Water monitoring with hyperspectral techniques

1 - The poor of the world depends directly on water and other natural resources for their livelihoods. Water resources must therefore be managed in a sustainable manner in order to maintain the economic, social and environmental functions and to contribute to the livelihoods of people. 2 - Advancements in sensor technologies and processing algorithms have resulted in technical capabilities that can record and identify Earth surface materials based on the interaction of electromagnetic energy with the molecular structure of the material being sensed. 3 - Non-destructive and operative methodologies (NIR and Raman) will be tested through field surveys and laboratory analysis using Aquaphotomics approach. This approach requires precise measuring and mapping capabilities at field level of key data at a sufficient level of accuracy depending on the availability of equipment that must be also operated at a cost-effective way

Comparative effect of root-knot nematode on severity of Verticillium and Fusarium wilt in cotton

The effect of root-knot nematode (RKN) (Meloidogyne incognita) on Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was investigated. Two different inoculation methods were used, one in which inoculum was added to the soil, so that nematode and fungal inoculum were in close proximity; the other, inoculation into the stem, whereby the two inocula were spatially separated. Invasion of the roots by RKN enhanced disease severity, as measured by the height of vascular browning in the stem, following inoculation with either wilt pathogen. The effect of RKN on Fusarium wilt was more pronounced than that on Verticillium wilt. Nematode-enhanced infection by F. oxysporum is a well known effect but there are few reports of enhanced infection by Verticillium due to RKN. Relative resistance of a number of cotton cultivars to both wilt diseases, as measured by height of vascular browning, was similar to the known field performance of the cultivars. The use of vascular browning as an estimate of disease severity was therefore validated