Molecular Diagnostic Assay for Rapid Detection of Flag Smut Fungus (Urocystis agropyri) in Wheat Plants and Field Soil.

Flag smut incited by Urocystis agropyri has the potential to cause substantial reduction in yield and quality of wheat production. An early and precise diagnosis is a key component in the successful management of flag smut of wheat. Therefore, a simple molecular assay for the rapid detection of U. agropyri was developed for the first time. To detect U. agropyri, species specific primers were developed by comparing the partial sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA region of U. agropyri with related and unrelated phytopathogenic fungi. The clear amplicons of 503 and 548 bp were obtained with the two sets of designed primers (UA-17F/UA-519R and UA-15F/UA-562R) from the genomic DNA of 50 geographic distinct isolates of U. agropyri. However, no amplicon was obtained from the DNA of other 21 related and unrelated phytopathogenic fungi which showed the specificity of the primers for the U. agropyri. PCR reaction was also set up to confirm the presence of U. agropyri spores in six different wheat varieties along with eleven distinct regional soil samples as template DNA. The presence of U. agropyri in all the soil samples collected from an infected field and plant tissue of diseased plants collected at two different stages (20 and 40 days post sowing) and the absence in the soils and plants of healthy plots indicated 100% reliability for detection of U. agropyri. This simple and rapid test can be employed for the detection of U. agropyri from enormous wheat and soil samples in very short time with less man power. Thus, the reported molecular assay is very specific for U. agropyri and requires less time and man power over conventional diagnosis which is often confused by coinciding morphological features of closely related fungal pathogens, and therefore, it can be used for quarantine surveillance of flag smut.

Comparative evaluation of elastic recovery of three different elastomeric impression materials on chemical disinfection and autoclaving: An in vitro study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of disinfection and steam autoclaving on the elastic recovery of three different elastomeric impression materials. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In vivo - comparative study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety dumbbell-shaped specimens of commercially available two addition-cured silicones (AFFINIS and AQUASIL) and one condensation-cured silicone (SPEEDEX) impression materials were prepared and treated with chemical disinfectant and steam autoclaving. Specimens were seal packed and sent to laboratory for testing elastic recovery. After the specimen had been pulled to failure, the broken parts were fitted back together, and the distance between the marks was measured using an electronic Vernier caliper. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: one-way analysis of variance test and Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: The result showed significant difference in elastic recovery of AFFINIS when it was disinfected and steam autoclaved whereas elastic recovery showed no significant difference when SPEEDEX and AQUASIL were disinfected and steam autoclaved. Similarly, results were alike when AFFINIS, SPEEDEX, and AQUASIL were compared on disinfection. However, significant difference was noted on steam autoclaving, highest being the mean value of AFFINIS. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, conclusion was made that the elastic recovery of AFFINIS was the least which improved with disinfection and autoclaving. Elastic recovery of SPEEDEX and AQUASIL was similar. However, all the three materials used in the study can be safely sterilized after clinical use and before being sent to the laboratory without significantly affecting their elastic recovery.

Phylogeography and Population Structure Analysis Reveal Diversity by Gene Flow and Mutation in Ustilago segetum (Pers.) Roussel tritici Causing Loose Smut of Wheat.

Ustilago segetum (Pers.) Roussel tritici (UST) causes loose smut of wheat account for considerable grain yield losses globally. For effective management, knowledge of its genetic variability and population structure is a prerequisite. In this study, UST isolates sampled from four different wheat growing zones of India were analyzed using the second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and a set of sixteen neutral simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers. Among the 112 UST isolates genotyped, 98 haplotypes were identified. All the isolates were categorized into two groups (K = 2), each consisting of isolates from different sampling sites, on the basis of unweighted paired-grouping method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) and the Bayesian analysis of population structure. The positive and significant index of association (IA = 1.169) and standardized index of association (rBarD = 0.075) indicate population is of non-random mating type. Analysis of molecular variance showed that the highest variance component is among isolates (91%), with significantly low genetic differentiation variation among regions (8%) (Fst = 0.012). Recombination (Rm = 0) was not detected. The results showed that UST isolates have a clonal genetic structure with limited genetic differentiation and human arbitrated gene flow and mutations are the prime evolutionary processes determining its genetic structure. These findings will be helpful in devising management strategy especially for selection and breeding of resistant wheat cultivars.

A spirometric and cephalometric comparative evaluation of mandibular advancement devices and occlusal jig.

AIM: Aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal jig with increased vertical dimension and mandibular advancement device on the oropharangeal volume in completely edentulous patients using spirometry and cephalometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study included includes 30 completely edentulous patient according to inclusion criteria. They were each subjected to cephalometric and spirometric analysis wearing CCD, OJ & MAD. Results obtained were subjected to following statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA test, unpaired t-test, and Dunnett's test. RESULT: Both OJ & MAD brings about significant change in oropharangeal volume hence both the devices are effective treatment of choice for OSA, while greater increase was observed in oropharangealvolume of OJ as compared to MAD. Spirometric analysis shows insignificant changes in the oropharangeal volume caused by MAD while OJ causes small but significant change in oropharangeal volume (PIFR]. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the study, it can be concluded that, on cephalometric & spirometric evaluation, OJ shows greater increase in oropharangeal volume when compared to MAD in completely edentulous patient.

Retrieval of Distally Migrated Coils with Detachable Intracranial Stent during Coil Embolization of Cerebral Aneurysm.

Migration of coils during endovascular procedures is a rare, but well-known complication. We are reporting two cases of successfully retrieving migrated coil using detachable intracranial stent. In both of our cases there was distal migration of coil during the intracranial aneurysm coiling procedure. The Solitaire® AB stent (Covidien, Irvine, CA, USA) was used to retrieve those coils. The stent was passed distal to the migrated coil using standard technique. It was then partially deployed and gradually withdrawn along with the entangled coil. Coil retrieval using the fully retrievable intracranial stent is a very simple, safe and easily available alternative for retrieval of distally migrated coil.

Model Wheat Genotypes as Tools to Uncover Effective Defense Mechanisms Against the Hemibiotrophic Fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana.

ABSTRACT We investigated the interaction of several differentially resistant wheatwith the hemibiotrophic phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana (teleomorph Cochliobolus sativus). Wheat genotypes Yangmai, M 3 (W7976), Shanghai 4, and Chirya 7 showed higher levels of resistancewith cv. Sonalika, used as a susceptible control. In amicroscopic inspection, we found that fungal penetration intoepidermal layer failed mostly through a cell wall-associated defense. In cases where the fungus successfully overcame epidermal, its spread within the mesophyll tissue (necrotrophic phase) wasin the more resistant genotypes. Epidermal cell wall-associated, spreading as well as the extent of electrolyte leakage of infected, correlated well with field resistance. We propose that cellular hostsuch as formation of cell wall appositions as well as the degreeearly mesophyll spreading of fungal hyphae are indicative of thepotential of the respective host genotype and, therefore, could befor the characterization of new spot blotch resistance traits in cereals.