Isolation, molecular identification and under lab evaluation of the entomopathogenic fungi M. anisopliae and B. bassiana against the Red Palm Weevil R. ferrugineus in Gaza Strip

Plant diseases generate challenging problems in commercial, agriculture and pose real economic threats to both conventional and organic farming systems. The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (RPW) is one of the most destructive pests of palms in the world. Nowadays, control methods revolve around treatments based on chemicals, biotechnological systems using semi-chemicals or the development of the sterile insect technique (hardly sustainable at this time) and biological control. Biological control as the use of natural microorganisms, extracted products from microorganisms or genetically improved to resist or eliminate of pathogens. Our aim was to evaluate the entomopathogenicity of indigenous Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae obtained in Gaza strip against larvae and adults of R. ferrugineus in order to identify indigenous strains potentially suitable for Red Palm Weevil biological control. B. bassiana & M. anisopliae were isolated from larvae and adult dead of RPW from different position of Gaza strip. Morphological analysis of the isolated fungi and molecular identification was determined using PCR technique. Also, the efficiency of the isolated fungi were evaluated under lab conditions and optimized as a biological agent. On the anther hand, the ability of treated RPW male to infect females is examined and calculated using Abbott's formula. Our results showed that the B. bassiana and M. anisopliae exhibited a good biological control agent against larvae and adults of RPW. The pathogenicity of the two most virulent isolates and the toxicity assay on larvae showed a highest mortality percentage nearly to 100

Isolation and molecular characterization of cry gene for Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from soil of gaza strip

Bacillus thuringiensis, insecticide, polymerase chain reactions (PCR), crystalline protein, Cry gene, Gaza strip. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a rod-shaped, gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, and spore-forming bacterium (Konecka et al., 2007). During sporulation, it produces insecticidal proteins, which are deposited within the sporangium as crystalline aggregates (Crickomre et al., 1998

Antibacterial activity of metallic-core gold and silver nanoparticles against some animal pathogens

The current work aimed to find substitutes for antibiotics because of the side effects of antibacterial agents and the expansion of bacterial resistance to these agents. The scope of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) against selected animal pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus abortus and Mycobacterium bovis). The synthesized nanoparticles were distinguished by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and tested for antibacterial activity with the broth microdilution method, well diffusion assay, and minimum bactericidal concentration procedure. Results showed that both AuNPs and AgNPs displayed good antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. The strongest antibacterial action of AgNPS (18 mm) was contra E. coli. AuNPs displayed good antibacterial activity against S. aureus and B. bovis with a suppression area of 14 mm. Therefore, it is suggested that AgNPs and AuNPs could be effectively used against animal pathogens and may contribute to reducing antibiotic resistance. However, there is a need for further research on the in vivo toxicity and mechanisms of action of AuNPs and AgNPs

In vitro, Alternative Methods to the Biological Control of the Aphids by Entomopathogenic Fungi Beauveria bassiana Isolates from Gaza Strip

Sustainable vegetable production it depends mainly on yield and quality, if not properly managed, pests and diseases can dramatically reduce crop yield, quality and subsequent returns. Plant diseases need to be controlled to maintain the quality and abundance of food, feed, and fiber produced by growers around the world (Pal and Gardener, 2006). Disease control is an essential component of crop management for increase yield potential. A low disease loss in your fields in the recent past does not ensure disease losses will remain low (Tobacco disease management (2015). Every year gardeners confront many insect pests feasting on fruits and vegetables (Jackman, 1998). Plants have many pests, such as aphids and mites. Aphids are important herbivores of both wild and cultivated plants that feed on the phloem of vascular plants (Züst and Agrawal, 2016). Most vegetables crops attached by this pest and also it can stunt and distort the growth of plants and cause wilting and bud drop, resulting in poor flowering and fruit set. Synthetic pesticides have played a central role for control plant pathogen (Chandler et al., 2011; El-Wakeil, 2013). In the recent years, the negative effects on health and the environment as a result of the indiscriminate use of pesticides have led the EU to the prohibition of many synthetic pesticides (D'Addabbo et al., 2014). Consequently

ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIALITY OF RICINUS COMMUNIS & COLEUS FORSKOHLII ON SOME HUMAN PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

The objective of the present study was to explore the antibacterial and antifungal activity of two plant extracts (Ricinus communis & Coleus forskohlii) against some selected pathogen (Staphylococcus aureus

Development of Beauveria bassiana-Based Bio-Fungicide Against Fusarium Wilt Pathogens for Capsicum Annuum, a Promising Approach Toward Vital Biocontrol Industry in Gaza Strip

Wilting or damping off disease is caused by a pathogenic fungi ( Fusarium oxysporum), which considered as as one of the most serious diseases, which lead to a serious threat in the production of one of the most dependent crops in Gaza strip, Capsicum annuum. Two fungi were isolated, Beauveria bassiana which used as biological control agent and F. oxysporum which causes wilt disease. They were cultured and tested in vitro and applied under field conditions. This study approved that the entomopathogenic fungi especially, b. bassiana is safe and significant approach for the biological control of wilt disease caused by F. oxysporum. Evaluation of B. bassiana spores activity, as a biological control agent was carried out using liquid-semi solid fermentation techniques and the entomopathogenic of B. bassiana against growing F. oxysporum was proven. Our results showed a highly significantly effects of B. bassiana against F. oxysporum

العزل, التشخيص الجزيئي والتقييم المخبري للفطريات الممرضة Metarhizium sp. وفطر Beauveria sp للحشرات مثل فطر. واستخدامها ضد حشرة سوسة النخيل الحمراء

Background: Plant diseases generate challenging problems in commercial, agriculture and pose real economic threats. The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (RPW) is one of the most destructive pests of palms in the world. Nowadays, control methods revolve around treatments based on chemicals, biotechnological systems using semichemicals or the development of the sterile insect technique and Biological control. Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the entomopathogenicity of indigenous Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against larvae and adults of R. ferrugineus. Methodology: B. bassiana & M. anisopliae taken from dead adults and dead larvae of R. Ferrugineus. Utilizing morphological analysis & molecular identification test by using PCR technique. Evaluation the efficiency of the isolated fungi under lab conditions and optimize it as biological control agent product after divided all adults and larvae into 4 groups. Incubation the adults RPW groups for 28 days and 6 days for larvae RPW groups. On another hand, the ability of treated RPW male to infect if the females was examined. All Data was examined by (Abbott's Formula) in this study. Results: Our results showed that the B. bassiana and M. anisopliae exhibited a good biological control agent against larvae and adults of RPW. The pathogenicity of the two most virulent isolates and the toxicity assay on larvae showed the highest mortality percentage which reached to 100% against the larvae with B. Bassiana, but reaches to 90% after spraying the larvae with M. anisopliae, and reaches 43.3% after treated by pesticide. The bioassay on the adults of RPW and the maximum mortality of weevils reaches 100% on 28th day after spraying the adult with B. bassiana, while the mortality was up to 90% after spraying the adult with M. anisopliae. The mortality for the adults treated with pesticide arrives to 50% and the control group 10% at the same time. Also, our results revealed that the infection males of RPW by EPF can be disseminated into the healthy population, after treatment the male adults of the RPW by B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. The highest mortality of up to 90% for two isolated fungi compare with the group which was treated with pesticide (20%) after incubation for 28 day. Conclusions: Our research concludes that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae locally isolated can be used as biological control agents with great efficacy. Keywords: B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, Red Palm Weevil, Molecular identification, Biocontrol.خلفية الدراسة: أمراض النباتات ينتج عنها خسائر تجارية وزراعية صعبة تشكل تهديدات اقتصادية حقيقية سوسة النخيل الحمراء(R. ferrugineus) هي واحدة من الآفات الأكثر تدميرا لأشجار النخيل في العالم، وخاصة في قطاع غزة. طرق المكافحة تدور حول العلاجات القائمة على المواد الكيميائية، وأنظمة التكنولوجيا الحيوية باستخدام semichemicals أو تطوير تقنية الحشرة العقيمة والمكافحة الحيوية. الأهداف: هدفنا من هذه الدراسة هو تقييم الفطريات الممرضة مثل B. bassiana وفطر M. anisopliae واستخدامها ضد اليرقات والبالغين من حشرة سوسة النخيل الحمراء. الطرق والأدوات: وقد تم عزل الفطريات (B. bassiana وفطر M. anisopliae) من اليرقات والبالغين الفانية من سوسة النخيل الحمراء. حيث تم عزلها وتنميتها على أوساط غذائية عامة واستخدام أوساط غذائية خاصة لنمو الفطريات وتم تحديد البصمة الوراثية باستخدام تقنية PCR لمضاعفة الجينات الخاصة بالفطريات. تم تقييم كفاءة الفطريات المعزولة في ظل ظروف المختبر وذلك على الوجه الأمثل كمنتج للمكافحة الحيوية بعد تقسيم كل من البالغين واليرقات إلى 4 مجموعات. فترة الحضانة لسوسة النخيل الحمراء لمدة 28 يوما للحشرات البالغة و 6 أيام لليرقات من سوسة النخيل الحمراء. علاج البالغين الذكور من سوسة النخيل الحمراء لتقييم ما إذا كانت الذكور ستصيب الإناث بالفطريات الممرضة أم لا، بعد تقسيم كل من الحشرات إلى 4 مجموعات كما هو مبين أعلاه. تم فحص كافة البيانات باستخدام قانون (Abbott's Formula). النتائج: أظهرت نتائجنا أن الفطريات التي تم عزلها (B. bassiana & M. anisopliae) يمكن استخدامها بشكل جيد كعوامل مكافحة حيوية ضد اليرقات والبالغين من سوسة النخيل الحمراء. وقد أظهرت سمية واضحة على اليرقات حيث كانت أكثر ضراوة عليها وكانت أعلى نسبة موت وصلت إلى 100٪ خلال 6 أيام من رشّ اليرقات من فطر B. bassiana ، ولكن نسبة الموت وصلت إلى 90 ٪ بعد رشّ اليرقات من فطر M. anisopliae. في حين وصلت نسبة الموت في اليرقات التي تم معالجتها بالمبيدات الكيميائية إلى 43.3٪ في نفس الوقت. التقييم المخبري على الحشرات البالغة من سوسة النخيل الحمراء وأعلى معدل للموت وصل إلى 100٪ خلال 28 يوماً بعد رش الحشرات البالغة الكبار من فطر B. bassiana, في حين أن معدل الوفيات وصل إلى 90٪ بعد رش الحشرات البالغة من فطر M. anisopliae. ولكن كانت نسبة الوفيات من الحشرات البالغة 50٪ بعد أن تم معالجتها بالمبيدات الكيميائية والمجموعة الضابطة التي تم رشها بالماء المقطر كانت نسبة الموت تصل فيها إلى 10٪ في نفس الوقت. أيضا، كشفت نتائجنا أن العدوى يمكن أن تنشر من ذكور سوسة النخيل الحمراء إلى الإناث أثناء التزاوج، بعد معاملة البالغين الذكور من سوسة النخيل الحمراء من فطر B. bassiana وفطر M. anisopliae. حيث وصل أعلى معدل للوفيات إلى 90٪ لكلا الفطرين مقارنة بالمجموعة التي تم معالجتها كيميائيا باستخدام المبيدات التي وصلت فيها نسبة الموت إلى 20٪ بعد فترة الحضانة التي كانت لمدة 28 يوماً. الاستنتاج: يستنتج من ذلك أن كلا من الفطريات المعزولة ((B. bassiana & M. anisopliae ,والتي تم عزلها محليا يمكن أن تستخدم كعوامل مكافحة حيوية ناجحة. الكلمات المفتاحية: B. Bassiana ,M. anisopliae, سوسة النخيل الحمراء, التشخيص الجزيئي, المقاومة الحيوية

Semi-Supervised Online Speaker Diarization using Vector Quantization with Alternative Codebooks

Speaker diarization systems process audio files by labelling speech segments according to speakers' identities. Many speaker diarization systems work offline and are not suited for online applications. We present a semi-supervised, online, low-complexity system. While, in general, speaker diarization operates in an unsupervised manner, the presented system relies on the enrollment of the participating speakers in the conversation. The diarization system has two main novel aspects. The first one is a proposed online learning strategy that evaluates processed segments according to their usefulness for learning a speaker, i.e. update a speaker model with it. The segment is evaluated using two metrics to determine whether to use the segment to update the system. The second novel aspect is a proposed vector quantization approach that models the score not only depending on the target speaker codebook but also takes an alternative codebook into account. We also present an approach to compute the alternative codebook. Simulation results show that the proposed system outperforms a comparable system without the proposed online learning strategy and shows benefits, especially for short training lengths