Efficacy of fungicides, plant resistance activators and biological control agents against guava wilt disease caused by Nalanthamala psidii

Guava wilt disease (GWD) caused by the fungus Nalanthamala psidii remains a major constraint to guava production in South Africa and South East Asia. In the current study, chemical and biological products as well as plant resistance activators were evaluated for control of GWD in shadehouse and glasshouse trials. In all trials, one-year-old ‘TS-G2’ guava plants were used. Plants were inoculated with a macerated culture suspension of a mixture of three isolates of N. psidii after artificial wounding of the roots. Products were applied as a soil drench or as a full cover spray. In trial 1 plants were evaluated according to a disease severity scale. In trial 2 and 3 data were recorded as number of dead plants at the termination of the trial. None of the chemical treatments caused a significant suppression of the disease. The best control was achieved with the combination of rhizobacterial strains Bacillus cereus S7 and Paenibacillus alvei T29 resulting in 53.4% and 50% disease control in trials 2 and 3 respectively. This treatment also seems to have a plant growth enhancing effect apart from disease suppression. This is to our knowledge the first report of control of GWD by means of bacterial antagonists.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjps202017-11-30hb2017Microbiology and Plant Patholog

Diversity and biogeographical patterns of legumes (Leguminosae) indigenous to southern Africa

The principal aim of this study was to establish biogeographical patterns in the legume flora of southern Africa so as to facilitate the selection of species with agricultural potential. Plant collection data from the National Herbarium, South Africa, were analysed to establish the diversity and areas covered by legumes (Leguminosae/Fabaceae) indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. A total of 27,322 records from 1,619 quarter degree grid cells, representing 1,580 species, 122 genera and 24 tribes were included in the analyses. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering was applied to the presence or absence of legume species in quarter degree grid cells, the resultant natural biogeographical regions (choria) being referred to as leguminochoria. The description of the 16 uniquely formed leguminochoria focuses on defining the associated bioregions and biomes, as well as on the key climate and soil properties. Legume species with a high occurrence in a leguminochorion are listed as key species. The dominant growth form of key species, species richness and range within each leguminochorion is discussed. Floristic links between the leguminochoria are established, by examining and comparing key species common to clusters, using a vegetation classification program. Soil pH and mean annual minimum temperature were found to be the main drivers for distinguishing among legume assemblages. This is the first time that distribution data for legumes has been used to identify biogeographical areas covered by leguminochoria on the subcontinent. One potential application of the results of this study is to assist in the selection of legumes for pasture breeding and soil conservation programs, especially in arid and semi-arid environments.This paper is dedicated to the memory of Robert Howard (Bobby) Westfall (17 December 1944–21 January 2016), vegetation ecologist and friend whose sudden death during the preparation of this manuscript deprived us of an invaluable collaborator.Financial assistance from the University of Pretoria is acknowledged with thanks.http://phytokeys.pensoft.nethttp://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/am2016Plant Scienc

Diversity and biogeographical patterns of legumes (Leguminosae) indigenous to southern Africa

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Robert Howard (Bobby) Westfall (17 December 1944–21 January 2016), vegetation ecologist and friend whose sudden death during the preparation of this manuscript deprived us of an invaluable collaborator.The principal aim of this study was to establish biogeographical patterns in the legume flora of southern Africa so as to facilitate the selection of species with agricultural potential. Plant collection data from the National Herbarium, South Africa, were analysed to establish the diversity and areas covered by legumes (Leguminosae/Fabaceae) indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. A total of 27,322 records from 1,619 quarter degree grid cells, representing 1,580 species, 122 genera and 24 tribes were included in the analyses. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering was applied to the presence or absence of legume species in quarter degree grid cells, the resultant natural biogeographical regions (choria) being referred to as leguminochoria. The description of the 16 uniquely formed leguminochoria focuses on defining the associated bioregions and biomes, as well as on the key climate and soil properties. Legume species with a high occurrence in a leguminochorion are listed as key species. The dominant growth form of key species, species richness and range within each leguminochorion is discussed. Floristic links between the leguminochoria are established, by examining and comparing key species common to clusters, using a vegetation classification program. Soil pH and mean annual minimum temperature were found to be the main drivers for distinguishing among legume assemblages. This is the first time that distribution data for legumes has been used to identify biogeographical areas covered by leguminochoria on the subcontinent. One potential application of the results of this study is to assist in the selection of legumes for pasture breeding and soil conservation programs, especially in arid and semi-arid environments.Financial assistance from the University of Pretoria is acknowledged with thanks.http://phytokeys.pensoft.nethttp://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/am2016Plant Scienc

Psycho-legal challenges facing the mentally retarded rape victim

Persons with mental retardation face multiple emotional, cognitive and social challenges. Mental health professionals increasingly agree that individuals with mental disabilities are more vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation than the general population. They are in particularly exposed to peril due to their often life-long dependence on caregivers, relatively powerless position in society, emotional and social insecurities, and lack of education regarding sexuality and sexual abuse. Shortcomings and discrepancies in the medical and legal definition of mental retardation, making the position of such individuals even more difficult, are discussed in this paper

Meat -- Sampling techniques -- Law and legislation

CITATION: Van der Merwe, M., et al. 2013. Two sampling techniques for game meat. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association / Tydkrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinere, 84(1): 1-6, doi: 10.4102/jsava.v84i1.536.The original publication is available at http://www.jsava.co.zaA study was conducted to compare the excision sampling technique used by the export market and the sampling technique preferred by European countries, namely the biotrace cattle and swine test. The measuring unit for the excision sampling was grams (g) and square centimetres (cm2) for the swabbing technique. The two techniques were compared after a pilot test was conducted on spiked approved beef carcasses (n = 12) that statistically proved the two measuring units correlated. The two sampling techniques were conducted on the same game carcasses (n = 13) and analyses performed for aerobic plate count (APC), Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, for both techniques. A more representative result was obtained by swabbing and no damage was caused to the carcass. Conversely, the excision technique yielded fewer organisms and caused minor damage to the carcass. The recovery ratio from the sampling technique improved 5.4 times for APC, 108.0 times for E. coli and 3.4 times for S. aureus over the results obtained from the excision technique. It was concluded that the sampling methods of excision and swabbing can be used to obtain bacterial profiles from both export and local carcasses and could be used to indicate whether game carcasses intended for the local market are possibly on par with game carcasses intended for the export market and therefore safe for human consumption.http://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/536Publisher's versio

The hygiene practices of three systems of game meat production in South Africa in terms of animal class and health compliance

Three game meat production systems used on game ranches in South Africa are reported on. System one is applied in the game export market and conforms to the hygiene requirements of the European Union (EU). System two and three entail game meat available on the local market not subjected to any regulation. System 2 however, implemented basic meat hygiene values.Measurements of pH, temperature, Aerobic Plate Count (APC), E. coli, Salmonella and S. aureus were subjected to a 3. ×. 2 factorial analysis of variance with factors that involve 3 system compliances in 2 classes of game animals in a completely randomised design.The measured bacteriological and quality differences between the three systems do not justify EU standards application on the local market but results indicated a significant compliance. ×. class interaction

Assessing legumes indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland for their pasture potential

In contrast to the exploration and use of southern African grass plant genetic resources over the past century, only a few indigenous legume species are currently used as forages, notwithstanding the vast untapped legume diversity available in southern Africa. The aim of this study was to assess legumes, indigenous to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and propose a list of species with pasture potential for further evaluation. Towards this end, legume species documented as being cultivated, grazed or browsed as well as plant collection data from the National Herbarium, South Africa, were used. The majority of cultivated, grazed or browsed species were recorded in the Central Bushveld, Lowveld and Mopane Bioregions, the Drakensberg Foothill and Coastal Region, Savanna Group and Northern Mistbelt leguminochoria and is largely enclosed by the Wolkberg Centre of Plant Endemism. The Phaseoleae tribe was found to contain the highest percentage of cultivated legume species. Legume species adapted to low soil phosphorus levels were identified, with 22 of these species previously noted for their pasture potential. It is suggested that the results of this study be used in the continued search for alternative indigenous legumes species for eventual integration into local and international pasture systems.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tarf20hj2020Plant Production and Soil Scienc