Organic Waste from the Management of the Invasive Oxalis pes-caprae as a Source of Nutrients for Small Horticultural Crops.

The management of invasive plants is a challenge when using traditional control methods, which are ineffective for large areas, leading to the abandonment of invaded areas and the subsequent worsening of the situation. Finding potential uses for waste resulting from invaders' management could motivate their control in the long-term, concurrently providing new bio-based resources with different applications. Oxalis pes-caprae is an invasive plant, widely distributed worldwide, which spreads aggressively through bulbils, creating a dense ground cover. This study was designed to assess the potential of Oxalis aboveground waste for use as fertilizer and in ameliorating deficit irrigation effects in growing crops. Diplotaxis tenuifolia (wild rocket) seedlings were planted in pots with soil mixed with Oxalis waste at 0, 2.2 and 4.3 kg m-2 or with commercial fertilizer, left to grow for 27 days and then irrigated at 100% or 50% field capacity for 14 days. The incorporation of the Oxalis waste improved the biomass, photosynthesis, sugars, total phenols and total antioxidant capacity in the crop, achieving commercial fertilization values, as well as increasing the phosphorus in soils. However, Oxalis waste seems not to directly affect plants' relative water contents. Our results support the use of Oxalis waste as fertilizer, which can encourage the long-term control of this invasive species.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticle for catalytic applications and priming study by seed germination.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been successfully synthesized using leaf extract of Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Mint (Mentha Piperita), Tulsi (Ocimum Tenuiflorum), Bermuda grass (Cynodon Dactylon) and silver salt. As plant extracts produce best capping material for the stabilization of nanoparticles. AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy in range of 200-800 nm and transmission electron microscopy TEM, XRD and FTIR. The nanoparticles synthesized were mainly in sizes between 25 and 100 nm. They appeared to be spherical, nanotriangles and irregular in shape. Catalytic application was observed for all the aqueous solution of leaves, quantity taken was 1 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 4 ml and 5 ml. Furthermore, prepared Ag nanoparticles are also used for seed germination.

Cyanohydrin Equilibria Implicate Non-Aromatic Aldehydes in Photochemical Production of Oceanic Carbon Monoxide.

Carbonyls have previously been dismissed as significant precursors for carbon monoxide (CO) photoproduction from natural chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Here, we used hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which reacts with carbonyls to form photochemically inert cyanohydrins, as a probe to re-examine the role of carbonyls in CO photoproduction. Adding HCN to low-absorbance euphotic zone seawater decreased CO photoproduction. Modeling [HCN] (∼5 to 364 µM) vs the percent decrease in CO photoproduction (%CO↓) yielded carbonyl-cyanohydrin dissociation equilibrium constants, KD, and maximum %CO↓, %CO↓max values. Four Atlantic and Pacific seawater KDs (66.7 ± 19.6 µM) overlap aqueous aliphatic but not aromatic aldehyde KDs. Phenylacetaldehyde (PA) and other ß,γ-unsaturated aldehydes are proposed as prototypical CO precursors. Direct photolysis of ∼10 nM PA can supply the measured daily production of HCN-sensitive CO at an open-ocean site near Bermuda. HCN's %CO↓max was 31 ± 2.5% in North Atlantic seawater vs the 13 ± 2.5% inhibition of CO photoproduction by borohydride, a dilemma since only borohydride affects most ketones. Borohydride also decreased CDOM absorption much more than did HCN. This puzzle probably reflects differing steric and solvation requirements in HCN- and borohydride-CDOM reactions. This study demonstrates cyanophilic aldehydes to be a significant source of open-ocean CO and reveals new clues regarding CDOM photochemistry mechanisms.

Marine particle size-fractionation indicates organic matter is processed by differing microbial communities on depth-specific particles.

Passive sinking flux of particulate organic matter in the ocean plays a central role in the biological carbon pump and carbon export to the ocean's interior. Particle-associated microbes colonize particulate organic matter, producing "hotspots" of microbial activity. We evaluated variation in particle-associated microbial communities to 500 m depth across four different particle size fractions (0.2-1.2, 1.2-5, 5-20, >20 µm) collected using in situ pumps at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site. In situ pump collections capture both sinking and suspended particles, complementing previous studies using sediment or gel traps, which capture only sinking particles. Additionally, the diagenetic state of size-fractionated particles was examined using isotopic signatures alongside microbial analysis. Our findings emphasize that different particle sizes contain distinctive microbial communities, and each size category experiences a similar degree of change in communities over depth, contradicting previous findings. The robust patterns observed in this study suggest that particle residence times may be long relative to microbial succession rates, indicating that many of the particles collected in this study may be slow sinking or neutrally buoyant. Alternatively, rapid community succession on sinking particles could explain the change between depths. Complementary isotopic analysis of particles revealed significant differences in composition between particles of different sizes and depths, indicative of organic particle transformation by microbial hydrolysis and metazoan grazing. Our results couple observed patterns in microbial communities with the diagenetic state of associated organic matter and highlight unique successional patterns in varying particle sizes across depth.

Combined use of chemical dust suppressant and herbaceous plants for tailings dust control.

Tailings dust can negatively affect the surrounding environment and communities because the tailings are vulnerable to wind erosion. In this study, the effects of halides (sodium chloride [NaCl], calcium chloride [CaCl2], and magnesium chloride hexahydrate [MgCl2·6H2O]), and polymer materials (polyacrylamide [PAM], polyvinyl alcohol [PVA], and calcium lignosulfonate [LS]) were investigated for the stabilization of tailings for dust control. Erect milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens), ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) were planted in the tailings and sprayed with chemical dust suppressants. The growth status of the plants and their effects on the mechanical properties of tailings were also studied. The results show that the weight loss of tailings was stabilized by halides and polymers, and decreased with increasing concentration and spraying amount of the solutions. The penetration resistance of tailings stabilized by halides and polymers increased with increasing concentration and spraying amount of the solutions. Among the halides and polymers tested, the use of CaCl2 and PAM resulted in the best control of tailings dust, respectively. CaCl2 solution reduces the adaptability of plants and therefore makes it difficult for grass seeds to germinate normally. PAM solutions are beneficial for the development of herbaceous plants. Among the three herbaceous species, ryegrass exhibited the best degree of development and was more suitable for growth in the tailings. The ryegrass plants planted in the tailings sprayed with PAM grew the best, and the root-soil complex that formed increased the shear strength of the tailings.

Slope protection effect of typical vegetation in the Three Gorges reservoir area under extreme rainfall.

In recent years, vegetation plays a key role in landslide stability under extreme rainfall in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, so it is very important to identify the mechanism of vegetation slope protection. This study takes wildcat landslide in Three Gorges Reservoir area as the research object, using indoor landslide model test and building monitoring systems such as stress field, displacement field, and soil erosion, to illustrate the protective effect of typical vegetation. Furthermore, Bermuda cover effectively reduces pore water pressure, pore soil pressure, displacement, and turbidity. In particular, the three stages of interception and buffering of rainfall by stems and leaves, infiltration and absorption of rainfall by the root system, and the reinforcement of the slope against sliding forces by the root system have been divided. Moreover, these findings offer valuable preliminary insights for guiding landslide mitigation strategies in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

The EQ-5D-3L valuation study for Bermuda: using an on-line EQ-VT protocol.

BACKGROUND: In many countries, methods of economic evaluation and Health Technology Assessment are used to inform healthcare resource allocation decisions. These approaches often require EQ-5D health outcomes measures. This study aimed to create an EQ-5D-3L value set for Bermuda from which EQ-5D-5L Crosswalk values could be obtained. METHODS: Respondents in Bermuda were recruited locally. A team of Trinidad-based interviewers with prior EQ-5D-3L valuation experience conducted valuation interviews on-line using the EQ-VT protocol. Respondents completed composite time-trade off (cTTO) and discrete choice experiment (DCE) tasks. A hybrid model that included both the cTTO and DCE data was estimated. An EQ-5D-5L crosswalk value set was then created from the EQ-5D-3L index values. Coefficients in the resulting crosswalk model were compared with those of crosswalk and valuation studies from other countries. RESULTS: The valuation tasks were completed by a near-representative sample of 366 adult Bermuda citizens. Half of the respondents reported being in state 11111. The lowest EQ VAS and EQ-5D-3L index values were 20 and - 0.120 respectively. The hybrid model produced all logically consistent and statistically significant coefficients that in turn produced index values that were very similar to those obtained in a preliminary model (MAD of 0.027). DISCUSSION: The on-line EQ-VT valuation study was successfully conducted in Bermuda and the values therein can now be used for economic analysis in Bermuda. The Bermuda values differed considerably from those of the other countries against which they were compared. Challenges were encountered with recruitment for an on-line survey in a small population.

Deep metagenomic sequencing unveils novel SAR202 lineages and their vertical adaptation in the ocean.

SAR202 bacteria in the Chloroflexota phylum are abundant and widely distributed in the ocean. Their genome coding capacities indicate their potential roles in degrading complex and recalcitrant organic compounds in the ocean. However, our understanding of their genomic diversity, vertical distribution, and depth-related metabolisms is still limited by the number of assembled SAR202 genomes. In this study, we apply deep metagenomic sequencing (180 Gb per sample) to investigate microbial communities collected from six representative depths at the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) station. We obtain 173 SAR202 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Intriguingly, 154 new species and 104 new genera are found based on these 173 SAR202 genomes. We add 12 new subgroups to the current SAR202 lineages. The vertical distribution of 20 SAR202 subgroups shows their niche partitioning in the euphotic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic oceans, respectively. Deep-ocean SAR202 bacteria contain more genes and exhibit more metabolic potential for degrading complex organic substrates than those from the euphotic zone. With deep metagenomic sequencing, we uncover many new lineages of SAR202 bacteria and their potential functions which greatly deepen our understanding of their diversity, vertical profile, and contribution to the ocean's carbon cycling, especially in the deep ocean.

Evaluation of different bermudagrass germplasm at physiological and molecular level under shade along longitudinal and latitudinal gradients.

Responses of turfgrass to shade vary in individual species, and the degree and quality of low light; therefore, the selection of low light tolerant cultivars of turfgrass is important and beneficial for turf management rather than other practices. The stolons of thirteen bermudagrass genotypes were planted with two treatments and three replications of each treatment to establish for one month in the Yangzhou University Jiangsu China greenhouse. The established plants were transferred outside of the greenhouse, and 50% shading was applied to them with a black net. After 30 days of stress treatment, the morpho-physiological and biochemical analyses were performed. The expression of genes such as HEMA, HY5, PIF4, and Cu/ZnSOD was assessed. Cynodon dactylon is a C4, and perennial that grows as lawn grass and is used as forage. Based on different indicator measurements, the most shade-tolerant germplasm was L01 and L06 along the longitudes and L09 and L10 along the latitudes. At the same time, L02 and L08 were more susceptible, respectively. However, germplasm showed greater tolerance in higher latitudes while longitudinal plants showed less stress response. The current study aimed (1) to screen out the most shade-tolerant Cynodon dactylon genotype among 13 along longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in China. (2) to examine morpho-physiological indicators of different bermudagrassgenotypes; (3) to evaluate if and how differences in various indicators of bermudagrass correlated with geographic region. This study will significantly advance the use of Cynodon germplasm in breeding, genomics, management, nomenclature, and phylogeographical study. It will decisively define whether natural selection and migration can drive evolutionary responses for populations to adapt to their new environments effectively.

A revision of the genus Wrangelia (Wrangeliaceae, Ceramiales) in Bermuda resolves six new species including W. ryancraigii from the mesophotic zone.

Four species of the genus Wrangelia are presently known from the western Atlantic Ocean: W. argus, W. bicuspidata, W. penicillata, and W. gordoniae, with the first three historically being reported from Bermuda. Morphological and molecular barcode (COI-5P) and phylogenetic analyses used in this study (SSU, LSU, rbcL) indicated eight species groupings of Wrangelia in Bermuda, excluding two of the historically recognized species, retaining only W. argus while adding seven new species, of which six are formally described. What had been historically reported as W. penicillata from Bermuda was shown to be distinct from Mediterranean Sea specimens (type locality) and was shown to be a mixture of W. hesperia sp. nov. and W. incrassata sp. nov. Along with these two, three other new species (W. laxa sp. nov., W. ryancraigii sp. nov., and W. secundiramea sp. nov.) have complete rhizoidal cortication tightly covering axial cells of indeterminate axes below the apices, distinguishing them from the two local incompletely corticated congeners W. argus and W. abscondita sp. nov., the latter a morphologically cryptic sister species with W. bicuspidata from the Caribbean Sea. Only one of the new species, W. ryancraigii, has thus far been observed in the mesophotic zone off the Bermuda platform, and it is morphologically cryptic with the euphotic zone's W. laxa.

Erratum: Request to Include COA Number Beta-Expansin of Bermuda, Johnson, and Para grass pollens, is a major cross-reactive allergen for allergic rhinitis patients in subtropical climate.

COA number for ethical approval should be included in Methods part as follows: Methods Patients The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, Siriraj Hospital (SiEc 100/2012, COA no. Si 315/2012). Forty patients with history of AR were recruited. All patients signed an informed consent before SPT. Thirty-one of them were excluded due to mono -sensitization to grass allergen. Nine patients, aged 9-47 years old (mean 26.3 ± 4 years), were included in this study based on positive SPT (mean wheal diameter, MWD ≥ 3 mm) to protein extract from at least 2 of 3 BGP, JGP, and PGP. The SPT extracts were prepared as described previously.4 Determination of level of serum sIgE against extract of BGP and JGP was carried out by ImmunoCAP (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). However, there is no available test for PGP.

A comprehensive assessment of photosynthetic acclimation to shade in C4 grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.).

BACKGROUND: Light deficit in shaded environment critically impacts the growth and development of turf plants. Despite this fact, past research has predominantly concentrated on shade avoidance rather than shade tolerance. To address this, our study examined the photosynthetic adjustments of Bermudagrass when exposed to varying intensities of shade to gain an integrative understanding of the shade response of C4 turfgrass. RESULTS: We observed alterations in photosynthetic pigment-proteins, electron transport and its associated carbon and nitrogen assimilation, along with ROS-scavenging enzyme activity in shaded conditions. Mild shade enriched Chl b and LHC transcripts, while severe shade promoted Chl a, carotenoids and photosynthetic electron transfer beyond QA- (ET0/RC, φE0, Ψ0). The study also highlighted differential effects of shade on leaf and root components. For example, Soluble sugar content varied between leaves and roots as shade diminished SPS, SUT1 but upregulated BAM. Furthermore, we observed that shading decreased the transcriptional level of genes involving in nitrogen assimilation (e.g. NR) and SOD, POD, CAT enzyme activities in leaves, even though it increased in roots. CONCLUSIONS: As shade intensity increased, considerable changes were noted in light energy conversion and photosynthetic metabolism processes along the electron transport chain axis. Our study thus provides valuable theoretical groundwork for understanding how C4 grass acclimates to shade tolerance.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing provides new insights into the cell-specific expression patterns and transcriptional regulation of photosynthetic genes in bermudagrass leaf blades.

As an important warm-season turfgrass species, bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) flourishes in warm areas around the world due to the existence of the C4 photosynthetic pathway. However, how C4 photosynthesis operates in bermudagrass leaves is still poorly understood. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing on 5296 cells from bermudagrass leaf blades. Eight cell clusters corresponding to mesophyll, bundle sheath, epidermis and vascular bundle cells were successfully identified using known cell marker genes. Expression profiling indicated that genes encoding NADP-dependent malic enzymes (NADP-MEs) were highly expressed in bundle sheath cells, whereas NAD-ME genes were weakly expressed in all cell types, suggesting C4 photosynthesis of bermudagrass leaf blades might be NADP-ME type rather than NAD-ME type. The results also indicated that starch synthesis-related genes showed preferential expression in bundle sheath cells, whereas starch degradation-related genes were highly expressed in mesophyll cells, which agrees with the observed accumulation of starch-filled chloroplasts in bundle sheath cells. Gene co-expression analysis further revealed that different families of transcription factors were co-expressed with multiple C4 photosynthesis-related genes, suggesting a complex transcription regulatory network of C4 photosynthesis might exist in bermudagrass leaf blades. These findings collectively provided new insights into the cell-specific expression patterns and transcriptional regulation of photosynthetic genes in bermudagrass.

Care Bermuda, families of the patients with chronic mental disorders in Iran surrounded by psychosocial problems and needs: a qualitative study.

Background: A mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant impairment of cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. As a result of the shift in care from medical centers and hospitals to home care, we now see a change in the treatment of patients with chronic mental disorders. Consequently, families have become the main support system in the progressive care of these patients, leading to psychological and social problems. The current qualitative study investigated the social and psychological health needs and problems of family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders in Iran's cultural and social context. Methods: This was a content analysis qualitative study. The study was conducted in three psychiatric hospitals in Farabi, Noor, Modares. Purposive sampling was done and continued until data saturation. Semi-structured, face-to-face, and individual interviews were conducted with 49 participants (15 family caregivers of patients with CMD and 34 members of the mental health care team). Data analysis was done using the conventional content analysis method. Results: Eight hundred seventy-five primary codes were obtained, which were classified into 10 subcategories and 3 main categories of 'health challenges of caregiver', 'confused concept of care' and "the need for a coherent support system. Conclusion: In Iranian society, after the patient is discharged from the hospital or care center, family members will change their role to the most important caregivers of these patients. The psychological and social health of these caregivers is destroyed because of the problems they have in providing care for their patients and their needs, which are not met.

Chewing analysis of horses consuming bermudagrass hay in different styles of slow feeders as compared to loose hay.

Mastication is the initial phase of digestion and is crucial to equine health due to its role in saliva production and food particle reduction. Hay nets have been promoted to slow the rate of hay consumption, with many styles of slow feeders available. Limited research has shown that nets may slow consumption, but no research has examined their effect on the horse's chewing frequency and patterns. The objective of this study was to compare chew frequency (CF, total number of chews/kg consumed) and chew duration (CD, total minutes chewed/kg consumed), as well as distribution of chews over a feeding period, of horses eating bermudagrass hay in three styles of hay nets [large mesh (LM), small mesh (SM), bottom hole (BH)] as compared to a control of loose hay (CTL). Treatments were assigned in a replicated Latin square 4 × 4 using eight horses. Horses were given a 24-hr acclimation period prior to recording their chewing patterns over a 24-hr period using an automated halter fit with a pressure-sensor noseband. Results indicate that CF was not influenced by treatment. However, SM resulted in longer CD as compared to CTL (P = 0.007). Additionally, BH resulted in a higher percentage of chews completed in the first 240 min compared to SM (P = 0.039), indicating more rapid consumption. Results of this study indicate hay nets may not influence the number of chews a horse performs while masticating hay, but small mesh feeders may increase the CD and reduce early consumption rate.

Recurring seasonality exposes dominant species and niche partitioning strategies of open ocean picoeukaryotic algae.

Ocean spring phytoplankton blooms are dynamic periods important to global primary production. We document vertical patterns of a diverse suite of eukaryotic algae, the prasinophytes, in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre with monthly sampling over four years at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site. Water column structure was used to delineate seasonal stability periods more ecologically relevant than seasons defined by calendar dates. During winter mixing, tiny prasinophytes dominated by Class II comprise 46 ± 24% of eukaryotic algal (plastid-derived) 16S rRNA V1-V2 amplicons, specifically Ostreococcus Clade OII, Micromonas commoda, and Bathycoccus calidus. In contrast, Class VII are rare and Classes I and VI peak during warm stratified periods when surface eukaryotic phytoplankton abundances are low. Seasonality underpins a reservoir of genetic diversity from multiple prasinophyte classes during warm periods that harbor ephemeral taxa. Persistent Class II sub-species dominating the winter/spring bloom period retreat to the deep chlorophyll maximum in summer, poised to seed the mixed layer upon winter convection, exposing a mechanism for initiating high abundances at bloom onset. Comparisons to tropical oceans reveal broad distributions of the dominant sub-species herein. This unparalleled window into temporal and spatial niche partitioning of picoeukaryotic primary producers demonstrates how key prasinophytes prevail in warm oceans.

Enhancing rice growth and yield with weed endophytic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis and Metabacillus indicus under reduced chemical fertilization.

Endophytic bacteria, recognized as eco-friendly biofertilizers, have demonstrated the potential to enhance crop growth and yield. While the plant growth-promoting effects of endophytic bacteria have been extensively studied, the impact of weed endophytes remains less explored. In this study, we aimed to isolate endophytic bacteria from native weeds and assess their plant growth-promoting abilities in rice under varying chemical fertilization. The evaluation encompassed measurements of mineral phosphate and potash solubilization, as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production activity by the selected isolates. Two promising strains, tentatively identified as Alcaligenes faecalis (BTCP01) from Eleusine indica (Goose grass) and Metabacillus indicus (BTDR03) from Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, exhibited noteworthy phosphate and potassium solubilization activity, respectively. BTCP01 demonstrated superior phosphate solubilizing activity, while BTDR03 exhibited the highest potassium (K) solubilizing activity. Both isolates synthesized IAA in the presence of L-tryptophan, with the detection of nifH and ipdC genes in their genomes. Application of isolates BTCP01 and BTDR03 through root dipping and spraying at the flowering stage significantly enhanced the agronomic performance of rice variety CV. BRRI dhan29. Notably, combining both strains with 50% of recommended N, P, and K fertilizer doses led to a substantial increase in rice grain yields compared to control plants receiving 100% of recommended doses. Taken together, our results indicate that weed endophytic bacterial strains BTCP01 and BTDR03 hold promise as biofertilizers, potentially reducing the dependency on chemical fertilizers by up to 50%, thereby fostering sustainable rice production.

The Sensitization Differences of Pollen Allergen Components in Patients with Asthma and/or Rhinitis in Southern China.

INTRODUCTION: This study aim to analyzed the main pollen allergen components that cause allergic asthma and/or rhinitis and the cross-reactions between the allergen components. METHODS: Twenty one allergic rhinitis patients and 23 allergic asthma patients with pollen sensitization from the China Biological Information Repository of Respiratory Diseases were included. All the patients were detected serum pollen allergens components specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) including Betula verrucosa (Bet v 1, Bet v 2, Bet v 4), Quercus alba (Pla a 1, Pla a 2), Ambrosia elatior (Amb a 1), Artemisia vulgaris (Art v 1, Art v 3, Art v 4), Bermuda grass (Cyn d 1, Cyn d 12), Phleum pratense (Phl p 5, Phl p 1, Phl p 4, Phl p 7, Phl p 12), and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants. RESULTS: In patients with asthma, Phl p 4 had the highest positive rate (60.9%), followed by Phl p 1 (43.5%) and Pla a 2 (34.8%), while in patients with rhinitis, Amb a 1 had the highest positive rate (71.4%), followed by Phl p 4 (61.9%) and Pla a 2 (42.9%). Meanwhile, Phl p 1 (43.5%) in asthma patients was higher than that in rhinitis (4.7%, p = 0.03), while Amb a 1 (71.4%) in rhinitis patients was higher than that in asthma (26.1%, p = 0.03). Interestingly, optimal scale analysis show that the severity of both asthma and rhinitis is related to Bet v 4 (Cronbach's Alpha = 95.0%). CONCLUSIONS: In general, Phl p 4 is the main allergenic component in pollen sensitized asthma patients, while Amb a 1 is the main allergenic component in pollen sensitized rhinitis patients. Sensitization to Bet v 4 may lead to more severe symptoms, and this result may be applied in future clinical precise diagnosis.

Optimizing Identification of Allergic Sensitization to Seasonal Inhalant Allergens in the USA: Implications for Constructing Optimal Panels to Evaluate Patients with Allergy.

INTRODUCTION: While a specific number and type of antigens are recognized to detect perennial inhalant allergies, the optimal number and combination of allergens to reliably identify seasonal allergic sensitization is unclear due to limited national data. This study analyzed aeroallergen testing data from a large US clinical reference laboratory to provide guidance for optimizing seasonal allergen test selection. METHODS: The 2019 serum IgE tests for seasonal inhalant allergens were identified from the Quest Diagnostics database. Patients with results for at least 1 of 31 seasonal allergens across 4 allergen classes (11 trees, 7 weeds, 5 grasses, and 8 molds) were analyzed. A step-by-step conditional approach was employed to determine the minimum number and species of allergens needed to identify at least 98% of sensitized patients for each class. RESULTS: Of 88,042 patients tested for ≥1 seasonal allergen, 1.5%, 1.8%, 1.3%, and 1.6% were tested for all trees, weeds, grasses, and molds, respectively. Of those tested for all allergens within a class, 40.4%, 38.6%, 29.5%, and 21.2% were sensitized to at least one tree, weed, grass, or mold allergen, respectively. Identification of ≥98% of sensitized patients within a class required 8 allergens for trees (mountain cedar, maple box elder, walnut, white ash, elm, birch, cottonwood, and hickory/pecan), 5 for weeds (common ragweed short, rough pigweed, English plantain, lamb's quarters/goosefoot, and Russian thistle), 3 for grasses (June/Kentucky blue grass, Johnson grass, and Bermuda grass), and 7 for molds (Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor racemosus, Epicoccum purpurascens, Penicillium notatum, Helminthosporium halodes, and Fusarium moniliforme). CONCLUSION: A minimum of 23 antigens is required to optimally detect sensitization to four classes of seasonal allergens (i.e., ≥98% identification). The addition of these allergens to unique perennial allergens (cat, dog, mouse, cockroach, and 2 dust mite species) results in a comprehensive elucidation of inhalant allergen sensitization. This knowledge provides a pivotal guide for clinical laboratories as they construct allergen panels to optimize diagnostic yield.

Application of fertilizer and insecticide can reduce Antonina graminis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and improve the quality of golf course putting greens.

BACKGROUND: Rhodesgrass mealybug, Antonina graminis, is a serious pest of ultradwarf hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × C. transvaalensis) on golf course putting greens. A. graminis feeding damage appears as extensive yellowing of turfgrass blades and heavy thinning from mid-to-late summer into fall. Putting greens are intensively managed areas of the golf course where fertilizers are routinely applied to maintain and enhance turfgrass quality, playability and aesthetics. We hypothesize that A. graminis populations can be minimized by reducing nitrogen (N) fertilizer and then effectively managed using systemic insecticides. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various levels of N fertilizer and flupyradifurone on the A. graminis population and turfgrass quality on the golf course putting green. The treatments were low, medium, and high N fertilizer rates with and without insecticide (flupyradifurone). RESULTS: Applying a high dose of N fertilizer improved turfgrass quality without increasing A. graminis densities on the golf course green. Although flupyradifurone application reduced A. graminis densities regardless of N fertilizer treatments, suppression of A. graminis densities improved at the high fertilizer dose with flupyradifurone. Additionally, the turfgrass quality on the putting green improved with high N fertilizer alone, regardless of flupyradifurone application. CONCLUSION: A. graminis populations can be managed using moderate to high levels of N fertilizer and applying a systemic insecticide. The low nitrogen fertilizer did not effectively reduce the A. graminis densities on the putting green. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.