Draft genome sequence of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris,' strain SW86 associated with sandal spike disease (SSD).

The sandal spike disease (SSD), related to 'Ca. Phytoplasma asteris' (Aster Yellows group), poses a significant threat to Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.), making it the second most expensive wood globally due to declining population density. The epidemiology of SSD and the nature of the pathogen remain poorly understood. The SW86 isolate, collected from the Marayoor Sandalwood Reserve, was chosen for genome sequencing subsequent to confirming its titer and enriching phytoplasma DNA. Genome sequencing, utilizing Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology platforms, enabled a targeted hybrid metagenomic assembly resulting in 20 scaffolds totaling 554,025 bp, housing 436 protein-coding genes, 27 tRNA, and 1 rRNA operon. The genome analysis highlighted specific gene distributions, emphasizing translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis, with 352 genes assigned to 18 functional categories. Additionally, 322 proteins received functional assignments in the KEGG database, emphasizing 'Genetic Information Processing' and 'Environmental Information Processing'. Key potential pathogenicity factors, including signal peptide proteins and virulence proteins, were identified. Noteworthy findings include homologs of effectors genes like SAP11 and SAP05 and pathogenesis-related proteins, such as hemolysin III and SodA genes, in the SW86 genome. The duplicated cation-transporting P-type ATPase in the SW86 genome suggests a role in enhancing adaptability and contributing to the severity of SSD symptoms. This genome analysis provides crucial insights into the genomic features and potential virulence factors of 'Ca. Phytoplasma asteris' strain SW86, advancing our understanding of pathogenicity mechanisms and offering avenues for future disease management strategies in Indian sandalwood. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-03952-5.

Rothia santali sp. nov., endophytic bacteria isolated from sandalwood (Santalum album L.) seedling.

A novel, mustard yellow-pigmented aerobic bacterial strain designated AR01T was isolated from hypocotyl tissue of a sandalwood seedling from Bangalore, India. The 16S rRNA gene of strain AR01T had the highest 98.97% sequence similarity with Rothia halotolerans YIM 90716T (KCTC 19172) followed by Rothia kristinae PM 129T (NBRC 15354T) (97.31%) and Rothia koreensis P31T (JCM 15915) (97.11%), respectively. The strain AR01T was coccoid-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming, oxidase negative and catalase positive. The strain AR01T has a genome size of 3.31 Mb containing 2993 protein-coding genes including 48 tRNA and 10 rRNAs spread across 84 contigs. The genomic DNA G + C content was 71.77 mol%. The calculated dDDH was 31.10% and the OrthoANI value was 85.27% when compared with its closest related type strain Rothia halotolerans YIM 90716T. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16:0 iso, C15:0 anteiso and C17:0 anteiso. The strain AR01T contains major polar lipids including diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The distinct physiological, biochemical characteristics and genotypic relatedness indicated that AR01T represents a novel species of the genus Rothia, for which the name Rothia santali sp. nov. (Type strain AR01T = MCC 4800T = JCM 35593T) is proposed.

Physical and chemical properties of some imported woods and their degradation by termites.

The influence of physical and chemical properties of 20 species of imported wood on degradation of the wood by termites under field conditions was studied. The wood species studied were: Sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus L. (Sapindales: Sapindaceae) (from two countries), Camphor, Dryobalanops aromatic C.F.Gaertner (Malvales: Dipterocarpaceae), Beech, Fagus grandifolia Ehrhart (Fagales: Fagaceae), F. sylvatica L. (from two countries), Oak, Quercus robur L., Ash, Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl (Lamiales: Oleaceae), F. excelsior L., Padauk, Pterocarpus soyauxii Taubert (Fabales: Fabaceae), (from two countries), Jamba, Xylia dolabrifiormis Roxburgh, Shorea laevis Ridley (Malvales: Dipterocarpaceae), S. macoptera Dyer, S. robusta Roth, Teak, Tectona grandis L.f. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) (from five countries), and rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis Müller Argoviensis (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) from India. The termites present were: Odontotermes horni (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Termitidae), O. feae, O. wallonensis, and O. obeus (Rambur). A significant conelation was found between density, cellulose, lignin, and total phenolic contents of the wood and degradation by termites. The higher the density of the wood, the lower the degradation. Similarly, higher amount of lignin and total phenolic contents ensured higher resistance, whereas cellulose drives the termites towards the wood.

Field evaluation of a microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593M (Biocide-S) against Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles subpictus in south India.

A microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593M (Biocide-S) was field tested at two different doses viz, 0.22 and 0.43 g/m2 in casuarina pits against a malarial vector Anopheles (Cellia) culicifacies Giles, and An. (Cel.) subpictus Grassi in coconut garden pits in the coastal areas of South India. Both doses significantly reduced the abundance of late instars and pupae of An. culicifacies for 3 and 5 weeks respectively. A significant reduction was recorded in the abundance of late instars and pupae of An. subpictus for 2 and 3 weeks respectively.

Evaluation of a microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593 M (Biocide-S) for control of mosquito larvae in rice fields in southern India.

A new microgel droplet formulation of Bacillus sphaericus 1593 M (Biocide-S) was tested at 2 rates against culicine vectors of Japanese encephalitis and Anopheles subpictus. A single application just after transplantation of rice seedlings prevented the buildup of anopheline as well as culicine populations, and gave 83-100% reduction of pupal density at the lower rate (2.2 kg/ha) and 87-100% reduction at the higher dosage (4.3 kg/ha) for at least 5 weeks. During the last 3 wk before harvest, density was naturally very low and the efficacy of the treatment could not be assessed. This formulation has a potential for control of riceland mosquitoes, but a suitable delivery system is required before it can be considered for practical control.

Physical growth and neurointegrative performance of survivors of protein--energy malnutrition.

1. The anthropometric measurements and neurointegrative performance of seventy-nine children aged 6--12 years who had survived kwashiorkor in early childhood were compared to those of 142 children who served as controls. 2. For the boys the differences in height and weight between those who had survived protein--energy malnutrition (PEM) and the controls were significant (P less than 0.01). 3. For the girls the differences in height and weight between those who had survived PEM and the controls were not significant. 4. In the tests chosen, the performances of the survivors of PEM was significantly poorer than that of the controls. 5. There was no improvement in the performance when thirteen survivors were reassessed at 10 years of age. 6. There was a significant difference in scholastic performance between the survivors of PEM and the normal controls. The scholastic performance of the siblings of PEM survivors was also significantly better than that of the PEM survivors. 7. The dietary intakes at the time of reassessment were unsatisfactory in 25% of the survivors, but did not relate to their scholastic abilities.

Dietary intakes and food taboos of lactating women in a South Indian community.

The diets of women, studied at regular intervals in the first year of lactation, showed that food taboos adversely affected the daily intake of energy, protein and some nutrients in the first month. Despite the poor intakes, the women breastfed their babies successfully and the weight gained by the babies in the early months was satisfactory. Breast feeding continued until the next pregnancy. Most women believed lactation prevented conception.