Growth Manipulation of Slicer Carrots by Foliar-applied Gibberellic Acid in New York

New York, USA, is a regional hub for processing carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) production and Nantes-type cultivars are preferred for slicing. Diameter is critical in carrots for slicing, with roots larger than 1 5/8 inch being rejected. The potential to manipulate carrot root diameter and hence suitability for slicing by foliar-applied gibberellic acid (GA3) was tested in four small plot replicated field trials over 3 years (2020, 2021, and 2022). In the most efficacious treatments, GA3 resulted in a 23.1% to 135.4% increase in foliar biomass at the expense of root weight and diameter. Increases in foliar biomass are beneficial to facilitate top-pulling harvest. Reductions in root diameter from GA3 ranged from 9.5% to 19.6%, and in 2020 and 2022, increased the proportion of roots suitable for slicing. GA3 did not significantly affect root length and number. In two 2021 trials, GA3 increased color intensity quantified by a colorimeter, but this change was not noticeable to the naked eye. The optimal number of GA3 applications was seasonally dependent, ranging from a single application at 107 to 108 days after planting (DAP) in 2021, to two applications at 74 + 92 DAP in 2022. Three GA3 applications per season or late applications (up to 14 days prior to harvest) were not beneficial

Genetic structure of Cercospora beticola populations on Beta vulgaris in New York and Hawaii

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola, is a major disease of Beta vulgaris worldwide. No sexual stage is known for C. beticola but in its asexual form it overwinters on infected plant debris as pseudostromata, and travels short distances by rain splash-dispersed conidiospores. Cercospora beticola infects a broad range of host species and may be seedborne. The relative contribution of these inoculum sources to CLS epidemics on table beet is not well understood. Pathogen isolates collected from table beet, Swiss chard and common lambsquarters in mixed-cropping farms and monoculture fields in New York and Hawaii, USA, were genotyped (n = 600) using 12 microsatellite markers. All isolates from CLS symptoms on lambsquarters were identified as C. chenopodii. Sympatric populations of C. beticola derived from Swiss chard and table beet were not genetically differentiated. Results suggested that local (within field) inoculum sources may be responsible for the initiation of CLS epidemics in mixed-cropping farms, whereas external sources of inoculum may be contributing to CLS epidemics in the monoculture fields in New York. New multiplex PCR assays were developed for mating-type determination for C. beticola. Implications of these findings for disease management are discussed

Draft genome sequence of Annulohypoxylon stygium, Aspergillus mulundensis, Berkeleyomyces basicola (syn. Thielaviopsis basicola), Ceratocystis smalleyi, two Cercospora beticola strains, Coleophoma cylindrospora, Fusarium fracticaudum, Phialophora cf. hyalina, and Morchella septimelata

Draft genomes of the species Annulohypoxylon stygium, Aspergillus mulundensis, Berkeleyomyces basicola (syn. Thielaviopsis basicola), Ceratocystis smalleyi, two Cercospora beticola strains, Coleophoma cylindrospora, Fusarium fracticaudum, Phialophora cf. hyalina and Morchella septimelata are presented. Both mating types (MAT1-1 and MAT1-2) of Cercospora beticola are included. Two strains of Coleophoma cylindrospora that produce sulfated homotyrosine echinocandin variants, FR209602, FR220897 and FR220899 are presented. The sequencing of Aspergillus mulundensis, Coleophoma cylindrospora and Phialophora cf. hyalina has enabled mapping of the gene clusters encoding the chemical diversity from the echinocandin pathways, providing data that reveals the complexity of secondary metabolism in these different species. Overall these genomes provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular processes underlying pathogenicity (in some cases), biology and toxin production of these economically important fungi

Detection of Swede Midge in Western New York Crucifer Fields

The swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii) is a tiny insect whose larvae feed on and destroy the growing tips of cruciferous plants such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. The pest was not known in North America until it was identified in Ontario, Canada in 2000. A 2002 survey conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), confirmed the presence of swede midge in eight Ontario counties, where it has caused serious losses in crop yield and marketability. Neighboring New York State leads the United States in cabbage production with a crop valued at $87 million per year that could be at risk should swede midge infestation occur. There was a need to educate the NY agricultural industry about this potential pest and to determine its presence in NYS

Incidence and pathogenicity of Didymella americana on table beet in new york

New York is the second largest producer of table beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) in the United States. In 2015, a Didymella sp. was isolated from table beet fields across New York. Foliar symptoms included dark sunken spots, large necrotic patches with indefinite margins, and necrotic, round-to-oval lesions. The objective was to identify the Didymella sp. associated with table beet, and assess pathogenicity

Horticultural characteristics and susceptibility of table beet cultivars to Cercospora Leaf Spot in New York

Table beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) production in New York is increasing for direct sale, use in value-added products, or processing. One of the most important diseases affecting table beet is cercospora leaf spot (CLS) caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola. CLS causes lesions on leaves that coalesce and leads to premature defoliation. The presence of CLS may cause buyer rejection at fresh markets. Defoliation fromCLS may also result in crop loss because of the inability to harvest with top-pulling machinery. The susceptibility of popular table beet cultivars (Boldor, Detroit, Falcon, Merlin, Rhonda, Ruby Queen, and Touchstone Gold) to CLS was tested using C. beticola isolates representative of the New York population. Two trials were conducted by inoculating 6-week-old plants in the misting chamber. A small-plot replicated field trial was also conducted to examine horticultural characteristics of the cultivars. In the misting chamber trials, disease progress measured by the area under the disease progress stairs (AUDPS) was not significantly different between the red cultivars, Detroit and Ruby Queen, and was significantly higher in ‘Boldor’ than the other yellow cultivar Touchstone Gold. In the field trial, the number of CLS lesions per leaf at the final disease assessment and AUDPS were significantly lower in cultivar RubyQueen than others and not significantly different between the yellow cultivars. The dry weight of roots was not significantly different among cultivars at first harvest (77 days after planting). At 112 days after planting, the dry weight of roots was significantly higher in cultivar Detroit than Rhonda and Boldor. Leaf blade length and the length:width ratio were cultivar-dependent, which may facilitate selection for specific fresh markets. Significant associations between canopy reflectance in the near infrared (IR) (830 nm), dry weight of foliage, and number of CLS lesions per leaf suggested that this technique may have utility for remote assessment of these variables in table beet research. Implications of these findings for the management of CLS in table beet are discussed

Management of cercospora leaf spot in conventional and organic table beet production

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS; Cercospora beticola) is the most important foliar disease affecting table beet. Epidemics occur annually and fungicides extend the survival of foliage to enable mechanized harvest. However, a high frequency of strobilurin-resistant C. beticola isolates necessitates the identification of fungicides with different modes of action for tactical rotation. There is also substantial demand for organically produced table beet, for which synthetic fungicides are prohibited. Five small-plot, replicated field trials were conducted over two years to evaluate conventional and Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)-listed products for CLS control in table beet cv. Ruby Queen at Geneva and Ithaca, New York. Benzovindiflupyr + difenoconazole significantly reduced temporal disease progress (measured by the area under the disease progress stairs; AUDPS) by 86.7 to 97.3% compared with nontreated plots, and mean survival time of leaves was significantly extended. The demethylation inhibitor, propiconazole, also provided significant disease control in two trials in 2016. Disease severity in plots treated with succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (boscalid, fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin, and penthiopyrad) was significantly decreased compared with nontreated plots but less than other fungicides. Efficacious fungicides significantly increased the dry weight of foliage but did not significantly affect the dry weight of roots, and root shoulder diameter. The enhanced longevity of leaves and increased dry weight of foliage may extend opportunities for mechanized harvesting without deleteriously affecting root yield parameters which are strictly regulated for the processing markets. In two trials, copper octanoate + Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (as Cueva + Double Nickel LC) resulted in significantly improved disease control in comparison with application of either product alone and provided comparable and reproducible disease control equivalent to conventional fungicides at both locations. The implications of these findings for CLS control in conventional and organic table beet production systems are discussed

Web Services in Healthcare

112 σ.Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία αφορά στις ιατρικές υπηρεσίες διαδικτύου. Αρχικά περιγράφονται τα πληροφοριακά συστήματα υγείας, ώστε να φανεί η χρησιμότητά τους στην ελληνική πραγματικότητα. Στη συνέχεια, παρουσιάζονται γενικά στοιχεία για τα web services, τα βασικά πρότυπα της αρχιτεκτονική τους και τα πλεονεκτήματά τους σε σχέση με παλαιότερες τεχνολογίες. Στη συνέχεια παρουσιάζονται οι βασικές ιατρικές υπηρεσίες διαδικτύου, οι οποίες είναι ο ηλεκτρονικός ιατρικός φάκελος και η ηλεκτρονική συνταγογράφηση, καθώς και οι υπηρεσίες τηλεϊατρικής, οι οποίες παρουσιάζουν μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον κυρίως για την πρωτοβάθμια περίθαλψη. Περιγράφονται οι απαιτήσεις ενός συστήματος κατ’ οίκον νοσηλείας και οι διάφορες εφαρμογές της τηλεϊατρικής σε τομείς όπως η παθολογία, η δερματολογία, η οφθαλμολογία κλπ. Εν συνεχεία, τονίζεται η ανάγκη ύπαρξης προτυποποίησης για τα πληροφοριακά συστήματα και για το λόγο αυτό παρουσιάζονται τα διάφορα υπάρχοντα πρότυπα επικοινωνίας, πρότυπα τυποποίησης κλινικών δεδομένων, πρότυπα αναγνώρισης ασθενών και παρόχων υπηρεσιών υγείας, και πρότυπα εξασφάλισης απορρήτου δεδομένων. Η ασφάλεια των συστημάτων είναι εξαιρετικά σημαντική προϋπόθεση, και για το λόγο αυτό γίνεται ιδιαίτερη αναφορά στις συνήθεις απειλές των πληροφοριακών συστημάτων και των τρόπων αντιμετώπισής τους. Τέλος παρουσιάζονται παραδείγματα επιτυχημένης εφαρμογής πληροφοριακών συστημάτων, όπως η μονάδα Τηλεϊατρικής του νοσοκομείου «Σωτηρία» και το πρόγραμμα MPOWER που αφορά σε πλατφόρμα απομακρυσμένης παρακολούθησης ηλικιωμένων με προβλήματα ελαφριάς άνοιας.This particular diploma thesis refers to medical web services. First of all, the importance of health information systems, especially for the Greek reality, is outlined. Web services have many benefits over earlier technologies, which arise from the standards of their architecture. The basic medical web services are the electronic medical record and the electronic prescription, as well as telemedicine applications, in fields such as pathology, dermatology, ophthalmology etc. In medical web services there is great need for standardization and classification, in communication, clinical data standards, identification of patients and health care providers, as well as security and privacy standards. The most common security threats and the protection measures against them are mentioned. The telemedicine unit and the MPOWER platform for elderly people with Demetria problems are successful examples of the implementation of medical web services.Αλμπέρτος Ι. Μόλχ

Challenges and Prospects for Building Resilient Disease Management Strategies and Tactics for the New York Table Beet Industry

The New York table beet industry is expanding and has unique challenges to minimize crop loss in both conventional and organic production. Diseases may reduce plant population density and increase heterogeneity in a stand, reduce the duration of time foliage is healthy, and decrease the yield of marketable roots. Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Pythiumultimum Trow are dominant in the pathogen complex affecting crop stand and root health. Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) caused by the fungus, Cercospora beticola Sacc., is a highly destructive disease affecting foliar health. In conventional table beet production, fungicides are applied in-furrow and at emergence for early season and root disease control, and applied to foliage periodically thereafter for foliar disease control. Resistance within C. beticola populations to single-site mode-of-action fungicides poses the most significant threat to the resilience of conventional disease management. An integrated approach to reduce pesticide application when not economically warranted (i.e., a false positive) is urgently required. For foliar disease, improved scheduling of fungicides may reduce usage without loss of disease control. For soilborne diseases, pre-plant quantification of soilborne inoculum may support the selection of fields with lower inoculum densities to minimize risk of early season and root disease. For organic production, some approved products have moderate efficacy for foliar disease control, but strategies to reduce inoculum and select fields at lowest risk of disease will be paramount. Crop rotation has shown promise for disease management, but broad host range of several of the major soilborne pathogens limits the utility of this method in the production region. Enhanced knowledge of cultivar susceptibility to local populations of fungal pathogens responsible for foliar and root diseases is paramount, and adoption of commercially acceptable cultivars with improved resistance to CLS and Rhizoctonia crown and root rot has potential to transform disease management strategies for the New York table beet industry

Temporal genetic differentiation of Cercospora beticola populations in New York Table beet fields

Annual epidemics of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola, can result in substantial defoliation in table beet fields in New York. High allelic and genotypic diversity have been described within C. beticola populations; however, information on the temporal stability of populations is lacking. C. beticola isolates were obtained from symptomatic leaves in three table beet fields in successive years. Two of the fields were organic mixed-cropping farms and the third was managed conventionally in a broad-acre cropping system. C. beticola isolates (n = 304) were genotyped using 12 microsatellite markers. Genotypic diversity (Simpson's complement index = 0.178 to 0.990), allele frequencies, and indices of differentiation between years varied. Pairwise index of differentiation values ranged from 0.02 to 0.25 for clone-corrected data, and indicated significant genetic differentiation at Farm 2. No multilocus genotype was shared between years. The shift in multilocus genotypes between years questions the role of clonally reproducing primary inoculum. Collectively, these results suggest that a dominant inoculum source for initiating annual CLS epidemics is external to the field of interest. These findings have implications for CLS disease management in conventional and organic table beet production