Effetto dell’innesto e della micorrizazione sulle caratteristiche produttive e qualitative di mini anguria.

Numerose ricerche hanno dimostrato gli effetti positivi della simbiosi micorrizica tra le specie ortive ed i funghi arbuscolari sui parametri vegeto-produttivi e sulle caratteristiche qualitative del prodotto, come conseguenza soprattutto di una maggiore capacità di assorbimento dei nutrienti da parte delle piante micorrizate. Tra le ortive che si avvantaggiano dell’innesto ci sono alcune solanacee e cucurbitacee e tra queste ultime particolare successo ha avuto l’impiego dell’innesto nell’anguria. Lo scopo della ricerca è stato quello di valutare l’effetto della combinazione tra innesto e micorrizazione sull’accrescimento delle piante, la produzione e la qualità dei frutti di mini anguria.…

Studio del controllo di Bactrocera oleae, di funghi agenti filloptosi e carpoptosi anticipata nell’olivicoltura da mensa e da olio in Sicilia.

Abstract STUDY ON THE CONTROL OF BACTROCERA OLEAE AND FUNGI INDUCING EARLY LEAF AND FRUIT DROP IN OLIVE GROWING FOR TABLE OLIVES AND OIL PRODUCTION IN SICILY. Susceptibility of olive cultivars to olive fruit fly, damage thresholds, sampling methods, effectiveness of products deterring olive fruit fly oviposition, foliar chlorosis and withering of branches have been investigated. Riassunto Tra le cultivar saggiate (16 siciliane e 6 estere) esiste un ampio gradiente nella suscettibilità agli attacchi di B. oleae, andando dalle più suscettibili Nocellara del Belice, Giarraffa, Cerasuola alle meno preferite; tra queste ultime vi sono cultivar con caratteristiche peculiari diversificate: Nocella…

Composition and in vitro antifungal activity of essential oils of Erigeron canadensis and Myrtus communis from France. CHEMISTRY OF NATURAL COMPOUNDS, p. 144-146, ISSN: 0009-3130

Opere in legname ed alterazioni biotiche del materiale ligneo

Ulteriori studi sulle micorrize vescicolo-arbuscolari del ficodindia in areali siciliani

Specie di Trichoderma associate alla produzione di Pleurotus ostreatus

Detection of an endophytic Acremonium sp. in healthy or naturally damaged leaves of Vitis vinifera.

Cultivable Fungal Endophytes in Roots, Rhizomes and Leaves of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile along the Coast of Sicily, Italy

The presence of endophytic fungi in the roots, rhizomes, and leaves of Posidonia oceanica was evaluated in different localities of the Sicilian coast. Samples of roots, rhizomes, and leaves were submitted to isolation techniques, and the obtained fungal colonies were identified by morphological and molecular (rRNA sequencing) analysis. Fungal endophytes occurred mainly in roots and occasionally in rhizomes and leaves. Lulwoana sp. was the most frequent of the isolated taxa, suggesting a strong interaction with the host. In addition, eight other fungal taxa were isolated. In particular, fungi of the genus Ochroconis and family Xylariaceae were identified as endophytes in healthy plants at al…

Fungal Contaminants and Mycotoxins in Nuts

Contamination by fungi and mycotoxins in nuts has achieved much attention in recent years. In fact, the fungal metabolites produced by the species of Aspergillus, Penicillium (aflatoxins and ochratoxins), Fusarium (trichothecenes, zearalenones and fumonisins) and Alternaria (alternariotoxins) with toxic and/or carcinogenic effects are considered a threat to human and animal health. In this chapter we will discuss the main fungal taxa and related mycotoxins most frequently associated with these materials. In this regard, the first results on the level of contamination by fungi and mycotoxins in samples of almonds and pistachios of different origins will be reported. The main strategies to re…

Microrganismi fungini associati a Rincophorus ferrugineus (Olivr) in Sicilia e valutazione dell'efficacia entomopatogena di un ceppo di Beauveria bassiana (Bals. 9 Vuill: oservazioni preliminari.

Indagine sulla dinamica di presenza in campo delle popolazioni di aspergilli e penicilli in vigneti della Sicilia occidentale

Le micorrize delle piante mediterranee: aspetti morfo-anatomici, ecologici ed applicativi

EX VITRO MYCORRHIZATION OF VITRO-DERIVED PLANTLETS OF 'CARRIZO' CITRANGE [C. SINENSIS (L.) OSB. × P. TRIFOLIATA (L.) RAF.]

In this study, vitro-derived plantlets of ‘Carrizo’ citrange were inoculated with Glomus intraradices during the acclimatization phase, from in vitro to in vivo. Plantlets were grown in presence (+M) and in absence of inoculum (-M) and in addition, in sterile and non-sterile substrate. After three months of culture, some vegetative parameters and the level of infection, varied greatly in the different theses. In particular, the highest formation of new branched roots has been observed in inoculated plantlets cultivated in sterile substrate. Good results were observed also in non-inoculated plantlets cultivated in non-sterile substrate, in presence of endemic inoculum. The same trend was…

Osservazioni preliminari sulle alterazioni delle eritrine di Foro Umberto I (PA) e funghi associati

THE SAF HERBARIUM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST SCIENCE (UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO)

In the wide scenario of herbaria housed in the Italian Universities there are very few examples of structures mainly devoted to forest sciences and fungi in forest ecosystems. The “Regio Istituto Superiore Forestale di Vallombrosa” (Tuscany), established in 1869, was the first example of a structure that housed an herbarium with exsiccata of forest trees. In Italy, the southernmost laurea degree course in “Environmental and Forest Sciences” concern the Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences in the University of Palermo (Sicily). Two herbaria (CAT and PAL) are currently present in Sicily with the following specialties: a) Vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae of Mediterranean area, …

Alterazioni ricorrenti in vivai di specie ornamentali in Sicilia.

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of New N-Isoxazolyl-2-iodobenzamides.

N-Isoxazolyl-2-iodobenzamides 3 and 9, with a benodanil-like structure, were synthesized by refluxing in acetic acid the corresponding benzotriazinones 2 and 8 with potassium iodide for 1 h with the aim to ascertain if they were active as fungicides against Phytophthora citricola Saw., Botrytis cinerea Pers., Rhizoctonia sp. and Alternaria sp. Among the tested iodo derivatives, compounds 3b and 9a possess interesting activities against the aforesaid fungal strains in several cases similar to that of benodanil I taken as reference drug.

Detection of endophytic bacteria in leaves of Vitis vinifera by using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Previous investigation on five cultivars of healthy Sicilian grapevine allowed the isolation of endophytic bacteria belonging to Bacillus genus from different organs (bud, leaf, stalk and shoot). The aim of this work was to use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments in healthy and damaged leaf tissues of Vitis vinifera to visualize and localize bacteria associated with plant materials. The leaves were cleared to minimize the autofluorescence of the plant fragments. The use of fluorescently labelled bacterial probe Eub338 in FISH experiments on discoloured grapevine leaf disks allowed the estimation of the spatial distribution of different bacterial colonies. At the same time,…

Sull’impiego di inoculi AM in ambito vivaistico

Antagonism of Bacillus subtilis strain AG1 against vine wood fungal pathogens

Summary. Antagonistic substances produced by a Bacillus subtilis strain (AG1), which were previously found to slow down the growth of esca fungi in vitro, were produced in an artifi cial medium, isolated from the cell-free medium by precipitation and acidifi cation (to less than pH 2.5) and extracted from the precipitate with 96% ethanol. The crude extract employed in antibiotic assays confi rmed, in vitro, the antagonism of B. subtilis against Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, and also showed antifungal activity toward Verticillium dahliae and Botryosphaeria rhodina.

The ectomycorrhizal community of Abies nebrodensis: preliminary results

Abies nebrodensis (Lojac.) Mattei is a Critically Endangered forest tree included in Appendix I of the Bern Convention and as a priority species in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive [1]. In situ and ex situ conservation strategies [2] and, more recently, a LIFE Natura project [3] allowed a marked improvement of health conditions of trees and of seedlings renewal. A first attempt to characterize the ectomycorrhizas of A. nebrodensis was carried out by Venturella & Rambelli [4]. In the frame of the activities of the II National Workshop of Ectomycorrhyza (Palermo, 2015), this paper reports the preliminary investigation carried out on the ectomycorrhyzal community of A. nebrodensis i…

Un endofita fungino in Eruca sativa Mill., probabile antagonista di Albugo candida (Pers. ex Hook) Kuntze.

Sull'impiego delle micorizze arbuscolari per la definizione della qualità dei suoli nei processi di desertificazione

Funghi endofiti e micorrizici: bioindicatori dello stato fitosanitario in ambienti naturali e degradati.

Sperimentazione di campo sull'impiego delle soglie in legname e pietrame in ambiente mediterraneo

A polyphasic approach to the identification of ochratoxin A-producing black Aspergillus isolates from vineyards in Sicily.

Aspergillus strains belonging to section Nigri isolated during a two year survey in eight Sicilian vineyards located on the slopes of Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) were analysed analyzed in order to characterize species responsible for ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of grapes. The polyphasic approach permitted analysis of biodiversity of Aspergillus isolates in relation to their morphology, ochratoxigenicity and genetic variability. We assessed OTA production by A. carbonarius, A. niger, A. tubingensis and A. japonicus using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A. carbonarius isolates were the strongest OTA producers. A subset of 66 representative strains was selected for further DNA-based …

On Acremonium sp., endophytic in grape leaves and antagonistic to the downy mildew agent Plasmopara viticola: chimical structure and activity of acremonines A and B

Indagine sulla dinamica di presenza delle popolazioni di aspergilli e penicilli in vigneti della Sicilia occidentale

Osservazioni sugli endofiti fungini in Posidonia oceanica

La presenza di funghi endofiti in rizomi radici e foglie di Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delille è stata valutata nell’ambito di uno studio morfologico ed ecologico condotto in differenti ambienti mediterranei. In particolare, su individui prelevati in 5 diversi siti costieri siciliani, sono state effettuate osservazioni mirate alla visualizzazione di strutture miceliari nei tessuti dell’ospite, all’isolamento di colonie fungine su substrati artificiali agarizzati e alla loro identificazione su basi morfologiche e molecolari. Le indagini, sebbene tuttora in corso, rilevano la costante presenza di microrganismi fungini endofiti negli organi saggiati sia pure con differenti valori di frequenza d’i…

In semi-vivo antagonism of Acremoninum byssoides towards Plasmopara viticola

In previous laboratory tests the culture filtrates and the crude extracts obtained from Acremonium byssoides were shown to completely inhibit Plasmopara viticola sporangia germination. A study was thus undertaken in order to investigate on the possible inhibiting activity of the hyphomycete towards pathogenesis of the oomycete in grapevine. A. byssoides was cultivated on malt-extract agar (MEA) to obtain pure colonies and on maltextract broth (MEB) to obtain culture filtrate and crude extract. Healthy leaves of grapevine were put in Petri dishes containing sporangia suspended in: deionized sterile water, malt-extract broth, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), culture filtrate, crude extract and a sus…

Ex vitro mycorrhization of vitro-derived plantlets of 'Carrizo' citrange [C. Sinensis (L.) Osb. × P. Trifoliata (L.) Raf.]

In this study, vitro-derived plantlets of 'Carrizo' citrange were inoculated with Glomus intraradices during the acclimatization phase, from in vitro to in vivo. Plantlets were grown in presence (+M) and in absence of inoculum (-M) and in addition, in sterile and non-sterile substrate. After three months of culture, some vegetative parameters and the level of infection, varied greatly in the different theses. In particular, the highest formation of new branched roots has been observed in inoculated plantlets cultivated in sterile substrate. Good results were observed also in non-inoculated plantlets cultivated in non-sterile substrate, in presence of endemic inoculum. The same trend was obs…

Influence of AM fungi uptake of heavy metals by Opuntia ficus-indcia (L.) Mill

Necrosi apicale del Mango (Mangifera indica L.)causata da Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae van Hall, in Sicilia.

Preliminary studies on "esca" disease in Sicilian vineyards

First Report of Agaricus aridicola in Saudi Arabia and Ecological Notes on Agaricus bisporus

Agaricus aridicola is reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia while Agaricus bisporus is a new record for Northern region of Saudi Arabia. This study includes notes on taxonomy, ecology and distribution of both the species. It was also reported that the habitat of A. aridicola and A. bisporus are characterized by calcareous sandy soil, poor in organic matter, with presence of little amount of salinity.

Preliminary observations on fungal endophytic community and mycorrhizal status in symptomless Quercus ilex seedlings

Recently, a study on the Quercus ilex L. decay caused by biotic and abiotic agents has hypothesized alterations on endophytic and mycorrhizal fungal populations. Since holm oak is among the most representative Mediterranean species, that occurs widely in both urban and rural areas, in this work we preliminarly report these symbiotic fungal communities in asymptomatic seedlings, in order to compare these populations with those found in seedlings subjected to water and saline stress. Endophytic fungi were isolated from twigs and leaves and identified by morphological and molecular analysis. The ectomycorrhizal status was evaluated on root samples randomly selected to calculate the percentage …

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated trasformation of nonpathogenic and antagonistic Fusarium oxisporum with the jellyfish gene GFP.

Impiego dei funghi micorrizici arbuscolari come indicatori della qualità dei suoli

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION AND SHADING ENHANCE CROP PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY OF GREENHOUSE Begonia semperflorens

Mycorrhizal fungi are gaining interest in the floriculture sector due to the beneficial effects on a crop performance and ornamental quality. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Rhizophagus irregularis on ornamental quality of Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum grown in two different protected cultivation systems: a shadehouse or glasshouse. The inoculated plants incurred a significant increase of plant height by 34.6%, lateral shoot length by 27.9%, number of lateral shoots by 41.2%, number of flowers per plant by 102.9%, flower diameter by 27.5%, and stems dry weight by 263.6%. High temperatures in the glasshouse ne…

Selezione di ceppi eduli di Pleurotus spp. resistenti a Trichoderma viride: risultati preliminari

Plasmopara viticola: three decades of observation in Sicily

Alterazioni delle caratteristiche fisico-chimiche dei paletti di castagno in ambiente mediterraneo

Synthesis and antifungal activity of new N-isoxazolyl-2-iodobenzamides

N-Isoxazolyl-2-iodobenzamides 3 and 9, with a benodanil-like structure, were synthesized by refluxing in acetic acid the corresponding benzotriazinones 2 and 8 with potassium iodide for 1 h with the aim to ascertain if they were active as fungicides against Phytophthora citricola Saw., Botrytis cinerea Pers., Rhizoctonia sp. and Alternaria sp. Among the tested iodo derivatives, compounds 3b and 9a possess interesting activities against the aforesaid fungal strains in several cases similar to that of benodanil I taken as reference drug.

Evoluzione morfologica di Albugo candida in Eruca sativa.

Breve nota: funghi associati a marciumi anomali in acini d'uva.

Possibilità d'impiego di soglie in legname e pietrame in ambiente mediterraneo

Epidemiological study of Lasiodiplodia theobromae in a sicilian vineyard.

Diversità della comunità ectomicorrizica presente in un impianto artificiale di conifere alloctone in Sardegna

Nel presente contributo sono riportati i risultati di uno studio sulla diversità della comunità fungina ectomicorrizica (ECM) presente in un impianto artificiale di conifere alloctone (Abies alba Mill., Pinus nigra Arnold e Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière), in cui è presente rinnovazione di A. alba e di Quercus ilex L., unica specie vegetale arborea autoctona presente nell’ambiente di studio. L’area d’indagine è localizzata a Tempio Pausania (Sardegna), sul monte Limbara in località Madonna della Neve (1262 s.l.m). Al suo interno sono stati individuati 5 plot omogenei, ed in ciascuno di essi sono stati prelevati frammenti radicali dalla base di esemplari adulti di A. alba, P. n…

Fungal and bacterial endophytes in Olea europaea.

The composition of the endophytic community in leaves and twigs of the olive-tree (Olea europaea L.) was studied in Sicily (Italy). Two sampling areas were selected: one in San Cipirello (PA) and the other one in Racalmuto (AG). The olive-yards were similar for plant age, cultivar and agricultural management. Isolation assays were made from samples collected from each locality in spring, summer and autumn during 2007 and 2008. Quantities of fungal and bacterial isolates were different in relation to the sampled sites. The prevailing fungal genera in almost all samplings were Alternaria, Cladosporium, Diplodia, Phoma, Septoria, Stemphylium and its teleomorph Pleospora. Regarding bacterial ge…

Yield and Quality of Mini-Watermelon as Affected by Grafting and Mycorrhizal Inoculum

Grafting and mycorrhizal fungi have gained interest for the positive effects they can have on vegetable crops. The aim of this work was to study the combined effect of grafting with Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on fruit yield and quality of mini-watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (thumb.) Matsum and Nakai]. Ungrafted plants or grafted onto rootstock RS 841 F1 (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata) were transplanted to the field. During cultivation half of the plants were inoculated with a suspension of AMF. Plant growth, fruit yield and quality were evaluated. The inoculation of AMF determined a significant increase of root colonisation both for grafted and ungrafted plants…

Un'indagine epidemiologica sulle più ricorrenti fitopatie viticole in Sicilia

Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification: Principles and Applications in Plant Virology

In the last decades, the evolution of molecular diagnosis methods has generated different advanced tools, like loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Currently, it is a well-established technique, applied in different fields, such as the medicine, agriculture, and food industries, owing to its simplicity, specificity, rapidity, and low-cost efforts. LAMP is a nucleic acid amplification under isothermal conditions, which is highly compatible with point-of-care (POC) analysis and has the potential to improve the diagnosis in plant protection. The great advantages of LAMP have led to several upgrades in order to implement the technique. In this review, the authors provide an overview r…

In "semi-vivo" antagonism of Acremonium byssoides towards Plasmopara viticola.

Primi studi su Biscogniauxia mediterranea in Sicilia occidentale

È stata condotta un’indagine su un diffuso deperimento delle querce, all’interno di un’area della riserva naturale orientata “Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere e Gorgo del Drago”, nelle contrade Pulpito del Re e S. Barbara (Corleone, PA). Campioni di organi sinto-matici e di strutture miceliari associate alle alterazioni sono stati sottoposti alle opportune analisi. I saggi di laboratorio hanno consentito di isolare colonie fungine identificate con metodi tradizionali e molecolari come appartenenti a B. mediterranea. Tali ceppi hanno mostrato una variabilità morfologica in relazione all’ospite e all’epoca stagionale. I saggi di inoculazione artificiale hanno evidenz…

Possibilità di impiego di soglie in legname e pietrame in ambiente mediterraneo

Pathogenic fungi of Mangifera indica in Sicily

Antagonistic activity of Bacillus subtilis strain AG1 against fungal microorganisms associated with Vitis vinifera.

Detection of endophytic bacteria in leaves of Vitis vinifera by using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH.

On the pathogens of Mangifera indica in Sicily

Study on endophytic strains of genus Acremonium in symptomless grapevines

Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation on Melon Plants under Deficit Irrigation Regimes

The shortage of good quantity and quality of water for irrigated agriculture is a major problem in arid and semiarid regions. To deal with this problem, deficit irrigation (DI) or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation have been proposed and adopted for many crops as a tool to save water, or to improve crop tolerance to drought stress. An experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on the physiological, morphological, yield, and quality characteristics of melon plants grown under deficit irrigation. Melon crop (Cucumis melo L. cv. Helios) was grown under field conditions adopting a split-plot design with four replications, whe…

Possibilità di impiego di soglie in legname e pietrame in ambiente mediterraneo

Mango pathogens in Sicily

Arthropds and mycorrhizal fungi associated to the rhizosphere of grapevine in Sicily.

Oospore di Plasmopara viticola: dinamica di maturazione e possibile antagonismo di Acremonium byssoides

Study on mycorrhization of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. in Siciliand stands with different degree of soil disturbance

Antagonismo in vitro di Fusarium oxisporum Schlct. Emend. Sn. e Hans. Isolato dalla rizosfera di Mangifera indica L. nei confronti di patogeni fungini.

Fitopatie fungine in vivai ornamentali nella Sicilia occidentale

Prima segnalazione di Daldinia concentrica su avocado

STUDY ON AN ENDOPHYTIC POPULATION OF ACREMONIUM SP. IN SYMPTOMLESS GRAPEVINE

Pathogenicity bioassays of isolates of Beauveria bassiana on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

BACKGROUND The control of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), the main palm pest in the Mediterranean Basin, is problematic because of its biology and the current restrictions in many European countries on the use of chemical insecticides in urban areas. Entomopathogenic fungi have been studied as potential biological control agents, but information on their natural incidence is limited. Strains of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin were isolated from symptomatic insects collected on dead palms, and their pathogenicity against different instars of R. ferrugineus was evaluated in the laboratory. RESULTS The overall percentage of infected insects found in Canary palms was 7%. In laborato…

Funghi associati ad alterazioni in oliveti siciliani

Mycorrhizae in genus Tuber

Acremines A-F, novel secondary metabolites produced by an endophytic strain of Acremonium sp., isolated in grape leaves infected by Plasmopara viticola

Six novel metabolites, acremines A–F have been isolated from agar cultures of a strain of Acremonium sp. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of 13C and 1H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments and X-ray analysis. Acremines A–D inhibited the germination of sporangia of Plasmopara viticola.

First observations on the interaction between Lasiodiplodia Theobromae and Epicoccum purpurascens, both endophytes in grapevine buds

Latifoglie in Sicilia: un laboratorio di casi fitopatologici

Si riportano alcuni casi fitopatologici osservati su differenti latifoglie, in vari ambienti boschivi siciliani. Le indagini, in particolare, sono state rivolte all’isolamento e all’identificazione dei mi-crorganismi fungini associati alle alterazioni. In alcuni casi, inoltre, mediante saggi d’inoculazione artificiale, è stata valutata la loro eventuale patogenicità. Tra i numerosi taxa identificati, alcuni, noti come parassiti di debolezza, hanno mostrato una spiccata attitudine fitopatogena su ospiti sani e stressati. Gli studi condotti, evidenziando l’incidenza e la severità di alcune malattie, accertano un generale stato di sofferenza delle latifoglie forestali, dovuto, probabilmente, a…

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), a new host of Pepino mosaic virus.

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), a member of the genus Potexvirus , was first described in 1980 on pepino ( Solanum muricatum ) and was later isolated from different wild species of the genus Solanum (formerly Lycopersicon ) (Soler et al ., 2002). PepMV has been reported in several European countries and in North America, causing disease in tomato. In July 2008, plants of basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) showing interveinal chlorosis on young leaves were observed in three greenhouses in Sicily, in the area where tomato plants were found to be infected by PepMV in 2005 (Davino et al ., 2006). The disease was transmitted mechanically to Nicotiana benthamiana , producing chlorotic spots and leaf deforma…

Prime indagini sulle micorrize della vite in Sicilia

Lulwoana sp., a dark septate endophyte (DSE) in roots of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile seagrass

Posidonia oceanica is the most common, widespread and important monocotyledon seagrass in the Mediterranean Basin, and hosts a large biodiversity of species, including microorganisms with key roles in the marine environment. In this study, we ascertain the presence of a fungal endophyte in the roots of P. oceanica growing on different substrata (rock, sand and matte) in two Sicilian marine meadows. Staining techniques on root fragments and sections, in combination with microscope observations, were used to visualise the fungal presence and determine the percentage of fungal colonisation (FC) in this tissue. In root fragments, statistical analysis of the FC showed a higher mean in roots anch…

Ulteriori osservazione sull'interazione tra Acremonium sp., Vitis vinifera e Plasmopara viticola

Studio sul controllo di Bactrocera oleae, di funghi agenti di filloptosi e carpoptosi anticipata, e sulle tecniche di propagazione e conservazione in vitro nell'olivicoltura da mensa e da olio in Sicilia

Stato sanitario e micorrizazione in specie arboree forestali: casi studio in Italia

La sanità delle piante è notoriamente correlata a elevati livelli di micorrizazione, soprattutto in ospiti strettamente dipendenti dalla simbiosi. Eventuali fattori di stress, abiotici o biotici, agenti di deperimento alterano il bilancio fotosintetico e influenzano, spesso negativamente, l’associazione mutualistica, aggravando così lo stato di sofferenza delle piante. Relativamente alle piante forestali, diversi studi hanno confermato l’intima interazione tra stato sanitario e micorrizazione. In questa nota si riportano i risultati di nostre indagini, condotte in due Regioni ecologicamente molto diverse, Lazio e Sicilia, rilevando lo stato micorrizico di piante di Fagus sp., Pinus sp. e Qu…

Arthrinium phaeospermum , Phoma cladoniicola and Ulocladium consortiale , New Olive Pathogens in Italy

In recent years, leaf necrosis and twig dieback in the olive crop have been detected in Sicily (Italy). In this article, we identify the predominant fungal species associated with symptomatic leaves and twigs, using morphological features and DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, as Alternaria alternata, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Phoma cladoniicola and Ulocladium consortiale. The pathogenicity of these four species was tested on olive plants cv. Biancolilla. All species were pathogenic on leaves, but only U. consortiale produced cortical lesions on twigs, thus suggesting its main role in the Olea europaea twig dieback. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A…

Muffe e micotossine nelle derrate alimentari: danni, metodi di controllo e norme in vigore

Secondo la FAO il 25% delle colture e il 70% dei mangimi nel mondo risulta contaminato da tossine prodotte da patogeni con enormi danni economici

Ulteriori studi sulle micorrize del ficodindia in Sicilia

Microrganismi fungini isolati da alterazioni e morie di Rhyncophorus ferrugineus

Il Mal dell'esca della vite in Sicilia

Specie di Trichoderma associate alla "muffa verde" di Pleurotus ostreatus.

L’indagine è stata rivolta all’identificazione degli agen­ti di “muffa verde” in sacchi di substrato artificiale per la coltivazione di Pleurotus ostreatus. Inoltre, saggi indiretti di antagonismo, condotti impiegando il filtrato colturale di un ceppo di Acremonium byssoides, hanno mostrato una ri­levante attività di contenimento nei confronti dei differen­ti Trichoderma spp. agenti dell’alterazione e, nel contem­po, una scarsa efficacia nei confronti di alcune specie col­tivate di Pleurotus.

Cellulolytic activity in Aspergillus spp. contaminating livestock feeds and raw materials

The contamination by Aspergillus spp. have become a global concern in food and feedstuffs and can lead to a reduction in yield and quality of agricultural products with significant economic losses. Most species of Aspergillus produce cellulose-degrading enzymes and some of them also have mycotoxigenic activity. This study aimed i) to evaluate the Aspergillus contamination in feeds (16) and row materials (32) collected in Sicily; ii) to isolate and identify fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus and iii) to analyze their ability to produce cellulolytic enzymes. Aspergillus spp. contamination was evaluated on PDA using serial ten-fold dilution and spread plate technique (Mirabile et al., 20…

Ligninolytic potential of Curvularia kusanoi L7 laccases for animal production

The present research was conducted with the objective of evaluating the ligninolytic potential of Curvularia kusanoi L7 laccases in improving the nutritional quality of fibrous substrates for animal feed. Laccase production was obtained from C. kusanoi L7 under native conditions by solid submerged fermentation of wheat bran and by biological interactions with Trichoderma viride M5-2 and Trichoderma pleuroticola. The enzymes were purified from the culture broths by triphasic partition. The degradative potential of native and induced laccases where evaluated by determining foliar lignololytic capacity, raw wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw delignification and the effect of enzyme pretreatment o…

Sul deperimento di alcuni esemplari di palme nella città di Palermo

Molecular characterization of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates and detection of fungi associated with Citrange root-stock in Sicilian symptomless Citrus growes.

The first monitoring on the CTV occurrence in central-western Sicily carried out during spring 2011 in asymptomatic citrus groves, has allowed to report CTV- free citrus-growing areas (province of Caltanissetta and Trapani), the first focus in province of Agrigento and two new others in province of Palermo. Molecular analysis (RT-PCR of p18, p20 and p23 genes, single strand conformation polymorphism and partial sequencing) showed that the obtained CTV isolates had a high homology (99%) with mild CTV strains (T 30 and T 385). Moreover, survey on the genetic flow and analysis of synonymous/nonsynonymous, by MEGA 5.0 and DNAsp 5.0 programs, demonstrated the provenience of the new “tristeza” fo…

First record of Capnobotrys dingleyae (Metacapnodiaceae) on Taxus baccata for southern Europe

Field investigations carried out in a mixed forest of Fagus sylvatica and Taxus baccata in the Nebrodi Natural Park (Sicily, southern Italy) allowed us to identify a very rare lignicolous ascomycete Capnobotrys dingleyae, a new species for southern Europe.

Sull'interazione tra Acremonium sp., Vitis vinifera e Plasmopara viticola.

Preliminary investigations on the occurrence of Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV)in central-western Sicilian orchards and on the mycorrhizal status in citranges (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.)

In the last decade, since the first outbreak of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in the province of Catania (2002), several new CTV foci were found in Sicily. In order to determine CTV occurrence in centra-lwestern Sicily, identify and characterize viral strains and verify the mycorrhizal status of citrange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. × Poncirus trifoliate (L.) Raf.]. one of the most utilized tollerant rootstock, an epidemiological survey was carried out in 2011. Symptomless samples from citrus groves from different Sicilian provinces (Agrigento, Palermo, Trapani, Caltanissetta) were collected and submitted to serological assay. Only samples from Agrigento and Palermo provinces were ELISA-positiv…

Studio sulla biodiversità delle popolazioni dei funghi AM in differenti ecosistemi siciliani agrari e naturali.

Alterazioni del legno della vite: prime osservazioni in areali della Sicilia occidentale.

Il comportamento epidemico di “malattie del legno” di Vitis vinifera è stato studiato in tre aree viticole della Sicilia occidentale. In particolare, sono stati condotti rilievi in campo per quantificare l’incidenza e l’intensità di sintomi del mal dell’esca e di un deperimento “atipico”; in laboratorio, invece, sono stati effettuati isolamenti per individuare i microrganismi associati ai campioni di xilema alterato. I risultati delle osservazioni, confermano la “fluttuazione” dei sintomi, la differente evoluzione dell’esca in funzione della cultivar e del clima, definendo, inoltre, la natura biotica del deperimento atipico rilevato a Marsala (TP) e quella abiotica delle alterazioni xilemat…

Prime osservazioni sulla morfologia di un endofita in Eruca sativa.

Pistachio fruits rust caused by Tuberculina persicina (Ditmar) Sacc., anamorph of Helicobasidium purpureum (Tul.) Pat.

In the study, we found rust in pistachio fruits and verified that it was caused by Tuberculina persicina, anamorph of Helicobasidium purpureum, through isolation and culture, microscopic observation, molecular identification and pathogenicity tests of Koch’s postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of rust fruit in pistachio caused by Tuberculina persicina.

Secondary metabolite production of an antagonistic Acremonium, isolate from asymptomatic grapevine leaves infected by Plasmopare viticola.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of new N-(1-phenyl-4-carbetoxypyrazol-5-yl)-, N-(indazol-3-yl)- and N-(indazol-5-yl)-2-iodobenzamides

N-(1-Phenyl-4-carbetoxypyrazol-5-yl)-, N-(indazol-3-yl)- and N-(indazol-5-yl)-2-iodobenzamides 6, with a Benodanil-like structure, were synthesized by refluxing in acetic acid the corresponding benzotriazinones 5 with potassium iodide for 1 h in order to study the role on the antifungal activity of the N-substitution with an aromatic heterocyclic system on benzamide moiety. Among the tested iododerivatives, compounds 6d,f,g,h possess interesting activities toward some phytopathogenic fungal strains.

"In vitro" antagonism towards Plasmopara viticola from an endophyte Acremonium sp. in grapevine

Trichoderma harzianum Strain T22 Modulates Direct Defense of Tomato Plants in Response to Nezara viridula Feeding Activity

AbstractPlant growth-promoting fungi belonging to genus Trichoderma are known to help plants when dealing with biotic stressors by enhancing plant defenses. While beneficial effects of Trichoderma spp. against plant pathogens have long been documented, fewer studies have investigated their effect on insect pests. Here, we studied the impact of Trichoderma root colonization on the plant defense responses against stink bug feeding attack. For this purpose, a model system consisting of tomato plant, Solanum lycopersicum cv Dwarf San Marzano, Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 and the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, was used. We firstly determined stink bug performance in terms of rela…

How does Acremonium sp. act against the sexual structures of Plasmopara viticola?

Antagonism of the endophytic Bacillus subtilis strain AG1 to fungal pathogens that cause tracheomycotic deterioration of wine wood

Grapevine trunk diseases can determine considerable losses in the worldwide wine industry. Symptoms of wood diseases are dead spurs, arms, cordons and same times vine death, due to cankers in the vascular tissue (Pascoe, 2000). Recent research has also showed a recrudescence either of escadisease or decay by Verticilliumdahliae and the occurrence of new wood alterations (Botryosphaeriarhodina; Mugnai et al., 1999; Wood et al., 2005; Bonfiglioliet al., 2007). Last investigations, carried out in Sicilian vineyards on fungi associated with xilematic“esca”symptoms, revealed the occurrence of genus Bacillusin wood tissues. A spore-producer Gram-positive bacterial isolate, named AG1, was identifi…

Primi studi su Biscognauxia mediterranea in Sicilia occidentale.

In semi-vivo antagonisme of Acremonium byssoides towards Plasmopara viticola

Patogeni fungini coinvolti nel deperimento dei boschi

Interaction between a Bacillus isolate, Eruca sativa and Albugo candida.

Biodiversity in the grapevine: rhizosphere arthropods and mycorrhizal fungi

Potencialidades del consorcio microbiano Curvularia kusanoi -Trichoderma pleuroticola como pretratamiento biológico para la degradación de fuentes fibrosas

Objective. To evaluate the potentiality of the microbial consortium Curvularia kusanoi L7- Trichoderma pleuroticola as biological pretreatment of high fiber sources destined for animal production. Materials and methods. The Strains used where Curvularia kusanoi L7 and Trichoderma pleuroticola. The degradative potential was evaluated through the production kinetics of cellulolytic (endo-1,4-β-glucanase and exo-1,4-β-glucanase) and ligninolytics enzymes (laccase and peroxidase) in solid submerged fermentation of bran wheat and sugarcane bagasse. The growth of the co culture in plates was analyzed. The effect of the consortium on the carbon mineralization of raw wheat straw was determined and …

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Gazania rigens pot plant cultivation in a Mediterranean environment

Herbaceous plants used in island beds and borders need to be rapid growing, high performing and maintaining good visual quality during the growing season. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi application is acquiring interest for its beneficial effects on ornamental bedding plants. Gazania rigens is a herbaceous ornamental plant grown for its large daisy-like flowers. The species thrives in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean region, particularly in the mild climate of southern Italy and Sicily, where performs well in summer bedding schemes in sea side gardens even in dry and windy conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis on se…

Sperimentazione di laboratorio e di pieno campo sull'impiego delle soglie in legname e pietrame.

Endomicorrize e funghi vescicolo-arbuscolari, bioindicatori dei suoli agrari.

Antagonismo in vitro di Acremonium sp. nei confronti di alcuni funghi fitopatogeni.

Sull'antagonismo in vivo e in vitro di Acremonium byssoides, endofita in Vitis vinifera, nei confronti di Plasmopara viticola

Lo studio dell’interazione fra Acremonium byssoides, Vitis vinifera e Plasmopara viticola, condotto nell’ultimo decennio, ha evidenziato in vitro e in vivo l’attività antagonistica dell’ifomicete, endofita negli organi verdi di alcune cultivars di vite, nei confronti del patogeno. In particolare, è stato accertato che sospensioni conidiche, filtrati colturali, estratti grezzi e metaboliti di A. byssoides riducono sensibilmente la germinazione delle spore agamiche e gamiche di P. viticola, limitando la produzione di propaguli. Inoltre, l’uso di un microscopio laser confocale e l’impiego di un’opportuna tecnica di decolorazione dei tessuti fogliari, seguita da colorazione di contrasto, ha con…

Descrizione delle micorrize del gruppo Thelephorales ed ecologia specifica delle specie più importanti trovate in un impianto di conifere alloctone in Sardegna

La famiglia delle Thelephoraceae include diverse specie di funghi basidiomiceti imenomiceti con corpi fruttiferi dalla forma assai variabile, coriacei o carnosi e a habitat tipicamente terricolo o lignicolo (saprotrofi, cariogeni e micorrizici, in prevalenza). A tale famiglia, la cui sistematica è ancora incerta, si attribuisce attualmente una decina di generi, fra i quali Thelephora, Tomentella, Tomentellopsis, Pseudotomentella e Lenzitopsis sono frequentemente riportati in letteratura come ectomicorrizici (ECM) in simbiosi con radici di piante forestali (aghi- e latifoglie), in vari ecosistemi. In particolare, studi dettagliati riguardano la descrizione morfologica delle ECM che essi inst…

Fusaria antagonisti isolati dalla rizosfera di Mangifera indica.

Indagini preliminari sul deperimento delle essenze arboree di "Bosco Ficuzza" (PA).

Evoluzione di Acremonium sp., endofita in tessuti fogliari di Vitis vinifera, durante la patogenesi di Plasmopara viticola

Valutazione delle caratteristiche morfo-anatomiche di alcune simbiosi micorriziche mediante tecniche colorimetriche usuali e innovative.

Studio delle popolazioni di aspergilli e penicilli in uve della sicilia occidentale

In diversi vigneti della Sicilia occidentale è stata monitorata, su uve sane e infestate, la dinamica di presenza di specie di Aspergillus e Penicillium, alcune delle quali note produttrici di ocratossina A, la principale micotossina della filiera vitivinicola. Gli studi condotti dall’allegagione alla raccolta evidenziano la variabilità quali-quantitativa delle popolazioni di aspergilli e penicilli, in relazione alle condizioni ambientali. Le analisi tossicologiche, accertando la presenza occasionale della micotossina, confermano l’assenza di correlazione tra il livelli di OTA nelle uve e la presenza dei funghi in vigneto.

FIRST REPORT OF STEMPHYLIUM sp. ON OLIVE TREES IN SICILY.

In the last five years, we have observed a new decline of Olea europaea in north-western and southern Sicily (insular Italy). The syndrome consists in more or less extensive leaf chlorosis, sometimes with irregular necrotic marginal or apical spots. Apical defoliation of twigs showing cortical necrosis and withering has often been observed. Isolations, carried out in 2007/08, yilded a complex of fungal genera associated with the syndrome. Among these, Stemphylium sp., a well-known foliar pathogen of other plants, was constantly isolated from all the alterations observed. In December 2010, single spore colonies of this fungus were used for artificial inoculations on healthy 3-year-old olive …

Studio dell'attitudine alla coltivazione e della variabilità genetica e molecolare di isolati Siciliani di Pleurotus spp

First report of Pleurotus fuscosquamulosus (Pleurotaceae, Basidiomycota) in Italy naturally occurring on new tropical hosts

Basidiomata of a mushroom macroscopically recognised as Pleurotus cystidosus sensu latu were collected on the trunks of three tropical ornamental trees such as Broussonetia papyrifera, Yucca elephantipes, and Paulownia tomentosa in the Parco d’Orleans, an urban park in the town of Palermo (Sicily, Italy). All the plants showed cavities and white rot symptoms at the base of the trunks. Macro- and microscopic observations on both collected basidiomata and isolated colonies, as well as molecular analysis, allowed identifying the collected basidiomata as Pleurotus fuscosquamulosus and its anamorph as Antromycopsis fuscosquamulosus. These species belong to the subgenus Coremiopleurotus that incl…

Aspergillia and Penicillia on grapes in some Sicilian vineyards

"In vitro" antagonism of a grapevine endophytic Bacillus subtilis strain towards "esca" fungi.

Preliminary investigations on grapevines (CV Catarratto) with symptoms of “esca” permitted to isolate only bacterial colonies, from black punctuations belonging to the genus Bacillus. Particularly, an isolate was Gram-positive with spore forming and, on the basis of the partial 16S rRNA sequence comparison, it showed a similarity of 99% with Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis. There are numerous reports on the antagonistic activity of the species towards several phytopathogenic microorganisms. For this reason the possible bacterial control against the “esca” fungi (Phaeoacre- monium aleophilum, PAL; Phaemoniella clamidospora, PCH; Fomitiporia mediterranea, FOMED), was studied. The antagonist…

On the health of a monumental tree of Ficus macrophylla Desf. ex Pers. subsp. columnaris (C. Moore) P. S. Green (sin. = Ficus magnolioides Borzì var. magnolioides) in Palermo

Hydrolate and EO Application to Reduce Decay of Carica papaya during Storage

Postharvest fruit loss is caused by the absence of advanced handling and storage technologies and the quiescent presence of fungal pathogens. Therefore, there is a growing demand for sustainable decisions for the planet. This study focused on the use of two types of edible coatings: one was based on the essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. subsp. viridulum with Aloe arborescens Mill. gel (EC1), and the other was based on the hydrolate only (EC2). These treatments were applied to provide defense against fungal infections in papaya (Carica papaya L. cv Solo), and the storage time was 25 days (T5 ± 1 °C). Fruits coated with EC1 were more contaminated with fungal pathogens than both control (CT…

Prime osservazioni sulle micorrize di Quercus suber L. in Sicilia

Possibile antagonismo di Acremonium byssoides nei confronti delle strutture gamiche di Plasmopara viticola

Endomicorrize: vantaggi e impiego