Almond witches’-broom phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium): a real threat to almond, peach and nectarine.

Within less than a decade, Almond witches’-broom (AlmWB) phytoplasma killed over a hundred thousand almond trees in Lebanon (Abou-Jawdah et al., 2002). AlmWB belongs to the pigeon pea witches’ broom group (16SrIX), and the scientific name (Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium) was suggested (Verdin et al., 2003). Grafting experiments revealed that AlmWB may also affect peaches and nectarines (Abou-Jawdah et al, 2003). Later on, a similar disease was reported in Iran (Verdin et al., 2003; Salehi et al., 2006). This disease is still spreading on almond trees to new areas in North Lebanon, but more recently shoot proliferation with succulent small light green leaves were observed on peach and nectarine in South Lebanon, where the disease seemed to be spreading relatively fast. DNA sequencing showed over 99% sequence homology with AlmWB (Abou-Jawdah et al. 2008). This report shows that epidemics of AlmWB may occur also on peach and nectarine under field conditions, and strongly suggests the presence of an efficient vector

Methyl 2-({6-[(1-meth­oxy-2-methyl-1-oxopropan-2-yl)carbamo­yl]pyridin-2-yl}formamido)-2-methyl­propano­ate

In the title compound, C17H23N3O6, the two meth­oxy­carbonyl C—O—C=O planes are inclined at dihedral angles of 5.3 (4) and 83.9 (4)° with respect to the central pyridine ring. An intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond generates an S(5) ring motif. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into a chain along the c axis via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Almond witches'-broom phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium) : a real threat to almond, peach and nectarine

Within less than a decade, Almond witches’-broom (AlmWB) phytoplasma killed over a hundred thousand almond trees in Lebanon (Abou-Jawdah et al., 2002). AlmWB belongs to the pigeon pea witches’ broom group (16SrIX), and the scientific name (Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium) was suggested (Verdin et al., 2003). Grafting experiments revealed that AlmWB may also affect peaches and nectarines (Abou-Jawdah et al, 2003). Later on, a similar disease was reported in Iran (Verdin et al., 2003; Salehi et al., 2006). This disease is still spreading on almond trees to new areas in North Lebanon, but more recently shoot proliferation with succulent small light green leaves were observed on peach and nectarine in South Lebanon, where the disease seemed to be spreading relatively fast. DNA sequencing showed over 99% sequence homology with AlmWB (Abou-Jawdah et al. 2008). This report shows that epidemics of AlmWB may occur also on peach and nectarine under field conditions, and strongly suggests the presence of an efficient vector

Preliminary survey of potential vectors of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium' in Lebanon and probability of occurrence of apricot chlorotic leaf roll (ACLR) phytoplasma

Malaise traps and sticky yellow traps were placed in two almond orchards infected with almond witches' broom (AlmWB) phytoplasma in 2004 and in 2010. Collected insects were tested by nested PCR using universal primers for detection of phytoplasma. In 2004 Asymmetrasca decedens, Euscelidius sp. and Fieberiella sp. gave positive results with the universal primers and also with the pigeon pea group specific primers. The mere presence of phytoplasma in an insect is not a proof that it is a vector, but it may help narrowing the choice of insects for conducting actual transmission tests. In 2010, early in the season, in over 20 species surveyed we were not able to detect phytoplasma except in Psammotettix provincialis. The PCR amplicon was sequenced (1180 bp) and found to be most closely related to the Aster yellows (AY) group 16Srl, subgroup F which includes apricot chlorotic leaf roll (ACLR) phytoplasma. Late in the season, most PCR tests were negative, the major reason was correlated with DNA degradation which resulted from the hot summer temperatures combined with the method of insect collection. The implications of these findings are discussed

Stone fruit phytoplasma disease management in Lebanon

The stone fruit production in Lebanon is threatened by the spread of almond witches\u2019 broom. After a decade, the disease spread all over the cultivated regions, affecting also peaches and nectarines, representing a risk for the stone fruit production not only in Lebanon but also in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. A national survey has been conducted in 495 Lebanese villages, monitoring about 900 orchards. On the basis of symptom observation, 368 plant samples have been collected and analyzed. Ninety-five percent of symptomatic almonds and 100% of symptomatic peach/nectarine samples tested positive to the analysis, whereas 99.1% of asymptomatic almond and 100% of asymptomatic peach/nectarine samples tested negative to the analyses. The disease was detected in 16 out of 26 Lebanese districts, at different rate of infection, on almond peach and nectarine samples. Moreover, a large insect collection, carried out over two years, allowed achieving a deeper knowledge on the fauna biodiversity in the Lebanese stone fruit orchards, finding some putative phytoplasma vectors that will be investigated in further researches

Almond witches’ broom phytoplasma : disease monitoring and preliminary control measures in Lebanon

A national survey were conducted in Lebanon in 2009/2010 and updated in 2012 in order to detect the Almond witches\u2019 broom disease (AlmWB) spread in the country, as well as preliminary researches about the disease epidemiology and phytoplasma characterization. Over four years of works, Lebanese and Italian efforts were joined to define focus and endemic areas, to discover the phytoplasma vector(s) and to elaborate preliminary management plans. Almond, peach and nectarine were severely affected and the number of infected trees was increasing. The disease, detected in 16 districts out of 26 in 2010, was also confirmed in 2 different districts in 2012; 216 out of 561 monitored villages have been recorded with positive samples collected in stone fruit orchards. The nursery sector was also monitored. Five out of 136 visited nurseries were found selling positive seedlings; a prompt decision from the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture was adopted to destroy all the seedlings. Extension services have been developed for farmer and nurseryman awareness, and a pilot area for tree elimination and replacement was developed. Within the last year, a plan of tree elimination and crop replacement has been implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce the impact of the disease and to support the rural affected areas