Surveillance, Diversity and Vegetative Compatibility Groups of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Collected in Cotton Fields in Australia (2017 to 2022)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is a billion-dollar crop in regional New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, Australia. Fusarium wilt (FW) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov) is an economically important disease. Initial disease losses of up to 90% when the disease was first detected resulted in fields being taken out of cotton production. The disease is now well-managed due to the adoption of highly resistant varieties. However, annual disease surveys recently revealed that the disease dynamic has changed in the past few seasons. With relatively mild and wet weather conditions during the 2021/22 growing season, FW was detected in eight surveyed valleys in NSW and Queensland, with the disease incidence as high as 44.5% and 98.5% in individual fields in early and late seasons, respectively. Fov is genetically distinct and evolved from local Fusarium oxysporum strains. Additionally, the pathogen was reported to evolve rapidly under continuous cotton cropping pressure. However, our knowledge of the genetic composition of the prevailing population is limited. Sequences of the translation elongation factor alpha 1 (TEF1) revealed that 94% of Fusarium isolates recovered from FW-infected cotton were clustered together with known Australian Fov and relatively distant related to overseas Fov races. All these isolates, except for nine, were further confirmed positive with a specific marker based on the Secreted in Xylem 6 (SIX6) effector gene. Vegetative compatibility group (VCG) analyses of 166 arbitrarily selected isolates revealed a predominance of VCG01111. There was only one detection of VCG01112 in the Border Rivers valley where it was first described. In this study, the exotic Californian Fov race 4 strain was not detected using a specific marker based on the unique Tfo1 insertion in the phosphate (PHO) gene. This study indicated that the prevalence and abundance of Fov across NSW and Queensland in the past five seasons was probably independent of its genetic diversity.

Extremely Rare Primary Spinal Epidural Indolent Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report With Literature Review.

Lymphomas are malignant tumors arising from lymphoid tissues and can spread to other organs. Primary extra-nodal locations such as the spinal epidural space are less common. Primary spinal epidural lymphoma (PSEL), which can be either Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's type, is rare. There are different cell types of Non-Hodgkin's PSEL, among which mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is extremely rare. MCL can have an aggressive or indolent course. Indolent MCL in the epidural space is not yet reported. We report a case of 20-year-old male who presented with radiating low back pain for six weeks followed by a progressive neurological deficit in both lower limbs for nine days. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed spinal epidural tumor extending from L2 to L3. Decompression and subtotal excision biopsy were performed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry identified indolent MCL. His neurological status improved to normal postoperatively, and he was referred to an oncologist. He is under observation and planned for radiotherapy. At one-year follow-up, he is asymptomatic and doing his regular job abroad.

Primary spinal epidural non-Hodgkin's diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A case report.

Rare disease like primary spinal epidural diffuse large B-cell lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with back pain and rapid neurological deterioration in the lower extremities.

Comparison of Scapular Manipulation With External Rotation Method of Reduction of Acute Anterior Shoulder Dislocation for Sedation Requirements and Success Rates.

BACKGROUND: Anterior shoulder dislocation is a common sports-related musculoskeletal injury. Various methods have been described for reduction of the dislocation. A method that requires less sedation without compromising the success rate is likely to be highly useful in austere and prehospital settings. This study compares scapular manipulation with external rotation method for requirement of sedation and success rates. METHODS: Forty-six patients with anterior shoulder dislocation were allocated alternatively to reduction using either scapular manipulation (SMM) or external rotation (ERM) techniques. The groups were compared for sedation requirements, pain scores, and success rates. RESULTS: Reductions using SMM had fewer requirements for sedation (13% versus 39%; p < .05) and higher first-pass success rates (87% versus 61%; p < .05) as compared with ERM for anterior shoulder dislocation reduction. The numeric rating score of pain during reduction procedures was less in SMM (mean, 1.65 [standard deviation, 1.6]) than in ERM group (mean, 4.30 [standard deviation, 1.8]; p < .01). CONCLUSION: The SMM required less sedation and had higher first-pass success rates than ERM for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation. The SMM is thus likely to be of advantage in resource-limited austere settings.

Sequential above- and belowground herbivory modifies plant responses depending on herbivore identity.

BACKGROUND: Herbivore-induced changes in plant traits can cause indirect interactions between spatially and/or temporally separated herbivores that share the same host plant. Feeding modes of the herbivores is one of the major factors that influence the outcome of such interactions. Here, we tested whether the effects of transient aboveground herbivory for seven days by herbivores of different feeding guilds on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) alters their interaction with spatially as well as temporally separated belowground herbivores. RESULTS: The transient aboveground herbivory by both chewing caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua) and sucking aphids (Myzus persicae) had significant impacts on plant traits such as plant growth, resource allocation and phytohormone contents. While the changes in plant traits did not affect the overall performance of the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) in terms of total number of galls, we found that the consequences of aboveground herbivory for the plants can be altered by the subsequent nematode herbivory. For example, plants that had hosted aphids showed compensatory growth when they were later challenged by nematodes, which was not apparent in plants that had hosted only aphids. In contrast, plants that had been fed by S. exigua larvae did not show such compensatory growth even when challenged by nematodes. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the earlier aboveground herbivory can modify plant responses to subsequent herbivores, and such modifications may depend upon identity and/or feeding modes of the aboveground herbivores.

Genetic Variation of the Host Plant Species Matters for Interactions with Above- and Belowground Herbivores.

Plants are challenged by both above- and belowground herbivores which may indirectly interact with each other via herbivore-induced changes in plant traits; however, little is known about how genetic variation of the host plant shapes such interactions. We used two genotypes (M4 and E9) of Solanum dulcamara (Solanaceae) with or without previous experience of aboveground herbivory by Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae) to quantify its effects on subsequent root herbivory by Agriotes spp. (Elateridae). In the genotype M4, due to the aboveground herbivory, shoot and root biomass was significantly decreased, roots had a lower C/N ratio and contained significantly higher levels of proteins, while the genotype E9 was not affected. However, aboveground herbivory had no effects on weight gain or mortality of the belowground herbivores. Root herbivory by Agriotes increased the nitrogen concentration in the roots of M4 plants leading to a higher weight gain of conspecific larvae. Also, in feeding bioassays, Agriotes larvae tended to prefer roots of M4 over E9, irrespective of the aboveground herbivore treatment. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) documented differences in metabolic profiles of the two plant genotypes and of the roots of M4 plants after aboveground herbivory. Together, these results demonstrate that previous aboveground herbivory can have genotype-specific effects on quantitative and qualitative root traits. This may have consequences for belowground interactions, although generalist root herbivores might not be affected when the root biomass offered is still sufficient for growth and survival.

Genetic variation in yield under hot ambient temperatures spotlights a role for cytokinin in protection of developing floral primordia.

Unusually hot ambient temperatures (HAT) can cause pre-anthesis abortion of flowers in many diverse species, limiting crop production. This limitation is becoming more substantial with climate change. Flower primordia of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) vines exposed to HAT summers, normally abort. Flower abortion can also be triggered by gibberellin application. We screened for, and identified a genotype capable of reaching anthesis during summer as well as controlled HAT conditions, and also more resistant to gibberellin. Leaves of this genotype contained higher levels of endogenous cytokinin. We investigated a possible connection between higher cytokinin levels and response to gibberellin. Indeed, the effects of gibberellin application were partially suppressed in plants pretreated with cytokinin. Can higher cytokinin levels protect flowers from aborting under HAT conditions? In passion fruit, flowers at a specific stage showed more resistance in response to HAT after cytokinin application. We further tested this hypothesis in Arabidopsis. Transgenic lines with high or low cytokinin levels and cytokinin applications to wild-type plants supported a protective role for cytokinin on developing flowers exposed to HAT. Such findings may have important implications in future breeding programmes as well as field application of growth regulators.

Arabidopsis thaliana plants with different levels of aliphatic- and indolyl-glucosinolates affect host selection and performance of Bemisia tabaci.

Generalist insects show reduced selectivity when subjected to similar, but not identical, host plant chemical signatures. Here, we produced transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants that over-express genes regulating the aliphatic- and indolyl- glucosinolates biosynthetic pathways with either a constitutive (CaMV 35S) or a phloem-specific promoter (AtSUC2). This allowed us to examine how exposure to high levels of aliphatic- or indolyl-glucosinolates in homogenous habitats (leaf cage apparatus containing two wild-type or two transgenic leaves) and heterogeneous habitats (leaf cage apparatus containing one wild-type and one transgenic leaf) affects host selection and performance of Bemsia tabaci, a generalist phloem-feeding insect. Data from homogenous habitats indicated that exposure to A. thaliana plants accumulating high levels of aliphatic- or indolyl-glucosinolates negatively affected the performance of both adult females and nymphs of B. tabaci. Data from heterogeneous habitats indicated that B. tabaci adult females selected for oviposition plants on which their offspring perform better (preference-performance relationship). However, the combinations of wild-type and transgenic plants in heterogeneous habitats increased the period of time until the first choice was made and led to increased movement rate on transgenic plants, and reduced fecundity on wild-type plants. Overall, our findings are consistent with the view that both performance and selectivity of B. tabaci decrease in heterogeneous habitats that contain plants with closely-related chemical signatures.

Routine insertion of the lateral mass screw via the posterior arch for C1 fixation: feasibility and related complications.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: To our knowledge, there is no clinical study analyzing the feasibility and complications of the routine insertion of the lateral mass screw via the posterior arch for C1 fixation in a live surgical setting. PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of routine insertion of the lateral mass screw via the posterior arch and related complications. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical-radiological analysis. PATIENT SAMPLE: Fifty-two consecutive patients with 102 C1 lateral mass screws inserted via the posterior arch. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cortical perforation, vertebral artery injuries, and visual analog scale score of occipital neuralgia recorded on a prospective database. METHODS: All consecutive patients in whom lateral mass screw placement via the posterior arch was attempted as the first choice whenever C1 posterior fixation was necessary were enrolled. Prospective database, clinical records, questionnaires regarding occipital neuralgia, pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) angiograms, and follow-up radiographs and CT scans were analyzed. This study was supported by a $9,000 academic research grant by the first author's hospital. The last author receives royalties for a posterior cervical fixation system, which is not the topic of this study and is not used or mentioned in this article. RESULTS: One hundred two screws were attempted in 52 consecutive patients by a single surgeon. The height of 43 posterior arches (42%) was smaller than 4 mm on preoperative CT angiography. Lateral mass screws could be inserted via the posterior arch in all cases including eight with nine ponticuli posticus and seven with seven persistent first intersegmental arteries, but the posterior arch was perforated cranially by 7, caudally by 30, and craniocaudally (partially) by 3 screws and vertically split by 14 screws. Among the last 28 screws for which the authors' overdrilling technique was used, only one vertical split occurred, whereas among the first 74 screws without overdrilling, 13 vertical splits occurred. None of them led to screw loosening or nonunion. There were no vertebral artery injuries. Among the 19 patients with preoperative occipital neuralgia, 12 had complete resolution and seven had alleviation at the last follow-up. Among the 33 patients without preoperative neuralgia, seven developed new neuralgia postoperatively. Three of them underwent C2 root transection and the other four underwent C2 root dissection for intraarticular fusion of the facet joints. Of the seven, five had complete resolution and two had mild discomfort at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Routine insertion of the lateral mass screw via the C1 posterior arch was feasible in even those with a small posterior arch, ponticulus posticus, or persistent first intersegmental artery. Although cortical perforation or vertical splitting of the posterior arch was often inevitable, it did not lead to significant weakening of the fixation or nonunion. Vertical split could be minimized by overdrilling the posterior arch. Vertebral artery injury was preventable by mobilization before screw insertion. Occipital neuralgia was not uncommon but thought to be unrelated to screw placement in most cases.