ALBERT

Notes: Isolates of Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi from the UK and overseas were categorized into six races on the basis of their reactions to a range of differential pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars. Race 2 was predominant among the isolates examined and this probably reflects its relative international importance. A previously uncharacterized race (race 6) was virulent on all cultivars tested. Resistance to races 1-5 was widespread in commercial cultivars and breeding lines with more than 75% showing resistance to one or more races. A preliminary study of the inheritance of resistance indicated that for races 1, 2 and 3, resistance was controlled by different dominant genes. The genetic basis for the relationship between races of P. syringae pv. pisi and pea cultivars was explained in terms of a gene-for-gene relationship involving five matching gene pairs. With further clarification of the genetics of resistance this host-pathogen association will meet most of the requirements of a model system for the study of the genetic and molecular basis of pathogenicity and host specificity.

Notes: One hundred and eighty-one sexual progeny isolates from three F1, one F2, five BC1 and one BC2 generations of crosses involving two metalaxyl-resistant and two metalaxyl-sensitive isolates of Bremia lactucae were assessed for response to metalaxyl. In most cases, isolates were also tested for virulence phenotype and sexual compatibility type. Isolates could be classified into three phenotypes (sensitive, resistant and intermediate) on the basis of their response to fungicide. Sensitive progeny isolates were similar to the sensitive parents and did not sporulate on lettuce seedlings grown in the presence of 〉 1.0 μg/ml metalaxyl. Resistant progeny isolates, in common with the resistant parents, sporulated as readily on lettuce seedlings grown in the presence of 100 μg/ml metalaxyl as on untreated seedlings. Progeny isolates which expressed an intermediate phenotype not observed in field samples were also recovered. This phenotype was more variable but isolates so classified were able to sporulate on seedlings grown in the presence of 100 μg/ml metalaxyl but exhibited a latent period (time from inoculation to appearance of sporulation) which was on average twice as long as that observed on seedlings grown in the absence of fungicide.Segregation patterns suggested that response to metalaxyl is controlled at a single locus exhibiting incomplete dominance but that the expression of response in the heterozygous condition may be affected by modifier genes. There was evidence that the metalaxyl-resistant parental field isolates were heterokaryotic (possibly carrying nuclei homozygous and heterozygous at the locus controlling metalaxyl response). After 10-30 asexual generations in the absence of fungicide, the response to metalaxyl of resistant field isolates began to approach that of an intermediate type. This phenomenon did not occur with a resistant sexual progeny isolate (presumed homokaryotic) and is additional evidence for the heterokaryosis of field isolates. The relative fitness of a range of isolates was examined by observing changes in the proportions of spores over three asexual generations after they were initially mixed in a 1:1 ratio with mutant isolates carrying a microscopically visible genetic marker (large lipid droplets). Most field isolates were more fit than the mutant isolates used, regardless of whether they were resistant or sensitive to metalaxyl, and there was no evidence that resistant isolates carried any fitness deficit in comparison with the sensitive isolates examined. In contrast, sexual progeny isolates (particularly from BC1 generations) were often less fit than the mutant isolates used, but there was no evidence that this was associated with response to fungicide. These findings are discussed in relation to the mode of action of metalaxyl and disease control strategy.

Notes: Failure to control Bremia lactucae (lettuce downy mildew) with metalaxyl in an intensive lettuce-producing region of Lancashire at the end of 1983 was shown to be due to the occurrence of a high level of resistance to this fungicide (isolates capable of growth at 〈 100 μg/ml metalaxyl). During most of 1984, metalaxyl-resistant isolates were obtained from numerous sites but all within a 20-km radius of the initial outbreak. Thereafter, at the end of 1984 and during 1985, metalaxyl-resistant isolates were recovered from most major lettuce-producing regions in the UK with protected crops more affected than field crops. AH metalaxyl-resistant isolates tested were identical in their response to fungicide, sexual compatibility type (B2) and virulence phenotype, probably representing a clone from a single origin. The resistant pathotype was virulent on resistance factors R 1-10 and 12-15 but lacked virulence for R 11 and 16-18. This was also the most common virulence phenotype among sensitive isolates collected at the same time. Cross-resistance to other phenylamide fungicides was demonstrated but isolates resistant and sensitive to phenylamide showed a similar response to the unrelated systemic fungicides propamocarb and fosetyl-Al. An F1 sexual progeny isolate from a cross between a phenylamide-sensitive and a phenylamide-resistant isolate (presumed heterozygous at the locus or loci regulating response to phenylamide fungicides) exhibited an intermediate response to phenylamide fungicides. No isolates of this type were obtained from the field. At the high concentrations affecting spore germination, phenylamide fungicides exhibited lower activity against a resistant isolate compared with a sensitive isolate. The findings are discussed in relation to future control strategies, the population biology of the fungus and possible directions for lettuce breeding programmes.

Notes: The oilseed rape cultivar Cresor was resistant to 14 isolates of Peronospora parasitica derived from crops of Brassica napus in the UK. Segregation for resistance to one isolate among F2 plants and F3 progeny of crosses between Cresor and the susceptible cultivars Victor and Jet Neuf indicated that resistance was controlled by a single gene. There was evidence that genetic background and environment could influence the phenotypic expression of this resistance. Two sexual progeny isolates derived from a homothallic isolate of P. parasitica avirulent on Cresor were completely virulent on this cultivar. This suggested that the parental isolate was heterozygous at a matching locus or loci for avirulence and demonstrated the race-specific nature of the resistance.

Notes: The development of five Bremia lactucae isolates on the field-resistant crisphead lettuce cultivar Iceberg was compared under field conditions with that on the more susceptible crisphead cultivar Ithaca. With each of five isolates, the epidemic developed more rapidly on Ithaca than Iceberg; lesions on Ithaca were more numerous, larger and sporulated more profusely than on Iceberg. There was no evidence for adaptation of isolates to Iceberg, which provides some additional evidence that the resistance of this cultivar could be non-differential (horizontal). There was, however, evidence of non-specific differences between isolates in their quantitative virulence.

Notes: Summary About 1000 Brassica oleracea accessions were evaluated in glasshouse tests for response to Plasmodiophora brassicae (clubroot). Resistance was confirmed in some north and west European kales and cabbage. A new source of resistance in cabbage, from Eire, is reported. Most other accessions were highly susceptible but lower levels of susceptibility were observed in open pollinated Brussels sprouts and forms of south European cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Modern breeding (as in the production of hybrid cultivars) appears to have resulted in increased susceptibility in several crop types. The implications of these results for the exploitation of germplasm are discussed.