Breeding drought tolerant cowpea: constraints, accomplishments, and future prospects

This review presents an overview of accomplishments on different aspects of cowpea breeding for drought tolerance. Furthermore it provides options to enhance the genetic potential of the crop by minimizing yield loss due to drought stress. Recent efforts have focused on the genetic dissection of drought tolerance through identification of markers defining quantitative trait loci (QTL) with effects on specific traits related to drought tolerance. Others have studied the relationship of the drought response and yield components, morphological traits and physiological parameters. To our knowledge, QTLs with effects on drought tolerance have not yet been identified in cowpea. The main reason is that very few researchers are working on drought tolerance in cowpea. Some other reasons might be related to the complex nature of the drought stress response, and partly to the difficulties associated with reliable and reproducible measurements of a single trait linked to specific molecular markers to be used for marker assisted breeding. Despite the fact that extensive research has been conducted on the screening aspects for drought tolerance in cowpea only very few¿like the `wooden box¿ technique¿have been successfully used to select parental genotypes exhibiting different mechanisms of drought tolerance. Field and pot testing of these genotypes demonstrated a close correspondence between drought tolerance at seedling and reproductive stages. Some researchers selected a variety of candidate genes and used differential screening methods to identify cDNAs from genes that may underlie different drought tolerance pathways in cowpea. Reverse genetic analysis still needs to be done to confirm the functions of these genes in cowpea. Understanding the genetics of drought tolerance and identification of DNA markers linked to QTLs, with a clear path towards localizing chromosomal regions or candidate genes involved in drought tolerance will help cowpea breeders to develop improved varieties that combine drought tolerance with other desired traits using marker assisted selection

Leadership style and its relation to employee attitudes and behaviour.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between leadership style and organisational commitment, job satisfaction, job involvement and organisational citizenship behaviour and whether these relationships were stronger for transformational than for transactional leaders. A sample of 52 leaders and 276 raters from a world class engineering company participated. The results of a canonical correlation analysis using the rater data indicated that the most prominent relationship was that between transactional leadership and affective commitment. Furthermore, transformational and transactional leadership did not correlate significantly with the constructs of job involvement and job satisfaction

Identification of markers associated with bacterial blight resistance loci in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Cowpea bacterial blight (CoBB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola (Xav), is a worldwide major disease of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Among different strategies to control the disease including cultural practices, intercropping, application of chemicals, and sowing pathogen-free seeds, planting of cowpea genotypes with resistance to the pathogen would be the most attractive option to the resource poor cowpea farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Breeding resistance cultivars would be facilitated by marker-assisted selection (MAS). In order to identify loci with effects on resistance to this pathogen and map QTLs controlling resistance to CoBB, eleven cowpea genotypes were screened for resistance to bacterial blight using 2 virulent Xav18 and Xav19 strains isolated from Kano (Nigeria). Two cowpea genotypes Danila and Tvu7778 were identified to contrast in their responses to foliar disease expression following leaf infection with pathogen. A set of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) comprising 113 individuals derived from Danila (resistant parent) and Tvu7778 (susceptible parent) were infected with CoBB using leaf inoculation method. The experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions (2007 and 2008) and disease severity was visually assessed using a scale where 0 = no disease and 4 = maximum susceptibility with leaf drop. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic map with 282 SNP markers constructed from the same RIL population was used to perform QTL analysis. Using Kruskall-Wallis and Multiple-QTL model of MapQTL 5, three QTLs, CoBB-1, CoBB-2 and CoBB-3 were identified on linkage group LG3, LG5 and LG9 respectively showing that potential resistance candidate genes cosegregated with CoBB resistance phenotypes. Two of the QTLs CoBB-1, CoBB-2 were consistently confirmed in the two experiments accounting for up to 22.1 and to 17.4% respectively for the first and second experiments. Whereas CoBB-3 was only discovered for the first experiment (2007) with less phenotypic variation explained of about 10%. Our results represent a resource for molecular marker development that can be used for marker assisted selection of bacterial blight resistance in cowpe

‘Klagen over collega’s binnen het tuchtrecht’

Contains fulltext : 219136pub.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)19 p

Vaccination recommendations for adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases

BACKGROUND: The number of individuals with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) treated with immunosuppressive drugs is increasing steadily. The variety of immunosuppressive drugs and, in particular, biological therapies is also rising. The immunosuppressants, as well as the AIIRD itself, increase the risk of infection in this population. Thus, preventing infections by means of vaccination is of utmost importance. New Swiss vaccination recommendations for AIIRD patients were initiated by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and prepared by a working group of the Federal Commission for Vaccination Issues as well as by consultation of international experts. METHODS: A literature search was performed in electronic databases (Cochrane, Medline, PubMed, Embase). In addition, unpublished literature was identified through a targeted website search of relevant organisations and international conferences dealing with vaccination, infectious diseases and rheumatology. RESULTS: Although data are scarce, the following main points were retrieved from the literature. Inactivated vaccines are safe, but their immunogenicity may be reduced in AIIRD patients, especially if they are under immunosuppressive therapy. Rituximab and abatacept appear to reduce significantly immune responses after vaccination. Live vaccines are generally contraindicated under immunosuppressive therapy owing to safety concerns. Specific exceptions, as well as time intervals for the administration of live vaccines after interruption of an immunosuppressive therapy, have been formulated in this article. CONCLUSION: More evidence regarding the immunogenicity and safety of vaccinations in AIIRD patients under various therapies is needed. Vaccination recommendations should be updated on a regular basis, as more scientific data will become available

Reasons for and perceptions of patients with minor ailments bypassing local primary health care facilities

INTRODUCTION : Despite having access to several clinics and health centres in their local communities, numerous patients opt to go directly to hospitals for non-emergencies and minor ailments. Reasons for this include their perceptions of the quality of primary health care services, the attitudes and perceptions of health workers, opening hours of clinics, community involvement and participation, and drug and equipment availability as well as the quality of infrastructure. Perceptions of size, a lack of specialty care and limited services were most frequently mentioned as reasons why patients bypassed their local primary health care facilities. AIM : This study aimed to identify the reasons given by patients presenting with minor ailments, for bypassing their local primary health care facilities in the Greater Tzaneen municipal area to Letaba Hospital. METHODS : A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed at Letaba Hospital over a three-month period, from 23 June 2008 to 15 August 2008, in which non-referred patients presenting with minor ailments were randomised and entered into the study on a voluntary basis. A preset questionnaire was utilised for data-collection purposes. A total of 293 participants were included in the study. The questionnaire aimed to determine the demographic profile of patients who present with minor ailments at hospital, to explore the reasons why these patients bypass their local clinics and to evaluate their knowledge, perceptions and attitudes regarding their local clinics. RESULTS : Most patients indicated that they came to the hospital because they wanted to be seen by a doctor, followed by the request to see a dentist. The study identified that patients expressed both positive and negative opinions concerning their local clinics. CONCLUSION : Numerous factors influence the service-seeking behaviour of rural patients. Patients bypass their local clinics due to perceptions regarding the quality of health care services at the hospital. Improving the quality aspects of clinics and enhancing the services rendered will not only increase the utilisation of clinic services, but also reduce hospital overcrowding.http://www.tandfonline.com/oemdam201