Combining High Yields and Blast Resistance in Rice (Oryza spp.): A Screening under Upland and Lowland Conditions in Benin

The future security of the supply of rice for food in Africa depends on improving the level of local production to achieve self-sufficiency. In order to cope with the existing gap between production and actual demand, combining a high level of rice blast tolerance and a high-yield potential is necessary. The current study was conducted under upland and lowland conditions in Benin to gain insight into the performance of selected blast-resistant accessions along with some currently grown varieties. This study revealed a high phenotypic variability among these accessions. Furthermore, differences in the performance of these accessions under lowland and upland conditions were observed. Principal component analysis showed their grouping in three clusters. The analysis also demonstrated a high yield potential among the blast-resistant rice accessions whether they were Oryza sativa or O. glaberrima. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between yield and both spikelet fertility and growth cycle duration. In conclusion, the present study identified promising rice accessions for future breeding. High phenotypic variability in combination with interesting traits can help to develop new resilient varieties. Finally, when the traits correlate with yield, they can be used as markers for an early screening method for identifying promising accessions at an early stage

Evaluation in vitro et in vivo de trois fongicides de synthese et d’un fongicide biologique sur la croissance et la severite de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides et de Pestalotia heterornis, champignons...

Full French Title: Evaluation in vitro et in vivo de trois fongicides de synthese et d’un fongicide biologique sur la croissance et la severite de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides et de Pestalotia heterornis, champignons responsables de maladies foliaires de l'anacardier (Anacardium occidentale L.) en Côte d’IvoireL’anthracnose, maladie fongique, cause d’importantes baisses de rendements des anacardiers (Anacardium occidentale L.) dans certains pays producteurs. En Côte d’Ivoire, l’anthracnose est l’une des maladies les plus répandues dans le verger anacardier et se développe sur tous les organes de la plante. Cette étude a été conduite dans le but d’évaluer et de proposer des fongicides de synthèse et un fongicide biologique efficaces contre Colletotrichum gloeosporioides et Pestalotia heterocornis. L’étude a été réalisée in vitro sur la croissance de ces champignons et en serre sur le contrôle de l’anthracnose par l’aspersion foliaire des fongicides sur des jeunes feuilles préalablement inoculées avec l’agent pathogène. Cette étude a permis de confirmer l’efficacité in vitro du Carbendazime à 1 ppm et du Prochloraze à 10 ppm contre C. gloeosporioides et P. heterocornis, les pathogènes fongiques les plus disséminés dans les vergers d’anacarde de Côte d’Ivoire. Le fongicide biologique NECO s’est également montré efficace in vitro en inhibant totalement la croissance mycélienne de C. gloeosporioides et de P. heterocornis respectivement à la concentration de 300 ppm et de 200 ppm. Le Propiconazole s’est montré le moins efficace. Carbendazime et NECO ont été les meilleurs fongicides contre C. gloeosporioides, en inhibant totalement l’expression des symptômes de l’anthracnose en serre, aux concentrations de 50 et 3000 ppm, respectivement. Ces fongicides peuvent constituer une base pour la lutte intégrée contre l’anthracnose de l’anacardier.Mots clés: Anacardium occidentale, anthracnose, contrôle, fongicide de synthèse, NECOEnglish Title: Chemical and biological control of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) anthracnose in Côte d’IvoireEnglish AbstractAnthracnose, a fungal disease, causes significant declines in yields of cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale L.) in some producing countries. In Côte d’Ivoire, anthracnose is one of the most common diseases in the cashew tree orchard and attacks all organs of the plant. This study was conducted with the aim of selecting and proposing integrated control methods through the use of synthetic fungicides and an effective biological fungicide against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Pestalotia heterocornis. The study was carried out in vitro and in a greenhouse by foliar spraying of fungicides on young leaves previously inoculated with the pathogenic agent. This study confirmed the in vitro efficacy of Carbendazim  at 1 ppm and Prochloraz at 10 ppm against C. gloeosporioides and P. heterocornis, the most common fungal pathogens found in cashew orchards of Côte d’Ivoire. NECO, a Biological Fungicide was also effective by completely inhibiting the in vitro growth of C. gloeosporioides at the concentration of 300 ppm and P. heterocornis at 200 ppm. Propiconazole was less effective than the other fungicides. Carbendazim and NECO were the best fungicides against C. gloeosporioides, completely stopping the expression of symptoms of anthracnose in the greenhouse, at concentrations of 50 and 3000 ppm, respectively. These fungicides provide a basis for integrated control of cashew anthracnose.Keywords: Anacardium occidentale, anthracnose, control, synthetic fungicide, NEC

High sensitivity of mobile phone microscopy screening for Schistosoma haematobium in Azaguié, Côte d'Ivoire

Schistosomiasis infections continue to impact African settings disproportionately, and there is an urgent need for novel tools to evaluate infection control and elimination strategies at the community level. Mobile phone microscopes are portable and semiautomated devices with multiple applications for screening neglected tropical diseases. In a community-based schistosomiasis screening program in Azaguie, Cote d'Ivoire, mobile phone microscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 85.7% (95% CI: 69.7-95.2%) and specificity of 93.3% (95% CI: 87.7-96.9%) for Schistosoma haematobium identification compared with conventional light microscopy, and 95% sensitivity (95% CI: 74.1-99.8%) with egg concentrations of five or more per 10 mL of urine. Mobile phone microscopy is a promising tool for schistosomiasis control and elimination efforts

Limited efficacy of repeated praziquantel treatment in Schistosoma mansoni infections as revealed by highly accurate diagnostics, PCR and UCP-LF CAA (RePST trial)

BACKGROUND: Most studies assessing praziquantel (PZQ) efficacy have used relatively insensitive diagnostic methods, thereby overestimating cure rate (CR) and intensity reduction rate (IRR). To determine accurately PZQ efficacy, we employed more sensitive DNA and circulating antigen detection methods. METHODOLOGY: A sub-analysis was performed based on a previously published trial conducted in children from Cote d'Ivoire with a confirmed Schistosoma mansoni infection, who were randomly assigned to a standard (single dose of PZQ) or intense treatment group (4 repeated doses of PZQ at 2-week intervals). CR and IRR were estimated based on PCR detecting DNA in a single stool sample and the up-converting particle lateral flow (UCP-LF) test detecting circulating anodic antigen (CAA) in a single urine sample, and compared with traditional Kato-Katz (KK) and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Individuals positive by all diagnostic methods (i.e., KK, POC-CCA, PCR, and UCP-LF CAA) at baseline were included in the statistical analysis (n = 125). PCR showed a CR of 45% (95% confidence interval (CI) 32-59%) in the standard and 78% (95% CI 66-87%) in the intense treatment group, which is lower compared to the KK results (64%, 95% CI 52-75%) and 88%, 95% CI 78-93%). UCP-LF CAA showed a significantly lower CR in both groups, 16% (95% CI 11-24%) and 18% (95% CI 12-26%), even lower than observed by POC-CCA (31%, 95% CI 17-35% and 36%, 95% CI 26-47%). A substantial reduction in DNA and CAA-levels was observed after the first treatment, with no further decrease after additional treatment and no significant difference in IRR between treatment groups. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The efficacy of (repeated) PZQ treatment was overestimated when using egg-based diagnostics. Quantitative worm-based diagnostics revealed that active Schistosoma infections are still present despite multiple treatments. These results stress the need for using accurate diagnostic tools to monitor different PZQ treatment strategies, in particular when moving toward elimination of schistosomiasis. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02868385

Spatial variation and socio-economic determinants of Plasmodium falciparum infection in northeastern Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria due to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Tanzania. According to health statistics, malaria accounts for about 30% and 15% of hospital admissions and deaths, respectively. The risk of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection varies across the country. This study describes the spatial variation and socio-economic determinants of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection in northeastern Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted in 14 villages located in highland, lowland and urban areas of Korogwe district. Four cross-sectional malaria surveys involving individuals aged 0-19 years were conducted during short (Nov-Dec) and long (May-Jun) rainy seasons from November 2005 to June 2007. Household socio-economic status (SES) data were collected between Jan-April 2006 and household's geographical positions were collected using hand-held geographical positioning system (GPS) unit. The effects of risk factors were determined using generalized estimating equation and spatial risk of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection was modelled using a kernel (non-parametric) method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a significant spatial variation of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection, and urban areas were at lower risk. Adjusting for covariates, high risk of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection was identified in rural areas of lowland and highland. Bed net coverage levels were independently associated with reduced risk of <it>P. falciparum </it>by 19.1% (95%CI: 8.9-28.2, p < 0.001) and by 39.3% (95%CI: 28.9-48.2, p < 0.001) in households with low and high coverage, respectively, compared to those without bed nets. Households with moderate and lower SES had risk of infection higher than 60% compared to those with higher SES; while inhabitants of houses built of mud walls were at 15.5% (95%CI: 0.1 - 33.3, p < 0.048) higher risk compared to those living in houses built by bricks. Individuals in houses with thatched roof had an excess risk of 17.3% (95%CI: 4.1 - 32.2, p < 0.009) compared to those living in houses roofed with iron sheet.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There was high spatial variation of risk of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection and urban area was at the lowest risk. High bed net coverage, better SES and good housing were among the important risk factors associated with low risk of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection.</p

Multiple Translocation of the AVR-Pita Effector Gene among Chromosomes of the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and Related Species

Magnaporthe oryzae is the causal agent of rice blast disease, a devastating problem worldwide. This fungus has caused breakdown of resistance conferred by newly developed commercial cultivars. To address how the rice blast fungus adapts itself to new resistance genes so quickly, we examined chromosomal locations of AVR-Pita, a subtelomeric gene family corresponding to the Pita resistance gene, in various isolates of M. oryzae (including wheat and millet pathogens) and its related species. We found that AVR-Pita (AVR-Pita1 and AVR-Pita2) is highly variable in its genome location, occurring in chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and supernumerary chromosomes, particularly in rice-infecting isolates. When expressed in M. oryzae, most of the AVR-Pita homologs could elicit Pita-mediated resistance, even those from non-rice isolates. AVR-Pita was flanked by a retrotransposon, which presumably contributed to its multiple translocation across the genome. On the other hand, family member AVR-Pita3, which lacks avirulence activity, was stably located on chromosome 7 in a vast majority of isolates. These results suggest that the diversification in genome location of AVR-Pita in the rice isolates is a consequence of recognition by Pita in rice. We propose a model that the multiple translocation of AVR-Pita may be associated with its frequent loss and recovery mediated by its transfer among individuals in asexual populations. This model implies that the high mobility of AVR-Pita is a key mechanism accounting for the rapid adaptation toward Pita. Dynamic adaptation of some fungal plant pathogens may be achieved by deletion and recovery of avirulence genes using a population as a unit of adaptation

Distribution of cashew tree bacterial blight (Anacardium occidentale l.) in the cashew nut production areas of Cote d’Ivoire: Distribution de la bacteriose de l’anacardier (Anacardium occidentale l.) dans les zones de production de la noix de cajou en Côte d’Ivoire

Bacterial blight is one of the main constraints of cashew trees that can hamper cashew yield. The objective of this study was to update the distribution map of bacterial blight in cashew production areas in Côte d’Ivoire. Surveys conducted in 2019 during all phenological stages of cashew tree in all production regions made it possible to assess the average infection rate and the average severity index of bacterial blight in 358 orchards. A sampling of symptomatic organs were also carried out. Cashew tree bacterial blight is present in all cashew nut producing regions of Côte d’Ivoire. Bacterial blight symptoms have been observed on cashew tree organs. The infection rates and severity index per region revealed a variability from 25.28 % ( Moronou ) to 99.39 % ( Marahoué ) and from 2.15 % ( Indénié-Duablin ) to 48.87 % (Worodougou ), respectively. Bacterial blight is present in all cashew-growing regions, with varying levels of infection. The average rates above 90 % indicate the severity of the disease. La bactériose est l’une des principales contraintes de l’anacardier susceptibles de freiner le rendement de la noix de cajou. L’objectif de cette étude a été d’actualiser la carte de distribution de la bactériose dans les zones de production de l’anacardier en Côte d’Ivoire. Des prospections conduites en 2019 durant tous les stades phénologiques de l’anacardier dans toutes les régions de production ont permis d’évaluer le taux moyen d’infection et l’indice moyen de sévérité de la bactériose dans 358 vergers. Des échantillonnages d’organes symptomatiques ont été également effectués. la bactériose de l’anacardier est présente dans toutes les régions de production de noix de cajou en Côte d’Ivoire. Les symptômes de la bactériose ont été observés sur les organes de l’anacardier. Les taux d’infection et les indices de sévérité par région ont révélé une variabilité respective de 25,28 % ( Moronou ) à 99,39 % ( Marahoué ) et de 2,15 % ( Indénié-Duablin ) à 48,87 % (Worodougou) La bactériose est présente dans toutes les régions productrices de l’anacardier, avec des niveaux d’infection variables. Les taux moyens, au-delà de 90 % dénotent de la gravité de la maladie