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Eucalyptus cloeziana F. Muell. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) and the tropical almond Terminalia catappa L. (Myrtales: Combretaceae) are widely cultivated in urban and forest areas of many countries where biological control is the most-preferred method to control insects. Aximopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) is reported for the first time in Brazil in a new group of lepidopteran hosts. Individuals of this species emerged from the pupae of Thyrinteina arnobia arnobia Stoll (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and Thagona tibialis Walker (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) that developed from larvae defoliating E. cloeziana and T. catappa plants on the campus of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Aximopsis sp. was identified by comparing it with species of this group as described for the Neotropical region. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), France. Twenty new pupae each of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) were held individually in test tubes with a drop of honey as food and 3 mated Aximopsis sp. females for 2 d. Aximopsis sp. parasitized 20% of the T. molitor pupae but none of the A. gemmatalis pupae. The duration of the life cycle (egg to adult), parasitism and emergence rates, total individuals emerged from each pupa, sex ratio, length of the body and width of the head capsule, and the longevities of Aximopsis sp. males and females that emerged from parasitized T. molitor pupae were evaluated. The duration of the life cycle of Aximopsis sp. was 14 ± 2 d. An average of 62 ± 5 Aximopsis sp. individuals emerged from each T. molitor pupa, and their sex ratio was 0.96 ± 0.02. The total number of parasitoids that emerged was 248 individuals. Measurements of characters of progeny Aximopsis sp. females ( n = 10) and males ( n = 5), respectively, were as follows: body length: 3.50 mm (2.40-3.80 mm) and 1.99 mm (1.97-2.02 mm); head capsule width: 0.63 mm (0.58-0.72 mm) and 0.48 mm (0.46-0.51 mm), and longevity: 6 ± 1 d and 4 ± 1 d. These results open prospects for investigations of biological control of pests with this natural enemy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A ring trial was organized to evaluate Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) ELISAs by European laboratories. A total of five ELISAs, two of which specific for IgM antibodies, were evaluated by six participants. Sera were derived from cattle or sheep and originated from either a RVFV endemic area, a RVFV-free area or from experimental infection studies. Cohen''s kappa analysis showed higher than 90% agreement of two commercially available ELISAs with the virus neutralization test, suggesting that primary screening as well as serological confirmation using these ELISAs is feasible. More extensive validations with sera of known IgM status are, however, required to determine agreement between IgM ELISAs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: Biting hematophagous dipterans are responsible for painful bites and blood spoliation; they induce behavioral modifications, anemia, and significant production losses in cattle. A feedlot of 100 feeder cattle would register a total loss of USD 16,000 within 5 months, which appears to be an unexpectedly huge loss caused by dipterans. Investing part of this money in fly control would probably be beneficial. In addition to blood pathogen transmission, insects of the order Diptera affect livestock through visual and contact harassment; blood-feeders are responsible for painful bites and blood despoliation, generating behavioral modifications, anemia, and production losses. Knowledge of their economic impact is a basis for cost-effective control. Here, we measured the global impact of diptera insects by comparing two batches of six feeder cattle, one in the open air and the other protected by a mosquito net. The analytical data were insect density in the open air and, for feeder cattle, tail flick counts, hematocrit values (Ht), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and live body weight gain (LBWG). Over a period of five months, the results showed significant losses in the LBWG of cattle exposed to insects, estimated at 8.0 ± 1.5 kg/month [2.7; 13.3], with a total loss reaching 40.0 ± 5.5 kg/head. Main diurnal insects were Stomoxys spp. and Musca crassirostris. There was a strong correlation between fly density and diurnal tail flicks. Night trapping and tail flicks showed a potentially important role of mosquitoes to be further explored. The Ht levels of exposed animals were 3–4% lower than those of controls. FCRs indicated that exposed animals needed 33% more dry matter intake/kg of LBWG. An economic assessment showed that dipterans were responsible for a 10–11% loss in LBWG during the main growing period of feeder cattle (10–15 months). A feedlot of 100 calves would register a total loss of USD 16,000 within 5 months, which appears to be an unexpectedly huge loss caused by dipterans. Investing part of this money into fly control would probably be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immature citruses are an important resource for the pharmaceutical industry due to their high levels of metabolites with health benefits. In this study, we used untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics to investigate the changes associated with fruit size in immature citrus fruits in the first weeks of growth. Three orange cultivars (Citrus sinensis 'Navel', Citrus sinensis 'Valencia', and Citrus sinensis 'Valencia Late') and a mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco 'Fremont') were separated into eight fruit sizes, extracted, and analyzed. Statistical analyses revealed a distinct separation between the mandarin and the oranges based on 56 metabolites, with an additional separation between the 'Navel' orange and the 'Valencia' and 'Valencia Late' oranges based on 21 metabolites. Then, metabolites that evolved significantly with fruit size growth were identified, including 40 up-regulated and 31 down-regulated metabolites. This study provides new insights into the metabolite modifications of immature Citrus sinensis and Citrus reticulata in the first weeks of growth and emphasizes the significance of including early sampled fruits in citrus maturation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random Forest algorithm was used to predict on‐field presence probability of rape stem weevil in France as a function of climatic and landscape variables, based on a long‐term and multisite data set. A first version of the model included a set of 342 variables. A variable selection procedure was used to retain only the 15 most influential variables without significant drop in predicting performances. Most retained variables were temperature related and results showed that the sum of maximum daily temperature above 9°C during the week preceding observation was the predictor with the largest influence on rape stem weevil occurrence. This model reached a mean AUC of 0.77 and outperformed some other published models. As such, this model can help farmers to precisely time insecticide application. It has been integrated in a decision support system freely available in the Terres Inovia (French applied agricultural research and development institute dedicated to oilseed crops) website. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: An understanding of the preferences of different stakeholders in the plantain value chain in rural and urban segments in Cameroon is important for the selection and adoption of new plantain cultivars. Boiled plantain is one of the most commonly consumed food products from this crop in Cameroon. Gendered food mapping and consumer testing with two plantain landraces (Batard and Big Ebanga) and a plantain‐like hybrid (CARBAP K74) was carried out in rural and urban areas in the West and Littoral regions of Cameroon. RESULTS: Plantain users in these two regions were categorized into producers, traders, processors, and consumers. Preferences indicated that raw plantain should bear long and large fruits, with heavy bunches, and an orange pulp color, whereas boiled plantain should present with a yellow color and a soft and mealy pulp, with a good plantain aroma. Batard and Big Ebanga were liked moderately by consumers, whereas CARBAP K74 was liked slightly. CARBAP K74 was on par with Batard and Big Ebanga for some attributes, except for color and sweetness. CONCLUSION: More emphasis should be given to attributes such as color, firmness, and taste for the development of new plantain clones to be adopted by end users consuming boiled green plantain. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne paranaensis is one of the main problems for coffee production in Latin American countries. In Mexico, this nematode is found damaging shaded coffee plantations, with a wide variety of associated vegetation. The plant species present in these agroecosystems could serve as nematode alternative hosts, helping to maintain and disperse the population of M. paranaensis even when control measures are carried out for coffee trees. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of M. paranaensis to reproduce in 13 plant species commonly associated with shade-grown coffee plantations. The plants were inoculated with eggs and J2 of M. paranaensis, 10 months later, the host susceptibility index and the resistance level were calculated based on the nematode population density. Meloidogyne paranaensis reproduced in 11 of the evaluated plants which presented different resistance levels. Citrus aurantium, Citrus reticulata, Inga jinicuil, Inga vera and Musa AA, were highly susceptible compared to Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. On the other hand, Macadamia integrifolia and Psidium guajava are considered resistant to moderately resistant with a reproduction rate less than one and a susceptibility index less than 10 with respect to C. arabica and less than 25 with respect to C. canephora. Persea schiedeana and Syzygium jambos did not allow M. paranaensis reproduction, so they are considered highly resistant. The results of this study provide important information for the M. paranaensis management in infested shade-grown coffee plantations. It is necessary to evaluate other woody and herbaceous plant species to improve control measures for this nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum production system in the semi-arid region of Africa is characterized by low yields which are generally attributed to high rainfall variability, poor soil fertility, and biotic factors. Production constraints must be well understood and quantified to design effective sorghum-system improvements. This study uses the state-of-the-art in silico methods and focuses on characterizing the sorghum production regions in Mali for drought occurrence and its effects on sorghum productivity. For this purpose, we adapted the APSIM-sorghum module to reproduce two cultivated photoperiod-sensitive sorghum types across a latitude of major sorghum production regions in Western Africa. We used the simulation outputs to characterize drought stress scenarios. We identified three main drought scenarios: (i) no-stress; (ii) early pre-flowering drought stress; and (iii) drought stress onset around flowering. The frequency of drought stress scenarios experienced by the two sorghum types across rainfall zones and soil types differed. As expected, the early pre-flowering and flowering drought stress occurred more frequently in isohyets < 600 mm, for the photoperiod-sensitive, late-flowering sorghum type. In isohyets above 600 mm, the frequency of drought stress was very low for both cultivars. We quantified the consequences of these drought scenarios on grain and biomass productivity. The yields of the highly-photoperiod-sensitive sorghum type were quite stable across the higher rainfall zones > 600 mm, but was affected by the drought stress in the lower rainfall zones < 600 mm. Comparatively, the less photoperiod-sensitive cultivar had notable yield gain in the driest regions < 600 mm. The results suggest that, at least for the tested crop types, drought stress might not be the major constraint to sorghum production in isohyets > 600 mm. The findings from this study provide the entry point for further quantitative testing of the Genotype × Environment × Management options required to optimize sorghum production in Mali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies control remains challenging in low and middle-income countries, mostly due to lack of financial resources, rapid turnover of dog populations and poor accessibility to dogs. Rabies is endemic in Cambodia, where no national rabies vaccination program is implemented. The objective of this study was to assess the short and long-term vaccination-induced immunity in Cambodian dogs under field conditions, and to propose optimized vaccination strategies. A cohort of 351 dogs was followed at regular time points following primary vaccination only (PV) or PV plus single booster (BV). Fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVNT) was implemented to determine the neutralizing antibody titer against rabies and an individual titer ≥0·5 IU/mL indicated protection. Bayesian modeling was used to evaluate the individual duration of protection against rabies and the efficacy of two different vaccination strategies. Overall, 61% of dogs had a protective immunity one year after PV. In dogs receiving a BV, this protective immunity remained for up to one year after the BV in 95% of dogs. According to the best Bayesian model, a PV conferred a protective immunity in 82% of dogs (95% CI: 75–91%) for a mean duration of 4.7 years, and BV induced a lifelong protective immunity. Annual PV of dogs less than one year old and systematic BV solely of dogs vaccinated the year before would allow to achieve the 70% World Health Organization recommended threshold to control rabies circulation in a dog population in three to five years of implementation depending on dog population dynamics. This vaccination strategy would save up to about a third of vaccine doses, reducing cost and time efforts of mass dog vaccination campaigns. These results can contribute to optimize rabies control measures in Cambodia moving towards the global goal of ending human death from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Author summary: Rabies is a fatal zoonotic viral disease. Dog vaccination is recognized as the most cost-effective and sustainable solution to rabies prevention. Cambodia is endemic with canine mediated rabies, that would cause to around 800 human death each year. This country also has a large owned but mostly free-roaming dog population that makes efficient massive vaccination hard to achieve. In this study, we vaccinated 351 dogs with or without booster one year later. We then used serological assessed the short and long-term vaccination-induced immunity in these dogs, and Bayesian modeling to identify a vaccination strategy adapted to the Cambodian dog population characteristics. Yearly primary vaccinations for young dogs, supplemented with a single booster injection of these dogs promises to achieve 70% dog vaccination coverage effectively and efficiently, and control rabies circulation in dog populations. Applying this new strategy running for five more years after the vaccination coverage of at least 70% is achieved, this implies per 1,000 dogs between 2000 and 5 000 saved vaccine doses depending on dog population characteristics. Our results could help controlling rabies in Cambodia and potentially be adopted by other countries facing similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While women globally make up nearly half of the fisheries workforce, their contribution to the sector has long been overlooked with implications for fisheries management. To assess women's participation in small-scale fisheries (SSF) management and related socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature (n = 124 case studies). Women had no or limited participation in more than 80% of the examined case studies reporting their participation level in SSF management. Women's exclusion from SSF management resulted in negative outcomes, whereas their active participation was associated with various positive impacts at multiple scales. Most of the documented impacts were socio-cultural, suggesting a gap in documenting environmental impacts stemmed from women's participation in SSF management. Importantly, most impacts reported affected the social-ecological system scale, suggesting that gender inclusion may contribute to improving the management of SSF social-ecological systems. We conclude by highlighting the need to foster gender perspectives in data collection methods used in fisheries research, in SSF management, and in ecological research on SSF social-ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global polls have shown that people in high-income countries generally report being more satisfied with their lives than people in low-income countries. The persistence of this correlation, and its similarity to correlations between income and life satisfaction within countries, could lead to the impression that high levels of life satisfaction can only be achieved in wealthy societies. However, global polls have typically overlooked small-scale, nonindustrialized societies, which can provide an alternative test of the consistency of this relationship. Here, we present results from a survey of 2,966 members of Indigenous Peoples and local communities among 19 globally distributed sites. We find that high average levels of life satisfaction, comparable to those of wealthy countries, are reported for numerous populations that have very low monetary incomes. Our results are consistent with the notion that human societies can support very satisfying lives for their members without necessarily requiring high degrees of monetary wealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hevea brasiliensis is the greatest source of natural rubber and raw material in several industrial products manufacture. In Colombia, it has been commercially established in five productive units; however, the genetic basis is limited and foliar diseases have influenced the development and the production. In La Libertad Research Center (Villavicencio) and Taluma Experimental Field (Puerto López) of the Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria – AGROSAVIA, clonal trials, at small-scale and large-scale, were established to evaluate the performance assessment, associated with growth, of seven clones from CIRAD-Michelin selection Collection series CDC, FDR, MDF y PMB, and FX 3864 and RRIM 600 as well. In juvenile stage, the trunk circumference (CIRC) was measured every six months, and the annual increase average (IMA-CIRC) was calculated. Variance analysis and means comparison were carried out. At eight years of age, the FDR 5788 clone showed IMA-CIRC of 8.20 cm year-1 and 6.87 cm year-1 in La Libertad and Taluma, respectively; differences in growth between clones were observed. In the Piedemonte llanero (La Libertad), the FDR 5788 and RRIM 600 clones were notable for their growth, whereas in the Altilllanura (Puerto López) PMB 1 and FDR 5788 were remarkable. In La Libertad, the FDR 5788, RRIM 600 and CDC 312 clones exceeded the CIRC of 50 cm at sixth year, in contrast to Taluma, where it occurred at seventh year for PMB1 and DFR 5788. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eave tube technology is a novel method of insecticide application that uses an electrostatic coating system to boost insecticide efficacy against resistant mosquitoes. A series of previous experiments showed encouraging insecticidal effects against malaria vectors. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of the eave tube approach on other Culicidae, in particular Culex quinquefasciatus, under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Methods: Larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus from Bouaké were collected and reared to adult stage, and World Health Organization (WHO) cylinder tests were performed to determine their resistance status. WHO standard 3-min cone bioassays were conducted using PermaNet 2.0 netting versus eave tube-treated inserts. To assess the transient exposure effect on Cx. quinquefasciatus, eave tube assay utilizing smelly socks as attractant was performed with exposure time of 30 s, 1 min, and 2 min on 10% beta-cyfluthrin-treated inserts. Residual activity of these treated inserts was then monitored over 9 months. Field tests involving release–recapture of Cx. quinquefasciatus within enclosures around experimental huts fitted with windows and untreated or insecticide-treated eave tubes were conducted to determine house entry preference and the impact of tubes on the survival of this species. Results: Bouaké Cx. quinquefasciatus displayed high resistance to three out of four classes of insecticides currently used in public health. After 3 min of exposure in cone tests, 10% beta-cyfluthrin-treated inserts induced 100% mortality in Cx. quinquefasciatus, whereas the long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) only killed 4.5%. With reduced exposure time on the eave tube insert, mortality was still 100% after 2 min, 88% after 1 min, and 44% after 30 s. Mortality following 1 h exposure on 10% beta-cyfluthrin-treated insert was > 80% continuously up to 7 months post-treatment. Data suggest that Cx. quinquefasciatus have a stronger preference for entering a house through the eaves than through windows. Beta-cyfluthrin-treated inserts were able to kill 51% of resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus released within the enclosure. Conclusions: Eave tubes are a novel method for delivery of insecticide to the house. They attract nuisance host-seeking Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes and are as effective in controlling them as they are against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae, despite the high level of resistance Cx. quinquefasciatus have developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andean Blackberry fruits (Rubus glaucus Benth) have promising market potential with notable nutritional and antioxidant properties; however, their limited 3-6day shelf-life presents considerable challenges. A flash vacuum expansion (FVE) process coupled with vacuum de-pulping was used to obtain puree from blackberry fruits. Different steam heating holding times (53, 75, 85, and 95 s) were tested at a pressure of 130 kPa. After FVE and vacuum de-pulping (5kPa), various parameters, including alcohol insoluble residues (AIR), residual activity of polyphenol oxidase (RAPPO), anthocyanins, ascorbic acid and ellagitannin retention, rheological properties, and microbial reduction, were evaluated in the purees. Optimal steam heating time of 85 seconds was selected for the FVE process, showing outstanding retention rates of 98% for cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and 88% for ascorbic acid, along with enhanced ellagitannins extraction from torus and seed blackberries into the puree. The purees displayed a gradual shear-thinning flow behavior, positively correlated with the increase in %AIR. A reduction greater than 5 Log10 CFU / mL was achieved for molds, yeasts, aerobic mesophilic, and coliforms counts for all the treatments. Nectar and sweetened puree products developed from the optimal FVE processed puree, received favorable acceptance from consumers, with a high intention to purchase. The findings demonstrated that this innovative process has great potential for developing of high-quality products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eave tube technology is a novel method of insecticide application that uses an electrostatic coating system to boost insecticide efficacy against resistant mosquitoes. A series of previous experiments showed encouraging insecticidal effects against malaria vectors. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of the eave tube approach on other Culicidae, in particular Culex quinquefasciatus, under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Methods: Larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus from Bouaké were collected and reared to adult stage, and World Health Organization (WHO) cylinder tests were performed to determine their resistance status. WHO standard 3-min cone bioassays were conducted using PermaNet 2.0 netting versus eave tube-treated inserts. To assess the transient exposure effect on Cx. quinquefasciatus, eave tube assay utilizing smelly socks as attractant was performed with exposure time of 30 s, 1 min, and 2 min on 10% beta-cyfluthrin-treated inserts. Residual activity of these treated inserts was then monitored over 9 months. Field tests involving release–recapture of Cx. quinquefasciatus within enclosures around experimental huts fitted with windows and untreated or insecticide-treated eave tubes were conducted to determine house entry preference and the impact of tubes on the survival of this species. Results: Bouaké Cx. quinquefasciatus displayed high resistance to three out of four classes of insecticides currently used in public health. After 3 min of exposure in cone tests, 10% beta-cyfluthrin-treated inserts induced 100% mortality in Cx. quinquefasciatus, whereas the long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) only killed 4.5%. With reduced exposure time on the eave tube insert, mortality was still 100% after 2 min, 88% after 1 min, and 44% after 30 s. Mortality following 1 h exposure on 10% beta-cyfluthrin-treated insert was > 80% continuously up to 7 months post-treatment. Data suggest that Cx. quinquefasciatus have a stronger preference for entering a house through the eaves than through windows. Beta-cyfluthrin-treated inserts were able to kill 51% of resistant Cx. quinquefasciatus released within the enclosure. Conclusions: Eave tubes are a novel method for delivery of insecticide to the house. They attract nuisance host-seeking Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes and are as effective in controlling them as they are against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae, despite the high level of resistance Cx. quinquefasciatus have developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrients are essential to plants, and enhancing their availability is one of the agronomic challenges to improving crop quality and yield. This study, under controlled greenhouse conditions, compares tomato plants' responses to two different micronutrient EDTA-chelated formulations, one of them including a newly developed fulvate–lignosulfonate coating. Growth, yield, and several physiological parameters, including photosynthetic gas exchange, water-use efficiency, leaf nutrient content, leaf greenness and the effective quantum yield of photosystem II, were measured to compare their efficiency. The results showed that the new coated formulation significantly improved growth and most of the determined physiological parameters. At the end of the experiment, higher foliar levels of Fe (2.4-fold) and Mn (2.9-fold) were measured, revealing increased availability of lignofulfonate-complexed micronutrients compared to the traditional fertiliser. Moreover, the photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance were 9- and 20-fold higher, respectively, than when using the standard fertiliser. In conclusion, the new coated fulvate–lignosulfonated fertiliser provided a more suitable source of micronutrients for tomato plant fertilisation, allowing for higher yields, which correlated with a generally improved physiological response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images for biomass and nitrogen estimation offers multiple opportunities for improving rice yields. UAV images provide detailed, high-resolution visual information about vegetation properties, enabling the identification of phenotypic characteristics for selecting the best varieties, improving yield predictions, and supporting ecosystem monitoring and conservation efforts. In this study, an analysis of biomass and nitrogen is conducted on 59 rice plots selected at random from a more extensive trial comprising 400 rice genotypes. A UAV acquires multispectral reflectance channels across a rice field of subplots containing different genotypes. Based on the ground-truth data, yields are characterized for the 59 plots and correlated with the Vegetation Indices (VIs) calculated from the photogrammetric mapping. The VIs are weighted by the segmentation of the plants from the soil and used as a feature matrix to estimate, via machine learning models, the biomass and nitrogen of the selected rice genotypes. The genotype IR 93346 presented the highest yield with a biomass gain of 10,252.78 kg/ha and an average daily biomass gain above 49.92 g/day. The VIs with the highest correlations with the ground-truth variables were NDVI and SAVI for wet biomass, GNDVI and NDVI for dry biomass, GNDVI and SAVI for height, and NDVI and ARVI for nitrogen. The machine learning model that performed best in estimating the variables of the 59 plots was the Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) model with a correlation factor of 0.98 for wet biomass, 0.99 for dry biomass, and 1 for nitrogen. The results presented demonstrate that it is possible to characterize the yields of rice plots containing different genotypes through ground-truth data and VIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers face many challenges to improve their livelihoods and food security. Intensification of agricultural production can help to achieve these goals. Yet farmers are highly heterogenous in their strategies towards intensification, potentially following unsustainable intensification pathways. Using Q Methodology, we ascertain different strategies regarding farm improvement and intensification of smallholder farmers in the Dedza and Ntcheu Extension Planning Areas in Central Malawi. These strategies were associated to coherent sequential choices as expressed in "managerial intensification pathways" (MIPs). Three main strategies emerged: Seed Saving Peasants, Aspirant Modern Farmers and Entrepreneurial Business(wo)men. These were subsequently linked to four MIPs. Seed Saving Peasants focus strongly on local seed systems and post-harvest protection of grains, but also allocate more labour to improving crop residue use and manure quality, thus pointing to a labour-oriented MIP. Aspirant Modern Farmers willingly adopt hybrid seeds and inorganic fertilizers but require more extension support; these farmers follow a technology-oriented MIP. Entrepreneurial Business(wo)men are early adopters of new technologies and benefit from improved access to market information and suppliers of new technologies and follow a sustainable technology-based or techno-ecological intensification pathway. This study shows that strongly contrasting perspectives on intensification exist among smallholders and it is expected that their preferred intensification choices will have diverging impacts on the sustainability of their farms. A diversity of extension, advice and incentive instruments will be needed to support farmer decision making towards sustainably intensified farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Madagascar, upland rainfed rice is traditionally grown on tilled soil without transplanting. Weed infestation by annual species is a serious issue in such a system. Stylosanthes guianensis, a legume cover crop, can be grown with rice as a living mulch but its effect on the weed community and rice yield was not yet well studied. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in Mid‐West Madagascar from 2016 to 2018. A no‐till system with stylosanthes (NT) managed as a living mulch was compared to the conventional tilled (CT) system. Two fertilisation regimes were included: organic manure (F1) and organic manure combined with mineral fertiliser (F2). Weed floristic surveys were performed, and weed harmfulness evaluated by comparing weedy and weed‐free plots. The living mulch harmfulness was evaluated using weed‐stylosanthes‐free plots. Results showed that NT suppressed dominant grass weeds Digitaria spp. and Eleusine indica leading to a decrease in total weed biomass. Rice yield was significantly higher in NT than in CT; in weed‐free condition, it was 2.4 versus 2 t ha−1 in NT and CT, respectively, and 1.5 versus 0.6 t ha−1 in NT and CT, respectively, in weedy condition. The living mulch reduced rice yield by 14% but it remained significantly higher in NT than in CT. The addition of mineral fertiliser to the organic manure had a positive effect on rice yield but only in weed‐free conditions. This study showed that a no‐till system with a living mulch can help to control the most competitive weeds without undermining rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Nile virus (WNV) is amplified in an enzootic cycle involving birds as amplifying hosts. Because they do not develop high levels of viremia, humans and horses are considered to be dead-end hosts. Mosquitoes, especially from the Culex genus, are vectors responsible for transmission between hosts. Consequently, understanding WNV epidemiology and infection requires comparative and integrated analyses in bird, mammalian, and insect hosts. So far, markers of WNV virulence have mainly been determined in mammalian model organisms (essentially mice), while data in avian models are still missing. WNV Israel 1998 (IS98) is a highly virulent strain that is closely genetically related to the strain introduced into North America in 1999, NY99 (genomic sequence homology > 99%). The latter probably entered the continent at New York City, generating the most impactful WNV outbreak ever documented in wild birds, horses, and humans. In contrast, the WNV Italy 2008 strain (IT08) induced only limited mortality in birds and mammals in Europe during the summer of 2008. To test whether genetic polymorphism between IS98 and IT08 could account for differences in disease spread and burden, we generated chimeric viruses between IS98 and IT08, focusing on the 3′ end of the genome (NS4A, NS4B, NS5, and 3′UTR regions) where most of the non-synonymous mutations were detected. In vitro and in vivo comparative analyses of parental and chimeric viruses demonstrated a role for NS4A/NS4B/5′NS5 in the decreased virulence of IT08 in SPF chickens, possibly due to the NS4B-E249D mutation. Additionally, significant differences between the highly virulent strain IS98 and the other three viruses were observed in mice, implying the existence of additional molecular determinants of virulence in mammals, such as the amino acid changes NS5-V258A, NS5-N280K, NS5-A372V, and NS5-R422K. As previously shown, our work also suggests that genetic determinants of WNV virulence can be host-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) R. Br. syn. Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone) is an important crop in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa which contributes to ensuring food security. Its genome has an estimated size of 1.76 Gb and displays a high level of repetitiveness above 80%. A first assembly was previously obtained for the Tift 23D2B1-P1-P5 cultivar genotype using short-read sequencing technologies. This assembly is, however, incomplete and fragmented with around 200 Mb unplaced on chromosomes. We report here an improved quality assembly of the pearl millet Tift 23D2B1-P1-P5 cultivar genotype obtained with an approach combining Oxford Nanopore long reads and Bionano Genomics optical maps. This strategy allowed us to add around 200 Mb at the chromosome-level assembly. Moreover, we strongly improved continuity in the order of the contigs and scaffolds within the chromosomes, particularly in the centromeric regions. Notably, we added more than 100 Mb around the centromeric region on chromosome 7. This new assembly also displayed a higher gene completeness with a complete BUSCO score of 98.4% using the Poales database. This more complete and higher quality assembly of the Tift 23D2B1-P1-P5 genotype now available to the community will help in the development of research on the role of structural variants and more broadly in genomics studies and the breeding of pearl millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In West Africa, long dry spells are likely to become more frequent and intense as a result of global climate variability, which may significantly impact cocoa tree performance (i.e. morphology, physiology, growth and production), and asks for improved water management. Potassium (K) application may mitigate drought impacts on cocoa, yet knowledge on how shorter, drier wet seasons affect cocoa and on the potential mitigating effect of K application is limited. This study investigated the effects of reduced water availability via shelters and K application on cocoa leaf traits, root growth, reproductive dynamics and yield of cocoa trees in a 6-year old plantation. Two soil moisture levels and two K treatments were considered: a control (no shelter) and sheltered (67 % rainfall reduction) treatment, either with or without 200 kg ha−1 K application. Results indicated rain sheltering significantly decreased soil moisture by 9 %, root interceptions by 50 %, root mass density by ∼50 %, stomatal conductance (Gs) by ∼60 %, flush intensity by ∼70 %, leaf greenness ∼48 % and leaf size by ∼68 %. While individual pod mass remained unchanged, flower intensity, healthy cherelles, pod, and bean numbers per tree dropped, leading to a dry bean yield reduction from ∼2100 kg ha−1 to ∼1450 kg ha−1 (∼31 %). The beneficial impact of K application was primarily noticeable under control conditions, where it increased Gs, leaf size and greenness. Also, about 35 % of precipitation is intercepted by and directly evaporates from the cocoa canopy and thus never reaches the soil. Future agro-meteorological crop models need to take this into account. Overall, results indicate a strong negative effect of reducing water availability during the wet season on leaf physiology, pod production and cocoa yield. Yields were mostly reduced because of a lower number of pods and much less by an effect on individual pod size. However, K application may not mitigate drought effects and sustaining cocoa yield would require integrated water management. • In a mature cocoa plantation, ∼65 % of precipitation reaches the soil. • Rain sheltering during the wet season decreases cocoa yield by 31 %. • Potassium application increased stomatal conductance, leaf greenness and hence yield. • Potassium did not mitigate yield reduction in rain sheltering treatment. • Rain sheltering reduced root length and density, while potassium had reverse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the main feedstock for commercial rubber; however, its long vegetative cycle has hindered the development of more productive varieties via breeding programs. With the availability of H. brasiliensis genomic data, several linkage maps with associated quantitative trait loci have been constructed and suggested as a tool for marker-assisted selection. Nonetheless, novel genomic strategies are still needed, and genomic selection (GS) may facilitate rubber tree breeding programs aimed at reducing the required cycles for performance assessment. Even though such a methodology has already been shown to be a promising tool for rubber tree breeding, increased model predictive capabilities and practical application are still needed. Here, we developed a novel machine learning-based approach for predicting rubber tree stem circumference based on molecular markers. Through a divide-and-conquer strategy, we propose a neural network prediction system with two stages: (1) subpopulation prediction and (2) phenotype estimation. This approach yielded higher accuracies than traditional statistical models in a single-environment scenario. By delivering large accuracy improvements, our methodology represents a powerful tool for use in Hevea GS strategies. Therefore, the incorporation of machine learning techniques into rubber tree GS represents an opportunity to build more robust models and optimize Hevea breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was undertaken to unravel marker-trait associations (MTAs) between SNP markers and phenotypic traits. It involved a subset of 421 cacao accessions from the large and diverse collection conserved ex situ at the International Cocoa Genebank Trinidad. A Mixed Linear Model (MLM) in TASSEL was used for the GWAS and followed by confirmatory analyses using GAPIT FarmCPU. An average linkage disequilibrium (r2) of 0.10 at 5.2 Mb was found across several chromosomes. Seventeen significant (P ≤ 8.17 × 10−5 (–log10 (p) = 4.088)) MTAs of interest, including six that pertained to yield-related traits, were identified using TASSEL MLM. The latter accounted for 5 to 17% of the phenotypic variation expressed. The highly significant association (P ≤ 8.17 × 10−5) between seed length to width ratio and TcSNP 733 on chromosome 5 was verified with FarmCPU (P ≤ 1.12 × 10−8). Fourteen MTAs were common to both the TASSEL and FarmCPU models at P ≤ 0.003. The most significant yield-related MTAs involved seed number and seed length on chromosome 7 (P ≤ 1.15 × 10−14 and P ≤ 6.75 × 10−05, respectively) and seed number on chromosome 1 (P ≤ 2.38 × 10−05), based on the TASSEL MLM. It was noteworthy that seed length, seed length to width ratio and seed number were associated with markers at different loci, indicating their polygenic nature. Approximately 40 candidate genes that encode embryo and seed development, protein synthesis, carbohydrate transport and lipid biosynthesis and transport were identified in the flanking regions of the significantly associated SNPs and in linkage disequilibrium with them. A significant association of fruit surface anthocyanin intensity co-localised with MYB-related protein 308 on chromosome 4. Testing of a genomic selection approach revealed good predictive value (genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV)) for economic traits such as seed number (GEBV = 0.611), seed length (0.6199), seed width (0.5435), seed length to width ratio (0.5503), seed/cotyledon mass (0.6014) and ovule number (0.6325). The findings of this study could facilitate genomic selection and marker-assisted breeding of cacao thereby expediting improvement in the yield potential of cacao planting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antestiopsis thunbergii is the most important coffee pest in Burundi causing yield losses of up to 30%. The aim of this study was to estimate its occurrence and density and to assess the species diversity of native egg-parasitoids associated to this pest in coffee agroecosystems. Our study was carried out in four coffee growing agro-ecological zones of Burundi namely; the humid west escarpments, the humid central highlands, the sub-humid central highlands and the sub-humid southeastern and northern depressions. In total, 600 coffee trees, randomly selected in 40 coffee plots of 20 communes were investigated at three phenological stages of the crop viz. October 2019 (coffee was flowering), January 2020 (coffee berries were immature green) and April 2020 (coffee berries were mature green and red). The results showed a permanent presence of A. thunbergii with an increasing occurrence and density with time. Densities were above the economic threshold (one antestia bug per tree), except in the humid west escarpments. Differences were highly significant among the four agro-ecological zones at each time of sampling. The humid central highlands zone registered the highest densities with 1.55, 1.31 and 2.67 antestia bugs per tree in October, January and April, respectively. The humid west escarpments zone recorded lower densities of 0.38, 0.44 and 0.88 antestia bugs per tree, for the same periods respectively. From the 4,776 eggs collected from the field, 1,99 egg-parasitoids of A. thunbergii were obtained and identified, namely Trissolcus sp. (59.2%), Telenomus seychellensis (29.6%), Gryon fulviventre (2.9%), Anastatus sp. (8.1%) and Acroclisoides africanus (0.2%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices of smallholder farming systems of Latin America can play an important role in reducing their exposure to the risks associated with climate extremes. To date, however, there is no systematic analysis of scientific evidence for the extent to which these practices can provide the multiple benefits needed for smallholders to adapt to climate extremes. In this paper, we searched scientific databases to review scientific evidence of the benefit provided by twenty-six practices in crops commonly farmed by smallholders in the region and highly relevant for their food and nutrition security; namely, coffee, maize and beans. We reviewed scientific documents (n = 304) published in the period 1953–2021 to register evidence of the practices' effects on fifty-five benefits. Our analysis of these documents found measurement records (n = 924) largely based on field experiments (85%). Our results show strong evidence of the multiple benefits that some ecosystem-based practices (e.g., tree-based practices for coffee and no tillage for maize) can provide to support the adaptation to climate extremes of smallholder farming systems and enhance a farm's natural assets (e.g., biodiversity, water, soil). We also found that the majority of research on practices in the region focused more on the socioeconomic dimension (54%) rather than on the capacity of practices to improve the natural assets of a smallholder farmers or reduce the impact of climate extremes. Given these knowledge gaps, we discuss the importance of a renovated investment in research to address existing knowledge gaps. Our concluding suggestions for future research include the need for systematizing existing knowledge from different sources (e.g., peer-reviewed, gray literature, farmers, extension agencies, etc.), and to assess the extent to which these practices can provide multiple benefits for smallholder farming systems by improving their wellbeing, reducing their vulnerability to different hydroclimatic extremes while also contributing to ecosystem services provision at the landscape level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 2000s, digital soil maps have been successfully used for various applications, including precision agriculture, environmental assessments and land use management. Globally, however, there are large disparities in the availability of soil data on which digital soil mapping (DSM) models can be fitted. Several studies attempted to transfer a DSM model fitted from an area with a well‐developed soil database to map the soil in areas with low sampling density. This usually is a challenging task because two areas have hardly ever the same soil‐forming factors in two different regions of the world. In this study, we aim to determine whether finding homosoils (i.e., locations sharing similar soil‐forming factors) can help transferring soil information by means of a DSM model extrapolation. We hypothesize that within areas in the world considered as homosoils, one can leverage on areas with high sampling density and fit a DSM model, which can then be extrapolated geographically to an area with little or no data. We collected publicly available soil data for clay, silt, sand, organic carbon (OC), pH and total nitrogen (N) within our study area in Mali, West Africa and its homosoils. We fitted a regression tree model between the soil properties and environmental covariates of the homosoils, and applied this model to our study area in Mali. Several calibration and validation strategies were explored. We also compared our approach with existing maps made at a global and a continental scale. We concluded that geographic model extrapolation within homosoils was possible, but that model accuracy dramatically improved when local data were included in the calibration dataset. The maps produced from models fitted with data from homosoils were more accurate than existing products for this study area, for three (silt, sand, pH) out of six soil properties. This study would be relevant to areas with very little or no soil data to carry critical soils and environmental risk assessments at a regional level. Highlights: Soil mapping models were fitted with soil data within the homosoils of Mali.The fitted models were applied to our study area.Model accuracy dramatically improved when including local data.Homosoil maps were more accurate for 3 out of 6 soil properties compared to global and continental maps.New opportunity to map the regional soil pattern of areas with limited soil data coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many eurytomid (Eurytomidae) wasps are plant parasites, and some of them are economic agricultural pests. In 2015, a new eurytomid wasp species was detected attacking apricots in the governorate of Gafsa located in the southern west region of Tunisia. Morphological and molecular identifications allowed to identify the pest as the apricot seed wasp Eurytoma samsonowi Vassiliev, a new record in Tunisia and Africa. Besides, field surveys were performed from 2017 to 2021 in order to assess the distribution of E. samsonowi in the main Tunisian apricot production areas, to characterize its symptoms of attack and to assess its damage on different apricot cultivars. The pest has limited distribution in Tunisia as it was found only in the governorates of Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid and Tozeur. Larvae of this pest feed on apricot nucellar tissues. Infested fruits either prematurely fall on the ground or turn black, become 'mummified', and remain attached to the tree. The highest infestation rates were recorded on Bayoudhi cultivar ranging from 64 to 76% depending on the year. Infestation rates registered on Bedri and Amor Leuch cultivars ranged from 24% to 51% and 27 to 53%, respectively. Therefore, this insect should be considered as an economic pest of apricots in Tunisia. Possible management measures and future outlooks are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fontainea is a plant genus with nine recognised species that occur across the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. One of these species is cultivated commercially as the source of a cancer therapeutic, and several other species are under threat of extinction. Despite this, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus have not been explored. Our study assessed the phylogeny of seven Fontainea taxa from the Australian and Pacific Island complex using chloroplast DNA sequence data and reduced-representation genome sequencing. Maximum-likelihood and consensus network trees were used to infer the topology of phylogenetic relationships between species, which highlighted three distinct lineages and a number of sister species. Our results indicated that the geographically disjunct species Fontainea venosa and F. pancheri formed a sister group at the earliest position of divergence for the genus. The data also revealed that the vulnerable Fontainea australis and the critically endangered F. oraria form a sister subclade with evidence of some shared plastid genotypes. Generally, our phylogenetic reconstruction supports the modern taxonomical nomenclature. However, we suggest further accessions across several species may support improved genetic distinctions between the sister groups of Fontainea within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of remote sensing applications call for automatic optical classification of satellite images. Recently, satellite missions, such as Sentinel-2, allow us to capture images in real-time of the Earth's scenario. The classification of this large amount of data requires increasingly precise and fast methods, which must take into account not only the spectral features dependence of each individual image but also that of the temporal ones. Copulas are an excellent statistical tool, able to model joint distributions between even random variables. In this paper, we propose a new approach for Satellite Image Time-Series (SITS) land cover classification, which combines the matrix factorization to reduce the dimensionality of the data and the use of copulas distribution to model the dependencies. We will show how the use of particular copulas can improve the accuracy of classification compared to the latest methodologies used for the classification task, such as those using Neural Networks. Experiments were conducted at a study site located on Reunion Island, using Sentinel-2 SITS data. Results are compared to those achieved by several approaches commonly used to address SITS-based land cover mapping and show that the use of copulas, in combination with the matrix factorization, achieved the highest classification yield compared to competing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Large litter size might cause significant variation in piglet intrauterine development and growth. Piglets affected by intrauterine growth-retardation (IUGR) have abnormal head shapes and body conformations, as well as lower survival, growth, and meat quality. Therefore, methods for discriminating lower growth and performance piglets that will support the management of IUGR at the individual and farm levels are needed. We hypothesize that piglets with lower birth weight, colostrum intake, average daily gain, and immune response against PCV-2 have differential head-to-chest circumference ratios (HCRs) at birth. We observed that greater HCRs were associated with lower birth weight, colostrum intake, and weight gain. Additionally, piglets with greater HCRs had higher PCV-2 antibodies. The HCR was associated with outcomes linked to IUGR. Thus, HCR might be used as an objective, low-invasive, and inexpensive tool to assess newborn piglets and assist in neonatal and nursery management. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between the head-to-chest circumference ratio (HCR) and birth weight (BW), colostrum intake, and average daily weight gain (ADG) at preweaning and postweaning periods. Additionally, associations between HCR and PCV-2 serum antibody titers and the PCV-2 seroconversion ratio (SCR) were assessed. Head and chest circumferences were measured at birth, and HCR was calculated from 110 piglets born from 8 pregnant sows randomly selected from maternity pens. Linear mixed models were used to test whether changes in HCR were associated with fluctuations of BW, colostrum intake, and ADG. In addition, HCR least-square means were compared between piglets classified as lower or greater BW, colostrum intake, and ADG. Finally, receiving operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to estimate HCR thresholds for discriminating between lower and greater performance piglets during preweaning and postweaning periods. Increments in HCR were associated with lower BW, colostrum intake, and ADG. An HCR threshold of 0.82 maximized sensibility and specificity for the classification of lower and greater performance piglets regarding BW, colostrum intake, and ADG during the periods of 0 to 7 and 0 to 69 days of life. When piglets were categorized into HCR ≤ 0.82 and HCR > 0.82 groups, piglets with HCR ≤ 0.82 had lower (log10) PCV-2 serum antibody titers at 26 days of life compared with piglets with HCR > 0.82 (3.30 ± 0.05 vs. 3.47 ± 0.05 g/dL). On the other hand, piglets that showed low SCR between 26 and 69 days of life had greater HCRs compared with piglets with high SCRs (0.83 ± 0.008 vs. 0.8 ± 0.008). The use of HCRs allowed us to identify piglets with lower performance and impaired immune response against PCV-2. The HCR indicator could be used as a selection criterion for preventive management for piglets showing delayed performance potentially associated with IUGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In vector control programs based on the sterile insect technique (SIT), the biological quality of sterile males must be as high as possible to compete with their wild counterparts. This study evaluates the biological quality and mating performance of sterile male Glossina palpalis gambiensis produced in a mass-rearing facility in Burkina Faso. It shows that irradiation had no effect on the adult emergence rate but reduced the percentage of operational flies and male fly survival. Irradiation had no effect on mating performances, as all females were inseminated, and the sterile males competed well with unirradiated males for virgin females in walk-in field cages. However, the sterility rate induced in females was lower than expected (89.67%). This study indicates that, under experimental field cage conditions, the G. p. gambiensis males produced at the CIRDES are well-suited for use in area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programs that have an SIT component. The reduction in the sterility rate highlights the importance of regularly monitoring the biological parameters of sterile males and the radiation source. The biological quality of sterile male insects produced in a mass-rearing facility is a prerequisite for the success of the SIT, which is a component of area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM). Indeed, sterile male insects released in the field must have a good mating performance in order to compete with wild males, but they must also present the required level of sterility. In the present study, the biological quality of sterile male Glossina palpalis gambiensis produced in a mass-rearing insectary was assessed through quality control testing. The mating performance of irradiated males was assessed in walk-in field cages. Irradiation had no effect on adult emergence but significantly reduced the percentage of operational flies (from 89.58% to 79.87%) and male survival (from 5 to 4 days, on average). However, irradiation did not impact the sterile male insemination potential, with all females inseminated and more than 80% of the spermathecae completely filled. The rate of induced sterility in females was 89.67% due to a dose rate decrease of the radiation source. Moreover, sterile males were able to compete successfully with untreated fertile males for untreated females in walk-in field cages. This study confirmed that the flies were still competitive and stressed the importance of regularly checking the radiation source parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli is a foodborne pathogen commonly associated with human disease characterized by mild or bloody diarrhea hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. This study investigated the occurrence of STEC in fecal samples of 289 goats in South Africa using microbiological culture and PCR. Furthermore, 628 goat STEC isolates were characterized by serotype (O:H) and major virulence factors by PCR. STEC was found in 80.2% (232/289) of goat fecal samples. Serotyping of 628 STEC isolates revealed 63 distinct serotypes including four of the major top seven STEC serogroups which were detected in 12.1% (35/289) of goats: O157:H7, 2.7% (8/289); O157:H8, 0.3%, (1/289); O157:H29, 0.3% (1/289); O103:H8, 7.6% (22/289); O103:H56, 0.3% (1/289); O26:H2, 0.3% (1/289); O111:H8, 0.3% (1/289) and 59 non-O157 STEC serotypes. Twenty-four of the sixty-three serotypes were previously associated with human disease. Virulence genes were distributed as follows: stx1, 60.6% (381/628); stx2, 72.7% (457/628); eaeA, 22.1% (139/628) and hlyA, 78.0% (490/628). Both stx1 and stx2 were found in 33.4% (210/628) of isolates. In conclusion, goats in South Africa are a reservoir and potential source of diverse STEC serotypes that are potentially virulent for humans. Further molecular characterization will be needed to fully assess the virulence potential of goat STEC isolates and their capacity to cause disease in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) synthesis is a major property of rhizosphere bacteria. The IAA‐producing ability of rhizobacteria may be influenced by agricultural management. We therefore evaluated the IAA‐producing potential of rhizobacteria isolated during organic rice farming (ORF) and conventional rice farming (CRF) in Thung Kula Rong Hai areas of Thailand. The results indicated that ORF gave a significantly higher percentage of IAA producers (95·8%) than CRF (69·9%). The average IAA values of the ORF isolates were around two times higher than those of the CRF isolates both in the absence (12·8 and 5·8 μg IAA ml−1, respectively) and presence of L‐tryptophan (L‐Trp) (35·2 and 17·2 μg IAA ml−1, respectively). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the 23 selected isolates belonged to 8 different genera—Sinomonas sp., Micrococcus sp., Microbacterium sp., Fictibacillus sp., Bacillus sp., Burkholderia sp., Leclercia sp. and Enterobacter sp. Interestingly, only three ORF isolates, i.e. ORF15‐20 (Micrococcus sp.), ORF15‐21 (Sinomonas sp.) and ORF15‐23 (Sinomonas sp.), exhibited high IAA production ability without L‐Trp (128·5, 160·8 and 174·7 μg IAA ml−1, respectively). Meanwhile, a slight decrease in IAA production with L‐Trp was noticed, suggesting that the L‐Trp was not used for the IAA synthesis of these isolates. Biopriming with rhizobacterial isolates significantly enhanced the rate of germination of KDML 105 rice seeds compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is one of the world's most consumed beverages and an important crop of many developing countries. Intensive tea cultivation has negative impacts on soil health properties and the environment. While soil acidification in tea plantations is a known severe issue, there is a lack of literature analysis of the ways in which soil acidification affects soil health, tea productivity and the environment, and suitable methods to control this issue. Here, we review the mechanisms of tea soil acidification and consequences, the potential of common agricultural wastes for ameliorating soil acidity and enhancing soil health and crop productivity, as well as reducing environmental pollution under tea cultivation. We show that intensive application of mineral nitrogen is the main cause of soil acidification in tea plantations, while tea plants also play a part in accelerating tea soil acidity. Agricultural waste and byproducts have a great potential to correct soil acidity, and to enhance soil health, tea productivity and quality. These soil amendments also have drawbacks such as metal and pathogen pollution, and supplementary costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interactions of ecosystems, humans and pathogens is important for disease risk estimation. This is particularly true for neglected and newly emerging diseases where modes and efficiencies of transmission leading to epidemics are not well understood. Using a model for other emerging diseases, the neglected tropical skin disease Buruli ulcer (BU), we systematically review the literature on transmission of the etiologic agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), within a One Health/EcoHealth framework and against Hill's nine criteria and Koch's postulates for making strong inference in disease systems. Using this strong inference approach, we advocate a null hypothesis for MU transmission and other understudied disease systems. The null should be tested against alternative vector or host roles in pathogen transmission to better inform disease management. We propose a re-evaluation of what is necessary to identify and confirm hosts, reservoirs and vectors associated with environmental pathogen replication, dispersal and transmission; critically review alternative environmental sources of MU that may be important for transmission, including invertebrate and vertebrate species, plants and biofilms on aquatic substrates; and conclude with placing BU within the context of other neglected and emerging infectious diseases with intricate ecological relationships that lead to disease in humans, wildlife and domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater resources are essential for the supply of drinking water in the European Union but significant uncertainties surround their quality. In this context, our article analyzes the factors that influence the cooperation of key stakeholders to prevent the risk of diffuse pollution from agriculture. We built on the institutional rational choice approach and the social-ecological system framework to design our analytical framework and hypotheses. We applied this analytical framework to two cases of cooperation involving drinking water suppliers and farmers in the management of the risk of non-point source pollution from agriculture in France. Our results show that cooperation emerges when the water resource is important for water suppliers to take on the leadership. Our results also characterize the role played by uncertainties and risk in getting stakeholders involved, and finally, suggest that cooperation depends on the size and predictability of the resource system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present DILS, a deployable statistical analysis platform for conducting demographic inferences with linked selection from population genomic data using an Approximate Bayesian Computation framework. DILS takes as input single‐population or two‐population data sets (multilocus fasta sequences) and performs three types of analyses in a hierarchical manner, identifying: (a) the best demographic model to study the importance of gene flow and population size change on the genetic patterns of polymorphism and divergence, (b) the best genomic model to determine whether the effective size Ne and migration rate N, m are heterogeneously distributed along the genome (implying linked selection) and (c) loci in genomic regions most associated with barriers to gene flow. Also available via a Web interface, an objective of DILS is to facilitate collaborative research in speciation genomics. Here, we show the performance and limitations of DILS by using simulations and finally apply the method to published data on a divergence continuum composed by 28 pairs of Mytilus mussel populations/species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male mating harassment may occur when females and males do not have the same mating objectives. Communal animals need to manage the costs of male mating harassment. Here, we demonstrate how desert locusts in dense populations reduce such conflicts through behaviors. In transient populations (of solitarious morphology but gregarious behavior), we found that nongravid females occupied separate sites far from males and were not mating, whereas males aggregated on open ground (leks), waiting for gravid females to enter the lekking sites. Once a male mounted a gravid female, no other males attacked the pair; mating pairs were thereby protected during the vulnerable time of oviposition. In comparison, solitarious locusts displayed a balanced sex ratio in low-density populations, and females mated irrespective of their ovarian state. Our results indicate that the mating behaviors of desert locusts are density dependent and that sex-biased behavioral group separationmay minimize the costs of male mating harassment and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main challenge to the successful mass-rearing of the tsetse fly in insectaries, especially in Africa, is a sustainable supply of high-quality blood meals. As such, the collection of high-quality blood in large quantities can be an important constraint to production. One possible strategy to lessen the impact of this constraint is to modify the blood-feeding frequency. In the study reported here, we evaluated the effect of three blood-feeding frequencies on the colony performance of Glossina palpalis gambiensis, a riverine tsetse fly species. Methods: The effect of three, four and six blood-feedings per week on female survival and productivity were evaluated over a 30-day period. Progeny emergence rate and flight ability were also evaluated. Results: Female survival was significantly higher in flies fed four times per week (87%) than in those fed three (72%) and six times per week (78%; P < 0.05). Productivity was similar between flies fed four and six times per week (457 and 454 larvae) but significantly reduced in flies fed three times per week (280 larvae produced; P < 0.05). Both emergence rate and flight ability rate were also similar between flies fed four times per week (97 and 94%, respectively) and six times per week (96 and 97%, respectively), but they were significantly reduced when flies were fed three times per week (89 and 84%, respectively; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Blood-feeding frequency could be reduced from six times per week to four times per week without affecting mass-rearing production and progeny quality. The implications of these results on tsetse mass-rearing production are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the prospects of low short‐term emissions reduction, carbon removals (CDRs) are expected to play an important role in achieving ambitious mitigation targets in future scenarios of integrated assessment models (IAMs), particularly Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). In this paper, we explore the IAMC 1.5℃ database to depict the characteristics of the two main CDR options present in mitigation scenarios: BECCS and afforestation/reforestation. We apply a linear mixed‐effect model to capture the specific regional and cross‐IAM effects. Results reveal that the distribution of BECCS and afforestation deployment differs across IAMs and regions and, to a second extent, time. BECCS is preferred in the scenarios not for its ability to expand energy use but actually because it appears as an alternative to afforestation, which is associated with a decrease in energy use. However, the regional distribution of CDR deployment does not show a common pattern across scenarios and IAMs. Therefore, a more comprehensive investigation is needed before it can support policy proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to develop biofilms based on starch isolated from chachafruto (Erythrina edulis) grown in Colombia. The physicochemical, functional, and morphometric properties of chachafruto starch are characterized. Edible biofilms are developed using chachafruto starch, glycerol, oil, and Tween 80. The films are characterized in terms of their physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. The data show a high starch yield of 28.59% with high purity (95.92%) and 0.21% phosphorous, and 14.14% amylose content. Chachafruto starch granules have a bimodal distribution of circular and oval shapes; longitudinal sizes varied from 25.86 to 119.82 µm, and transverse sizes ranged from 40.14 to 45.86 µm. The gelatinization pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), and final viscosity (cool paste viscosity, CPV) of starch were 74.7°C, 2602, and 3171 cP, respectively. The addition of oil (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and Tween 80 (0.4%) increase the moisture content of the starch and decrease the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film. Additionally, the oil significantly reduces the tensile strength and elongation at break but has no effect on the percent elongation. The data show that chachafruto seeds are a potential new and unconventional source of starch that shows feasibility for applications in starch‐based edible films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main challenge to the successful mass-rearing of the tsetse fly in insectaries, especially in Africa, is a sustainable supply of high-quality blood meals. As such, the collection of high-quality blood in large quantities can be an important constraint to production. One possible strategy to lessen the impact of this constraint is to modify the blood-feeding frequency. In the study reported here, we evaluated the effect of three blood-feeding frequencies on the colony performance of Glossina palpalis gambiensis, a riverine tsetse fly species. Methods: The effect of three, four and six blood-feedings per week on female survival and productivity were evaluated over a 30-day period. Progeny emergence rate and flight ability were also evaluated. Results: Female survival was significantly higher in flies fed four times per week (87%) than in those fed three (72%) and six times per week (78%; P < 0.05). Productivity was similar between flies fed four and six times per week (457 and 454 larvae) but significantly reduced in flies fed three times per week (280 larvae produced; P < 0.05). Both emergence rate and flight ability rate were also similar between flies fed four times per week (97 and 94%, respectively) and six times per week (96 and 97%, respectively), but they were significantly reduced when flies were fed three times per week (89 and 84%, respectively; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Blood-feeding frequency could be reduced from six times per week to four times per week without affecting mass-rearing production and progeny quality. The implications of these results on tsetse mass-rearing production are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Flooded rice fields from 31 sites across 4 East African countries are sampled. • In total, 286 species were found, including 42 new rice weeds for the region. • Compared between altitudes, weed compositions showed 80% of dissimilarity. • Weed species diversity was higher at medium compared to high and low altitudes. • Identified weed groupings per altitude facilitates tailored control programmes. Weeds are major biotic constraints to rice production worldwide. Compared to other sub-regions, weed communities of rice are not well described for East Africa and there is limited information on environmental factors affecting the distribution of species. This study aimed to address these knowledge gaps. Seasonally flooded rice production fields of 31 sites in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, across three altitude classes (Low: <200 m; Medium 200–1,000 m; High: >1,000 m), were surveyed for weed species using quadrats. Data analyses involved multivariate approaches, non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis tests and logistic regressions, followed by calculation of ranked species abundance and Shannon Wiener Index diversity analyses. A total of 286 weed species, belonging to 59 families, were recorded with 42 species not previously reported as lowland rice weed in the sub-region. Twenty-four species were identified as abundant across altitudes. Weed species diversity was higher at medium altitudes compared to high and low altitudes. Significant patterns of floristic distinction between altitudinal classes were observed, with 80% of dissimilarity. The high altitude was dominated by Echinochloa colona, Leptochloa squarrosa and Sphaeranthus suaveolens, the medium altitude was dominated by Crassula granvikii, Pycreus lanceolatus and Ageratum conyzoides while the low altitude was dominated by E. colona, Cyperus difformis and Cyperus esculentus. The weed species composition of seasonally flooded rice fields in East Africa is diverse. Identification of a limited group of (24) commonly abundant weed species as well as the articulation of altitude-specific weed species groups will facilitate the development of better tailored weed control programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human plague cases, mainly in the bubonic form, occur annually in endemic regions of the central highlands of Madagascar. The aim of this study was to compare the dynamics of the epidemiological features of the human plague in two districts of the central highlands region.Methods: In Madagascar, all clinically suspected plague cases that meet clinical and epidemiological criteria specified in the World Health Organization (WHO) standard case definition are reported to the national surveillance system. Data on plague cases reported between 2006 and 2015 in the districts of Ambositra and Tsiroanomandidy were analysed. Statistical comparisons between the epidemiological characteristics of the two districts were conducted.Results: A total of 840 cases of plague were reported over the studied period, including 563 (67%) probable and confirmed cases (P + C). Out of these P + C cases, nearly 86% (488/563) were cases of bubonic plague. Reported clinical forms of plague were significantly different between the districts from 2006 to 2015 (p = 0.001). Plague cases occurred annually in a period of 10 years in the Tsiroanomandidy district. During the same period, the Ambositra district was characterized by a one-year absence of cases.Conclusion: The differences in the epidemiological situation with respect to the plague from 2006 to 2015 in the two central highlands districts may suggest that several factors other than biogeographical factors determine the representation of the plague and its dynamics in this region. Considering the epidemiological situations according to the specific contexts of the districts could improve the results in the fight against the plague in Madagascar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: As the frequency of extreme environmental events is expected to increase with climate change, identifying candidate genes for stabilizing the protein composition of legume seeds or optimizing this in a given environment is increasingly important. To elucidate the genetic determinants of seed protein plasticity, major seed proteins from 200 ecotypes of Medicago truncatula grown in four contrasting environments were quantified after one‐dimensional electrophoresis. The plasticity index of these proteins was recorded for each genotype as the slope of Finlay and Wilkinson's regression and then used for genome‐wide association studies (GWASs), enabling the identification of candidate genes for determining this plasticity. This list was enriched in genes related to transcription, DNA repair and signal transduction, with many of them being stress responsive. Other over‐represented genes were related to sulfur and aspartate family pathways leading to the synthesis of the nutritionally essential amino acids methionine and lysine. By placing these genes in metabolic pathways, and using a M. truncatula mutant impaired in regenerating methionine from S‐methylmethionine, we discovered that methionine recycling pathways are major contributors to globulin composition establishment and plasticity. These data provide a unique resource of genes that can be targeted to mitigate negative impacts of environmental stresses on seed protein composition. Significance Statement: In the context of climate change, legumes that produce seeds with high protein contents without nitrogen fertilizer are vital for human and livestock nutrition. Thus, optimizing and stabilizing their seed protein yield and composition is of crucial importance. GWASs using the natural genetic variation of Medicago truncatula showed that methionine recycling pathways are major determinants of the plastic response of seed protein composition to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]