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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) are important arboviruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. These viruses are known to coexist within the same vector and coinfect the same host. Although information is available on the mechanism of replication of CHIKV and DENV when present independently in a vector, reports are lacking on the dynamics of virus-vector interactions when these viruses coexist in a mosquito. The current study attempts to understand the perturbations in the proteome of Aedes mosquitoes when infected with CHIKV and DENV either independently or together. Global proteome profiling of chikungunya and dengue mono- and coinfection revealed 28 proteins to be significantly regulated. Validation of the transcripts of these proteins using qRT-PCR indicated differences in the expression patterns between transcript profiling and quantitative proteome analyses. Pathway analysis of the 28 differentially regulated proteins revealed 11 significant pathways, which include oxidative phosphorylation, carbon metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV) spread via the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Both these viruses exist as co-infections in the host as well as the vector and are known to exploit their cellular machinery for their replication. While there are studies reporting the changes in Aedes transcriptome when infected with DENV and CHIKV individually, the effect both these viruses have on the mosquitoes when present as co-infections is not clearly understood. In the present study, we infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with DENV and CHIKV individually and as co-infection through nanoinjections. We performed high throughput RNA sequencing of the infected Aedes aegypti to understand the changes in the Aedes transcriptome during the early stages of infection, i.e., 24 h post infection and compared the transcriptome profiles during DENV and CHIKV mono-infections with that of co-infections. We identified 190 significantly regulated genes identified in CHIKV infected library, 37 genes from DENV library and 100 genes from co-infected library and they were classified into different pathways. Our study reveal that distinct pathways and transcripts are being regulated during the three types of infection states in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a native natural enemy of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum Berg (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Argentina, where the 2 species are believed to have co-evolved. Cactoblastis cactorum is an established invasive pest in the US that is rapidly spreading throughout the southeast. Apanteles opuntiarum was imported from Argentina, and reared at the Division of Plant Industry containment facility in Gainesville, Florida, for study as a possible biocontrol agent for release in the US to control C. cactorum. A DNA barcode was developed to enable the identification of the reared parasitoid population. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of the A. opuntiarum reared in Florida containment was found to be identical to its Argentine founders, but distinctly different from the COI sequences of all other reported Apanteles species in the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) GenBank. Additionally, the AoF1 and AoR1 primer pair developed in this study specifically amplified the COI gene of A. opuntiarum, but did not amplify the COI gene of the host C. cactorum. Therefore, the COI gene fragment identified in this study has the potential to be used as a DNA barcode specific to A. opuntiarum that can aid in tracking and identifying this parasitoid inside hosts. Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) es un enemigo natural de la polilla de la tuna Cactoblastis cactorum Berg (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) en Argentina, su rango nativo, donde han co-evolucionado. Cactoblastis cactorum es una especie invasora establecida en Estados Unidos, que se está dispersando rápidamente hacia el sudeste de este país. Apanteles opuntiarum fue importado desde Argentina y es criado en la cuarentena de Gainesville, Florida (Division of Plant Industry), donde está siendo evaluado como posible agente de control de C. cactorum, para ser liberado en Estados Unidos. Se desarrolló un código de barras de ADN para permitir la identificación de la población de parasitoides criada. Se encontró que el gen de la citocromo oxidasa mitocondrial I (COI) de los A. opuntiarum criados en Florida fue idéntico al de sus fundadores argentinos, y claramente diferente de las secuencias de COI de todas las demás especies de Apanteles reportados en el GenBank del NCBI (Centro Nacional de información sobre biotecnología). Además, el par “primer” AoF1 y AoR1 desarrollado en este estudio amplificó específicamente el gen COI de A. opuntiarum, y no amplificó el gen de la COI del hospedador C. cactorum. Por lo tanto, el fragmento del gen COI identificado en este estudio tiene el potencial para ser utilizados como un código de barras de ADN específico para A. opuntiarum que puede ayudar en el seguimiento y la identificación de este parasitoide dentro de los hospedadores Fil: Srivastava, Mrittunjai. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Srivastava, Pratibha. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Karan, Ratna. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Jeyaprakash, Ayyamperumal. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Whilby, Leroy. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Rohrig, Eric. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Howe, Amy C.. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Estados Unidos Fil: Hight, Stephen D.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service; Estados Unidos Fil: Varone, Laura. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz, Brassicaceae, whose common name is Crantz-large-seeded false flax, is an annual oilseed species. It is grown as a forage and biofuel crop in Europe and North America. False flax is an ideal low-input crop for biodiesel production, because of its low requirements for nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides. Production costs of this crop are substantially lower than those of many other oilseed crops such as rapeseed, corn, and soybean. It is an excellent rotation crop and can reduce disease and insect and weed pressure in wheat fields. During the spring of 2011, commercial and research plantings of C. sativa cultivar Calena in Liberty and Gadsden counties in north Florida developed symptoms typical of downy mildew. In spring of 2012, the same symptoms were observed in experimental plantings of false flax. A white downy mold was observed on the upper third portion of the plants, on the upper stem internodes, and on the developing seed. The affected stems exhibited a twisted growth. Conidiophores had main trunks with dichotomous branches terminating in slender curved tips. Conidia were ovoid and 28 to 45 (mean 36) μm long and 22 to 38 (mean 30) μm wide. Conidiophores were branched (three to four branches, each with six to eight curved tips) and ranged from 107 to 236 μm long and 5 to 14 μm wide. Mycelium was obtained directly from diseased plants for DNA extraction (Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit, Valencia, CA). Primers ITS1 and ITS4 were used for PCR amplification (4). The PCR product was sequenced bidirectionally with the PCR primers. A consensus nucleotide sequence (Accession JQ997103) was compared to those in the NCBI GenBank database using a BLAST search. The sequence was 99% similar to sequence from Hyaloperonospora camelinae (Gäum.) Göker, Voglmayr, Riethm, M. Weiss & Oberw. (Accession AY198249.1) with a 95% query coverage (1). Pathogenicity was established by applying white conidial masses of downy mildew from field samples to stems of 4-week-old plants grown in pots in a greenhouse maintained at 25 ± 2°C. Noninoculated plants maintained under the similar conditions served as control. Symptoms and signs of downy mildew developed after 14 days only on inoculated plants. Downy mildew constitutes a serious threat to the cultivation of C. sativa in Florida because of the humid climate favoring disease development. Diseased plants may reduce yield and disease management would increase production costs. H. camelinae was previously reported on C. sativa in Oregon, Minnesota, Montana (3), and Nebraska (2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew caused by H. camelinae on C. sativa in Florida. References: (1) M. Göker et al. Canad. J. Bot. 81:672, 2003. (2) R. M. Harveson et al. Plant Health Progress. 2011. doi: 10.1094/PHP-2011-1014-01-BR. (3) M. L. Putnam et al. Plant Health Progress. 2009. doi: 10.1094/PHP-2009-0910-01-BR. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

A facile and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of α-Fe2O3 in a hexagonal cone (HC) like morphology by the addition of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf extract into the aqueous solution of ferric chloride has been developed. The morphology, optical, crystalline and structural properties of the synthesized α-Fe2O3 HC nanomaterials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultra violet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The α-Fe2O3 HCs synthesized by the A. indica leaf extract were used as a burn rate enhancer for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and the combustion of composite solid propellants (CSPs). The thermal properties were evaluated systematically using TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), burn rate data and activation energy calculations.

A facile and eco-friendly biosynthetic method was employed to synthesize NiO nanoparticles (NPs) using leaf extract of plant Calotropis gigantea. The crystalline and structural characterizations confirmed the formation of NiO NPs. A possible mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of NiO NPs through the plant assisted synthesis. The catalytic effect of biosynthesized NiO NPs on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and burning rate of composite solid propellants (CSPs) has been analyzed. The Kinetic studies of slow and rapid thermal decomposition have also been done.

Botryosphaeria spp. are ligninolytic ascomyceteous fungi that incite many diseases in economically important woody plant species. Four Botryosphaeria isolates, Botryosphaeria rhodina (Lasiodiplodia theobromae), Botryosphaeria obtusa, Botryosphaeria dothidea and Botryosphaeria ribis (Neofusicoccum ribis) were used in this study. Ten naturally occurring phenolic compounds from plants were tested to evaluate their effect on mycelium growth and the production of ligninolytic and pectinolytic enzymes. The effect of phenolic compounds in vitro varied with the Botryosphaeria isolates. Inhibition of mycelium growth was dose-dependent, and varied from 2 to 100% inhibition in the ten phenolic compounds tested except syringic acid, which has no toxic effect on mycelium of Botryosphaeria isolates. A significant decrease in laccase production occurred when Botryosphaeria isolates were grown on phenolic compounds. Benzoic acid significantly inhibited pectinase activity in all isolates. The percent inhibition of pectinase activity in B. dothidea and B. obtusa was significantly increased in the presence of salicylic acid and syringic acid, respectively.

Young, H. M., George, S., Narvaez, D. F., Srivastava, P., Schuerger, A. C., Wright, D. L., and Marois, J. J. 2012. Effect of solar radiation on disease severity of soybean rust. Phytopathology 102:794-803. Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is a damaging fungal disease of soybean (Glycine max). Although solar radiation can reduce SBR urediniospore survival, limited information is available on how solar radiation affects SBR progress within soybean canopies. Such information can aid in developing accurate SBR prediction models. To manipulate light penetration into soybean canopies, structures of shade cloth attenuating 30, 40, and 60% sunlight were constructed over soybean plots. In each plot, weekly evaluations of severity in lower, middle, and upper canopies, and daily temperature and relative humidity were recorded. Final plant height and leaf area index were also recorded for each plot. The correlation between amount of epicuticular wax and susceptibility of leaves in the lower, middle, and upper canopies was assessed with a detached leaf assay. Final disease severity was 46 to 150% greater in the lower canopy of all plots and in the middle canopy of 40 and 60% shaded plots. While daytime temperature within the canopy of nonshaded soybean was greater than shaded soybean by 2 to 3°C, temperatures recorded throughout typical evenings and mornings of the growing season in all treatments were within the range (10 to 28.5°C) for SBR development as was relative humidity. This indicates temperature and relative humidity were not limiting factors in this experiment. Epicuticular wax and disease severity in detached leaf assays from the upper canopy had significant negative correlation (P = 0.009, R = –0.84) regardless of shade treatment. In laboratory experiments, increasing simulated total solar radiation (UVA, UVB, and PAR) from 0.15 to 11.66 MJ m–2 increased mortality of urediniospores from 2 to 91%. Variability in disease development across canopy heights in early planted soybean may be attributed to the effects of solar radiation not only on urediniospore viability, but also on plant height, leaf area index, and epicuticular wax, which influence disease development of SBR. These results provide an understanding of the effect solar radiation has on the progression of SBR within the soybean canopy.

Terminalia chebula fruit is used as folk medicine in India and Southeast Asia. An antioxidant protein was isolated by bioassay guided fractionation of T. chebula fruit by homogenizing in the citrate phosphate buffer. The isolated protein (TCP-III) obtained from fruit was purified by gel chromatography and preparative HPLC, showed apparent molecular weight of 16 kDa by SDS–PAGE and MALDI-TOF/MS analyses. Amino acid sequence obtained by LC–MS E analysis showed homology with the predicted protein fragments of Populus trichocarpa , putative uncharacterized protein fragments from Oryza sativa and with fragments of 17 kDa thylakoid lumenal protein from Spinacia oleracea. TCP-III exhibited significant radical scavenging in DPPH, NO, H 2 O 2 and ABTS assays. In addition, TCP-III inhibited oxidation of linoleic acid in β-carotene bleaching assay, reduced ferric ions and chelated ferrous ions. The present finding demonstrates uniquely, for the first time, characterization of an antioxidant protein from T. chebula fruit .

Introduction Bacopa monnieri (BM) contains several dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins including bacopaside I and bacoside A. These bioactive compounds may be used as chemical markers for the quality control of different BM products used for promoting mental health and intellect. Objective Quantification of bacopaside I and bacoside A in crude plant material of BM stored under the stability study conditions by HPLC. Methodology Crude BM samples were stored at long-term (LS; 30°C and 65% RH), accelerated (AS; 40°C and 75% RH) and real-time (RT) study conditions. HPLC of BM extracts was carried out using a LiChroCART Purospher® STAR RP-18 endcapped column along with a guard column, Purospher STAR RP 18e 4.0 4.0 mm 5 µm using a gradient of acetonitrile (A) and water containing 0.05% (v/v) orthophosphoric acid (B) at a flow rate 1.5 mL/min with UV detection at 205 nm. Results The linear range of bacopaside I and bacoside A was 0.2 to 1 mg/mL. With the help of a regression equation the coefficient of determination (r2) values for bacopaside I and bacoside A were found to be > 0.999 and > 0.994 respectively. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values were

We examined the effect of saccharin on the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) response of soybean to the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of soybean rust. Plants were grown hydroponically in half-strength Hoagland’s solution and were challenged with the pathogen 1, 5, 10 and 15 d after treatment with 3 mM saccharin applied either as a foliar spray or a root drench at the 2nd trifoliate (V3) and early reproductive (R1) stages. Plants were destructively harvested and assessed for visible rust symptoms 2 wk after inoculation. Mode of saccharin application was a significant factor influencing the severity of rust infection. Saccharin applied as a root drench was more effective than the foliar spray treatment at inducing SAR, with increased resistance observed 1 d after application. Systemic protection against rust infection was still apparent 15 d after application of saccharin as a root drench. In contrast, foliar treatment with saccharin did not increase systemic protection until 15 d after treatment. When systemic protection was induced by the application of saccharin in either manner, there was no significant reduction of plant growth, except when plants were inoculated 15 d after the saccharin application as a root drench at the R1 stage of development.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seed proteins Ara h 1, Ara h 2, and Ara h 3 are considered to be the major peanut allergens. However, little is known about their temporal and spatial expression during seed development and upon germination and seedling growth. In this study, transcript levels of the three major peanut allergen genes, ara h 1, ara h 2, and ara h 3, and their corresponding proteins were found in all cultivars. Expression patterns were heterogeneous depending on the specific peanut allergen gene and the cultivars tested. However, ara h 3 expression patterns among the cultivars were more variable than ara h 1 and ara h 2. Transcripts were tissue specific, observed in seeds, but not in leaves, flowers, or roots, and were undetectable during seed germination. In situ hybridizations and immunotissue prints revealed that both embryonic axes and cotyledons expressed the allergens. However, more ara h 1 and ara h 3 messenger RNA was detected in cotyledons relative to embryonic axes. Allergen polypeptide degradation patterns were different in embryonic axes compared with cotyledons during germination and seedling growth, with levels of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 dramatically reduced compared to the Ara h 3 polypeptides in embryonic axes. These characterization studies of major peanut allergen genes and their corresponding seed storage proteins can provide the basic information needed for biochemical and molecular approaches to obtain a hypoallergenic peanut.

A combinatorial chemistry approach was employed to prepare a restricted library of N-substituted S-acyl-2-mercaptobenzamide thioesters. It was shown that many members of this chemotype display anti-HIV activity via their ability to interact with HIV-1, HIV-2, SIV-infected cells, cell-free virus, and chronically and latently infected cells in a manner consistent with targeting of the highly conserved HIV-1 NCp7 zinc fingers. Compounds were initially screened using two different in vitro antiviral assays and evaluated for stability in neutral buffer containing 10% pooled human serum using a spectrophotometric assay. These data revealed that there was no significant correlation between thioester stability and antiviral activity, however, a slight inverse correlation between serum stability and virucidal activity was noted. Based on the virucidal capability and the ability to select lead compounds to inhibit virus expression from latently infected TNFα-induced U1 cells, we next determined if these compounds could prevent HIV cell-to-cell transmission. Several thioesters demonstrated potent inhibition of HIV cell-to-cell transmission with EC50 values in the 80–100 nM range. Thus, we have optimized a series of restricted thioesters and provided evidence that serum stability is not required for antiviral activity. Moreover, selected compounds show potential for development as topical microbicides.

The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) was sequenced for Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) originating from 85 collections from the northern and central Andean countries of South America including Argentina (Tucumán), Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. The ITS1 regions of additional specimens (17 collections) from Central America (México, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panamá), Brazil, Caribbean Colombia, and coastal Venezuela were sequenced and together with published sequences (Paraguay) provided context for interpretation. A total of six ITS1 sequence variants were recognized in the Andean region comprising four groups. Type I predominates in the southernmost range of A. fraterculus. Type II predominates in its northernmost range. In the central and northern Andes, the geographic distributions overlap and interdigitate with a strong elevational effect. A discussion of relationships between observed ITS1 types and morphometric types is included.

In the course of our investigations of pyrimidines as antimycotic agents, we have identified a sub-class, with significant in vitro activity against mycobacteria. The salient feature of these pyrimidine derivatives (3a-o and 7a,b) is their appended aryl, heteroaryl and alkylthio substituent at position 6 and also alkylthio substituent at position 2. The rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity against six pathogenic bacteria including virulent and non-virulent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is described. Some of the synthesized compounds (3c, 3h, 3i, 3o) have displayed only potent in vitro antimycobacterial activity with MIC of 0.75 microg/mL except 3i which also demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli at 12.5 microg/mL concentration. Only two compounds, 3a and 3b, demonstrated antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli with MIC 12.5 microg/mL. All the synthesized compounds were also evaluated for their antimycotic activity against five pathogenic fungi but only some of them 3j-n and 7a,b were found most potent against Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

In the course of our investigations of pyrimidines as antimycotic agents, we have identified a sub-class, with significant in vitro activity against mycobacteria. The salient feature of these pyrimidine derivatives (3a-o and 7a,b) is their appended aryl, heteroaryl and alkylthio substituent at position 6 and also alkylthio substituent at position 2. The rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity against six pathogenic bacteria including virulent and non-virulent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is described. Some of the synthesized compounds (3c, 3h, 3i, 3o) have displayed only potent in vitro antimycobacterial activity with MIC of 0.75 microg/mL except 3i which also demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli at 12.5 microg/mL concentration. Only two compounds, 3a and 3b, demonstrated antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli with MIC 12.5 microg/mL. All the synthesized compounds were also evaluated for their antimycotic activity against five pathogenic fungi but only some of them 3j-n and 7a,b were found most potent against Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Boll rots of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) are common in the humid areas of the Southeastern US. One type of boll damage that may be differentiated from others is hardlock, with symptoms that include compression of the fibers within individual locules of mature, open cotton bolls without further obvious disintegration of the lint or damage to the carpel wall. The principal economic effect is that the boll’s lint is unharvestable by mechanical cotton pickers. This disease is endemic to the Southeast and can cause severe yield losses up to 70% in some fields. Scanning electron microscopy images of fibers from hardlocked bolls showed flattened and twisted tissue compared to fibers from healthy bolls. Fusarium verticillioides (Saccardo) Nirenberg was the fungus most commonly isolated from seeds of developing cotton bolls. Flowers inoculated with F. verticillioides on the day of bloom by spraying a spore suspension onto the flowers developed significantly (P < 0.05) more hardlock symptoms compared to untreated controls. The infection process was analyzed using a F. verticillioides isolate tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP). When it was applied to cotton flowers on the day of bloom, the GFP-tagged F. verticillioides strain was detected in the stigma and style by 2 days after bloom (DAB) and in developing seeds at 4, 6, 8, 10, 16, 20, 40, and 60 (open bolls) DAB. By 8 DAB, the GFP F. verticillioides was isolated from over 80% of developing seeds.

This study evaluated the ability and mechanisms of 19 Pteris and non-Pteris species to accumulate arsenic (As) in a hydroponic system spiked with 300 microM As. The study included four Pteris vittata accessions (China, India, Poland, and the United Kingdom), P. biaurita and 17 non-Pteris species. Among the accessions, P. vittata from China and UK were the most and the least efficient in terms of As accumulation. The non-Pteris species Chielanthes sinuta, Adiantum raddianum, Polystichum acrostichoides, Actiniopteris radiata, Pellaea rotundifolia, and Nephrolepis cordifolia concentrated As as effectively as the least efficient P. vittata ascension. As (III) in the fronds of P. vittata accessions ranged from 59% to 89% and for non-Pteris species it ranged from 47% to 65%. Maximum As accumulation coincided with highest percentage of As (III) in the fronds. The phosphorus (P) uptake of P. vittata accessions was 12-15 and 6-12 times greater than the As-uptake in the roots and fronds, respectively. In contrast, the P-uptake of non-Pteris species ranged from 9 to 151 and from 4 to 162 times the As-uptake, in the roots and fronds, respectively. Arsenic accumulation occurs at the expense of root and frond P-uptake. Root P-reduction is lower than frond and the P:As in the plant acquisition part (roots) is 1-3 times greater than that in accumulation part (fronds). A. radiata, C. sinuta, and P. acrostichoides were identified as potential As accumulators.

Selenium (Se) is a non-metallic element, which has the capability to increase the antioxidative capacity and stress tolerance of plants to heavy metals. Plants vary considerably in their physiological response to Se. The reported research investigated the effects of Se on arsenic (As) uptake by As hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. and determined possible mechanisms of interaction. Pteris vittata plants were exposed hydroponically to 0, 150 or 300 l Mo f Na 2HAsO4 in the presence of 0, 5 or 10 l Mo f Na 2SeO4 for 5 or 10 d. Application of 5 lM Se enhanced As concentration by P. vittata fronds by 7-45%. At 5 lM, Se acted as an antioxidant, inhibiting lipid peroxidation (reduced by 26-42% in the fronds) via increased levels of thiols and glutathione (increased by 24% in the fronds). The results suggest that Se is either an antioxi- dant or it activates plant protective mechanisms, thereby alleviating oxidative stress and improving arsenic uptake in P. vittata. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Brassica carinata A. Braun, commonly referred to as Ethiopian rapeseed, a near relative of collards and mustard, has become the object of increasing interest as an oil crop. It has been reported that B. carinata adapts better and is more productive than B. napus (canola) in adverse conditions, such as clay and sandy soils and under low management cropping systems (1). In late February 2012, symptoms typical of sclerotinia stem rot were observed in B. carinata trials (cultivars 090867 EM and 080814 EM) at the University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center located in Quincy, FL. Approximately 20 to 30% of the B. carinata cultivar 090867 EM were observed to have symptoms and approximately 5% of cultivar 080814 EM displayed symptoms. Stems had white mycelia growing on the outside, plants were lodging and spherical to cylindrical, 3 to 8 mm, and black sclerotia were found outside and inside bleached stems. Sclerotia from diseased stems were surface sterilized and placed in 9-cm diameter petri plates on quarter strength potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 25% lactic acid. Fungal cultures consisting of white mycelia and medium-sized (mean 4 mm), black, irregular sclerotia were consistently recovered and identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary based on morphological characteristics (3). Sequence analyses were conducted on mycelium by extracting fungal DNA with the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Valencia, CA). PCR amplification was performed using primers ITS1 and ITS4. The BLAST search revealed that the sequence (GenBank Accession No. JX307092) had 99 and 100% sequence identity with S. sclerotiorum GenBank accessions JN013184.1 and JN012606.1. Pathogenicity was determined by inoculating six 1-month-old B. carinata plants (cultivars 090867 EM and 080814 EM) that were grown in greenhouse pots (20 cm in diameter). Mycelia plugs (8 mm in diameter) were excised from the colony margin after 6 days of incubation at room temperature (approximately 25°C), and placed on stems, at the soil line, of B. carinata plants. Six control plants were inoculated with noncolonized PDA plugs. All plants were enclosed in plastic bags that had been sprayed with water on the inside to maintain high humidity and kept in the laboratory at room temperature (approximately 25°C). Symptoms similar to those observed in the field were evident after 3 days on inoculated plants and S. sclerotiorum was reisolated. In the controls, no symptoms developed and the fungus could not be isolated. The experiment was repeated with similar results. The majority of rapeseed production is in North Dakota, where sclerotinia stem rot caused by S. sclerotiorum is a major fungal disease affecting production (2). Currently, there is no significant B. carinata production in Florida; however, interest in biofuels could lead to an increase in planted acreage and sclerotinia stem rot could become a significant disease problem in areas of Florida were B. carinata is planted. To our knowledge, this is the first report of sclerotinia stem rot of B. carinata caused by S. sclerotiorum in Florida. References: (1) M. Cardone et al. Biomass and Bioenergy. 25:623, 2003. (2) L. E. del Río et al. Plant Dis. 91:191, 2007. (3) L. M. Kohn. Phytopathology 69:881, 1979.