Identification ofTomato Mottle Taino Begomovirus strains in Cuban potato fields

The presence of a begomovirus in potato plants with yellow mottle symptoms was determined for the first time in Cuba. The incidence of typical begomovirus-like symptoms in potato plants in some regions of Havana province (Güira de Melena, San José de las Lajas, Güines and Boyeros) during the growing seasons from 1992 to 1998 was in general low. However, in some cultivars belonging to the National Program for Potato Genetic Improvement, the incidence reached 100%. Yield losses, determined in 1992 and 1994, ranged as high as 19% to 56.33% depending on the cultivar. Characterization of the causal agent was done by light microscopy, host range (graft and mechanical transmission), DNA hybridizations, polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragments revealed the presence ofTomato mottle Taino virus. The virus was transmittedvia tubers and has been detected in mixed infections withPotato virus X and withPotato leaf roll virus. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Evidence that a Leaf-Disk Test Allows Assessment of Isolate-Specific Resistance in Brassica oleracea Crops Against Downy Mildew (Peronospora parasitica)

A rapid resistance/susceptibility test for Peronospora parasitica (downy mildew) was established by inoculating leaf-disks of four Brassica oleracea accessions. Several conditions were tested: disk disinfection or not, agar medium with or without nutrients and with 50 or 100 ppm of benzimidazole. Using disinfected disks placed on agar (no nutrient and benzimidazole at 50 or 100 ppm), the responses of leaf-disks to four isolates were similar to those obtained using the classical cotyledon test, whereas undesired contaminations occurred in all other conditions. The possible effect of the particular leaf used for obtaining the disks was also studied. In each incompatible interaction tested, disks were resistant whatever the leaf used. In compatible interactions, susceptible phenotypes were observed on disks derived from the six lowest leaves, but disks from upper leaves were resistant. The genetic basis of resistance in a F1 hybrid broccoli was assessed, by testing six isolates on an F2 population derived from this hybrid. The cotyledon test only allows inoculation of two isolates per seedling, whereas many isolates can be tested on each plant by using leaf-disks. The segregation of the resistance to each of the six isolates was analysed: two dominant genes (tightly linked) control resistance to all isolates (one to five isolates; the other to only one isolate).     

Effect of chitin on biological control activity of Bacillus spp. and Trichoderma harzianum against root rot disease in pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants

Two bacterial isolates and one strain of Trichoderma harzianum were tested alone and in combination with chitin for efficacy in control of root rot disease caused by Phytophthora capsici and Rhizoctonia solani in pepper plants under greenhouse conditions. These bacteria (Bacillus subtilis HS93 and B. licheniformis LS674) were isolated from repeatedly washed roots of pepper plants. In in vitro assays, HS93, LS674 and T. harzianum were antagonistic against P. capsici and R. solani and produced high levels of chitinase. Seed treatment and root drenching with bacterial suspensions of HS93 with 0.5% chitin was more effective against Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia root rot than addition of the organisms without chitin. LS674 and T. harzianum reduced Rhizoctonia but not Phytophthora root rot. In two greenhouse tests, seed treatment and root drenching with HS93 amended with chitin enhanced its biocontrol activity against P. capsici but not on R. solani. The effects of LS674 and T. harzianum against R. solani were significantly enhanced when they were used as suspensions with 0.5% chitin for root drenching, but this had no effect on P. capsici. In both greenhouse experiments, the use of 0.5% chitin alone for root drenching reduced Rhizoctonia root rot. Reduction of root rot disease was accompanied by increased yield. These results show that the antagonistic activity of HS93, LS674 and T. harzianum may be stimulated by chitin resulting in significant improvements in their effectiveness against pathogens.     

Karambole (Averrhoa carambola L.)

The carambola (Averrhoa carambola L., family Oxalidaceae) is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas but it has been cultivated in southeast Asia and Malaysia for many centuries. The evergreen tree is slow-growing, has a rounded crown and reaches 6 to 9 m in height. The 5- to 6-angled fruits (6 to 15 cm long and up to 9 cm wide) have thin, waxy, orange-yellow skin and juicy, yellow flesh. The fruit has a more or less pronounced oxalic acid odor and the flavor ranges from very sour to middle sweetish. The carambola is a tropical and subtropical tree, it can tolerate freezing temperature (?2°C) for short periods and sustain little damage. Trees can be propagated by seed, grafting, budding, and air layering. Tissue culture propagation has met only limited success. Plant spacing varies with growing region and cultural practices. Tree training is practiced intensively in different countries. Harvest timing and postharvest handling are critical to successful marketing of fresh fruit. Carambola is a nonclimateric fruit. Growers carefully harvest fruit by hand at color break — light green fruit with yellow color. The storage conditions should be 5 to 10°C and 85 to 95% relative humidity. Most carambola fruit is eaten fresh, used in salads, desserts, and cooked as star-shaped slices; fruit can also be dried, canned and frozen. The leaves have been eaten as a substitute for sorrel. Commercial production occurs in Taiwan, Malaysia, southern China, the Philippines, Australia, USA (Florida, Hawaii), Brazil, Suriname and Guyana. Production and consumption appears on the rise throughout the world and will most likely increase as selection and breeding for superior tasting cultivars with improved handling characteristics and storage conditions are found.     

Diagnosis of skeletal injuries in Chelonians using computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) was used to diagnose the cause of lameness in a radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) and to determine the extent of shell and skeletal trauma in two snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina). The radiated tortoise's lameness was ultimately attributed to luxation of the right-shoulder joint that was not detected during plain film radiography. Axial and appendicular fractures were identified in one of the snapping turtles that were not detected during plain film radiography. In each patient, the information obtained during CT provided important diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic information.     

Current therapies in exotic animal oncology.

The majority of information on oncology therapies has been reported in humans, canine, and feline patients, and laboratory animals with experimentally induced tumors. A variety of treatments,including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and others have been used with exotic animals. There are many species of exotic pets, and anatomic differences, as well as husbandry and nutritional requirements, must be taken into account to provide optimal care. By providing a broad overview of therapies and considerations for treatment, this article is intended to provide the practitioner with an overview of approach and options when addressing oncology cases in exotic animals.     

Recognition of the Nor98 variant of scrapie in the Swedish sheep population.

Within the framework of the active surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in sheep in Sweden, 4 cases of the atypical form of scrapie, Nor98, were identified during 2003. Nor98 is a recently recognized and poorly understood variant of scrapie, first described in Norway. The cases were positive by the rapid test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse thin-granular staining of the cerebellar cortex. Western immunoblotting analysis of specimens of brain stem and cerebellum showed a light band of approximately 12 kDa. Typical scrapie was ruled out based on the confirmatory testing. The affected ewes were from 4 different flocks. They were between 7 and 9 years old. Two were of the ARQ/ARQ genotype, 1 ARR/ARQ, and 1 ARR/AHQ. Two ewes had shown ataxia, and the other 2 had no clinical signs. Whole-flock slaughter was applied, and testing of the flock mates did not reveal additional cases. Nor98 differs from typical scrapie in its epidemiology, frequency of genotypes of sheep affected, clinical signs, microscopic lesions, distribution of scrapie prion protein in the brain, and characteristics of the immunostaining and immunoblotting profiles.     

Evaluation of sampling methods and assessment of the sample size to estimate the weed seedbank in soil, taking into account spatial variability

As field sampling is time consuming, it is necessary to develop efficient sampling techniques to obtain accurate estimates of the weed seedbank in soil. The relative efficiency between sampling schemes depends on the spatial variability in weed seed density across agricultural fields. Spatial variability of the weed seed density was characterized by theoretical correlograms. A systematic sampling (square grill) scheme was considered and it was found that, taking into account spatial variability, this sampling scheme was more efficient than simple random sampling. As a result, the sample size can be reduced in comparison with that given in previous studies, where spatial correlation was ignored. The reduction depends on the correlation structure defined as a function of the ratio, τ, between the nugget effect and the sill of the variogram. The maximum reduction of the sample size, without loss of either precision or confidence level corresponds to the case where there is no nugget effect, τ = 0. The opposite extreme case, where the reduction is nil, corresponds to the case of a pure nugget effect τ = 1. The abaci based on given expressions are provided to determine the sample size in species whose spatial pattern can be fitted either to a Poisson or to a negative binomial distribution.     

Identification and Characterisation of Bacteria Causing Soft-rot in Agave tequilana

Agave tequilana is the raw material for the production of the alcoholic beverage tequila. A bacterial disease has affected the A. tequilana crop in recent years. Previous reports based on colony and cell morphology, Gram stain and potato rot indicated that Erwinia sp. is the main pathogen. We isolated a several bacterial isolates capable of producing soft-rot symptoms in greenhouse pathogenicity assays. An extensive characterisation involving pathogenicity tests, fatty acid profile, metabolic and physiological properties, ribosomal DNA sequence and intergenic transcribed spacer amplification (ITS-PCR) and restriction banding pattern (ITS-RFLP) was made of each isolate. Three different species: Erwinia cacticida, Pantoea agglomerans and Pseudomonas sp. were identified. Fatty acid and metabolic profiles gave low similarity values of identification but 16S rDNA sequence, ITS-PCR and ITS-RFLP confirmed the identification of E. cacticida. In the phylogenetic tree, E. cacticida from blue agave was grouped neither with E. cacticida type strains nor with Erwinia carotovora. This is the first report that associates E. cacticida with A. tequilana soft-rot symptoms.