Mclaughlinsampson9421

A case study of potato late blight survey data from across Great Britain was used for proof of concept. The results showed that Gaussian mixture model had the highest forecast accuracy at 97.0%, followed by one-class k-means at 96.9%. There was added value in combining the algorithms in an ensemble to provide a more accurate and robust forecasting tool that can be tailored to produce region-specific alerts. The techniques used here can easily be applied to outbreak data from other crop pathosystems to derive tools for agricultural decision support.Eyespot, caused by the related fungal pathogens Oculimacula acuformis and O. yallundae, is an important cereal stem-base disease in temperate parts of the world. Both species are dispersed mainly by splash-dispersed conidia but are also known to undergo sexual reproduction, yielding apothecia containing ascospores. Field diagnosis of eyespot can be challenging, with other pathogens causing similar symptoms, which complicates eyespot management strategies. Differences between O. acuformis and O. yallundae (e.g., host pathogenicity and fungicide sensitivity) require that both be targeted for effective disease management. Here, we develop and apply two molecular methods for species-specific and mating-type (MAT1-1 or MAT1-2) discrimination of O. acuformis and O. yallundae isolates. First, a multiplex PCR-based diagnostic assay targeting the MAT idiomorph region was developed, allowing simultaneous determination of both species and mating type. This multiplex PCR assay was successfully applied to type a global collection of isolates. Second, the development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays targeting β-tubulin sequences, which allow fast ( less then 9 min) species-specific discrimination of global O. acuformis and O. yallundae isolates, is described. The LAMP assay can detect very small amounts of target DNA (1 pg) and was successfully applied in planta. In addition, mating-type-specific LAMP assays were also developed for rapid ( less then 12 min) genotyping of O. acuformis and O. yallundae isolates. Finally, the multiplex PCR-based diagnostic was applied, in conjunction with spore trapping in field experiments, to provide evidence of the wind dispersal of ascospores from a diseased crop. The results indicate an important role of the sexual cycle in the dispersal of eyespot.Center rot of onion, caused by Pantoea ananatis, is an economically important disease in onion production in Georgia and elsewhere in the United States. Growers rely on frequent foliar applications of bactericides and, in some cases, plant defense inducers to manage this disease. Torin 1 manufacturer However, regular prophylactic application of these chemicals is not cost-effective and may not be environmentally friendly. Thrips (Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella fusca) are vectors of P. ananatis, and their feeding may compromise the effectiveness of foliar applications against P. ananatis. In this study, foliar treatments with acibenzolar-S-methyl (Actigard 50WG), cupric hydroxide (Kocide 3000), and Actigard plus Kocide were evaluated for their effectiveness in the presence and absence of thrips infestation at two critical onion growth stages bulb initiation and bulb swelling. Onion growth stage had no impact on the effectiveness of either Kocide or Actigard. In the absence of thrips, Kocide application resulted in reduced center rot incidence compared with Actigard, regardless of the growth stage. However, when thrips were present, the efficacy of both Kocide and Actigard was reduced, with bulb incidence not significantly different from the nontreated control. In independent greenhouse studies in the presence or absence of thrips, it was observed that use of protective chemicals (Kocide, Actigard, and their combinations) at different rates also affected pathogen progression into internal neck tissue and incidence of bulb rot. These results suggest that thrips infestation can reduce the efficacy of protective chemical treatments against P. ananatis. Thrips feeding on onion foliage and resulting feeding scars could facilitate P. ananatis entry and subsequently compromise the efficacy of protective chemical treatments. Therefore, an effective center rot management strategy should likely include thrips management in addition to bactericides at susceptible growth stages of onion.Pseudoperonospora cubensis is an obligate oomycete and cause of cucurbit downy mildew (CDM), the most destructive foliar disease affecting cucurbit hosts. Annual epidemics develop throughout the United States as windborne sporangia travel great distances and survive prolonged exposure to solar radiation. Recent genomic evidence suggests that P. cubensis isolates display host adaptation based on their respective clade. Early detection is key for fungicide application timing, and identification of the host-adapted clade provides information on the risk of infection for specific cucurbit crops. In this study, a multiplex quantitative PCR assay was developed based on species- and clade-specific nuclear genomic markers. The assay detected as few as 10 sporangia or DNA at 100 fg/ml for both clades and was validated in the field by deploying rotorod spore samplers in cucurbit sentinel plots located at two research stations in North Carolina. Using this assay, sporangia DNA was detected in spore trap sampling rods before signs of P. cubensis or CDM symptoms were observed in the sentinel plots. Both clade 1 and clade 2 DNA were detected in late-season cucumber and watermelon plots but only clade 2 DNA was detected in the early-season cucumber plots. These results will significantly improve disease management of CDM by monitoring inoculum levels to determine the cucurbit crops at risk of infection throughout each growing season.Background People who inject drugs (PWID) in rural areas of the United States have had limited access to syringe service programs (SSP). Rural SSP have recently surged, but accompanying research is lacking about PWID utilization, barriers, and preferences for SSP design and how those preferences vary by gender. Methods Interviewer-administered surveys elicited information about utilization, barriers, and preferences for SSP design from 234 PWID recruited using respondent-driven sampling in Appalachian, Kentucky. Gender differences among reported barriers to utilizing SSP and preferences for program design were explored using Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests. Results Overall, 49% of PWID had ever utilized an SSP. The most common reasons for not utilizing an SSP were lack of awareness (23%), fear of being seen or disclosing drug use (19%), and lack of need (19%). The most preferred SSP design was located within a health department (74%) and operating during afternoon hours (66%). Men were more likely than women to prefer SSP in health departments (80% vs.