This report synthesizes all aspects of the taxonomy, distribution, history of introduction and spread, ecological constrains (including preferred climate, substratum and habitats), responses to biotic and abiotic factors, biology (including phenology, vegetative and reproductive biology), economic importance and human uses, ecological impacts, legislation and management of Carpobrotus N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae), a prominent invasive plant in Europe.Carpobrotus species are mat-forming trailing succulent perennial herbs native from South Africa, introduced in Europe for ornamental and soil stabilization purposes since the beginning of the seventeenth century, now widely naturalized on coastal habitats of southern and western Europe. C. acinaciformis and C. edulis are the main species recognized outside South Africa, together with their hybrids and potential hybrid swarms. Identification conflicts both in the native and invaded areas raise doubts on the taxonomy of these taxa, but hybridization processes may boost adaptive changes in the invaded range.The release of Carpobrotus in natural environments and protected areas is prohibited in several European countries, but this taxon is not included in the list of invasive species of Union concern. Carpobrotus is a pioneer of disturbed sites and coastal areas including cliffs and sand dune systems, due to its tolerance to stress factors such as salinity, drought and excess of light. Carpobrotus invasion ultimately affects patterns of native species diversity. Moreover, it has been recognized as a major driver of soil conditions shifts and soil geochemical processes disruptions, representing a serious threat for coastal habitats.Management plans for Carpobrotus must consider its high plasticity for morphological and ecophysiological traits, which may probably explain its tolerance to a wide range of ecological conditions. Its flexible mating systems, which represent an optimal strategy to facilitate local adaptation and habitat colonization, include ability to produce apomictic seeds, selfand cross-pollination, and an intense vegetative clonality. In addition, Carpobrotus produces a large seed bank with a moderate short-term persistence, and fruits are effectively dispersed by mammals. The most efficient control methods are physical removal and herbicide application on leaves, whereas integration of biological control with other conventional management methods are likely to be most effective. A long-term monitoring of control actions and restoration of soil conditions are needed to prevent recovering from clonal parts, seed bank or mammal faeces as well as potential new invasions by other opportunistic species. Taxonomy Names and classificationScientific name: Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N. E.Br., 1926 Basyonym: Mesembryanthemum edule L., 1759

bGlucosinolates (GSLs) are secondary metabolites found in Brassica vegetables that confer on them resistance against pests and diseases. Both GSLs and glucosinolate hydrolysis products (GHPs) have shown positive effects in reducing soil pathogens. Information about their in vitro biocide effects is scarce, but previous studies have shown sinigrin GSLs and their associated allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) to be soil biocides. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biocide effects of 17 GSLs and GHPs and of leaf methanolic extracts of different GSL-enriched Brassica crops on suppressing in vitro growth of two bacterial (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris and Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola) and two fungal (Alternaria brassicae and Sclerotinia scletoriorum) Brassica pathogens. GSLs, GHPs, and methanolic leaf extracts inhibited the development of the pathogens tested compared to the control, and the effect was dose dependent. Furthermore, the biocide effects of the different compounds studied were dependent on the species and race of the pathogen. These results indicate that GSLs and their GHPs, as well as extracts of different Brassica species, have potential to inhibit pathogen growth and offer new opportunities to study the use of Brassica crops in biofumigation for the control of multiple diseases.T he genus Brassica belongs to the family Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae); economically speaking, it is the most important genus within the tribe Brassicaceae, containing 37 different species. Brassica vegetables are of great economic importance throughout the world. Currently, Brassica crops, together with cereals, represent the basis of world food supplies. In 2007, Brassica vegetables were cultivated in more than 142 countries around the world, and they occupied more than 4.1 million ha (1).The productivity and quality of important Brassica crops (e.g., cabbage, oilseed rape, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, and broccoli) are seriously affected by several diseases, which result in substantial economic losses (2). Black rot, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Pammel), is considered to be one of the most important pathogens affecting Brassica vegetables worldwide (3). There are nine races of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris: races 1 to 6 were described by Vicente et al. (4) and races 7 to 9 by Fargier and Manceau (5). It is recognized that races 1 and 4 are the most virulent and widespread, accounting for most of the black rot recorded around the world (4).Bacterial leaf spot, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola (McCulloch) (6), is very significant on cauliflower but also occurs on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other brassicas. P. syringae pv. maculicola may also cause leaf blight on the oilseed species Brassica juncea and Brassica rapa (3).Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a widespread fungal disease in temperate areas of the world and also occurs in warmer and drier areas during the winter months or the rain...

A periodic comparison of cultivars is essential to assess selection gains, determine deficiencies, define objectives, and set breeding priorities. Our objective was to assess the progress, or lack thereof, achieved in improving yield, plant type, maturity, and resistance to major bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases of dry bean of the western USA from 1918 to 1998. Twentyfive great northern, pink, pinto, and red cultivars were evaluated for seed yield at three locations in Idaho and for anthracnose,

White mold (WM) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a severe disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in North America. Common bean has only partial resistance. However, some accessions of P. coccineus L. and other species of the secondary gene pool (SGP) are highly resistant. The objectives of this study were to (i) introgress WM resistance from the SGP and (ii) compare resistance of interspecific breeding lines (IBL) VCW 54 and VCW 55, developed by congruity backcrossing between ‘ICA Pijao’ and P. coccineus accession G 35172, and VRW 32, derived from recurrent backcrossing of ICA Pijao with P. costaricensis accession S 33720 with known sources of resistance. The three IBL, ICA Pijao, and susceptible (‘Othello’) and resistant (92BG‐7, A 195, G 122, I9365–25, ‘ICA Bunsi’, and VA 19) genotypes were screened in the greenhouse in Colorado and Idaho in 2007 and 2008 and in the field in Idaho in 2007. White mold resistance was successfully introgressed from two of the three Phaseolus species (P. coccineus and P. costaricensis) of the SGP. VCW 54 had the highest WM resistance, and VCW 55 and VRW 32 had similar resistance as previously reported. These sources of WM resistance should be introgressed into common bean cultivars.

The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, cause of white mold, is known to attack >400 plant species. It is a widespread problem in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the United States, causing >30% average yield losses. Low to moderate levels of resistance are found in dry bean. However, some accessions of P. coccineus (commonly known as scarlet runner bean) possess a relatively higher level of resistance. Our objective was to verify the reaction of 13 known white mold-resistant P. coccineus germ plasms and determine inheritance of resistance in accessions PI 433246 and PI 439534. Pinto Othello was crossed with PI 433246, and the resulting interspecific F1 was back-crossed onto Othello and allowed to produce F2 seed. Similarly, pinto UI 320 was crossed with PI 439534. The F1 was backcrossed onto UI 320 and allowed to produce F2 seed. The two parents, F1, F2, and backcross to dry bean of each set were evaluated in the greenhouse using the straw test at Fort Collins, CO in 2004. All 13 P. coccineus accessions and the two F2 also were evaluated using the modified petiole test at Kimberly, ID in 2005. All 13 P. coccineus accessions were variable in a 2002 straw test when rated for white mold reaction on a 1-to-9 scale, because the mean disease score ranged from 1.9 for PI 433246 to 4.4 for PI 189023 and 8.8 for the susceptible check Bill Z. For the petiole test, when rated on a 1-to-9 scale, the accessions exhibited an intermediate white mold score of 4 or 5 in 2005. In 2004, the susceptible check Othello exhibited a mean score of 7.9 compared with 3.4, 3.2, and 2.1 for PI 433246, UI 320, and PI 439534, respectively. The white mold reaction of PI 433246 and PI 439534 was dominant in their respective F1. The F2 segregation further indicated that white mold resistance in PI 433246 and PI 439534 was controlled by a single dominant gene. These two and other white mold-resistant P. coccineus accessions and selected breeding lines from the interspecific crosses should be useful for future improvement of white mold resistance of pinto and other market classes of dry and green or snap bean.