Rhizopus oryzae is reported for the first time on Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino. A detailed description of this Korean specimen is given, along with its rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence. On the basis of mycological characteristics and molecular data, the fungus was identified as R. oryzae Went & Prinsen Geerligs.
Cucumis ; Cucumis melo ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Oryza ; Rhizopus

Gummy stem blight, a plant disease caused by Didymella bryoniae, is one of the major diseases in melon. The disease can seriously reduce melon yield and quality. However, little information is available on the genetics and functional genomics of the fungal pathogen. In this study, we developed an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for D. bryoniae by using a universal pathogenic isolate DB11 and the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58C1 carrying plasmid pBIG2RHPH2 harboring the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph). Total 45 transformants could be obtained per 1 x 10(5) spores when 1 x 10(6) spores per milliliter of D. bryoniae spore suspension were cocultivated with Agrobacterium cells at OD600 = 0.15 for 48 h in the presence of induction medium (pH 5.2) containing acetosyringone at 200 microg/mL and selection medium contained 100 microg/mL of hygromycin B and 200 microg/mL of cefotaxime sodium, ampicillin and tetracycline, respectively. The transformants were stable when grown on PDA medium without hygromycin B for five times and were verified by PCR amplification with the hph primers and by Southern blot analysis with the hph probe. The transformation system will be useful for further studies of functional genes in D. bryoniae.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; genetics ; Ascomycota ; genetics ; Cucumis melo ; microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Transformation, Genetic

In 2007 to 2008, a fruit rot of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) caused by Sclerotium rolfsii occurred sporadically in a farmer's vinyl house in Jinju City. The symptoms started with watersoaking lesion and progressed into the rotting of the surface of fruit. White mycelial mats appeared on the lesion at the surface of the fruit and a number of sclerotia formed on the fruit near the soil line. The sclerotia were globoid in shape, 1~3 mm in size, and white to brown in color. The hyphal width was measured 3 to 8 microm. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation was 30 on PDA. Typical clamp connections were observed in hyphae of grown for 4 days on PDA. On the basis of symptoms, mycological characteristics and pathogenicity to the host plant, this fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of the fruit rot of Melon caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.
Allyl Compounds ; Cucumis melo ; Cucurbitaceae ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Korea ; Plants ; Soil ; Sulfides

BACKGROUND: Recently, the prevalence of food allergies during childhood is increasing, with fruits being common allergens. However, data on allergens that cause fruit and vegetable allergies and pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) in childhood are relatively few. This study aimed to examine the allergens in fruit and vegetable allergies in pediatric patients and to determine the association between fruit and vegetable allergies and PFAS.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the current status of fruit and vegetable allergies in Japanese children.METHODS: This was a multicenter case series observational study. The participants included children aged <15 years who developed allergic symptoms after eating fruits and vegetables and subsequently received treatment in the Pediatric Department of 6 hospitals in the Osaka Prefecture in Japan during the study period from August 2016 to July 2017. Participants' information was obtained using a questionnaire, and data were obtained by performing several types of allergy tests using blood samples.RESULTS: A total of 97 children (median age, 9 years; 56 males) were included in the study. Apple was the most common allergen, followed by peach, kiwi, cantaloupe, and watermelon. A total of 74 participants (76%) exhibited allergic symptoms due to PFAS; moreover, pathogenesis-related protein-10 (PR-10) was the most common allergen superfamily. On the contrary, in the group where neither PR-10 nor profilin was sensitized, kiwi and banana were the most common allergens, and the age of onset was lower than that in the PFAS group. Specific antibody titer was significantly associated with Birch for Bet v1 and latex for Bet v2 (r = 0.99 and r = 0.89).CONCLUSION: When we examine patients with fruit and vegetable allergies, we should first consider PFAS even in childhood specifically for children greater than 4 years old.
Age of Onset ; Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Child ; Citrullus ; Clinical Study ; Cucumis melo ; Eating ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Japan ; Latex ; Musa ; Observational Study ; Prevalence ; Profilins ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Vegetables