A high virulence and pathotype diversity of Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici at its centre of diversity,the Himalayan region of Pakistan

Information on the pathogen virulence profile and diversity across locations is crucial for host germplasm improvement and deployment. The rapid acquisition of virulence to host resistance by the wheat yellow/stripe rust pathogen (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici: PST), makes it crucial to know about its virulence and pathotype diversity. Recent studies have shown the plausible centre of origin of the pathogen in the Himalayan region, with Pakistan being the most ancestral to all other worldwide populations. To assess the status of virulence and pathotype diversity in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, a set of 127 PST infected wheat samples from eight locations were collected, multiplied and pathotyped using a set of 36 differential lines from the world set, European and Chinese sets, and 9 Avocet Yr isolines. Virulence (Vr) was recorded to 18 out of 24 tested yellow rust resistance (Yr) genes, while a total of 53 pathotypes were detected out of 127 isolates tested. Virulence was found to the resistance genes rarely deployed in Pakistan (Vr8) or even worldwide level (Vr5), while virulence to Vilmorin 23 (Yr3+) was absent in Pakistan, which is common in Europe. None of the pathotypes was dominant across all locations, however, no clear spatial structuring was observed for the studied locations. Our results suggested a high virulence and pathotype diversity in line with the previously proposed potential role of sexual recombination in the temporal maintenance of PST in the Himalayan region of Pakistan. This information should be useful in host resistance gene improvement and deployment.     

Rotavirus infection in calves in Bangladesh

Faecal samples from 434 calves under 1 year of age (307 diarrhoeal and 127 normal) were collected from three dairy farms and one village in selected areas of Bangladesh. The samples were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the presence of rotavirus antigen. Of 402 dairy calves tested, 28 (7.0%) were positive, of which 21 (7.2%) were from diarrhoeic calves and 7 (6.3%) from non-diarrhoeic calves. Rotavirus infection varied from farm to farm (2.7–9.2%) and there was no positive response from any of the 32 village calves. Rotavirus was most commonly found in calves of 1 week of age or less (up to 22.2% in one group) but was not found in any calves later than 6 months of age. More than 80% of rotavirus-positive samples from diarrhoeic calves exhibited a titre of 128 or more (geometric mean 345±4.5), whereas non-diarrhoeal calves had titres less than or equal to 128 (geometric mean=29±1.9), suggesting that rotavirus infection in calves in Bangladesh was mostly associated with diarrhoea.     

Hydathode morphology and role of guttation in excreting sodium at different concentrations of sodium chloride in eddo

Mature leaves of field-grown eddo plants were used for observing hydathode morphology by light and scanning electron microscopies. There were approximately five hydathode pores on the adaxial surface of each leaf tip. A ring structure with two borders around the pore was detected in this study. Further observations revealed a large cavity underneath the pores. The cavity was directly connected to vascular bundles that lacked a bundle sheath, via intercellular spaces among loosely organized parenchyma cells. Many crystal cells were present around the cavity and vascular bundles. To evaluate the role of guttation in sodium excretion under salinity stress, eddo plants were grown in hydroponic solutions containing 0, 1, 4, 8, and 12 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) for 7 d. As the NaCl concentration in the hydroponic solution increased, the sodium contents increased in leaf blades, petioles, and roots but remained unchanged in corms. The sodium concentration in the guttation fluid increased; however, the volume of guttation fluid decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. Therefore, sodium elimination via guttation decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. The ratios of the sodium content in guttation fluid to that of leaf blades, leaves, and whole plants decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. The ratios of potassium to sodium contents in leaves, roots, and guttation fluid also decreased as the NaCl concentration increased. These results indicate that guttation did not eliminate sufficient sodium to play a role in adjusting sodium homeostasis and the ratios of potassium to sodium contents in eddo plants under saline conditions.     

渭干河-库车河三角洲绿洲土地资源合理利用对策分析

本文对干旱区内陆河流域下游具有代表性的渭干河—库车河三角洲绿洲土地资源特征和存在的问题进行了详细的分析 ,分析表明 ,土地资源数量大、质量差、利用率低 ,土壤类型多 ;草场面积大、质量差 ;森林覆盖率低、疏林、灌木林比重大 ;土地利用中存在结构不合理 ,特别是林业、畜牧业比重偏低 ,绿肥和饲料作物面积过小 ;土壤次生盐渍化严重、土壤肥力下降 ,经营管理粗放、单产水平不高 ;草场面积锐减 ,森林资源破坏严重 ,保护绿洲的能力下降。在此基础上 ,提出了优化农业用地结构 ,提高土地利用综合效益 ;增加对农业用地开发利用的投入 ,促进农业用地由粗放型向集约型的转变 ;保护和更新胡杨林 ;保护和建设草场 ;大力治理盐碱 ;发展节水灌溉农业 ,提高水资源利用效益 ;扩大绿洲规模 ,加快城市化建设等持续合理利用土地资源的对策。     

A study on processing of natural fibers by underwater shock wave treatment and its characteristics

Fiber quality is very important for all the steps of the textile area. Underwater shock wave has been utilized for metal, wood, food processing and medical applications and renewed and increased application during the last decade. The main object of this study, is to demonostrate underwater shock wave as a surface treatment of natural fibers such as jute and cotton in form of yarn and to report characterized properties of the treated fibers. The underwater shock wave was generated by the explosion of the detonation fuse in the water tank. The process of bubble generation and expansion inside the water results in the formation of shock wave. Natural fibers were exposed to shock wave treatment depending on the different pressures and detonatinon fuse separation distance. After shock-loading, fibers were selected for physicomechanical and physicochemical tests such as Scaning Elecron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, breaking strength, moisture behavior, permeability and wicking test. The maximum effect with improved moisture content, permeabilty and wicking properties were observed from 100 MPa. The treated fiber showed high performance necessary for use in woven and non woven purpose.     

Occurrence of postharvest gray mold rot of sweet cherry due to Botrytis cinerea in Korea

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In May 2016, we observed gray mold rot symptoms on harvested and refrigerated cherry fruit in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Korea. The symptoms included...     

Factors limiting traditional household duck production in Bangladesh

A cross sectional survey of duck production was carried out in 2002 on 771 traditional, semiscavenging household duck farms on the coastal Island of Hatia. We determined the socioeconomic characteristics of duck farmers and their management systems, identified the factors associated with egg production, and measured the level of selected duck diseases and current preventive strategies. Household family size varied from 1 to 14 individuals and women were the main caretakers of ducks. Around 34% of keepers were illiterate. Most duck products (eggs and meat; 85%) were sold at the local market. Duck houses were poorly ventilated and a variety of bedding materials were used. Feed was available in nearby scavenging areas; however, additional feed was frequently supplied by farmers. Almost all farmers (96%) ranked the rainy season as the best time for rearing ducks due to greater feed availability. The annual egg production was 79 eggs per layer with a weight of 48 g and a hatchability rate of 87%. Egg production varied by zone (p < 0.05). The odds of suboptimal egg production was 0.5 times lower in educated farmers (p = 0.001). The odds of suboptimal egg production was 2.5 times more likely in ducks that attained sexual maturity at >22 weeks (p<0.001). Most farmers ranked duck plague as the most important disease, followed by duck cholera, botulism, and duck viral hepatitis. Preventive vaccination was sporadic and used by few farmers (28%). There are significant opportunities for improved duck production on the Island of Hatia and in Bangladesh generally.