Novel Isolates Alleviate Water Deficit Stress in Susceptible Tomato Genotypes.

Symbiotic fungi in the genus can induce abiotic stress tolerance in crops. The beneficial effects of on water deficit stress are poorly understood and may be isolate-specific. Our objective was to evaluate a collection of Nepalese isolates and their efficacy to improve tomato () growth under water deficit.

Diverging landscape impacts on macronutrient status despite overlapping diets in managed () and native () bees.

Declining pollinator populations worldwide are attributed to multiple stressors, including the loss of quality forage. Habitat management in agricultural areas often targets honey bees ( L.) specifically, with the assumption that native bees will benefit from an 'umbrella species' strategy.

Previous crop and rotation history effects on maize seedling health and associated rhizosphere microbiome.

To evaluate crop rotation effects on maize seedling performance and its associated microbiome, maize plants were grown in the greenhouse in soils preceded by either maize, pea, soybean or sunflower. Soils originated from a replicated field experiment evaluating different four-year rotation combinations. In the greenhouse, a stressor was introduced by soil infestation with western corn rootworm (WCR) or Fusarium graminearum.

Pathogen regulation of plant diversity via effective specialization.

The Janzen-Connell (JC) hypothesis, one of the most influential hypotheses explaining forest diversity, is inconsistent with evidence that tree species share the same natural enemies. Through the discussion of seedling diseases from a pathogen-centered perspective, we expand the JC hypothesis to tie in host-pathogen-environment interactions at three levels: local adaptation, host specificity of the combined effect of multiple infections, and environmental modulation of disease. We present evidence from plant pathology, disease ecology, and host-parasite evolution relevant to (but not commonly associated with) forest species diversity maintenance.

Linking sequence to function in soil bacteria: sequence-directed isolation of novel bacteria contributing to soilborne plant disease suppression.

Microbial community profiling of samples differing in a specific ecological function, i.e., soilborne plant disease suppression, can be used to mark, recover, and ultimately identify the bacteria responsible for that specific function.

Farm Management Effects on Rhizosphere Colonization by Native Populations of 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol-Producing Pseudomonas spp. and Their Contributions to Crop Health.

ABSTRACT Analyses of multiple field experiments indicated that the incidence and relative abundance of root-colonizing phlD+ Pseudomonas spp. were influenced by crop rotation, tillage, organic amendments, and chemical seed treatments in subtle but reproducible ways. In no-till corn plots, 2-year rotations with soybean resulted in plants with approximately twofold fewer phlD+ pseudomonads per gram of root, but 3-year rotations with oat and hay led to population increases of the same magnitude.

Field management effects on damping-off and early season vigor of crops in a transitional organic cropping system.

Transitioning farmland to certified organic vegetable production can take many paths, each varying in their costs and benefits. Here, the effects of four organic transition strategies (i.e.

Comparative analysis of Xenopus VegT, the meso-endodermal determinant, identifies an unusual conserved sequence.

The transcription factor, VegT, is the meso-endodermal determinant in Xenopus laevis. We examined VegT orthologs from several anuran amphibians and the urodele amphibian, the Mexican axolotl. In addition to the conserved T-box, the DNA-binding domain, the orthologs share a conserved 57 amino acid domain at the C-terminal.

Development of the dendrobatid frog Colostethus machalilla.

To provide a developmental correlate with other frogs, we prepared a normal table of development for the dendrobatid, Colostethus machalilla and analyzed the morphology of its early development. This frog reproduces in captivity and deposits moderately sized eggs (1.6 mm in diameter) in terrestrial nests.

Expression of Brachyury during development of the dendrobatid frog Colostethus machalilla.

The expression of Brachyury (Bra) during development of Colostethus machalilla was analyzed with a polyclonal antibody. The observed molecular mass of Bra was of 48 kDa, as in Xenopus laevis. During cleavage, low levels of Bra were expressed.