Stripe rust virulence on Yr genes in Saskatchewan

Non-Peer Reviewe

Disease survey of cereal crops in Saskatchewan in 2013

Non-Peer ReviewedCereal crops in Saskatchewan can suffer a number of diseases that reduce yield and quality. A disease survey was conducted in 2013 to identify pathogenic agents and assess disease severity on oat, canaryseed, barley and winter and spring wheat. Crown rust was detected at trace levels in four of 32 oat crops and the most common leaf spotting pathogens were Pyrenophora avenae and Stagnospora avenae, similar to previous years. On canaryseed, Septoria triseti was observed from plating of leaf samples and appeared to be highest in west-central SK and lowest in the north-east. Fusarium avenaceum was identified from plating of seeds in four of 26 crops, but only at low levels. In barley, only two crops were affected by stripe rust, but leaf spots symptoms observed on most crops, most commonly caused by Cochliobolus sativus and Pyrenophora teres; Septoria passerinii was identified in a few samples. Severe stripe rust infection was observed in seven of 89 winter wheat crops, but 60 crops were stripe rust-free. In winter wheat fusarium head blight was generally low in most regions of SK, except near Outlook, where severity was much higher. In spring wheat, stripe rust infection was observed in eight of 17 crops and was severe in one crop

Population genomic analysis of Aegilops tauschii identifies targets for bread wheat improvement

Aegilops tauschii, the diploid wild progenitor of the D subgenome of bread wheat, is a reservoir of genetic diversity for improving bread wheat performance and environmental resilience. Here we sequenced 242 Ae. tauschii accessions and compared them to the wheat D subgenome to characterize genomic diversity. We found that a rare lineage of Ae. tauschii geographically restricted to present-day Georgia contributed to the wheat D subgenome in the independent hybridizations that gave rise to modern bread wheat. Through k-mer-based association mapping, we identified discrete genomic regions with candidate genes for disease and pest resistance and demonstrated their functional transfer into wheat by transgenesis and wide crossing, including the generation of a library of hexaploids incorporating diverse Ae. tauschii genomes. Exploiting the genomic diversity of the Ae. tauschii ancestral diploid genome permits rapid trait discovery and functional genetic validation in a hexaploid background amenable to breeding.Kumar Gaurav ... Scott A. Boden ... et al

IMPACT OF STATIC VAR COMPENSATORS ON POWER SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY

With increase in load, any transmission, distribution and generating model suffers from disturbances. These disturbances effect the overall stability of the system. Criterias like voltage profile, power flows, losses tell us about the state of the system under study. Load flow analysis of the system under study is capable of providing the insight of the system. The Emergence of FACTS device is really a step forward for the flexible control or Power System Operations. FACTS is the name given to the application of the power electronics devices to control power flows and other quantities in the power system. But when it comes to implementation stage, optimizing the location becomes a great concern because of the high cost involved with FACTS devices especially converter like SVC, STATCOM etc. Static Var Compensator (SVC) is a power quality device, which employs power electronics to control the reactive power flow of the system where it is connected. It is able to provide fast-acting reactive power compensation on electrical systems. SVC is one of the methods and can be applied to obtain a system with least losses, increased power flow and healthy voltage profile. Number, location and size of SVC are the main concerns and they can be optimized to a great extent by Genetic Algorithm (GA) or any other method. Use of SVC in a system has shown considerable increase in voltage profile and power flows while decrease in losses

Rice Genetics IV

In these proceedings of the Fourth International Rice Genetics Symposium held in October 2000 at the International Rice Research Institute, renowned geneticists have contributed to a wide range of topics - from the most advanced research on sequencing of the rice genome to functional genomics. This volume reviews the latest advances in rice research and provides in-depth discussion and exchange of information on classical genetics, biosystematics and evolution, molecular markers, transformation, genome organization, gene isolation, regulation of gene expression, sequencing of the rice genome, and bioinformatics

Tip-induced nano-writing/machining of Si and DLC surfaces – "anodic" versus thermal oxidation?

Tip-induced oxidative manipulation of conducting surfaces, e.g., Si and some metals, has conventionally been described by a field-induced anodic mechanism. Likewise, in the case of electrically conducting graphitic and diamond-like carbon (DLC) films, tip-induced conversion of carbon to CO2 was initially thought to be due to an ionisation process. There is now mounting evidence for thermal activation playing an important role. The state of the tip is a critical, but largely disregarded, factor in such experiments. The present project has been prepared and characterized by I–V analysis, tips with different initial characteristics (e.g., H-termination , Au-coating, native oxide). Likewise, several surfaces have been prepared (e.g., Si plus termination by either native or thermal oxide, or plus H-termination, DLC and Au), and also subjected to I–V analysis. The resultant point-contact characteristics were found to range from ohmic to non-ohmic (the latter due to either direct or Fowler–Nordheim tunnelling). The various combinations were tested with respect to oxidative yield and tip durability. It was found that the presence of a tunnelling barrier at the point of contact is essential for enhancing yield. Tip durability, on the other hand, is promoted by the barrier being located in the surface thus localizing thermal deposition in the surface rather than in the tip