Evaluating local plant species for effective fall armyworm management strategies in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; FAW) in the world has raised concerns regarding its impact on crop production, particularly on corn and sorghum. While chemical control and Bt crops have been effective in managing FAW damage, the development of pesticide-resistant and Bt-resistant strains necessitates alternative control methods. The push-pull farming system has gained attention, but direct utilization of African plant species in Taiwan faces challenges due to invasive potential and climatic disparities. Therefore, identifying and evaluating suitable local plant species, such as Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Desmodium species, and signal grass (Brachiaria brizantha), is crucial for implementing effective FAW management strategies in Taiwan. RESULTS: In screening fifty Napier grass germplasms, all demonstrated an antibiotic effect, reducing leaf consumption compared to corn. Notably, thirty-five germplasms exhibited robust antibiotic traits, decreasing FAW consumption and increasing mortality rates. Three Napier grass germplasms also attracted more female moths for oviposition. Further evaluation of selected Napier grass germplasms and signal grass demonstrated efficacy in reducing FAW larval weight and survival duration. Additionally, Desmodium species, particularly D. uncinatum, showed promising toxicity against FAW larvae. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the effectiveness of selected Napier grass germplasms and signal grass as pull plants, and highlight the potential of D. uncinatum as a push plant in FAW management strategies in Taiwan.

Pyramiding BPH genes in rice maintains resistance against the brown planthopper under climate change.

BACKGROUND: Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper; BPH) is a significant rice pest in Asia, causing substantial yield losses. Pyramiding BPH resistance genes with diverse resistance traits into rice cultivars is an effective strategy for pest management. However, the response of pyramiding combinations to environmental changes remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated three pyramiding rice lines (BPH2 + 32, BPH9 + 32, and BPH18 + 32) in the context of varying climate change conditions, ensuring sufficient N. lugens-rice interactions. Thus, we set three environmental conditions [30/25 °C (day/night) with 500 ppm CO2 concentration, 32/27 °C (day/night) with 600 ppm CO2 concentration, and 35/30 °C (day/night) with 1000 ppm CO2 concentration]. RESULTS: All three pyramiding rice lines maintained the insect resistant ability under the three environmental settings. In particular, the BPH18 + 32 rice line exhibited stronger antibiotic and antixenosis effects against N. lugens. In addition, BPH18 + 32 rice line had better shoot resilience under N. lugens infestation, whereas the performance of the other two selected pyramiding rice lines varied. Thus, although BPH2, BPH9, and BPH18 represent three alleles at the same locus, their resistance levels against N. lugens may vary under distinct climate change scenarios, as evidenced by the performance of N. lugens on the three pyramiding rice lines. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that all three tested pyramiding rice lines maintained their insect resistance in the face of diverse climate change scenarios. However, these lines exhibited varied repellent responses and resilience capacities in response to climate change. Thus, the combination of pyramiding genes needs to be considered for future breeding programs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the resistance of rice near-isogenic lines with BPH resistance genes.

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. Crops with a high nitrogen input usually have high yields. However, outbreaks of brown planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens; BPH) frequently occur on rice farms with excessive nitrogen inputs. Rice plants carrying BPH resistance genes are used for integrated pest management. Thus, the impact of nitrogen on the resistance of rice near-isogenic lines (NILs) with BPH resistance genes was investigated. RESULTS: We tested these NILs using a standard seedbox screening test and a modified bulk seedling test under different nitrogen treatments. The amount of nitrogen applied had an impact on the resistance of some lines with BPH resistance genes. In addition, three NILs (NIL-BPH9, NIL-BPH17, and NIL-BPH32) were further examined for antibiosis and antixenosis under varying nitrogen regimes. The N. lugens nymph population growth rate, honeydew excretion, female fecundity, and nymph survival rate on the three NILs were not affected by different nitrogen treatments except the nymph survival rate on NIL-BPH9 and the nymph population growth rate on NIL-BPH17. Furthermore, in the settlement preference test, the preference of N. lugens nymphs for IR24 over NIL-BPH9 or NIL-BPH17 increased under the high-nitrogen regime, whereas the preference of N. lugens nymphs for IR24 over NIL-BPH32 was not affected by the nitrogen treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the resistance of three tested NILs did not respond to different nitrogen regimes and that NIL-BPH17 exerted the most substantial inhibitory effect on N. lugens growth and development.

Self-reports of Pap smear screening in women with physical disabilities.

We collected self reported rate of cervical smear testing and to examine the affecting factors in women with physical disabilities in the study, to define the reproductive health care for this group of people. The study population recruited 521 women with physical disabilities aged more than 15 years who were officially registered as having physical disabilities in Taipei County, Taiwan. Those people with physical disabilities include following: upper and low limb, spinal cord injury and other nervous system impairments. Results found that there were 71.5% participants had ever used the Pap smear tests in their life time and mean age of the first screening was 39.21±10.16 years (range=20-85 years). Nearly 41% of participants expressed that they had accepted the screening within 1 year and 28.1% reported they used the Pap smear screening regularly. Our study also found women with physical disabilities have higher use of Pap smear tests than does the general population in Taiwan (74% vs. 64% in aged≥30 years). Logistic regression model for the use of Pap smear test indicated that those married women (OR=12.06, 95% CI=6.85-21.22), with mild level of disability (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.05-4.21) and high cognitive level toward Pap smear information were factors to affect the use of Pap smear in the study participants. We suggest the further study should conduct to examine the quality perception and follow-up service of Pap smear test for women with physical disabilities, to ensure the health care right for this group of women.

Papanicolaou smear screening of women with intellectual disabilities: a cross-sectional survey in Taiwan.

Although little is known about the incidence of cervical cancer in women with intellectual disabilities (ID), Pap smear screening is an effective public health program to prevent cervical cancer to this group of people. The purposes of this study were to identify and evaluate the factors regarding the utilization of the Pap smears in women with ID seen in the preventive health screening program. We employed a cross-sectional survey "2009 National Survey on Preventive Health Use and Determinants among People with Disabilities", with the study sample 508 women with ID (aged > or =15 years) participated in the research in Taiwan. Results showed that there were 22.1% women with ID had ever used Pap smear screening previously and mean age of the first screening was nearly 40 years old. Comparing to the general population in Taiwan, the ID women at age group <35 years was less likely to use screening and the age group > or =35 years was more likely to use Pap smears than did the general women. Finally, a logistic regression analysis showed that marital status and had experience of accepted tubal ligation surgery were two factors which predicted Pap smear test use in the study. Those women with ID who had marital status were 8.99 times (95% CI=1.65-49.15) more likely than those had not marital status to use Pap smear test. Women with ID had experience on tubal ligation surgery were 10.48 times (95% CI=1.40-78.26) more likely to use Pap smear test than their counterparts. This study highlights that to acknowledge the rights of women with ID to access Pap smear screening service, health professionals will need to become more flexible and competent in the service that they provide.

Perception and experience of primary care physicians on Pap smear screening for women with intellectual disabilities: a preliminary finding.

This study aims to establish evidence-based data to explore the perceptions and experience of primary care physicians in the Pap smear screening provision for women with intellectual disabilities (ID), and to analyze the associated factors in the delivery of screening services to women with ID in Taiwan. Data obtained by a cross-sectional survey by a structured, self-administered questionnaire (12 perceptional issues), and were posted to all primary care settings (N=168) which provided Pap smear tests for women with ID in Taichung and I-Lan counties in Taiwan, Republic of China during the period of 2009. The vital primary care physician of each healthcare setting was the main respondent of the questionnaire. Finally, there were 69 valid questionnaires returned, giving a response rate of 41.7%. The main findings showed that 72.5% medical care settings provide Pap smear services and 51.5% have practical experience on conducting the tests for women with ID. Among the respondents, nearly 90% primary care physicians expressed that women with ID need Pap smear test regularly. With regard to the associated factors in the delivery of Pap smear screening services to women with ID. The study found that experienced healthcare settings in Pap smear tests for women with ID were more likely to be in public healthcare settings, felt confident in providing screening tests, having a rapid screening program and having a reminding follow-up system. Those respondents felt necessity in Pap smear test for women with ID were more likely to express it is needed to set up a special screening clinic for this group of women. The present study suggests that women with ID need thoughtful, well-coordinated care from primary care physicians, to increase access to health care providers may be helpful in improving Pap screening tests for this population.