Microflora of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) and its possible significance in biological control of foliar pathogens

Micro-organisms on the leaf surface of Triticum aestivum L. were examined. The wheat leaves were collected from experimental fields in six localities of Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Thirteen mycelial fungi, two yeasts and a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus (Bw/97) were isolated from wheat foliage and evaluated for effectiveness in suppressing Alternaria triticimaculans, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Drechslera tritici-repentis and Septoria tritici under controlled conditions. Antagonistic activity was examined with the dual cultures method on potato dextrose agar media among 10 of these micro-organisms against the four foliar pathogens. Mycelial growth inhibition and colony interactions in all possible paired combinations were evaluated. The results are discussed in relation to the biological control of these cereal pathogens. In this work, the importance of indigenous antagonists in wheat disease suppression and the possibility of managing ecosystem conditions in order to enhance natural biological control is suggested. In our assays, Aspergillus niger, Bw/97 and Nigrospora sphaerica showed a strong inhibitory effect in vitro against the average of the four necrotrophic fungi tested and justify further evaluation for biocontrol of wheat foliar pathogens. The others antagonists ranked variably among the assays. Greenhouse bioassays and field evaluations using these isolates are currently under investigation

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Evolución el añublo del arroz en dos condiciones de fertilidad nitrogenada Evolução do brusone do arroz em duas condições de adubação nitrogenada Development of rice blast under two nitrogen availability conditions

Con el objetivo de evaluar la evolución de la infección producida por Pyricularia oryzae (cooke) Sacc, en la hoja y en la panícula, fueron seleccionados tres genotipos de arroz (Oryza sativa). Los genotipos: El Paso 144 (EP), Don Ignacio (DI) y H 316-1-2-1-1 (H 316) fueron sembrados en condiciones de campo, en la Estación Experimental La Plata, y en dos condiciones de disponibilidad de nitrógeno (testigo o sin nitrógeno y 150 kg N ha-1 en forma de urea). El hongo fue inoculado en la tercera hoja, con una mezcla de razas, a una concentración de 1,2 x 10(5) fragmentos de hifa/ml, incubándose durante 48 horas en cámara húmeda. Fueron evaluados la severidad y tipo de mancha en la hoja y la severidad e incidencia en la panícula. Se realizó el ANOVA, y las diferencias estadísticas fueron analizadas a través del test Tukey (p<0,05). Fueron aplicados modelos Log-lineares para datos no paramétricos. No se observó interacción entre genotipo y fertilización, en las hojas, en los estadios de primer perfilo (M) y diferenciación (D). La fertilización aumentó la severidad en las hojas. El coeficiente de correlación entre el tipo de mancha y el porcentaje de severidad en la hoja fue elevado. Fue observada interacción entre genotipo y fertilización en los valores de severidad en la panícula, los mismos que disminuyeron con la fertilización en los genotipos EP y DI, pero no presentaron diferencias en H 316.<br>Com o objetivo de avaliar a evolução da infecção produzida por Pyricularia oryzae (Cooke) Sacc, em folha e em panícula, foram selecionados três genótipos de arroz (Oryza sativa). Os genótipos: El Paso 144 (EP), Don Ignacio (DI) e H 316-1-2-1-1 (H 316) foram semeados em condições de campo, na Estação Experimental La Plata, e em duas condições de disponibilidade de nitrogênio (testemunha: sem nitrogênio e 150 kg N ha-1 na forma de uréia). O fungo foi inoculado na terceira folha, com uma mistura de raças, e uma concentração de 1,2 x 10(5) fragmentos de hifa/ml, incubando-se durante 48 hs em câmara úmida. Foram avaliadas a severidade e tipo de mancha na folha e severidade e incidência na panícula. Foi realizado ANOVA, e as diferenças estatística foram analizadas pelo teste Tukey (p<0,05). Foram aplicados modelos Log-lineais para dados não paramétricos. Não foram registradas interacões genótipo/abudação nas observações em folha, nos estadios de primeiro perefilho (M) e difenciação (D), a abudação aumentou a severidade. O coeficiente de correlação entre o tipo de mancha e porcentagem de severidade em folha foram elevadas. Foi observou interação entre genótipo/abudação nos valores de severidade em panícula. Os mesmos diminuíram com a abudação em EP e DI, mas não apresentan diferenças em H 316.<br>Three rice genotypes (Oryza sativa) were chosen, among some commercial cultivars and advanced lines, in order to evaluate the influence of nitrogen levels on leaf and panicle blast infection caused by Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc. Three genotypes El Paso 144 (EP), Don Ignacio (DI) and H 316-1-2-1-1 (H 316) under two nitrogen levels (without nitrogen and 150 kg N ha-1 as urea). Plants were inoculated on third leaf with a mixture of several insolates at a concentration of 1,2 x 10(5) hyphae fragments /ml and was incubated during 48 hours in a wet room. Leaf blast severity and lesion type, and panicle blast severity an incidence were evaluated. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA, and differences in means were compared by Tukey (p<0,05). Log-lineal models were applied with non-parametrical data. Genotype fertilization interaction in relation to leaf blast was not observed, at first shoot (M) and boot stages (D). Nitrogen fertilization increased leaf blast severity. Correlation between lesion type and percentage of leaf blast severity was high. Panicle blast severity was significantly reduced by N fertilization in genotypes EP and but not in H 316

The use of wheat/goatgrass introgression lines for the detection of gene(s) determining resistance to septoria tritici blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola)

At the IPK Gatersleben a series of 85 bread wheat (T. aestivum)/goatgrass (Aegilops tauschii) introgression lines was developed recently. Based on the knowledge that chromosome 7D of this particular Ae. tauschii is a donor of resistance to septoria tritici blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola), a sub-set of thirteen chromosome 7D introgression lines was investigated along with the susceptible recipient variety ‘Chinese Spring’ (CS) and the resistant donor line ‘CS (Syn 7D)’. The material was inoculated with two Argentinian isolates of the pathogen (IPO 92067 and IPO 93014) at both the seedlings (two leaf) and adult (tillering) stages at two locations over 2 years (2003, 2004). The resistance was effective against both isolates and at both developmental stages, and the resistance locus maps to the centromeric region of chromosome arm 7DS. On the basis of its relationship with the microsatellite marker Xgwm44, it is likely that the gene involved is Stb5. Stb5 is therefore apparently effective against M. graminicola isolates originating from both Europe and South America

Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci determining resistance to septoria tritici blotch caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola in wheat

A set of 65 recombinant inbred lines of the ‘International Triticeae Mapping Initiative’ mapping population (‘W7984’ × ‘Opata 85’) was analysed for resistance to septoria tritici blotch at the seedling and adult plant stages. The mapping population was inoculated with two Argentinean isolates (IPO 92067 and IPO 93014). At the seedling stage, three loci were discovered on the short arms of chromosomes 1D, 2D and 6B. All three loci were detected with both isolates. At the adult plant stage, two isolate-specific QTL were found. The loci specific for isolates IPO 92067 and IPO 93014 were mapped on the long arms of chromosomes 3D and 7B, respectively

Population Structure of Mycosphaerella graminicola and Location of Genes for Resistance to the Pathogen: Recent Advances in Argentina

Leaf blotch of wheat (Septoria tritici Rob. ex Desm., teleomorph Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fückel) Schröt. in Cohn) causes significant losses in wheat. During the last decades studies about the genetic variability of the pathogen and location of the resistance have been intensive around the world. The knowledge about the genetic variation of M. graminicola is very important because it could allow us to determine which genotypes predominate within a geographic area. It also can be used to evaluate the germplasm resistance of wheat cultivars with isolates with high genetic differences. In addition, the knowledge of the genes conditioning resistance in different genotypes allows getting precise combination in new germplasm. The incorporation of the known genes in new cultivars could contribute to broadening the resistance to the pathogen. A paper about genetic variability of the pathogen and location of the resistance, with special emphasis in the work carried out in Argentina, is presented

Integrated Foliar Disease Management to Prevent Yield Loss in Argentinian Wheat Production

Zero tillage often leads to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield losses from diseases caused by necrotrophic foliar pathogens. The aim of this work was to evaluate the combined effect of tillage, N fertilization, fungicides, and resistant cultivars in reducing foliar disease severity to prevent significant yield losses. A 2-yr study including combinations of (i) conventional and zero tillage; (ii) N fertilization rates 0, 80, or 160 kg ha–1 N; (iii) two fungicide treatments (with and without a fungicide (1 L of metconazole, 9%) at growth stages (GS) 32 and 39; and (iv) three wheat cultivars was conducted in the Rolling Pampas region in Argentina. The most common foliar disease in the trial was tan spot [Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs.]. Conventional tillage reduced foliar disease severity at GS 23 by 46 and 56% and the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) by 20 and 14% for each season, respectively compared with zero tillage. The cultivar Buck Bigua had significantly lower AUDPC values than the others. Fungicide and N application reduced disease severity at GS 23 by 35 and 34% respectively, on average over both years. Disease was less severe in zero tillage plots which received a fungicide compared to conventional tillage plots that were not treated with fungicide. In 2002 yields were greater in conventional tillage plots with 160 kg ha–1 N and fungicide application than in all other treatments. In 2003 yields were greatest in zero tillage plots with 160 kg ha–1 N and fungicide. The results of this study indicate that in spite of the increase of necrotrophic diseases, developing no-till systems in wheat monoculture is possible without significant yield losses if effective disease management practices are applied