Delivering rust resistant wheat to farmers: a step towards increased food security

An important step towards reducing the vulnerability of wheat in Africa and Asia to the Ug99 race of the stem rust pathogen is the substitution of current susceptible varieties with superior resistant varieties. In the 2008?C2009 cropping season both seed multiplication and dissemination of Ug99 resistant varieties were initiated in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Ug99 resistant varieties must occupy about 5% of the area sown to wheat in each country to ensure sufficient seed to displace current popular varieties. Because of the underdeveloped seed industry and small farm sizes in most of these countries, various strategies are being applied for rapid multiplication and dissemination of resistant varieties. Approaches being used include pre-release seed multiplication while candidate resistant lines are being tested in national evaluation trials and farmer participatory selection. Resistant varieties are already released in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt and Pakistan and more varieties are expected to be released in 2010 in these and other countries. Our results show that some new Ug99 resistant lines have yield superiority over dominant local varieties. Activities and progress in seed multiplication using existing and new Ug99 resistant varieties are discussed.     

Rapid virulence typing of Pasteurella multocida by multiplex PCR

The gram-negative bacterium Pasteurella multocida constitutes a heterogeneous species associated with wide range of disease in many animals. Isolates are classified into five groups based on capsular antigen (capA, B, D, E and F). Recently, a new valuable PCR-based method was introduced to determine the epidemiological correlation between P. multocida infection and existence of virulence genes including tbpA, pfhA, toxA and hgbB. However, this method is tedious and laborious. Thus, in the current study, we designed a reliable multiplex PCR method for rapid detection of virulence genes in P. multocida. Eighty seven strains of P. multocida isolated from various clinically healthy and infected hosts were examined by uniplex PCR method for each virulence associated genes. Based on our improved and simplified multiplex PCR method, rapid detection of four virulence genes was accomplished. It is proposed that its implementation may benefit the epidemiological investigations.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of glibenclamide in human plasma

The oral hypoglycemic agent glibenclamide was determined in human plasma by liquid chromatography (LC). Samples, with internal standard added, are extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase is evaporated, and the residue is reconstituted in mobile phase for injection onto the LC column. Intra- and inter-day variability of the method was assessed at high and low levels of the drug. Although coefficients of variation were similar for both intra- and inter-day studies at both levels, CVs were smaller at the higher concentration level. Recovery of the drug was good at both high and low levels. The minimum level of detection was 5 ng/mL.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes are significantly associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus infection in goats

Background: Haemonchosis is a major economic problem in goat production in humid, tropical and subtropical regions. The disease is caused by an abomasal nematode, Haemonchus contortus, which is highly pathogenic in small ruminants. The aim of this study was to identifying single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) that were associated with fecal egg counts(FEC) and could be used as markers to identify resistance to H. contortus in goats.Results: Ten novel variants in the CI TA, ATP2 A3, HSPA8, STAT5 B, ESYT1, and SERPING1 genes were associated with FEC in goats with a nominal significance level of P 0.05. Two missense mutation in the exon region of the caprine CI TA gene resulted in replacement of arginine with cysteine at position 9473550(R9473550 C) and aspartic acid with glutamic acid at position 9473870(D9473870 E). Chinese goat breeds had significantly higher FEC than Bangladeshi goat breeds within their respective genotypes. Polymorphism information content(PIC), effective al ele number(Ne), and heterozygosity(He)were greatest for the STAT5 B_197_A G SNP locus in al goat breeds. Pairwise coefficients of linkage disequilibrium(D′, r~2)revealed complete LD(r~2= 1) between significant SNP polymorphisms in CI TA and SERPING1 and strong LD(r~2= 0.93 and0.98) between polymorphisms in HSPA8 and ATP2 A3, respectively. Correlation coefficient(r) between FEC and body weight(BW) was significantly positive(r = 0.56***, P 0.001) but that between FEC and packed cel volume(PCV) was negatively significant(r =-0.47**, P 0.01) in the total population of goats. On the other hand, correlation coefficient(r)between BW and PCV was not significant in total population of goats. Association analysis revealed that haplotypes within ATP2 A3, HSPA8, and SERPING1 were significantly associated with FEC. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the relative expression of m RNA was higher(P 0.001) for resistant, compared to susceptible, groups of goats for al candidate genes except CI TA.Conclusions: This study identified SNP markers that can potential y be used in marker-assisted selection programs to develop goat breeds that are resistant to H. contortus.     

Determination of some heavy metal concentrations in razor clam (Solen brevis) from Tanjung Lumpur coastal waters, Pahang, Malaysia

An effort to analyze selected heavy metal accumulation by the razor clam (Solen brevis) from Tanjung Lumpur was conducted on January to April 2010. A total of fifty individuals of Razor clam Solen brevis were sampled and metals such as Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) Concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Among the metals Fe occurred in elevated concentration in the soft tissue of razor clam followed by Zn. Cd was found to be in least concentration in the sample. Mean concentration of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd and Pb in the soft tissue were 415.2 +/- 56.52, 87.74 +/- 11.85, 18.71 +/- 2.10, 8.64 +/- 1.75, 0.67 +/- 0.29 and 1.61 +/- 0.45 microg g(-1) dw, respectively indicating that the bioaccumulation of essential metals in the soft tissue was greater than the non essential heavy metals. Metal accumulation in the soft tissue of razor clam followed Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cd order in present study. The observed concentration of acute toxicity of metals in Solen brevis (Family: Solenidae) from Tanjung Lumpur Coastal waters was lower than the permissible limit recommended by National and international standards proved that this species could be utilized for human consumption.     

Molecular Investigation of Human Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in Glioblastoma Brain Tumor: A Case-Control Study in Iran

Background:Glioblastoma multiforme is the most invasive and lethal form of brain cancer with unclear etiology. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence of HCMV and EBV infections in patients with GBM. Methods:This case-control study was conducted on 42 FFPE brain tumor samples from GBM patients and 42 brain autopsies from subjects without neurological disorders. The presence of EBV and HCMV DNA was determined, using PCR and nested-PCR assays, respectively. Results:HCMV DNA was detected in 3 out of 42 (7.1%) of GBM samples and was absent from the control group (p = 0.07). Importantly, EBV DNA was detected in 9 out of 42 (21.4%) brain tissue specimens of GBM subjects, but again in none of the control group (p = 0.001). Conclusion:Our findings indicate that infection with EBV is associated with GBM. Key Words: Brain tumor, Epstein-Barr virus, Glioblastoma, Human cytomegalovirus     

Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in Asia and the Pacific: Workshop summary

The Regional Workshop on Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment in Asia and the Pacific metto present and discuss assessments of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in agriculture, forests, coastal resources, and water resources. Discussions were held in breakout and plenary sessions about the state of the science for vulnerability and adaptation assessment, conclusions that can be drawn about the vulnerability of the region to climate change, and where future research efforts should be directed. The workshop concluded that sea level rise is of greatest concern to island and coastal nations in the region, climate change will have a significant effect on agriculture, water resources are sensitive to changes in average climate conditions and to tropical monsoons and cyclones, and forests could be significantly affected by climate change. The workshop recommended that efforts to improve general circulation models continue and that countries in the region cooperate on the analyses of vulnerability and addressing adaptation measures. The workshop also concluded that results of vulnerability and adaptation assessments should be presented to policy makers and the public and that assessments continue to be undertaken to improve our understanding of the issue.     

A juvenile hormone analog, pyriproxifen, affects some biochemical components in the hemolymph and fat bodies of Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)

Endocrine system has a critical role during the developmental stages of insects by synthesis of several regulatory hormones. One of these hormones is juvenile hormone that several insecticides have been driven based on its biochemical structure e.g. pyriproxifen. Due to various disadvantages of fenitrothione spraying, this study was carried out finding the possible usage of pyriproxifen to control the destructive population of Eurygaster integriceps. After bioassay treatments to acquire the appropriate concentrations, the treatment repeated to find possible changes in the biochemical compounds of hemolymph and reserved macromolecules in fat bodies. Results showed significant discrepancies in amount of biochemical components of the hemolymph and the reserved macromolecules in E. integriceps after pyriproxifen treatment. In hemolymph, activity level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase as enzymatic components and uric acid as non-enzymatic one increased but acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, protein, trehalose and lipid showed adverse results. In fat bodies, the amount of all measured reserves including glycogen, lipid and protein decreased and showed significant differences. These kinds of changes have been supported by several studies due to using insecticides. These negative effects on overall physiology of the Sunn pest by depleting the essential compounds cause sensitivity to fungal infections and several shortages for normal development and reproduction of insect. Also, the adaptability of pyriproxifen to increase the effect of entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, should be considered to initiate a new pest management program to decrease the production loss made by E. integriceps in wheat fields.     

Growth,physiological status,and yield of salt-stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants affected by biofertilizer and cycocel applications

This factorial study was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a greenhouse during spring 2015 to investigate changes in dry matter mobilization, grain filling period, and some physiological characteristics of wheat. Treatments were four salt levels [0 (S₁), 30 (S₂), 60 (S₃), and 90 (S₄) mM sodium chloride (NaCl) equivalent to 2.76, 5.53, and 8.3 dS m^?1, respectively], four biofertilizers levels [(no biofertilizer (F₀), seed inoculation by Azotobacter chroococcum Beijerinck strain 5 (F₁), Pseudomonas putida (Trevisan) Migula strain 186 (F₂), both inoculation Azotobacter?+?Pseudomonas (F₃)], and three cycocel levels [(without cycocel as control (C₀), application of 600 (C₁), and 1000 (C₂)?mg?L^?1)]. Salinity stress increased leaf electrical conductivity and decreased chlorophyll index, quantum yield, relative water content, and stomata conductance. However, the application of cycocel and biofertilizer reduced the negative impacts at each level of salinity tested. When treated with cycocel, salt stressed plants demonstrated a significant decrease in stomata conductance compared to the salt-treated plants with no cycocel. The results revealed that the maximum shoot and stem dry matter mobilization (0.89 and 0.67?g, respectively) and contribution of stem reserves to grain yield (38.01%) were observed in salinity severe stress (90?mM) and no cycocel application. The application of Azotobacter?+?Pseudomonas had the greatest grain filling rate (0.002?g day^?1) without salinity stress. The greatest grain filling period (43.26 days) was achieved by the highest cycocel level without salinity stress. The application of biofertilizer and cycocel as F₃C₂ had 24.7% more grain yield in comparison to the controls.