FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS, F. SCHULTZEI AND F. FUSCA (THYSANOPTERA.THRIPIDAE) IN PUERTO RICO

FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS, F. SCHULTZEI AND F. FUSCA (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) IN PUERTO RIC

FIRST REPORT OF SOOTY MOLD OF LONGAN (DIMOCARPUS LONGAN L.) CAUSED BY TRIPOSPERMUM POROSPORIFERUM MATSUSHIMA AND T. VARIABILE MATSUSHIMA IN PUERTO RICO

FIRST REPORT OF SOOTY MOLD OF LONGAN (DIMOCARPUS LONGAN L.) CAUSED BY TRIPOSPERMUM POROSPORIFERUM MATSUSHIMA AND T. VARIABILE MATSUSHIMA IN PUERTO RIC

FIRST REPORT OF APICAL TIP NECROSIS OF MANGO SEEDLINGS CAUSED BY FUSARIUM LATERITIUM NESS [= GIBBERELLA BACCATA (WALLR) SACC] IN PUERTO RICO

FIRST REPORT OF APICAL TIP NECROSIS OF MANGO SEEDLINGS CAUSED BY FUSARIUM LATERITIUM NESS [= GIBBERELLA BACCATA (WALLR) SACC] IN PUERTO RIC

Compuestos químicos inductores de resistencia contra Colletotrichum gloeosporioides en mangó

Various resistance-inducing chemicals were assessed in the interaction between mango (Mangifera indica L.) and the anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. These were salicylic acid, isonicotinic acid, benzo (1,2,3) thiadiazole-7-carbothionic acid S-methyl ester (Actigard®)7, and other chemical compounds structurally similar, such as nicotinic acid, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, isonicotinic acid ethyl ester, N-oxide isonicotinic acid, benzoic acid and sodium benzoate. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in C. gloeosporioidescolony growth were detected on culture media amended with the different resistance-inducing chemicals evaluated. At laboratory conditions, these compounds were sprayed to runoff on mango leaves and fruit pieces prior to inoculation. Lesion size was significantly reduced (P > 0.10) by concentrations ranging from 10-12 M to 10-6 M of salicylic acid (SA), 10-18 M and 10-14 M of isonicotinic acid (INA), 10-17 M to 10-2 M of Actigard®, and 10-10 M benzoic acid (BA). Salicylic acid, INA and BA caused toxicity on leaves at concentrations ranging from 10-1 to 10-3 M. Chemical compounds that induced resistance at laboratory conditions were further evaluated on six-month-old mango seedlings in a shade house. None of the chemicals tested significantly (P > 0.05) reduced lesion size caused by C. gloeosporioides. Other resistance-inducing chemicals not tested during these studies, such as probenazole, cyclopropane carboxylic acid derivatives, non-protein amino acids [β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) and  ϒ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] and Phytoguard®, should be evaluated individually and in combinations to clarify this lack of induced resistance in mango tissues. Se evaluaron varios compuestos químicos inductores de resistencia en la interacción entre mangó (Mangifera indica L.) y el patógeno, agente causal de la antracnosis, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Los compuestos evaluados fueron ácido salicílico, ácido isonicotínico, ácido benzo (1,2,3) tiadiazol-7-carbotiónico áster de S-metilo (Actigard®) y otros compuestos químicos estructuralmente similares como el ácido nicotínico, el dinucleótido de adenina de ácido nicotínico, el áster de etilo del ácido isonicotínico, el N-óxido de ácido isonicotínico, el ácido benzoico y el benzoato de sodio. En el laboratorio antes de la inoculación, estos compuestos se asperjaron hasta la saturación sobre pedazos de hojas y frutas de mangó. En condiciones de laboratorio, el tamaño de las lesiones causadas por C. gloeosporioidesen pedazos de hojas y frutas de mangó se redujo significativamente (P < 0.10) a concentraciones que fluctuaron entre 10-12 M a 10-6 M de ácido salicílico (SA), 10-18 M y 10-14 M de ácido isonicotínico (INA), 10-17 M a 10-2 M de Actigard® y 10-10 M de ácido benzoico (BA). El ácido salicílico, INA y BA causaron toxicidad en las hojas a concentraciones que fluctuaron entre 10-1 a 10-3 M.  Los compuestos químicos que indujeron resistencia en condiciones de laboratorio se evaluaron en árboles de mangó de seis meses de edad en condiciones de umbráculo. Ninguno de los compuestos químicos evaluados redujo significativamente (P < 0.05) el tamaño de la lesión causada por C. gloeosporioides. Otros agentes químicos inductores de resistencia que no fueron evaluados durante estos estudios, tales como probenazol, derivados ciclopropanos de ácido carboxílico, aminoácidos no-proteícos [β-ácido aminobutírico (BABA) y ϒ-ácido aminobutírico (GABA)] y Phytogard®, se deben evaluar individualmente y en combinación para clarificar la ausencia de inducción de resistencia en los tejidos del mangó

Identificación de hongos presentes en el biosólido municipal compostado y la turba

Municipal sewage sludge compost (MSC) is used as an alternate peat media in ornamental plants. Ornamental producers have demonstrated skepticism toward the use of MSC as a substratum because they understand it may contain pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of this study was the identification of fungi in MSC obtained from the compost plant of the Acueducts and Sewage Authority ¡n Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The samples were obtained from different piles. The treatments were four samples of MCS and one control, 100% peat, replicated three times. Serial dilutions from 10(-1) to 10(-4) were developed by means of 10 g of each treatment. The medium OHIO was used to grow fungi at 28 and 45° C. For each treatment of MSC and peat, fungi growth was observed at 28° C; at 45° C growth was observed only in the control. Three colonies were selected at random from petri dishes; 21 species of fungi were identified from genus: Aspergillus sp., Conidiobolus sp., Curvularia sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichoderma sp., and Scopulariopsis sp. The fungi identified in MSC were classified as saprophytic and antagonistic. Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen, a species reported as a human pathogen, was identified in peat.El biosólido municipal compostado (BMC) es utilizado como un medio alterno a la turba en cultivos ornamentales. Los productores de ornamentales han demostrado escepticismo al uso del BMC como sustrato por entender que podría contener microorganismos patógenos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue la identificación de hongos en BMC que se obtuvo de la planta de composta de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Las muestras analizadas se obtuvieron de pilas aerostáticas diferentes en distintas fechas. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron cuatro muestras de BMC y un control, turba 100%, los cuales se replicaron tres veces. Se realizaron diluciones seriadas desde 10(-1) a 10(-4) a partir de 10 g de cada tratamiento. Las diluciones se transfirieron a agar OHIO y se incubaron a 28 y 45° C. En todos los tratamientos de BMC y turba se observó crecimiento de hongos a 28° C; a 45° C solo se observó crecimiento en el Control (T5). Se seleccionaron tres colonias al azar por plato Petri. Se identificaron 21 especies de hongos. Los géneros identificados incluyen: Aspergillus sp., Conidiobolus sp., Curvularia sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Trichoderma sp. y Scopulariopsis sp. Los hongos identificados en el BMC han sido clasificados como saprófitos y antagonistas. Se identificó a Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen, especie reportada como patógeno humano, en el tratamiento de turba

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

LEAF BLIGHT OF ONION CAUSED BY PLEOSPORA ETURMIUNA SIMM. (TELEOMORPH OF STEMPHYLIUM ETURMIUNUIVU IN PUERTO RICO

LEAF BLIGHT OF ONION CAUSED BY PLEOSPORA ETURMIUNA SIMM. (TELEOMORPH OF STEMPHYLIUM ETURMIUNUM) IN PUERTO RIC

Estudios recientes de hongos patógenos de cebolla en Puerto Rico.

First descriptions of fungal pathogens of onions in Puerto Rico were reported by J. A. B. Nolla, J. Matz, R. A.Toro and C.M.Tucker during the 1920s. At that time onions were grown in the northern region of the island and fungal pathogens such as Alternaria allii, Aspergillus niger, Colletotrichum dematium, C. gloeosporioides, Rhizoctonia sp. and Stemphylium botryosum were reported causing important fungal diseases under field conditions. From 1999 to 2000 a broad survey of fungi associated with onion was conducted in the southern region of the island. Pathogenicity tests were conducted with 25 fungal isolates obtained from soil, mature onion bulbs and foliage from fields at Guánica, Juana Díaz, and Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico. The pathogenicity tests were performed on onion tissues of cultivars Excalibur and Nikita under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Tests showed that A. niger, Phoma sorghina, Phoma sp., Penicillium purpurogenum and Sclerotium rolfsii were pathogenic to mature bulbs; Alternaria alternata, A. tenuissima, Fusarium acuminatum, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum, Stemphylium sp. and S. herbarum to foliage; Phoma sp. and Phoma sorghina, pathogenic to young roots and bulbs. This is the first report of Phoma sorghina, Penicillium purpurogenum and Sclerotium rolfsii causing diseases in onions in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.Las primeras descripciones de hongos patógenos de cebolla en Puerto Rico se publicaron por J.A.B. Nolla, J. Matz, R. A. Toro y CM. Tucker durante los años 1920. En aquella época las cebollas se producían en la región norte de la isla y se informaron hongos patógenos tales como Alternaria allii, Aspergillus niger, Colletotrichum dematium, C. gloeosporioides, Rhizoctonia sp. y Stemphylium botryosum causando importantes enfermedades fungosas en condiciones de campo. Durante 1999 al 2000, se realizó un catastro de hongos asociados a la cebolla en la región sur de la isla. Se realizaron pruebas de patogenicidad con 25 aislados de hongos obtenidos de suelo, bulbos maduros y follaje de cebolla de fincas localizadas en Guánica, Juana Díaz, y Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico. Las pruebas de patogenicidad se realizaron en tejidos de cebolla de los cultivares Excalibur y Nikita en condiciones de laboratorio e invernadero. Las pruebas demostraron que A. niger, Phoma sorghina, Phoma sp., Penicillium purpurogenum y Sclerotium rolfsii fueron patogénicos a los bulbos maduros; Alternaría alternata, A. tenuissima, Fusarium acuminatum, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum, Stemphylium sp. y S. herbarum al follaje; Phoma sp. y Phoma sorghina, a raíces y bulbos jóvenes. Este es el primer informe de Phoma sorghina, Penicillium purpurogenum y Sclerotium rolfsii causando enfermedades en cebolla en Puerto Rico y el Caribe

Fungicidas para reprimir los hongos competidores de la seta china

Laboratory and production bed observations reveal that the major fungal competitors of the Chinese straw mushroom growing on sugarcane bagasse are Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Corticium sp., Coprinus sp., Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries and Chaetomium globosum Kunze ex Steud. Because of their perceived importance, these five fungi were selected for control studies. The selectivity of fungicides for the control of these fungi in Chinese straw mushroom beds was tested in vitro. Benomyl, captan, carboxin, chloroneb, mancozeb and penthachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) were tested in poison agar tests at the rates of 1, 10 and 100 p/m a.i. with Chinese straw mushroom and the selective competitors. Mushroom radial growth was reduced in all treatments of carboxin and at 10 and 100 p/m of chloroneb. Compared to these, PCNB was intermediately toxic. Chinese straw mushroom was tolerant to all concentrations of benomyl, captan and mancozeb. A. flavus radial growth was highly reduced with benomyl and slightly reduced by carboxin, chloroneb and PCNB. S. rolfsii showed growth reduction at 10 and 100 p/m of PCNB, chloroneb and carboxin. Growth of Coprinus sp., Corticium sp., C. globosum and A. flavus was reduced over 90% with treatments of benomyl at 100 p/m. Fungicidal sprays were evaluated in vivo on sugarcane bagasse and coffee pulp beds. Poor pasteurization of the coffee pulp was associated with rampant development of Aspergillus fumigatus Fries. and Mucor sp. Partial superficial control of these fungi was obtained with mancozeb alone (50 to 75% reduction of visible growth). Benomyl alone and in combination with mancozeb gave excellent suppression of fungi on the mushroom beds (90% reduction of visible growth). None of the treatments controlled fungi within the beds.La producción de la seta china, Volvariella volvacea (Bull ex. Fries) Sing, aparentemente está limitada por la incidencia de otros hongos que crecen junto a ésta en las camas de bagazo de caña de azúcar. A base de 20 géneros y especies de hongos identificados en las camas de bagazo observados en el laboratorio y el invernadero, Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Corticium sp., Coprinus sp., Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries y Chaetomium globosum Kunze ex Steud son los competidores más importantes de la seta china en el bagazo de caña. Por aparecer en el bagazo estas especies se seleccionaron para estudios de represión química. Se hicieron estudios "in vitro" para seleccionar posibles fungicidas para reprimir los hongos competidores sobre las camas de bagazo. Se estudiaron los siguientes fungicidas: benomyl, captan, carboxin, chloroneb, mancozeb y pentacloronitrobenceno (PCNB) a diferentes concentraciones (1, 10 y 10 p/m). Las pruebas incluyeron las especies competidoras y la seta china (V. volvacea). El crecimiento radial de la seta se redujo con concentraciones de 1 y 100 p.p.m. de carboxin y de 10 y 100 p.p.m. de chloroneb mientras que el PCNB tuvo un efecto tóxico intermedio. La seta china (V. volvacea) toleró dosis de 1, 10 y 100 p.p.m. de benomyl, captan y mancozeb. El crecimiento radial de A. flavus se redujo grandemente con benomyl y levemente con carboxin, chloroneb y PCNB. S. rolfsii mostró reducción de crecimiento con PCNB, chloroneb y carboxin a 10 y 100 ppm. El crecimiento de Coprinus sp., Corticium sp., Chaetomium globosum y A. flavus disminuyó en un 90% con los tratamientos de 100 p.p.m. de benomyl. Los fungicidas se evaluaron en camas de bagazo de caña de azúcar y pulpa de café con una mezcla 1:1 de benomyl y mancozeb. La pobre pasteurización de la pulpa de café estuvo asociada con el desarrollo descontrolado de Aspergillus fumigatus Fries y Mucor sp. Los tratamientos de mancozeb sólo mostraron una represión superficial parcial (50 a 75%) de estos hongos. Benomyl solo y en combinación con mancozeb mostró una excelente represión superficial de estos hongos, no fue eficaz controlando hongos internos en las camas de pulpa de café y bagazo de caña