Viruses infecting periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.) in Western Saudi Arabia

Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.) is an ornamental plant widely grown in the Mecca region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Different symptoms similar to those induced by viruses (mosaic, vein clearing, mottling, yellowing, flower variegation) prompted surveys in eight different regions of KSA to assess the presence of periwinkle-infecting viruses, i.e. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), Catharanthus mosaic virus (CatMV) and Catharanthus yellow mosaic virus (CYMV). Two hundred and forty leaf samples were collected from naturally infected nurseries, gardens and landscape plantings, and tested by DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR and PCR assays. Results showed that all five viruses were present in the surveyed areas, with incidence of infection reaching 58%. TSWV was the most widespread, found in 44% of samples, followed by CYMV (35%), whereas CatMV (15%), CMV (11%) and LMV (6%) were present to lesser extents. The virus incidence ranged between 43% in Rabigh to 77% in Taif. This is the first report of CYMV and CatMV in KSA, and of TSWV, LMV and CMV in periwinkle in western Saudi Arabia. The high incidence of viruses and of multiple infections in periwinkle plants endangers this crop in KSA, so a sanitation programme for eliminating virus infections is desirable

Agricultural Academy

Abstract ShalabY, M. Y., K. h. al-Zahrani, M. b. baig and g. S. Straquadine, 2012. realizing sustainable agriculture through rural extension and environmental friendly farming technologies: basic ingredients. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., With an only 3% percent farming area, egypt is still an agricultural country. its development primarily depends upon agricultural resources. agriculture contributes approximately 14% of the gdP and absorbs about 31% of workforce. about 53% population lives in rural areas where directly or indirectly their livelihood depends upon agricultural sector. despite its positive and significant contributions to food security/supply, economy, employment, export earnings, ecological balance, agriculture faces many threats and challenges which, in turn, result unsustainable crop productions. the prominent challenges faced include land and water issues; high degree of land fragmentations; old cultivation techniques, low yields with old traditional varieties, lack of information on marketing; post-harvest losses; degradation of natural resources and environmental issues;, inadequate support services; framework and institutional constraints; and lack of agricultural development policies etc. in the present scenario, it seems imperative for agriculture sector to adopt new environmental friendly farming systems primarily based on the principles of sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, the role of rural extension has also been changed due to the low contributions made by old primitive cultivation techniques, the promising emerging new farming technologies, and the declining socio-economic conditions of rural etc. this article examines the changing scenarios, possibility of employing environmental friendly farming practices and elevating the working capabilities of the extension workers through well-planned capacity building programs. an effort has been made to identify and enlist the basic ingredients essential for the sustainable farming and efficient rural extension

threats and challenges to sustainable agriculture and rural development in egypt: implications for agricultural extension.

ABSTRACT Egypt is an agricultural based country. Its development primarily depends upon rural resources. Agriculture contributes approximately 14% of the GDP and absorbs about 31% of workforce. About 53% population lives in rural areas where directly or indirectly their livelihood depends upon agricultural sector. Despite its positive and significant contributions to food security/supply, economy, employment, export earnings, ecological balance, yet the agriculture of the country faces many threats and challenges which, in turn, impacts rural development initiatives. The prominent challenges include land and water issues; old cultivation techniques; lack of information on marketing; poverty; degradation of natural resources and environmental issues; population growth; inadequate support services; framework and institutional constraints; and lack of agricultural and rural development policies. In this article, an effort has been made to identify the constraints faced by the agricultural sector, discuss the available farm management options, and to outline the vibrant strategy backed by an efficient and effective Extension to realize sustainable yields and rural development in the country

Characteristics of mentally ill offenders from 100 psychiatric court reports

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is an increasing probability that the psychiatrist will, willingly or not, come into contact with mentally ill offenders in the course of their practice. There are increasing rates of violence, substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders that are of legal importance. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the rates of different mental disorders in 100 court reports and to investigate the characteristics of mentally ill offenders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All cases referred from different departments of the legal system to the forensic committee for assessment of legal accountability over 13-months duration were included. A specially designed form was prepared for data collection. Cases were classified into five groups: murder, robbery, financial offences, violent and simple offences and a group for other offences. Data were subjected to statistical analysis and comparisons between different groups of subjects were performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Men constituted 93% of cases. In all, 73% of offenders were younger than 40 years old. Schizophrenia cases made up 13% of the total, substance related cases constituted 56% and amphetamine cases alone made up 21%; 10% of cases were antisocial personality disorders, and 51% of cases were classified as having a low education level. Unemployment was found in 34% of cases. The final decision of the forensic committee was full responsibility in 46% of cases and partial responsibility in 11% of cases, with 33% considered non-responsible. A total of 58% of cases had had contact with psychiatric healthcare prior to the offence and in 9% of cases contact had been in the previous 12 weeks. A history of similar offences was found in 32% of cases. In all, 14% of the offences were murders, 8% were sexual crimes, and 31% were violent/simple crimes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The ability of the legal system to detect cases was good, while the ability of the healthcare system to predict crimes and offences was weak, as 58% of cases had had previous contact with the healthcare system previously. Substance abuse, especially amphetamine abuse, played an important role.</p

Metabolomic Response of Calotropis procera Growing in the Desert to Changes in Water Availability

Water availability is a major limitation for agricultural productivity. Plants growing in severe arid climates such as deserts provide tools for studying plant growth and performance under extreme drought conditions. The perennial species Calotropis procera used in this study is a shrub growing in many arid areas which has an exceptional ability to adapt and be productive in severe arid conditions. We describe the results of studying the metabolomic response of wild C procera plants growing in the desert to a one time water supply. Leaves of C. procera plants were taken at three time points before and 1 hour, 6 hours and 12 hours after watering and subjected to a metabolomics and lipidomics analysis. Analysis of the data reveals that within one hour after watering C. procera has already responded on the metabolic level to the sudden water availability as evidenced by major changes such as increased levels of most amino acids, a decrease in sucrose, raffinose and maltitol, a decrease in storage lipids (triacylglycerols) and an increase in membrane lipids including photosynthetic membranes. These changes still prevail at the 6 hour time point after watering however 12 hours after watering the metabolomics data are essentially indistinguishable from the prewatering state thus demonstrating not only a rapid response to water availability but also a rapid response to loss of water. Taken together these data suggest that the ability of C. procera to survive under the very harsh drought conditions prevailing in the desert might be associated with its rapid adjustments to water availability and losses