Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is a bipartite begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) which infects species in the families Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae (Padidam et al., 4; Mizutani 3). Begomoviruses are transmitted by whitefly Bemisia tabaci persistent manner (Rosen 5). In October 2015, severe symptoms not previously reported growers horticultural area of Province Trapani (Sicily, Italy) were observed on zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo) open fields. The included yellow mosaic,...

Tomato is subject to several diseases that affect both field- and greenhouse-grown crops. To select cost-effective potential biocontrol agents, we used laboratory throughput screening identify bacterial strains with versatile characteristics suitable for multipurpose uses. The natural diversity of tomato root-associated communities was bioprospected under a real-world environment represented by an intensive cultivation area characterized extraseasonal productions in the greenhouse....

Floral nectar is ubiquitously colonized by a variety of microorganisms among which yeasts and bacteria are the most common. Microorganisms inhabiting floral can alter several traits, including odor producing microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Evidence showing that mVOCs affect foraging behavior insect pollinators increasing in literature, whereas role altering third-trophic level organisms such as parasitoids largely overlooked. Parasitoids frequent visitors flowers well known to...

Abstract Adult parasitoids are well known to feed on sugar-rich resources such as floral nectar. Recently, an increasing body of evidence has shown that nectar is ubiquitously colonized by microorganisms and, a consequence, microbial metabolic activity can affect several traits Yet, how the fermentation yeasts impacts olfactory responses and performance largely understudied, especially in case egg parasitoids. In this study, we investigated whether Metschnikowia gruessii M. reukaufii affects...

Abstract Floral nectar is a sugar-rich resource which ubiquitously inhabited by wide array of microorganisms. Fermentation nectar-inhabiting microbes can alter several traits, including scent, via changes in the blend volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Although there growing evidence on how yeasts and bacteria influence foraging behavior flower-visiting insects, potential role other microbial taxa that colonize has been largely neglected. In this study, we investigated filamentous fungi...

Bacteria producers of plant growth-promoting (PGP) substances are responsible for the enhancement development through several mechanisms. The purpose present work was to evaluate PGP traits 63 bacterial strains that were isolated from an anthropogenic soil, and obtained by modification vertisols in Sicily region (Italy) seven years after creation. microorganisms tested following characteristics: indole acetic acid (IAA), NH3, HCN siderophore production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate...

Pseudomonas corrugata CFBP 5454 produces two kinds of cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs), cormycin A and corpeptins, both which possess surfactant, antimicrobial phytotoxic activities. In this study, we identified genes coding for a putative non-ribosomal peptide synthetase an ABC-type transport system involved in corpeptin production. These belong to the same transcriptional unit, designated crpCDE. The genetic organization locus is highly similar other CLP biosynthetic clusters. Matrix-assisted...

Pseudomonas corrugata is a phytopathogenic bacterium, causal agent of tomato pith necrosis, yet it an ubiquitous bacterium that part the microbial community in soil and rhizosphere different plant species. Although very heterogeneous species, all strains tested were able to produce short chain acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing signal molecules. The main AHL produced was N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine (C(6)-AHL). An system, designated PcoI/PcoR, identified characterized. role system...

In this study, we investigated the biocontrol activity of P. mediterranea strain PVCT 3C against Mal secco, a severe disease citrus caused by vascular fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus. vitro, bacterial diffusible compounds, volatile organic compounds and culture filtrates produced reduced mycelial growth conidial germination tracheiphilus, also affecting pigmentation. The application suspensions leaf-spraying before inoculation with pathogen on plants highly susceptible species sour orange...

Phoma tracheiphila is the causal agent of a tracheomycotic disease citrus called mal secco causing dieback twigs and branches. This pathogen quarantine concern; therefore, fast reliable protocols are required to detect it promptly. A specific primer pair dual-labeled fluorogenic probe were used in real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Cepheid Smart Cycler II System (Transportable Device TD configuration) this fungus samples. Real-time PCR assay was compared modified conventional...

Abstract BACKGROUND Grape contamination by several fungal species occurs during a vineyard's preharvest and harvest. Agronomic management microclimatic conditions can affect fungi occurrence epidemiology, thus explaining qualitative differences in mycoflora composition, including the presence of phytopathogenic or mycotoxigenic fungi. In this study two‐year grape, air soil monitoring programme was undertaken vineyards on Mount Etna (eastern Sicily, Italy). The composition investigated at pea...

Xanthomonas citri pv. (Xcc) and X. aurantifolii (Xca) are causal agents of Citrus Bacterial Canker (CBC), a devastating disease that severely affects citrus plants. They harmful organisms not reported in Europe or the Mediterranean Basin. Host plants Rutaceae family, including genera Citrus, Poncirus, Fortunella, their hybrids. In addition, other ornamental interest as susceptible, but results uniform sometimes incongruent. We evaluated susceptibility 32 accessions family belonging to...

A total of 26 strains, including 15 strains isolated from garlic plants with the typical symptoms ' Cafe! au lait disease and 11 diseased or healthy rice seeds sheaths infested by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, were compared 70 type reference oxidasepositive pathogenic non-pathogenic fluorescent pseudomonads.The characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach.Numerical taxonomy phenotypic characteristics showed that related to each other.However, they clustered into separate phenons, distinct...

Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) are considered as some of the most important secondary metabolites in different plant-associated bacteria, thanks to their antimicrobial, cytotoxic and surfactant properties. In this study, our aim was investigate role Quorum Sensing system (QS), PcoI/PcoR LuxR-type transcriptional regulator RfiA CLP production phytopatogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas corrugata based on previous work where we reported that pcoR rfiA mutants were devoid CLPs cormycin corpeptin...

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. (Cmm) strains, collected in greenhouses from 17 farms during tomato bacterial canker outbreaks occurring between 2005 and 2008 Sicily, were analysed by a multiphasic approach. Population studies conducted to investigate the possible sources of inocula. Cmm strains characterized PCR assays targeting virulence genes, fingerprinting techniques, metabolic profiles virulence. These comparatively with isolated other parts Italy over period 15 years. Chromosomal...

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) mainly catalyze the nucleophilic addition of glutathione to a large variety hydrophobic molecules participating vacuole compartmentalization many toxic compounds. In this work, putative tolerance transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing CsGSTU genes towards chloroacetanilide herbicide alachlor was investigated. Our results show that treatment with 0.0075 mg cm-3 strongly affects growth both wild type and transformed seedlings sole exception lines...

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is the most damaging olive fruit disease in many countries, including Italy. This has been sporadically detected Sicily, but new agronomic practices can increase risk of anthracnose this region. An etiological study focused on local cultivars growing at International Olive Germplasm Collection (IOGC) Villa Zagaria, Enna, Sicily undertaken. During 2018 and 2019, 137 strains were isolated from olives. Colony morphology, conidium characteristics,...

The gram-negative phytopathogen Pseudomonas corrugata has an acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing (QS) system called PcoI/PcoR that is involved in virulence on tomato. This work identifies, downstream of pcoI, a gene designated rfiA, which we demonstrate directly linked to QS by cotranscription with pcoI. deduced RfiA protein contains DNA-binding domain characteristic the LuxR family but lacks autoinducer-binding terminus LuxR-family proteins. We also identified, operon pcoABC,...

Xanthomonas campestris pv. (Xcc) is the causal agent of black rot in Brassicaceae. It widespread Italy and severe outbreaks occur under conditions that favour disease development. In this study a multilocus sequence typing approach ( MLST ) based on partial seven loci was applied to selection strains representative main areas cultivation hosts. The aim investigate whether long tradition brassica crops has influenced evolution different Xcc populations. All were polymorphic; 14 allelic...