Origin of Race 3 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici at a Single Site in California

ABSTRACT Thirty-nine isolates of Fusarium oxysporum were collected from tomato plants displaying wilt symptoms in a field in California 2 years after F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 3 was first observed at that location. These and other isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici were characterized by pathogenicity, race, and vegetative compatibility group (VCG). Of the 39 California isolates, 22 were in VCG 0030, 11 in VCG 0031, and six in the newly described VCG 0035. Among the isolates in VCG 0030, 13 were race 3, and nine were race 2. Of the isolates in VCG 0031, seven were race 2, one was race 1, and three were nonpathogenic to tomato. All six isolates in VCG 0035 were race 2. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequencing of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of rDNA identified five IGS RFLP haplotypes, which coincided with VCGs, among 60 isolates of F. oxysporum from tomato. Five race 3 isolates from California were of the same genomic DNA RFLP haplotype as a race 2 isolate from the same location, and all 13 race 3 isolates clustered together into a subgroup in the neighbor joining tree. Collective evidence suggests that race 3 in California originated from the local race 2 population.     

Antitrypanosomal activity of polycarpol from Piptostigma preussi (Annonaceae)

Polycarpol, sitosterol and sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside isolated for the first time from Piptostigma preussi (Annonaceae) occur regularly in some Annonaceae such as Piptostigma genus. Polycarpol exhibits interesting antitrypanosomal activity with an ED₅₀ value of 5.11 µM on Trypanosoma brucei cells. Moreover, it inhibits T. brucei glycolytic enzymes GAPDH and PFK with IC₅₀ values of 650 and 180 µM respectively.     

New cell wall and cell lumen wood polymer composites

Summary Furfuryl alcohol-based (FA) cell wall and methyl methacrylate-based (MMA) combination formulations were used to make wood polymer composites (WPC). Swelling gradients developed during preparation. Properties (density, hardness, water extractables, antiswell efficiency) gradients were observed along samples in 5 of the 7 treating formulations. Two cell wall treatments based on furfuryl alcohol did not show the gradients. The results suggest treating solution separations occurred during impregnation and the resulting nonhomogenious chemical produced the properties gradients. WPC made using the combination formulations based on MMA had properties which fell between cell wall and cell lumen formulations.It is gratefully acknowledged that Mr. Michel Andrew, Student Assistant, carried out the experiment part of this study     

Three-dimensional carbon nanotube electrodes for extracellular recording of cardiac myocytes

Low impedance at the interface between tissue and conducting electrodes is of utmost importance for the electrical recording or stimulation of heart and brain tissue. A common way to improve the cell-metal interface and thus the signal-to-noise ratio of recordings, as well as the charge transfer for stimulation applications, is to increase the electrochemically active electrode surface area. In this paper, we propose a method to decrease the impedance of microelectrodes by the introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), offering an extremely rough surface. In a multistage process, an array of multiple microelectrodes covered with high quality, tightly bound CNTs was realized. It is shown by impedance spectroscopy and cardiac myocyte recordings that the transducer properties of the carbon nanotube electrodes are superior to conventional gold and titanium nitride electrodes. These findings will be favorable for any kind of implantable heart electrodes and electrophysiology in cardiac myocyte cultures.     

Magnetic resonance imaging features of a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumour with ‘ancient’ changes in the tongue of a horse

A 12‐year‐old Selle Français mare was presented because of inspiratory stridor, hypersalivation and dysphagia. A mass at the base of the tongue could be visualised by upper airway endoscopy, oral cavity examination and radiographs of the head. The exact localisation, extent of the mass and extent of tissue infiltration could only be defined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This Case Report illustrates the usefulness of MRI to assess the characteristics and extent of such a lesion and describes the appearance of peripheral nerve sheath tumour in the tongue of a horse.     

Subsurface drip application of alternative fumigants to methyl bromide for controlling nematodes in replanted grapevines

BACKGROUND: Many California grape growers use preplant fumigation to ensure uniform and healthy grapevine establishment in replant situations. A field study was conducted to evaluate the performance of subsurface drip‐applied chemical alternatives to methyl bromide on plant‐parasitic nematodes, plant vigor and fruit yield during the 6 year period following replanting. RESULTS: Subsurface drip fumigation with 1,3‐dichloropropene plus chloropicrin and with iodomethane plus chloropicrin had generally similar nematicide activity as methyl bromide in three grape types, while sodium azide was less effective. The combination of 1,3‐dichloropropene plus chloropicrin enhanced vine vigor similarly to methyl bromide. However, all plots treated with alternative fumigants produced less fruit yield than methyl bromide over the 4 years of evaluation. CONCLUSION: Subsurface drip fumigation with alternative chemicals to methyl bromide generally provided adequate management of plant‐parasitic nematodes during the vine establishment period. However, further research is required to increase the performance of alternative chemicals against other components of the replant problem, as grape yield in vines grown in the alternative treatments was lower than in methyl bromide. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Epidemiology of cercospora leaf spot on sugar beet: modeling disease dynamics within and between individual plants

ABSTRACT Disease dynamics of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) of sugar beet was analyzed at two hierarchical scales: as vertical profiles within individual plants and in relation to disease on neighboring plants. The relative contribution of different leaf layers to increase in CLS was analyzed using a simple continuous-time model. The model was fitted to data from two field trials in the Netherlands: one in an area with a long history of CLS, the other in an area where CLS has only recently established; in each case these were unsprayed and twice-sprayed treatments. There were differences in the relative contribution of different leaf layers to disease increase on the target leaf layer according to the CLS history and whether the plants were sprayed or unsprayed. In both field trials, parameter estimates giving the relative contribution of the target leaf layer to disease increase at that leaf layer were higher than those for the lower leaf layer. On only a few occasions the contribution of an upper leaf layer to disease increase at the target leaf layer was significant. Thus, CLS increase at the target leaf layer was determined mainly by disease severity at that leaf layer and to a lesser extent by disease at the lower leaf layer. Our continuous-time model was also used to analyze CLS increase on an individual sugar beet plant in relation to its own and its neighbor's level of disease in field trials at five locations in the two CLS areas over two years. In all field trials, the contribution of the target plant itself to disease increase (auto-infection) was larger than that of its neighboring plants (allo-infection). The overall analysis in the two CLS areas also indicated a larger contribution of the target plant to its disease increase than of neighboring plants, and this pattern was also apparent in a pooled analysis across all sites. Thus, CLS increase on a sugar beet plant was mainly determined by the disease severity on that plant and to a lesser extent by its within-row neighboring plants.