Association of dhurrin levels and post-flowering non-senescence with resistance to stalk rot pathogens in Sorghum bicolor

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Aflatoxin contamination is common in several crops, including maize, in warm agricultural areas. For over 40 years, there have been many efforts to...     

Impact of harvesting time on field carry over infestation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis> (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in different maize genotypes

Study was carried out to evaluate the effect of time of harvest on field carry over infestation of rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae L. in maize. The maize ears were harvested at three different stages namely early harvest- i.e. just before physiological maturity (stage 1), timely harvest i.e. at physiological maturity (stage 2) and late harvest i.e. around ten days after physiological maturity (stage 3). The harvested maize ears were dried, shelled and stored separately over a period of 150 days. The emergence of F₁ progeny of S. oryzae were significantly higher in late harvest maize (37.51) while relatively lower number in timely (27.09) harvest and lowest number in early harvest maize (14.47) were observed. The interaction effects between different stages of harvest × genotype, genotype × storage duration, different stages of harvest × storage duration, different stages of harvest × storage duration × genotype on F₁ progeny emergence were found significant. Similarly, maize ears harvested at early and timely period, showed significantly lower weight losses as compared to late harvest maize. The mean per cent weight loss recorded at 90 and 150 days after storage were 0.66 and 2.24; 1.21 and 5.19; 2.24 and 6.33 in early, timely and delayed harvest maize kernels, respectively. The F₁ progeny emergence was significantly and positively correlated with stage of harvest (r=0.4435). Also significant and positive correlations were found between weight loss and storage duration (r=0.3280). The kernel hardness was found significant negative correlation with progeny emergence and weight loss. The results indicated that physical and biochemical traits are also responsible for varying levels of resistance to S. oryzae. Use of cultural practices such as timely harvest of maize is one of the most promising approaches for efficient in minimization of field carry- over infestation of S. oryzae.     

Serodiagnosis of pearl millet resistance to downy mildew by quantitating cell wall P/HRGP using polyclonal antiserum Pab-P/HRGP

Proline/hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (P/HRGP) level in pearl millet genotypes resistant to downy mildew increase after inoculation with the oomycete pathogen Sclerospora graminicola. Using purified P/HRGPs from pearl millet cell walls, polyclonal antibodies (Pab-P/HRGP) were raised in rabbit. Based on this antiserum, an enzyme immunoassay was developed that displays a linearity detection range from 0.01 to 10 μg P/HRGP. Western blot analysis, confirming the induction of three marker P/HRGPs in the infected resistant genotype, and immunocytochemical studies on P/HRGP localization either in epidermal peelings or in suspension-cultured cells demonstrated the specificity of the antiserum. Besides its characterization, Pab-P/HRGP was employed to screen various genotypes of pearl millet for fast, sensitive and specific detection of induced P/HRGPs upon infections. The results presented are discussed with presumed importance to downy mildew disease and the use of this new antiserum in pearl millet screening for disease resistance.     

Effect of organic,inorganic and slow-release urea fertilisers on CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions from rice paddy fields

Vietnam is one of the world’s top two rice exporting countries. However, rice cultivation is the primary source of agriculture’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Vietnam. In particular, strategies are required to reduce GHG emissions associated with the application of organic and inorganic fertilisers. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of various combinations of biochar (BIOC), compost (COMP) and slow-release urea (SRU) on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. In total, 1170 gas samples were collected from closed gas chambers in rice paddies at Thinh Long commune and Rang Dong farm in northern Vietnam between June and October 2014. The gas samples were analysed for CH₄-C and N₂O-N fluxes using gas chromatography. The application of BIOC alone resulted in the lowest CH₄ emissions (4.8–59 mg C m^?2 h^?1) and lowest N₂O emissions (0.15–0.26 µg N m^?2 h^?1). The combined application of nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) + COMP emitted the highest CH₄ (14–72 mg C m^?2 h^?1), while ½NPK + BIOC emitted the highest N₂O (1.03 µg N m^?2 h^?1 in the TL commune), but it was the second lowest (0.495 µg N m^?2 h^?1) in the RD farm. Green urea and orange urea reduced N₂O emissions significantly (p < 0.05) compared to white urea, but no significant differences were observed with respect to CH₄ emissions. SRU fertilisers and BIOC alone measured the lowest greenhouse gas intensity, i.e. <2.5 and 3 kg CO₂ eq. kg^?1 rice grain, respectively. Based on these results, application of fertilisers in the form of BIOC and/or orange or green urea could be a viable option to reduce both CH₄ and N₂O emissions from rice paddy soils.     

Incidence of white muscle disease, a viral like disease associated with mortalities in hatchery-reared postlarvae of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) from the south-east coast of India

Incidence of post‐larval mortalities of 30–100% was reported from commercial freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) hatcheries in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (south‐eastern states of India) since 2001. Infected postlarvae (PL) exhibited clinical symptoms with lethargy, anorexia and whitening of abdominal muscles and the disease was identified as white muscle disease (WMD). The waterborne infection of WMD was induced in the laboratory by exposing uninfected and healthy M. rosenbergii PL to the filtered muscle homogenates of the naturally infected PL, resulting in mortality that reached 99% within 10 days post infection. Histopathological examination of the infected animals revealed highly necrotic musculature. Degenerated muscle areas showed aggregations of melanized nuclei, many of which looked like inclusion bodies. Bacteriological examination of affected PL showed the presence of Staphylococcus spp. as a predominant organism, while laboratory challenge of healthy PL with this bacterial isolate did not reproduce WMD.     

First report of dry rot of potato caused by Fusarium proliferatum in India

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Potato stands first as a non-cereal food crop for global consumption purposes. During the year 2019–20, dry rot disease symptoms were observed on...