Evaluation of resistance of banana genotypes with AAB genome to Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 in China

Banana cultivars with the AAB genome group comprise diverse subgroups, such as Plantain, Silk, Iholena, and Pisang Raja, among others, which play an important role in food security in many developing countries. Some of these cultivars are susceptible to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), the most destructive pathogen threatening banana production worldwide, and some of them are still largely unknown. We evaluated the resistance of 37 banana genotypes, including Plantain, Silk, Iholena, Maia Maoli/Popoulu, Pisang Raja, Pome, and Mysore, to Foc TR4 under both greenhouse and field conditions. Genotypes from the Silk and Iholena subgroups were highly susceptible to Foc TR4. Pome and Mysore showed resistance and intermediate resistance, respectively. However, Pisang Raja ranged from susceptible to intermediate resistance. One cultivar from the Maia Maoli/Popoulu subgroup was highly susceptible, while the other displayed significant resistance. Most Plantain cultivars exhibited high resistance to Foc TR4, except two French types of cultivar, 'Uganda Plantain' and 'Njombe N°2', which were susceptible. The susceptibility to Foc TR4 of some of the AAB genotypes evaluated, especially Plantain and other cooking bananas, indicates that growers dependent on these varieties need to be included as part of the prevention and integrated Foc TR4 management strategies, as these genotypes play a crucial role in food security and livelihoods

Dynamic response of pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone embankment under multi-lane vehicle load.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the response of multi Lane pre disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone embankment under vehicle dynamic load. In this paper, the pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone samples whose fractal dimension meets the requirements are obtained through the indoor disintegration test of carbonaceous mudstone. Geotechnical basic tests such as particle analysis experiments, compaction tests, and direct shear tests were carried out on the pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone samples, and the physical and mechanical parameters of the pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone were obtained. On this basis, a two-way 4-lane pre-disintegration carbonaceous mudstone embankment model of the expressway was established by ABAQUS numerical software. Three different working conditions are set up to study the dynamic response of multi-lane pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone embankment under vehicle load. The results show that the stress change trend on the surface of the pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone embankment without vehicles is the same as that on the side with vehicles. Under this condition, the vertical displacement of the pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone embankment surface can be as high as 4.33mm, and the vertical displacement change of the embankment in the 0-0.6s phase is basically the same as the stress amplitude distribution. When a traffic jam occurs on one side, the maximum increase in vertical stress on the surface of the embankment on the normal driving side is about 170 kPa compared to condition one, and the vertical displacement at each depth of the embankment has been significantly increased. When a traffic jam occurs on one side, it can significantly increase the vertical stress on the surface of the pre-disintegrated carbonaceous mudstone embankment in this lane. The middle part of the stress time curve of monitoring points 3 and 4 in working condition three is more stable and significant than in working condition one, and the maximum vertical displacement is increased by about 1.70mm. The research results can reference the stability analysis of carbonaceous mudstone embankments and engineering practice

Influence of Thermo-Oxidative Ageing on the Thermal and Dynamical Mechanical Properties of Long Glass Fibre-Reinforced Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) Composites Filled with DOPO

In this work, the long glass fibre-reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) composites filled with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) were prepared by melt blending, and the influence of thermo-oxidative ageing on the static and dynamic mechanical properties, thermal behaviours and morphology of composites with different ageing time at 120 °C were investigated and analysed. The results showed that the mechanical properties decreased in the primary stage of ageing, while embrittlement occurs in the later period, and the crystallinity of PBT decreases first, and then recovers to some extent. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photos of the samples indicated that the obvious crack appeared on the sample surface and a deeper, broader crack occurred with a longer ageing time. The results of energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) proved the DOPO filler diffused to the sample surface by measuring the content of phosphorus. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) curves showed that the thermal stabilities of composites increased with longer ageing time, as did the values of the limited oxygen index (LOI). Meanwhile, the results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated that the glass transition temperature shifted to a higher temperature after ageing due to the effect of crosslinking, and both the crosslinking and degradation of PBT molecular chains act as the main factors in the whole process of thermo-oxidative ageing

Evolution of Defects in CVD-W Irradiated by H/He Neutral Beam Using Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

One of the key problems for the application of nuclear fusion energy is to select the suitable plasma facing materials (PFMs). Among the W-based materials, CVD-W exhibits some unique advantages. In order to estimate the performance of CVD-W under the fusion environment, the vacancy-type defects and their evolution are investigated by the Doppler-broadening slow positron beam analysis (DB-SPBA) combined with SEM (scanning electron microscope). There are two kinds of neutral beam irradiation, the pure H neutral beam and the H + 6 at.% He neutral beam irradiation, which are performed at the neutral beam facility GLADIS (IPP, Germany). The surface temperatures of CVD-W irradiated by H (H + 6 at.% He) are 850 and 1000 (700 and 800 °C). By comparing the samples under different conditions, the defect evolution of CVD-W is obtained. As for the pure H neutral beam irradiated samples, the DB-SPBA results demonstrate that the CVD-W sample at the surface temperature of 1000 °C, compared to the 850 °C sample, shows a decrease in S parameters, which is due to the reduction of vacancy-type defect concentration. The defect damage layer in 1000 °C sample is narrower than that of 850 °C sample and the defect type tends to be consistent in 1000 °C sample. The SEM results suggest that the surface damage of the 1000 °C sample was recovered to some extent. As for the H + 6 at.% He neutral beam irradiated samples, compared with the CVD-W sample at the surface temperature of 700 °C, the 800 °C sample shows an increased S parameters, which can be attributed to the volume increase of vacancy-type defect. The defect damage layer in the 800 °C sample is wider than that of the 700 °C sample. Both the H + 6 at.% He irradiated samples show complex defect types. The surface of the 800 °C sample exhibits more dense pinhole damage structures compared to that of the 700 °C sample

Evolution of Defects in CVD-W Irradiated by H/He Neutral Beam Using Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

One of the key problems for the application of nuclear fusion energy is to select the suitable plasma facing materials (PFMs). Among the W-based materials, CVD-W exhibits some unique advantages. In order to estimate the performance of CVD-W under the fusion environment, the vacancy-type defects and their evolution are investigated by the Doppler-broadening slow positron beam analysis (DB-SPBA) combined with SEM (scanning electron microscope). There are two kinds of neutral beam irradiation, the pure H neutral beam and the H + 6 at.% He neutral beam irradiation, which are performed at the neutral beam facility GLADIS (IPP, Germany). The surface temperatures of CVD-W irradiated by H (H + 6 at.% He) are 850 and 1000 (700 and 800 °C). By comparing the samples under different conditions, the defect evolution of CVD-W is obtained. As for the pure H neutral beam irradiated samples, the DB-SPBA results demonstrate that the CVD-W sample at the surface temperature of 1000 °C, compared to the 850 °C sample, shows a decrease in S parameters, which is due to the reduction of vacancy-type defect concentration. The defect damage layer in 1000 °C sample is narrower than that of 850 °C sample and the defect type tends to be consistent in 1000 °C sample. The SEM results suggest that the surface damage of the 1000 °C sample was recovered to some extent. As for the H + 6 at.% He neutral beam irradiated samples, compared with the CVD-W sample at the surface temperature of 700 °C, the 800 °C sample shows an increased S parameters, which can be attributed to the volume increase of vacancy-type defect. The defect damage layer in the 800 °C sample is wider than that of the 700 °C sample. Both the H + 6 at.% He irradiated samples show complex defect types. The surface of the 800 °C sample exhibits more dense pinhole damage structures compared to that of the 700 °C sample

Research Progress of Banana Nutritional Quality and Functional Properties

Banana is a kind of high-potassium and low-sodium fruit with extremely high nutritional value, which is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. Banana is an important fruit and food crop, and it is the fruit with the largest production, trade volume and trade value among fresh fruits in the world. China plays an important role in banana production in the world and is the second largest banana producer in the world. According to the statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in 2020, the banana production was 11.8726 million tons, accounting for about 9.01% of the world. Banana germplasm resources are abundant, and there are thousands of banana cultivars in the world. The types and contents of nutrients of banana in different varieties, regions, development and post ripening stages in bananas vary greatly. The main nutritional components in bananas such as mineral elements, resistant starch and dietary fiber were introduced, and phenolic compounds, carotenoids, fatty acids, phytosterols, amines, antioxidants and other active ingredients were summarized. The functional properties of bananas were reviewed, including preventing cardiovascular diseases, relaxing bowel, reducing weight, lowering blood sugar, anti-depression and so on. Its main processed products like banana drink and banana powder were summarized. The intensive processing of banana can improve the resource utilization rate and the product added value, and promote the sustainable development of banana industry and world food security

Novel Intumescent Flame Retardant Masterbatch Prepared Through Different Processes and Its Application in EPDM/PP Thermoplastic Elastomer: Thermal Stability, Flame Retardancy, and Mechanical Properties

In this work, the ethylene-propylene-diene monomer/polypropylene (EPDM/PP) thermoplastic elastomer filled with intumescent flame retardants (IFR) is fabricated by melting blend. The IFR are constituted with melamine phosphate-pentaerythritol (MP/PER) by compounding and reactive extruding, respectively. The effects of two kinds of MP/PER with different contents on the thermal stability, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties of materials are investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94, cone calorimeter test (CCT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR results show that the reactive extruded MP/PER partly generates melamine pyrophosphate (MPP) compared with compound masterbatches. TGA data indicate that the best thermal stability is achieved when the molar ratio of MP/PER reaches 1.8. All the reactive samples show a higher flame retardancy than compound ones. The CCT results also exhibit the same trend as above in heat release and smoke production rate. The EPDM/PP composites filled with 30 and 35% reactive MP/PER exhibit the improved flame retardancy but become stiffer and more brittle. SEM photos display that better dispersion and smaller particle size are obtained for reactive samples