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The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High‐risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of hybrids of Prunus cerasus x Prunus canescens imported from Ukraine, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by Ukraine. All pests that may be associated with the hybrids of P. cerasus x P. canescens were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. None of the pests fulfilled all relevant criteria due to the production method and risk mitigation measures carried out by the nursery; therefore, none were selected for further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to evaluate the probability of entry of pests (likelihood of pest freedom at entry), including both regulated and non‐regulated pests, associated with unrooted cuttings of the genera Petunia and Calibrachoa produced under physical isolation in Costa Rica. The relevance of any pest for this opinion was based on evidence collected according to specific criteria, following the methodology used for high‐risk plants adapted for the specificity of this assessment. Twenty‐two EU regulated pests (beet curly top virus, Bemisia tabaci, Chloridea virescens, Eotetranychus lewisi, Epitrix cucumeris, Epitrix tuberis, euphorbia mosaic virus, Helicoverpa zea, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza trifolii, pepper golden mosaic virus, potato spindle tuber viroid, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Spodoptera ornithogalli, squash leaf curl virus, Thrips palmi, tomato golden mosaic virus, tomato leaf curl Sinaloa virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus) and one pest that is not regulated in the EU (Aleurodicus dispersus) fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For these pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Costa Rica were evaluated taking into account possible factors limiting their efficacies. Additionally, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The estimated degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with tomato spotted wilt virus being the pest most frequently expected on the imported cuttings. The expert knowledge elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty that between 9927 and 10,000 bags containing unrooted cuttings of Petunia spp. and Calibrachoa spp. per 10,000 would be free of tomato spotted wilt virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of Betula pendula and B. pubescens imported from the United Kingdom (UK) taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. The commodities were grouped in the risk assessment as (a) bundles of 10–20 graftwood/budwood (up to 1‐year‐old), (b) bare root plants which include bundles of 25 or 50 seedlings or transplants (1–2 years‐old), bundles of 5, 10 or 15 whips (1–2 years‐old) and single bare root plants (1–7 years‐old), (c) plants in pots which include bundles of 5 and 10 cell‐grown plants (1–2 years‐old) and rooted plants in pots (1–7 years‐old), and (d) large specimen trees up to 15‐years‐old. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two EU quarantine pests i.e. Meloidogyne fallax and Phytophthora ramorum (non‐EU isolates) and two protected zone quarantine pests i.e. Entoleuca mammata and Thaumetopoea processionea fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures described in the technical dossier from the UK were evaluated considering the possible limiting factors. For these pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. In the assessment of risk, the age of the plants was considered, as larger trees are more likely to be infested mainly due to longer time grown in the field. In addition, larger canopies and root systems are more difficult to inspect, thereby making the detection of pests more challenging on large trees. The likelihood of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with M. fallax being the pest most frequently expected on the imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9735 and 10,000 per 10,000 large specimen trees will be free from M. fallax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The quarantine nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a causative agent of the pine wilt disease. In Europe, the nematode is vectored by Monochamus galloprovincialis which is also a natural vector of the native, nonpathogenic B. mucronatus. Based on the established regulations, long‐term detection surveys of pine wood and vector insects for the presence of B. xylophilus are obligatory in all EU member countries. The main objective of the presented research was to use the real‐time PCR technique for the fast and precise detection, and identification of Bursaphelenchus nematodes associated with M. galloprovincialis ssp. pistor occurring in Poland. The research conducted on beetles collected in forest stands in Poland revealed exclusive presence of the native, nonpathogenic nematode B. mucronatus. At the beginning of the beetle flight season (June–July), the use of the real‐time PCR allowed detection of B. mucronatus, in the case of its physical presence in the body of the dissected M. galloprovincialis. However, at the end of the flight season (September–October), the DNA of B. mucronatus was also found in some beetles with no physical presence of nematodes in tracheas or under elytra. The univoltine biology of the beetle, gradual decline in dispersal juveniles to zero in/on the beetle body, and positive results of real‐time PCR reaction could indicate that in some of the beetles earlier loaded with nematodes, at the end of the season, only their remains were left after the live nematodes' departure during the vector's maturation feeding and/or egg laying. The obtained results confirm extremely high sensitivity of the real‐time PCR method used in detection and identification of both nematode species which may simultaneously occur in M. galloprovincialis beetles. It allows for precise detection of the nematodes based on their remains left in/on the vector insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) offer unique insights into ongoing biochemical processes in healthy and diseased humans. Yet, their diagnostic use is hampered by the limited understanding of their biochemical or cellular origin and their frequently unclear link to the underlying diseases. Major advancements are expected from the analyses of human primary cells, cell lines and cultures of microorganisms. In this review, a database of 125 reliably identified VOCs previously reported for human healthy and diseased cells was assembled and their potential origin is discussed. The majority of them have also been observed in studies with other human matrices (breath, urine, saliva, feces, blood, skin emanations). Moreover, continuing improvements of qualitative and quantitative analyses, based on the recommendations of the ISO-11843 guidelines, are suggested for the necessary standardization of analytical procedures and better comparability of results. The data provided contribute to arriving at a more complete human volatilome and suggest potential volatile biomarkers for future validation. Dedication:This review is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Dr. Anton Amann, who sadly passed away on January 6, 2015. He was motivator and motor for the field of breath research.

Bursaphelenchus mucronatus Mamiya & Enda, 1979 is a wood nematode widely distributed over Palearctic coniferous forests. It has two subspecies, that is, B. mucronatus mucronatus and B. mucronatus kolymensis, which present molecularly different East Asian and European genotypes, respectively. The European subspecies is found mainly in Europe and Siberia, while the East Asian subspecies occupies mostly Eastern regions of Asia. However, local isolates of both subspecies have been occasionally reported from various localities in Europe and Asia. Our field isolation and molecular (DNA ITS‐RFLP) identification of 21 recently collected populations of B. mucronatus revealed only 4 isolates representing clearly East Asian or European genotypes, while the remaining 17 isolates showed intermediate genotypes with electrophoretic band characters of both the above types. Further individual crossbreeding, in vitro, of nematodes representing European, East Asian, and intermediate genotypes provided experimental evidence for the process of intraspecific hybridization between both subspecies, spontaneously taking place in the forest. Such a widening of the B. mucronatus genetic variation may have its effect on a range of reported in the literature direct interactions between this native, nonpathogenic nematode species and the genetically similar, causative agent of the pine wilt disease B. xylophilus which can colonize the same host trees, use the same insect vectors, compete, and crossbreed inter‐specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD). This nematode is considered to be an indigenous to North America and was introduced to Japan in the late 19th century. Subsequently, it has spread throughout Japan and in many other countries, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. In 1999, B. xylophilus was discovered in Portugal, and in 2008 in Spain. So far the studies have revealed that the pathogenicity of B. xylophilus varies between different isolates. The conducted study compared the pathogenicity of five isolates of B. xylophilus, originating from different parts of Japan, to 3-year-old Pinus sylvestris, and their ability to reproduce in the seedlings. The results revealed diverse virulence of B. xylophilus resulting in plant mortality. Three isolates S10, Ka4, and T4 caused 100% mortality of plants within three months while at the same time, the other two isolates, C14-5 and OKD-1 did not cause any disease symptoms on plants. After seven months, some dieback occurred on two seedlings, but similar symptoms were also found on the control plant. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between nematode virulence and the number of nematodes reproducing on pine seedlings.

Copyright of Progress in Plant Protection is the property of Institute of Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Progress in Plant Protection is the property of Institute of Plant Protection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background The routinely used microbiological diagnosis of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is time consuming and often requires invasive methods for collection of human specimens (e.g. bronchoscopy). Therefore, it is of utmost interest to develop a non-invasive method for the early detection of bacterial infection in ventilated patients, preferably allowing the identification of the specific pathogens. The present work is an attempt to identify pathogen-derived volatile biomarkers in breath that can be used for early and non- invasive diagnosis of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). For this purpose, in vitro experiments with bacteria most frequently found in VAP patients, i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were performed to investigate the release or consumption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Results Headspace samples were collected and preconcentrated on multibed sorption tubes at different time points and subsequently analyzed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As many as 32 and 37 volatile metabolites were released by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Distinct differences in the bacteria-specific VOC profiles were found, especially with regard to aldehydes (e.g. acetaldehyde, 3-methylbutanal), which were taken up only by P. aeruginosa but released by S. aureus. Differences in concentration profiles were also found for acids (e.g. isovaleric acid), ketones (e.g. acetoin, 2-nonanone), hydrocarbons (e.g. 2-butene, 1,10-undecadiene), alcohols (e.g. 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-butanol), esters (e.g. ethyl formate, methyl 2-methylbutyrate), volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs, e.g. dimethylsulfide) and volatile nitrogen compounds (VNCs, e.g. 3-methylpyrrole). Importantly, a significant VOC release was found already 1.5 hours after culture start, corresponding to cell numbers of ~8*106 [CFUs/ml]. Conclusions The results obtained provide strong evidence that the detection and perhaps even identification of bacteria could be achieved by determination of characteristic volatile metabolites, supporting the clinical use of breath-gas analysis as non-invasive method for early detection of bacterial lung infections.

Knowledge about urban forests in Poland is still limited, as it is primarily based on aggregate, formal data relating to the general area, ignoring the spatial dimension and informal green areas. This article describes and analyses spatio-temporal changes in the actual urban forest resources in Wrocław in 1944–2017, which covers the first period of the city’s rebuilding after its destruction during World War II and its development during the nationalised, centrally-planned socialist economy, as well as the second period of intensive and only partly controlled growth under conditions of market economy. The study is based on current and historical orthophotomaps, which were confronted with cartographic data, as well as planning documents. We found that between 1944 and 2017, the percentage contribution of informal woodlands increased tenfold (from 0.5 to 4.9% of the present total area of the city). The area occupied by such forests has grown particularly during the most recent years of the city’s intensive development. However, the forests have been increasingly fragmented. During the first period, new forest areas were also created in the immediate vicinity of the city centre, while during the second one, only in its peripheral sections. The post-war plans regarding the urban green spaces (UGS), including the current plan, are very conservative in nature. On the one hand, this means no interference with the oldest, biggest, and most valuable forest complexes, but on the other hand, insufficient consideration of the intensive built-up area expansion on former agriculture areas. Only to a limited extent did the above-mentioned plans take into account the informal woodlands, which provide an opportunity for strengthening the functional connectivity of landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]