Panax quinquefolium, also known as American ginseng, is a perennial herb in the Araliaceae family. It has the effects of replenishing Qi and nourishing Yin, clearing heat and generating saliva. Additionally, it has protective effects on the nerves, improves myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, regulates metabolism, enhances the body's immunity, and is known as "green gold". However, with the development of the industry and the expansion of planting scales, P. quinquefolium faces serious disease issues that are difficult to prevent and control. Among these, root rot, often referred to as "plant cancer", is one of the most destructive plant diseases affecting the yield and quality of P. quinquefolium. P. quinquefolium root rot is caused by the fungi Fusarium(genus) and Ilyonectria(genus), which severely affect the root system and limit the production and quality of P. quinquefolium, thus restricting the development of the P. quinquefolium industry. In recent years, research on P. quinquefolium root rot has attracted significant attention and made some progress. However, the mechanisms of interaction between the root rot pathogens and the host plant remain unclear. This paper reviews the research progress on the pathogens, infection cycle, disease prevalence, pathogenesis, and biological control of P. quinquefolium root rot to provide prospects for future research, aiming to provide references for the in-depth study and effective control of root rot, and to promote the green and healthy development of the P. quinquefolium industry.
Panax/microbiology* ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Plant Roots/microbiology* ; Fusarium/pathogenicity*

Root rot disease is vital disease of Coptis chinensis, it has bursted in most producing area in recent years, and has caused severe damage. To identify the pathogenic fungi, Fusarium spp. fungi were isolated from rot root, of which the pathogenic fungi were screened with inoculation on C. chinensis root and plant, and identified with molecular and morphological method. The 20 Fusarium spp. fungi were obtained, of which 5 displayed high pathogenicity. It was deduced that F. oxysporum, F. solani and F. tricinctum were the pathogen, possibly pioneer pathogen of C. chinensis root rot disease. Among which F. oxysporum was dominant and deserved to pay more attention. High temperature and high humidity can increase pathogenicity of Fusarium spp. So the global climate warming may lead to temperature rising of C. chinensis producing area and favor the pathogen fungi, which may be one of the main factors leading to bursting of C. chinensis root rot disease. To control the root rot, beside developing and using pesticide, producing base should be moved to a high altitude area.
Coptis/microbiology* ; Fusarium/pathogenicity* ; Plant Diseases/microbiology* ; Plant Roots/microbiology*

This study was aimed to clarify the toxicity indoor and inhibition effect of biocontrol strain NJ13 and its mixture with chemical fungicides against Fusarium solani causing ginseng root rot. The method of mycelial growth rate and Sun Yunpei method were used to determine the indoor toxicity and co-toxicity coefficient of strain NJ13 and their mixture with chemical pesticides against F. solani. The dual culture assay method,mixed culture method and microscopic observation were used to determine the sporulation and germination of spores and mycelial growth and morphological change of hyphae of F. solani treated by strain NJ13. The results of toxicity indoor showed that strain NJ13 had the best inhibitory effect on pathogen,and its EC_(50) value was 0. 071 mg·L~(-1). It was all synergistic for antifungal effect that strain NJ13 was mixed with propiconazole and difenoconazole respectively with a range from 1 ∶4 to 4 ∶1( volume ratio). Both of optimal ratios were 1 ∶1,and the co-toxicity coefficients were 848. 70 and 859. 73,respectively. The strain NJ13 could inhibit the sporulation,germination and mycelial growth of F. solani. The biocontrol strain NJ13 had an inhibition effect on F. solani,and the optimal antifungal ratio of strain NJ13 mixed with propiconazole and difenoconazole was obtained.
Bacteria ; Biological Control Agents ; Fungicides, Industrial ; Fusarium ; pathogenicity ; Panax ; microbiology ; Plant Roots ; microbiology

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

The Astragalus membranaceus root rot disease,a soil-borne disease,has become increasingly severe in Shanxi province.This study was aimed at getting antagonistic Bacillus with excellent bio-control effects,and determining its effects on bacterial communities in root zone soil. With Fusarium solani and F. acuminatum as the target,antagonistic Bacillus was selected through such tests as living body dual culture,antifungal effect of bacteria-free filtrate,mycelia growth inhibition in vitro and control effect in detached roots,and identified with morphology,physio-biochemical characteristics and 16 S r DNA sequence analysis. The results showed that the Bacillus strain SXKF16-1 had obvious antifungal effect. The diameter of inhibition zone of its bacteria-free filtrate to F. solani and F. acuminatum was( 25. 90±1. 18) mm and( 25. 86±1. 85) mm respectively,and showed a lasting inhibition effect to mycelia growth. The disease index of the protective treatment and that of the cure treatment in detached roots test to F. solani and F. acuminatum were( 37. 50±8. 58),( 41. 67±4. 90) and( 25. 00±8. 33),( 38. 89±9. 62) respectively,both being significantly different( P<0. 05) from that of the control. The strain SXKF16-1 was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus. The B. atrophaeus SXKF16-1 showed significantly inhibition effect to pathogen causing root rot and could increase the bacterial diversity in root zone soil. It has potential to be developed as a special biocontrol agent.
Astragalus Plant/microbiology* ; Bacillus/physiology* ; Biological Control Agents ; Fusarium/pathogenicity* ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Plant Roots/microbiology* ; Soil Microbiology

BACKGROUNDPediatric infectious endophthalmitis is a serious sight-threatening disease for children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the etiology, microbiological spectrum, and visual outcomes of infectious endophthalmitis in children at a single institution in China.

METHODSIt is a retrospective study of the medical records of all patients under 14 years of age with histories of infectious endophthalmitis, treated at a single institution from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2015. The clinical characteristics, etiology, microbiological spectrum, and management, as well as the visual outcomes, were analyzed. The Kappa test and Chi-square test were used in the statistical evaluation.

RESULTSA total of 271 children were identified, with a mean age of 5.61 ± 2.93 years (range 5 months to 14 years). Ocular trauma (94.8%) and previous ocular surgery (3.0%) were the most common etiologies. Overall, 147 (54.2%) cases had positive cultures, and 176 organisms were isolated from these patients. A single species was isolated in 120 (81.6%) cases, with multiple organisms in 27 (18.4%) cases, and the most commonly identified organisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, comprising 29.5% and 26.8% of the isolates, respectively. Moreover, of 176 isolates, 142 (80.8%) were Gram-positive organisms, 23 (13.0%) were Gram-negative organisms, and 11 (6.2%) were fungi. The final visual outcomes were 20/200 or better in 66 (24.4%) eyes, counting fingers to 20/200 in 34 (12.5%), hand motions in 30 (11.1%), light perception in 33 (12.2%), no light perception in 32 (11.8%), and 9 (3.3%) eyes were enucleated or eviscerated. The visual outcomes were not available in 67 (24.7%) patients.

CONCLUSIONSPenetrating ocular trauma is the most frequent cause of pediatric endophthalmitis in China. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species are the most commonly identified organisms in exogenous pediatric endophthalmitis whereas Fusarium species are commonly seen in endogenous endophthalmitis. In this research, in spite of aggressive management with antibiotics and vitrectomy, the visual prognosis was found to be generally poor.

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Endophthalmitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Eye Infections, Fungal ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Eye Injuries, Penetrating ; microbiology ; Female ; Fusarium ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retina ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; pathogenicity ; Streptococcus ; pathogenicity ; Vitrectomy

BACKGROUNDHypopyon is common in eyes with fungal keratitis. The evaluation of the clinical features, culture results and the risk factors for hypopyon and of the possible correlation between hypopyon and the treatment outcome could be helpful for making treatment decisions.

METHODSThe medical records of 1066 inpatients (1069 eyes) with fungal keratitis seen at the Shandong Eye Institute from January 2000 to December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively for demographic features, risk factors, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and treatment outcomes. The incidence of hypopyon, the fungal culture positivity for hypopyon, risk factors for hypopyon and the effect of hypopyon on the treatment and prognosis were determined.

RESULTSWe identified 1069 eyes with fungal keratitis. Of the 850 fungal culture-positive eyes, the Fusarium species was the most frequent (73.6%), followed by Alternaria (10.0%) and Aspergillus (9.0%). Upon admission, 562 (52.6%) eyes with hypopyon were identified. The hypopyon of 66 eyes was evaluated via fungal culturing, and 31 eyes (47.0%) were positive. A total of 194 eyes had ocular hypertension, and 172 (88.7%) of these eyes had hypopyon (P < 0.001). Risk factors for incident hypopyon included long duration of symptoms (P < 0.001), large lesion size (P < 0.001) and infection caused by the Fusarium and Aspergillus species (P < 0.001). The positivity of fungal culture for hypopyon was associated with duration of symptoms and lesion size. Surgical intervention was more common in cases with hypopyon (P < 0.001). Hypopyon was a risk factor for the recurrence of fungal keratitis after corneal transplantation (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONSHypopyon is common in patients with severe fungal keratitis and can cause ocular hypertension. About half of the hypopyon cases were positive based on fungal culture. Long duration of symptoms, large lesion size and infection with the Fusarium and Aspergillus species were risk factors for hypopyon. The presence of hypopyon increases the likelihood of surgical intervention.

Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; pathology ; Aspergillus ; pathogenicity ; Eye Infections, Fungal ; microbiology ; surgery ; Female ; Fusarium ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Keratitis ; microbiology ; surgery ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate diseases occurring in Rheum palmatum in Gansu province and identify pathogen.

METHODField survey in the main R. palmatum producing area and the pathogens were identified on the base of morphology.

RESULTEight fungal diseases have been found after disease surveys on R. palmatum in Gansu province from 2004 to 2007. They were leaf smut (Thecaphora schwarzmaniana), leaf spot (Septoria sp.), rust (Puccinia rheipalmati), ring spot (Ascochyta rhei), powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni.), grey mold (Botrytis sp.), root rot(Fusarium oxyxporium) and a virus disease.

CONCLUSIONLeaf smut, a severe disease with the incidence of 14%-26%, is the urgent problem waiting to be solved effectively. Powdery mildew and grey mold were reported for the first time in China.

Ascomycota ; pathogenicity ; Basidiomycota ; pathogenicity ; Botrytis ; pathogenicity ; China ; Fungi ; pathogenicity ; Fusarium ; pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Rheum ; microbiology

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is a devastating disease that results in extensive yield losses to wheat and barley. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing plasmid pRP22-GFP was constructed for monitoring the colonization of two biocontrol agents, Brevibacillus brevis ZJY-1 and Bacillus subtilis ZJY-116, on the spikes of barley and their effect on suppression of FHB. Survival and colonization of the Brevibacillus brevis ZJY-1 and Bacillus subtilis ZJY-116 strains on spikes of barley were observed by tracking the bacterial transformants with GFP expression. Our field study revealed that plasmid pRP22-GFP was stably maintained in the bacterial strains without selective pressure. The retrieved GFP-tagged strains showed that the bacterial population fluctuation accorded with that of the rain events. Furthermore, both biocontrol strains gave significant protection against FHB on spikes of barley in fields. The greater suppression of barley FHB disease was resulted from the treatment of barley spikes with biocontrol agents before inoculation with F. graminearum.
Bacillus ; classification ; cytology ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; physiology ; Fusarium ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Hordeum ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Pest Control, Biological ; methods ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Species Specificity ; Survival Analysis

Studies were conducted under pot conditions to determine the comparative efficacy of carbofuran at 1 mg a.i./kg soil, bavistin at 1 mg a.i./kg soil, neem (Azadirachta indica) seed powder at 50 mg/kg soil, green mould (Trichoderma harzianum) at 50.0 ml/kg soil, rhizobacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens) at 50.0 ml/kg soil against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita-wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporum disease complex on green gram, Vigna radiata cv ML-1108. All the treatments significantly improved the growth of the plants as compared to untreated inoculated plants. Analysis of data showed that carbofuran and A. indica seed powder increased plant growth and yield significantly more in comparison to bavistin and P. fluorescens. Carbofuran was highly effective against nematode, bavistin against fungus, A. indica seed powder against both the pathogens and both the bioagents were moderately effective against both the pathogens.
Animals ; Benzimidazoles ; administration & dosage ; Carbamates ; administration & dosage ; Carbofuran ; administration & dosage ; Fusarium ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Glycerides ; administration & dosage ; Pest Control ; methods ; Phaseolus ; drug effects ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Terpenes ; administration & dosage ; Tylenchoidea ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathogenicity