well-known causal agents of leaf diseases on many economically and ecologically important plant species. In Uruguay, a relatively large number of Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae are found on Eucalyptus, but nothing is known of these fungi on native Myrtaceae. The aim of this study was to identify Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae species associated with leaf diseases on native Myrtaceae in Uruguay and to consider whether host jumps by the pathogen from introduced Eucalyptus to native Myrtaceae have occurred. Several native forests throughout the country were surveyed with special attention given to those located close to Eucalyptus plantations. Five species belonging to the Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae clades were found on native Myrtaceous trees and three of these had previously been reported on Eucalyptus in Uruguay. Those occurring both on Eucalyptus and native Myrtaceae included Pallidocercospora heimii, Pseudocercospora norchiensis, and Teratosphaeria aurantia. In addition, Mycosphaerella yunnanensis, a species known to occur on Eucalyptus but not previously recorded in Uruguay, was found on leaves of two native Myrtaceous hosts. Because most of these species occur on Eucalyptus in countries other than Uruguay, it appears that they were introduced in this country and have adapted to be able to infect native Myrtaceae. These apparent host jumps have the potential to result in serious disease problems and they should be carefully monitored.