Journal of Plant Pathology (2010), 92 (4, Supplement ... - Sipav.org

S4.88 Journal of Plant Pathology (2010), 92 (4, Supplement), S4.71-S4.105
peninsulas. Later, northbound migrations enabled those populations
to recolonize their present natural habitats. To investigate
the genetic divergence of H. abietinum populations, a collection
of isolates from central to southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece
and Turkey), was analysed using minisatellites (DAMD-M13) and
microsatellites (RAMS). Genetic variation within and among
groups of populations was compared and a dendrogram was constructed
with the Neighbor-Joining method. Clusters generally
showed that isolates grouped according to their geographical origin.
However those from southern Spain (from Abies pinsapo)
were clearly differentiated from the others. More than 20 main
haplotypes of H. abietinum were observed. Their number was
higher in the central part of the area considered in this study and
lower in the peripheral regions. In the western part of the distribution
area (Andalucìa, Spain) their number was very scarce.
This study confirms the hypothesized relationship between variability
of H. abietinum population and migration history of Abies
species in Europe. The occurrence of several haplotypes in the
eastern part of the distribution area could be a consequence of
historical trade routes; in this case man activities may have helped
fungal spreading.
INFLUENCES OF MULCHES ON SOLARIZED SOIL-
BORNE MICROBIAL COMMUNITY. A. Luvisi 1 , A. Panattoni
1 , A. Colosimo 1 , F. Filippi 2 , G. Magnani 2 , E. Triolo 1 . 1 Dipartimento
di Coltivazione e Difesa delle Specie Legnose “G. Scaramuzzi”,
Università degli Studi, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa,
Italy. 2 Dipartimento di Biologia delle Piante Agrarie, Università
degli Studi, Viale delle Piagge 23, 56124 Pisa, Italy. E-mail: aluvisi
@agr.unipi.it
To investigate the effectiveness of plastic mulches for soil solarization,
transparent polyethylene (PE), Evalux (EL) and HT
Supersol (HT) (Agriplast, RG, Italy) were used. The experiment
was carried out in sandy soil in 2008 and 2009, from 20 July to 20
August, near Pisa (Italy). Artificial soil infestation with Sclerotinia
minor Jagger was carried out and untreated plots were used as
control. Temperatures in the soil profile were monitored at 3-5
cm depth. Seedlings of Lactuca sativa cv. Justine were planted after
solarization. Sclerotinia-induced lettuce drop was evaluated
by counting the number of healthy and diseased plants in the
plots. Soil samples were collected after solarization at a depth of
3-5 cm to evaluate total fungi (F), Trichoderma spp. (T) and actinomycetes
(A) as CFU/g of soil, using PDA, P190 and water-agar
medium, respectively. Microbial community analysis using Biolog
EcoPlates was performed to estimate total activity, Shannon-
Weaver index and Evenness. Different temperature profiles were
registered and PE, EL and HT increased maximum soil temperature
by 4.3, 6.7 and 7.2°C respectively. Lettuce drop was reduced
by more than 90% compared to control, with no significant differences
between treatments. In HT-treated soil, levels of F, T
and A were more than 31.2, 2.5 and 39.0% higher than in PE- or
EL-treated soils. Biolog parameters confirmed the milder effects
of HT film on non pathogenic microbial population. Improved
plastic mulches can control soil-borne pathogens efficiently, limiting
shifts in the soil microflora.
SANITARY SELECTION OF GRAPEVINE SUPPORTED
BY RFID SYSTEM. A. Luvisi 1 , A. Panattoni 1 , A. Colosimo 1 , M.
Pagano 2 , R. Bandinelli 3 , E. Rinaldelli 2 , E. Triolo 1 . 1 Dipartimento
di Coltivazione e Difesa delle Specie Legnose “G. Scaramuzzi”, Università
degli Studi, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy. 2 Dipartimento
di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, del Suolo dell’Am-
biente Agroforestale, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale delle
Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy. 3 Associazione Toscana
Costitutori Viticoli TOS.CO.VIT., Via Vecchia di Marina 6, 56010
San Piero a Grado (PI), Italy. E-mail: aluvisi@agr.unipi.it
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology was suggested
for tracking of numerous and diverse materials in plant
pathology trials. Keeping track of the sample identification number
and of the precise location where samples were collected represents
an essential step. Phenotypic, sanitary and genomic data
can also be added to RFID tags associated to the assayed plants.
Grapevine selection is based on sub-sequential steps in which
many grapevines are monitored in vineyard(s) for years, as well as
their relative propagated grapevines used for indexing, comparatives
studies or conservation in screenhouses. These steps can be
supported by RFID technology. Traditional labels may undergo
discoloration, degradation, loss or removal: these issues represent
critical points in plant selection, considering the long periods in
which plants have to be monitored. The association of RFID tag
to plant reduce the occurrence of errors or losses, in particular if
microchips are inserted in the grapevine, making impossible the
removal or errors in data-to-plant association. The tagging trial,
started in 2009, regarded accessions of Vitis vinifera cv Sangiovese
selected in Montalcino (Siena, Italy) for clonal selection
purpose, propagated materials stored in screenhouse, grafted cuttings
used for indexing with biological indicators. RFID wristband
was used for tagging non-grafted plants, whereas microchips
were implanted in the grafted ones. A database was created
to monitor the tagged plants during the whole sanitary selection
procedure, as well as for storing and updating data pertaining
to each plant and relative propagated material.
DETECTION OF PHYTOPHTHORA CAMBIVORA IN
SOIL PARTICLES BY REAL TIME QUANTITATIVE PCR
ASSAY. V. Mancini, N. Luchi, P. Capretti. Dipartimento di
Biotecnologie Agrarie, Sezione di Protezione delle Piante, Università
degli Studi, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Firenze, Italy.
E-mail: vale.mancini@yahoo.it
Phytophthora cambivora is one of the most harmful pathogens
causing root rot, collar rot and or stem canker of Castanea sativa
and a well known agent of “ink disease”. According to the data
collected since 2002 by the regional monitoring service (META
http://meta.arsia.toscana.it/) disease centres are increasing in
Tuscany (central Italy), where a number of new foci are detected
annually in coppice forests and orchards. As disease centres are
mainly found near streams and along roads and trails it could be
useful to setup a protocol to detect the source of infection. Aim
of this work was the optimization of a real time PCR assay, by using
SYBR Green chemistry, to detect and quantify the occurrence
of P. cambivora from potential sources of infection as plant tissues
and soil particles. To this purpose DNA was extracted from
chestnut tissue according to the method described by the authors
(Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 41: 61-68, 2005) Later on, soil samples
were artificially infected with P. cambivora mycelium. Real time
PCR was developed using genus- and specie-specific primers.
Notwhitstanding some failures, probably due to PCR inhibitors,
real-time PCR proved to be an efficient method for detecting and
quantifying P. cambivora from both host tissues and soil. The
presence of P. cambivora DNA in soil samples, confirmed the hypothesis
that the soil can be a source of infection.