Australian Uromyces viciae-fabae: Host and nonhost interaction among cultivated grain legumes

Uromyces viciae-fabae, rust of faba bean, parasitizes other legume crops such as lentils (Lens culinaris) and field peas (Pisum sativum) in some environments. In this study we examined the host range of two Australian isolates of U. viciae-fabae collected and purified from a faba bean crop and classified as U. viciae-fabae ex V. faba. Field pea (P. sativum), chickpea (Cicer arientinum), lupin (Lupinus spp.), lentil (L. culinaris), and mung bean (Vigna radiata) genotypes were tested with these isolates, as well as resistant and susceptible genotypes of the faba bean host. Race specificity for these two pathogen isolates was observed on Vicia faba, with two faba bean genotypes showing partial resistance. Both U. viciae-fabae isolates also colonized field pea seedlings and successfully produced uredinia under glasshouse conditions, despite this fungus not being known as a pathogen of Australian field pea crops. No sporulation of either isolate of U. viciae-fabae ex V. faba was observed on any of the remaining legume species tested. However, obvious differences in fungal growth were observed, ranging from small infection sites with very rare haustorium formation in mung bean to more extensive growth and the development of potential uredinial structures in chickpea. These observations are discussed in relation to the phylogenetic relationship of these host and nonhost species.     

Urban Concentration and Poverty in Developing Countries

We investigate the impacts of urban concentration (share of the population living in large cities) on poverty in developing countries. We use instrumental variables to estimate a system linking urban concentration, growth and urban and rural poverty. The results show that the importance of the population living in (small) cities (less than 0.5 million inhabitants) or very large cities (beyond 5 million inhabitants) has no impact on poverty. The importance of cities of 1 to 5 million inhabitants is poverty reducing. We conclude that developing countries with a large share of the population living in very big cities could reduce poverty by deconcentrating their urbanization toward cities of between 1 and 5 million inhabitants.     

The Applicability of the Local and International Water Quality Guidelines to Al-Gassim Region of Central Saudi Arabia

The quality of 109 water samples, comprised of 70 drinking waterand 39 irrigation water samples, in Al-Gassim Region of SaudiArabia was investigated with respect to total dissolved salts(TDS), electric conductivity (EC), pH, total hardness and themajor cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) andanions (Cl^-, SO₄ ^2-, NO₃ ^-,F^- andHCO₃ ^-) beside coliform bacteria as an indicator offaecal contamination.The concentrations of TDS varied widely, from 109 to 6995 mgL^-1, with a mean of 1427 mg L^-1. Of the 109 watersamples examined, 81 (74.3%) comply with the maximumpermissible drinking water limits set by the local and international standards and guidelines and 28 (25.7%) were abovethe limits of these standards. The concentrations of the cationsand anions (with the exception of NO₃ ^- and F^-)follow, more or less, a trend similar to TDS. NO₃ ^- concentrations (range 0–30 mg L^-1) comply with the limitof 50 mg L^-1 NO₃ ^- as the highest tolerableNO₃ ^- content. The concentrations of F^- indrinking water (range 0.2–1.5 mg L^-1) are alarming since88% of samples were below the lower permissible limit of 0.6 mgL^-1 set by SASO (1984), the guideline of the WHO is 1.5 mgL^-1 while the EEC maximum concentration lies within the range 0.7–1.5 mg L^-1. Microbiological analyses showednegative coliform tests, which confirms that they are devoid ofany faecal contamination.     

Nodule phosphorus requirement and O2 uptake in common bean genotypes under phosphorus deficiency

Abstract

The effect of P deficiency on nodulation, nodule P content, nodule O₂ permeability and N fixation rates in Phaseolus vulgaris–rhizobia symbiosis was studied under glasshouse conditions. Four recombinant inbred lines (L34, L83, L115 and L147) and one variety cultivated in Morocco (Concesa) were inoculated with Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 in hydroaeroponic culture. Two P levels i.e. 75 (deficient level) and 250 µmol plant^?1 week^?1 P (sufficient level) were applied and the trial was assessed 42 days after transplanting that coincide with plant flowering stage. Under P-deficiency, decrease of plant growth (18%) and nodule biomass (19%) was detected and significantly pronounced in the sensitive line L147 compared with the remaining genotypes. Additionally, under P-deficiency, the efficiency in use of rhizobial symbiosis, estimated by the slope of the regression model of shoot biomass as a function of nodule biomass, was significantly increased in the four lines. This constraint did not significantly influence nodule P content in Concesa, but it was 24 and 41% lower in the tolerant and in the sensitive lines, respectively. Nodule P content was positively correlated to nodule biomass, r=0.75, and shoot N, r=0.92. These genotypic variations were associated with variability in nodule O₂ permeability that was significantly affected by the P level-bean genotype interaction. Under P-deficiency, nodule O₂ permeability was significantly reduced in the tested genotypes and accompanied with a decrease in shoot N content, especially in the sensitive lines (35%). Moreover, the ratios plant N fixed: nodule P content and plant N fixed:nodule dry weight were affected under P-deficiency in four lines with an exception observed in Concesa. Depending on the observed data we concluded that N₂ fixation efficiency could be influenced by nodulation and level of nodule P requirement which depend on both bean genotypes and P level.     

Environmental and genotypic effects on bulb development in onion – a review

Environmental and genetic factors influence growth and bulb development of onions by affecting their physiology. Photoperiod plays critical a role in bulb development and determines the suitability of a cultivar for a particular region. Long days and high temperatures promote onion bulbing. Bulbing is regulated more by temperature than photoperiod, as determined by growing degree days. Far-red light promotes bulbing most effectively. High-temperature storage of sets (above 20–25°C) results in increased total bulb yields, while very high temperature (25.5–31°C) or temperature below 0°C depresses yield. Plant density has an impact on bulb size: the higher the plant density the smaller the bulb size. Onion is more sensitive to water stress during bulb formation and enlargement than during the vegetative stage. Nitrogen improves bulb development, but too much nitrogen promotes excessive vegetative growth and delays maturity. Growth hormones (gibberellins and ethrel) promote the growth and development of bulbs. Flowering and bulb formation in onion is regulated by different (Flowering Locus T) FT genes. Two antagonistic FT-like genes regulate bulb formation. AcFT1 promotes bulb formation, while AcFT4 prevents AcFT1 up-regulation and inhibits bulbing. There is a need to link our research with the genetics and physiology of onions, to enhance bulb yield.     

Early heat acclimation during incubation improves Japanese quail performance under summer conditions

Effects of exposing quail eggs to high temperature on the heat tolerance ability and productivity of birds were investigated. Four groups of 600 fertile eggs were randomly selected; the first group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C (Control). The second group was exposed to 39.1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C. The third group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The fourth group was exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The temperature applied changed (P?<?0.01) embryo weight and incubation period. Birds exposed to high temperature during brooding had superior growth performance, dressed carcass, body temperature and health traits. Birds subjected to 39?±?1 °C during brooding exhibited decreased feed consumption and body weight gain. Finally, this work suggests that thermal acclimation during embryogenesis might offer a practical method for easing heat stress.

     

Genetic Structure of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Carrier Horses in Morocco Inferred by Microsatellite Data

A total of 17 microsatellite deoxyribonucleic acid loci used routinely for horse parentage control were used to evaluate genetic diversity among normal Arabian horses and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) carrier Arabian horses (ArS) and normal Arab-Barb horses and SCID carrier Arab-Barb horses (ArbeS). On the basis of the genotype of 186 horses, mean allelic diversity was estimated as 6.82, 5.53, and 6.7059 in normal Arabian horses, ArS, and for both groups of Arab-Barb horses, respectively. Five specific alleles were observed in ArS and ArbeS, with one common with ArS at HMS6, whereas five alleles common between ArS and ArbeS had a high frequency. Expected and observed heterozygosity showed great heterogeneity in the population studied and were similar or higher when compared with other studies on Arabian horses. Coefficient of gene differentiation G_st of Nei associated with Nei’s genetic distance and multivariate correspondence analysis indicated a possible differentiation between the studied populations when analyzed separately according to breed. Probability of assignment of a horse to a specific group was assessed using a full and partial Bayesian approach. In all, 80.6% of Arab horses and 78.2% of Arab-Barb horses were assigned properly with a partial Bayesian test, which provided better results than the full one. These findings will be useful for identification of SCID carrier horses by using the microsatellite deoxyribonucleic acid loci used routinely for horse parentage control in our laboratory.     

Effect of set-size and storage temperature on bolting,bulbing and seed yield in two onion cultivars

The effects of three set-sizes (12.5, 17.5 and 22.5 mm in diameter) and seven storage temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) on bolting, bulbing and seed yield in two onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars ‘Hygro’ and ‘Delta’ were investigated. The incidence of bolting increased linearly with set-size and curvi-linearly with decreasing storage temperature. Time to inflorescence emergence and floret opening showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the earliest inflorescence emergence and floret opening occurring at 5 °C and the latest at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’. Seed yield per umbel also showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the lowest seed yield occurring at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’ and the highest seed yield at 5 °C. For a seed crop, storage of large sets (22.5 mm) of these cultivars at 5 °C for 120 days appeared to be optimum with 5–12% higher seed yield per umbel than that of 90 days storage. Bulb yield showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the highest bulb yield occurring at 25 °C and the lowest at 5 °C.     

Specificity for aminoacylation of an RNA helix: an unpaired, exocyclic amino group in the minor groove

An acceptor stem G3.U70 base pair is a major determinant of the identity of an alanine transfer RNA. Hairpin helices and RNA duplexes consisting of complementary single strands are aminoacylated with alanine if they contain G3.U70. Chemical synthesis of RNA duplexes enabled the introduction of base analogs that tested the role of specific functional groups in the major and minor grooves of the RNA helix. The results of these experiments indicate that an unpaired guanine 2-amino group at a specific position in the minor groove of an RNA helix marks a molecule for aminoacylation with alanine.     

Automation in Agriculture by Machine and Deep Learning Techniques: A Review of Recent Developments

Precision Agriculture - Recently, agriculture has gained much attention regarding automation by artificial intelligence techniques and robotic systems. Particularly, with the advancements in...