Correlation between field disease and latent infection by Glomerella cingulata of strawberry plants as revealed by a simple diagnostic method using ethanol immersion

Leaves of strawberry plants growing in fields were collected and assayed by ethanol immersion treatment (SDEI) to detect latent infection by Glomerella cingulata and Dendrophoma obscurans. SDEI revealed that 83% of the plants in growers fields were latently infected by G. cingulata and 58% by D. obscurans. In such fields, only 0.8%–2.5% of the plants later became wilted or died because of G. cingulata. When the latently infected plants from naturally infested fields were kept under optimal conditions for disease development for 5 weeks, 70.0%–83.3% of them wilted or died from G. cingulata. However, only 5.6%–6.7% of the plants diagnosed by SDEI as being without latent infection wilted or died. The results indicate the importance of selecting healthy plants, suggesting that SDEI is an effective method for detecting latent infection and reducing losses from G. cingulata.     

Method to diagnose latent infection by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glomerella cingulata</Emphasis> in strawberry plants using ethanol

Signs on strawberry leaves with latent infection by Glomerella cingulata became visible by a simple diagnostic method using ethanol immersion treatment (SDEI). Leaves treated with SDEI changed to dark brown or nearly black, and salmon-pink conidial masses were subsequently produced in the acervuli 5–10 days after incubation in moist petri dishes. The formation rate of conidial masses through SDEI was higher as the position of the leaves became lower. Conidial masses were produced more readily and abundantly when SDEI was performed at 28°C than at 22°, 25°, or 31°C. Latent infection was found to last 1–180 days. There was no difference in the time required for conidial production or in the rate of conidial formation regardless of isolate, cultivar, or leaf position. The varietal difference in resistance to strawberry anthracnose did not influence the rate of conidial mass formation after SDEI. SDEI is thus useful for detecting latent infections during the process of selecting disease-free plants.     

Differential Interactions of aColletotrichum gloeosporioides isolate with green and red pepper fruits

Differential interactions ofColletotrichum gloeosporioides isolate KG 13 with green and red pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum were found when it was inoculated on unwounded and wounded fruits. The isolate produced the typically necrotic, sunken anthracnose symptom on unwounded and wounded green fruits, and wounded red ones, but not on unwounded red ones. Appressorial formation of the fungus on the surfaces of compatible green fruits was higher than on incompatible red ones up to 12 h after inoculation. More and longer infection pegs from appressoria were produced on green than on red fruits. When cuticular wax layers of green and red fruits were removed by dipping in chloroform, red ones only produced larger lesions and more conidia than water-dipped controls did. However, differences in lesion diameter and conidial production were not observed between green and red fruits wounded by pin-pricking. In addition, concentrations of wax extracted from the surface of green and red fruits affected conidial germination and appressorial formation of the fungus. These findings suggest that the isolate KG 13 ofC. gloeosporioides may react differentially to green and red pepper fruits, probably due to the physical and chemical differences in cuticular layers of the fruits.     

Accumulation of Pathogenesis-Related Proteins in the Apoplast of a Susceptible Cultivar of Apple (Malus domestica cv. Elstar) after Infection by Venturia inaequalis and Constitutive Expression of PR Genes in the Resistant Cultivar Remo

Leaves of apple (Malus domestica cv. Elstar) were infected with a cloned isolate of the apple scab Venturia inaequalis. The intercellular washing fluid (IWF) of these plants was collected and the variation in the composition of proteins in the IWF was analysed by SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis during and after the infection with V. inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab. The subsequent analysis of induced proteins by electron spray ionization quadrupole time of flight mass spectroscopy revealed the presence of -1,3-glucanase, chitinase, thaumatin-like protein and a cysteine-like protease in M. domestica leaves infected by V. inaequalis. These results were confirmed by immunoblotting with antibodies against some of these proteins. Moreover, a non-specific lipid transfer protein was identified in uninfected leaves: the amount declined to a non-detectable level within the first week after infection by V. inaequalis. The analysis of the IWF of M. domestica cv. Remo, bearing resistances to apple scab, powdery mildew and fire blight, showed a protein pattern comparable to that of the IWF from V. inaequalis infected leaves from cultivar Elstar indicating the constitutive production at least of some of the pathogenesis-related proteins in the resistant cultivar.     

The effect of three irrigation practices on phytophthora crown and root rot of apple trees under field conditions

The effect of microjet, drip, and two durations of sprinkler irrigation systems on phytophthora crown and root rot of apple trees was examined under field conditions. This eight year study indicates that crown and root rot caused byPhytophthora cactorum was most severe where young MM. 106 rootstock trees were watered by microjet irrigation for 2.3 h each day. There was no difference in infection byP. cactorum when trees were irrigated either by drip or sprinkler irrigation systems. The MM.106 apple rootstock trees watered by drip irrigation for 2.6 h each day were least affected by phytophthora crown and root rot.     

Genetic Analysis of the Role of Trichothecene and Fumonisin Mycotoxins in the Virulence of Fusarium

The phytotoxicity of the Fusarium trichothecene and fumonisin mycotoxins has led to speculation that both toxins are involved in plant pathogenesis. This subject has been addressed by examining virulence of trichothecene and fumonisin-nonproducing mutants of Fusarium in field tests. Mutants were generated by transformation-mediated disruption of genes encoding enzymes that catalyze early steps in the biosynthesis of each toxin. Two economically important species of Fusarium were selected for these studies: the trichothecene-producing species Fusarium graminearum, which causes wheat head blight and maize ear rot, and the fumonisin-producing species F. verticillioides, which causes maize ear rot. Trichothecene-non-producing mutants of F. graminearum caused less disease than the wild-type strain from which they were derived on both wheat and maize, although differences in virulence on maize were not observed under hot and dry environmental conditions. Genetic analyses of the mutants demonstrated that the reduced virulence on wheat was caused by the loss of trichothecene production rather than by a non-target mutation induced by the gene disruption procedure. Although the analyses of virulence of fumonisin-non-producing mutants of F. verticillioides are not complete, to date, the mutants have been as virulent on maize ears as their wild-type progenitor strains. The finding that trichothecene production contributes to the virulence of F. graminearum suggests that it may be possible to generate plants that are resistant to this fungus by increasing their resistance to trichothecenes. As a result, several researchers are trying to identify trichothecene resistance genes and transfer them to crop species.     

苹果叶片中吡唑醚菌酯残留的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测方法

为了解吡唑醚菌酯在苹果叶片中的残留动态,合理评估其持效期,比较了液液萃取、固相萃取以及QuEChERS（Quick、Easy、Cheap、Effective、Rugged、safe）3种样品前处理方法对苹果叶片中吡唑醚菌酯添加回收率的影响,优化了基于超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UPLCMS/MS）的检测条件与方法。结果表明:采用QuEChERS法提取时回收率较高,所需有机溶剂少,时间短,重复性好,适合苹果叶片中吡唑醚菌酯的萃取和净化;对于苹果叶片,萃取和净化步骤中的填料可减少为乙二胺-N-丙基甲硅烷（PSA）和石墨化碳黑（GCB）2种,其最佳用量PSA为0.025 g/mL,GCB为0.020 g/mL;苹果叶组织对样品检测具有微弱的基质增强效应。通过对QuEChERS方法的改进以及对色谱-质谱检测参数的优化,建立了苹果叶片中吡唑醚菌酯残留的检测方法,该方法的线性范围为0.01~50.0 mg/L,定量限为0.01 mg/kg。在0.01~10 mg/kg4个添加水平下,吡唑醚菌酯在苹果叶片中的回收率为9 2%~9 9%,相对标准偏差为2.2%~5.3%。田间实测结果表明:苹果叶片喷施1 000 mg/L的25%吡唑醚菌酯乳油,其残留消解动态符合一级反应动力学模型ct=79.87 e-0.053 3 t,半衰期为13 d。     

Improved control of moldy-core decay (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis>) in Red Delicious apple fruit by mixtures of DMI fungicides and captan

The sterol biosynthesis inhibitors bromuconazole and difenoconazole and tank mixes of each fungicide with captan were applied to apples and evaluated as controls for moldy-core and fruit decay caused by Alternaria alternata. Effectiveness of a mixture of bromuconazole and captan in controlling colonization by the fungus was also evaluated. Decay formation by A. alternata on mature detached fruits was partially inhibited by bromuconazole at 0.5 μg ml⁻¹ and was completely inhibited at 50 μg ml⁻¹; it was significantly affected by either bromoconazole at 5 μg ml⁻¹ or captan at 1,250 μg ml⁻¹, and was completely inhibited by their mixture. In general, three foliar applications of bromuconazole or difenoconazole in the field, during the bloom period, reduced the numbers of infected fruits by 40–60% compared with untreated control trees. However, tank mixes of either fungicide with captan improved control of moldy-core in fruits at harvest. Tank mixtures of bromuconazole and captan also significantly reduced the percentage of fruits colonized by A. alternata when sampled at various days after full bloom. Artificial inoculations in the orchard at full bloom did not change the inhibitory effects of the tank mixtures. Large-scale demonstration trials in commercial orchards supported these findings. The inhibitory effects of tank mixes on decay development in detached fruits, and on moldy-core in the field indicate that a control programme based on mixtures of either bromuconazole or difenoconazole with captan during the bloom period can effectively reduce moldy-core on Red Delicious apples.     

Comparative studies on the effects of a yucca extract and acibenzolar-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-methyl (ASM) on inhibition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Venturia inaequalis</Emphasis> in apple leaves

The effect of an extract of Yucca schidigera on the control and infection process of the apple scab pathogen, Venturia inaequalis, was examined and compared with the chemical resistance inducer, acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM). In seedling assays, both materials significantly reduced apple scab symptoms and pathogen sporulation on leaves and both showed similar control efficacies as the reference treatment, sulphur. Whereas yucca extract and sulphur gave significant inhibition of conidial germination in vitro, ASM did not inhibit germination. Histopathological studies of the infection process of V. inaequalis in apple leaves showed that the yucca extract primarily acted by inhibiting pre-penetration events and penetration itself. In contrast, the ASM treatment significantly inhibited more stages of the infection process (pre-penetration, penetration and post-penetration events). These observations suggest that the yucca extract acted mainly by a direct fungitoxic effect whereas ASM, as expected, acted as a resistance inducer. However, expression studies of two genes encoding the PR proteins, PR1 and PR8, in apple seedlings indicated that yucca extract may also affect plant defence as expression of both genes was up-regulated following yucca treatment, to a level similar to that observed after treatment with ASM. The fungitoxic effect of sulphur on V. inaequalis was also confirmed in this study.     

Microsatellite primers indicate the presence of asexual populations of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Venturia inaequalis</Emphasis> in coastal Israeli apple orchards

This study was initiated to determine whether differences in genotypic diversity among populations ofVenturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint., as detected using neutral genetic markers, were related to the ecological conditions in which apples are grown in Israel. Since sexual reproduction in this fungal pathogen has an obligate requirement for sustained low winter temperatures, and since these requirements in Israel are met only on the Golan Heights, we were interested in whether lower elevation populations of this pathogen might be comprised of asexual clonal lineages. Unlike temperate apple growing regions, where the primary spring inoculum is ascosporic derived from overwintered pseudothecia, Israeli apple orchards at lower elevations in the Hula Valley and along the coastal plain rarely if ever experience low winter temperatures and pseudothecia have never been recovered. Two orchards were sampled from the Golan Heights (El Rom and Ortal, n=38) and three orchards from the Hula Valley and coastal plain (Sede Eliezer, Ginaton and Be’er Tuvia, n=40). Microsatellite primers were used to analyze population structure and the resulting binary data analyzed by both cluster and parsimony analysis. Populations from the coastal plain were genetically uniform within each of the orchards sampled, whereas populations from the Golan Heights showed levels of genotypic diversity ten times as high. The data support field observations that this pathogen does not reproduce sexually in regions characterized by the absence of low winter temperatures and is instead composed of clonal lineages. This may have bearing on control strategies for the disease in Israel. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting April 21, 2003.     

参与烟粉虱免疫反应的clip丝氨酸蛋白酶基因分析

为了解参与烟粉虱免疫反应的clip丝氨酸蛋白酶(clip-domain serine proteases in Bemisia tabaci,Bt CLIPs)基因,对已鉴定的8个Bt CLIPs基因编码的蛋白进行序列分析,与冈比亚按蚊、家蚕、黑腹果蝇、烟草天蛾4种模式昆虫的同源蛋白进行系统进化分析,并通过q RT-PCR检测球孢白僵菌侵染烟粉虱4龄若虫后Bt CLIPs的时间表达模式。结果显示,8个Bt CLIPs基因均为含有CLIPs结构域的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因;Bt CLIP19、Bt CLIP20和Bt CLIP21独自聚在进化树的一支上;其它Bt CLIPs均与4种模式昆虫中的1种或多种同源蛋白聚在一起;与对照相比,8个Bt CLIPs基因受球孢白僵菌侵染后在不同时间的相对表达量均上调,但诱导程度不同,48 h的相对表达量达最高,其中Bt CLIP19上调表达最明显,为对照组的71倍。研究表明,8个Bt CLIPs可能参与烟粉虱对真菌侵染的免疫反应,并成为烟粉虱生物防治的新靶标。     

Gene Flow Analysis of Phytophthora porri Reveals a New Species: Phytophthora brassicae Sp. Nov.

Isozyme analysis and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS-1 and ITS-2) and the 5.8S subunit of the ribosomal DNA gene repeat were used to examine whether isolates of Phytophthora porri from Allium and Brassica represent a single homogeneous species. Twenty-six strains of P. porri, 16 strains isolated from the genus Allium, and 10 strains isolated from the genus Brassica, were analyzed using malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), represented altogether by four putative loci (Mdh-2, Idh-1, Idh-2, and Ldh-2). Isozyme analysis revealed that strains isolated from Allium contained five private alleles at three isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸³, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁸, Idh-1 ¹¹², and Idh-2 ⁹⁸), whereas six different alleles were observed at four isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸⁵, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁰, Ldh-2 ¹¹⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁰, Idh-2 ¹⁰⁰, and Mdh-2 ¹¹¹) in strains obtained from Brassica. The heterozygosity at the Ldh-2 locus, differing in allele composition, however, between strains from Allium and Brassica, was present in all strains, indicating that it is probably fixed. Sequence analysis of the ITS regions and the 5.8S subunit showed consistent differences between isolates from Allium and isolates from Brassica. Based on isozyme data, ITS sequence analysis and formerly published differences in restriction enzyme patterns of mitochondrial DNA, morphology and pathogenicity, it was concluded that the isolates of P. porri Foister did not represent a homogeneous species. Isolates from Brassica constitute a distinct species which is described here as P. brassicae sp. nov. It was inferred from isozyme patterns, which were in no case intermediate between the two species, that P. porri and P. brassicae do not hybridize and are reproductively isolated by barriers to gene flow.     

基于mtCOI基因序列的我国云南省和缅甸、柬埔寨草地贪夜蛾种群遗传多样性分析

为制定有效的草地贪夜蛾防控措施,分别自缅甸、柬埔寨和我国云南省采集4、2和8个种群共542个草地贪夜蛾样品,基于mtCOI基因序列分析这14个种群的遗传多样性指数、遗传分化系数及基因流。结果表明,缅甸草地贪夜蛾种群的单倍型多样性指数和平均核苷酸差异数分别介于0.273～0.396和4.643～6.727之间,高于我国云南省的草地贪夜蛾种群,分别介于0.047～0.214和0.791～3.636之间;除ZT种群、LS种群和TO种群外,其它11个种群的Fu’s F均为显著正值,表明缅甸、柬埔寨和我国云南省的草地贪夜蛾种群未经历种群扩张事件;在14个种群中,LS种群与其它种群分化较明显,TK种群、MY种群、CP种群、MS种群和KY种群有效迁入个数和有效迁出个数之和较高,分别为699.41、682.50、855.76、684.56和701.31,推测这5个种群在草地贪夜蛾基因交流中起着类似"中转站"的作用。     

Improvement and validation of a pea crop growth model to simulate the growth of cultivars infected with Ascochyta blight (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycosphaerella pinodes</Emphasis>)

A model simulating the growth of a pea crop infected with Ascochyta blight was improved and validated using 6 spring pea cultivars, all equally susceptible to Ascochyta blight, but differing in architectural features (stem height, branching ability, standing ability). This model takes into account the spatial distribution of the disease, including the contribution of each layer of the canopy to the radiation interception efficiency (RIE) and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of the crop. The decreasing contribution of each layer due to the disease was estimated by the relationship between the photosynthesis of a layer and its disease score. The effect of disease on photosynthesis was assessed in controlled conditions as a means of evaluating the effect of disease on each cultivar. All cultivars were affected equally. In field conditions, cultivars with different canopy architectures displayed differences in the profile of disease on leaves. Cultivar Aladin reached higher disease levels at the top of the plant. Epidemics affected crop growth, and the cultivars tested differed in the magnitude of the decrease in growth. Observed and simulated data were compared. The disease-coupled crop growth model gave satisfactory predictions of crop growth for the six cultivars tested.     

Effect of six sanitation treatments on leaf litter density, ascospore production of Venturia inaequalis and scab incidence in integrated and organic apple orchards

A two-year study was conducted to determine the effect of six sanitation treatments on leaf litter density (LLD), relative ascospore production of Venturia inaequalis and scab incidence on spur-leaf clusters, leaves and harvested fruits, on two cultivars with low and high scab susceptibilities, in Hungarian integrated and organic apple orchards. The following sanitation treatments were used: sprays of lime sulphur in autumn, collecting fallen leaves in autumn, straw mulch cover in late winter, sprays of lime sulphur followed by mulch cover, collecting fallen leaves followed by mulch cover, collecting fallen leaves followed by covering the orchard floor with plastic foil, and non-sanitized control. LLD decreased continuously in all treatment plots by 0–23% by mid-May in both orchards and years; however, LLD reduction was 1.4–4.2 times higher in the organic orchard compared to the integrated one. All treatments, except for the lime sulphur treatment, resulted in significant (P < 0.05) reduction of LLD and ascospore production in both the integrated and organic apple orchards compared to non-sanitized plots. The most efficient treatment was leaf collection combined with plastic foil cover, followed by leaf collection combined with mulch cover, leaf collection alone, mulch cover alone, and lime sulphur spray combined with mulch cover, with a reduction in the ascospore production of >95, 72–92, 56–79, 24–38, and 27–46%, respectively, in the mean of both orchards and years. However, only treatments of leaf collection applied alone, or in combination with mulch or with plastic foil cover reduced significantly (P < 0.05) leaf and/or fruit scab incidence by 18–57% compared to non-sanitized plots. These three leaf collection treatments are recommended in both integrated and organic orchards and the possibilities of successfully incorporating these methods into orchard management practices are interpreted.     

Identification of a CAPS marker tightly linked to the Tomato yellow leaf curl disease resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty-1</Emphasis> in tomato

During the process of breeding programmes, several resistance genes have been introgressed into tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars from different wild tomato relatives. A number of these resistance genes have been mapped to chromosome 6. Among them, Ty-1 and Mi, which confer resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl disease and to Meloidogyne spp., respectively, are in most cases incorporated in commercial hybrids. Several molecular markers tightly linked to Mi have been identified. This study was conducted in order to find an informative molecular marker linked to Ty-1. Six markers mapped in the same region as Ty-1 were analysed in plant material carrying different combinations of Ty-1 and Mi alleles. Three of the six markers revealed polymorphism among the assayed accessions. One allele of JB-1 marker showed association with Ty-1. Furthermore, the presence of Mi did not interfere with the results. The analysis of several accessions of wild tomato relatives with the three polymorphic markers allowed the establishment of the origin of the alleles found in cultivated plant material, showing that introgressions from S. lycopersicum, S. pimpinellifolium and S. habrochaites will not interfere with the results of this marker which tags Ty-1. Furthermore this analysis enabled the location of CT21, the RFLP marker from which JB-1 was designed.     

芋疫霉重组聚合酶扩增结合侧流层析试纸条快速检测方法的建立及应用

为建立芋疫霉Phytophthora colocasiae快速准确的分子检测方法,基于Ypt1基因特异序列,设计芋疫霉的特异性引物与探针,建立一种快速、准确、可视化的芋疫霉重组聚合酶扩增结合侧流层析试纸条（recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow dipstick,LFD-RPA）检测方法,对该检测方法进行优化,评估其特异性与灵敏度,并对田间疑似样品进行检测。结果表明,优化后的芋疫霉LFD-RPA检测方法最适反应条件为39℃恒温反应30 min。LFD-RPA检测方法能够特异性地检测出芋疫霉,而对其他卵菌近缘种和常见植物病原真菌均未检出,且该检测方法对芋疫霉DNA的检测灵敏度达到1 pg/μL。对田间带病组织检测发现,LFD-RPA检测方法能够快速准确地从田间自然发病植株中检测出芋疫霉。表明本研究所建立的芋疫霉LFD-RPA快速可视化检测方法特异性好、灵敏度高、简单快捷,可用于芋疫病的田间快速诊断。     

梨网蝽触角嗅觉相关基因分析

为阐明梨网蝽Stephanitis nashi对其寄主植物的化学感受机制,本研究采用高通量测序平台对梨网蝽成虫触角进行转录组测序,基于7大数据库对转录组数据进行基因功能注释,筛选获得梨网蝽的主要嗅觉相关基因并进行生物信息学和系统进化树分析。结果表明:共获得28 017条unigenes,长度在1 000 bp以上的unigenes有9 921条;通过与7大数据库进行BLAST比对,梨网蝽触角转录组数据中的17 891条unigenes被成功注释;在已成功注释的unigenes中,鉴定得到12个OBP基因和17个CSP基因,其中OBP基因所编码的蛋白有6个属于Classic家族;而CSP基因所编码的蛋白全部具有4个保守的半胱氨酸位点,符合昆虫CSP基因的结构特征。进化分析结果显示,梨网蝽6个OBP基因的氨基酸序列与其他昆虫OBP基因的氨基酸序列聚为3个分支;梨网蝽16个CSP基因与其他昆虫CSP基因的进化树也聚为3个分支。     

沙葱萤叶甲表皮蛋白基因GdAbd的克隆及对温度胁迫的响应

为揭示沙葱萤叶甲Galeruca daurica表皮蛋白基因GdAbd在其应对温度胁迫中的作用,采用RACE技术克隆表皮蛋白基因GdAbd的cDNA全长序列,并进行生物信息学分析;利用实时荧光定量(qPCR)技术比较GdAbd经不同温度处理1 h及25℃恢复30 min后在沙葱萤叶甲2龄幼虫体内的表达水平。结果表明,GdAbd基因全长708 bp(GenBank登录号:MG874710),开放阅读框为477 bp,编码158个氨基酸;蛋白预测分子量为16.98 kD,等电点为4.26;编码蛋白具有典型的表皮蛋白RR保守结构域,属于RR-2亚族;具有1个跨膜结构和1个信号肽。同源序列比对和系统发育分析表明,GdAbd与马铃薯甲虫Leptinotarsa decemlineata SgAbd-4的同源性最高,氨基酸序列一致性达50.63%。qPCR检测结果表明,与25℃对照相比,GdAbd基因表达水平在-10～5℃低温胁迫时未发生显著变化,而在35℃高温胁迫时发生显著上调;-10、-5和0℃低温胁迫后25℃恢复30 min可诱导GdAbd显著上调表达,但5℃低温和35℃高温胁迫处理与对照差异不显著。说明短时低温胁迫不能显著影响GdAbd表达,但胁迫后回温可诱导其上调表达。     

Evidence that a Leaf-Disk Test Allows Assessment of Isolate-Specific Resistance in Brassica oleracea Crops Against Downy Mildew (Peronospora parasitica)

A rapid resistance/susceptibility test for Peronospora parasitica (downy mildew) was established by inoculating leaf-disks of four Brassica oleracea accessions. Several conditions were tested: disk disinfection or not, agar medium with or without nutrients and with 50 or 100 ppm of benzimidazole. Using disinfected disks placed on agar (no nutrient and benzimidazole at 50 or 100 ppm), the responses of leaf-disks to four isolates were similar to those obtained using the classical cotyledon test, whereas undesired contaminations occurred in all other conditions. The possible effect of the particular leaf used for obtaining the disks was also studied. In each incompatible interaction tested, disks were resistant whatever the leaf used. In compatible interactions, susceptible phenotypes were observed on disks derived from the six lowest leaves, but disks from upper leaves were resistant. The genetic basis of resistance in a F1 hybrid broccoli was assessed, by testing six isolates on an F2 population derived from this hybrid. The cotyledon test only allows inoculation of two isolates per seedling, whereas many isolates can be tested on each plant by using leaf-disks. The segregation of the resistance to each of the six isolates was analysed: two dominant genes (tightly linked) control resistance to all isolates (one to five isolates; the other to only one isolate).