Pathogenicity of Cordyceps javanica (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) to Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) Adults, with Ultrastructural Observations on the Fungal Infection Process

Entomopathogenic fungi are proposed biological control agents against the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). We quantified the pathogenicity of Cordyceps javanica strain Apopka 97 strain (Cja Apopka 97) (blastospores and conidia) against D. citri using the spray technique. We also used light and scanning electron microscopy to observe the Cja Apopka 97, infection process against D. citri adults at different stages pre- and post-mortem. Our findings demonstrated that psyllid mortality in the blastospore treatment ranged from 8 to 25% within 24–48 h of exposure, compared to 0% in the conidial and control treatments. However, psyllid mortality rate had reached 100% by 7 days after exposure at a concentration of 107 spores/mL, under both fungal treatments compared to the controls (0%). SEM and light microscopy revealed several stages in in the Cja Apopka 97 infection process of D. citri, including spore adherence and germ tube formation within 24 h post-inoculation, penetration pegs and mycelia growth on wings after 72 h, rupturing of cuticle after 96 h and mycelial mass colonizing host body after 144 h. Our study findings provide basic information on the interaction of entomopathogenic fungi with D. citri which will assist in the understanding of the infection process and the potential roles of entomopathogenic fungi in its management.

Do Patients Correctly Use Steroid Nose Spray? A Patient-Reported Survey of the Nasal Spray Technique and Patient Compliance

Background:Correct nasal spray techniqueand patient compliance are the two mostimportant factors in the use of steroid nose spray. Objectives:To find out if patientsuse steroid nasal spray with a correctspray technique and if they are compliant in using the spray. Design: Patient-reported survey Participants: 100 participants (1 excluded) Main outcome measures 1) Nasal spray technique 2) Patient compliance Results: Out of 99 participants included in this study only one patient used steroid nose spray with a completely correct spray technique. 40% of patients received guidance instructions from the prescriber about the spray technique. 70% of patients reported using their spray regularly and 53% of patients were found using the correct dosage of the spray. Conclusions: Wrong spray technique and patient noncompliance is common and can be corrected. This survey emphasizes the importance of giving written and verbal instructions about the use of spray to the patients.

Evaluation of a Fixed Spraying System for Phytosanitary Treatments in Heroic Viticulture in North-Eastern Italy

Modern viticulture cannot be practiced without the use of plant protection products to control diseases like downy mildew, powdery mildew, and pests. In severely sloping vineyards, where mechanization is not possible, pesticide application is realized using spray guns, which is a laborious, expensive, and dangerous application technique. In these vineyards, where viticulture is defined as “heroic viticulture,” vine-growers could seriously take advantage of innovation in spray-technique applications. For this reason, several prototypes of a fixed spraying system (FSS) were realized in recent years. Two prototypes of a fixed spraying system were built in 2019 in two different vineyards in the Veneto region (north-eastern Italy). In both vineyards, the fixed spraying systems were used to perform pesticide application during the 2020 season to control downy mildew, powdery mildew, and pests. With this solution, both vineyards were successfully protected, resulting in comparable infection degrees and yields as the ones protected with airblast sprayers and spray guns. This study contributes to assert fixed spraying systems as an innovation that could improve working conditions, safety, timing, and performances of plant protection products’ application in heroic viticulture areas.

Effect of surface roughness and plasma current to adhesion of Cr3C2-NiCr coating fabricated by plasma spray technique on 16Mn steel

The life time and quality of thermal spray coatings are strongly influenced by the technological parameters of the coating process and characteristics of the coated surface. In this paper, 16Mn steel substrates of different surface roughness are coated by Cr3C2-NiCr using a plasma spray technique. The adhesion of the coating to the substrate has been studied in relation to the roughness of the substrate and the plasma current of the spraying process. The results showed that the adhesion of the Cr3C2-NiCr coating to 16Mn steel substrate is strongly influenced by the roughness and the current intensity. The range of substrate surface roughness and current intensity at which the Cr3C2-NiCr exhibited high adhesion to the steel substrate are discussed in this paper.