Detection and molecular characterization of sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasma in Vietnam

Sugarcane is an important cash crop in Vietnam and has been widely promoted at national and provincial level. In 2006, a new disease was discovered in sugarcane in the Nghean Tate&Lyle Sugar Mill in Nghean Province in north-central Vietnam. The key symptoms were the formation of green grassy shoots around the base of mature stools. We applied nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 for detection and characterization of phytoplasma from the symptomatic tissues. PCR products of the expected size (approx. 1200?bp) were obtained from the 16S rDNA of the phytoplasma. The restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles indicated that all samples were infected by the same phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the SCGS phytoplasma from Vietnam belong to the 16SrXI group, formerly Rice Yellow Dwarf group.     

Evaluation of the Pathogenicity and Immune Response of Nervous Necrosis Virus Isolated in Vietnam

Eight strains of nervous necrosis virus （NNV） isolated in Vietnam were used to detect the pathogenicity and immune response in sea bass （SB）. All strains induced cytopathic effect in SB cell line, complete destruction of monolayer of cells appeared after seven days post infection （dpi）. Virus titer was different for each strain, TCIDso ranged from 102.7 to 1069, and LDs0 from 1015 to 1075. Five NNV strains named QN 02, QN 05, QN 07, ND 11 and KH 05 had higher virulence than the other three, the first causing 100% mortality in experimental fish 3-5 dpi. NNV KH 05 had the highest antigenic similarity, and it was inactivated completely by 0.2% formalin, 0.002 mol/L binary ethylenimine （BEI） and 0.1% beta-propiolactone. The neutralization antibody titer obtained in fish of groups immunized by BEI 0.002 M and beta-propiolactone 0.1% inactivated virus was four to eight times higher than that of the group treated with the formalin inactivated virus. The antibody titer in fish immunized with beta-propiolactone inactivated virus was more persistent. The efficacy of vaccines developed from beta-propiolactone inactivated virus and aluminium hydroxide （AH） or aluminum phosphate （AP） was observed by intramuscularly immunizing Epinephelusfuscoguttatus size 1.5 cm. Neutralizing antibodies appeared in vaccinated fish on 10th day post-immunization （dpi） at a dilution of 1：16; 1：32 and highest levels were reached on 30-45 dpi, at dilutions of 1：256 and 1：512, after treatment with AH and AP vaccine, respectively. The relative percent of survival （RPS） of vaccine at 30 dpi was highest with challenge doses 0.2-1 × 10^6.8 TCIDs0, the RPS varied from 80%-83.3% in both groups of AH and AP immunization. This result provides the basis for developing a vaccine against NNA disease.     

Emerging pests and diseases of South‐east Asian cassava: a comprehensive evaluation of geographic priorities,management options and research needs

Cassava is a major staple, bio‐energy and industrial crop in many parts of the developing world. In Southeast Asia, cassava is grown on >4 million ha by nearly 8 million (small‐scale) farming households, under (climatic, biophysical) conditions that often prove unsuitable for many other crops. While SE Asian cassava has been virtually free of phytosanitary constraints for most of its history, a complex of invasive arthropod pests and plant diseases has recently come to affect local crops. We describe results from a region‐wide monitoring effort in the 2014 dry season, covering 429 fields across five countries. We present geographic distribution and field‐level incidence of the most prominent pest and disease invaders, introduce readily‐available management options and research needs. Monitoring work reveals that several exotic mealybug and (red) mite species have effectively colonised SE Asia's main cassava‐growing areas, occurring in respectively 70% and 54% of fields, at average field‐level incidence of 27 ± 2% and 16 ± 2%. Cassava witches broom (CWB), a systemic phytoplasma disease, was reported from 64% of plots, at incidence levels of 32 ± 2%. Although all main pests and diseases are non‐natives, we hypothesise that accelerating intensification of cropping systems, increased climate change and variability, and deficient crop husbandry are aggravating both organism activity and crop susceptibility. Future efforts need to consolidate local capacity to tackle current (and future) pest invaders, boost detection capacity, devise locally‐appropriate integrated pest management (IPM) tactics, and transfer key concepts and technologies to SE Asia's cassava growers. Urgent action is needed to mobilise regional as well as international scientific support, to effectively tackle this phytosanitary emergency and thus safeguard the sustainability and profitability of one of Asia's key agricultural commodities. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis for Seismic Performance of High - Strength Concrete Beam -Column Joints with New Reinforcement Details

Because the factors that affect the behavior of the beam-column joints are complicated,an experimental study alone is not sufficient.Therefore,a nonlinear finite element analysis was conducted to provide better understanding of the performance of the beam-column joints.The authors intend to do the parameter study with nonlinear finite element method after a lot of high-strength concrete beam-column joints have been experimented.In this paper,the analytical model firstly was applied to simulate the experimental joint behavior and the comparison results were very well.Based on this,the parametric analysis of concrete strength on seismic performance of beam-column joints has been conducted.     

Comparison of different methods to calculate venous admixture in anaesthetized horses

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare different methods to determine venous admixture (${\dot{Q}}_{\text{s}}/{\dot{Q}}_{\text{t}}$) in anaesthetized horses. The first objective was to estimate ${\dot{Q}}_{\text{s}}/{\dot{Q}}_{\text{t}}$ using jugular venous blood oxygen content (${\dot{Q}}_{\text{s}}/{\dot{Q}}_{\text{t}\text{jugular}}$), and a fixed value for the oxygen extraction (F-shunt). The second objective was to assess the influence of blood pressure and positioning on oxygen extraction. The third objective was to perform regression analysis between jugular and mixed venous blood oxygen tensions.