Incidence of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae) in Nova Scotia, Canada Christmas tree (Pinaceae) plantations

2019 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Blatt ◽  
Charlane Bishop ◽  
Karen Burgher-MacLellan

AbstractThe occurrence of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) (Nematoda: Aphelenchida: Parasitaphelenchidae) (pinewood nematode) in Canada prevents export of wood products, including Christmas trees (Pinaceae), to Europe. A nationwide survey in 1992 extracted B. xylophilus from mature, dead, or dying balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller; Pinaceae), but not young, healthy Christmas trees. Three species known to harbour B. xylophilus are found in Nova Scotia, but incidence of B. xylophilus within these species is unknown. Monochamus Dejean (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) species were collected from nine and 20 sites, in 2014 and 2015, respectively, using panel traps baited with a Monochamus lure and evaluated for the presence of pinewood nematode using molecular methods after DNA isolation. Beetles were processed for DNA isolation individually in 2014 and in batches (same species and sex from same collection site and date) in 2015. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was recovered from all three Monochamus species (M. marmorator Kirby, M. notatus (Drury), and M. scutellatus (Say)) captured in Nova Scotia Christmas tree plantations. Percentage of beetles harbouring B. xylophilus varied with species and sex. Fourteen beetle samples were selected and sent for polymerase chain reaction sequencing. Sequencing results indicated that Bursaphelenchus xylophilus found in Nova Scotia are most similar to isolates from Canada (New Brunswick and Québec), the United States of America, and China.

2016 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Blatt ◽  
C. Bishop ◽  
J. Sweeney

AbstractChristmas trees from Nova Scotia, Canada are banned from import into the European Union (EU) because they may be infected with the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae). Monochamus Dejean (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) species known to vector pinewood nematode are present in Nova Scotia but their abundance in Christmas tree plantations and surrounding stands has not been assessed. We conducted trapping surveys and experiments in 2014 and 2015 to determine the species of Monochamus and their relative abundance in Nova Scotia Christmas tree plantations and the surrounding forests. We also compared commercially available traps and lures from Europe (cross-vane traps, Galloprotect lure=monochamol+ipsenol+α-pinene+2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol) and North America (intercept panel traps, North American lure=monochamol+ipsenol+α-pinene+ethanol) for their efficacy at catching Monochamus species in a 2×2 factorial experiment. We captured three Monochamus species (M. scutellatus (Say), M. notatus (Drury), and M. marmorator Kirby) in Nova Scotia Christmas tree plantations. Mean trap catches were greater within the plantations than in the surrounding forests. North American panel traps coated with Fluon® and baited with the European lure caught the most M. notatus and M. scutellatus and would be most suitable for survey and monitoring.


2001 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Berthiaume ◽  
Christian Hébert ◽  
Conrad Cloutier

The balsam twig aphid, Mindarus abietinus Koch, is a major pest of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (Pinaceae), grown as Christmas trees in eastern Canada and the United States (Nettleton and Hain 1982; Kleintjes 1997). This aphid has three or four generations from April to July, and overwinters as eggs on fir shoots. Mature fundatrices deposit progeny on new shoots in late May. Infested shoots develop into pseudogalls characterised by stunting and needle distortion, thus reducing the aesthetic value of trees.


2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 551-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. Dart ◽  
G. A. Chastagner ◽  
T. L. Peever

The population structure of Heterobasidion annosum in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Christmas tree plantations was estimated at two spatial scales to assess the relative importance of primary and secondary infection, colonization, and spread of the pathogen. Ninety-three isolates from single trees in 27 discrete mortality pockets and 104 isolates from 12 individual root systems of noble and Fraser fir trees were sampled near Mossyrock, Washington. Isolates were genotyped using somatic compatibility assays and microsatellite markers to determine the spatial scale at which dispersal of single genotypes (genets) was occurring. All isolates sampled from different trees in discrete mortality pockets had distinct genotypes, whereas the root systems of single trees were dominated by one or two genotypes. These results suggest that infection of PNW Christmas trees results from frequent primary infection events of adjacent stumps and localized secondary spread within root systems rather than clonal spread of the pathogen between adjacent trees. We hypothesize that mortality pockets may be due to availability of infection courts and/or variation in inoculum levels during selective harvesting of patches of mature trees.


2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Valadas ◽  
M. Laranjo ◽  
M. Mota ◽  
S. Oliveira

AbstractBursaphelenchus xylophilus is the causal agent of pine wilt disease and a worldwide pest with high economic impact. Since its first diagnosis in Portugal in 1999, it has been subjected to quarantine measures with impact on forest health and ecosystem stability, significantly affecting international trade of wood products. The disease was detected in the north and centre of continental Portugal and, since 2008, the whole country has been considered an affected area. Recently, it was detected in Madeira Island. In order to avoid new outbreaks, it has become of major importance to understand the patterns of spread, introduction points and to characterize the new populations from continental Portugal and Madeira Island. Mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) and parasitic cellulase gene sequences were used to evaluate the genetic relationships among isolates that could indicate possible origins of the new outbreaks. Portuguese isolates were compared with isolates from USA, China, Japan and South Korea, in order to investigate possible infection pathways and disease spread patterns in Portugal. Phylogenetic trees based on both genes show that Portuguese isolates group with Asian isolates. Isolates from USA are in a separate position in both gene trees. However, the phylogenetic tree based on the cellulase gene sequences shows higher differentiation among Portuguese isolates than that of cytb. These results agree with those previously obtained using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). This was the first study to use cytb and cellulase genes to characterize pinewood nematode (PWN) populations. This study suggests that cellulase is a better marker than cytb to study genetic diversity in B. xylophilus.


1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Wellstead ◽  
M. Paul Brown ◽  
Derek D. MacFarlane

Since 1995, the government of Nova Scotia has had to develop woodlot owner management programs that encourage timber production without depending on cost-shared Federal-Provincial agreements. These new programs must be as cost-effective as possible. A possible policy tool to overcome these new challenges would be the development of a method of identifying those woodlot owners who would be most willing to participate in management programs. Using data from a province-wide woodlot owner survey, two logit models, based on the woodlot owner's characteristics, determine the likelihood that management and marketing activity will be undertaken. The management logit model identified those owners who had received advice, who sold wood products from their woodlots in the past five years, or owned larger than average-sized woodlots as most likely to engage in management activity. The marketing logit model identified those wood-lot owners who were aware of existing programs, who managed, sold Christmas trees, logging contractors, members of group ventures, or owned larger than average-sized woodlots as more likely to sell forest products. Key words: Nova Scotia, woodlot owner characteristics, logit analysis, forest policy


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Tang ◽  
Ruoqing Ma ◽  
Najie Zhu ◽  
Kai Guo ◽  
Yiqing Guo ◽  
...  

Sexes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-344
Author(s):  
Jessamyn Bowling ◽  
Erika Montanaro ◽  
Sarai Guerrero-Ordonez ◽  
Stuti Joshi ◽  
Diana Gioia

In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased partnered sexual behavior and increased the use of enhancement (e.g., toys). This has been partly attributed to reduced social interactions and stress. However, individuals’ perceptions of changes are missing in research. This study aims to examine how adults perceive changes in their sexuality during the pandemic. We conducted a nationwide survey of US adults from April–June 2020 (N = 326). This qualitative study examines the open-ended responses using thematic analyses. The following themes emerged from the data: (1) changes in the purpose of sex; (2) changes in sexual identity; (3) decreases in sex drive and desire; (4) increases in sex drive and desire; (5) fluctuations in sex drive and desire; (6) increased sexual experimentation and reflection. The stress, changes in home responsibilities and living situations, and time spent with partners (more or less) has affected individuals by increasing or decreasing their sex drive and desire. Participants responded to changes with self-reflection and awareness, and incorporating new practices (e.g., technology, kink). The purpose of sex has shifted in order to gain intimacy or connect, or to pass time. These changes were perceived as both positive and negative, and more research is needed to determine the durability of these changes.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Madhusudan Ganigara ◽  
Chetan Sharma ◽  
Fernando Molina Berganza ◽  
Krittika Joshi ◽  
Andrew D. Blaufox ◽  
...  

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on medical educational curricula. We aimed to examine the impact of these unprecedented changes on the formal education of paediatric cardiology fellows through a nationwide survey. A REDCap™-based voluntary anonymous survey was sent to all current paediatric cardiology fellows in the United States of America in May, 2020. Of 143 respondents, 121 were categorical fellows, representing over one-fourth of all categorical paediatric cardiology fellows in the United States of America. Nearly all (140/143, 97.9%) respondents utilised online learning during the pandemic, with 134 (93.7%) reporting an increase in use compared to pre-pandemic. The percentage of respondents reporting curriculum supplementation with outside lectures increased from 11.9 to 88.8% during the pandemic. Respondents considered online learning to be “equally or more effective” than in-person lectures in convenience (133/142, 93.7%), improving fellow attendance (132/142, 93.0%), improving non-fellow attendance (126/143, 88.1%), and meeting individual learning needs (101/143, 70.6%). The pandemic positively affected the lecture curriculum of 83 respondents (58.0%), with 35 (24.5%) reporting no change and 25 (17.5%) reporting a negative effect. A positive effect was most noted by those whose programmes utilised supplemental outside lectures (62.2 versus 25.0%, p = 0.004) and those whose lecture frequency did not decrease (65.1 versus 5.9%, p < 0.001). Restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly increased utilisation of online learning platforms by medical training programmes. This survey reveals that an online lecture curriculum, despite inherent obstacles, offers advantages that may mitigate some negative consequences of the pandemic on fellowship education.


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