Search

Charcoal rot disease (CRD), caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, is a significant threat to cotton production in Israel and worldwide. The pathogen secretes toxins and degrading enzymes that disrupt the water and nutrient uptake, leading to death at the late stages of growth. While many control strategies were tested over the years to reduce CRD impact, reaching that goal remains a significant challenge. The current study aimed to establish, improve, and deepen our understanding of a new approach combining biological agents and chemical pesticides. Such intervention relies on reducing fungicides while providing stability and a head start to eco-friendly bio-protective Trichoderma species. The research design included sprouts in a growth room and commercial field plants receiving the same treatments. Under a controlled environment, comparing the bio-based coating treatments with their corresponding chemical coating partners resulted in similar outcomes in most measures. At 52 days, these practices gained up to 38% and 45% higher root and shoot weight and up to 78% decreased pathogen root infection (tracked by Real-Time PCR), compared to non-infected control plants. Yet, in the shoot weight assessment (day 29 post-sowing), the treatment with only biological seed coating outperformed (p < 0.05) all other biological-based treatments and all Azoxystrobin-based irrigation treatments. In contrast, adverse effects are observed in the chemical seed coating group, particularly in above ground plant parts, which are attributable to the addition of Azoxystrobin irrigation. In the field, the biological treatments had the same impact as the chemical intervention, increasing the cotton plants' yield (up to 17%), improving the health (up to 27%) and reducing M. phaseolina DNA in the roots (up to 37%). When considering all treatments within each approach, a significant benefit to plant health was observed with the bio-chemo integrated management compared to using only chemical interventions. Specific integrated treatments have shown potential in reducing CRD symptoms, such as applying bio-coating and sprinkling Azoxystrobin during sowing. Aerial remote sensing based on high-resolution visible-channel (RGB), green–red vegetation index (GRVI), and thermal imaging supported the above findings and proved its value for studying CRD control management. This research validates the combined biological and chemical intervention potential to shield cotton crops from CRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium basal rot disease (FBR) is a destructive threat to onion crops around the globe. It causes seedlings' death, development disruption, and pre- and post-harvest bulb infection and rotting, with a concern for toxin infestation. It is an emerging disease in Israel, with new reports from farms nationwide. Recently, we reported on a full-season pot experiment to protect two leading commercial cultivars against FBR chemically. Here, we present new real-time qPCR molecular tracking of the pathogens inside the host plant and compare the infection levels to a deep analysis of the impacts of this experiment's treatments on plant growth and health indexes. The new findings reveal variations within each treatment's effectiveness regarding sprout development and bulb ripening stages. For instance, in the yellow Orlando cv., high protection was obtained with Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazole (Az-Te) in sprouts against F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae and with Fludioxonil + Sedaxen in mature plants against Fusarium acutatum. Thus, combining these fungicides may protect plants throughout their lifecycle. Also, Prochloraz at low dose was highly efficient in the Orlando cv. Still, to shield red Noam cv. plants from both pathogens, increasing this fungicide concentration towards the season-ending should be preferred. The qPCR tracking showed that all chemical treatments tested could reduce infection from pathogens by 80–90%, even with compounds such as Az-Te that were less effective. This implies that the pesticide was effective but probably phytotoxic to the plants, and thus, lower dosages must be considered. The molecular-based analysis discloses the high infection ability of F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae compared to F. acutatum in both cultivars. It also indicates an antagonism between those species in the Orlando cv. and synergism in the Noam cv. The current work reveals weak and strong points in chemical FBR protection and offers new ways to improve its application. The qPCR-based method enables us to closely monitor the pathogenesis and efficacy of chemical-preventing treatments and optimize crop-protection protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Maize late wilt disease (LWD) is considered the most severe corn disease in Israel and Egypt and a significant threat in other countries. The utilization of disease-resistant maize cultivars is currently our best LWD control method. Here we evaluated the predictive ability of a rapid test to examine the susceptibility/tolerance of corn varieties to the disease. The fastest assay is based on the sensitivity of corn seeds to metabolites secreted by the pathogen. However, it is only reliable in detecting highly resistant or extremely susceptible maize varieties. To identify LWD immunity of mildly tolerant hybrid plants, a full-season pot assay in the open air, under field conditions, is needed. New detection methods, including aerial visible dehydration symptom monitoring and real-time PCR-based tracking of M. maydis DNA inside the plants' tissues, were evaluated here and proved to provide a great advantage. No complete overlap exists between the fungal DNA amount and the severity of symptoms. Such a correlation exists in high sensitivity or resistance cases but not in intermediate situations. Still, the valuation of the pathogen's establishment in asymptomatic corn hybrids is a powerful means to predict each maize variety's LWD immunity. Magnaporthiopsis maydis late wilt disease (LWD) in corn is considered to be the most severe in Israel and Egypt and poses a significant threat in other countries. Research efforts extending over a period of five decades led to the development of chemical, biological, agrotechnical, physical (solar disinfection) and other means for controlling late wilt disease. Today, some applications can reduce damage even in severe cases. However, cultivating disease-resistant maize varieties is the primary means for reducing the disease's impact. The current work uses a rapid (six days) laboratory seedling pathogenicity test and a full-season open encloser semi-field conditioned pots assay (101 days) to classify maize varieties according to their LWD resistance. To better evaluate differences between the cultivars, a real-time based molecular assay was applied to track the pathogen's presence in the plants' tissues, and visible light aerial imaging was used in parallel. The findings show that in cases of extreme sensitivity or tolerance (for example, in the highly susceptible Megaton cultivar (cv.) or the resistant Hatai cv.), a similarity in the results exists between the different methods. Thus, a reliable estimate of the varieties' sensitivity can be obtained in a seed assay without the need for a test carried out throughout an entire growing season. At the same time, in most situations of partial or reduced LWD sensitivity/resistance, there is no match between the various tests, and only the entire growing season can provide the most reliable results. Tracking the amount of M. maydis DNA in the plants' bodies is a precise, sensitive scientific tool of great importance for studying the development of the disease and the factors affecting it. Yet, no complete overlap exists between the fungal DNA amount and symptom severity. Such a correlation exists in high sensitivity or resistance cases but not in intermediate situations. Still, the valuation of the pathogen's establishment in asymptomatic corn hybrids can indicate the degree of LWD immunity and the chance of susceptibility development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6-PP) is a powerful Magnaporthiopsis maydis antifungal compound, recently discovered when the potent growth medium of Trichoderma asperellum was analyzed. Despite its high potential in plate assay, it was not inspected for plant treatment prevention. Late wilt disease, caused by the fungus M. maydis, threatens commercial maize production in high-risk areas. Thus, the search for control options against the pathogen is one of the top priorities in Israel, Egypt, and other countries. Disease-resistant maize genotypes can reduce the damages. Yet, aggressive variants of the fungus can overcome host resistance. The current study aimed at inspecting T. asperellum and its secreted metabolite, pure 6-PP, against the pathogen in plants over a full growth period. First, adding T. asperellum directly to seeds with sowing provides significant protection to sprouts (up to 42 days) in a growth room, with more than two-fold growth promotion and reduced pathogen root infection (detected by real-time PCR). The same procedure applied in a commercial field was less beneficial in rescuing the plants' growth and yield. Still, it reduced the cobs' symptoms by 11% and resulted in nine-fold lower levels of the pathogen's DNA in the stem tissue. Second, the T. asperellum purified 6-PP compound (30 µg/seed) was used in seed coating and tested against the T. asperellum secretory metabolites' crude (diluted to 50%). At the season's end, these treatments improved plant biomass by 90–120% and cob weight by 60%. Moreover, the treatments significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the symptoms (up to 20%) and pathogen infection (94–98%). The current study's results reveal the potential of 6-PP as a new fungicide against M. maydis. Such a treatment may protect maize plants from other soil diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, worldwide scientific efforts towards controlling maize late wilt disease (LWD) have focused on eco-friendly approaches that minimize the environmental impact and health risks. This disease is considered to be the most severe threat to maize fields in Israel and Egypt, and a major growth restraint in India, Spain, and Portugal. Today's most commonly used method for LWD control involving resistant maize genotypes is under constant risk from aggressive pathogen lines. Thus, this study's objectives were to evaluate the effect of crop rotation and avoiding tillage on restraining the disease. Such an agrotechnical approach will support the continuity of soil mycorrhiza networks, which antagonize the disease's causal agent, Magnaporthiopsis maydis. The method gained positive results in previous studies, but many knowledge gaps still need to be addressed. To this end, a dual-season study was conducted using the LWD hyper-susceptible maize hybrid, Megaton cv. The trials were performed in a greenhouse and in the field over full dual-growth seasons (wheat or clover as the winter crop followed by maize as the summer crop). In the greenhouse under LWD stress, the results clearly demonstrate the beneficial effect of maize crop rotation with clover and wheat on plant weight (1.4-fold), height (1.1–1.2-fold) and cob yield (1.8–2.4-fold), especially in the no-till soil. The clover-maize growth sequence excels in reducing disease impact (1.7-fold) and pathogen spread in the host tissues (3-fold). Even though the wheat-maize crop cycle was less effective, it still had better results than the commercial mycorrhizal preparation treatment and the uncultivated non-infected soil. The results were slightly different in the field. The clover-maize rotation also achieved the best growth promotion and disease restraint results (2.6-fold increase in healthy plants), but the maize rotation with wheat showed only minor efficiency. Interestingly, pre-cultivating the soil with clover had better results in no-till soil in both experiments. In contrast, the same procedure with wheat had a better impact when tillage was applied. It may be concluded that crop rotation and soil cultivation can be essential in reducing LWD, but other factors may affect this approach's benefits in commercial field growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt (LWD) is a vascular wilt disease that outbursts late in maize development, usually during or after flowering. The disease causal agent, the soil and seed-borne fungi, Magnaporthiopsis maydis, causes significant economic losses in Egypt, Israel, Spain, Portugal, and India. Since its discovery in the early 1960s in Egypt, the knowledge base of the disease was significantly expanded. This includes basic information on the pathogen and its mode of action, disease symptoms and damages, methods to study and monitor the pathogen, and above all, control strategies to restrain M. maydis and reduce its impact on commercial maize production. Three approaches stand out from the various control methods inspected. First, the traditional use of chemical pesticides was investigated extensively. This approach gained attention when, in 2018–2020, a feasible and economical treatment based on Azoxystrobin (alone or in combination with other fungicides) was proven to be effective even in severe cases of LWD. Second, the growing trend of replacing chemical treatments with eco-friendly biological and other green protocols has become increasingly important in recent years and has already made significant achievements. Last but not least, today’s leading strategy to cope with LWD is to rely on resistant maize genotypes. The past two decades’ introduction of molecular-based diagnostic methods to track and identify the pathogen marked significant progress in this global effort. Still, worldwide research efforts are progressing relatively slowly since the disease is considered exotic and unfamiliar in most parts of the world. The current review summarizes the accumulated knowledge on LWD, its causal agent, and the disease implications. An additional important aspect that will be addressed is a future perspective on risks and knowledge gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destructive maize late wilt disease (LWD) has heavy economic implications in highly infected areas such as Israel, Egypt, and Spain. The disease outbreaks occur near the harvest, leading to total yield loss in severe cases. Crop rotation has long been known as an effective means to reduce plant diseases. Indeed, agricultural soil conservation practices that can promote beneficial soil and root fungi have become increasingly important. Such methods may have a bioprotective effect against Magnaporthiopsis maydis, the LWD causal agent. In this two-year study, we tested the role of crop rotation of maize with either wheat or clover and the influence of minimum tillage in restricting LWD. In the first experiment, wheat and clover were grown in pots with LWD infected soil in a greenhouse over a full winter growth period. These cultivations were harvested in the spring, and each pot’s group was split into two subgroups that underwent different land processing practices. The pots were sown with LWD-sensitive maize cultivar and tested over a whole growth period against control soils without crop rotation or soil with commercial mycorrhizal preparation. The maize crop rotation with wheat without tillage achieved prominent higher growth indices than the control and the clover crop cycle. Statistically significant improvement was measured in the non-tillage wheat soil pots in sprout height 22 days after sowing, in the healthy plants at the season’s end (day 77), and in shoot and cob wet weight (compared to the control). This growth promotion was accompanied by a 5.8-fold decrease in pathogen DNA in the plant stems. The tillage in the wheat-maize growth sequence resulted in similar results with improved shoot wet-weight throughout the season. In contrast, when maize was grown after clover, the tillage reduced this parameter. The addition of commercial mycorrhizal preparation to the soil resulted in higher growth measures than the control but was less efficient than the wheat crop cycle. These results were supported by a subsequent similar experiment that relied on soil taken from commercial wheat or clover fields. Here too, the wheat-maize growth cycle (without permanent effect for the tillage) achieved the best results and improved the plants’ growth parameters and immunity against LWD and lowered pathogen levels. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that wheat and perhaps other crops yet to be inspected, together with the adjusted tillage system, may provide plants with better defense against the LWD pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt disease (LWD) of maize, caused by Magnaporthiopsis maydis, is considered a major threat to commercial fields in Israel, Egypt, Spain, and India. Today’s control methods include chemical and agronomical intervention but rely almost solely on resistant maize cultivars. In recent years, LWD research focused on eco-friendly biological approaches to restrain the pathogen. The current study conducted during two growing seasons explores the potential of three Trichoderma species as bioprotective treatments against LWD. These species excelled in preliminary assays performed previously under controlled conditions and were applied here in the field by directly adding them to each seed with the sowing. In the first field experiment, Trichoderma longibrachiatum successfully rescued the plants’ growth indices (weight and height) compared to T. asperelloides and the non-treated control. However, it had no positive effect on yield and disease progression. In the subsequent season, this Trichoderma species was tested against T. asperellum,an endophyte isolated from susceptible maize cultivar. This experiment was conducted during a rainy autumn season,which probably led to a weak disease burst. Under these conditions, the plants in all treatment groups were vivid and had similar growth progression and yields. Nevertheless, a close symptoms inspection revealed that the T. longibrachiatum treatment resulted in a two-fold reduction in the lower stem symptoms and a 1.4-fold reduction in the cob symptoms at the end of the seasons.T. asperellum achieved 1.6- and 1.3-fold improvement in these parameters, respectively. Quantitative Real-timePCR tracking of the pathogen in the host plants’ first internode supported the symptoms’ evaluation,with 3.1- and 4.9-fold lower M. may dis DNA levels in the two Trichoderma treatments. In order toinduce LWD under the autumn’s less favorable conditions, some of the plots in each treatment were inoculated additionally, 20 days after sowing, by stabbing the lower stem section near the ground with a wooden toothpick dipped in M. may dismycelia. This infection method overrides the Trichodermaroots protection and almost abolishes the biocontrol treatments’ protective achievements.This study suggests a biologicalTrichoderma-based protective layer that may have significant value in mild cases of LWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt, a disease severely affecting maize fields throughout Israel, is characterized by the relatively rapid wilting of maize plants from the tasseling stage to maturity. The disease is caused by the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis, a soil and seed-borne pathogen. The pathogen is controlled traditionally through the use of maize cultivars having reduced sensitivity to the disease. Nevertheless, such cultivars may lose their immunity after several years of intensive growth due to the presence of high virulent isolates of M. maydis. Alternative effective and economical chemical treatment to the disease was recently established but is dependent on the use of a dripline assigned for two adjacent rows and exposes the risk of fungicide resistance. In the current work, eight marine and soil isolates of Trichoderma spp., known for high mycoparasitic potential, were tested as biocontrol agents against M. maydis. An in vitro confront plate assay revealed strong antagonistic activity against the pathogen of two T. longibrachiatum isolates and of T. asperelloides. These species produce soluble metabolites that can inhibit or kill the maize pathogen in submerged and solid media culture growth assays. In greenhouse experiments accompanied by real-time PCR tracking of the pathogen, the Trichoderma species or their metabolites managed to improve the seedlings’ wet biomass and reduced the pathogen DNA in the maize roots. A follow-up experiment carried out through a whole growth session, under field conditions, provided important support to the Trichoderma species’ beneficial impact. The direct addition of T. long ibrachiatum and even more T. asperelloides to the seeds, with the sowing, resulted in a yield improvement, a significant increase in the growth parameters and crops, to the degree of noninfected plants. These bioprotective treatments also restricted the pathogen DNA in the host tissues (up to 98%) and prevented the disease symptoms. The results encourage more in-depth research to uncover such biological agents’ potential and the methods to implement them in commercial fields. If adequately developed into final products and combined with other control methods, the biological control could play an important role in maize crop protection against Late wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onion basal rot disease is a worldwide threat caused by species of the genus Fusarium. Today, Israel’s control of this disease is limited to a four-year growth cycle and Metam sodium soil disinfection. Here, commercial chemical fungicides were evaluated as control treatments against two of the primary pathogens involved, F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae and F. Acutatum. Out of 10 fungicides tested on culture plates, 3, Prochloraz, Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazole, and Fludioxonil + Sedaxen, had strong inhibitory effects on mycelial growth and were selected and tested in seeds in vitro. The preparations were applied as a seed coating and tested in two commercial cultivars, Riverside (Orlando, white cv.) and Noam (red cv.). Prochloraz (0.3% w/w concentration), the most promising compound, was efficient in reducing the Noam cv. sprouts’ disease symptoms. This preparation had no harmful in situ-toxicity effect and did not influence the plants’ seed germination and early development. In Noam cv. potted 30-day-old sprouts, the Prochloraz treatment was able to reduce the harmful impact of F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae. on the seedlings’ wet biomass, but was not effective in the Riverside cv. or against the F. acutatum pathogen. This suggests that future protective strategies must include an effective protective suit tailored to each of the pathogen species involved and the onion cultivar. The methods presented in this work can be applied for rapidly scanning multiple compounds while gradually ruling out ineffective ones. Eventually, this screening will enable field testing of the highest potential fungicides that successfully pass the pot experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnaporthiopsis maydisis the causal agent of severe maize late wilt disease. Disease outbreak occurs at the maize flowering and fruit development stage, leading to the plugging of the plant’s water vascular system, resulting in dehydration and collapse of the infected host plant.The pathogen is borne by alternative hosts, infected seeds, soil, and plant residues and gradually spreads to new areas and new countries. However, no soil assay is available today that can detect M. maydis infestation and study its prevalence. We recently developed a molecular quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) method enabling the detection of the M. maydis DNA in plant tissues. Despite the technique’s high sensitivity, the direct examination of soil samples can be inconsistent. To face this challenge, the current work demonstrates the use of a soil bioassay involving the cultivation of a hyper-susceptible maize genotype (Megaton cultivar, Hazera Seeds Ltd., Berurim MP Shikmim, Israel) on inspected soils. The use of Megaton cv. may facilitate pathogen establishment and spread inside the plant’s tissues, and ease the isolation and enrichment of the pathogen from the soil. Indeed,this cultivar suffers from severe dehydration sudden death when grown in an infested field. The qPCR method was able to accurately and consistently identify and quantify the pathogen’s DNA in an in vitro seed assay after seven days, and in growth-chamber potted plants at as early as three weeks.These results now enable the use of this highly susceptible testing plant to validate the presence of the maize late wilt pathogen in infested soils and to evaluate the degree of its prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt is a vascular disease of maize (Zea mays L.) caused by the soil-borne and seed-borne fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis. The pathogen penetrates the roots of maize plants at the seedling stage, grows into the xylem vessels, and gradually spreads upwards. From the flowering stage to the kernel ripening, the fungal hyphae and secreted materials block the water supply in susceptible maize cultivars, leading to rapid dehydration and death. Laccase is an enzyme secreted by fungus for diverse purposes. The M. maydis laccase gene was identified in our laboratory, but under what conditions it is expressed and to what functions remain unknown. In the current study, we tested the influence of plant age and tissue source (roots or leaves) on M. maydis laccase secretion. The results show increasing laccase secretion as corn parts (as ground tissue) were added to the minimal medium (MM). Furthermore, roots stimulated laccase secretion more than leaves, and adult plants enhanced laccase secretion more than young plants. This implies the possibility that the richer lignin tissue of adult plants may cause increased secretion of the enzyme. In vitro pathogenicity assay proved the ability of M. maydis to develop inside detached roots of maize, barley, watermelon, and cotton but not peanut. Testing root powder from those plants in MM revealed a negative correlation between M. maydis growth (expressed as biomass) and laccase secretion. For example, while the addition of maize, barley, or cotton root powder led to increasing fungal dry weight, it also resulted in relatively lower laccase activity. Watermelon and peanut root powder led to opposite responses. These findings suggest a pivotal role of laccase in the ability of M. maydis to exploit and grow on different host tissues. The results encourage further examination and a deeper understanding of the laccase role in these interesting host–pathogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt is a destructive disease of corn: outbreaks occur at the advanced growth stage and lead to severe dehydration of susceptible hybrids. The disease’s causal agent is the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis, whose spread relies on infested soils, seeds, and several alternative hosts. The current study aimed at advancing our understanding of the nature of this plant disease and revealing new ways to monitor and control it. Two field experiments were conducted in a heavily infested area in northern Israel seeded with highly sensitive corn hybrid. The first experiment aimed at inspecting the Azoxystrobin (AS) fungicide applied by spraying during and after the land tillage. Unexpectedly, the disease symptoms in this field were minor and yields were high. Nevertheless, up to 100% presence of the pathogen within the plant’s tissues was measured using the quantitative real-time PCR method. The highest AS concentration tested was the most effective treatment, and resulted in a 6% increase in cob yield and a 4% increase in A-class yield. In the second experiment conducted in the following summer of the same year in a nearby field, the disease outbreak was dramatically higher, with about 350 times higher levels of the pathogen DNA in the untreated plots’ plants. In this field, fungicide mixtures were applied using a dripline assigned for two coupling rows. The most successful treatment was AS and the Difenoconazole mixture, in which the number of infected plants decreased by 79%, and a 116% increase in crop yield was observed, along with a 41% increase in crop quality. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatments on the plants’ health using a remote, thermal infra-red sensitive camera supported the results and proved to be an essential research tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harpophora maydis, a phytopathogenic fungus, causes late wilt, a severe vascular maize disease characterized by relatively rapid wilting of maize plants near fertilization. The disease is currently controlled using resistant varieties. Here, we evaluated seed coating efficiency with azoxystrobin against H. maydis in a series of in vitro and in vivo trials. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based method was developed and proved to be a sensitive, accurate tool for monitoring H. maydis DNA inside infected seeds, sprouts, and tissues of mature plants. In the early growth stages, the chemical coating drastically reduced the pathogen DNA prevalence in host tissues and minimized the suppressing effect on the plants' biomass and development. In an infested field, the qPCR assay identified the pathogen 20 days after seeding, up to a month before conventional PCR detection. In the resistant fodder maize cultivar 32D99, which showed only minor disease symptoms, the seed coating blocked fungal progression and increased cob and plant weight by 39 and 60%, respectively. Nevertheless, this treatment was unable to protect a sensitive maize hybrid, cultivar Prelude, at the disease wilting breakout (60 days after sowing). These results encourage further examination of azoxystrobin and other fungicides in the field using the qPCR detection method to evaluate their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt, a disease severely affecting maize fields throughout Israel, is characterized by relatively rapid wilting of maize plants before tasseling and until shortly before maturity. The disease’s causal agent is the fungus Harpophora maydis, a soil-borne and seed-borne pathogen, which is currently controlled using reduced sensitivity maize cultivars. In a former study, we showed that Azoxystrobin (AS) injected into a drip irrigation line assigned for each row can suppress H. maydis in the field and that AS seed coating can provide an additional layer of protection. In the present study, we examine a more cost-effective protective treatment using this fungicide with Difenoconazole mixture (AS+DC), or Fluazinam, or Fluopyram and Trifloxystrobin mixture, or Prothioconazole and Tebuconazole mixture in combined treatment of seed coating and a drip irrigation line for two coupling rows. A recently developed Real-Time PCR method revealed that protecting the plants using AS+DC seed coating alone managed to delay pathogen DNA spread in the maize tissues, in the early stages of the growth season (up to the age of 50 days from sowing), but was less effective in protecting the crops later. AS+DC seed coating combined with drip irrigation using AS+DC was the most successful treatment, and in the double-row cultivation, it reduced fungal DNA in the host tissues to near zero levels. This treatment minimized the development of wilt symptoms by 41% and recovered cob yield by a factor of 1.6 (to the level common in healthy fields). Moreover, the yield classified as A class (cob weight of more than 250 g) increased from 58% to 75% in this treatment. This successful treatment against H. maydis in Israel can now be applied in vast areas to protect sensitive maize cultivars against maize late wilt disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterotrimeric G proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) conserved signaling pathways are involved in the development, reproduction and pathogenicity in filamentous fungi. The two-component histidine kinase, known also as the HOG MAPK pathway, regulates a similar complex set of responses and is known to mediate the phenylpyrrole fludioxonil fungicide response in fungi. We used Cochliobolus heterostrophus mutant strains deficient in G-protein α ( cga1) and/or β ( cgb1) subunits or MAPK ( chk1, mps1 and hog1) to uncover their role in the mediation of this fungicide's activity and resistance. The results revealed complex interactions between the G-protein subunits and the MAPK in response to osmotic/ionic and fludioxonil stresses. Under normal conditions, the Hog1 pathway restricts glycerol accumulation since its disruption leads to hyperosmosensitivity and very high cellular glycerol accumulation. The hog1 mutants were also relatively resistance to fludioxonil. Moreover, our results suggest that cgb1, chk1 and mps1 are also weak repressors of this response since mutation in these genes caused relatively high elevation in glycerol levels in the cells. Supporting this is the finding that these three strains exhibit resistance to KCl stress. In contrast, the cga1 strain has only moderate levels of cellular glycerol (higher than those of the wild type, but lower than those of the other mutants) that are little affected by KCl or fludioxonil stress. Indeed, these mutants are highly sensitive to KCl stress. This suggests that Cga1 is a moderate repressor of cellular glycerol under normal conditions and an enhancer of glycerol accumulation under osmotic/ionic stress conditions. Together these findings reveals that the sensitivity to fludioxonil is not only positively controlled by the Hog1 pathway, but also mediated by the Chk1, Mps1, Cga1 and Cgb1 pathways. This study provides insight into the roles of G-protein in mediating the anti-fungal fludioxonil response. A model is proposed for the interactions between the G-protein and MAPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt, a severe vascular disease of maize caused by the fungus Harpophora maydis, is characterized by relatively rapid wilting of maize plants before tasseling and until shortly before maturity. In Israel, the disease has become a major problem in recent years. The pathogen is currently controlled using cultivars of maize having reduced sensitivity. In an earlier work, we modified a molecular method for use as a diagnostic tool to evaluate disease progression in field-infested plants and showed that several fungicides suppressed H. maydis in vitro. Here, we examine the effect of different fungicides on disease progression in a contaminated maize field in the spring and summer of 2009 and 2010. The field was watered using a drip irrigation line for each row and the fungicides were injected directly into the drip line. One of the four fungicides tested, azoxystrobin, was highly effective compared with the control, inhibited the development of wilt symptoms and recovered cob yield by 100%. Although this is the first success in preventing disease symptoms in infested fields in Israel, the azoxystrobin treatment did not reduce the amounts of pathogen DNA in host tissues or delay its spread. Attempts to reduce concentrations of this fungicide or to apply it by spraying were less effective than the triple full dosage treatment. The presence of the pathogen in the host tissues of the successfully treated plants and its ability to undergo pathogenic variations are increasing the risk of pathogen resistance and the urgent need to develop new ways of controlling late wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Filamentous fungi produce hydrophobins, small proteins localized on the outer surface of their cell walls and involved in growth and development. Hydrophobin gene expression depends on nutrient availability, light, and the activity of conserved signal-transduction pathways. We found four hydrophobins, one class I and three class II family members, in the Cochliobolus heterostrophus genome with high homology to other ascomycete hydrophobins, which present a typical conserved array of cysteines. The expression profile of a selected gene from each class was determined in a series of signaling-deficient mutants. Loss of either of two mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes, CHK1 and MPS1, led to decreased hydrophobin class I (CHYD1) gene expression. Mutants in both MAPK genes had easily wettable colonies, but decreased CHYD1 expression was not the sole explanation for this phenotype. A significant elevation of hydrophobin class II (CHYD3) gene expression was measured in the chk1 mutant, suggesting a complex role for MAPK in controlling the expression of these hydrophobins. Similar but less marked tendencies were observed in G-protein α and β subunit loss-of-function mutants; however these showed no alteration in colony hydrophobicity. Overexpression of CHYD1 in the wild-type background caused a change in colony morphology and a small but significant increase in aerial growth. Thus G-protein and MAPK signal transduction influence hydrophobin gene expression and colony hydrophobicity. The connection between colony hydrophobicity and expression of the hydrophobin genes CHYD1 and CHYD3, however, is not one-to-one, indicating that additional factors determine colony-surface properties. The approach of using hydrophobin-overexpression mutants to investigate their role may be generalized to other hydrophobins and small secreted proteins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heterotrimeric G proteins transduce extracellular signals to control development in eukaryotes, including filamentous fungi. Targeted disruption of their α- and β-subunit genes has shown that fungal G proteins play essential roles in sexual and asexual sporulation, hyphal growth pattern and virulence. The G-protein β-subunit gene CGB1 of Cochliobolus heterostrophus, the agent of Southern leaf blight, is essential for virulence and sporulation, while one of the α-subunit genes, CGA1, has roles in several developmental pathways. We constructed a strain with insertions/deletions at both CGA1 and CGB1. The double mutant, like the single mutants, was deficient in mating and appressorium formation and its hyphae followed a straight path rather than the typical meandering growth pattern on a hard surface. The two genes shared a combined role in determining pigmentation, surface hydrophobicity, and resistance to different stresses. However, in contrast to the single mutants, the double mutants developed white-gray to completely white colonies that are hydrophilic and form wet, autolytic-appearing patches. These phenotypes resemble some of those conferred by mutations in the MAPK gene CHK1, suggesting crosstalk between MAPK and G-protein pathways. Loss of signal-transduction functions, while reducing virulence, increases resistance to some stresses. A model is proposed for the interactions between the signaling pathways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Maize late wilt disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis significantly damages crops in Israel and in other countries. Resistant maize cultivars are the preferred method for disease restraining. However, the pathogen populations of Spain and Egypt have varying aggressiveness, and virulent strains can overcome host resistance. In 2001 and from 2016 to -2019, 17 M. maydis strains were isolated from infected maize fields in Israel. The isolates' effects on seed germination, plant development, and disease symptoms severity were evaluated. The isolates from Israel display a diverse degree of aggressiveness that is not linked to their geographic distribution. The virulent strains are found in mixed populations, whereas less virulent M. maydis isolates exist. Aggressive strains harmed the development of plants and ears and caused severe wilting and death. In contrast, plants inoculated with less virulent strains exhibited only mild dehydration signs, and crop yield was similar to that of the non-infected control. Interestingly, different host cultivars can evoke specific virulence of M. maydis strains. Moreover, some pathogen strains significantly repress plant development, while the impact of other strains was evidenced by wilting symptoms. The current research further increases our understanding of the pathogen and our ability to control it. [Display omitted] • Israel is considered one of the world's most affected by maize late wilt disease. • This is the first work to describe Israel's pathogen dispersal and aggressiveness. • Virulent M. maydis strains scattered throughout the country in mixed populations. • Some strains mainly affect plant growth, while others disease symptoms. • Different host cultivars evoke specific M. maydi s strains' virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present analysis, optimization, design and characterization of an integrated passive analog phase shifter at 24GHz in a commercially available 45nm RF-CMOS process. The design is based on a well-known RC bridge topology, which was optimized for maximum phase shift and minimal amplitude response variation versus phase and frequency. Phase is controlled by varying DC voltage on a varactor, resulting in 60° maximum phase shift with 0.1dB amplitude variation at 24GHz. The size of the phase shifter circuit excluding pads and input/output buffers is 40×50μm2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we demonstrate a single-stage 90-nm CMOS power amplifier (PA) for 2.3-2.7-GHz WiMAX (802.16e) band applications. An integrated balun is used to match the output to 50-Ω load. The PA gain and saturated power (PSAT) are +18 and +32 dBm, respectively, working from a 3.3-V supply, with a peak power-added efficiency of 48%. A digital-predistortion technique is used to enhance the PA linearity. The measured error vector magnitude for a 64 quadrature amplitude modulation orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing signal is improved from -24 to -30 dB at +25-dBm output power. Compliance with the 802.16e standard 10-MHz WiMAX mask and Federal Communications Commission regulations is demonstrated at +25 dBm of output power with power efficiency of 25% and with a measured second harmonic level of -31 dBm/MHz. Using a crest factor reduction technique, mask compliance is achieved at +27 dBm with tradeoff on EVM = -dB, sufficient for quadrature phase-shift keying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The maize (Zea mays L.) late wilt disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis, is considered the most severe threat to commercial maize production in Israel and Egypt. Various control strategies have been inspected over the years. The current scientific effort is focusing on eco-friendly approaches against the disease. The genus Trichoderma, a filamentous soil and plant root-associated fungi, is one of the essential biocontrol species, demonstrating over 60% of all the listed biocontrol agents used to reduce plant infectious diseases. They produce different enzymes and elicit defense responses in plants, playing a significant role in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, hyphal growth, and plant growth promotion. Trichoderma asperellum was found to have biocontrol ability and protect crops against various plant pathogenic fungi, including the maize late wilt disease causal agent. This research aimed at isolating and identifying T. asperellum secondary metabolites with antifungal action against M. maydis. From T. asperellum growth medium, the 6-Pentyl-α-pyrone secondary metabolite was isolated and identified with high potent antifungal activity against M. maydis. This compound previously exhibited antifungal activities towards several plant pathogenic fungi. Achieving clean and identified T. asperellum active ingredient(s) secreted product(s) is the first step in revealing their commercial potential as new fungicides. Follow-up studies should test this component against the LWD pathogen in potted sprouts and the field. Late wilt disease (LWD) is a destructive vascular disease of maize (Zea mays L.) caused by the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis. Restricting the disease, which is a significant threat to commercial production in Israel, Egypt, Spain, India, and other countries, is an urgent need. In the past three years, we scanned nine Trichoderma spp. isolates as biological control candidates against M. maydis. Three of these isolates showed promising results. In vitro assays, seedlings pathogenicity trials, and field experiments all support the bio-control potential of these isolates (or their secretions). Here, a dedicated effort led to the isolation and identification of an active ingredient in the growth medium of Trichoderma asperellum (P1) with antifungal activity against M. maydis. This Trichoderma species is an endophyte isolated from LWD-susceptible maize seeds. From the chloroform extract of this fungal medium, we isolated a powerful (approx. 400 mg/L) active ingredient capable of fully inhibiting M. maydis growth. Additional purification using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) separation steps enabled identifying the active ingredient as 6-Pentyl-α-pyrone. This compound is a potential fungicide with high efficiency against the LWD causal agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phytopathogenic fungi penetrate plants by breaking down the cuticular barrier with cutinase. Cutinases are extracellular hydrolytic enzymes that degrade cutin, a polyester composed of hydroxy and epoxy fatty acids. Until now, cutinase has been recognized by its ability to release labeled cutin monomers or by a non-specific esterase assay based on the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl esters of short fatty acids. In this work, an insoluble p-nitrophenyl derivative was synthesized and purified, and its structure was determined to be 4-nitrophenyl (16-methyl sulfone ester) hexadecanoate (pNMSEH) by nuclear magnetic resonance (H+ NMR) analysis. pNMSEH was tested as a new cutinase substrate with Pseudomonas mandocino cutinase and porcine liver esterase. While a linear release over time of p-nitrophenol (pNP) was recorded in the presence of cutinase, no response was obtained with the esterase. The calculated kinetic parameters of pNMSEH hydrolysis by cutinase revealed a high specificity (K m =1.8mM), albeit a low catalytic rate (V max =10.5μmolmin−l l−1). This new synthetic substrate may be helpful for detecting and assaying cutinase activity in mixed solutions, such as crude fungal extracellular extracts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conserved eukaryotic signaling proteins participate in development and disease in plant-pathogenic fungi. Strains with mutations in CGA1, a heterotrimeric G protein G alpha subunit gene of the maize pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus, are defective in several developmental pathways. Conidia from CGA1 mutants germinate as abnormal, straight-growing germ tubes that form few appressoria, and the mutants are female sterile. Nevertheless, these mutants can cause normal lesions on plants, unlike other filamentous fungal plant pathogens in which functional homologues of CGA1 are required for full virulence. Δcga1 mutants of C. heterostrophus were less infective of several maize varieties under most conditions, but not all, as virulence was nearly normal on detached leaves. This diference could be related to the rapid senescence of detached leaves, since delaying senescence with cytokinin also had differential elects on the virulence of the wild type and the Δcga1 mutant. In particular, detached leaves may provide a more readily available nutrient source than attached leaves. Decreased fitness of Δcga1 as a pathogen may reflect conditions under which full virulence requires signal transduction through CGA1-mediated pathways. The virulence of these signal transduction mutants is thus affected diferentially by the physiological state of the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-binding domains (CBDs) are characterized by their ability to strongly bind to different forms of cellulose. This study examined the use of a recombinant CBD fused to the reporter enzyme β-glucuronidase (CBD-GUS) to determine the extent of removal of the water-repellent waxy component of cotton fiber cuticles following hydrolytic treatment, i.e., scouring. The CBD-GUS test displayed higher sensitivity and repeatability than conventional water absorb techniques applied in the textile industry. Increases in the levels of CBD-GUS bound to the exposed cellulose correlated to increases in the fabric’s hydrophilicity as a function of the severity of the scouring treatment applied, clearly indicating that the amount of bound enzyme increases proportionally with the amount of available binding sites. The binding of CBD-GUS also gave measurable and repeatable results when used on untreated or raw fabrics in comparison with conventional water drop techniques. The quantitative response of the reaction as bound enzyme activity was optimized for fully wettable fabrics. A minimal free enzyme concentration-to-swatch weight ratio of 75:1 was found to be necessary to ensure enzyme saturation (i.e., a linear response), corresponding to a free enzyme-to-bound enzyme ratio of at least 3:5. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, an experimental and theoretical study of the effect of various geometrical parameters on the electromechanical response and pull-in parameters of torsion actuators is presented. A lumped two-degrees-of-freedom (L2DOF) pull-in model that takes into account the bending/torsion coupling, previously proposed for cantilever suspended actuators, is tailored for the torsion actuators under study. This model is shown to better capture the measured pull-in parameters than previously proposed lumped single-degree-of-freedom (L1DOF) models. The measurements were conducted on torsion actuators with various shapes, fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SO1) wafers using deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) and flip-chip bonding. Furthermore, a novel rapid solver, for extracting the pull-in parameters of the L2DOF model of the torsion actuators, is proposed. The proposed solver is based on a Newton-Raphson scheme and the recently presented DIP1E algorithm and is shown to be ∼10 times faster than the prevalent voltage iterations based solvers. The rapid and more accurate pull-in extraction of the proposed approach renders it as a tool for extensive analysis and design optimization of torsion actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a systematic analysis of electrostatic actuators driven by multiple uncoupled voltage sources. The use of multiple uncoupled voltage sources has the potential of enriching the electromechanical response of electrostatically actuated deformable elements. This in turn may enable novel MEMS devices with improved and even new capabilities. It is therefore important to develop methods for analyzing this class of actuators. Pull-in is an inherent instability phenomenon that emanates from the nonlinear nature of the electromechanical coupling in electrostatic actuators. The character of pull-in in actuators with multiple uncoupled voltage sources is studied, and new insights regarding pull-in are presented. An analytical method for extracting the pull-in hyper-surface by directly solving the voltage-free K-N pull-in equations derived here, is proposed. Solving simple but interesting example problems illustrate these new insights. In addition, a novel α-lines numerical method for extracting the pull-in hyper-surface of general electrostatic actuators is presented and illustrated. This α-lines method is motivated by new features of pull-in, that are exhibited only in electrostatic actuators with multiple uncoupled voltage sources. This numerical method permits the analysis of electrostatic actuators that could not have been analyzed by using current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an algorithm for extracting the Pull-In parameters of general electrostatic actuators. Consistency of the displacement iteration Pull-In extraction scheme; Importance of mechanical and electrostatic field solvers; Performance of Pull-In parameters extraction in automated mode.

This paper reports a new approach for the direct calculations of the pull-in parameters of electrostatic actuators using a lumped two degrees of freedom (L2DOF) pull-in model. This model benefits from higher accuracy than the lumped single degree of freedom (L1DOF) models. Moreover, it requires much shorter calculation time compared to either finite-differences simulations or the coupled-domain finite-elements (FEM)/boundary-elements (BEM) simulations. Therefore, this model provides a fast and accurate tool for design optimization of micromachined devices with two-coupled DOF that employ the pull-in phenomenon. In order to confirm the model results, several case studies are compared with either finite-differences simulations or coupled-domains FEM/BEM simulations provided by MEMCAD4.8™, showing an excellent agreement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper a quantitative model for the effect of residual charges, located in dielectric coating layers, upon the pull-in parameters of electrostatic actuators is presented. Applying voltages higher than the pull-in voltage across the electrodes of an electrostatic actuator results in the collapse of the movable electrode of the actuator on the fixed one. In order to avoid short circuit, one or both of the electrodes can be coated by a dielectric isolating layer. Residual charges can accumulate in this dielectric coating and affect the behavior, and more specifically the pull-in parameters, of the electrostatic actuator. The model derived in this paper considers a general electrostatic actuator with a general charge distribution in the dielectric coating. The main interesting new results derived from the model are: (i) the pull-in displacement is unaffected by the residual charge and the travel range is only extended due to the series dielectric capacitor, (ii) the pull-in voltage is significantly reduced due to the residual charge, independent of the residual charge polarity and distribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents the development of an analytical solution for the Pull-In equation of an electrostatic torsion actuator with rectangular plates. Locations of the actuating electrodes; Application of bias voltage; Improvement in the design optimization tool for the actuator.

Presents a generalized model for the pull-in phenomenon in electrostatic actuators with a single input, either charge or voltage. Characteristics of the equation that represents the pull-in phenomenon; Analytical capabilities of the model.

Presents a theoretical and empirical study of the optimal performance of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible infrared thermoelectric sensors with varying pixel area and different aspect ratio of the pixels for two possible sensor structures, cantilever and bridge types. Effect of pixel area on performance; Fabrication process.

The maize pathogen Magnaporthiopsis maydis causes severe damage to commercial fields in the late growth stages. This late wilt disease has spread since its discovery (the 1980s) and is now common in most corn-growing areas in Israel. In some fields and sensitive plant species, the disease can affect 100% of the plants. The M. maydis pathogen has a hidden endophytic lifecycle (developed inside the plants with no visible symptoms) in resistant corn plants and secondary hosts, such as green foxtail and cotton. As such, it may also be opportunist and attack the host in exceptional cases when conditions encourage it. This work aims to study the pathogen's interactions with maize endophytes (which may play a part in the plant's resistance factors). For this purpose, 11 fungal and bacterial endophytes were isolated from six sweet and fodder corn cultivars with varying susceptibility to late wilt disease. Of these, five endophytes (four species of fungi and one species of bacteria) were selected based on their ability to repress the pathogen in a plate confrontation test. The selected isolates were applied in seed inoculation and tested in pots in a growth room with the Prelude maize cultivar (a late wilt-sensitive maize hybrid) infected with the M. maydis pathogen. This assay was accompanied by real-time qPCR that enables tracking the pathogen DNA inside the host roots. After 42 days, two of the endophytes, the Trichoderma asperellum, and Chaetomium subaffine fungi, significantly (p < 0.05) improved the infected plants' growth indices. The fungal species T. asperellum, Chaetomium cochliodes, Penicillium citrinum, and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis treatments were able to reduce the M. maydis DNA in the host plant's roots. Studying the maize endophytes' role in restricting the invasion and devastating impact of M. maydis is an essential initial step towards developing new measures to control the disease. Such an environmentally friendly control interface will be based on strengthening the plants' microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents pull-in analysis for an electrostatic torsion microactuator. Use of the torsion microactuator as a microtorsion mirror; Fabrication process; Measurements.

Presents a novel design of a micromachined vibrating rate gyroscope. Description of the rate gyroscope system; Optimization of the design structure; Noise modeling of the rate gyroscope; Details on the schematic view and operation principle of the rate gyroscope.

Scouring is one of the initial steps in the processing of natural textile fibers (e.g., cotton), performed to remove waxes and pectins, together with spinning oils and other impurities of the plant cell cuticle. Traditional chemical bleaching with boiling NaOH led to harsh removal of the entire fabric's cuticle waxy layer accompanied by an unwanted alkaline waste. Extracellular lytic enzymes such as lipases, cellulases and pectinases play an essential role in host plant-pathogen interactions. They degrade the plant cuticle and tissue and enable pathogen invasion. Such enzymes, specifically cutinase and pectinase, have been considered potential bio-scouring agents to degrade the cotton fabric cuticle's outer layer at low temperature and alleviate environmental pollution. In this work, the combined effect of cutinase, pectin lyase, or polygalacturonase on the scouring of cotton fabrics was studied using evaporative light-scattering reverse-phase HPLC and GC-MS analysis of the reaction components, and measuring changes in the cotton fabrics' properties. The traditional method of cotton fabrics' scouring with NaOH resulted in decreased pectin content and increased cellulose fibers accessibility, evaluated by specific staining. Treating the cotton fibers' cuticle with cutinase led to the acidification of the reaction mixture, a decrease in enzyme-specific activity, and elevation in hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acids in the reaction fluid. These two saturated fatty acids are the main wax constituents of raw cotton fabrics, identified using GC-MS after dichloromethane reflux overnight. Treating cotton fabrics with each of the three enzymes, cutinase, pectin lyase, or polygalacturonase, increased their pectin removal, as measured by high concentrations of D-galacturonic acid and other pectin constituents in the reaction fluid. A synergistic effect was found in the combined treatment of cutinase and pectin lyase in the hydrolysis of the cotton fibers' cuticle. This effect was expressed in high water absorbency of the treated fibers, increased fabric weight loss and sharp elevation of a cutin and pectin monomer's related peaks (retention time [RT] = 4.1 min and 2.9, 4.5 min, respectively). A model was suggested for the synergistic action between cutinase and pectin lyase. It assumes that the cuticle's digestion by cutinase results in the enlargement and formation of outer layer micropores, which enables the rapid penetration of pectinase into the inner pectin layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pull-in instability is a crucial effect in electrostatically-actuated microelectromechanical devices. This phenomenon was recently shown to occur under both voltage and charge control. So far, for all known cases, it has been shown that, under charge excitation, electrostatic actuators have a larger range of stability than under voltage excitation. No counter-examples are known, and whether this is a general rule for electrostatic actuators is an open question. In this work, a general proof is presented that shows this is indeed a fundamental rule for general electrostatic actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt, a destructive vascular disease of maize caused by the fungus Magnaporthiopsis maydis, is characterized by relatively fast wilting of maize plants closely before the physiological maturity stage. Previously, traditional microbiology-based methods have been used to isolate the pathogen and to characterize its traits. More recently, several molecular methods have been developed, enabling accurate and sensitive examination of the pathogen spread within the host. Here, we review the methods developed in the past 10 years in Israel, which include new or modified microbial and molecular techniques to identify, monitor, and study M. maydis in controlled environments and in the field. The assays inspected are exemplified with new findings and include microbial isolation methods, microscopic and PCR or qPCR identification, spore germination evaluation, root pathogenicity assay, M. maydis hyphae or filtrate effects on grain germination and sprout development, and a field assay. These diagnostic protocols enable rapid and reliable detection and identification of the pathogen in plants and seeds and studying the pathogenesis of M. maydis in susceptible and relatively resistant maize cultivars in a contaminated field. Moreover, these techniques are important for studying the population structure, and for future development of new strategies to restrict the disease's outburst and spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's fungal plant disease control efforts tend towards environmentally friendly and reduced chemical applications. While traditional broad-spectrum fungicides provide efficient protection to many field crops, they pose a risk to the soil's beneficial microflora and a potential health hazard. Moreover, their intensive use often evokes the appearance of resistant pathogens. On the other hand, biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma spp. provide a green solution but often cannot shield the plants from aggressive disease outbreaks. Integrated biological and chemical disease control can combine the benefits of both methods while reducing their drawbacks. In the current study, such a bio-chemo approach was developed and evaluated for the first time against the maize late wilt pathogen, Magnaporthiopsis maydis. Combinations of four Trichoderma species and Azoxystrobin were tested, starting with an in vitro seed assay, then a growth room sprouts trial, and finally a semi-field, full-season pot experiment. In the plates assay, all four Trichoderma species, Trichoderma sp. O.Y. (T14707), T. longibrachiatum (T7407), T. asperellum (P1) and T. asperelloides (T203), grew (but with some delay) in the presence of Azoxystrobin minimal inhibition concentration (0.005 mg/L). The latter two species provided high protection to sprouts in the growth room and to potted plants throughout a full season in a semi-field open-enclosure trial. At harvest, the P1 and T203 bio-shielding exhibited the best parameters (statistically significant) in plant growth promotion, yield increase and late wilt protection (up to 29% health recovery and 94% pathogen suppression tracked by real-time PCR). When applied alone, the Azoxystrobin treatment provided minor (insignificant) protection. Adding this fungicide to Trichoderma spp. resulted in similar (statistically equal) results to their sole application. Still, the fact that Azoxystrobin is harmless to the beneficial Trichoderma species over a complete semi-field condition is a great opening stage for carrying out follow-up studies validating the integrated control in a commercial field situation challenged with acute disease stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetostatic actuators exhibit bistability similarly to the Pull-In phenomena of electrostatic actuators. In this paper a methodology and model for the extraction of the magnetic Pull-In parameters of magnetostatic actuators are derived. The flux-controlled magnetostatic actuator is analyzed based on the energy representation and the magnetomotive force-controlled magnetostatic actuator is analyzed in the thermodynamic potential energy (or co-energy) representation. An algebraic equation, referred to as the magnetic Pull-In equation, for each of the two cases (flux-controlled and magnetomotive force-controlled actuators) is derived. By solving these Pull-In equations either analytically or numerically, the magnetic Pull-In parameters are obtained. Several case studies, covering displacement and torsion magnetic actuators, are presented and analyzed, illustrating the usefulness of the proposed methodology, its relative simplicity as well as the adaptability and practical usage in wide spectrum of magnetic actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fully integrated 32-element symmetrical TX/RX 60-GHz RF integrated circuit (RFIC) with built-in self-test is presented. The RF bidirectional power-combining architecture with shared blocks and less than 1-dB millimeter-wave transmit/receive (T/R) switch loss achieves record size and power consumption. The RFIC features an 8-dB noise figure and -28-dBm IP1 dB in RX mode, 10-dB power gain, and P{{\bf sat}} of +3.5 dBm per chain in TX mode. Further included are a 2-bit phase shifter, an IF converter to/from 12 GHz, and an integrated frac-N synthesizer with push–push voltage-controlled oscillator having a-93 dBc@1-MHz phase noise at 48-GHz local oscillator port. A novel high dynamic range phase and power detector is presented with 2° and \pm1-dB accuracy over PVT in phase and power. A detailed analysis of both phase quantization and power distribution is presented. Array impairments such as mismatch and coupling were compared for different topologies. The RFIC is packaged on alumina for testing and on low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) for antenna integration. The 6\, \times \,6 patch antenna on LTCC including four dummies achieves a gain of 19 dBi with scanning of \pm30°. The total root mean square amplitude and phase error of the array is 0.8 dB and 6^\circ, respectively, resulting in a maximum array beam degradation of 1.4 dB for 2-bit quantization. The RFIC area is 29 mm^2 and it consumes 1.2 W/0.85 W at TX/RX, with a 29-dBm effective isotropic radiated power at -19-dB error vector magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late wilt of maize, caused by the fungus Harpophora maydis, is one of the most important fungal diseases in Egypt. The disease has also been reported from India, Hungary, Spain and Portugal. The pathogen survives for long periods in soil. Late wilt is currently controlled using maize varieties with reduced sensitivity, but virulent variants of the fungus may threaten these varieties. Common disease symptoms have been documented over 20 years in Upper Galilee (northern Israel), particularly the Hula Valley. Recently, prevalence of the disease has increased. This is the first confirmed report of the direct and primary cause of the disease in Israel. Isolates of the pathogen obtained from wilting maize plants were morphologically identical to those of strains found in Egypt and India. We modified a molecular method as a diagnostic assay of disease progress in an infested field in northern Israel. The assay identified the pathogen 50 d after seeding, before the emergence of disease symptoms, both in susceptible and partially resistant host plants. DNA assessment was consistent with the disease progress in a susceptible maize variety, and the pathogen also spread in partially resistant plants that showed no symptoms. Seeds of apparently healthy, partially resistant plants may therefore also spread the disease. A modified molecular method presented here is a preliminary step in developing a seed health assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, there have been accumulating reports from farmers and field extension personnel on the increasing incidence and spread of onion (Allium cepa) bulb basal rot in northern Israel. The disease is caused mainly by Fusarium species. Rotting onion bulbs were sampled from fields in the Golan Heights in northeastern Israel during the summers of 2017 and 2018. Tissue from the sampled onion bulbs was used for the isolation and identification of the infecting fungal species using colony and microscopic morphology characterization. Final confirmation of the pathogens was performed with PCR amplification and sequencing using fungi-specific and Fusarium species-specific primers. Four Fusarium spp. isolates were identified in onion bulbs samples collected from the contaminated field: F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae, and two species less familiar as causative agents of this disease, F. acutatum and F. anthophilium. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these species subdivided into two populations, a northern group isolated from white (Riverside cv.) onion bulbs, and a southern group isolated from red (565/505 cv.) bulbs. Pathogenicity tests conducted with seedlings and bulbs under moist conditions proved that all species could cause the disease symptoms, but with different degrees of virulence. Inoculating seeds with spore suspensions of the four species, in vitro, significantly reduced seedlings' germination rate, hypocotyl elongation, and fresh biomass. Mature onion bulbs infected with the fungal isolates produced typical rot symptoms 14 days post-inoculation, and the fungus from each infected bulb was re-isolated and identified to satisfy Koch's postulates. The onion bulb assay also reflected the degree of sensitivity of different onion cultivars to the disease. This work is the first confirmed report of the direct and primary cause of Fusarium onion basal rot disease in northeastern Israel. These findings are a necessary step towards uncovering the mycoflora of the diseased onion plants and developing a preventive program that would reduce the disease damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]