Unlocking the microbiome communities of Banana (Musa spp.) under disease stressed (Fusarium wilt) and non-stressed conditions

We assessed the diversity, structure, and assemblage of bacterial and fungal communities associated with banana plants with and without Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) symptoms. A total of 117,814 bacterial and 17,317 fungal operational taxonomy units (OTUs) were identified in the rhizosphere, roots, and corm of the host plant. Results revealed that bacterial and fungal microbiota present in roots and corm primarily emanated from the rhizosphere. The composition of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere, roots, and corm were different, with more diversity observed in the rhizosphere and less in the corm. However, distinct sample types i.e., without (asymptomatic) and with (symptomatic) Fusarium symptoms were the major drivers of the fungal community composition. Considering the high relative abundance among samples, we identified core microbiomes with bacterial and fungal OTUs classified into 20 families and colonizing distinct plant components of banana. Our core microbiome assigned 129 bacterial and 37 fungal genera to known taxa

Enset‐based agricultural systems in Ethiopia: A systematic review of production trends, agronomy, processing and the wider food security applications of a neglected banana relative

Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is the major starch staple of the Ethiopian Highlands, where its unique attributes enhance the food security of approximately 20 million people and have earned it the title “The Tree Against Hunger”. Yet enset‐based agriculture is virtually unknown outside of its narrow zone of cultivation, despite growing wild across much of East and Southern Africa. Here, we review historical production data to show that the area of land under enset production in Ethiopia has reportedly increased 46% in two decades, whilst yield increased 12‐fold over the same period, making enset the second most produced crop species in Ethiopia—though we critically evaluate potential issues with these data. Furthermore, we address a major challenge in the development and wider cultivation of enset, by reviewing and synthesizing the complex and fragmented agronomic and ethnobotanic knowledge associated with this species; including farming systems, processing methods, products, medicinal uses and cultural importance. Finally, we provide a framework to improve the quality, consistency and comparability of data collected across culturally diverse enset‐based agricultural systems to enhanced sustainable use of this neglected starch staple. In conclusion, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for enset cultivation beyond its restricted distribution, and the regional food security potential it could afford smallholders elsewhere in Southern and East Africa

Gladiolus and Dahlias

PDF pages: 2

Toxicity of tryptophan manganese(I) carbonyl (Trypto-CORM), against Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The potential for carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) as antimicrobials represents an exciting prospective in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Trypto-CORM, a tryptophan-containing manganese(i) carbonyl, is toxic against E. coli following photo-activation. Here, we demonstrate that Trypto-CORM is toxic against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the absence of photoactivation. Trypto-CORM toxicity was reversed by the high CO affinity globin leg-haemoglobin (Leg-Hb), indicating that the toxicity is due to CO release. Release of CO from Trypto-CORM in the dark was also detected with Leg-Hb (but not myoglobin) in vitro. N. gonorrhoeae is more sensitive to CO-based toxicity than other model bacterial pathogens, and may serve as a viable candidate for antimicrobial therapy using CO-RMs

Peningkatan Infektivitas Jamur Entomopatogen, Beauveria Bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. Pada Berbagai Bahan Carrier Untuk Mengendalikan Hama Penggerek Bonggol Pisang, Cosmopolites Sordidus Germar Di Lapangan

. Hasyim, A. 2007. Enhancing Infectious Capacity of Entomopathogen Fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. Using Various Carrier Materials in Controlling Banana Corm Borer, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar under Field Condition. This experiment was conducted at Baso banana farmer field, Agam District from October 2002 to February 2003. The objectives of these studies were to know the infectious capacity of entomopathogen fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin using various carrier materials and to know the best trapping model in controlling banana corm borer Cosmopolites sordidus Germar. A randomized complete design with 7 treatments and 4 replications were used in this study. The treatments consisted of 6 carriers, i.e. corn powder, talc, rice powder, maizena powder, vegetable oil, water, and control (dry conidia). Amount of 100 g or 100 ml mixture of B. bassiana were distributed by hand or sprayed with water on cut surface of the banana corm then covered by sliced banana pseudostem. Futhermore, 3 types of trapping model i.e (1) banana corm + pseudostem, (2) banana corm, and (3) pseudostem were used with 6 replications to find out the best trapping design. The results showed that rice powder was the best carrier for delivery of B. bassiana and caused highest mortality of banana corm borer. On the other hand, vegetable oil, water, and without carrier material caused the lowest mortality of banana corm borer. The highest mortality of adult banana weevil borer, C. sordidus reached 95% when weevil exposure using rice powder carrier on corm and pseudostem. While the B. bassiana exposure using liquid carrier such as vegetable oil, water carrier, and without carrier material on corm and pseudostem caused the lowest mortality of C. sordidus of 72, 75, and 70% respectively. The highest mortality of banana corm borer caused by B. bassiana was found in the treatment with rice powder as a carrier material and pseudostem trapping design. The results demonstrated that powder as a carrier could enhance the infectious capacity of entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana against banana weevil borer, C. sordidus under field conditio

The Bactericidal Activity of Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a pathogen that establishes long life infections responsible for chronic gastric ulcer diseases and a proved risk factor for gastric carcinoma. The therapeutic properties of carbon-monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) led us to investigate their effect on H. pylori. We show that H. pylori 26695 is susceptible to two widely used CORMs, namely CORM-2 and CORM-3. Also, several H. pylori clinical isolates were killed by CORM-2, including those resistant to metronidazole. Moreover, sub-lethal doses of CORM-2 combined with metronidazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin was found to potentiate the effect of the antibiotics. We further demonstrate that the mechanisms underpinning the antimicrobial effect of CORMs involve the inhibition of H. pylori respiration and urease activity. In vivo studies done in key cells of the innate immune system, such as macrophages, showed that CORM-2, either alone or when combined with metronidazole, strongly reduces the ability of H. pylori to infect animal cells. Hence, CORMs have the potential to kill antibiotic resistant strains of H. pylori

Integrated pest management of black weevil in banana cropping systems

The black weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: curculionidae) is a major pest of banana in export farms and for smallholders in developing countries. New Integrated Pest Management strategies include the implementation of prophylactic cropping practices and the use of pheromone-pitfall traps. The combined use of pheromone-pitfall traps and fallows reduces the number of C. sordidus adults in the field and has significantly reduced insecticide use in the French West Indies and in the Canary Islands. Because of the patchy distribution of C. sordidus and the capabilities of weevils to invade neighbouring fields, these methods should be deployed at the farm and landscape scale, with special focus on their spatial and temporal organisation. To further refine the Integrated Pest Management of this pest in the longer term, we are evaluating biocontrol agents and modelling tools developed to simulate the spatial organisation of traps at the plot and landscape scales. (Résumé d'auteur

Growth and Production of Amorphophallus Paeoniifolius Dennst. Nicolson From Different Corm Weights

The effect of different seed corm weight on the growth and production of elephant foot yams (Amorphophallus paeonifolius Dennst. Nicolson) were studied. Two forms of corm with same weight were prepared, i.e., whole corm and vertically sectioned by 1/2. The fresh mass of each whole corm and corm section was the same. Six different corm weights were compared, i.e., 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 g. Growth and development of elephant foot yam were determined by corm weigth, large seed corm produced larger leaf and fresh mass of daughter corms. On the contrary, number of leaf decreased with increasing seed corm weight. Plants from whole seed corms emerged earlier and they were larger than those from the sectioned corms, irrespective of weight. Plants from small sized whole corm emerged earlier than the larger ones. Dissecting the main bud caused the development of lateral buds, resulted in a delay of leaf emergence. The lower yield obtained by the use of sections might be related to the late emergence leading to shorter vegetative period in the field. In the cultivation, it is recommended to use whole seed corms of 100 or 200 g

Biomass partitioning and gas exchange parameters in different Musa cultivars as influenced by natural shade

Poster presented at Tropentag 2011 Development on the Margin. Bonn (Germany), 3-7 Oct 2011