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In this study, a novel positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ ssRNA) mycovirus, Alternaria tenuissima mitovirus 1 (AtMV1), was identified in Alternaria tenuissima strain YQ-2-1, a phytopathogenic fungus causing leaf blight on muskmelon. The genome of AtMV1 is a single RNA molecule that is 3013 nt in length with an A + U content of 66.58% and contains a single open reading frame (ORF) using the fungal mitochondrial genetic code. The ORF was predicted to encode a 313-amino-acid RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) with a molecular mass of 35.48 kDa, which contains six conserved motifs with the highly conserved GDD tripeptide in motif IV. The 5ʹ and 3ʹ untranslated regions were predicted to fold into stem-loop and panhandle secondary structures. The results of a BLASTp search revealed that the amino acid (aa) sequence of RdRp of AtMV1 shared the highest sequence similarity (51.04% identity) with that of Sichuan mito-like virus 30, a member of the genus Duamitovirus within the family Mitoviridae. Phylogenetic analysis based on the aa sequence of the RdRp suggested that AtMV1 is a novel member of the genus Duamitovirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the complete genome sequence of a new mitovirus infecting A. tenuissima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dragon's head (Lallemantia iberica) as an oilseed crop has been recently introduced to Iranian farmers and due to its tolerance to abiotic stresses grown in drylands and rain-fed areas of the country in rotation with cereals and pulses. In this study, fifty Iranian L. iberica landraces were evaluated for the prevalent diseases under field conditions during 2019–2021 in Gonbad-Kavous, North of Iran. A spot lesion/blight symptom was observed in the field and the subsequent classical and molecular mycological studies identified Alternaria tenuissima and A.atra as the causal agents. Subsequently, a complimentary experiment was conducted to screen genotypes for these disease agents under controlled conditions using the proposed scoring system invented in this study. Results showed a significant negative correlation of Sclerotinia stem rot with yield and plant height, while no relationship was observed between Alternaria spot/blight and agronomic traits. Two and twenty-one genotypes were identified as highly resistant and resistant to Sclerotinia stem rot in the field, respectively; where six of them showed additional resistance to Altarnaria spp. in the glasshouse. The resistant/high-yield genotypes identified through this research can be considered valuable sources to be released as new cultivars or exploited in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire 1933 is a plant pathogenic fungus mainly causing leaf blotch disease. Here, we de novo assembled mitochondrial genome of A. tenuissima isolate AT-1224. The total mitogenome size is 57,475 bp with 29.00% G + C content. The genome contained 12 coding genes and 15 hypothetical proteins, 34 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA). There are 227 SSR repeats, range from 2 to 4 base pairs, most five repeats were AT (144), AAT (54), AG (33), AC (13) and AAG (5). The results also found 13 tandem repeats (>100 bp), the largest repeat were forward 2 times located from 13,405 to 20,024 bp and 25,549 to 32,168 bp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 17 species complete mitogenomes indicated that A. tenuissima mitogenome was closest to 2 species, A. solani and A. alternata, sister clade to 6 species, representing Curvularia clavate, Exserohilum rostratum, Exserohilum turcicum, Bipolaris cookie, Bipolaris oryzae and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Further analysis among common fungus in local apple orchards using mitochondrial protein-coding genes revealed A. tenuissima were closing to 2 Alternaria fungi and a fungus representing Phoma sp. These results provide a basic reference for identification and evolution studies of A. tenuissima on apple trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire 1933 is a plant pathogenic fungus mainly causing leaf blotch disease. Here, we de novo assembled mitochondrial genome of A. tenuissima isolate AT-1224. The total mitogenome size is 57,475 bp with 29.00% G + C content. The genome contained 12 coding genes and 15 hypothetical proteins, 34 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA). There are 227 SSR repeats, range from 2 to 4 base pairs, most five repeats were AT (144), AAT (54), AG (33), AC (13) and AAG (5). The results also found 13 tandem repeats (>100 bp), the largest repeat were forward 2 times located from 13,405 to 20,024 bp and 25,549 to 32,168 bp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 17 species complete mitogenomes indicated that A. tenuissima mitogenome was closest to 2 species, A. solani and A. alternata, sister clade to 6 species, representing Curvularia clavate, Exserohilum rostratum, Exserohilum turcicum, Bipolaris cookie, Bipolaris oryzae and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Further analysis among common fungus in local apple orchards using mitochondrial protein-coding genes revealed A. tenuissima were closing to 2 Alternaria fungi and a fungus representing Phoma sp. These results provide a basic reference for identification and evolution studies of A. tenuissima on apple trees.

The incidence of brown leaf spot, attributed to Alternaria tenuissima, has exhibited an increase within potato fields in Iran. The economic losses caused by brown leaf spot and detection of cross-resistance among commonly used fungicides have incited research towards identifying alternative biocontrol sources to manage this aggressive pathogen in combination with chemicals. Among bacterial isolates that showed inhibition of A. tenuissima growth, the tested biocontrol properties and plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics varied. Three strains with antifungal traits and one strain with PGP capacity were chosen for further in vitro and in vivo experiments. They were identified as Bacillus halotolerans-H14, Bacillus sp.-H52, Serratia polymuthica-FR1, and Stenotrophomonas sp.-J29, respectively, using a combination of phenotypic traits and 16S rRNA sequencing. In co-culturing assays with the aforementioned bacterial strains, it was observed that they induced hyphal structural deformation and suppressed spore germination of A. tenuissima. Monitoring of the disease symptoms showed the ability of H14, FR1, and J29 to decrease disease severity under in vivo challenge experiments. Moreover, the role of aforementioned bacteria was studied in activation of potato defence pathways against A. tenuissima. During Solanum tuberosum-A. tenuissima interaction, biochemical attributes related to defence response such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production, redox enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, and accumulation of total phenolics were markedly increased in potato plants pre-treated with Stenotrophomonas sp.-J29 and Serratia plymuthica-FR and post-inoculated with A. tenuissima. This study provides the initial evidence demonstrating the potential role of Bacillus halotolerans, Serratia plymuthica, and Stenotrophomonas sp. as prohibitor of disease progression as well as biological inducer of resistance in potato—A. tenuissima interplay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to exploit new botanic fungicide, the antifungal activities of the ethanol extracts of stem-leaf and rhizoid of P. commune were studied by the mycelia growth rate method and the spore germination method based on the determination of their mycelia growth inhibition rates, spore germination inhibition rates and median inhibition concentration values (EC50) on B. cinerea, F. solani f. sp. batatas, F. solani and A. brassicicola. The results showed that the antifungal activities of the ethanol extracts of P. commune against the four plant pathogenic fungi were extremely significant (P

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An assessment of 16 onion varieties was conducted to evaluate their resistance to purple blotch disease, primarily caused by various Alternaria species, including Alternaria tenuissima. The findings revealed that none of the varieties exhibited complete resistance to the disease. The varieties were classified into three distinct categories based on their susceptibility levels. Eight varieties had a moderate resistance level, with an infection rate of 11–20% of the leaf area. These varieties, namely Ellora China King, Ellora Wonder 101, Onion Shyamla-111, Bhima Raj, Bhima Super, F1 Kalia, China Nashik Red, and Bhima Light Red, were promising. On the other hand, seven varieties, including Bhima Red, Bhima Shakti, Bhima Kiran, F1 AGNR 102, Bhima Shubhra, Panchaganga, and Bhima Dark Red, were categorized as moderately susceptible, showing infection in the range of 21–40% of the leaf area. Remarkably, Pune Fursungi stood out as the only variety entirely susceptible to the disease, with a significant 41–60% of the leaf area affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria leaf blight has recently been described as an emerging fungal disease of apple trees which is causing the significant damage in the apple-growing areas of Tianshui and Jingning, Gansu, China. In the present study, the pathogen species involved in apple leaf blight and its biological characteristics were identified, and the inhibitory activity of different botanical fungicides against the pathogen was evaluated in vitro. Four strains were isolated from the symptomatic areas of necrotic apple leaves, and initially healthy leaves showed similar symptoms to those observed in orchards after inoculation with the ABL2 isolate. The ABL2 isolate was identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on the morphological characteristics of its colonies, conidiophores, and conidia, and this was also confirmed by multi-gene sequence (ITS, OPA10-2, Alta-1, and endoPG) analysis and phylogenic analysis. The optimum temperature, pH, carbon source, and nitrogen source for the growth of A. tenuissima mycelia were 28 °C, 6–7, soluble starch, and soy flour, respectively. In addition, the botanical fungicide eugenol exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and conidia germination of A. tenuissima, and the median effective concentration (EC50) values were 0.826 and 0.755 μg/mL, respectively. The protective and curative efficacy of eugenol were 86.85% and 76.94% after inoculation in detached apple leaves at a concentration of 4 μg/mL. Our research provides new insights into the control of apple leaf blight disease by applying botanical fungicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a traditional medicinal plant for treating human diseases that is widely cultivated in many countries. However, the component and related metabolic pathways are still unclear. To understand the changes in expression of the component and related genes during seed development, this study employed metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses and integrative analysis to explore the metabolites and pathways involved in the growth of fenugreek. The antifungal activity of the fenugreek seeds was also analyzed. A total of 9499 metabolites were identified in the positive ion mode, and 8043 metabolites were identified in the negative ion mode. Among them, the main components were fatty acyls, prenol lipids, steroids, steroid derivatives, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids. Among these enriched pathways, the top 20 pathways were "flavone and flavonol biosynthesis", "isoflavonoid biosynthesis", and "flavonoid biosynthesis". 3,7-Di-O-methylquercetin, flavonoids, pseudobaptigenin, isoflavonoids, methylecgonine, alkaloids, and derivatives were the most significantly upregulated metabolites. There were 38,137 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified via transcriptomic analysis. According to the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, 147 DEGs were significantly enriched in "flavonoid biosynthesis". Ten DEGs of the six key enzymes were found to be involved in three pathways related to flavonoid and alkaloid synthesis in fenugreek. The antifungal activity test revealed the inhibitory effect of the ethanol extract of fenugreek seeds on Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze)Wiltshire and Magnaporthe oryzae. These findings further prove that the use of botanical pesticides in fenugreek fruit has research value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En huertas de duraznero en Los Caracoles, Valparaíso, Zacatecas, se presenta una enfermedad cuyo síntoma principal es la necrosis descendente en ramas. Actualmente, se desconocen los agentes causales de esta enfermedad, lo que dificulta su prevención y control. El objetivo de la investigación fue identificar los hongos asociados a la necrosis descendente en ramas del duraznero, así como el posible agente causal de la enfermedad. Se muestrearon raíces y ramas de los árboles. Las cepas de los hongos se identificaron morfológica y molecularmente, las secuencias obtenidas se compararon con las secuencias reportadas en la base de datos GenBank con herramienta BLAST del NCBI. Se realizaron pruebas de patogenicidad in vivo. Los hongos identificados asociados a la necrosis descendente en ramas del duraznero del ecotipo Diamante fueron: Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium oxysporum y F. solani. Además, se puso en evidencia que A. tenuissima podría ser el agente causal de la enfermedad.

Alternaria tenuissima can cause leaf spots and fruit decay in some economically important crops. Recently, this species was first reported as a causal agent causing fruit decay in postharvest kiwifruit. Here, a highly contiguous genome assembly 33.87 Mb in size was obtained by a combination of Illumina NovaSeq and PacBio SMRT sequencing methods, yielding five full chromosome-level sequences. This resource provides opportunities for a better understanding of the mechanisms that underpin the pathogenicity of A. tenuissima. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Tetrapanax papyrifer, the rice‐paper plant, is an evergreen shrub and is traditionally used as a herbal medicine in China. In October 2021, a serious leaf spot disease was extensively observed on T. papyrifer in Guizhou, China. Given the limited information available about the aetiology of this disease, isolations were performed, the morphological characteristics and multi‐locus phylogenetic analysis of the fungus associated with the disease were described, and the pathogenicity tests and Koch's postulates were completed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot on T. papyrifer caused by Alternaria tenuissima in China. Among 11 fungicides tested, 10% difenoconazole WDG had the best inhibition effect in vitro with EC50 values at 0.1 μg mL−1. This study provides new information for the identification and chemical control of Alternaria leaf spot of T. papyrifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luobuma (Apocynum venetum and Poacynum hendersonni) is widely cultivated for environmental conservation, medicinal purposes and the textile industry. In 2018, a severe leaf spot disease that attacked the leaves of Luobuma was observed in plants cultivated in Yuzhong County, Gansu Province, China. Symptoms of the disease appeared as white or off-white spots surrounded by brown margins on the leaves of A. venetum. The spots expanded and covered a large area of the leaf, presenting as "cankers" with progression of the disease, leading to leaf death. The initial symptoms of the disease on P. hendersonni were similar to the symptoms of A. venetum, with a larger disease spot than A. venetum, and the spot was black and thicker. The aim of this study was to identify the fungal species and evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides (hymexazol and zhongshengmycin) against the pathogen in vitro. The fungi species that caused the new disease was identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on the morphological characteristics, pathogenicity tests, and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) and the histone 3 (H3) gene sequences. The findings showed that hymexazol fungicide can be used to control leaf spot disease. This is the first report on Luobuma leaf spot disease caused by A. tenuissima in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to find and identify more biological adsorbents that can effectively remove metals from water instead of using the traditional approach. In the present study, a fungal strain resistant to cadmium was isolated from polluted sites. It was identified morphologically and molecularly as Alternaria tenuissima, with an accession number of OQ691600. Heat inactivated biomass of A. tenuissima was evaluated for cadmium (Cd) biosorption. The biosorption process was conducted at a temperature of 28±2°C to remove Cd from water at an initial concentration of 92 mg/L, under different conditions, such as pH (4-6), biosorbent dose (1-3 g/L), and sorption time (15-60 min). The obtained results demonstrated that the dead biomass of A. tenuissima effectively removed Cd, with maximum significant biosorption efficiency of 99.95±0.003% and capacity of 92.33±0.21 mg/g, which were achieved at a pH value of 6 for 30 min and a biosorbent dose of 1 g/L. Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis revealed changes in the functional groups present on the surface of A. tenuissima biomass through the biosorption process. Following the biosorption process, three groups of male albino rats were used. The negative control group received only double-distilled water through oral administration. The Cd-polluted water group received a Cd aqueous solution (92 mg/L) through oral administration for 30 days. The treatment group received Cd aqueous solution (92 mg/L) through oral administration after treatment with A. tenuissima as the biosorbent material for a period of 30 days. The results showed that Cd caused a significant drop in weight gain and testicular index weight, as well as total protein, albumin, semen count, and motility. There were significant increases in abnormal sperm, the spleen, and brain index weight, as well as biochemical parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, and uric acid, showed notable changes. The liver, kidney, testis, and epididymis of male albino rats showed several histopathological changes along with bioaccumulation of Cd traces in liver and kidney tissues. However, in the treatment group, all these findings were noticeably improved. Based on our findings, the dead biomass of A. tenuissima has the potential to be a very effective biosorbent for removing cadmium from water, without causing any hazardous effects on animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria leaf blight has recently been described as an emerging fungal disease of apple trees which is causing the significant damage in the apple-growing areas of Tianshui and Jingning, Gansu, China. In the present study, the pathogen species involved in apple leaf blight and its biological characteristics were identified, and the inhibitory activity of different botanical fungicides against the pathogen was evaluated in vitro. Four strains were isolated from the symptomatic areas of necrotic apple leaves, and initially healthy leaves showed similar symptoms to those observed in orchards after inoculation with the ABL2 isolate. The ABL2 isolate was identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on the morphological characteristics of its colonies, conidiophores, and conidia, and this was also confirmed by multi-gene sequence (ITS, OPA10-2, Alta-1, and endoPG) analysis and phylogenic analysis. The optimum temperature, pH, carbon source, and nitrogen source for the growth of A. tenuissima mycelia were 28 °C, 6–7, soluble starch, and soy flour, respectively. In addition, the botanical fungicide eugenol exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and conidia germination of A. tenuissima, and the median effective concentration (EC50) values were 0.826 and 0.755 μg/mL, respectively. The protective and curative efficacy of eugenol were 86.85% and 76.94% after inoculation in detached apple leaves at a concentration of 4 μg/mL. Our research provides new insights into the control of apple leaf blight disease by applying botanical fungicides.

In Morroco, Cedarwood lignivorous fungi cause significant damage to cedar groves. The losses have been estimated to be more than 30% due to these fungi. This latter brings about two primary diseases known as M'jej and Saboune. The study tries to show the molecular identification of the lignivorous fungi of the Atlas cedar in the cedar groves of Tazekka and Azrou and their biological control by the essential oils extracted from both the healthy and infected cedarwood. Therefore, this molecular research has identified three phytopathogenic fungi:(Paecilomyces maximus, Pleurostoma richardsiae, and Alternaria tenuissima). The data analysed in this study has also confirmed that the oil extracted from Saboune-infected wood showed a noticeable fungistatic effect against these fungi, with a MIC reaching 1/500, followed by the EO extracted from M'jej-infected wood. However, the healthy cedarwood gave an EO without antifungal activity. A mixture of these three oils gave significant antifungal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria pathogens seriously threatens peony production. The physiological mechanism of peony resistance to the pathogen is little reported. This study aimed to reveal the defensive mechanism of peonies in response to the pathogen Alternaria tenuissima. The disease-resistant (R) variety 'Zi Fengyu' and susceptible (S) variety 'Heihai Botao' were employed, and some parameters in the leaves were analyzed after inoculation with A. tenuissima, mainly including the hypersensitive response (HR), activity of defensive enzymes, and expression of disease-resistance genes. The results showed that compared with the responses in the S genotype, HR occurred more rapidly in the R genotype. Meanwhile, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and other two defense enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) increased more significantly, and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (PlPR1, PlPR2, PlPR4B, PlPR5, and PlPR10) and two WRKY genes (PlWRKY13 and PlWRKY65) was more strongly induced. These responses collectively contributed to the disease resistance of the R genotype. These findings provided a theoretical basis for understanding the intrinsic mechanism of peony resistance to Alternaria leaf spot disease and breeding the disease-resistant peony varieties using a molecular approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers are among the most serious cancers and the main causes of mortality in females worldwide, necessitating urgent efforts to find newer sources of safe anticancer drugs. The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potency of mycoendophytic Alternaria tenuissima AUMC14342 ethyl acetate extract on HeLa (cervical cancer), SKOV-3 (ovarian cancer), and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines. The extract showed potent effect on MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 55.53 μg/mL. Cell cycle distribution analysis of treated MCF-7 cells revealed a cell cycle arrest at the S phase with a significant increase in the cell population (25.53%). When compared to control cells, no significant signs of necrotic or apoptotic cell death were observed. LC-MS/MS analysis of Alternaria tenuissima extract afforded the identification of 20 secondary metabolites, including 7-dehydrobrefeldin A, which exhibited the highest interaction score (−8.0156 kcal/mol) in molecular docking analysis against human aromatase. Regarding ADME pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties, 7-dehydrobrefeldin A, 4’-epialtenuene, and atransfusarin had good GIT absorption and water solubility without any violation of drug-likeness rules. These findings support the anticancer activity of bioactive metabolites derived from endophytic fungi and provide drug scaffolds and substitute sources for the future development of safe chemotherapy.

Abstract In this paper, gamma-irradiation was successfully used to intensify the yield of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) produced by the fungus Alternaria tenuissima as a sustainable and green process. The obtained data showed that 500 Gy of gamma-irradiation increased ZnONPs’ yield to approximately four-fold. The synthesized ZnONPs were then exploited to develop active Carboxymethyl Cellulose films by casting method at two different concentration of ZnONPs 0.5% and 1.0%. The physicochemical, mechanical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the prepared films were evaluated. The incorporation of ZnONPs in the Carboxymethyl Cellulose films had significantly decreased solubility (from 78.31% to 66.04% and 59.72%), water vapor permeability (from 0.475 g m− 2 to 0.093 g m− 2 and 0.026 g m− 2), and oxygen transfer rate (from 24.7 × 10– 2 to 2.3 × 10– 2 and 1.8 × 10– 2) of the respective prepared films. Meanwhile, tensile strength (from 183.2 MPa to 203.34 MPa and 235.94 MPa), elongation (from 13.0% to 62.5% and 83.7%), and Yang's modulus (from 325.344 to 1410.0 and 1814.96 MPa) of these films were increased. Moreover, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against several human and plant pathogens the prepared of Carboxymethyl Cellulose-ZnONPs films were significantly increased. In conclusion, the prepared Carboxymethyl Cellulose-ZnONPs films showed enhanced activities in comparison with Carboxymethyl Cellulose film without NPs. With these advantages, the fabricated Carboxymethyl Cellulose-ZnONPs films in this study could be effectively utilized as protective edible coating films of food products.

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chihuahua state is the main apple producer in Mexico. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Trichoderma asperellum as a plant growth regulator and antagonist against Alternaria sp. Three treatments were used: T1 = control, T2 = 200 mL of T. asperellum per tree; T3 = 100 mL of T. asperellum per tree. Agronomic variables were evaluated including number of leaves, shoots and flowers, disease incidence, and trunk thickness. Alternaria sp. was isolated from apple leaves at the experimental site in Guerrero County, Chihuahua, Mexico, and it was grown on solid PDA medium for morphological characterization. The molecular characterization was done by PCR using primers ITS1 and ITS4 producing products of 700 bp which were sequenced, submitted to GenBank (acc. no. OQ344593) and used for further phylogenetic analysis through Bayesian inference approach. Three clades were identified and the polytome topography recovered from clade 2 indicates a high genetic similarity with A. tenuissima (100% similarity according to BLAST). The analysis of T. asperellum as growth regulator only showed significant differences in trunk thickness and displayed higher values with T3 (p≤0.05). The presence of A. tenuissima was only observed in the control, which indicated the ability of Trichoderma to control the fungus. In this study T. asperellum was not an efficient plant growth regulator, but it was a good antagonist, and hence it can be recommended to control A. tenuissima. This is the first record of A. tenuissima in apple trees in Mexico. These results indicate that T. asperellum showed no benefit as plant growth regulator when applied to apple trees of the ‘Granny Smith’ variety.

Chihuahua state is the main apple producer in Mexico. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Trichoderma asperellum as a plant growth regulator and antagonist against Alternaria sp. Three treatments were used: T1 = control, T2 = 200 mL of T. asperellum per tree; T3 = 100 mL of T. asperellum per tree. Agronomic variables were evaluated including number of leaves, shoots and flowers, disease incidence, and trunk thickness. Alternaria sp. was isolated from apple leaves at the experimental site in Guerrero County, Chihuahua, Mexico, and it was grown on solid PDA medium for morphological characterization. The molecular characterization was done by PCR using primers ITS1 and ITS4 producing products of 700 bp which were sequenced, submitted to GenBank (acc. no. OQ344593) and used for further phylogenetic analysis through Bayesian inference approach. Three clades were identified and the polytome topography recovered from clade 2 indicates a high genetic similarity with A. tenuissima (100% similarity according to BLAST). The analysis of T. asperellum as growth regulator only showed significant differences in trunk thickness and displayed higher values with T3 (p=0.05). The presence of A. tenuissima was only observed in the control, which indicated the ability of Trichoderma to control the fungus. In this study T. asperellum was not an efficient plant growth regulator, but it was a good antagonist, and hence it can be recommended to control A. tenuissima. This is the first record of A. tenuissima in apple trees in Mexico. These results indicate that T. asperellum showed no benefit as plant growth regulator when applied to apple trees of the 'Granny Smith' variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Saudi Arabia, poinciana (Delonix regia) trees are afflicted by dieback disease, manifesting symptoms that can lead to complete defoliation and, ultimately, the demise of trees in advanced stages. To investigate the dieback symptoms, samples were collected from branches at the transition zone. Identification of fungal isolates involved the assessment of colony and spore morphology, as well as PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene regions. The predominant fungus isolated was Alternaria tenuissima. Chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching and polyphasic fluorescence induction kinetics were conducted to assess the photochemical and nonphotochemical processes of Photosystem II (PSII) in stem barks affected by dieback. The dieback disease significantly reduced chlorophyll content, potentially hindering PSII performance in terms of maximum photochemical efficiency, quantum yield, electron flux, and photoprotection. These findings suggest that compromised photochemistry and photoprotection render poinciana trees inoculated by dieback less efficient in utilizing light energy and more susceptible to photoinhibition. Additionally, this study implies the use of non-invasive chlorophyll fluorescence techniques as a phenotyping tool for assessing photoprotective and photoinhibitory responses of stems to dieback stress. • Dieback in poinciana twigs is caused by fungal pathogen Alternaria tenuissima. • Reduction in chlorophyll during dieback impedes photosystem II photochemistry. • Dieback disease inhibits photoprotection and enhances photoinhibition. • Chlorophyll fluorescence technique helps to detect early dieback symptoms in stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luobuma (Apocynum venetum and Poacynum hendersonni) is widely cultivated for environmental conservation, medicinal purposes and the textile industry. In 2018, a severe leaf spot disease that attacked the leaves of Luobuma was observed in plants cultivated in Yuzhong County, Gansu Province, China. Symptoms of the disease appeared as white or off-white spots surrounded by brown margins on the leaves of A. venetum. The spots expanded and covered a large area of the leaf, presenting as “cankers” with progression of the disease, leading to leaf death. The initial symptoms of the disease on P. hendersonni were similar to the symptoms of A. venetum, with a larger disease spot than A. venetum, and the spot was black and thicker. The aim of this study was to identify the fungal species and evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides (hymexazol and zhongshengmycin) against the pathogen in vitro. The fungi species that caused the new disease was identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on the morphological characteristics, pathogenicity tests, and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) and the histone 3 (H3) gene sequences. The findings showed that hymexazol fungicide can be used to control leaf spot disease. This is the first report on Luobuma leaf spot disease caused by A. tenuissima in China.

Alternaria alternata botybirnavirus 1 (AaBRV1) was isolated from a strain of Alternaria alternata, causing watermelon leaf blight in our previous research. The effect of AaBRV1 on the phenotype of its host fungus, however, was not determined. In the present study, a novel strain of AaBRV1 was identified in A. tenuissima strain TJ-NH-51S-4, the causal agent of cotton Alternaria leaf spot, and designated as AaBRV1-AT1. A mycovirus AaBRV1-AT1-free strain TJ-NH-51S-4-VF was obtained by protoplast regeneration, which eliminated AaBRV1-AT1 from the mycovirus AaBRV1-AT1-infected strain TJ-NH-51S-4. Colony growth rate, spore production, and virulence of strain TJ-NH-51S-4 were greater than they were in TJ-NH-51S-4-VF, while the sensitivity of strain TJ-NH-51S-4 to difenoconazole, as measured by the EC50, was lower. AaBRV1-AT1 was capable of vertical transmission via asexual spores and horizontal transmission from strain TJ-NH-51S-4 to strain XJ-BZ-5-1hyg (another strain of A. tenuissima) through hyphal contact in pairing cultures. A total of 613 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in a comparative transcriptome analysis between TJ-NH-51S-4 and TJ-NH-51S-4-VF. Relative to strain TJ-NH-51S-4-VF, the number of up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs in strain TJ-NH-51S-4 was 286 and 327, respectively. Notably, the expression level of one DEG-encoding cytochrome P450 sterol 14α-demethylase and four DEGs encoding siderophore iron transporters were significantly up-regulated. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of hypervirulence and reduced sensitivity to difenoconazole induced by AaBRV1-AT1 infection in A. tenuissima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria tenuissima (Kunze) Wiltshire 1933 is a plant pathogenic fungus mainly causing leaf blotch disease. Here, we de novo assembled mitochondrial genome of A. tenuissima isolate AT-1224. The total mitogenome size is 57,475 bp with 29.00% G + C content. The genome contained 12 coding genes and 15 hypothetical proteins, 34 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA). There are 227 SSR repeats, range from 2 to 4 base pairs, most five repeats were AT (144), AAT (54), AG (33), AC (13) and AAG (5). The results also found 13 tandem repeats (>100 bp), the largest repeat were forward 2 times located from 13,405 to 20,024 bp and 25,549 to 32,168 bp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 17 species complete mitogenomes indicated that A. tenuissima mitogenome was closest to 2 species, A. solani and A. alternata, sister clade to 6 species, representing Curvularia clavate , Exserohilum rostratum , Exserohilum turcicum , Bipolaris cookie , Bipolaris oryzae and Bipolaris sorokiniana . Further analysis among common fungus in local apple orchards using mitochondrial protein-coding genes revealed A. tenuissima were closing to 2 Alternaria fungi and a fungus representing Phoma sp. These results provide a basic reference for identification and evolution studies of A. tenuissima on apple trees., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria pathogens seriously threatens peony production. The physiological mechanism of peony resistance to the pathogen is little reported. This study aimed to reveal the defensive mechanism of peonies in response to the pathogen Alternaria tenuissima. The disease-resistant (R) variety ‘Zi Fengyu’ and susceptible (S) variety ‘Heihai Botao’ were employed, and some parameters in the leaves were analyzed after inoculation with A. tenuissima, mainly including the hypersensitive response (HR), activity of defensive enzymes, and expression of disease-resistance genes. The results showed that compared with the responses in the S genotype, HR occurred more rapidly in the R genotype. Meanwhile, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and other two defense enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) increased more significantly, and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (PlPR1, PlPR2, PlPR4B, PlPR5, and PlPR10) and two WRKY genes (PlWRKY13 and PlWRKY65) was more strongly induced. These responses collectively contributed to the disease resistance of the R genotype. These findings provided a theoretical basis for understanding the intrinsic mechanism of peony resistance to Alternaria leaf spot disease and breeding the disease-resistant peony varieties using a molecular approach.

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The emerging elicitor protein Hrip1 was evaluated for sublethal effects and biocontrol potential in the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. In Megoura japonica Matsumura, purified elicitor protein Hrip1 was investigated for impacts on endurance, life expectancy, juvenile expansion, fully grown procreative performance, and pathogen–pest interface. The multi-acting entomopathogenic effects of the active compounds of Alternaria tenuissima active on Hrip1 in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants were also investigated. Megoura japonica population expansion was reduced by Hrip1 treatments (second and third generations). In a host selection test, control plants colonized quicker than Hrip1-treated P. vulgaris plants. Hrip1 influenced the longevity, development, and fertility of insects. Hrip1-elicitor protein concentrations aided M. japonica nymph development. Similarly, seedlings treated with Hrip1 generated fewer offspring than seedlings not treated with Hrip1. Hrip1 altered plant height and leaf surface structure, reducing M. japonica reproduction and colonization. Hrip1-treated P. vulgaris seedlings exhibited somewhat increased amounts of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene (ET). The integrated management of insect pests and biocontrol with Hrip1 in the agroecosystem appears to be suitable against M. japonica based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black rot is a serious disease caused by Alternaria tenuissima (A. tenuissima) that affects winter jujubes. This study explored the effects of MeJA and MeSA on disease resistance in winter jujubes by regulating membrane lipid and reactive oxygen metabolism in response to A. tenuissima infection. MeJA and MeSA significantly reduced the disease severity in winter jujube, enhanced the activity and gene expression of antioxidant-related enzymes, inhibited the activity and gene expression of membrane lipid oxidation-related enzymes, delayed the decomposition of ascorbic acid, glutathione, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylinositol, inhibited the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, phosphatidic acid, and malondialdehyde, the production rate of superoxide anion and a rise in relative electrical conductivity, and maintained winter jujube cell membrane unsaturation (U/S). Compared with the sterile water treatment, the regulation of membrane lipid metabolism and ROS metabolism in winter jujube fruits by MeJA and MeSA could be a contributing factor to their enhanced resistance against A. tenuissima. The membrane lipid oxidation degree in the MeJA group was lower, indicating that MeJA had better application prospects in disease resistance and storing and preserving winter jujube than MeSA. [Display omitted] • MeSA and MeJA reduced the disease severity of winter jujube. • MeSA and MeJA enhanced the antioxidant capacity of winter jujube. • MeSA and MeJA reduced the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation of winter jujube. • MeJA maintained unsaturated plasma membranes in jujube fruit better than MeSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antifungal activity of Serratia plymuthica CCGG2742, a bacterial strain isolated from grapes berries skin, against a phytopathogenic fungus isolated from blueberries was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In order to characterize the wild fungal isolate, phylogenetic analysis using concatenated DNA sequences from the RPB2 and TEF1 genes and of the ITS region was performed, allowing the identification of the fungal isolate that was called Alternaria tenuissima CC17. Hyphae morphology, mycelium ultrastructure, conidia and reproductive structures were in agreement with the phylogenetic analysis. The antifungal activity of the S. plymuthica strain was dependent on the composition of the culture medium. The greatest inhibition of mycelial growth of A. tenuissima CC17 by S. plymuthica CCGG2742 was observed on YTS medium, which lacks of an easily assimilable carbon source. Fungal growth medium supplemented with 50 % of bacterial supernatant decreased the conidia germination of A. tenuissima CC17 up to 32 %. Preventive applications of S. plymuthica CCGG2742 to blueberries and tomato leaves at conidia:bacteria ratio of 1:100, protected in 77.8 ± 4.6 % and 98.2 ± 0.6 % to blueberries and tomato leaves from infection caused by A. tenuissima CC17, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the antifungal activity of S. plymuthica against A. tenuissima , which could be used as a biological control agent of plant diseases caused by this fungal species. In addition, the results of this work could be a starting point to attribute the real importance of A. tenuissima as a pathogen of blueberries in Chile, which until now had been considered almost exclusively to A. alternata. Likewise, this research could be relevant to start developing highly effective strategies based on S. plymuthica CCGG2742 for the control of this important phytopathogenic fungus. [Display omitted] • Serratia plymuthica CCGG2742 presents antifungal activity against Alternaria tenuissima. • The antifungal activity was dependent on the composition of the culture medium. • Bacterial supernatant decreased the mycelial development and conidia germination of A. tenuissima. • S. plymuthica CCGG2742 protected to blueberries and tomato leaves from infection caused by A. tenuissima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe barbadensis popularly known as Aloe vera is an extensively cultivated medical herb that is significantly affected by phytopathogenic fungal infestations worldwide. Huge economic losses occur due to leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria spp. The use of different fungicides to manage this disease has harmful impacts on both the environment and the pharmacologically valuable components of Aloe vera. In this study, the antifungal activities and mechanism of 1,8-cineole, a major component of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil (EGO) was investigated as the potential substitute for synthetic fungicides against Alternaia tenuissima. 1,8-cineole at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5 µL mL−1 significantly reduced the ergosterol biosynthesis, along with weak cellular membrane, stunted germ tube development with hampered cell wall rigidity. At the gene level, the elevated expression of NADPH oxidase A (NoxA) gene in fungus treated with 1,8-cineole resulted in an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that triggered cellular damage, leading to the successful mitigation of the phytopathogen. Furthermore, 1,8-cineole downregulated genes related to chitin synthase, ergosterol synthase, cellulase production, glycosyl hydrolase, RhO1 G protein (Rho1), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunit 1 (AAPK1), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) which validated its detrimental effect on A. tenuissima. To further confirm the proposed antifungal mechanism, docking simulations were run between 1,8-cineole and a potential antifungal target glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase that revealed an efficient interaction with the designed protein model. Consequently, this research offers promising prospects for developing sustainable methods for safeguarding crops through the use of bioactive phyto compounds. [Display omitted] • First report on antifungal effect of Eucalyptus globules oil against Alternaria tenuissima. • 1, 8-cineole identified as a major bioactive molecule of the oil through GC-MS analysis. • 1, 8-cineole effects the expression of virulence and structural genes of A. tenuissima. • Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase was found as potential target of 1,8-cineole through docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf spot disease caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Alternaria tenuissima is a seriously fungal disease in kiwifruit production. In this study, the co-application of tetramycin and chitosan against leaf spot disease in kiwifruit and its effects on the disease resistance, photosynthesis, quality and amino acids of kiwifruit were investigated. The results show that tetramycin exhibited an excellent antifungal activity against L. theobromae and A. tenuissima with EC50 values of 2.37 and 0.16 mg kg−1. In the field, the foliar co-application of tetramycin and chitosan could effectively control leaf spot disease with control efficacy of 89.44% by spraying 0.3% tetramycin aqueous solutions (AS) 5000 time liquid + chitosan 100 time liquid, which was significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.01) higher than 79.80% of 0.3% tetramycin AS 5000 time liquid and 56.61% of chitosan 100 time liquid. Simultaneously, the co-application of tetramycin and chitosan was more effective than tetramycin or chitosan alone in enhancing the disease resistance and photosynthesis of kiwifruit leaves, as well as improving the quality and amino acids of kiwifruit fruits. This work highlights that chitosan is a practicable, cost-effective and eco-friendly adjuvant of tetramycin for controlling leaf spot disease of kiwifruit, enhancing resistance and photosynthesis of leaves and improving quality and amino acids of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi are the endogenous micro‐organisms to interacting with the plant cells, which do not exhibit any symptoms on the host plant and may produce some of the main secondary metabolites of the host plant cells. Ferula assa‐foetida is a perennial and endemic medicinal plant of Iran, which is a rich source of sesquiterpene, coumarins, polysulfides and phenolic acids. In this study, 28 endophytic fungi isolates including Fusarium (60·7%), Aspergillus (7·1%), Alternaria (17·9%) and Plectosphaerella (7·1%) were isolated from F. assa‐foetida root (57·1%), stem (32·1%) and leaf (10·8%) collected from Parvand protected area. Subsequently, their ability to produce phenolic acids was evaluated. The high amounts of total phenol (326·09 mg g−1 of dry weight, DW), total flavonoid (901·11 mg g−1 DW) and antioxidant activity (247·96 mg l−1) were found in the supernatant fluid of SBUp1 isolate. The high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of 14 phenolic acids showed that rosmarinic acid (RA) is the main phenolic acid in the supernatant fluid of SBUp1 by 64·11 mg g−1 DW confirmed by the liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric analysis. According to morphological identification followed by phylogenetic study based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2) analysis, the SBUp1 isolate was identified as Alternaria tenuissima. Eventually, to our knowledge, it is the first document confirming A. tenuissima as an endophytic fungus of F. assa‐foetida, which is a rich source of RA. Significance and Impact of the Study: Plants are an infinite source of secondary metabolite‐producing endophytic fungi. Fungi are introducing as sustainable source of precious metabolites. This is the first study on the isolation of phenolic‐acid‐producing endophytic fungi located between the Iranian endemic medicinal plant cells, Ferula assa‐foetida. Our study introduced and confirmed Alternaria tenuissima SBUp1 as a sustainable source of rosmarinic acid production by 64·11 mg g−1 DW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of fungal antibiotics in their competitive interactions with arthropods may lead to the development of novel biorational insecticides. Extracts of Alternaria tenuissima MFP253011 obtained using various methods showed a wide range of biological activities, including entomotoxic properties. Analysis of their composition and bioactivity allowed us to reveal several known mycotoxins and unidentified compounds that may be involved in the entomotoxic activity of the extracts. Among them, tenuazonic acid (TeA), which was the major component of the A. tenuissima extracts, was found the most likely to have larvicidal activity against Galleria mellonella. In the intrahaemocoel injection bioassay, TeA was toxic to G. mellonella and of Zophobas morio with an LT50 of 6 and 2 days, respectively, at the level of 50 μg/larva. Administered orally, TeA inhibited the growth of G. mellonella larvae and caused mortality of Acheta domesticus adults (LT50 7 days) at a concentration of 250 μg/g of feed. TeA showed weak contact intestinal activity against the two phytophages, Tetranychus urticae and Schizaphis graminum, causing 15% and 27% mortality at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, respectively. TeA was cytotoxic to the Sf9 cell line (IC50 25 μg/mL). Thus, model insects such as G. mellonella could be used for further toxicological characterization of TeA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria alternata botybirnavirus 1 (AaBRV1) was isolated from a strain of Alternaria alternata, causing watermelon leaf blight in our previous research. The effect of AaBRV1 on the phenotype of its host fungus, however, was not determined. In the present study, a novel strain of AaBRV1 was identified in A. tenuissima strain TJ-NH-51S-4, the causal agent of cotton Alternaria leaf spot, and designated as AaBRV1-AT1. A mycovirus AaBRV1-AT1-free strain TJ-NH-51S-4-VF was obtained by protoplast regeneration, which eliminated AaBRV1-AT1 from the mycovirus AaBRV1-AT1-infected strain TJ-NH-51S-4. Colony growth rate, spore production, and virulence of strain TJ-NH-51S-4 were greater than they were in TJ-NH-51S-4-VF, while the sensitivity of strain TJ-NH-51S-4 to difenoconazole, as measured by the EC50, was lower. AaBRV1-AT1 was capable of vertical transmission via asexual spores and horizontal transmission from strain TJ-NH-51S-4 to strain XJ-BZ-5-1hyg (another strain of A. tenuissima) through hyphal contact in pairing cultures. A total of 613 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in a comparative transcriptome analysis between TJ-NH-51S-4 and TJ-NH-51S-4-VF. Relative to strain TJ-NH-51S-4-VF, the number of up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs in strain TJ-NH-51S-4 was 286 and 327, respectively. Notably, the expression level of one DEG-encoding cytochrome P450 sterol 14α-demethylase and four DEGs encoding siderophore iron transporters were significantly up-regulated. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of hypervirulence and reduced sensitivity to difenoconazole induced by AaBRV1-AT1 infection in A. tenuissima.

In this study, 19 endophytic fungal isolates associated with Artemisia judaica L. were isolated from Al-Shihiyah, Haʾil, Saudi Arabia. Those isolates represented five genera, including: Alternaria sp., (predominantly), Aspergillus sp., Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium sp., and Fusarium sp. All isolates (6 species) were grown on a solid rice medium and their ethyl acetate crude extracts, beside A. judaica L. extract, were tested for their antimicrobial activity. One endophytic fungal isolate demonstrated the highest activity and was chosen for further investigation. Based on its phenotypic, ITS ribosomal gene sequences, and phylogenetic characterization, this isolate was identified as Alternaria tenuissima AUMC14342 with accession number (MT468650). Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract from the isolated strain, AUMC14342, was fractioned using VLC. The active fraction of the EtOAc exhibited good antimicrobial effect against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, F. solani, and A. niger at conc. 30 µ/mL using disc diffusion assay. A moderate cytotoxic effect was reported against a Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2), with the lowest inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.52 µM. The active fraction was characterized by the presence of different chemically terpene, ester, volatile, and other organic compounds, determined by GC–MS. Conclusively, the endophytic fungus, A. tenuissima, derived from A .judaica L., is an ideal candidate for the potential industrial production of antimicrobial agents with a variety of applications.

The emerging elicitor protein Hrip1 was evaluated for sublethal effects and biocontrol potential in the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. In Megoura japonica Matsumura, purified elicitor protein Hrip1 was investigated for impacts on endurance, life expectancy, juvenile expansion, fully grown procreative performance, and pathogen–pest interface. The multi-acting entomopathogenic effects of the active compounds of Alternaria tenuissima active on Hrip1 in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants were also investigated. Megoura japonica population expansion was reduced by Hrip1 treatments (second and third generations). In a host selection test, control plants colonized quicker than Hrip1-treated P. vulgaris plants. Hrip1 influenced the longevity, development, and fertility of insects. Hrip1-elicitor protein concentrations aided M. japonica nymph development. Similarly, seedlings treated with Hrip1 generated fewer offspring than seedlings not treated with Hrip1. Hrip1 altered plant height and leaf surface structure, reducing M. japonica reproduction and colonization. Hrip1-treated P. vulgaris seedlings exhibited somewhat increased amounts of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene (ET). The integrated management of insect pests and biocontrol with Hrip1 in the agroecosystem appears to be suitable against M. japonica based on these findings.

Leaf spot disease caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Alternaria tenuissima is a seriously fungal disease in kiwifruit production. In this study, the co-application of tetramycin and chitosan against leaf spot disease in kiwifruit and its effects on the disease resistance, photosynthesis, quality and amino acids of kiwifruit were investigated. The results show that tetramycin exhibited an excellent antifungal activity against L. theobromae and A. tenuissima with EC50 values of 2.37 and 0.16 mg kg−1. In the field, the foliar co-application of tetramycin and chitosan could effectively control leaf spot disease with control efficacy of 89.44% by spraying 0.3% tetramycin aqueous solutions (AS) 5000 time liquid + chitosan 100 time liquid, which was significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.01) higher than 79.80% of 0.3% tetramycin AS 5000 time liquid and 56.61% of chitosan 100 time liquid. Simultaneously, the co-application of tetramycin and chitosan was more effective than tetramycin or chitosan alone in enhancing the disease resistance and photosynthesis of kiwifruit leaves, as well as improving the quality and amino acids of kiwifruit fruits. This work highlights that chitosan is a practicable, cost-effective and eco-friendly adjuvant of tetramycin for controlling leaf spot disease of kiwifruit, enhancing resistance and photosynthesis of leaves and improving quality and amino acids of fruits.

Fungal leaf spot disease is a major threat to Rosa indica in Pakistan. To meet the demands of rose flower, large scale production of roses without any fungal disease is necessary. For this purpose, isolation and identification of pathogen from rose plant was carried out by observing phenotypic characters. Further detailed confirmation of identity of the isolated pathogen was executed on molecular bases by amplification of partial ITS, EF and GAPDH genes and their BLAST analysis. On these bases, fungal pathogen was confirmed as Alternaria tenuissima. Finally, Koch's pathogenicity test was applied to ratify the virulence level of novel isolated fungal pathogen by artificially inoculating it on R. indica seedlings in Petriplate and pot trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue honeysuckle is emerging as a popular edible fruit and is also used in folk medicine. However, from June to August 2021, a serious leaf-spot disease affected the yield and quality of blue honeysuckle in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China; the species and characteristics of the pathogens responsible for the disease were unknown. In this study, 30 fungal isolates were obtained from infected blue honeysuckle leaves and identified as Alternaria tenuissima based on morphological and molecular characteristics and phylogenetic analyses. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to identify A. tenuissima as the causal agent of blue honeysuckle leaf spots in China. Pathogenicity tests of the isolates revealed that most isolates were moderately pathogenic. All blue honeysuckle cultivars tested were found to be susceptible to 30 A. tenuissima isolates. In addition, elder, Dahurian rose fruit, sea buckthorn, rowan, hawthorn, bird cherry, and sorb could be infected by A. tenuissima isolates, while European cranberry bush and Nanking cherry were not infected. A . tenuissima isolates were highly sensitive to prochloraz (EC 50 ≤ 0.50 μg ml -1 ) with 86.21% efficacy at 400 μg ml -1 in the field trials. Therefore, crop rotation and application of chemical fungicides are considered to control the disease-causing leaf spots in blue honeysuckle. These results provide a basis for controlling A. tenuissima in blue honeysuckle in China., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Aims: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were successfully synthesized using the culture filtrate of the endophytic fungus Alternaria tenuissima as a rapid, eco‐friendly and cost‐effective method. Methods and Results: The rapid synthesis of ZnONPs was completed after 20 min as confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized ZnONPs showed a single‐phase crystalline structure. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed that the synthesized ZnONPs were monodispersed and the recorded polydispersity index value was 0·311. Zeta potential value of –23·92 mV indicated the high stability of ZnONPs. Transmission electron microscope revealed the spherical shape and the mean particle size was 15.45 nm. Functional groups present in the prepared samples of ZnONPs were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, the biological activities of in vitro antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant as well as the photocatalytic activities were evaluated. ZnONPs showed broad spectrum of antimicrobial potential against all the tested plant and human pathogens. Based on the MTT assay, ZnONPs inhibited the proliferation of normal human melanocytes, human breast and liver cancer cell lines with IC50 concentrations of 55·76, 18·02 and 16·87 µg ml−1. ZnONPs exhibited promising antioxidant potential with 50% inhibitory concentration of 102·13 µg ml−1. Moreover, ZnONPs showed efficient degradation of methylene blue dye. Conclusions: The synthesized ZnONPs showed promising activities that can be better explored in the near future for many medical, agricultural and industrial applications. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests a new and alternate approach with the excellent biotechnological potentiality for the production of ZnONPs which could open up the way for the industrial manufacture of nanoparticles using microbial platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Alternaria tenuissima was isolated from infected fig fruit and molecularly identified by rRNA gene sequencing. The objective of the current work was to test the inhibitory effect of vicilin as a glycoprotein, isolated from chickpea, against the fungus A. tenuissima, isolated from fig fruit, in vitro and in situ, to estimate its potential action in controlling the growth of A. tenuissima in postharvest fig fruit. RESULTS: Chickpea vicilin is a glycoprotein composed of three subunits of 135, 210, and 230 kDa. The linear growth of A. tenuissima on the solid agar medium and in liquid media (at 25 °C) was markedly reduced by 44%, 66%, 77%, and 83% and 20%, 24%, 42%, and 62%, respectively in response to vicilin applications of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g L−1. Chickpea vicilin (at 0.4 g L−1) totally prevented fungal conidia germination during 24 h of incubation at 25 °C. Electron microscope scanning of A. tenuissima subjected to chickpea vicilin showed hyphae swelling and conidia deformation. Treating post‐harvest fig fruit, artificially infected with A. tenuissima, with chickpea vicilin (0.1–0.4 g L−1) restricted the disease severity to 15% against 55% in the positive control after 7 days storage. CONCLUSION: Vicilin can be considered a potent antifungal agent that can be used in preserving fig fruit for 7–14 days with minimum disease severity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine / Zhongguo Yufang Shouyi Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In 2020, Alternaria leaf blight and spot disease was first observed on Aloe barbadensis in Beijing, China. Samples of diseased leaves of A. barbadensis showing blight and spot symptoms (dark brown necrotic, sunken, and emerged lesions) were collected and identified as Alternaria isolates. The fungal colony was olive green, while conidia were brown, obclavate and measured from 13.4 to 34.2 × 7.5–11.8 μm (length × width) on average. Genomic DNA extraction was performed by multi-locus sequence analysis and the pathogen was identified as Alternaria tenuissima. The pathogenicity test confirmed A. tenuissima's ability to infect A. barbadensis and cause typical leaf blight and spot symptoms, with subsequent re-isolation. This is the first report of leaf blight and leaf spot on A. barbadensis caused by A. tenuissima in Beijing, China. Due to the medicinal importance of A. barbadensis worldwide, studying A. tenuissima induced leaf blight and spot is imperative. • Leaf blight and spot symptoms were observed on Aloe barbadensis in Beijing. • Pathogen's identity is confirmed through morphology and multi-locus phylogenetics. • Alternaria tenuissima causing leaf blight and spot disease on Aloe barbadensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of fungal antibiotics in their competitive interactions with arthropods may lead to the development of novel biorational insecticides. Extracts of Alternaria tenuissima MFP253011 obtained using various methods showed a wide range of biological activities, including entomotoxic properties. Analysis of their composition and bioactivity allowed us to reveal several known mycotoxins and unidentified compounds that may be involved in the entomotoxic activity of the extracts. Among them, tenuazonic acid (TeA), which was the major component of the A. tenuissima extracts, was found the most likely to have larvicidal activity against Galleria mellonella. In the intrahaemocoel injection bioassay, TeA was toxic to G. mellonella and of Zophobas morio with an LT50 of 6 and 2 days, respectively, at the level of 50 µg/larva. Administered orally, TeA inhibited the growth of G. mellonella larvae and caused mortality of Acheta domesticus adults (LT50 7 days) at a concentration of 250 µg/g of feed. TeA showed weak contact intestinal activity against the two phytophages, Tetranychus urticae and Schizaphis graminum, causing 15% and 27% mortality at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, respectively. TeA was cytotoxic to the Sf9 cell line (IC50 25 µg/mL). Thus, model insects such as G. mellonella could be used for further toxicological characterization of TeA.

The small tree species Rhamnella franguloides, belonging to the genus Rhamnella in the tribe Rhamneae Hook. f. of Rhamnaceae (Hauenschild et al. 2016), is an important medicinal plant commonly used for making tea in China. In August 2023, leaf spot symptoms were observed on R. franguloides in Shangyao county, Yantai, Shandong, China, with a disease incidence of 45-65%. Initially appearing as small dark brown spots on the tip lesions, they later expanded and merged into irregular-shaped brown necrotic lesions with yellowish halos. To isolate pathogen, 20 symptomatic tissue fragments (5 × 5 mm) from ten sampling randomly plants were surface sterilized, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates, and incubated at 25°C in darkness for 3 days to obtain colonies.10 purified isolates with similar morphological characteristics were obtained by single-spore isolation from the colonies. The representative isolate MR13 was chosen for morphological and molecular analysis. The colonies On PDA medium initially appear as a circular yellow-brown ring with white round margins, ultimately turning into olive green with fluffy aerial hyphae. The conidiophores displayed brown pigmentation, solitary or branched, producing abundant short chains of conidia. The conidia were typically obclavate to obpyriform or ellipsoid in shape, 22.5-64.5 × 12.5-23.6μm in size, with a short conical beak at the apex, zero to three longitudinal septa and one to five transverse septa. Based on cultural and morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as Alternaria spp (Simmons 2007). Due to morphological traits, five genes (the internal transcribed spacer [ITS], actin [ACT], plasma membrane ATPase [ATP], Alternaria major allergen [Alt a1] and histone 3 [H3]) form MR13 were amplified using primer pairs ITSI / ITS4, ACTDF1/R1, ATPDF1 / ATPDRI, Alt-for / Alt-rev, and H3-1a/1b, respectively (Hong et al. 2005; Lawrence et al. 2013; Lousie and Donaldson 1995). BLASTn analysis failed to confirm the identification of MR13 species based on ITS, ACT, ATP and Alt a1(ITS, OR668512; ACT, OR676918; ATP, OR676917; Alt a1, OR676919). The phylogenetic tree showed that it was closely related to Alternaria alternate, A. tenuissima, and A. destruens. The H3 sequence (OR676920) exhibited 100% similarity to A. tenuissima (OR485421). The phylogenetic tree constructed solely with H3 further confirmed MR13 as A. tenuissima. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by introducing the fungus onto healthy R. franguloides leaves in the field. Fifty leaves (five per plant) were treated with a 20ml suspension containing around 1x10^4 spores/ml, while an equal number of control samples were sprayed with distilled water. Transparent plastic bags were used to cover the treated leaves for 48 hours and maintain humidity. After fourteen days of inoculation, consistent leaf spotting symptoms were observed. In contrast, the control leaves showed no sign of infection. The fungal pathogen was successfully reisolated and identified as A. tenuissima through morphological and sequence analysis, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. tenuissima causing leaf spot disease on R. franguloides in China. Identifying the disease's causal agent is crucial for developing effective management strategies.

A total of 32,284 unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome of Alternaria tenuissima, a pathogenic fungus causing foliar disease in tomato, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. In total, 24,670 unigenes were annotated using five databases, including NCBI non-redundant protein, Swiss-Prot, euKaryotic Orthologous Groups, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and the Gene Ontology. A total of 1,140 simple sequence repeats were also identified for use as molecular markers. Sixteen of the simple sequence repeat loci were selected to study the population structure of A. tenuissima. A population genetic analysis of 191 A. tenuissima isolates, sampled from four geographic regions in China, indicated that A. tenuissima had a high level of genetic diversity, and that the selected simple sequence repeat markers could reliably capture the genetic variation. The null hypothesis of random mating was rejected for all four geographic regions in China. Isolation by distance was observed for the entire data set, but not within clusters, which is indicative of barriers to gene flow among geographic regions. The analyses of Bayesian and principal coordinates, however, did not separate four geographic regions into four separate genetic clusters. The different levels of historical migration rates suggest that isolation by distance did not represent a major biological obstacle to the spread of A. tenuissima. The potential epidemic spread of A. tenuissima in China may occur through the transport of plant products or other factors. The presented results provide a basis for a comprehensive understanding of the population genetics of A. tenuissima in China.