Mating type idiomorphs of Pyrenophora teres in Turkey

Pyrenophora teres f. maculata (Ptm) and Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) causes spot form and net form of net blotch diseases of barley, respectively. Although both forms of P. teres are morphologically similar, their symptoms and genetic background differ. In this study, 175 single spore (109 Ptm and 66 Ptt) isolates obtained from different regions of Turkey were evaluated for their mating type distribution and prevalence. Fungal isolates of both forms were verified using species-speci.c polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. For mating type determination studies, duplex PCR was performed using MAT-specific single nucleotide polymorphism primers. Sixty and 49 of 109 Ptm isolates were found as MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 types, respectively and 43 and 23 of 66 Ptt isolates were found as MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 types, respectively. These results show the possibility of sexual reproduction among the Ptm isolates in Turkey and Ptt population of Central Anatolia, Turkey. However, the overall pattern of Ptt isolates did not support the sexual reproduction hypothesis in Turkey. Sexual reproduction in the life cycle of P. teres is important since it could lead to genetic and pathogenic variation. As a result of new sexual combinations more virulent pathotypes of P. teres may occur

The politics of the digital single market:Culture vs. competition vs. copyright

This paper examines the implications for European music culture of the European Union’s Digital Single Market strategy. It focuses on the regulatory framework being created for the management of copyright policy, and in particular the role played by Collective Management Organisations (or Collecting Societies). One of the many new opportunities created by digitalization has been the music streaming services. These depend on consumers being able to access music wherever they are, but such a system runs counter to the management of rights on a national basis and through collecting organisations who act as monopolies within their own territories. The result has been ‘geo-blocking’. The EU has attempted to resolve this problem in a variety of ways, most recently in a Directive designed to reform the CMOs. In this paper, we document these various efforts, showing them to be motivated by a deep-seated and persisting belief in the capacity of ‘competition’ to resolve problems that, we argue, actually lie elsewhere - in copyright policy itself. The result is that the EU’s intervention fails to address its core concern and threatens the diversity of European music culture by rewarding those who are already commercially successful

Occurrence of barley pathogenic Pyrenophora species and their mating types in Hungary

Net blotch and leaf stripe caused by Pyrenophora teres and P. graminea, respectively, are two major foliar diseases of barley. These two species are able to infect wheat, too. The species composition of these pathogens was examined, for the first time, in four different regions of Hungary in 2006–2010. Altogether 204 isolates were obtained from 99 winter barley, 55 spring barley and 50 wheat leaf samples collected in commercial fields and experimental stations, and species assignment was carried out using species-specific PCR reactions. Most isolates belonged to P. teres f. teres (68%), 26% to P. teres f. maculata and only 6% of the isolates were assigned to P. graminea. Interestingly, all but one of the P. graminea isolates came from the western part of Hungary, while both forms of P. teres occurred in each region. The distribution of mating type genes was also examined in 144 isolates. The overall ratio of MAT1 and MAT2 genes in P. graminea, P. teres f. maculata and P. teres f. teres was 5:3, and close to 2:1 and 1:1, respectively. Both MAT1 and MAT2 isolates of each fungal species/form were distributed in almost all regions over several years, indicating a high potential for sexual outcrossing within local populations of these pathogens. Our survey may be helpful to determine priorities in disease resistance breeding programs. Further studies are in progress to examine the population structure of the most abundant pathogen P. teres f. teres

Three-dimensional virtual microscopy of colorectal biopsies

Conventional optical microscopy of specimens from colorectal biopsies commonly produces diagnostic errors due to incomplete sampling or poor orientation. Obtaining additional sections or re-embedding may help avoid these errors, but can prolong turnaround time. We describe new technology, which incorporates exhaustive sectioning, 3-dimensional reconstruction, and virtual microscopy, that may eliminate these problems by enabling pathologists to rapidly examine entire specimens and convert poorly oriented mucosa to well-oriented mucosa

Three-dimensional virtual microscopy of colorectal biopsies

Conventional optical microscopy of specimens from colorectal biopsies commonly produces diagnostic errors due to incomplete sampling or poor orientation. Obtaining additional sections or re-embedding may help avoid these errors, but can prolong turnaround time. We describe new technology, which incorporates exhaustive sectioning, 3-dimensional reconstruction, and virtual microscopy, that may eliminate these problems by enabling pathologists to rapidly examine entire specimens and convert poorly oriented mucosa to well-oriented mucosa