© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Hellenic Plant Protection Journal - Special Issue
54
tinction of live/dead cells in several microor-
ganisms. The novelty of the method lies in
the fact that cell membranes are imperme-
able to PMA. Thus PMA can be selectively
used to intercalate the exposed DNA from
dead cells, rendering it unavailable for PCR
amplification, and therefore only DNA from
viable cells is amplified. In this study, we re-
port a novel method for the enumeration of
viable PCN eggs in soil, based on Real-Time
PCR in combination with PMA. Quantitative
analysis of DNA from viable eggs was per-
formed by using species specific Taqman
probes and primers.
“Seed Blight”, a non parasitic disease of sunflower
A.I. A
NASTASIADIS
Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, Center “Demeter” Drama, 5
th
km.
Drama-Thessaloniki, GR-661 00 Drama, Greece
High temperatures, the sharp rise in tem-
perature and bright sunshine in the process
of filling the seed, could affect the seeds of
sunflower, causing tanning (burning) accom-
panied by a complete absence of the en-
dosperm or have rudimentary endosperm.
This phenomenon is created when the seed
filling stage, in the flowers of the head are
directly exposed to solar radiation (at the
top of the head). “Burning” of seeds was ob-
served during the 2011 growing season, es-
pecially in a particular variety, which lacks a
strong inclination of the head. The phenom-
enon was noticed in late June between stag-
es R6-R7. Optically heads looks healthy, but
when we rub the hand over the flowers of
the head to reveal the seeds, then there is a
spot of seeds that shows in “silver-gray” col-
or. Over the time they dry out and the same
happens to the flowers of the affected area
of the head as a result making them seem
literally “burnt”. Affected seeds beneath the
dried flowers have a brown tint and are eas-
ily rubbed from the head and they are slight
because most are hollow or have rudimen-
tary endosperm. In some cases the “burn-
ing” of the seeds, proceeds to the top half
of the head.
Measurement of ozone concentrations using passive sampling in 13 fruit
tree growing areas of the Imathia, Pella and Magnisia prefectures in
Greece, during three years
P. D
ROGOUDI
1
, G. P
ANTELIDIS
1
and G.D. N
ANOS
2
1
Pomology Institute, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Hellenic
Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 38 R.R. Station, GR-590 35 Naoussa, Greece.
2
Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Science, University of Thessaly,
Fitoko Str., GR-384 46 Volos, Greece
Ambient ozone (O
3
) concentrations were
measured using passive samplers and UV
or HMOS monitors, in fruit tree growing ar-
eas of Imathia (9 sites), Pella (1 site) and Mag-
nisia (3 sites) in Greece, during the sum-
mer months of three consecutive years. The
O
3
concentrations were also monitored at
different positions in an orchard. Results
showed that ten-day O
3
concentrations re-
corded using passive samplers were great-
er in areas with higher altitude (Rodochori
Imathias and Zagora and Chania Magnisias),
in comparison with those at lower altitude
(Kampohori and Ammos Imathias and Veles-
tino Magnisias). In 2007 the highest O
3
con-
centrations were recorded, compared with
2005 and 2006. Accumulative AOT(40) val-
ues during the day in Naoussa were greater
by 1.5 and 3.5 times at 6.000 ppb.h. Diurnal
O
3
concentrations in Naoussa and Rodo-
chori followed a campanoid curve with low-
est values occuring during the early hours of
