Comparison of transvaginal versus transumbilical retrieval technique of laparoscopically removed surgical specimens

Background: Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive, safe, and acceptable technique for the removal of adnexal masses whereas specimen removal remains a big challenge due to the size and type of specimens. In this study, we have discussed the two different routes of specimen retrieval, transumbilical and transvaginal route. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 34 women with adnexal mass who were admitted for laparoscopic removal of adnexal mass. Patients were randomized into two groups, Group A included 17 women who underwent transumbilical retrieval of specimens, and Group B included 17 patients who underwent transvaginal retrieval of specimens. Results: Basic demographic data were similar in both groups. None of our patients had intraoperative & postoperative complications. There was no significant difference in Specimen retrieval time, operative time, and blood loss. Two patients (N=2) in group A had spillage. Postoperative pain was significantly higher in group A and the cosmetic response was significantly higher in group B. Conclusions: Both transumbilical and transvaginal techniques of specimen retrieval in the laparoscopically resected specimen are safe, feasible, and easy, but the Transvaginal route has advantages over the transumbilical route because of better cosmesis and less postoperative pain

Temporal transcriptomic profiling elucidates sorghum defense mechanisms against sugarcane aphids

Background The sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) has emerged as a key pest on sorghum in the United States that feeds from the phloem tissue, drains nutrients, and inflicts physical damage to plants. Previously, it has been shown that SCA reproduction was low and high on sorghum SC265 and SC1345 plants, respectively, compared to RTx430, an elite sorghum male parental line (reference line). In this study, we focused on identifying the defense-related genes that confer resistance to SCA at early and late time points in sorghum plants with varied levels of SCA resistance. Results We used RNA-sequencing approach to identify the global transcriptomic responses to aphid infestation on RTx430, SC265, and SC1345 plants at early time points 6, 24, and 48 h post infestation (hpi) and after extended period of SCA feeding for 7 days. Aphid feeding on the SCA-resistant line upregulated the expression of 3827 and 2076 genes at early and late time points, respectively, which was relatively higher compared to RTx430 and SC1345 plants. Co-expression network analysis revealed that aphid infestation modulates sorghum defenses by regulating genes corresponding to phenylpropanoid metabolic pathways, secondary metabolic process, oxidoreductase activity, phytohormones, sugar metabolism and cell wall-related genes. There were 187 genes that were highly expressed during the early time of aphid infestation in the SCA-resistant line, including genes encoding leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins, ethylene response factors, cell wall-related, pathogenesis-related proteins, and disease resistance-responsive dirigent-like proteins. At 7 days post infestation (dpi), 173 genes had elevated expression levels in the SCA-resistant line and were involved in sucrose metabolism, callose formation, phospholipid metabolism, and proteinase inhibitors. Conclusions In summary, our results indicate that the SCA-resistant line is better adapted to activate early defense signaling mechanisms in response to SCA infestation because of the rapid activation of the defense mechanisms by regulating genes involved in monolignol biosynthesis pathway, oxidoreductase activity, biosynthesis of phytohormones, and cell wall composition. This study offers further insights to better understand sorghum defenses against aphid herbivory

Greenbug feeding-induced resistance to sugarcane aphids in sorghum

Plants are attacked by multiple insect pest species and insect herbivory can alter plant defense mechanisms. The plant defense responses to a specific herbivore may also contribute to the herbivore growth/survival on plants. Feeding by one insect species can modulate the plant defenses, which can either facilitate or hamper the colonization of subsequent incoming insects. However, little is known about the effect of sequential herbivory on sorghum plants. In this study, we demonstrate that a specialist aphid, sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) grows faster on sorghum than a generalist aphid species, greenbug (GB; Schizaphis graminum). We also determined how the pre-infestation of SCA on sorghum affected the invasion of GB and vice-versa. Our sequential herbivory experiments revealed that SCA reproduction was lower on GB-primed sorghum plants, however, the reverse was not true. To assess the differences in plant defenses induced by specialist vs. generalist aphids, we monitored the expression of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) marker genes, and flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes after 48 h of aphid infestation. The results indicated that GB infestation induced higher expression of SA and JA-related genes, and flavonoid pathway genes (DFR, FNR, and FNSII) compared to SCA infestation. Overall, our results suggested that GB-infested plants activate the plant defenses via phytohormones and flavonoids at early time points and hampers the colonization of incoming SCA, as well as explain the reproductive success of SCA compared to GB

Greenbug feeding-induced resistance to sugarcane aphids in sorghum

Plants are attacked by multiple insect pest species and insect herbivory can alter plant defense mechanisms. The plant defense responses to a specific herbivore may also contribute to the herbivore growth/survival on plants. Feeding by one insect species can modulate the plant defenses, which can either facilitate or hamper the colonization of subsequent incoming insects. However, little is known about the effect of sequential herbivory on sorghum plants. In this study, we demonstrate that a specialist aphid, sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) grows faster on sorghum than a generalist aphid species, greenbug (GB; Schizaphis graminum). We also determined how the pre-infestation of SCA on sorghum affected the invasion of GB and vice-versa. Our sequential herbivory experiments revealed that SCA reproduction was lower on GB-primed sorghum plants, however, the reverse was not true. To assess the differences in plant defenses induced by specialist vs. generalist aphids, we monitored the expression of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) marker genes, and flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes after 48 h of aphid infestation. The results indicated that GB infestation induced higher expression of SA and JA-related genes, and flavonoid pathway genes (DFR, FNR, and FNSII) compared to SCA infestation. Overall, our results suggested that GB-infested plants activate the plant defenses via phytohormones and flavonoids at early time points and hampers the colonization of incoming SCA, as well as explain the reproductive success of SCA compared to GB

Insect and Pest Management for Sustaining Crop Production Under Changing Climatic Patterns of Drylands

Climate change is alarming, particularly for agriculturists as it severely impacts the development, distribution, and survival of insects and pests, affecting crop production globally. Over time, climate change is drastically tumbling the crop productivity in all the cropping systems, whereas the dryland agriculture with existing low productivity is immensely hit. While all the existing species in drylands, including humans, are coping with extreme climate variations for millennia, future climate change predictions put dryland agriculture in a threat zone. Drylands support 38% of the world’s population; therefore, climate change coupled with population growth and global food security draws the attention of scientists towards sustainable crop production under changing trends. The intermingling and intermixing of various biological, hydrological, and geographical systems plus the anthropogenic factors continuously amplify the changes in the dryland systems. All of this brings us to one challenge: developing pest management strategies suitable for changing climatic patterns. In this complex agrology framework, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, especially those involving early monitoring of pests using prediction models, are a way to save the show. In this chapter, we will summarize the direct and indirect effects of climate change on crop production, the biology of insect pests, the changing pest scenarios, the efficacy of current pest management tactics, and the development of next-generation crop protection products. Finally, we will provide a perspective on the integration of best agronomic practices and crop protection measures to achieve the goal of sustainable crop production under changing climatic trends of drylands

Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology: 2020 Student Debates

The 2020 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were live-streamed during the Virtual Annual Meeting to debate current, prominent entomological issues of interest to members. The Student Debates Subcommittee of the National ESA Student Affairs Committee coordinated the student efforts throughout the year and hosted the live event. This year, four unbiased introductory speakers provided background for each debate topic while four multi-university teams were each assigned a debate topic under the theme ‘Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology’. The two debate topics selected were as follows: 1) What is the best taxonomic approach to identify and classify insects? and 2) What is the best current technology to address the locust swarms worldwide? Unbiased introduction speakers and debate teams began preparing approximately six months before the live event. During the live event, teams shared their critical thinking and practiced communication skills by defending their positions on either taxonomical identification and classification of insects or managing the damaging outbreaks of locusts in crops

Sorghum-Sugarcane Aphid Interactions: Multi-Omic Approaches to Elucidate Plant Defense Against Sap-Feeding Insects

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an important crop grown worldwide due to its multiple uses and adaptability to different environments. It serves as an excellent food source and is also used for biofuel production and livestock feed. However, due to the outbreak of sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) on sorghum in 2013, it has suffered yield losses of \u3e50% in subsequent years. Different sources of SCA resistant sorghum have been identified but the mechanism of resistance against SCA is not known. The current study aimed to comprehend the defense mechanisms used by sorghum plants to counter aphid infestation, laying a foundation for the development of sustainable pest control. In this study, we used the previously identified SCA-resistant line SC265, SCAsusceptible line SC1345, and an elite sorghum male parental line RTx430 (reference line). We found that greenbugs (Schizaphis graminum)-infested sorghum activates plant defenses via phytohormones and flavonoids and hampers the colonization of subsequent incoming SCA. Phytohormone analysis and bioassays have revealed that jasmonic acid (JA) has a dual role in regulating sorghum defense against SCA; it contributes to initial aphid deterrence, while at later stages, it facilitates aphid feeding and colonization. Interestingly, JA facilitated aphid feeding and colonization on sorghum plants is mediated by altering sugar metabolism. Transcriptional response of sorghum to SCA feeding at early time points and for prolonged feeding suggested that aphid feeding modulates sorghum defenses by regulating genes corresponding to plant defenses, sucrose metabolism, callose formation, phospholipases, and proteinase inhibitors. Overall, our transcriptomic results indicate that the SCA-resistant line is better adapted to activate early defense signaling mechanisms in response to SCA feeding. Lastly, we also performed lipid profiling of the SCA-resistant and susceptible lines and uncovered that SCA feeding drastically reduced the overall lipids in the SCA-resistant line. Our results also suggest that SCA feeding induced the accumulation of secondary messenger lipids such as diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid, indicating their potential role in modulating plant defenses. Collectively, results from this research elucidated sorghum defense mechanisms against sap-feeding aphids and identified new gene targets for pest control

Understanding the Role of CCoAOMT Gene in Sorghum Defense Against Sugarcane Aphids

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a beneficial, economic food crop cultivated around the globe. Since 2013, sorghum production in the United States has been negatively impacted by the attack of a piercing-sucking insect pest, sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari). Caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT), an enzyme that contributes to lignin modification, is suspected to increase/trigger sorghum resistance to SCA. This study used the sorghum reference line, RTx430 (wild-type), and two CCoAOMT gene overexpression lines, CCoAOMT9a and CCoAOMT28b, to assess the role of the CCoAOMT gene in sorghum resistance to SCA. Using the choice and no-choice assays, we have identified that the overexpression of CCoAOMT provided enhanced resistance to SCA compared to RTx430 plants. The Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) analysis unveiled that the SCA spent significantly less time in the sieve element phase of CCoAOMT28b overexpression plants compared to RTx430 plants. Our study collectively demonstrates that the overexpression of the CCoAOMT gene provides enhanced resistance to SCA and deters the aphid from prolonged feeding from the sieve elements compared to the RTx430 plants

Temporal transcriptomic profiling elucidates sorghum defense mechanisms against sugarcane aphids

Abstract Background The sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari) has emerged as a key pest on sorghum in the United States that feeds from the phloem tissue, drains nutrients, and inflicts physical damage to plants. Previously, it has been shown that SCA reproduction was low and high on sorghum SC265 and SC1345 plants, respectively, compared to RTx430, an elite sorghum male parental line (reference line). In this study, we focused on identifying the defense-related genes that confer resistance to SCA at early and late time points in sorghum plants with varied levels of SCA resistance. Results We used RNA-sequencing approach to identify the global transcriptomic responses to aphid infestation on RTx430, SC265, and SC1345 plants at early time points 6, 24, and 48 h post infestation (hpi) and after extended period of SCA feeding for 7 days. Aphid feeding on the SCA-resistant line upregulated the expression of 3827 and 2076 genes at early and late time points, respectively, which was relatively higher compared to RTx430 and SC1345 plants. Co-expression network analysis revealed that aphid infestation modulates sorghum defenses by regulating genes corresponding to phenylpropanoid metabolic pathways, secondary metabolic process, oxidoreductase activity, phytohormones, sugar metabolism and cell wall-related genes. There were 187 genes that were highly expressed during the early time of aphid infestation in the SCA-resistant line, including genes encoding leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins, ethylene response factors, cell wall-related, pathogenesis-related proteins, and disease resistance-responsive dirigent-like proteins. At 7 days post infestation (dpi), 173 genes had elevated expression levels in the SCA-resistant line and were involved in sucrose metabolism, callose formation, phospholipid metabolism, and proteinase inhibitors. Conclusions In summary, our results indicate that the SCA-resistant line is better adapted to activate early defense signaling mechanisms in response to SCA infestation because of the rapid activation of the defense mechanisms by regulating genes involved in monolignol biosynthesis pathway, oxidoreductase activity, biosynthesis of phytohormones, and cell wall composition. This study offers further insights to better understand sorghum defenses against aphid herbivory

Dynamic regulation of phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites in modulating sorghum defense against fall armyworm

Plants undergo dynamic metabolic changes at the cellular level upon insect infestation to better defend themselves. Phenylpropanoids, a hub of secondary plant metabolites, encompass a wide range of compounds that can contribute to insect resistance. Here, the role of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) phenylpropanoids in providing defense against the chewing herbivore, fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, was explored. We screened a panel of nested association mapping (NAM) founder lines against FAW and identified SC1345 and Ajabsido as most resistant and susceptible lines to FAW, respectively, compared to reference parent, RTx430. Gene expression and metabolomic studies suggested that FAW feeding suppressed the expression level of genes involved in monolignol biosynthetic pathway and their associated phenolic intermediates at 10 days post infestation. Further, SC1345 genotype displayed elevated levels of flavonoid compounds after FAW feeding for 10 days, suggesting a diversion of precursors from lignin biosynthesis to the flavonoid pathway. Additionally, bioassays with sorghum lines having altered levels of flavonoids provided genetic evidence that flavonoids are crucial in providing resistance against FAW. Finally, the application of FAW regurgitant elevated the expression of genes associated with the flavonoid pathway in the FAW-resistant SC1345 genotype. Overall, our study indicates that a dynamic regulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway in sorghum plants imparts resistance against FAW