Liver and kidney toxicity induced by Afzal smokeless tobacco product in Oman.

Afzal, the common smokeless tobacco product (STP) in Oman, is believed to contain toxins that may impair the function of some organs such as liver and kidney. An aqueous extract from Afzal was added to drinking water to be administrated orally to Wistar albino rats (n=72) young and adult from both genders weighing between 60-80g and 150-240g respectively for 8 weeks. Animals were divided into three groups: control (distilled water instead of Afzal extract), low-dose (3mgnicotine/kgbodyweight/day) and high-dose (6mgnicotine/kgbodyweight/day).

Population structure of associated with leaf spot of tomato in a single field.

is an important pathogen causing leaf spot of tomatoes worldwide. Although much information is available about the pathogen, little is known about dynamics of in tomato fields. Seventy-nine symptomatic leaf samples were collected from two tomato cultivars grown in a farm (Miral and Inbred line).

First Report of Tomato leaf curl Albatinah virus (ToLCABV) and its Associated Betasatellite Infecting Papaya in Oman.

Leaf curl disease with severe curling, vein darkening, and vein thickening was observed on papaya plants in a field in Qurayat district of Oman during December 2013. Disease incidence ranged from 50 to 70%, particularly in young papaya plants. The presence of a large population of whiteflies and symptoms observed on papaya plants suggested that the causal agent could be begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) and associated satellites.

Identification of Chili leaf curl virus Causing Leaf Curl Disease of Petunia in Oman.

Petunias (Petunia × hybrida) are the most important ornamental plants in Oman. In 2012, petunias were observed in public parks and airport landscape in Dhofar region with symptoms of upward leaf curling, yellowing and vein clearing, and size reduction in leaves. Almost all plants in the surveyed landscape showed high infestation of Bemisia tabaci and symptoms that suggested infection with a begomovirus.