[Effect of water quality in mosquito breeding sites on the pathogenicity and infectivity of zoospores from the fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes)]. / Efecto de la calidad del agua de criaderos de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) sobre la patogenicidad e infectividad de las zoosporas del hongo Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes).

The fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii is highly pathogenic to mosquito larvae in Argentina. We studied if physical and chemical characteristics of the water from mosquito breeding sites affect pathogenicity, and the infectivity of zoospores of L. chapmanii. Water samples were taken from pools filled by rains, urban ditches with domestic waste water, pools filled by overflow from Río de la Plata, and flower vases from the Cemetery of La Plata city. Sub-samples of water were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, while other sub-samples were used for laboratory bioassays. Containers with 150 ml of water samples, 25 Aedes aegypti larvae, and 2.8 x 10(5) zoospores of L. chapmanii, were incubated under controlled environment, and larval mortality was recorded after 48 h. There were highly significant differences among mortalities in water from cemetery vases (70.2%), rain pools water (99.5%), and pools with water from Río de la Plata (95%). There were no significant differences among larval mortalities in water from ditches, rain pools and Río de la Plata pools. Leptolegnia chapmanii was successful as a biological control agent in all kinds of tested water qualities, producing high larval mortality.

Análisis discriminante de una comunidad halófila con distintas historias de fuego / Discriminant analysis of a halophylous community with different fire histories / Análise discriminante de uma comunidade halófila com distintas histórias de fogo

Los espartillares de Spartina argentinensis (Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina) se encuentran en suelos salinos pobremente drenados y con frecuencia sufren incendios. En estudios previos se observó que parcelas con distintas historias de fuego se agrupaban de acuerdo a este factor en función de la abundancia-cobertura de las especies presentes. El objeto de este trabajo fue analizar a qué especies respondían estos agrupamientos, para lo cual se usó análisis discriminante. Se utilizaron los datos de abundancia-cobertura de la Reserva Federico Wildermuth (Santa Fe), en parcelas quemadas y sin quemar, la mitad de las cuales se volvieron a quemar en agosto de 1999, con datos de tres años: 1998: A (quemada en 1996) y D (nunca quemada); 1999 y 2000: A; B (quemada en 1996 y 1999); C (quemada solo en 1999) y D. En 1998, la función discriminante incluyó a 13 de las 38 especies presentes, siendo Melilotus alba, Iresine difusa, Distichlis spicata y S. argentinensis las de mayor peso. Las variables que quedaron en la función en 1999, 16 sobre un total de 57, fueron S. argentinensis, Heliotroppium curassavicum, M. alba, Chloris cicliata, C. gayana, Apium leptophillum, y Pluchea saggitalis, mientras que en el 2000, 16 dentro de 68 especies incluyeron a I. difusa, Salicornia ambigua, Phyla canescens, Pluchea saggitalis y M. alba. A relativo corto plazo, el sistema tiende a igualarse al original sin perturbación por fuego.

The "espartillares" of Spartina argentinensis (Santa Fe province, Argentina) thrive on saline poorly drained soils with frequent natural or man-made fires. Previous data showed that plots with different fire histories were clustered according to fire and the cover-abundance of the species of the community. Our aim was to analyze which species were responsible of the clustering using discriminant analysis of cover-abundance data of burnt and non burnt plots of the Federico Wildermuth Reserve: (A) burned in July 1996, (B) burned in July 1996 and August 1999, (C) burned in August 1999, and (D) never burned. In 1998, the discriminant function included 13 out of 38 species, being Melilotus alba, Iresine difusa, Distichlis spicata y S. argentinensis the most important. S. argentinensis, Heliotroppium curassavicum, M. alba, Chloris cicliata, C. gayana, Apium leptophillum, and Pluchea saggitalis were the most important variables (16 out of 57 species) in 1999 while in 2000 I. difusa, Salicornia ambigua, Phyla canescens, Pluchea saggitalis and M. alba were considered by the function (16 out of 68 species). The effect of fire on the "espartillar" was not long-lasting and burned and non-burned plots are much alike a few years after.

Os prados de capim marinho Spartina argentinensis (província de Santa Fe, Argentina) se encontram em solos salinos pobremente drenados e com frequência sofrem incêndios. Em estudos prévios foi observado que parcelas com distintas histórias de fogo se agrupavam de acordo a este fator em função da abundância-cobertura das espécies presentes. O objeto de este trabalho foi analisar quais as espécies a que respondiam estes agrupamentos, para o qual foi usada a análise discriminante. Utilizaram-se os dados de abundância-cobertura da Reserva Federico Wildermuth (Santa Fe), em parcelas queimadas e sem queimar, a metade das quais se voltaram a ser queimadas em agosto de 1999, com dados de três anos: 1998: A (queimada em 1996) e D (nunca queimada); 1999 e 2000: A; B (queimada em 1996 e 1999); C (queimada somente em 1999) e D. Em 1998, a função discriminante incluiu 13 das 38 espécies presentes, sendo Melilotus alba, Iresine difusa, Distichlis spicata e S. argentinensis as de maior peso. As variáveis que ficaram na função em 1999, 16 de um total de 57, foram S. argentinensis, Heliotroppium curassavicum, M. alba, Chloris cicliata, C. gayana, Apium leptophillum, e Pluchea saggitalis, enquanto que em 2000, 16 de 68 espécies incluiram a I. difusa, Salicornia ambigua, Phyla canescens, Pluchea saggitalis e M. alba. Em relativo curto prazo, o sistema tende a se igualar ao original sem perturbação por fogo.

Efecto de la calidad del agua de criaderos de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) sobre la patogenicidad e infectividad de las zoosporas del hongo Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes)

Effect of water quality in mosquito breeding sites on the pathogenicity and infectivity of zoospores from the fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii (Straminipila: Peronosporomycetes). The fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii is highly pathogenic to mosquito larvae in Argentina. We studied if physical and chemical characteristics of the water from mosquito breeding sites affect pathogenicity, and the infectivity of zoospores of L. chapmanii. Water samples were taken from pools filled by rains, urban ditches with domestic waste water, pools filled by overflow from Río de la Plata, and flower vases from the Cemetery of La Plata city. Sub-samples of water were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, while other sub-samples were used for laboratory bioassays. Containers with 150 ml of water samples, 25 Aedes aegypti larvae, and 2.8 x 105 zoospores of L. chapmanii, were incubated under controlled environment, and larval mortality was recorded after 48 h. There were highly significant differences among mortalities in water from cemetery vases (70.2%), rain pools water (99.5%), and pools with water from Rio de la Plata (95%). There were no significant differences among larval mortalities in water from ditches, rain pools and Río de la Plata pools. Leptolegnia chapmanii was successful as a biological control agent in all kinds of tested water qualities, producing high larval mortality. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 371-380. Epub 2009 June 30.

Leptolegnia chapmanii es un potente patógeno de larvas de mosquitos. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar si las características físico-químicas del agua de criaderos de culícidos de importancia sanitaria a nivel mundial afectan la patogenicidad e infectividad de las zoosporas de L. chapmanii. Se tomaron muestras de cuatro tipos de agua en Argentina: de lluvia, de zanja, del Río de La Plata, y de floreros del cementerio local. A una parte del agua se le realizaron estudios físicos-químicos, y otra parte fue utilizada en ensayos. Se colocó 150 ml de cada muestra en recipientes plásticos, con 25 larvas sanas de Aedes aegypti y 2.8 x 105 zoosporas de L. chapmanii. Fueron incubadas a 25 ºC y 12-12 (L-O). La mortalidad larval fue registrada a las 48 horas. Se utilizaron tres recipientes y un control por tratamiento, con tres repeticiones realizadas en distintos días. Se observaron diferencias altamente significativas entre la mortalidad larval en aguas de floreros del cementerio (70.2%), aguas de lluvias (99.53%), y del río de La Plata (95%). No hubo diferencias significativas entre la mortalidad larval en agua de zanja, lluvia y río. Leptolegnia chapmanii resultó exitoso en los cuatro tipos de aguas evaluados, produciendo elevados niveles de mortalidad larval.

Biotic and abiotic factors affecting Leptolegnia chapmanii infection in Aedes aegypti.

The effects of water volume, container surface area and the density of hosts and fungal zoospores on the infectivity of the oomycete fungus Leptolegnia chapmanii to Aedes aegypti were investigated in the laboratory. Late 3rd or early 4th instars from a laboratory colony were used as hosts in all assays. Fourth instars infected with L. chapmanii for 48 h (6.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) zoospores/larva) were used as inoculum. Mortality rates were >90% in containers with 20 or fewer larvae when exposed to 1 infected larva, but they decreased to 37% in containers with 60 larvae. Mortality rates varied from 82% to 92% when healthy 4th instars were exposed to 1 and 2 infected larvae, respectively, whereas 100% mortality was obtained with > or =3 infected larvae. Infection and mortality rates in containers with volumes that varied from 300 to 5,000 ml but that had similar water surface area (397 cm2) varied from 89 to 92%, respectively. When water volume was held constant at 250 ml in containers with variable surface areas (14.5-875 cm(2)), larval mortality varied from 96% to 25%, respectively. The ability of L. chapmanii to infect mosquito larvae is dose dependent and influenced by larval density and surface area.

Morphologic, Molecular, and Pathogenic Characterization of Diaporthe phaseolorum Variability in the Core Soybean-Producing Area of Argentina.

ABSTRACT Isolates of the Diaporthe/Phomopsis (D/P) complex were collected in the main soybean producing area of Argentina during the 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1998-99 growing seasons. Twenty-three morphologic characters related to type of colonies, stroma, pycnidia and conidia, presence of perithecia, and asci length were studied by principal component analysis (PCA). Genomic DNA were analyzed by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. From both studies, 18 isolates were identified as D/P complex and grouped in four major taxa: (i) Diaporthe phaseolorum var. meridionalis, (ii) D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, (iii) D. phaseolorum var. sojae, and (iv) Phomopsis longicolla. In addition to distinguishing interspecific and intraspecific variability, molecular markers allowed the detection of differences among isolates within the same variety. Pathogenicity was assayed in the greenhouse, by the toothpick method, inoculating the D/P isolates to soybean genotypes carrying different resistance genes (Rdc1, Rdc2, Rdc3, and Rdc4) against soybean stem canker (SSC). Pathogenic analysis distinguished two main groups: (i) the SSC-producing isolates, including D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis and D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, and (ii) the non-SSC-producing isolates, including D. phaseolorum var. sojae and P. longicolla. Cultivar RA-702 (susceptible control) was compatible with both D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis and D. phaseolorum var. caulivora isolates; meanwhile, Tracy-M (Rdc1 and Rdc 2 genes) was incompatible with D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis but compatible with D. phaseolorum var. caulivora isolates. The fact that Rdc1 and Rdc2 together (as in Tracy-M) confer an almost immune reaction to all assayed isolates of D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis but were ineffective against the D. phaseolorum var. caulivora isolates evaluated suggests that the virulence or avirulence genes in D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis and D. phaseolorum var. caulivora are different. Moreover, physiological races of D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis were detected by using differential soybean genotypes carrying distinct single Rdc genes. As far as we know, this is the first report on the existence of physiological races of D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis in South America. Selective pressure due to deployment of resistant host cultivars may have changed the frequency of the virulence or avirulence genes within the population of D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis. On the whole, our results show that pathogenic variability of D. phaseolorum in the core soybean-producing area of Argentina is higher than previously recognized.