E. E. Jones

• PhD Edinburgh University
• Professor at Lincoln University

In a previous study of fungal endophytes associated with grapevine trunk disease (GTD) in New Zealand vineyards, Botrytis cinerea was recovered from the inner trunk tissues of vines that were symptomatic or asymptomatic for GTD. The effect of B. cinerea , considered an endophytic latent pathogen, on colonisation and symptom development by the grape...

Dieback of blackcurrants ( Ribes nigrum ) is an increasing problem worldwide with several pathogens including the Botryosphaeriaceae species, Neofusicoccum ribis , reported as being associated with dieback. To identify the species of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with blackcurrant dieback in New Zealand, isolations were carried out from plant sampl...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs that form a symbiotic and mutualistic relationship with most terrestrial plants, playing an important role in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and ecosystem stability. This review synthesizes current knowledge on AMF colonization in plants within New Zealand ecosystems, including the chal...

Sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum germinate carpogenically developing apothecia and release ascospores which act as an inoculum in the field. Identifying the factors influencing the carpogenic germination of sclerotia is important in management of the pathogen. This study assessed the effect of medium and cold preconditioning on in vitro carpog...

Aims Endophytic colonisation of apple shoots by bacterial endophytes with in vitro antagonism against Neonectria ditissima was evaluated. Their biocontrol activity against N. ditissima was assessed. Methods and Results Spontaneous mutants resistant to 125 ppm rifampicin produced from three Pseudomonas sp. and three Bacillus sp. strains were used t...

Sclerotia play an important role in the disease cycle of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum . Traditional control measures do not effectively suppress germination and viability of sclerotia. This study performed a series of in-vivo bioassays to investigate the effect of biofumigants produced by Brassica juncea ‘Caliente 199’, biological control by Coniothyri...

Understanding host-microbe interactions in planta is an expanding area of research. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene is a powerful and common method to study bacterial communities associated with plants. However, the co-amplification of mitochondrial and plastid 16S rRNA genes by universal primers impairs the sensitivity and performance of...

Plant-parasitic nematodes threaten horticultural crops, causing damage by feeding on plant roots, reducing yields, and affecting global food security. We present preliminary results on nematode genera found in soil around two varieties of grapevine (Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir) with different rootstocks (101-14, SO4, 5C, Riparia Gloire, 3309, Sc...

Previously genetically characterised strains of Pseudomonas syringae. pv. syringae (Pss), [ P. amygdali pv. morsprunorum ] (Pam, syn. P. s . pv. morsprunorum race 1) and Pseudomonas spp. from New Zealand were characterised for their pathogenicity and aggressiveness in plant tissue and associated virulence factors. Lesions on detached, Pss‐inoculate...

Aims Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can perform significant functions within sustainable agricultural ecosystems, including vineyards. Increased AMF diversity can be beneficial in promoting plant growth and increasing resilience to environmental changes. To effectively utilise AMF communities and their benefits in vineyard ecosystems, a better...

Abstract Aims: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is an important pathogen of a wide range of crops, with current control mostly relying on the use of fungicides. This study assessed the effect of biofumigation on in vitro inhibition of mycelial growth and reduction of sclerotial viability of S. sclerotiorum as an attempt to seek an alternative management st...

Bacterial canker of cherry is a major constraint to stone fruit production worldwide, including New Zealand. Six pathovars of the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae are known to cause bacterial canker on Prunus species. From those six pathovars, P. s. pv. syringae (Pss), P. s. pv. morsprunorum race 1 (Psm1) and P. s. pv. persicae have been reported as...

A collection of isolates of the fungi Leptosphaeria maculans and L . biglobosa , which cause blackleg disease on Brassica napus (canola/oilseed rape) and other Brassicaceae species, was assembled to represent the global diversity of these pathogens and a resource for international research. The collection consists of 226 isolates (205 L . maculans...

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are a substantial challenge to viticulture, especially with a lack of available control measures. The lack of approved fungicides necessitates the exploration of alternative controls. One promising approach is the investigation of disease escape plants, which remain healthy under high disease pressure, likely due to...

Bacterial canker of cherry, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, is a major constraint to cherry growing in New Zealand. The prevalence of strains from cherry orchards in Central Otago, the main growing area for cherries in New Zealand, was studied, to better understand the epidemiology of the disease. Pseudomonas spp. isolates were collected...

Genetic diversity and virulence variability of Diplodia mutila isolates recovered from grapevines in New Zealand were in‐ vestigated. The universally primed PCR (UP‐PCR) and vegeta‐ tive compatibility group (VCG) methods were used to investi‐ gate the genetic diversity. Pathogenicity tests with ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ detached shoots and potted vines...

Flowers are an important niche for microbes, and microbes in turn influence plant fitness. As flower morphology and biology change rapidly over time, dynamic niches for microbes are formed and lost. Floral physiology at each life stage can therefore influence arrival, persistence and loss of microbial species; however, this remains little understoo...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) deliver potentially significant services in sustainable agricultural ecosystems, yet we still lack evidence showing how AMF abundance and/or community composition can benefit crops. In this study, we manipulated AMF communities in grapevine rootstock and measured plant growth and physiological responses. Glasshous...

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are a significant problem for New Zealand viticulture. Endophytic actinobacteria are of interest as potential biocontrol agents due to their ability to inhibit plant pathogens and improve plant growth. However, no studies have investigated the diversity of actinobacteria associated with grapevines in New Zealand vine...

White clover (Trifolium repens) is integral to mixed pastures in New Zealand and temperate agriculture globally. It provides quality feed and a sustainable source of plant-available nitrogen (N) via N-fixation through symbiosis with soil-dwelling Rhizobium bacteria. Improvement of N-fixation in white clover is a route to enhancing sustainability of...

Aims: Two introgression lines (ILs), 182Q20 and 200A12, which had chromosomal segments introgressed from Hordeum bulbosum in H. vulgare backgrounds, were identified to show seedling resistance against Puccinia hordei, possibly attributed to two resistance genes, Rph22 and Rph26, respectively. This study characterized the phenotypic responses of th...

Black foot disease is one of the main grapevine root diseases observed worldwide and is especially problematic in New Zealand. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to reduce infection and mitigate the effect of black foot disease on grapevine rootstocks. In contrast to prior studies, which have limited their focus to the effect of one...

Black foot disease of grapevines is a significant economic issue for the viticulture industry worldwide. The disease is mainly associated with soil borne pathogen species within the genera Dactylonectria and Ilyonectria. The aim of this study was to determine the pathogenicity of different pathogen propagules, including chlamydospores, conidia an...

Aim: Botryosphaeriaceae causing stem blight and dieback of blueberry are important pathogens limiting economic production worldwide. This study investigated the pathogenicity and relative virulence of isolates from the Neofusicoccum species commonly associated with blueberries in New Zealand on different tissues and cultivars of blueberries. Meth...

In recent years, outbreaks of kiwifruit bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, Psa) have caused huge economic losses to two major global kiwifruit producers, Italy and New Zealand. To evaluate the potential global risk areas of Psa, three modelling methods (MaxEnt, CLIMEX and a Multi-Model Framework, including Support Vector Machine...

An intragene involves the rearrangement of gene configurations based on switching coding sequences and regulatory regions within a species. The overexpression of specific GSL (Gibberellin Stimulated-Like) genes is known to confer enhanced disease resistance. A potato intragenic expression cassette, with the potato GSL1 gene placed under the regulat...

The plant Pseudowintera colorata is well known for its antimicrobial and medicinal properties and is endemic to New Zealand. Using PCR-Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), we investigated the factors influencing the composition of endophytic fungal communities in P. colorata from ten distinct sites across New Zealand. Our results showed...

The prevalence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a result of the persistent use and/or abuse of antimicrobials is a key health problem for health authorities and governments worldwide. A study of contrasting farming systems such as organic versus conventional dairy farming may help to authenticate some factors that may contribute to t...

Downy mildew of peas is caused by the obligate parasite Peronospora pisi, which occurs sporadically throughout temperate pea-growing regions across the world. To screen pea lines against this biotrophic pathogen, a suitable and reproducible in vitro method using living plant material is required. Field screening can be influenced by environmental f...

Black foot disease of grapevines is a major economic issue for the viticulture industry worldwide. The disease is mainly associated with a complex of pathogen species within the genera Dactylonectria and Ilyonectria. The susceptibility of six grapevine rootstock cultivars to black foot disease under field conditions was assessed. Callused rootstock...

Aim: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are often regarded as non-specific symbionts, but some AMF communities show host preference in various ecosystems including vineyards. Grapevine plants are very responsive to AMF colonisation. Although these fungi have potentially significant applications for sustainable agricultural ecosystems, there is a g...

Downy mildew is a major disease of boysenberries in New Zealand, caused by Peronospora sparsa. Most boysenberry plant material, including tissue culture propagated plants are systemically infected and this pathogen also presents as a latent infection. The current nested PCR method to detect latent infection of P. sparsa in asymptomatic boysenberry...

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), is an important disease of wheat worldwide, and an emerging issue in New Zealand. The pathogen produces host-specific toxins which interact with the wheat host sensitivity loci. Identification of the prevalence of the toxin encoding genes in the local population, and the susceptibility of comm...

Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora sparsa, is an economically important disease of boysenberries. Sporangia produced on infected tissue initiate berry infections; however the timing of sporangial release under New Zealand environmental conditions is unknown. The number of P. sparsa sporangia trapped on Vaseline®-coated slides placed weekly in thre...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic interactions with the roots of vascular plants, including grapevines. Verifying AMF colonisation routinely requires establishing the presence of hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles. Clearing roots with potassium hydroxide (KOH) followed by staining with trypan blue has been used previously to visua...

Although the importance of the plant microbiome in commercial plant health has been well established, there are limited studies in native medicinal plants. Pseudowintera colorata (horopito) is a native New Zealand medicinal plant recognized for its antimicrobial properties. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and Illumina MiSeq analysis...

Aims: This research aimed to identify factors influencing endophyte community structure in apple shoots and the bioactivity of cultured representatives against the fungal pathogen Neonectria ditissima. Methods and results: The endophyte community in leaves and stems of the apple cultivars 'Royal Gala' and 'Braeburn' were analysed by a cultivatio...

Myrtle rust (caused by Austropuccinia psidii) affects more than 500 known host species in the Myrtaceae family. Three different modelling approaches (CLIMEX, MaxEnt and Multi‐Model Framework) were used to project the habitat suitability of myrtle rust at both global and local scales. Current global occurrence data of myrtle rust were collected from...

Black foot disease of grapevines is a major economic issue for the viticulture industry, with several Dactylonectria and Ilyonectria species identified as causal agents worldwide. This study aimed to confirm the pathogenicity of an Ilyonectria pseudodestructans isolate recovered from a symptomatic grapevine in a nationwide survey. An initial pot ex...

Phoma betae is an economically important pathogen of red beet causing preemergence seedling damping, leaf spot and root rot. However, the pathogenicity of P. betae is unknown in New Zealand despite the economic importance of this pathogen. Twenty-five isolates were collected from a survey of red beet seed farms in Canterbury, New Zealand during 201...

Black foot disease of grapevines causes significant economic loss to the viticulture industry worldwide. A novel method was developed to investigate the fate of propagules of three species associated with black foot disease in New Zealand, Dactylonectria macrodidyma, Ilyonectria europaea and I. liriodendri, in soil. Conidia or mycelium of one isola...

This study investigated the effect of surface wettability, hardness and surface contact on the germination and subsequent development of Botryosphaeriaceae species conidia. Mean percent germination for isolates Neofusicoccum luteum MM558, N. luteum CC445, N. parvum G652 and Botryosphaeria dothidea 007 was highest on cellulose which was the most hyd...

Black foot disease, caused by Ilyonectria liriodendri and Dactylonectria macrodidyma, is a significant disease of grapevines both in New Zealand and worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the pathogenicity of New Zealand I. liriodendri and D. macrodidyma isolates in two grapevine rootstocks as callused and rooted propagation material. Th...

Key message The quantitative barley leaf rust resistance gene, Rph26, was fine mapped within a H. bulbosum introgression on barley chromosome 1HL. This provides the tools for pyramiding with other resistance genes. Abstract A novel quantitative resistance gene, Rph26, effective against barley leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) was introgressed from Horde...

Botryosphaeriaceae species are acknowledged as important wound pathogens of grapevines worldwide but reports as to the relative pathogenicity of species have varied. This study showed that the multiple vineyard isolates of Neofusicoccum luteum and N. parvum tested all caused disease of different grapevine stem tissues, but with great variation in s...

The role of plant endophytic Actinobacteria remains poorly understood with no reports of these communities in New Zealand native plants. This first investigation of endophytic Actinobacteria in New Zealand targeted the culturally significant medicinal shrub Pseudowintera colorata (horopito) as a model plant. Community analysis in plant tissues coll...

Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora sparsa, is a major disease of boysenberry (Rubus sp.) in New Zealand. The use of systemically infected plants for propagation has resulted in young plants being infected. To limit infection of new boysenberry canes prior to use in tissue culture two treatments, heat (34 °C) and fungicide sprays (mancozeb and phos...

Phytophthora spp. pose a risk to New Zealand’s managed and natural ecosystems. As Phytophthora spp. are well adapted to aquatic environments, water surveillance can be used to identify their distribution. Seven bait species (Rhododendron arborescens, Pittosporum undulatum, Banksia attenuata, Camellia japonica, Pittosporum eugenioides, Pinus radiata...

The fungal genera Ilyonectria and Dactylonectria are causal agents of black foot disease affecting grapevines. A New Zealand survey of grapevines symptomatic for this disease was conducted in 2005, and 11 D. pauciseptata isolates were recovered. The incidence of this disease has increased over the last decade so a multi-gene approach was used to ac...

Several Botryosphaeriaceae species have been reported to cause stem canker, twig blight and dieback of blueberries, with different species being reported in different parts of the world. Pruning wounds are regarded as primary infection sites for these pathogens. This research evaluated in vitro and in vivo efficacy of fungicides against the main Ne...

Leptospermum scoparium or mānuka is a New Zealand native medicinal plant that produces essential oils with antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community in mānuka by culture dependent (trap culture) and independent (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) approaches. Furthermore, to assess wheth...

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and duration of drought in many parts of New Zealand. This may affect the natural lifecycles of plant pathogens, influence host predisposition to infection or disease expression, shift the natural ranges of the pathogens, and alter the rate of genetic change in pathogen populations. Collectively,...

Botryosphaeria stem blight is an economically important disease of blueberry worldwide. In this study, factors affecting inoculum production, infection and disease progression of Neofusicoccum spp. in blueberries were investigated. Under laboratory conditions conidia of the main three Neofusicoccum species (N. australe, N. parvum and N. ribis) were...

Botryosphaeriaceous species are the causal agent of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) trunk diseases with very few options available for their control. They are also common endophytes in mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), a New Zealand native medicinal plant, but there is no evidence of pathogenicity in this host. International research has demonstrated tha...

Botryosphaeriaceae species are important pathogens of grapevines so the effect of environmental conditions on sporulation from naturally infected Sauvignon blanc grapevines in two Marlborough vineyards was studied. Shoot lesions characteristic of Botryosphaeriaceae infection were marked on 24 grapevines in each vineyard for observation between Sept...

Botryosphaeria disease is a common problem on a large range of hosts, including blueberry, causing dieback and cankers. Methods for phenotyping assays were developed in this project to facilitate blueberry resistance breeding. Detached shoots were used to test effects of wound size (needle, scalpel), inoculum type (mycelium, conidia), stem hardness...

Pycnidial and conidial production by isolates of the four main Neofusicoccum species associated with blueberry in New Zealand was investigated. Pycnidia developed after 8 days on mycelial-inoculated detached green shoots. Conidial ooze was observed after further incubation for 12 h under high relative humidity at 25°C. Numbers of oozing pycnidia an...

Sampling at blueberry farms found Botryosphaeriaceae fungi in five of seven farms sampled; overall incidence was 41.4%, with Neofusicoccum australe (79.0%), N. luteum (8.0%), N. ribis (8.0%) and N. parvum (5.0%). Sampling of nursery plants found infections in all four nurseries with 45% incidence in mainly asymptomatic plants, which were infected w...

Leptospermum scoparium J.R.Forst. et G.Forst. var. scoparium (Myrtaceae), or mānuka, is a New Zealand medicinal plant that yields essential oils with varying triketones concentrations. The effects of mānuka-associated bacteria, isolated from plants growing in five regions, on growth and essential oil composition of one regional variety, were invest...

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is the causal agent of bacterial canker in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a New Zealand medicinal shrub that produces essential oils with antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to determine whether endophytes from L. scoparium could be transferred to A. deli...

Leptospermum scoparium or m?nuka is a New Zealand native medicinal plant that produces an essential oil with antimicrobial properties. This is the first study to investigate the structure and bioactivity of endophytic bacteria in m?nuka by using a combination of cultivation-independent (DGGE) and dependent approaches. A total of 23 plants were samp...

Sequence analysis of bands retrieved from endophytic DGGE patterns. The band were sliced from universal bacteria DGGE and Gammaproteobacteria DGGE. (DOCX)

Sequencing of DGGE bands and sequence analysis. (DOCX)

Representative DGGEs of total bacteria from different tissue types. I: Island Hill Station; T: Travis Wetland; W: West Coast. Arrow indicating selected band that excised and sequenced. (TIFF)

Representative DGGEs of Gammaproteobacteria from leaves tissue with different maturities. I: Island Hill Station; T: Travis Wetland; W: West Coast. Arrow indicating selected band that excised and sequenced. (TIFF)

All land plants are inhabited by micro-organisms. International research has demonstrated that many of these are known to perform beneficial functions and contribute to plant growth and/or production of metabolites. Medicinal plants are highly valued for their bioactive compounds, and are likely to host unique endophytes, with some producing the sa...

Medicinal plants are highly valued for the bioactive compounds they produce, and are likely to host unique endophytes. International research has demonstrated that endophytes, through close interaction with the host's physiology, direct or contribute to the compounds they produce. Some endophytes can also produce the same compound the host plant is...

Aims: Effects of culture conditions on productivity, germinability and bioactivity of Trichoderma atroviride LU132 conidia were assessed, to identify the factors affecting conidium "fitness" (quantity and quality) and to withstand variable environmental conditions, increase conidial productivity, and perform optimum bioactivity. Methods and resul...

Aims: The goal was to determine the effect of temperature, light and incubation period on production, germination and bioactivity of Trichoderma atroviride LU132 against Rhizoctonia solani. Methods and results: The incubation temperatures of 20, 25, or 30°C were assessed on the production of T. atroviride conidia under constant light over a 25 a...

The colonisation of plant roots by biological control agents is dependent on abiotic factors, one of the most important being soil pH. The rhizosphere and endophytic colonisation of ryegrass and sweet corn roots by the biological control agent Trichoderma atroviride LU132 were assessed in a pot experiment with non-sterile soil at three different pH...

Leptospermum scoparium J.R.Forst. et G.Forst. var. scoparium or mānuka is a New Zealand indigenous shrub and well known for essential oils and production of a unique honey that contains antimicrobial properties. The population structure, diversity and function of the endomicrobiome in mānuka is largely unexplored. Bacterial and fungal endophytes as...

Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a native plant used by Māori in traditional medicine to treat skin diseases and reduce the risk of infection. Recently, mānuka has drawn considerable attention for commercial purposes because the essential oil, which is high in β-triketone has antimicrobial properties. International research has demonstrated that...

Trichoderma atroviride LU132, the active organism in two commercialised biological control products, was grown under different in vitro culture carbon to nitrogen ratios, to assess effects on conidium production, germination and bioactivity. Sucrose as a carbon source in agar-based growth media was adjusted to 4.2, 8.4, or 16.8. g/l carbon, and soy...

Species of Botryosphaeriaceae are important wound pathogens of grapevines as causal agents of botryosphaeria dieback, but the behaviour of their conidia pre-infection is unknown and may be important for disease development. Adhesion properties of conidia were investigated for Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum luteum and N. parvum on substrata...

In New Zealand grapevine propagation nurseries, Botryosphaeriaceae species have been reported to infect the source blocks of the nursery propagators leading to infection of the propagation materials. This research investigated the efficacy of different control methods which could prevent infection or eradicate the pathogen from harvested canes prio...

Soil-borne plant pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn), Pythium ultimum (Trow) and Sclerotinia trifoliorum (Eriks) can reduce grass and forage legume establishment. The potential for biocontrol of these pathogens by Trichoderma fungi was evaluated. Following dual culture assays, nine Trichoderma isolates (five of T. atroviride and one each of...

Effects of abiotic factors during production (temperature, nutrients, water activity, pH) on conidium fitness (quantity and quality) of Trichoderma atroviride LU132 (a key biocontrol agent) were studied. Conidia from the culturing regimes which resulted in greatest and least bioactivity against Rhizoctonia solani in dual culture assays were selecte...

Medicinal plants are valued for the naturally bioactive compounds they produce. International research has demonstrated that these plants contain endophytic microorganisms that, through close interaction with the plant's physiology, contribute to the production of host metabolites either directly or via involvement in biochemical pathways. Some end...

Biological control of fungal phytopathogens is often more variable in efficacy compared with disease suppression achieved by conventional pesticide use. Matching the environmental range of a potential biocontrol agent with that of the target phytopathogen is necessary if consistent disease suppression is to be achieved under field conditions. Strai...

Identification of the production and storage factors that affect conidium germination and bioactivity (fitness) will assist the success of biological control agents. Effects of culturing conditions on conidium fitness of Trichoderma atroviride LU132 were examined in different storage conditions over time. Abiotic factors (temperature, nutrients, wa...

Medicinal plants are valued for the naturally bioactive compounds they produce International research has demonstrated that these plants contain endophytic microorganisms that through close interaction with the plants physiology contribute to the production of host metabolites either directly or via involvement in biochemical pathways Some endophyt...

Botryosphaeriaceae species cause dieback and canker in many woody hosts including grapevines with infection occurring when conidia are released during rainfall and splash borne to pruning and trimming wounds This study monitored dispersal of naturally released conidia of Botryosphaeriaceae species in three Marlborough vineyards with a Burkard spore...

Botryosphaeria dieback of blueberry is caused by several botryosphariaceous species including Neofusicoccum ribis This research investigated whether stem damage caused by three herbicides could allow for penetration of blueberry stems by this pathogen Results showed that all the herbicides damaged hard green shoots of which 100 were penetrated by t...

Trichoderma spp are widely used as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters Endophytic colonisation of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) by T atroviride strains was studied in laboratory greenhouse and field experiments Four strains of T atroviride were inoculated into in vitro agar cultures or potting mix with ryegrass seeds for colonisation...

Tan spot of wheat is caused by the fungus Pyrenophora triticirepentis (Ptr) with reported incidence in New Zealand increasing in recent years Lesions characteristic of Ptr infection being oval tan spots surrounded by a chlorotic halo were observed on wheat leaves in 15 different wheat paddocks throughout the South Island in the 201314 season Fungal...

Leptospermum scoparium JRForst et GForst var scoparium or m257;nuka is a New Zealand indigenous shrub This shrub is valued for the essential oil and medicinal honey it produces that have antimicrobial properties International research has demonstrated that endophytic bacteria can either directly produce or modify metabolites in planta Therefore bac...

Nine fungal isolates [Clonostachys rosea (1), Coniothyrium minitans (1), Trichoderma crassum (1), T. hamatum (4), T. rossicum (1) and T. virens (1)] were tested in two bioassays for their ability to degrade sclerotia and reduce apothecial production and carpogenic infection of cabbage seedlings. C. minitans LU112 reduced apothecial production in bo...

Endophytes of a native New Zealand medicinal plant and their bioactive properties

Past studies have shown that the major source of infection of young grapevine plants by Botryosphaeriaceae fungi were through the use of infected rootstock and scion cuttings. To investigate the potential infection pathways of Botryosphaeriaceae species within a rootstock mother vine, three genotyping studies using universally-primed polymerase cha...

This study investigated some factors that affect Neofusicoccum luteum infection and disease progression in grapevines, on which it causes cankers and die-back. Inoculation of green shoots with each of the conidial suspensions (20 mu L of 10(2)-10(6) conidia/mL) caused 100 % infection, but significant differences in lesion lengths among concentratio...

A total of 57 Ilyonectria liriodendri isolates were identified by a combination of species-specific PCR and DNA sequencing from a collection of 174 Ilyonectria-like isolates recovered from 101 diseased grapevine samples. These samples were representative of the national vineyard, comprising material contributed by 49 grape growers across seven grap...