Effect of infection site and glyphosate application on the foliar symptoms expression of soybean sudden death syndrome

Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium virguliforme, is an important root disease that can cause root rot and express foliar symptoms leading to premature defoliation and yield reduction. Earlier reports suggested that the germination of F. virguliforme macroconidia and penetration of their germination tube may differ among the sites along the root system of soybean plants. Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] is a post-emergent broad spectrum non-selective herbicide that is largely used in soybean production systems. Previous study shows that infection does not always lead to disease in this host-pathogen interaction as the fungus can reach high level of infection of colonization and remain asymptomatic. Expression of foliar symptoms is critical to the occurrence of SDS. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess effects of different root inoculation sites on foliar symptom expression and the effect of mechanical injury of seedling tap roots on foliar symptoms expression of SDS and (2) to evaluate the effect of glyphosate application on SDS foliar symptom development two greenhouse experimentsWe evaluated three different sites of infection: root tip, middle root portion and upper root. After inoculation, seedlings were transplanted to cones filled with sterile potting mixture. Rhizosphere temperature was controlled by using a water bath (20°C). Plants were evaluated three weeks after transplanting for incidence and severity of SDS. Root sites were not significant for incidence of SDS. Higher incidence was observed when root tips were wounded, probably because tissue wound increased xylem infections. A field survey was done to compare disease levels for plants grown in greenhouse to plants in the fields. Adjacent symptomatic and asymptomatic plants were collect from three fields naturally infested with F. virguliforme. Our results suggested that F. virguliforme can infect plants and remain asymptomatic at a high incidence level. To evaluate the effect of glyphosate application on SDS foliar symptom development two greenhouse experiments were conducted using 4 glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars, P92Y51, P93Y13, P93Y13, and P93Y13, that were planted in soil inoculated with F. virguliforme and sprayed with 4 different application rates of glyphosate 0, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.4 L ha-1 of Roundup Ultra ®, plants were sprayed 2 weeks after planting. Incidence and severity of foliar symptoms were evaluated as well as plant height. Our results show that specific cultivars and rates of glyphosate can increase incidence and severity of SDS foliar symptoms

Studies on Pathogenesis of the Diseases Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina and Phomopsis longicolla on Soybean

Soybean (Glycine max), a legume, is an economically important crop in many parts of the world, including the USA, Brazil, Argentina, China, and India, currently the top five producing countries. Soybean is primarily used as feed, with incising markets for food and biodiesel. Similar to most crops, soybean yield and quality are affected by a diverse group of plant pathogens. In particular, several species of filamentous fungi have been the cause of severe yield losses in most growing regions world-wide. The soil born fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, causal agent of charcoal rot, has been found to be endemic to several soybean production areas. Charcoal rot has been historically associated with severe yield reduction, particularly when coupled with drought stress. However, little is known about how irrigation-regimes change affect the relationship between disease severity and yield. A different soil and seed born fungus Phomopsis longicolla, causes severe seed decay under conducive environmental conditions, warm and wet weather during soybean senescence. Although both fungi co-inhabit soybean roots and stems for extended periods of times, little is known about their interactions. Recently, P. longicolla has been shown to be amenable to genetic manipulation via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. However, no study has yet taken advantage of this amenability to dissect potential mechanisms associated to Phomopsis seed decay. This study was designed to understand how different irrigation regimes may impact severity of charcoal rot and its relationship to soybean yield. Additionally, the interplay between M. phaseolina and P. longicolla in soybean tap roots via the formation of zone lines was investigated. Lastly, taking advantage of available genetic transformation methodology, experiments were implemented to elucidate putative molecular mechanisms of Phomopsis seed decay pathogenesis. Results indicated that drought stress significantly increases charcoal rot severity and decreased yield. However, no consistent relationship was observed between these variables. Observations also showed that P. longicolla forms zone lines in soybean taproots thereby precluding M. phaseolina from colonizing these tissues. In this study, for the first time, forward and reverse genetic approaches and transcriptomics were employed on P. longicolla successfully. Multiple genes linked to decreased pathogenicity were identified in P. longicolla

Environmental Safety and Living in a Smart City

The present study examines the environmental safety and liveability of today’s metropolises and cities by discussing the present situation regarding technical sciences, accidents, disasters and waste management, sharing some philosophical thoughts on the future, describing the technical problems, human failures and errors, and finally, by proposing some possible solutions. It is necessary and of upmost importance to address the issues of security, environmental safety and protection, as well as long-term, sustainable liveability of the smart cities of the future by considering the latest technology available today, as proposed in the present study. It outlines some of the guidelines aiming to change human behaviour, the necessity and possibility of ensuring order and eliminating insecurity, chaos and disorder in future smart cities. Furthermore, it wishes to bring attention to the lack and need of scientific research of the elements providing security and liveability of today’s cities and metropolises, the absence of which is causing suffering and unbearable living conditions for millions of people. Finally, it proposes an approach of engineering and careful, responsible and forward-looking planning to ensure that people will live in security and dignity in the smart cities of the future

The alimentary impact of the hemp seed

Hemp seed and hemp seed oil can supply us with many important substances. Their essential fatty acid compositions are favourable, but they may contain non-psychotropic cannabinoids. Emerging data show that these components can influence the health status of the population beneficially. Some data also showed trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol in seed oils, the main psychotropic cannabinoid that is contraindicated.Our aim was to examine cannabinoids and fatty acid composition as well as metal and non-metal element compositions in products, like hemp seed oil and chopped hemp seed capsule.The cannabinoids were separated by thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid composition was determined with gas chromatography, and elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Sn, Sr, V, and Zn) were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric method. Selenium was determined with polarographic analyser.Cannabinoids were not detectable by thin layer chromatography, so hemp seed oil, as well as the capsule, have no psychotropic adverse effect. Our data showed that hemp seed contains essential fatty acids close to the recommended ratio. The B and Se concentrations of the oils and the P concentration of the capsule are also relevant

Radiofrequency Identification by using Drones in Railway Accidents and Disaster Situations

Today, railway operation procedures include the transportation of large amount of hazardous substances. Our research has been motivated by the desire to find concrete and urgent solutions to the safety issues of handling waste generated manly in case of accidents and disaster situations during the transportation of hazardous substances In order to ensure safety in the transportation of dangerous goods, and to facilitate the fast and efficient waste handling of hazardous substances released into the environment during unexpected events, we have elaborated a new method, in which we suggest the radiofrequency identification of dangerous consignments in case of disaster situations by the use of drones

A Hybrid Execution Environment for Computer-Interpretable Guidelines in PROforma

In this paper, we share our experience of developing a hybrid execution environment for computer-interpretable guidelines (CIGs) in PROforma. The proposed environment is part of the CAPABLE system which provides coaching for cancer patients and decision support for physicians. It extends a standard PROforma execution engine - Deontics Engine (DE) - with additional components that act as wrappers around DE, allow handling of non-standard tasks, and facilitate integration with the rest of the CAPABLE system. This yields a hybrid environment in which the standard engine and specialized components must be interfaced together by some intervening layer. In the CAPABLE system this has been achieved by defining a set of specialized meta-properties which are attached to data and tasks in the PROforma CIGs to specify the interface between engine and components.Comment: Presented as a short paper at the Knowledge Representation for Healthcare 2023 (KR4HC 2023) worksho

Sequência Didática para elaboração de Projetos Tecnopedagógicos

This article presents and discusses the process of developing a didactic sequence (DS) to propose a techno-pedagogical project. It also addresses the results of the application of this project. The aim is to detail the development phases and the contexts in which this project has options to be applied. To this end, a DS was carried out addressing the main pedagogical aspects in dialogue with Digital Information and Communication Technology (DICT) resources existing in the school environment of different levels and educational realities. It was possible to conclude that the proposed DS was able to develop in postgraduate students of the Specialization Course in Information Technology in Education the knowledge necessary to carry out better pedagogical practices in the context of techno-pedagogy. The DS proposal presented is characterized as flexible, making it possible to adapt to different objects, levels and teaching modalities in line with Education 4.0 and 5.0.Este artículo presenta y discute el proceso de elaboración de una secuencia didáctica (DS) para proponer un proyecto tecnopedagógico. El objetivo es detallar las fases de desarrollo y los contextos en los que este proyecto es viable para ser aplicado. Para ello, se realizó una DS abordando los principales aspectos pedagógicos en diálogo con los recursos de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación Digital (TDIC) existentes en el ámbito escolar de los diferentes niveles y realidades educativas. Se pudo concluir que la DS propuesta fue capaz de desarrollar en los estudiantes de Postgrado del Curso de Especialización en Informática en Educación los conocimientos necesarios para realizar una mejor praxis pedagógica en el contexto de la tecnopedagogía. La propuesta de SD presentada se caracteriza por ser flexible, permitiendo adaptarse a diferentes objetos, niveles y modalidades de enseñanza en línea con la Educación 4.0 y 5.0.O presente artigo apresenta e discute o processo de elaboração de uma sequência didática (SD) para a proposição de um projeto tecnopedagógico. Aborda, ainda, os resultados da aplicação desse projeto. Objetiva-se detalhar as fases de elaboração e os contextos em que esse projeto tem viabilidade de ser aplicado. Para tanto, foi realizada uma SD abordando os principais aspectos pedagógicos em diálogo com recursos de Tecnologia Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TDIC) existentes no ambiente escolar de diferentes níveis e realidades educacionais. Foi possível concluir que a SD proposta foi capaz de desenvolver nos estudantes de Pós-Graduação do Curso de Especialização em Informática na Educação conhecimentos necessários para realizar melhores práxis pedagógicas no contexto da tecnopedagogia. A proposta de SD apresentada caracteriza-se como flexível, e possibilitou a elaboração de projetos tecnopedagógico para diferentes objetivos, níveis e modalidades de ensino em consonância com a Educação 4.0 e 5.0