Candidatus Phytoplasma pini (pine witches'-broom phytoplasma).

Author(s):  
Robert E. Davis ◽  
Yan Zhao

Abstract 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' is a member of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene RFLP group XXI, subgroup XXI-A. It has been identified in a number of European countries, including Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia. Outside of Europe it has been identified in China and Mozambique. A related strain has also been identified in Maryland, USA. In the USA, favourable climatic conditions and wide availability of potential host plants of the phytoplasma, suggest that the potential for spread of 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' could be significant. Host plants include Pinus sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. mugo, P. banksiana, P. nigra, P. tabuliformis, Abies procera and Tsuga canadensis. Symptoms include the formation of ball-like growths containing dwarfed needles, yellowed or reddish needles and the loss of needles. It is transmitted by insect vectors that are currently unknown.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Davis ◽  
Yan Zhao

Abstract 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' is a member of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene RFLP group XXI, subgroup XXI-A. It has been identified in a number of European countries, including Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia. Outside of Europe it has been identified in China and Mozambique. A related strain has also been identified in Maryland, USA. In the USA, favourable climatic conditions and wide availability of potential host plants of the phytoplasma, suggest that the potential for spread of 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' could be significant. Host plants include Pinus sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. mugo, P. banksiana, P. nigra, P. tabuliformis, Abies procera and Tsuga canadensis. Symptoms include the formation of ball-like growths containing dwarfed needles, yellowed or reddish needles and the loss of needles. It is transmitted by insect vectors that are currently unknown.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga Apine ◽  
Uģis Piterāns

Invasive non-native insect species are well-known threat to both local and introduced plant species in Europe. With increasing global trade and effects of climate change it is expected these alien species will continue to expand their distribution areas. One such non-native species is azalea sawfly Nematus lipovskyi Smith, 1974 (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) that feeds on deciduous Rhododendron spp. This species is known to occur in the USA and was found in the Czech Republic for the first time in Europe in 2010. We report the first findings of this species in Latvia that were made based of field observations in the period of 2018-2020. The current known status of the species in Latvia is presented. Our observations of damage caused by sawfly larvae are summarized. Host plants used by sawfly larvae are listed – we note Rhododendron albrechtii as a host plant of this species for the first time. The possible pathways of its introduction and the overall importance of our findings in context with other non-native species expansions are briefly discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Kaplan ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
Mykhaylo Usyk ◽  
Daniela Sotres-Alvarez ◽  
Martha L. Daviglus ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hispanics living in the USA may have unrecognized potential birthplace and lifestyle influences on the gut microbiome. We report a cross-sectional analysis of 1674 participants from four centers of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), aged 18 to 74 years old at recruitment. Results Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene V4 and fungal ITS1 fragments from self-collected stool samples indicate that the host microbiome is determined by sociodemographic and migration-related variables. Those who relocate from Latin America to the USA at an early age have reductions in Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios that persist across the life course. Shannon index of alpha diversity in fungi and bacteria is low in those who relocate to the USA in early life. In contrast, those who relocate to the USA during adulthood, over 45 years old, have high bacterial and fungal diversity and high Prevotella to Bacteroides ratios, compared to USA-born and childhood arrivals. Low bacterial diversity is associated in turn with obesity. Contrasting with prior studies, our study of the Latino population shows increasing Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio with greater obesity. Taxa within Acidaminococcus, Megasphaera, Ruminococcaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Clostridiales, Christensenellaceae, YS2 (Cyanobacteria), and Victivallaceae are significantly associated with both obesity and earlier exposure to the USA, while Oscillospira and Anaerotruncus show paradoxical associations with both obesity and late-life introduction to the USA. Conclusions Our analysis of the gut microbiome of Latinos demonstrates unique features that might be responsible for health disparities affecting Hispanics living in the USA.


2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 986-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Humenikova Shriver ◽  
Gail Gates

AbstractObjectiveThe prevalence of child overweight in the Czech Republic is substantially lower than that in the USA. The objective of the present pilot study was to explore dietary intakes, frequency of dining in fast-food establishments, and the amount and intensity of physical activity between a sample of American and Czech children.DesignA cross-sectional correlational pilot study.SettingFour public schools in the USA and four public schools in the Czech Republic.SubjectsNinety-five Czech and forty-four American 4–6th graders from urban public schools participated in the study. Dietary intake and number of fast-food visits were evaluated using two multiple-pass 24 h recalls. Physical activity was measured using the modified Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist.ResultsAmerican children (mean age 10·8 (se 0·2) years) consumed more energy and fat, less fruits and vegetables, more soft drinks, and visited fast-food establishments more often than Czech children (mean age 11·0 (se 0·1) years). Although no differences were found in vigorous activity by nationality, Czech children spent significantly more time in moderate physical activities than American children.ConclusionsDespite the influx of some negative Western dietary trends into the country, Czech children had a healthier diet and were more physically active than American children. Further research is warranted to determine whether the same differences in dietary intakes, physical activity and fast-food visits exist between nationally representative samples of American and Czech children.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Rwomushana

Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a lepidopteran pest that feeds in large numbers on the leaves, stems and reproductive parts of more than 350 plant species, causing major damage to economically important cultivated grasses such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat but also other vegetable crops and cotton. Native to the Americas, it has been repeatedly intercepted at quarantine in Europe and was first reported from Africa in 2016 where it caused significant damage to maize crops. In 2018, S. frugiperda was first reported from the Indian subcontinent (Ganiger et al., 2018; Sharanabasappa Kalleshwaraswamy et al., 2018). It has since invaded Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, China and Sri Lanka (IPPC, 2018b, 2019; FAO, 2019c). The ideal climatic conditions for fall armyworm present in many parts of Africa and Asia, and the abundance of suitable host plants suggests the pest can produce several generations in a single season, and is likely to lead to the pest becoming endemic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Stráský ◽  
Tomas Romportl ◽  
Pavel Kaláb ◽  
Leonard Šopík

<p>Four arch pedestrian and cyclist bridges built in the USA, Slovakia and in the Czech Republic are described in terms of their architectural and structural solution, static and dynamic behaviour, and technology of their construction. The bridges with span length up to 104 m have slender decks which are suspended on arches of a butterfly arrangement. The dynamic analysis proved that all structures are comfortable to users. The footbridges are structurally efficient, they are light and transparent, correspond to the scale of the landscape and all structural members have human dimensions.</p>


2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zs. Veres ◽  
É. Domokos-Szabolcsy ◽  
J. Koroknai ◽  
L. Dudás ◽  
I. J. Holb ◽  
...  

Recently, projects aiming to enhance the consumption of fruits and vegetables are intensified. Experts agree in the principle of fresh vegetable foods being a valid panacea in averting risks of ailments as well as curing immune-insufficiency, inflammations, moreover, certain cancerous processes. It is generally accepted that among substances of biological activity the anti-oxidant compounds such as vitamins C, E and carotenoids, etc. have the major role in this process. Hungarian agriculture has outstanding chances in utilising its natural as well as cultivated plant resources and favourable climatic conditions. It would be, however, necessary to build up a databank of anti­oxidant substances found in fruits and vegetables and including the modifying effects of technology, growing site, variety, etc. The concept of promoting the trade of Hungarian food-specialities as "Hungaricum" needs, urgently, the aid of a databank of that kind. Some of those excellent products are for instance the sour cherry, pepper and onion. They enjoy high priority as "Hungaricum" in the EU and it should be enhanced by intense and consequent research work, which may prove their role as functional foods. The USA is the leading country in research on the anti-oxidant substances of sour cherries, and up to now more than 17 compounds have been found in Hungarian varieties among others. In pepper fruits used as vegetable and source of vitamin C, the analyses are still lacking because research of the past concentrated on the products of milled spice pepper. Onion and garlic are entirely unexplored in this respect. It should be noted that availability of these fresh products in the moderate climate is restricted to a relatively short season. For that reason, some processing and preservation methods are needed in order to use those fruits and vegetables as functional foods all around the year. The scientifically founded endeavour as a solution of the questions mentioned is stimulated by vigorous commercial interests as well as by the urgent needs of the consumers to improve their health.


2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miloslav Janeček ◽  
Vít Květoň ◽  
Eliška Kubátová ◽  
Dominika Kobzová ◽  
Michaela Vošmerová ◽  
...  

Abstract The processing of ombrographic data from 29 meteorological stations of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI), according to the terms of the Universal Soil Loss Equation for calculating long term loss of soil through water erosion, erosion hazard rains and their occurrence have been selected, with their relative amount and erosiveness - R-Factors determined for each month and years. By comparing the value of the time division of the R-Factor in the area of the Czech Republic and in selected areas of the USA it has been demonstrated that this division may be applied in the conditions of the Czech Republic. For the Czech Republic it is recommended to use the average value R = 40 based on the original evaluation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 91-102
Author(s):  
Ivana Pajač Živković ◽  
Irena Brlić Puškarić ◽  
Darija Lemić

The invasive species Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931), the spotted wing drosophila, was first recorded in Croatia in 2010. Since then, it has spread on Croatian territory but its presence has not yet been confirmed in the City of Zagreb. In this research population dynamics of D. suzukii was investigated in three orchards in Zagreb (Maksimir, Jelenovac, Zelenjak) in the period from 20th of March to 27th of November 2017. Feeding traps with apple vinegar were used for catching D. suzukii. The flight began in the period from 27th of June to 11th of July and lasted until 27th of November. The total pest catches were 874 specimens (Jelenovac 187, Maksimir 232 and Zelenjak 455). From September to November there was a continuous flight and a large increase in the number of caught flies, suggesting the presence of more overlapping generations. Besides the host plants, the development of the pest in this area is also enabled by suitable climatic conditions. The present population in the City of Zagreb County poses a danger to fruit producers in the Zagreb County. The results of this research are a contribution to better understanding of the population and the spread of the pest in Croatia.


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