Pest and disease incidence of coniferous species in Taman Saujana Hijau,Putrajaya urban park,Malaysia

Taman Saujana Hijau(TSH),Putrajaya is a 41-ha urban park planted with various coniferous species from around the world.Insect pests and disease incidences of this park are unknown and there is a need for an evaluation of the health status of this urban park.This study assessed the level of pest and disease incidents of coniferous species in 12 plots of 7 species(Araucaria bidwilii,Araucaria haterophylla,Araucaria cunninghamii,Pinus caribaea,Pinus merkusii,Podocarpus polystachyus,and Podocarpus costalis).Termites,canker disease,and foliar disease are three major problems.The highest pest and disease incidence(PnDI)was foliar disease with a 0.49 coefficient correlation between the total number of trees and the PnDI,followed by canker disease with 0.40,and termites with 0.36.Of the seven conifers,A.haterophylla was the most infected followed by A.bidwilii and A.cunninghamii.It was concluded that the incidence of pests and diseases in TSH was moderate.To our knowledge,this may be the first baseline inventory of pests and diseases of coniferous species in Malaysia.

Botanicals, as a Sustainable Agroecological Alternative to Synthetic Pesticide for Controlling Leaf Miner (Pinworm) and Fusarium Wilt Disease of Tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) is a staple fruit vegetable widely grown worldwide for its rich nutrients including vitamins, minerals and proteins. In spite of its importance, yield and fruit quality in Buea, Cameroon is quite low compared to other countries. Pests and diseases are responsible for these limitations. Those of high importance are pinworm (Tatu absoluta) and Fusarium wilt respectively. Synthetic chemicals have been used to manage this pest/disease on tomato but this has not been very successful because of high cost and unavailability of these chemicals. Botanicals are known to have anti-microbial properties. 10% Leeks and marigold extracts were applied to tomato plants one week after planting. Five treatments were replicated four times in a randomized complete block. They include a control, a synthetic insecticide, leeks extract, marigold extract, and leeks/marigold extracts. Growth and yield parameters were evaluated and data obtained was analysed by descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Results showed that more tomato plant leaves were recorded in the leeks + marigold treatment (54) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) from the control (45). More fruits were harvested in the leeks + marigold treatment (32) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) from the control (18). Pinworm numbers were significantly higher in control (6) (P = 0.05) than the other treatments. Numerous leaf damage was observed in control (20) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) across treatments. More fruit damage was seen in control (14) and differed significantly (P = 0.05) from the other treatments. The least disease incidence was noted in Leeks + Marigold treatment (27.5%), and the most in control (72.5%) which differed significantly (P = 0.05) across treatments. Fusarium oxysporium and Fusarium semitectum were identified. There was a significant difference in pathogen number in control compared to other treatments. Thus leeks and marigold extract increased yield of tomato by mitigating the effects of leaf miner and fusarium wilt.

Global, regional, and national burden of gallbladder and biliary diseases from 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND Gallbladder and biliary diseases(GABDs)are a major public health issue.AIM To analysis the cause-specific incidence,prevalence,and years lived with disability(YLDs)and its temporal trends of GABDs at the global,regional,and national level.Data on GABD were available from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019.METHODS The estimated annual percentage change(EAPC)was used to quantify temporal trend in GABD age-standardized incidence rates(ASIRs),age-standardized prevalence rate(ASPR),and age-standardized YLD rate(ASYR)by region,sex.We analyzed the relationship between the GABD burden and country development level using the human development index(HDI).RESULTS In 2019,the incident cases of GABD were 52003772,with an ASIR of 63432/100000 population.Globally,the number of incident cases and ASIR of GABD increased 97%and 58.9%between 1990 and 2019.Although,the ASPR and ASYR decreased from 1990 to 2019,the number of prevalent and YLDs cases increased.The highest ASIR was observed in Italy,and the highest ASPR and ASYR was observed in United Kingdom.The highest burden of GABD was found in low-SDI region,and the burden in female was significantly higher than males.A generally negative correlation(ρ=-0.24,P<0.05)of GABD with the EAPC and human development index(HDI)(in 2021)were observed for ASIR.What’s more,no correlation in ASPR(ρ=-0.06,P=0.39)and ASYR(ρ=-0.07,P=0.36)of GABD with the EAPC and HDI(in 2021)were observed,respectively.CONCLUSION GABD remain a major global public health challenge;however,the burden of GABD varies geographically.Globally,the number of incident cases and ASIR of GABD increased between 1990 and 2019.The results of our study provide insight into the global disease burden of GABD and may assist policymakers in formulating effective policies to mitigate modifiable risk factors.

The influences of biotic and abiotic factors on the occurrence and severity of poplar canker disease in Qingfeng County, China and the management implications

Landscape pathology is a research approach that can provide validation of the effectiveness of regional controls of forest disease at a landscape scale. In this paper, we analyzed the effects of stand features, management approaches, and geographical locations on poplar canker disease incidence （DI） and disease severity index （DSI） of individual trees at a 10 km x 10 km mesoscale landscape in Qingfeng County, China. DI varied significantly with stand age, tree densities, and the degree of canopy closure. DI in stands younger than 4 years old was significantly lower than that in the stands over 6 years old and reached the highest value at a stand age of 8-10 years. Overall, DI was positively correlated with stand age, stand density, andthe degree of canopy closure. DI was significantly lower in agro-forest stand patches than in other three patch types, i.e. isolated patch, pure stand patch, and mixed stand patch. Poplar plantations distributed around and near to villages exhibited significantly higher DI mainly due to human activities and herbivores. Fragmentation or connectivity in this mesoscale landscape seemed not impact disease occurrence. DSI was not significantly correlated with stand density, but varied significantly with tree varieties and trees ages. DSI was highest in stands of 10-12 year trees for all poplar varieties we studied here. Plantation density and plantation age were thus critical factors in determining DI and DSI. A logistic predictive model of disease occurrence was developed for the study area, considering varieties, age, height, density, canopy cover, stand types, patch types, management status, and stand geographical locations. Our study here shows that adjustment of stand density by thinning at different plantation ages is an effective approach controlling the occurrence canker disease in short-rotation poplar plantations at the landscape scale.

Seed priming with Pseudomonas putida isolated from rhizosphere triggers innate resistance against Fusarium wilt in tomato through pathogenesis-related protein activation and phenylpropanoid pathway

Pathogenesis-related(PR)proteins are one of the major and preliminary proteins accumulated as a defense against biotic stress.This defense response can be induced by using beneficial rhizobacteria,which has been studied in various host-pathogen interactions.In the present study,eleven Pseudomonas isolates were assessed for their potential to ferment sorbitol,reduce nitrate,and produce mycolytic enzymes,1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid(ACC)deaminase,phenazine antibiotics,and N-acyl homoserine lactones(AHLs).All isolates were tested against the host-specific pathogen Fusarium oxysporum MTCC1755 in tomato under greenhouse conditions,and shortlisted isolates were tested for their rhizosphere competence.In-vitro test results showed that the isolates were able to produce mycolytic enzymes,including protease,lipase,chitinase,cellulase,and amylase,and the antibiotic phenazine and were negative for pyoluteorin.All the isolates except two were positive for ACC deaminase production.Greenhouse results showed that the isolates M80,M96,and T109 significantly reduced symptoms of Fusarium wilt.Extended greenhouse tests under autoclaved and unautoclaved soil conditions showed that M80,M96,and T109 were excellent rhizosphere competitors and were identified as Pseudomonas putida.In brief,the defense-specific biochemical variations in the host could describe the improved defense against Fusarium wilt occurring in the primed plants.These three Pseudomonas strains could be used as potential biocontrol agents,along with their rhizosphere competence.