A novel Arabidopsis pathosystem reveals cooperation of multiple hormonal response-pathways in host resistance against the global crop destroyer Macrophomina phaseolina.

Dubbed as a "global destroyer of crops", the soil-borne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp) infects more than 500 plant species including many economically important cash crops. Host defenses against infection by this pathogen are poorly understood. We established interactions between Mp and Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) as a model system to quantitatively assess host factors affecting the outcome of Mp infections. Using agar plate-based infection assays with different Arabidopsis genotypes, we found signaling mechanisms dependent on the plant hormones ethylene, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid to control host defense against this pathogen. By profiling host transcripts in Mp-infected roots of the wild-type Arabidopsis accession Col-0 and ein2/jar1, an ethylene/jasmonic acid-signaling deficient mutant that exhibits enhanced susceptibility to this pathogen, we identified hundreds of genes potentially contributing to a diverse array of defense responses, which seem coordinated by complex interplay between multiple hormonal response-pathways. Our results establish Mp/Arabidopsis interactions as a useful model pathosystem, allowing for application of the vast genomics-related resources of this versatile model plant to the systematic investigation of previously understudied host defenses against a major crop plant pathogen

Teacher Education for a Rural-Ready Teaching Force: Swings, Roundabouts, and Slippery Slides?

The preparation of teachers for rural schools has been a significant focus of research for many decades. In this paper we update previous reports of the extent of Initial Teacher Education courses that prepare teachers for rural schools in Australia. We found that despite significant and continued calls for rural teacher education, there are still very few rural-teaching units offered in teacher education courses, and there are no courses at all that seek this as an explicit outcome. As the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching claim the importance of teachers understanding students and their contexts, we argue that effective teacher education must not only focus on understanding rurality, and developing awareness of the affordances of place, but must also address the pedagogical requirements for present day rural teaching. We argue that the lack of teacher preparation for locational, geographic forms of social difference works to produce and sustain educational disadvantage when these intersect with economic and cultural difference. On this basis we call for government to address this major failing in the provision of educatio

Effect of selected environmental factors on the seed germination of the invasive species Polygala myrtifolia (Polygalaceae) in Australia

Context. Polygala myrtifolia L. has become a significant environmental weed in Australia, where it has invaded coastal ecosystems in temperate regions and there is a high risk of extensive further spread. Knowledge of seed-germination behaviour is essential to understand the potential future impact of this species. Aims. We investigated the effects of selected environmental factors and dormancy on P. myrtifolia seed germination and emergence to improve management strategies. Methods. Seeds were exposed to light, temperature, pH, salinity, osmotic potential and burial depth treatments to assess germination responses, dormancy and viability. Key results. Non-dormant seeds readily germinated to high percentages (93.0–95.0%) under specific day–night temperatures of 25°C–15°C regardless of light conditions and across all soil pH (75.0–100.0%). Salinities were tolerated up to 100 mM NaCl (70.0% germination) before sharply declining. Germination reduced from 98.3% to 40.0% at osmotic potentials o

Securities Fraud Prosecutions: Still Viable Under California Securities Law After Simon?

This Article discusses the prospect of securities fraud criminal prosecutions after the landmark decision People v. Simon, decided by the California Supreme Court in 1995. The California Supreme Court held that neither guilty knowledge nor criminal intent was required for a criminal conviction under Corporations Code 25401. This Article poses the question as to whether criminal prosecution is still a viable tool for enforcing California\u27s anti-fraud provision. The authors answer the question with a resounding yes, concluding that criminal prosecution for securities fraud will continue even in the aftermath of Simon