Origins and Distribution of Panicum Mosaic Virus and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus on in Australia.

is a premium turf grass in warm temperate and subtropical regions of the world and is the most important turf species in Australia based on the value of its production. A new disease called buffalo grass yellows (BGY) has become a problem on turf farms in Australia. We surveyed turf farms in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (Qld) and Western Australia to determine whether panicum mosaic virus (PMV) and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) were associated with BGY.

Dynamics and Insights into the Unique Ecological Guild of Fungi in Bacteria-Bioaugmented Anaerobic Digesters.

Anaerobic digesters host a variety of microorganisms, and they work together to produce biogas. While bacterial and archaeal communities have been well explored using molecular techniques, fungal community structures remain relatively understudied. The present study aims to investigate the dynamics and potential ecological functions of the predominant fungi in bacteria-bioaugmented anaerobic digesters.

Exploring microRNA-Mediated Immune Responses to Soil-Transmitted Helminth and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Co-Infections.

Over the last two decades, the field of microRNA (miRNA) research has grown significantly. MiRNAs are a class of short, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Thereby, miRNAs regulate various essential biological processes including immunity.

Photogrammetric determination of movement speed of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the Florida Keys.

As a key determinant of how efficiently lionfish ( sp.) locate and capture prey, swimming speed plays a crucial role in shaping the predator-prey interactions and broader ecological dynamics within the invaded ecosystems. Swimming speed on a small temporal and spatial scale is difficult to measure because of the need for precise measurements of both distance and duration of the behavior.

Comparative genomic prediction of resistance to Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2) in watermelon: parametric and nonparametric approaches.

Complex traits influenced by multiple genes pose challenges for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding. Genomic selection (GS) is a promising strategy for achieving higher genetic gains in quantitative traits by stacking favorable alleles into elite cultivars. Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.

Online analysis of Amazon's soils through reflectance spectroscopy and cloud computing can support policies and the sustainable development.

Analyzing soil in large and remote areas such as the Amazon River Basin (ARB) is unviable when it is entirely performed by wet labs using traditional methods due to the scarcity of labs and the significant workforce requirements, increasing costs, time, and waste. Remote sensing, combined with cloud computing, enhances soil analysis by modeling soil from spectral data and overcoming the limitations of traditional methods. We verified the potential of soil spectroscopy in conjunction with cloud-based computing to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) and particle size (sand, silt, and clay) content from the Amazon region.

Plant nutrient concentrations inform white-tailed deer diet limitations.

Management of large herbivores often involves increasing availability of forages sufficient in nutrient density to allow animals to meet dietary demands. Nutritional carrying capacity (NCC) models commonly are used to compare plant communities and management strategies, but failure to use the most limiting nutrient could result in overestimating NCC. Moreover, the relationship between limiting nutrients often is not considered, which may influence the utility of NCC models based on a single nutrient, especially when herbivores must simultaneously meet multiple constraints.

Image dataset: UAV images and ground data of one 'Bingo' mandarin and two 'Valencia' orange rootstock trials conducted in Florida.

The data are aerial images and ground tree measurement data of 3 citrus rootstock trials. Developing new citrus rootstock varieties requires field trials to test to identify selections with improved horticultural performance. A bud from a scion variety is grafted onto the rootstock and grown in a nursery until the grafted plant is ready to be planted in the field, which is in about one year.

Cost-effective adaptations increase rice production while reducing pollution under climate change.

Rice is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) and nitrogen pollution. While best management practices have been developed to enhance the sustainability of rice production under current climates, their adaptability and efficacy under future climate scenarios remain uncertain. Here we evaluated 49 best management practices across global grid cells of rice-producing areas in terms of increasing rice production, reducing GHG emissions and minimizing nitrogen pollution under future climate conditions.

Transcriptional engineering for value enhancement of oilseed crops: a forward perspective.

Plant-derived oils provide 20%-35% of dietary calories and are a primary source of essential omega-6 (linoleic) and omega-3 (α-linolenic) fatty acids. While traditional breeding has significantly increased yields in key oilseed crops like soybean, sunflower, canola, peanut, and cottonseed, overall gains have plateaued over the past few decades. Oilseed crops also experience substantial yield losses in both prime and marginal agricultural areas due to biotic and abiotic stresses and shifting agro-climates.

Geographic origin and evolution of dengue virus serotypes 1 and 3 circulating in Africa.

Despite the increasing burden of dengue in Kenya and Africa, the introduction and expansion of the virus in the region remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to examine the genetic diversity and evolutionary histories of dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1 and 3 in Kenya and contextualize their circulation within circulation dynamics in the broader African region. Viral RNA was extracted from samples collected from a cohort of febrile patients recruited at clinical sites in Kenya from 2013 to 2022.

colonization and undernutrition in infants in rural eastern Ethiopia - a longitudinal community-based birth cohort study.

Background: is associated with environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and malnutrition in children. infection could be a linchpin between livestock fecal exposure and health outcomes in low-resource smallholder settings.

Methods: We followed a birth cohort of 106 infants in rural smallholder households in eastern Ethiopia up to 13 months of age.

Dry ice sublimation: A computational study with experimental validation for the effects of geometry.

Dry ice is one of the world's most in-demand commodities for cold-chain distribution of temperature-sensitive products. It offers an effective cooling solution without requiring mechanical refrigeration or specialized equipment. Dry ice is commonly produced as pellets and blocks.

Avian haemosporidian parasites affecting non-descript village chickens in Africa.

Smallholder farmers in most of the rural areas in African countries rear non-descript village chickens for petty cash, food provision and for performing rituals. Village chicken production systems are regarded as low input- low output because the chickens receive minimum care and produce average to less eggs and meat. The chickens receive minimal biosecurity and are often left to scavenge for feed and thus exposes them to potential vector parasites that can transmit parasites such as haemoparasites.

Impacts of Weather Anomalies and Climate on Plant Disease.

Predicting the effects of climate change on plant disease is critical for protecting ecosystems and food production. Here, we show how disease pressure responds to short-term weather, historical climate and weather anomalies by compiling a global database (4339 plant-disease populations) of disease prevalence in both agricultural and wild plant systems. We hypothesised that weather and climate would play a larger role in disease in wild versus agricultural plant populations, which the results supported.

Enhanced Resistance to Pokkah Boeng Disease in Sugarcane Through Host-Induced Gene Silencing Targeting FsCYP51 in Fusarium sacchari.

Pokkah boeng disease (PBD), a common and highly destructive disease of sugarcane, is mainly caused by Fusarium sacchari. Breeding sugarcane resistant to PBD is challenging due to the limited availability of immune or highly resistant germplasm resources. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) based on RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising disease-control method that offers strong disease-targeting ability with low environmental impact.

Stormwater ponds: Unaccounted environmental challenges of a widely-adopted best management practice in urban landscapes.

Stormwater ponds (SWPs) are an increasingly common management tool for flood control and water quality protection in urban areas. They are designed to buffer the impacts to downstream environments caused by altered hydrologic, chemical, biological, and ecological processes in developed watersheds. While small in size, they can have disproportionately large impacts on watersheds because they store, transform, and release inputs of carbon (C) and nutrients, mainly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).

Rapid radiation of a plant lineage sheds light on the assembly of dry valley biomes.

Southwest China is characterized by high plateaus, large mountain systems, and deeply incised dry valleys formed by major rivers and their tributaries. Despite the considerable attention given to alpine plant radiations in this region, the timing and mode of diversification of the numerous dry valley plant lineages remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the macroevolution of Isodon (Lamiaceae), a lineage commonly distributed in the dry valleys in southwest China and wetter areas of Asia and Africa.

PROCERA interacts with JACKDAW in gibberellin-enhanced source-sink sucrose partitioning in tomato.

Proper regulation of the source-sink relationship is an effective way to increase crop yield. Gibberellin (GA) is an important regulator of plant growth and development, and physiological evidence has demonstrated that GA can promote source-sink sucrose partitioning. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Application of supervised learning models for enhanced lead (II) removal from wastewater via modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs).

Heavy metal ions are acknowledged to impact the environment and human health adversely. CNCs are effective materials for removing heavy metal ions in industrial applications and process innovations since they can be used in static and dynamic adsorption processes. Cost-effective, uncomplicated water treatment technologies must be developed using biodegradable polymers, namely, modified cellulose nanocrystals.

Conducting Clinical Research in Low Research Resource Countries: Lessons Learned From the International Registry of Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Study in Nigeria.

Purpose: There is limited cancer clinical research in sub-Saharan African countries despite the significant burden of cancers. The primary objective of this strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was to understand and document factors affecting the successful implementation of prostate cancer (CaP) clinical research in Nigeria.

Methods: The research team used a qualitative design involving International Registry of Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer (IRONMAN) study team members as participants from four regional sites in Nigeria.

Diversity, abundance, and domain architecture of plant NLR proteins in .

The resistance () gene family in plants is a vital component of the plant defense system, enabling host resistance against pathogens through interactions with pathogen effector proteins. These R genes often encode nucleotide-binding (NB-ARC or N) and leucine-rich-repeat (LRR or L) domains, collectively forming the NLR protein family. The NLR proteins have been widely explored in crops from and , but limited studies are available for crops in other families, including .

Tests for segregation distortion in tetraploid F1 populations.

In tetraploid F1 populations, traditional segregation distortion tests often inaccurately flag SNPs due to ignoring polyploid meiosis processes and genotype uncertainty. We develop tests that account for these factors. Genotype data from tetraploid F1 populations are often collected in breeding programs for mapping and genomic selection purposes.