Identifying Sources of Resistance and Fungicide Efficacy Against Fungi Causing Phomopsis Stem Canker in Sunflower

Phomopsis stem canker is a major threat to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production worldwide and its prevalence has increased from 1.5% in 2001 to 61.0% in 2015 in the sunflower producing U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas. The disease causes early senescence and lodging of sunflower plants resulting in yield losses up to 40% and oil content up to 25%. Several species of Diaporthe have been reported to cause Phomopsis stem canker. In the United States, Diaporthe helianthi Munyt.-Cvetk. et al. and D. gulyae Shivas et al., have been reported as predominant causal agents of Phomopsis stem canker in the sunflower producing areas of Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, where more than 80% of sunflower production takes place in the nation. Currently, there are sunflower commercial hybrids with partial resistance and foliar fungicides available to manage Phomopsis stem canker in the United States. However, there is limited information on their efficacy against the fungi causing Phomopsis stem canker. The objectives of this study were to (1) screen cultivated sunflower accessions for resistance to Diaporthe gulyae at vegetative and reproductive growth stages (2) perform genome-wide association mapping to identify the resistance loci in sunflower associated with Diaporthe helianthi and Diaporthe gulyae (3) evaluate fungicides efficacy against fungi causing Phomopsis stem canker. For the first objective, to determine if the sunflower growth stage affects the Phomopsis stem canker severity associated with D. gulyae, a total of 143 accessions screened for resistance to the fungus at V4 to V6 (four to six true leaves) and R4 to R6 (beginning of inflorescence to completion of flowering) using the mycelium contact inoculation method in the greenhouse. Disease severity was assessed 14 days postinoculation using a 0-to-5 rating scale, where 0 = no stem discoloration and 5 = lodged or dead plants and non-parametric statistics was used to determine the relative treatment effect (RTE) associated with disease severity. Twenty-seven, three, and two accessions had significantly lower relative treatment effect at V4 to V6 (ATS=17.06, df=1.43, p=1.86x10- 6), R4 to R6 (ATS=2.4, df=1.82, p=0.0095), and both growth stages compared to the susceptible check ‘HA 288’ based on 95% confidence intervals. For the second objective, disease phenotyping was conducted in the greenhouse using a diverse panel of 213 USDA cultivated sunflower accessions and one susceptible check (PI 552934). At four to six true leaves growth stages, six plants per accession were inoculated with a single isolate of D. helianthi or D. gulyae using the mycelium-contact inoculation method. Disease severity was assessed 15 days (D. gulyae) and 30 days (D. helianthi) post-inoculation using a 0 to 5 rating scale and non-parametric statistics was used to determine the RTE associated with disease severity. Out of 213 accessions, 39 were significant less susceptible to D. gulyae when compared to the susceptible check. Genome-wide association study identified 20 common loci associated with resistance to D. gulyae and D. helianthi as well as a total of 17 candidate genes associated with plant defense responses such as lectin receptor kinases. For the third objective, to evaluate the efficacy of foliar fungicides, a field experiment was carried out in 2019, 2020, and 2021, in Brookings, SD. Fourteen fungicides belonging to three FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Committee Action) groups: FRAC 3 DMI (DeMethylation Inhibitors), FRAC 7 (Succinate DeHydrogenase Inhibitors), and FRAC 11 (Quinone Outside Inhibitors) were sprayed at R1 (miniature floral head formation) growth stage of sunflower development. Significant differences in disease severity index (DSI) and yield were observed among treatments in 2019 and the treatment containing Mefentrifluconazole + Pyraclostrobin significantly reduced DSI by 26.88% and had a significant yield increase of 430.4 kg/ha greater than nontreated control, resulting in 372.97 kg/ha ($156.64/ha) for oil type and 384.7 kg/ha ($188.5/ha) for non-oil type profit using the oil type sunflower ($0.42/kg) and non-oil ($0.49/kg) prices in 2019. However, in 2020 and 2021, no significant differences were observed on yield, and there was a significant difference on DSI in 2021. Overall, the findings from this study provide information on parental materials with resistance to D. helianthi and D. gulyae, which will facilitate marker-assisted selection in future breeding and development of varieties and hybrids for resistance to the causal fungi. In addition, the information on foliar fungicides will help farmers to manage Phomopsis stem canker in sunflower

Bose-Fermi mixtures in the molecular limit

We consider a Bose-Fermi mixture in the molecular limit of the attractive interaction between fermions and bosons. For a boson density smaller or equal to the fermion density, we show analytically how a T-matrix approach for the constituent bosons and fermions recovers the expected physical limit of a Fermi-Fermi mixture of molecules and atoms. In this limit, we derive simple expressions for the self-energies, the momentum distribution function, and the chemical potentials. By extending these equations to a trapped system, we determine how to tailor the experimental parameters of a Bose-Fermi mixture in order to enhance the 'indirect Pauli exclusion effect' on the boson momentum distribution function. For the homogeneous system, we present finally a Diffusion Monte Carlo simulation which confirms the occurrence of such a peculiar effect.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures; final versio

Condensed phase of Bose-Fermi mixtures with a pairing interaction

We study the condensed phase of a Bose-Fermi mixture with a tunable pairing interaction between bosons and fermions with many-body diagrammatic methods and fixed-node diffusion Quantum Monte Carlo simulations. A universal behavior of the condensate fraction and bosonic momentum distribution with respect to the boson concentration is found to hold in an extended range of boson-fermion couplings and concentrations. For vanishing boson density, we prove that the bosonic condensate fraction reduces to the quasiparticle weight Z of the Fermi polaron studied in the context of polarized Fermi gases, unifying in this way two apparently unrelated quantities.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; final version as publishe

Edible insects: Understanding benzo(a)pyrene toxicokinetics in yellow mealworms for safe and sustainable consumption

The global interest in edible insects as sustainable protein sources raises concerns about the bioaccumulation of contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to problematic levels. Understanding the accumulation dynamics of PAHs in edible insects is highly relevant due to the widespread sources and toxicological profiles; however, the bioaccumulative potential of PAHs in edible insects is unexplored. This study examined the uptake and elimination dynamics of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), a representative and carcinogenic PAH, in yellow mealworm larvae (YMW, Tenebrio molitor). Larvae were exposed to feeding substrate with varying B(a)P concentrations (0.03, 0.3, and 3 mg kg− 1 ), and uptake (21 days in B(a)P-contaminated substrate) and elimination (21 days in B(a)P-free substrate) kinetics were subsequently assessed. The results showed that YMW can eliminate B(a)P, revealing dose-dependent B(a)P bioaccumulation in these insects. Larvae fed on a substrate with 0.03 mg kg− 1 accumulated B(a)P over 21 days, presenting values of 0.049 (Standard deviation - 0.011) mg kg− 1 and a kinetic-based (BAFkinetic) of 1.93 g substrate g organism − 1 , exceeding the EU regulatory limits for food. However, with a B(a)P half-life (DT50) of 4.19 days in the larvae, an EU legislation safety criterion was met after a 13-day depuration period in clean substrate. Larvae exposed to substrates with 0.3 and 3 mg kg− 1 showed B(a)P accumulation, with BAFkinetic values of 3.27 and 2.09 g substrate g organism − 1 , respectively, not meeting the current legal standards for food consumption at the end of the exposure to B(a)P. Although the B(a)P half-life values after 35 days were 4.30 and 10.22 days (DT50s), the larvae retained B(a)P levels exceeding permitted food safety limits. These findings highlight a significant oversight in regulating PAHs in animal feed and the need for comprehensive safety evaluations of PAH hazards in edible insects for improved PAH feeding guidelines

Quantum Monte Carlo study of the indirect Pauli exclusion effect in Bose-Fermi mixtures

We study the momentum distributions of a three-dimensional resonant Bose-Fermi mixture in the molecular limit at zero temperature. For concentration of the bosons with respect to the fermions less or equal to one, each boson is bound to a fermion and the system is composed of fermionic molecules plus excess fermions. Not only the bosonic condensate fraction goes to zero, signaling a quantum phase transition towards a normal phase, but a finite region of low momenta is depleted, depending on the concentration. This phenomenon is named indirect Pauli exclusion effect and is demonstrated via Fixed-Node Diffusion Monte Carlo simulations and T-matrix calculations.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, published in EPJ ST volume entitled "Novel Quantum Phases and Mesoscopic Physics in Quantum Gases

O poder da comunicação do consumidor nas redes sociais – uma análise mercadológica da marca Risqué

A internet chegou como um fenômeno sem precedentes em nossa sociedade transformando as relações sociais, comerciais e organizacionais. A interatividade e a exposição das marcas na rede deram poder ao novo consumidor. Com voz de comando, os consumidores conectados ditam as regras e cobram das organizações tudo aquilo que enxergam como seu direito. Sem entender ao certo como se posicionar diante desse novo comportamento, as organizações e as instituições estão perdidas. Esse artigo busca analisar a comunicação desse consumidor que tem o poder do discurso e da exposição ao alcance de suas mãos. A proposta consiste em entender melhor a convergência que vem propiciando uma era na qual o discurso corporativo e a mídia alternativa se encontram e os poderes do assessor de imprensa e do consumidor interagem de maneira equivalente

Fish consumption in Brazil: State of the art and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The offer and consumption of fish and other aquatic organisms in Brazil comprise a great complexity of inter-acting factors, from the origin and production of these goods, to their processing and marketing. Unexpected factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic might contribute for increasing the complexity of such interactions and shift consumption patterns. This study aimed at characterizing the consumption of fish in the Brazilian territory, identifying factors that influence such consumption and investigating how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the country's consumption pattern. A closed and semi-structured questionnaire was applied and gathered responses from 1763 Brazilian participants from all the country's macro-regions, regarding fish consumption and factors affecting it. Data were presented descriptively and analyzed by means of a multivariate approach. Three patterns of fish meat consumption were identified in the study. Northern participants consume this foodstuff in recom-mended amounts by dietary guidelines in higher proportions than other regions. In general, during the pandemic most respondents did not change their fish consumption (59.7%) and declared that no risks were associated with consuming this foodstuff (65.6%). It was found that the origin of fish is a major driver of consumption, whereas from 49.2% (Southeast and Midwest) to 58.2% (North) of the population would increase their consumption in case the origin of the foodstuff was declared. Fish consumption in Brazil is influenced by multiple factors and it can be stimulated by exploring differences existing among the territory's macro-regions

A comunicação com o mercado por meio de aplicativos: desafios e oportunidades

La comunicación con el mercado pasa por transformaciones causadas por el escenario tecnológico cada día más presente en lo cotidiano de consumidores contemporáneos. La relevancia en el contacto con el consumidor digital ha sido un desafío para las organizaciones. Las aplicaciones son una posibilidad de relación y comunicación, son medios legítimos de promover experiencias. Con la viabilidad de insertar elementos como la interacción, la música, la animación, los juegos, el audio y el vídeo, las aplicaciones son foros ricos en información y relaciones.A comunicação com mercado passa por transformações causadas pelo cenário tecnológico cada dia mais presente no cotidiano de consumidores contemporâneos. Buscar relevância no contato com o consumidor digital tem sido um desafio para as organizações. Os apps são uma possibilidade de relacionamento e comunicação, são meios legítimos de se promover experiências. Com a viabilidade de inserção de elementos como interação, música, animação, jogos, áudio e vídeo, os aplicativos são fóruns ricos de informações e relacionamento.Communication with the market undergoes transformations caused by the technological scenario increasingly present in the daily lives of contemporary consumers. Seeking relevance in contact with the digital consumer has been a challenge for organizations. Apps are a possibility of relationship and communication, they are legitimate means of promoting experiences. With the feasibility of inserting elements like interaction, music, animation, games, audio and video, the applications are rich forums of information and relationship