Efficacy and Timing of Application of Fungicides, Biofungicides, Host-Plant Defense Inducers, and Fertilizer to Control Phytophthora Root Rot of Flowering Dogwoods in Simulated Flooding Conditions in Container Production

Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is one of the major diseases of flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida L.). The severity of root rot disease increases when the plants are exposed to flooding conditions. A study was conducted to determine the efficacy and timing of application of different fungicides, biofungicides, host plant defense inducers, and fertilizer to manage Phytophthora root rot in month-old seedlings in simulated flooding events for 1-, 3-, and 7- days. Preventative treatments were drench applied 3 weeks and 1 week before flooding whereas curative treatments were applied 24 hrs. after flooding. Dogwood seedlings were inoculated with P. cinnamomi 3 days before the flooding. Plant height and width were recorded at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, plant total weight and root weight were recorded and disease severity in the root was assessed using a scale of 0-100%. Root samples were plated using PARPH-V8 medium to determine the percentage recovery of the pathogen. Empress Intrinsic, Pageant Intrinsic, Segovis, and Subdue MAXX, as preventative and curative applications, were able to suppress the disease severity compared to the inoculated control in all flooding durations. All treatments, with the exception of Stargus as preventative application 3 weeks before flooding and Orkestra Intrinsic as curative application, were able to suppress the disease severity compared to the inoculated control for 1-day flooding event. Aliette and ON-Gard were effective in the first trial when applied preventatively in both 1 week and 3 weeks before flooding but not in the second trial. Signature Xtra was effective as preventative application but not as a curative application. Interface was effective as curative application but not as preventative application. The findings of this study will help nursery growers to understand the performance of fungicides, biofungicides, host-plant defense inducers, and fertilizer in different time intervals and repeated applications to manage Phytophthora root rot in flooding conditions

A Modified Delphi Study on Boxwood Blight Disease Management in the US Nursery Industry

Boxwood is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs in the United States, the production of which is currently challenged by boxwood blight, an emerging threat that has spread across 30 states. A thorough understanding of boxwood production, plant health, management practices and economic impact could aid in answering the needs of the nursery industry in managing this disease. An online modified Delphi survey was conducted to identify grower perceptions on processes, programs, and practices to limit or prevent the entry and spread of boxwood blight disease. The expert panel consisted of 29 nursery producers who represented a significant portion of boxwood production nationally. The panel members rated boxwood blight as the third most problematic disease with a potential to be number one in the future. Boxwood transplants were perceived as the main source of boxwood blight outbreak, followed by cutting tools, nursery equipment, containers, plant debris, irrigation water, worker hygiene, and other crops. According to the panel responses, cultural control methods, inspection, and quarantine of incoming plant material, scouting, and sanitization were the most important practices that can limit or prevent plant diseases during boxwood production. The panel members did not agree that the composted manure could influence the spread of plant disease in boxwood production, although this has been verified by the findings of various previous research experiments. Panel members were very familiar with scouting and employee training, best management practices, and the boxwood blight cleanliness program. This study documents the key components, practices, and procedures in boxwood production that could influence the spread of boxwood blight in nurseries and could be further verified by sampling and laboratory assays to specify the critical control points in the production process

Optimizing biological nitrogen fixation inexpensively as part of a sustainable agriculture kit (SAK) strategy to assist subsistence farmers

PowerPoint presentationThis work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This PowerPoint presentation shows how Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (SNF) works in plants and soils, and how it can be improved to help smallholder farmers through identification practices. A newly developed biosensor “GlnLux biosensor” measures SNF output in non-transgenic ureide- and amide-exporting legumes. This process can efficiently measure nitrogen fixation capabilities of legume crop varieties. Also part of the presentation are low cost tools and methods of planting, provided as visual instructions for smallholder participants in field trials, as well as Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) tests and demonstrations

Yam on terrace walls valuing underutilised crops, Annex 16

Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) in partnership with scholars from University of Guelph, and Canadian Mennonite University and funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Canada is trying to promote the use of barren and steep walls of the terraces and other areas which are least used for food production.This publication received funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Canada.A report of Nepal Chepang Association (NCA) suggests that 71% of the children are malnourished. Non-toxic wild yam of Nepal is recognized as ‘Health/ Functional food’ with high nutritional values. Rich in starch, yam is principal source of food and carbohydrate during food insufficiency periods for such communities. Some of the species of yam reported to have 5 times more protein than potatoes and sweet potatoes. Yam also supplements many dietary minerals. Yam can be mixed with different kinds of food like noodles and breads, which further enhances the nutritional value and palatability ultimately aiding to overcome malnutrition in children

Prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among persons with type-2 diabetes mellitus without a prior psychiatric history: a cross-sectional study in clinical settings in urban Nepal

Background Diabetes is a growing health problem in South Asia. Despite an increasing number of studies exploring causal pathways between diabetes and depression in high-income countries (HIC), the pathway between the two disorders has received limited attention in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The aim of this study is to investigate the potential pathway of diabetes contributing to depression, to assess the prevalence of depression, and to evaluate the association of depression severity with diabetes severity. This study uses a clinical sample of persons living with diabetes sequelae without a prior psychiatric history in urban Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 persons living with type-2 diabetes attending tertiary centers in Kathmandu, Nepal. Patients with at least three months of diagnosed diabetes and no prior depression diagnosis or family history of depression were recruited randomly using serial selection from outpatient medicine and endocrine departments. Blood pressure, anthropometrics (height, weight, waist and hip circumference) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured at the time of interview. Depression was measured using the validated Nepali version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-Ia). Results The proportion of respondents with depression was 40.3%. Using multivariable analyses, a 1-unit (%) increase in HbA1c was associated with a 2-point increase in BDI score. Erectile dysfunction was associated with a 5-point increase in BDI-Ia. A 10mmHg increase in blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) was associated with a 1.4-point increase in BDI-Ia. Other associated variables included waist-hip-ratio (9-point BDI-Ia increase), at least one diabetic complication (1-point BDI-Ia increase), treatment non-adherence (1-point BDI-Ia increase), insulin use (2-point BDI-Ia increase), living in a nuclear family (2-point BDI-Ia increase), and lack of family history of diabetes (1-point BDI-Ia increase). Higher monthly income was associated with increased depression severity (3-point BDI-Ia increase per 100,000 rupees, equivalent US$1000). Conclusions Depression is associated with indicators of more severe diabetes disease status in Nepal. The association of depression with diabetes severity and sequelae provide initial support for a causal pathway from diabetes to depression. Integration of mental health services in primary care will be important to combat development of depression among persons living with diabetes

The underutilized terrace wall can be intensified to improve farmer livelihoods

International audienceAbstractMillions of vulnerable smallholder farmers around the world cultivate crops on narrow hillside terraces and suffer from inadequate flat growing areas to support their families. A significant amount of surface area on terraces is actually vertical—specifically the underutilized terrace walls (risers). Some indigenous farmers in Nepal have been observed to cultivate wall-climbing and wall-descending crops, sown at the base or top edge of the walls, respectively, but these have not been evaluated for their economic benefits and adoption potential. Participatory on-farm trials were conducted on 280 terrace farms in two districts of Nepal (Kaski, Dhading) for two cropping seasons (2015–2016). Three wall-climbing crops (yam in sacks, chayote squash, pumpkin) and four wall-descending crops (ricebean, cowpea, horsegram, blackgram) were each grown by 20 farmers per crop per site and evaluated for potential net economic returns and perceptions of all 280 participating women farmers based on five adoption criteria. Here, we show, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, that terrace walls or risers can be intensified with suitable wall-climbing and wall-descending crops. All three wall-climbing crops were productive, with potential net economic returns ranging from US $27 per plant for chayote squash,$10/plant for pumpkin, and $2/plant for yam. Similarly, all four wall-descending crops were productive, with potential net economic returns ranging from US$9–$15 per 100 m of wall edge. All the wall crops received good-to-excellent ratings (typically > 8/10) by women farmers for simplicity, compatibility, affordability, potential economic returns, and willingness to continue. In terms of long-term adoption, yam, pumpkin, ricebean, and cowpea were ranked the highest, with > 90% farmers willing to continue each practice. We discuss the potential and constraints of transferring these terrace-intensifying strategies globally