Aims: This study aimed to isolate and identify fungi involved in causing diseases to Vanilla planifolia as well as to study their pathogenicity level in causing disease. Methodology and results: The diseased parts of vanilla plants were collected from vanilla farms located in Pahang and Sabah, Malaysia from May 2015 to May 2016. Diseases tissue transplantation was adopted to isolate the fungi for morphology identification prior to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions using universal primers for fungi, ITS1 and ITS4. After being isolated, the fungi pathogenicity was tested on detached fresh and mature vanilla leaves. A total of 22 fungal isolates were identified, Fusarium fujikuroi and F. oxysporum were the two most recovered species, followed by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium sp., F. proliferatum and F. solani. Pathogenicity test revealed a significantly high pathogenicity of F. oxysporum and C. gloeosporiodes (p<0.01) on detached vanilla leaf, with high level of damage. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study provides valuable information on fungi-associated diseases on vanilla plants grown in Malaysia and can be used for future development in disease management.
Vanilla--microbiology ; Fusarium--isolation & ; purification ; Colletotrichum--isolation & ; purification

BACKGROUNDThis study was to review the distribution and shifting trend of fungal of culture specimens isolated from eyes of patients at the Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China.

METHODSThe fungal culture-positive rate, the distribution and change of isolates of 2609 specimens collected in a 12-year period (1989 - 2000) were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIn 775 positive cultures, 707 specimens (91.2%) were from the cornea, 22 (2.8%) from the conjunctiva, 15 (1.9%) from the anterior chamber, 9 (1.2%) from the vitreous body, 3 (0.4%) from the lacrimal sac, and 19 (2.5%) from other parts of the eye. The average culture-positive rate was 29.7%. The ratio of the positive cultures in the first half year (from January to June) to those in the second half (from July to December) was 1:2.1. The main genus cultured was Fusarium sp (58.7%), followed by Aspergirum sp (16.8%). The percentage of Fusarium sp was increased from 53.6% (1989 - 1994) to 60.2% (1995 - 2000), whereas the percentage of Aspergirum sp was decreased from 22.3% (1989 - 1994) to 15.1% (1995 - 2000).

CONCLUSIONSFusaruim sp is one of the most predominant pathogens of ocular fungal infection in northern China and its incidence tends to increase, but that of Aspergirum sp to decrease. It is very important to recognize the distribution and shifting trend of pathogenic fungi in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of fungal keratitis.

Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; Eye Infections, Fungal ; etiology ; Fusarium ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

In order to find new source of antifungal agents, eleven cultivable endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots,stems and leaves of Chelidonium majus by traditional method. Seven of them were identified as Colletotrichum(L1, L2, L3, S1, S3, S4, S5), and three of them were identified as Fusarium(R1,R2,R3) by morphological features and molecular biological technology. The antifungal activity test showed that all the tested fungi displayed some inhibitory activity against five common plant pathogens(C. gloeosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Pyricularia oryza, Alternaria alternate and A. brassicae), and their inhibition rate of some test items were over 60%. Among them, R1, S2, S3 and S4 were more potent than others. This study enriches the understanding of endophytes from Ch. majus and provides a basis for the study of new microbial fungicides.
Alternaria ; pathogenicity ; Antibiosis ; Ascomycota ; pathogenicity ; Chelidonium ; microbiology ; Colletotrichum ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fusarium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVEThe quantity and genus of fungi on 13 samples of American ginseng seed from Beijing and Northeast area in China were detected.

METHODWashing and surface sterilization were used to isolate the fungi existed on seed surface and inside of the seed, respectively.

RESULTThe genera of the fungi in embryo and shell of the seeds mainly belonged to Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Penicilium spp., Cephalosporium sp., Rhizopus spp., and a small quantity of Mucor, Aspergillus, Tritroderma, Doratomyces and so on. The isolated fungal frequencies on the shell and in the embryo were 36%-100% and 40%-100% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe fungal frequency of American ginseng seed was higher. There were significant differences among different seed samples, the main fungal genera and isolation frequency in the seed embryo were identical with the results from the seed shell.

Alternaria ; isolation & purification ; China ; Fusarium ; isolation & purification ; Mitosporic Fungi ; isolation & purification ; Panax ; classification ; microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; microbiology ; Rhizopus ; isolation & purification ; Seeds ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents and bioactivity of Teurium pilosum.

METHODVarious column chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the constituents. A combination of EI-MS, NMR spectroscopy and X-Ray were applied to identify the structures. The anti-microorganism was accomplished by disk diffusion method, the antioxidant activity was assayed by the DPPH microanalysis models and the inhibitory activity of alpha-glucosidase was screened In vitro.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as: glyceryl tristearate (1), 2,5-dioxolanone (2), fernenol (3), stigmasta-5,22-dien-3P-ol (4), 24-nor cholesta-5,22 (E)-dien-3beta-ol (5), ca-spinasterol (6), (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylate (7), 3,4-dihydroxy phenyl acrylic acid (8).

CONCLUSIONAll compounds have been isolated from the genus for the first time. Compound 3 [IC50 = (37.63 +/- 3.45) mg +/- L(-1)], 6 [IC50 = (178.92 +/- 4.99) mg x L(-1)] and 8 [IC50 = (44.32 +/- 7.02) mg x L(-1)] are of higher inhibitory alpha-glucosidase activity than that of acarbose [IC50 = (1081.27 +/- 12.3) mg x L(-1)]. Compound7 [IC50 = (4.81 +/- 0.96) mg x L(-1)] and 8 [IC50 = (4.16 +/- 0.11) mg L(-1)] showed higher antioxidant activity than that of BHT [IC50 = (35.64 +/- 0.36) mg x L(-1)] and BHA [IC50 = (8.74 +/- 0.39) mg x L(-1)]. Compound 5-8 exhibited inhibitory activity against Fusarium graminearum. Compound 5 and 8 showed inhibitory activity against Botrytis cinerea.

Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fusarium ; drug effects ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Teucrium ; chemistry ; alpha-Glucosidases ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the natural occurrence of masked deoxynivalenol (DON-3-G) and other multi-mycotoxins in cereals from parts of China.

METHODSA total of 446 corn and wheat samples harvested in 2007 and 2008 collected from Henan, Hebei, Guangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Chongqing and Jiangsu provinces were analyzed for DON-3-G and other multi-mycotoxins (including deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), nivalenol (NIV), et al) by UPLC-MS/MS.

RESULTSCorn and wheat samples were mainly contaminated by DON and its derivatives as well as ZEN.88% (169/192) of wheat samples were positive for DON (range: 1.5 - 590.7 µg/kg; median: 30.8 µg/kg); 22.9% (44/192) of wheat samples were contaminated with ZEN (range: 1.7 - 3425.0 µg/kg; median: 8.0 µg/kg) and six samples contained ZEN concentration higher than the ZEN tolerance limit of 60 µg/kg. DON was detected in 50.5% (103/204) corn samples (range: 1.6 - 4374.4 µg/kg; median: 94.9 µg/kg); Seven samples contained DON exceeding the tolerance limit of 1000 µg/kg for DON. Additionally, ZEN was found in 41.7% (85/204) corn samples with the concentration between 1.6 µg/kg and 4808.7 µg/kg (median: 48.5 µg/kg) and there were 37 corn samples with ZEN level in the excess of tolerance limit for ZEN (60 µg/kg). DON-3-G was detected in corn and wheat samples for the first time in China with the median level of 21.4 µg/kg and 34.6 µg/kg for wheat and corn, respectively. Wheat was more heavily contaminated with DON-3-G than both 3-acetyl-DON (3-A-DON, median: 4.1 µg/kg) and 15-acetyl-DON (15-A-DON, median: 3.1 µg/kg) (t values were 5.111 and 5.966, respectively, both P values < 0.01). While, the level of 15-A-DON (median: 48.6 µg/kg) in corn was higher than 3-A-DON (median: 6.8 µg/kg) (t = -3.579, P < 0.01). The concentration of DON, DON-3-G, 3-A-DON, 15-A-DON and ZEN in corn were higher than that in wheat (Z values were -3.492, -1.960, -2.467, -8.711 and -6.272, respectively, all P values < 0.05). Wheat (median: 29.0 µg/kg) contained higher NIV in comparison with corn (median: 18.2 µg/kg, Z = -2.086, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWheat and corn samples from parts of China were contaminated with multi-mycotoxins and DON was the predominant;in comparison of wheat, corn was more heavily contaminated with DON, DON-3-G, 3-A-DON, 15-A-DON and ZEN.

China ; Edible Grain ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Food Contamination ; Food Microbiology ; Fusarium ; isolation & purification ; Mycotoxins ; isolation & purification ; Trichothecenes ; isolation & purification ; Triticum ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Zea mays ; chemistry ; microbiology

The rotten tuber of Pinellia ternata was found as an important disease during the growing season in Tianshui production area. The isolated pathogens were tested following Koch's postulates and identified as Fusarium oxysporum. The suitable growth conditions for the F. oxysporum were 15-30 degrees C, pH 6-8, the optimal condition was 21.9 degrees C and pH 7.2. Some fungicides were demonstrated to be effective to inhibit the pathogen growth. 70% thiophanate-methyl and 58% metalaxyl MZ were most effective to inhibit the pathogen. The EC50 were 0.002 7, 0.066 2 g x L(-1), respectively.
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fungicides, Industrial ; toxicity ; Fusarium ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Pinellia ; microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plant Tubers ; microbiology

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a highly valued traditional chinese medicine for the treatment of atherosclerosis-related disorders in china, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. The wilt disease is serious in the culture of S. miltiorrhiza. Wilt disease cause biomass of plant shoots and roots is lessened, active components are decreased. To solve these problems, we research the pathogen causing wilt disease of S. miltiorrhiza. The suspected pathogen is identified by morphology and etiological test. The identification was further confirmed by alignment the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplified by PCR. Our result show the wilt disease of S. miltiorrhiza mostly occurred in July and August, which is hot and wetter. The wilt disease rate of S. miltiorrhiza continuous cropping for one year in S. miltiorrhiz stubble is 10%, but the wilt disease rate of S. miltiorrhiza continuous cropping for three years in S. miltiorrhiz stubble is 60%-70%. The root rot of S. miltiorrhiz caused by the wilt disease, so the wilt disease was mistaken for the rot root in production. Morphological characteristics show the pathogen is Fusarium oxysporum. The sequence of ITS wes determined and found by BLAST shared 99% identity to that of F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. So it comes to the conclusion that the causing agent of wilt disease on S. miltiorrhiza belongs to F. oxysporum.
DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Fusarium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; microbiology ; Seasons

BACKGROUNDFungal keratitis is a rare but serious corneal disease that may result in loss of vision. The poor prognosis might be due to limited treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 0.25% terbinafine eye drops comparing with 5% natamycin suspension on fungal keratitis.

METHODSA retrospective clinical trial was performed on 90 patients presenting with direct smear and/or culture positive fungal keratitis at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China from January 2006 to May 2008. Corneal ulcers were categorized as mild or severe. Forty-five patients were treated with topical terbinafine and the next 45 cases received topical natamycin hourly.

RESULTSFilamentous fungi were found in corneal scrapings among all 90 cases. Fungal cultures were positive in 64 patients (71%). Species of Fusarium and Aspergillus were the principal isolates. Forty (89%) patients showed favorable response to terbinafine, while forty-two (93%) patients exhibited favorable response to natamycin (P > 0.05). The mean course of treatment was significantly showed in the terbinafine treatment group than natamycin group ((26.5 +/- 11.2) days versus (19.3 +/- 6.4) days; P < 0.05). In terbinafine group, twenty patients with ulcers smaller than 4 mm had favorable outcome, while 20 of 25 patients with ulcers more than 4 mm in diameter had favorable response (P < 0.05). Twenty-seven patients with depth of infiltration less than half of stroma thickness had favorable response to terbinafine, while 13 of 18 patients with depth of infiltration more than half of stroma responded to terbinafine. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that topical terbinafine is an effective antifungal drug for the management of filamentous mycotic keratitis, particularly in cases with smaller and shallower ulcers. Its mean duration of treatment was longer than natamycin.

Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Fusarium ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Humans ; Keratitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Naphthalenes ; therapeutic use ; Natamycin ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The research progress on Chinese medicine plant resources with pesticide activities, the active components and their reaction mechanism as well as the application and prospect were reviewed in this paper. Some proposals on the exploitation of traditional Chinese medicine plant origin pesticide were given. It is suggested to found compounds with pesticide activities from heat clearing and toxic clearing medicinal plants.
Fungicides, Industrial ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fusarium ; drug effects ; Insecticides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lectins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pesticides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Oils ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Viruses ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry