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Efforts to optimize ex vitro transfer techniques of un-rooted in vitro shoots of Cinchona spp. (Rubiaceae) a native tree of the andean forests, are crucial for promoting sustainable cultivation practices of this medicinal plant. Renowned for its historical significance and effectiveness in treating malaria and other ailments, the tree holds a prominent position in botanical research, food industry, and pharmaceutical applications due to its production of alkaloids such as quinine and quinidine. This study aimed to improve the acclimatization process of un-rooted in vitro shoots of Cinchona, facilitating their transplantation to field conditions for establishing a plantation in Colombia. The results revealed that compared to commercial available substrates (pH higher than 5.5), the utilization of peat moss substrate (pH lower than 4 and electric conductivity lower than 100 μS / cm-1) led to significantly higher survival rates (>87%) and improved growth outcomes. This underscores the efficacy of peat moss in facilitating the acclimatization process of ex vitro plants over a 12-week period, ensuring robust development and survival of the plants, which guarantees vigorous specimens for field plantation. Los esfuerzos para optimizar las técnicas de transferencia ex vitro de brotes no enraizados in vitro de Cinchona spp. (Rubiaceae), un árbol nativo de los bosques andinos, son cruciales para promover prácticas de cultivo sostenible de esta planta medicinal. Reconocida por su importancia histórica y su eficacia en el tratamiento de la malaria y otras dolencias, la planta ocupa una posición destacada en la investigación botánica, la industria alimentaria y las aplicaciones farmacéuticas debido a su producción de alcaloides como la quinina y la quinidina. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo mejorar el proceso de aclimatación de los brotes de Cinchona propagados in vitro no enraizados, facilitando su trasplante a condiciones de campo y sentando las bases para establecer una plantación en Colombia. Los resultados revelaron que, en comparación con los sustratos comerciales disponibles (pH superior a 5.5), la utilización de sustrato de turba (pH inferior a 4 y conductividad eléctrica inferior a 100 μS / cm-1) condujo a tasas de supervivencia significativamente más altas (>87%) y mejores resultados de crecimiento. Esto destaca la eficacia de la turba en la facilitación del proceso de aclimatación de plantas ex vitro durante un período de 12 semanas, asegurando un desarrollo y supervivencia robustos de las plantas, lo que garantiza especímenes vigorosos para la plantación en campo.

Plant emergence from seed banks and from asexual reproduction could be strongly influenced by environmental and biological factors. Among environmental factors, animal disturbances deserve special consideration. In this study we test the hypothesis that disturbances resulting from the burrowing activity of Ctenomys affect plant emergence (sexual and asexual) in the south of the cold Puna desert. Richness and abundance of seedlings and sprouts growing in areas disturbed or undisturbed by Ctenomys were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the vegetative season. In general terms, the activity of Ctenomys does not affect richness of emerging species, but does have a significant influence on the type of emergence. Analyses between areas revealed that seedling emergence was significantly higher than sprout emergence in areas showing Ctenomys activity, whereas no significant differences were found between types of emergence in undisturbed areas. Although vegetative emergence was important, plant emergence from seeds appears to be relevant to the recolonization of areas disturbed by Ctenomys.

The effect of bamboo shoot dietary fibre (BSDF) (0%-4%) on the gel quality, protein thermal stability and secondary structure of pork salt-soluble proteins (SSP) was investigated. The water holding capacity (WHC), breaking force and particle size were increased with the addition of 2% BSDF. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated that the addition BSDF changed the thermal denaturation temperature of myosin tail and actin, and led to the disappearance of myosin head as the increase of BSDF up to 4%. SDS-PAGE showed that the band intensity of actin was obviously enhanced by the addition of BSDF. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that BSDF could affect the protein secondary structure. The α-helix content was significantly decreased and the β-sheet content was significantly increased (P<0.05). In conclusion, BSDF could improve gel quality of salt soluble proteins and has a potential to be applied in meat products.

In Oklahoma, downy brome and cheat are difficult-to-control winter annual grasses. In the past, cheat infested most of the winter wheat hectares harvested in Oklahoma. Biotypes that are cross-resistant to acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides have left growers with minimal management options for conventional and herbicide-tolerant systems. Field trials near Lahoma, Oklahoma, in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 evaluated integrated management of cheat and downy brome using three strategies: planting date (optimal, delayed, and late), cultivar selection (high and low competitiveness), and herbicide choice (no herbicide, sulfosulfuron at 35.2 g ai ha–1 and pyroxsulam at 18.4 g ai ha–1). Visual control, weed species present, wheat biomass at heading, and grain yield data were collected. In 2019–2020, 8 to 9 wk after treatment, visual control increased by 15% with the delayed planting compared with the optimal planting date and 14% with the late planting date. In 2020–2021, similar control (∼99%) was recorded for delayed and late plantings with 23% greater control than the optimal timing. Due to a lack of weed coverage, weed biomass in 2019–2020 had no response to planting date, cultivar, or herbicide treatment. Downy brome biomass during 2020–2021 was approximately 90% lower with delayed to late planting dates than the optimal planting date. In the same year, downy brome and cheat biomass were low (≤0.4 and 0.2 g m–2) and 98% less after an herbicide application than a nontreated area. Wheat grain yield at the optimal planting date was greater than yields from delayed and late plantings in 2019–2020. A delay in planting from the optimal date to delayed or late timings decreased wheat yield by 14% and 21%, respectively. In 2020–2021, wheat yield from the late planting was reduced by 57% compared with the optimal planting yield. Delaying the planting date and the use of a common herbicide can suppress cheat and downy brome, but a decline in wheat yield may occur. Nomenclature: Pyroxsulam; sulfosulfuron; cheat, Bromus secalinus L. BROSE; downy brome; Bromus tectorum L. BROTE; winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L. TRZAX

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, Wiedemann; Diptera: Tephritidae) is regarded as one of the most destructive insect pests worldwide. It was first detected in Mexico (border with Guatemala) in 1977 after it had spread throughout the Central American region. By 1982, using an area-wide IPM approach that included the Sterile Insect Technique, the Moscamed Program, established by the federal governments of Mexico, Guatemala and USA, succeeded in eradicating the pest from the areas it had invaded in Mexico. Recurrent pest entries in the form of transient detections and outbreaks continue to occur in the southern-most States of Mexico bordering Guatemala. The pest free area status is maintained by eradication actions whose effectiveness is verified by an extensive and intense surveillance network including 24,760 traps. In terms of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the Mediterranean fruit fly pest status can be defined for most of Mexico as “Pest Absent” (i.e., no records of the presence of the pest confirmed by surveys in 28 States of the 32 States) and as “Pest Transient” (i.e., pest entries that do not result in establishment after applying appropriate phytosanitary measures for their eradication) for the southern border States of Chiapas, Tabasco and Campeche, and for the northern border State of Baja California. The very significant investment that the Government of Mexico has made in the Moscamed Program for over 30 years has been extremely cost-effective (benefit-cost ratio of 112 to 1), when compared to the multi-billion dollar horticultural industry that has developed during this period. In addition through the years, the program engaged its own scientists and scientists in a number of countries and organizations in innovation and optimization of important technologies. These include production techniques for an only male genetic sexing strain, emergence towers, aerial release machines, organic targeted insecticide baits, long lasting bait stations, Phase IV traps and female biased attractants, and use of global positioning systems for data analysis and forecasting and for routing aerial releases. These tools have led to increased program effectiveness and have been adopted in many countries.

The 2 cryptic species of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) have more than 300 known hosts, of which avocado is the most important. Fusarium dieback, the fungal disease associated with these beetles, has killed some host plant species in Israel and the USA. Kuroshio shot hole borer, one of the 2 cryptic species, is reported for the first time in Baja California, Mexico, and represents a new threat to avocado and other potential hosts in urban and natural areas.

From an economic standpoint, pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the most important fruits in Colombia. A decade ago, the Perolera variety was the most cropped cultivar of the Santander department, however, the variety has been displaced considerably due to the lack of technical extension services and theintroduction of new varieties. This research project was carried out with the intention to conserve the speciesthrough the development of in vitro pineapple explants using the organogenesis technique. Meristemsthat have been extracted from the crown of the Perolera pineapple variety were used for this purpose. Four disinfectant treatments were evaluated by looking at the different kinds of disinfectant exposure times.The treatment that gave the best results in terms of contaminant-free explants was the T2: Commercialdetergent + Tween 80 for 8 minutes, ethyl alcohol at 70% for 1 minute and sodium hypochlorite at 1,5% over10 minutes, with a contamination rate of 7% and 93% of the explants thriving. For the establishment phase,it was found that the medium MS MEP1 with 100% solid salts supplemented with 2000 μl/L BAP - 1000 μl/L ANA - 1000 μl/L AIA and 500 μl/L thiamine enabled 90 % of the pineapple explants to continue developing four weeks after planting. Similarly, the medium containing 3000 μl/L of BAP for the multiplication phase permitted an average proliferation of 4.62 shoots with 9.12 leaves per shoot and a length of 2.25 mm. From an economic standpoint, pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the most important fruits in Colombia. A decade ago, the Perolera variety was the most cropped cultivar of the Santander department, however, the variety has been displaced considerably due to the lack of technical extension services and the introduction of new varieties. This research project was carried out with the intention to conserve the species through the development of in vitro pineapple explants using the organogenesis technique. Meristems that have been extracted from the crown of the Perolera pineapple variety were used for this purpose. Four disinfectant treatments were evaluated by looking at the different kinds of disinfectant exposure times. The treatment that gave the best results in terms of contaminant-free explants was the T2: Commercial detergent + Tween 80 for 8 minutes, ethyl alcohol at 70% for 1 minute and sodium hypochlorite at 1,5% over 10 minutes, with a contamination rate of 7% and 93% of the explants thriving. For the establishment phase, it was found that the medium MS MEP1 with 100% solid salts supplemented with 2000 μl/L BAP - 1000 μl/L ANA - 1000 μl/L AIA and 500 μl/L thiamine enabled 90 % of the pineapple explants to continue developing four weeks after planting. Similarly, the medium containing 3000 μl/L of BAP for the multiplication phase permitted an average proliferation of 4.62 shoots with 9.12 leaves per shoot and a length of 2.25 mm.

Michigan daily climatic data and seasonal vine performance and phenological data (budburst timing) were analyzed to establish relationships between temperature (e.g., growing degree days or GDD) and juice grape yield and quality in Vitis labrusca grapevines. In viticultural regions such as Michigan, early season vine growth is highly important: Vines coming out of their winter dormancy need to withstand any potential bud-killing frosts after budburst. The temperatures during the months of March, April, and May are highly variable from year to year in Michigan, however. The average GDD accumulation at the time of budburst (average date is 27 April) from 1971 to 2011 was 158 (base 10°C) with a coefficient of variation of 45 percent. Seasonal GDD deficit or surplus at the midpoint of a growing season (as compared to an average year) was correlated to grapevine performance and the accumulation of GDD on a yearly basis was found to occur at a highly variable rate. Early season GDD accumulation was found to be a relative indicator of the end season total, where an early season deficit (or surplus) was able to predict whether the season would still be in deficit (or surplus) at the end of 80.5 percent of all seasons studied. Finally, a statistical model based on historical temperature data was created to calculate the date of budburst. Michigan's warming trend will likely continue in the future, which should bring positive effects to the region. Early season variability and post-budburst frosts are likely to still be a concern in the near future, however.

An experiment was conducted to manage the eggplant (brinjal) shoot and fruit borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), the leafhopper Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), and the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) during kharif, the southwest monsoon season (Jul-Oct), in 2010 and 2011 at an experimental farm at the Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The experiment consisted of 7 different treatments with brinjal or eggplant ‘Pusa Kranti’, Solanum melongena L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), as the main crop and coriander, marigold or mint as intercrops, along with a border crop (maize or cowpea) acting as refuge crops. Treatment T1 (maize as border crop and coriander as intercrop) harbored the smallest cumulative mean leafhopper population (6.90 insects per 3 leaves per plant) and the next to smallest mean whitefly population (9.64 insects per 3 leaves per plant) during monsoon season of 2010 and 2011. Treatment T3 (maize as border crop and marigold as intercrop) was second best in reducing the leafhopper population (7.27 insects per 3 leaves per plant), while it was the best treatment in reducing the whitefly population (8.36 insects per 3 leaves per plant). The sole crop (T7) harbored the largest whitefly (20.17 insects per 3 leaves per plant) and leafhopper (12.61 insects per 3 leaves per plant) populations among the 7 treatments. The lowest mean percentage fruit infestation was recorded from treatment T1 (by number: 27.72; by weight: 27.81). All the treatments involving intercrops showed significantly lower percentage fruit infestation by L. orbonalis than eggplant alone (T7, control), which showed 37.73% infestation by number of fruits and 38.13% by weight of the fruits. The greatest mean number of coccinellids (1.25 per plant) and largest Shannon-Wiener indices were recorded from treatment T1 (maize and coriander). The smallest mean number of coccinellids (0.37 per plant) and smallest Shannon-Wiener indices were recorded from the sole crop control, T7. Various plant volatiles present in the intercrop were identified by the thermal desorption technique. Twenty one volatile compounds were present in coriander, 7 in marigold, and 18 in mint. The current state of knowledge of the behavioral effects (repellency, attractancy, no effect) of each chemical with respect the various herbivorous insects and natural enemies is summarized and this information will facilitate quantitative studies on how different pest and beneficial insects respond to plant volatiles in polycultures.

Objetivo: Conocer el origen del brote de Leishmaniasis producido en 2009-2014 en la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (C.A.M.) y dar a conocer las pautas de prevención. Metodología: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica a través de varias bases de datos utilizando diferentes descriptores relacionados con el brote de Leishmaniasis en la C.A.M. acontecido entre 2009 -2014. Resultados: Se obtuvieron un total de 177 estudios sobre Leishmaniasis, de los cuales 29 estudios analizan aspectos relevantes sobre la Leishmaniasis. Los estudios afirman que  la modificación por el ser humano de los grandes paisajes verdes y el avance en la construcción de nuevas autovías y redes de cercanías junto con las condiciones climáticas podrían haber sido relevantes para explicar el comportamiento espacial del brote, contribuyendo a la creación de un ecosistema favorable para la proliferación y estabilización de un nuevo ciclo urbano de Leishmaniasis. La única medida de prevención eficaz es actuar de forma adecuada para evitar la picadura del mosquito. Conclusiones: Cabe destacar que para la creación de un nuevo ciclo urbano de Leishmaniasis  podrían haber contribuido factores relevantes como el crecimiento poblacional, la presencia de grandes espacios verdes de reciente construcción periurbana y la construcción de extensas infraestructuras de ferrocarril y carreteras. Aunque se ha trabajado de forma activa y conjunta desde las Autoridades Sanitarias y han disminuido el número de casos, el problema no se ha erradicado, por tanto juega un papel muy importante la difusión y aplicación de las medidas preventivas, siendo esencial que la población conozca cómo debe actuar.