Surveys of cereal diseases and pests in the Netherlands. 4. Occurrence of powdery mildew and rusts in winter wheat

Results of annual surveys of winter wheat fields from 1974 to 1986 were compiled to describe epidemics of powdery mildew and rusts in relation to weather and cultivar resistance.An average of 29 and 70% of fields were infected by powdery mildew in May and July, respectively. Mildew prevalence in May was positively correlated with average temperature in October and with average temperature over the months December, January, February and March. In addition, it was correlated negatively with the average grade of mildew resistance of the cultivars sown each year. Prevalence of mildew in July did not show consistent correlations with weather characteristics nor with mildew prevalence in May.Yellow rust was usually not detected in May and on average 18% of the fields was infected in July. The occurrence of yellow rust decreased after 1977, when the farmers adopted cultivars resistant or moderately resistant to yellow rust.Brown rust was usually not detected in May, while in July on average 48% of the fields was infected. Brown rust intensity in July was high in years with a high March temperature and high precipitation during April and May.Black rust was rare in the Netherlands, with 3 and 1% of the fields infected in July 1977 and 1981, respectively.     

Some new races ofPuccinia striiformis

In the Netherlands in 1961 three new field races were found ofPuccinia striiformis, the causal fungus of yellow rust on wheat. Two of these, viz. the Falco race and the Opal race, together with the already known Etoile de Choisy race, constitute the so-called Nord-group of races, which is now clearly distinguished from the so-called Rubis-group. Most dangerous and interesting is the third of the new races. This so-called Cleo race proved to be the first to break both resistance to the Nord-group and resistance to the Rubis-group. On wheat seedlings in the greenhouse all three new races behaved like green-house race W(ageningen) 8=B(raunschweig) 55.Samenvatting Er zijn van de schimmelPuccinia striiformis Westend., de veroorzaker van de gele roest van tarwe, in Nederland in 1961 drie nieuwe veldfysio's gevonden. Dit zijn het Falco-fysio, het Opal-fysio en het Cleo-fysio. De eerste twee bleken met het reeds bekende Etoile de Choisy-fysio een groep te vormen, de z.g. Nord-groep, die zich duidelijk onderscheidt van de reeds beter bekende Rubis-groep van fysio's. Eerstgenoemde groep kenmerkt zich o.a. door de aantasting van het tarweras Nord, de laatstgenoemde door de aantasting van Rubis (zie tabel 1). Het belangrijkst en het gevaarlijkst is het Cleo-fysio. Dit bleek voor zover bekend het eerste en enige fysio te zijn dat zowel de resistentie tegen de Rubis-groep als die tegen de Nord-groep doorbreekt. Het heeft zodoende een zeer breed aantastingsspectrum. Van de tarwerassen die voorkomen in de 39ste Nederlandse Rassenlijst voor Landbouwgewassen (1964) zijn de volgende negen rassen vatbaar voor het Cleo-fysio met een aantastingsgraad van 6 tot 9 (Internationale Schaal): Cleo, Cappelle Desprez, Heine's VII, Hector, Stella, Sambo, Mado, Wodan en Jufy I. Bovendien bleek het Cleo-fysio in vergelijking met de andere veldfysio's goed te overwinteren en in 1964 reeds op vele plaatsen in Nederland aanwezig te zijn. Het Cleo-fysio maakt het des te noodzakelijker bij de selectie op resistentie tegen gele roest te werken op een brede genetische basis. Bij toetsing op tarwekiemplanten in de kas gedroegen de drie nieuwe fysio's zich alle als het kasfysio W(ageningen) 8 =B(raunschweig) 55 (zie tabel 2).     

Does the Presence of Detached Root Border Cells of Zea mays Alter the Activity of the Pathogenic Nematode Meloidogyne incognita?

ABSTRACT The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is a major pathogen of a range of important crops. Currently, control is typically achieved by the use of nematicides. However, recent work suggests that manipulating the ability of roots to slough off border cells, which then act as a decoy to the nematode, can significantly decrease damage to the roots. We investigated the attractiveness of border cells to M. incognita and the response of the nematode to border cells in close proximity. We found very limited attraction, in that nematodes did not preferentially alter direction to move toward the border cells, but a large and significant increase in nematode speed was observed once they were in the immediate vicinity of border cells. We discuss the results in the context of physical and biological mechanisms in relation to the control of pathogenic nematodes.     

Muscle fibre type distribution of the thoracolumbar and hindlimb regions of horses: relating fibre type and functional role

Background

Although the majority of equine muscles have a mixed fibre type distribution indicative of diverse functional roles, the predominance of a fibre type can indicate the primary function of a muscle. The deep epaxial musculature has an important role in core spinal stability in humans, reflected as a predominantly muscle fibre type (MFT) I or postural fibre type. The fibre type of the deep epaxial musculature has not been determined in horses. The objective of the study was to determine the MFT distribution in selected muscles of thoracolumbar and hindlimb region of horses. This included deep epaxial and hypaxial muscles that were hypothesised to have a postural stabilising role. A second objective was to examine differences in MFT distribution between horses bred for endurance (Arabian) and sprinting (Quarter horse). Muscle biopsy samples were obtained from selected thoracolumbar and hind limb muscles of 5 Quarter horses, 4 Arabians, and 2 Thoroughbreds. The myosin heavy chain distribution was determined by gel electrophoresis. Mann–Whitney rank test was used to compare the proportional MFT and differences between breeds.

Results

Mm. sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis and diaphragm had the highest proportion of MFT-I. The remaining deep epaxial muscles and the hypaxial muscle m. psoas minor had approximately equal MFT I and II proportions. Mm. psoas major, iliocostalis, longissimus dorsi and the hind limb muscles contained mostly MFT-IIX. The fibre type distribution was similar between Arabians and Quarter horses, although Quarter horses had more MFT-IIX fibres in psoas major (P = 0.02) while Arabians had more MFT-I fibres in m. longissimus dorsi (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

The fibre type distribution of the deep epaxial muscles, mm psoas minor and diaphragm varied from approximately equal MFT-I and II proportions to predominantly MFT-I suggesting a postural stabilising role possibly important in core spinal stability. In contrast the fibre type proportions of mm psoas major, iliocostalis, longissimus dorsi and the hind limb muscles were mainly MFT-II suggesting a locomotory role. Knowledge of fibre type distribution in such a clinically important area can direct diagnosis, prevention and treatment of muscular or neuromotor dysfunction.     

Characterization of the durable resistance to yellow rust in old winter wheat cultivars in the Netherlands

Summary Winter wheat cultivars released in the Netherlands before 1930 carried durable resistance to yellow rust. Cultivars released in the period between 1930 and 1950 often were durably resistant while recent cultivars infrequently showed durable resistance. This durable resistance was not difficult to transfer to new cultivars. Twenty nine older cultivars with durable resistance and eight recent non-durably resistant cultivars were tested in the seedling stage and in the adult plant stage against 12 West-European yellow rust races and against some non-European races in the seedling stage only. The adult plant tests were carried out in race nursery tests in the Flevopolder. Per race nursery all 37 cultivars, planted in hills of about 20 plants on both sides of the highly susceptible cv. Michigan Amber, were exposed to one race.The infection type of each cultivar-race combination was scored on 0 to 9 scale once in the seedling stage and twice in the adult plant stage. In the race nurseries the percentage leaf area affected was evaluated three times to be used to calculate the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). This AUDPC multiplied with the mean infection type in the field gave the susceptibility index (SI).The infection types were classified into resistant (R), intermediate (I) or susceptible (S) when the infection types were 0 to 3, 4 to 6 or 7 to 9, respectively. Four categories of resistance were discerned on the basis of the three infection type scores: 1) RRR, overall resistance; complete or near-complete resistant at all stages. 2) SRR, adult plant resistance, complete- or near-complete resistant at the adult plant stage only. 3) SRS and SSR, temperature sensitive resistance, the resistance changed from the one evaluation data to the other. 4) SSS and an SI lower than that of Michigan Amber, partial resistance.The frequencies of overall, adult plant and temperature sensitive resistance were 1.4, 52 and 54% in the older cultivars and 40, 62 and 22% in the recent ones, respectively. Among the older cultivars all had a fair to high level of partial resistance, the SI being on average only 20% of that of Michigan Amber, while most cultivars also seemed to carry temperature sensitive resistance. The partial resistance of the recent cultivars was of a much lower level with a mean SI compared to that of Michigan Amber of 61%. Partial resistance was highly correlated (r = –0.94) with the mean resistance scores from the Dutch Recommended Cultivars Lists. It was concluded that partial resistance and temperature sensitive resistance were the major components of the durable resistance in the older cultivars.     

A High-Temperature Electrical Conduction Mechanism in the Lower Mantle Phase (Mg,Fe)1-xO

Measurements of electrical conductivity at high pressure and temperature were taken on the lower mantle phase magnesiowustite with varying Fe3+ content. Although previous measurements at atmospheric pressure suggest Fe2+-Fe3+ hopping (small polaron) as the dominant conductivity mechanism, the present experiments show a change in charge transport mechanism with temperature. The lower temperature measurements are consistent with small polaron conduction, but at higher temperatures, which are more applicable to the lower mantle, a large polaron mechanism is suggested. Because these mechanisms have different temperature and compositional dependencies, this transition has important implications for extrapolation to mantle conditions.     

Repair of diaphyseal femoral fractures in cats using interlocking intramedullary nails: 12 cases (1996-2000).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of femoral fractures repaired with 4.0- and 4.7-mm interlocking intramedullary nails in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 12 cats with diaphyseal femoral fractures. PROCEDURE: Records of all cats in which the 4.0- and 4.7-mm interlocking nail system was used for repair of diaphyseal femoral fractures at the Animal Medical Center and Florida Veterinary Specialists between 1996 and 2000 were reviewed. Information included signalment, type of fracture, size of the implant, details of the surgery, intra- and postoperative complications, fracture healing, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Femoral fractures in 12 cats were repaired. Eleven of the fractures were comminuted, with 2 of these being open. Clinical outcome was excellent in 7 cats, good in 3, and fair in 1. One resulted in a nonunion. Complications included screw breakage (1 cat) and fracture distal to the nail (1). Fracture distal to the nail occurred from a second trauma. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the interlocking nail has been limited in cats because of the small diameter of the medullary canal. Use of the 4.0-mm nail will allow for greater application of this implant in small patients. Results of this study indicate that the 4.0- and 4.7-mm interlocking nails can be used to repair simple or comminuted diaphyseal femoral fractures in cats.