Peanut smut, caused by the fungus Thecaphora frezzii, is the most problematic disease in Argentina and threatens peanut production worldwide. A major roadblock to breeding for peanut smut resistance is the current practice of manually opening pods to rate disease, which is slow and labor intensive. To address this problem, a line-scan X-ray digital imaging system was developed and evaluated as a potential alternative to hand opening pods. Since the peanut smut pathogen T. frezzii is not present in the U.S., suitable test phantom pods were developed to emulate infected pods. Faux-infected pods were made by replacing all or one seed with finely ground coffee, corn starch, or corn smut (Mycosarcoma maydis) teliospores as a proxy for T. frezzii teliospores. In addition, one seed from some pods were made to contain an artificial sorus made from corn smut teliospores to mimic T. frezzii-infected pods with low levels of disease severity. Over 3,300 pods representing each of the four major market types were scanned using the X-ray system, and the images were scored by ten raters as being healthy or “unhealthy” (faux-infected pods). Rater accuracy varied from 82-89%, and overall, the ten raters correctly classified 85% of the images. Healthy pods were easier to identify (89.5%) than faux-infected pods (82.6%), but raters had the most difficulty in correctly scoring pods with the artificial sorus (21.2%). Because T. frezzii-infected pods with small/few sori and partially damaged seeds appear to be relatively rare in both resistant and susceptible genotypes, the X-ray system’s inability to generate clear images of artificial sori may not be a significant detraction. These results indicate that the X-ray imaging system has potential for more efficient peanut smut phenotyping; however, the system needs to be tested in Argentina with pods grown in T. frezzii-infested fields.

Objective:Determine whether the tracheal bifurcation (TB) is displaced caudally in cats with a mediastinal mass compared to cardiogenic pleural effusion, noncardiogenic pleural effusion, and no significant thoracic disease. Methods:Medical records between 2005 and 2017 at the Oklahoma State University Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center were reviewed retrospectively. Advanced imaging or necropsy was required for inclusion into mediastinal mass, cardiogenic pleural effusion, and noncardiogenic pleural effusion groups. Three evaluators blinded to diagnosis obtained the following measurements on a lateral radiograph: number of intercostal spaces from first rib to TB (ICS), distance from caudal aspect of the manubrium to TB (MTB), vertebral score by drawing MTB from the fourth thoracic vertebra and counting included vertebral bodies (VS), and distance from first rib to TB (RTB). A 2-factor ANOVA was used, and sensitivity and specificity for each evaluator accurately diagnosing the presence or absence of a mediastinal mass was calculated. Data were reported as mean ± SEM. Results:76 cats were included. The mediastinal mass group had significantly increased ICS (6.1 ± 0.16), MTB (8.9 ± 0.18 cm), VS (7.4 ± 0.16), and RTB (7.5 ± 0.17 cm) compared to other groups. An MTB ≥ 7.5 and RTB ≥ 6 had the best sensitivity for detecting the presence of a mediastinal mass. Conclusions:An MTB ≥ 7.5 cm and/or RTB ≥ 6 cm indicated potential for a mediastinal mass and warranted further diagnostics. Clinical Relevance:Lateral radiographic measurements associated with position of the TB aided practitioners in determining when advanced imaging was warranted for diagnosis of a mediastinal mass.

Background: The institutional culture where students complete training may significantly impact their professional identity and practice habits related to osteopathic medicine principles and the use of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). This is the first study to evaluate institutional culture, perspectives, knowledge, behaviors, and the effect of an educational intervention among an institution's employees surrounding the principles of osteopathic medicine. Objective: To explore the impact of a standardized educational intervention in osteopathic medicine for employees in promoting greater integration of osteopathic principles and practice into our institutional culture at a single multi-campus institution.. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess osteopathic knowledge, perspectives, and behaviors through two surveys provided before and 6 months after an educational intervention. The educational intervention consisted of 7 online, asynchronous modules. A baseline (PRE) survey and 6-month follow-up (POST) were treated as independent samples, as not all study respondents participated in the educational intervention. Contingency tables were generated for the preliminary data set to assess the relationships among survey responses. Chi-square tests were conducted to test relationships and Fisher Exact Tests employed when assumptions for the chi-square test were not met. Analyses of variance and independent t-tests were conducted to evaluate score differences across different employment categories and backgrounds. Results: All employees were invited to participate in the study, 96/370 (25.9 %) completed the PRE and 94/370 (25.4 %) completed the POST surveys. In the POST survey, 45/94 (47.9 %) of respondents indicated they participated in the educational modules. After the training, a greater number of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they understand the fundamentals of OPP [PRE: 80/95 (84.2 %); POST: 88/92 (95.7 %); P = 0.01] and the origins and history of osteopathic medicine in the United States [PRE: 62/94 (66 %); POST: 79/92 (85.9 %); P = 0.003]. Within the administrators/staff category, significantly more had experienced OMT at the end of the study [PRE: 38/48 (79.2 %); POST: 45/48 (93.8 %); P = 0.04]. There were significantly more participants who correctly identified body systems impacted by OMT [PRE: 68/96 (70.8 %); POST: 79/93 (84.9 %); P = 0.01]. Faculty planned to integrate osteopathic principles into their teaching [37/40 (92.5 %)] and written exam items [25/40 (62.5 %)] in the future. Finally, employee participants in the training [50/51 (98 %)] reported an impact on their confidence in discussing Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) with others, and believed the training increased their awareness of OPP in their work [46/51 (90 %)]. Conclusions: An educational intervention positively impacted employees' perspectives, knowledge, and behaviors related to OPP at a multi-campus, osteopathic institution. Enhanced engagement with institutional osteopathic culture fosters an informed workforce, and may influence student engagement with OPP in their future practice. Implications for educational practice: center dot An educational intervention in osteopathic principles positively impacts the perspectives, knowledge, and behaviors of employees of an osteopathic institution in relation to Osteopathic Principles and Practice. center dot Providing focused training in osteopathic principles to employees may result in fewer misunderstandings within osteopathic organizations. center dot Employees trained in osteopathic principles may provide more consistent public messaging, enhancing public awareness about the osteopathic medical profession. center dot Institutions who seek to increase employee knowledge about osteopathic principles may influence student engagement with osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment, furthering the distinctiveness of osteopathic medical practice.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 670/0.75 and 6% HES 130/0.4 dilution of canine whole blood on coagulation using dynamic viscoelastic coagulometry (DVC).ANIMALS:56 healthy adult dogs.PROCEDURES:2 blood samples were obtained from each dog and randomized to 1 of 7 groups-undiluted or 2 dilutions (1:3 or 1:10) of 3 different fluids: saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, 6% HES 670/0.75, or 6% HES 130/0.4. Dilutions were calculated to simulate approximately a 10- or 30-mL/kg body weight IV bolus of each fluid. DVC was performed on each sample. Coagulation parameters compared between groups included clot rate (CR), platelet function (PF), and activated clotting time.RESULTS:Dilution with saline solution did not significantly affect coagulation, while dilution with HES 670/0.75 and HES 130/0.4 caused a dose-dependent significant decrease in CR (1:3 HES 670/0.75, P = 0.007; 1:10 HES 670/0.75, P = 0.002; 1:3 HES130/0.4, P < 0.0001; and 1:10 HES 130/0.4, P = 0.0003) and PF (1:3 HES 670/0.75, P < 0.0001; 1:10 HES 670/0.75, P < 0.0001; 1:3 HES130/0.4, P < 0.0001; and 1:10 HES 130/0.4, P = 0.0015).CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Dilution of canine blood with HES 670/0.75 and HES 130/0.4, at clinically relevant doses (10 and 30 mL/kg), led to significant hypocoagulability beyond dilutional effect. This was, in part, due to impaired PF, which was significantly greater with HES 670/0.75. Further research using DVC to assess the effects of HES on coagulation in dogs, ideally with clinical conditions warranting HES administration, is needed.

Several male animal studies have demonstrated bone-protective effects of dried plum; however, no human male study has evaluated the effect of dried plum on bone health. We conducted a randomized controlled clinical study to test if daily inclusion of 100 g of dried plum in the diet positively influenced bone mineral density (BMD), bone strength, and bone biomarkers in men. Sixty-six men were randomly assigned to one of two daily treatment groups: (1) control (0 g dried plum) or (2) 100 g dried plum. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months to assess bone biomarkers. Bone was measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP5b) and C-terminal collagen cross-link (CTX) levels decreased significantly in the dried plum group at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals compared with baseline. No changes were observed in the control group for TRAP5b and CTX levels. Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase levels decreased significantly after 6 and 12 months in the control and dried plum groups. BMD for total body, spine (L1-L4), hip, and ulna did not change in the control and dried plum groups from baseline to 6 or 12 months. In the proximal tibia, endosteal circumferences increased significantly within the dried plum group during the course of treatment. The results suggest that daily consumption of 100 g dried plum for 12 months has modest bone-protective effects in men. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04720833.

In many parts of the world, limited water and climate change are significant challenges to the future of peanut production, and much work remains in developing heat- and drought-tolerant cultivars. To this end, we evaluated 21 accessions of the U.S. peanut mini-core under water-limited conditions in 2018 and 2019 in Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. These accessions were identified as potentially exhibiting phenotypic extremes for ten drought stress traits, and therefore may be useful for identifying genetic markers associated with drought tolerance. Results indicated that plant wilting and paraheliotropism (leaf folding) were less affected by genotype by environment interactions than SCMR (SPAD chlorophyll meter readings), flower counts, yield, TSMK (total sound mature kernels), and seed weight. No differences among genotypes were observed with canopy temperature, canopy temperature depression, or NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index). Paraheliotropism was moderately correlated (|r| = 0.40 to 0.52, P < 0.01) with SCMR and flower counts in the Southwest; SCMR was also correlated with yield and TSMK (r = 0.48, P < 0.01). Despite environmental differences between subhumid Virginia and the semiarid Southwest, the locations shared genotypes at the extremes for most traits. This information may be useful for future studies by highlighting traits associated with drought tolerance that may be more stable in different production environments, as well as divergent genotypes for those traits.

Peanut smut, caused by Thecaphora frezzii, is an emerging threat to global peanut production. Found in 100% of Argentinian peanut growing regions, smut infestation can result in substantial yield reductions. Although peanut smut has not been reported outside of South America, immediate proactive measures must be taken so that global peanut production will not be threatened. The first step in preventative breeding for resistance to peanut smut is to identify sources of resistance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify germplasm resistant to T. frezzii that can be used to incorporate smut resistance into cultivars optimized for U.S. peanut production areas. In this study, peanut genotypes, including accessions from the USDA germplasm collection that were purified by single-seed descent, peanut breeding lines, and U.S. cultivars, were screened for resistance. Trials were planted in test plots highly infested with T. frezzii in Córdoba Province, Argentina. For screening purposes, entries were retained for future testing if they scored 10% or less disease incidence. Among the entries tested in the 2017-2020 growing seasons, potential new sources of peanut smut resistance were noted. Eight USDA peanut mini-core accessions were identified as immune, demonstrating 0% incidence for three years. These accessions are being used to incorporate smut resistance into cultivars suitable for production in all growing regions of the U.S.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the intervertebral disk, vertebral endplates, and spinal cord for perioperative changes secondary to percutaneous laser disk ablation (PLDA) and correlate findings to clinical outcomes in dogs receiving thoracolumbar PLDA.STUDY DESIGNBlinded study.ANIMALSThirty dogs.METHODSMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before PLDA (control/Group C), immediately following PLDA (Group I), and 3 months later (perioperative/Group P). Dogs were followed 3 years. Groups and dogs were randomized for evaluation. Two radiologists were blinded to each MRI study and dog. Each radiologist evaluated the disk, vertebral body, and spinal cord at each disk space receiving PLDA.RESULTSMean disk degeneration was increased in Group P at L1-2 (p < .0001) and L2-3 (p = .0081). Both radiologists identified mild diskitis (1%-15%) in Group P (radiologist 1, p < .0001; radiologist 2, p = .0012). Cranial endplate lesions were identified in Group P at T11-12 (p = .0353), T13-L1 (p = .0026), and L4-5 (p = .0210). Lesions were identified in the caudal endplates of all eight disk spaces in Group P: T10-11 (p = .0004), T11-12 (p < .0001), T12-13 (p < .0001), T13-L1 (p < .0001), L1-2 (p < .0001), L2-3 (p < .0001), L3-4 (p < .0001), and L4-5 (p < .0001). There was no disk extrusion or spinal cord lesions identified.CONCLUSIONThis study evaluated effects that may occur secondary to PLDA, using MRI. Although vertebral body changes were identified, they did not correlate with clinical complications.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEPLDA appears to be a safe, effective procedure performed on thoracolumbar disks to reduce recurrence of intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) in dogs that previously experienced IVDH, despite the appearance of visible vertebral endplate lesions and mild diskitis on MRI.

The role of microbial decay and subterranean termites (Blattodea: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in loss of litter mass was evaluated on the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (TGPP) of The Nature Conservancy in northeastern Oklahoma. Four field sites, each consisting of four blocks of land with each block sub-divided into two plots were established. Using in-ground baiting systems, termites were eliminated from one plot in each block. Galvanized steel mesh bags containing grass litter were placed on both the soil surface and buried 15 cm deep in plots containing foraging termites (not baited), and in plots without termites (baited) and evaluated for loss of litter mass after 12 months. Loss of litter mass from soil-surface bags in termite-infested, non-baited plots was 22.3%, while loss from soil-surface bags in termite-free baited plots was 25.0%. Loss of litter mass from buried bags in termite non-baited plots was 35.5%, while loss from buried bags in termite-free baited plots was 35.7%. There were no significant differences in loss of litter mass in non-baited versus baited plots, but loss of mass from buried bags was significantly greater than that from soil surface bags.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bidirectional insertion on axial pullout strength of tapered run out (TRO), traditional negative profile (TNP) and positive profile (PP) pins.STUDY DESIGN:Cadaveric adult canine tibiae were harvested. Tapered run out pins (Group 1) were inserted unidirectionally to the desired position; bidirectionally past the desired position, then withdrawn to the desired position (Group 2); and bidirectionally as described for Group 2, repeated twice (Group 3). Traditional negative profile pins (Group 4-6) and PP pins (Group 9-11) were placed in the same manner. Tapered run out (Group 7), TNP (Group 8) and PP pins (Group 12) were driven unidirectionally such that the shaft of the pin violated the cis-cortex. A servohydraulic testing machine extracted the pins and measured axial peak pullout strength.RESULTS:Positive profile pins had significantly greater pullout strength than TRO and TNP pins placed unidirectionally to the desired position. Method of insertion had no effect on peak pullout strength of TNP pins. TRO and PP pins inserted unidirectionally to the desired position had significantly greater peak pullout strengths than insertion bidirectionally or if the shaft of the pin violated the cis-cortex.CONCLUSION:The authors recommend that pins used for external skeletal fixation should be placed unidirectionally to the desired position with fluoroscopic guidance, intra-operative depth gauge measurements or measurements from preoperative radiographs. Repositioning pins results in loss of peak pullout strength with TRO and PP pins.

The acute stress response is characterized by activation of multiple interconnected systems in the body, resulting in the release of a flood of hormones and immune mediators into circulation. In addition to detection of these molecules in the serum, saliva can serve as a source of these markers as well and can be collected in a non-invasive way. The complete profile of salivary biomarkers associated with the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal/gonadal axes and the immune system during the acute stress response has not been fully elucidated. In a cohort of 62 first responders engaged in a stress training exercise, we set out to determine patterns of cytokine, chemokine and hormone shifts during the acute stress response. Salivary samples were collected immediately before (pre-stress), immediately after (post-stress) and 1 h after the stress test (recovery). Multiplex ELISA panels of 42 cytokines and 6 steroid and thyroid hormones were used to determine concentrations of these biomarkers during the three aforementioned time points. Principal components analysis was conducted to determine patterns in the large data sets collected. In our ≥0.3 loading principal components analysis, for pre-stress vs. post, post-stress vs. recovery and pre-stress vs. recovery, a total of three, four and three factors accounted for 56.6, 68.34, and 61.70% of the biomarker variation for each phase respectively. In the ≥0.7 loading principal components analysis, three, four and three factors were found for pre-stress vs. post, post-stress vs. recovery and pre-stress vs. recovery stages, respectively. Of note, in our ≥0.3 loading principal components analysis, MCP1 was present in all three factors from pre-stress to post-stress, and fractalkine was found to be in all four factors post-stress vs. recovery and pre vs. recovery from stress. Additionally, hormones testosterone, estradiol, T4 and T3 grouped together consistently in the same factor for all phases of acute stress in both ≥0.3 and ≥0.7 principal components analysis. Overall, our results identified specific patterns of immune markers and hormones that shift during acute stress and warrant further investigation to understand their mechanistic role in regulating the stress response.

Abstract Sugarcane aphid Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner is a significant economic pest of grain sorghum in the United States. Effective monitoring and early detection are cornerstones for managing invasive pests. The recently developed binomial sequential sampling plan estimates sugarcane aphid economic thresholds (ETs) based on classification whether a 2-leaf sample unit has ≤ or ≥ 50 M. sacchari. In this study, we evaluated eight 2-leaf sampling units for potential use in the sequential sampling plan. From 2016 through 2017, whole plant counts of M. sacchari were recorded non-destructively in situ on sorghum plants from 140 fields located in five states. Plant canopies were stratified into three categories. Two leaves from each stratum were used to compare linear relationships between M. sacchari numbers per two-leaf sample unit and total M. sacchari density per plant. Analysis revealed that two randomly selected leaves from the middle stratum accounted more variation for estimating M. sacchari density when compared to two leaves from the other strata. Comparison of eight two-leaf sampling units within plant growth stages were variable in quantifying variation of M. sacchari densities. When growth stages were combined, the standard uppermost + lowermost leaf sample unit and a unit consisting of two randomly selected leaves from the middle stratum revealed little difference in their enumeration of variation in M. sacchari density. Because other sample units were either less predictive and/or more variable in estimating M. sacchari density, we suggest that the (L1+U1) sample unit remain the preferred method for appraising M. sacchari ETs.

ABSTRACT The time and labor required to hand-screen germplasm are significant obstacles to developing cultivars resistant to peanut smut, but researchers have investigated few alternatives to manual disease evaluations. Although alternative approaches are available for separating materials based upon differences in density, it is unknown how healthy and infected pods differ in density, especially with the varying maturity levels present in real-world samples. For this reason, the pod densities from 13 peanut genotypes were estimated using a sand displacement approach. In addition, disease incidence and severity data were collected from a total of 45 plants representing 15 genotypes varying in resistance to peanut smut. As expected, the results from the pod density analyses showed significant differences between healthy mature and healthy immature pods. However, healthy mature and healthy immature pods were significantly more and less dense, respectively, than both mature infected and immature infected pods. While additional study is needed, it appears that methods employing differences in pod density may be useful for screening germplasm. Analyses of the disease incidence and severity data showed a strong positive correlation between the two disease measures, verifying a previous report. As a result, collecting disease incidence data alone may be sufficient for screening germplasm. These results may assist in developing more efficient phenotyping methods for screening germplasm for peanut smut resistance.

Objective To evaluate gastrointestinal injury and outcomes between dogs treated with immediate surgical intervention vs those treated with delayed surgical intervention for gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction (GIFBO). Study design Retrospective cohort study. Sample population Client-owned dogs (n = 855) from five referral hospitals. Methods Medical records of dogs in which GIFBO had been diagnosed between 2007 and 2017 were reviewed for preoperative management, timing of surgery, intraoperative findings, postoperative management, outcome, and survival. Surgical intervention was classified as immediate when it occurred within 6 hours of presentation and delayed when it occurred >6 hours after presentation. Results Outcomes did not differ between dogs treated immediately (n = 584) or over 6 hours after presentation (n = 210). Intestinal necrosis and perforations were more common when surgery was delayed (P= .008;P= .019) but became nonsignificant after controlling for preoperative differences. Risk factors for necrosis and perforations included duration of clinical signs, increased lactate, linear foreign material, and timing of surgery. Enterectomies (P= .004) as well as the duration of surgery (P= .004) and anesthesia (P= .001) were increased when surgery was delayed. Immediate surgery was associated with earlier return to feeding (P= .004) and discharge from the hospital (P < .001); (5%) dogs in each group (n = 33 immediate; n = 11 delayed) either had a negative explore or the foreign body was milked aborally into the colon at the time of surgery. Conclusion Although outcomes were not associated with surgical timing, the unadjusted prevalence of gastrointestinal injury and, thus, the requirement for complex surgical procedures was higher in the delayed group. Clinical significance:Earlier surgical treatment of stabilized dogs with GIFBO may involve fewer complex procedures and accelerate recovery.

Prevalence of tan spot of wheat caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis has become more prevalent in Oklahoma as no-till cultivation in wheat has increased. Hence, developing wheat varieties resistant to tan spot has been emphasized, and selecting pathogen isolates to screen for resistance to this disease is critical. Twelve isolates of P. tritici-repentis were used to inoculate 11 wheat cultivars in a greenhouse study in split-plot experiments. Virulence of isolates and cultivar resistance were measured in percent leaf area infection for all possible isolate x cultivar interactions. Isolates differed significantly (P < 0.01) in virulence on wheat cultivars, and cultivars differed significantly in disease reaction to isolates. Increased virulence of isolates detected increased variability in cultivar response (percent leaf area infection) (r = 0.56, P < 0.05) while increased susceptibility in cultivars detected increased variance in virulence of the isolates (r = 0.76, P < 0.01). A significant isolate × cultivar interaction indicated specificity between isolates and cultivars, however, cluster analysis indicated low to moderate physiological specialization. Similarity in wheat cultivars in response to pathogen isolates also was determined by cluster analysis. The use of diverse isolates of the fungus would facilitate evaluation of resistance in wheat cultivars to tan spot.

ABSTRACT Oxidative stability is an important factor considered by those in the peanut manufacturing industry. Product stability has been shown to increase up to seven-fold when high-oleic peanuts are used. The percentage of US crop that is high-oleic continues to increase, but many producers are reluctant to grow high-oleic cultivars due to the uncertainty of the high-oleic effect on agronomic traits, such as seed germination, yield and grade. Experiments were designed and conducted to examine the effect of the high oleic trait on peanut seed germination in field plots and in the laboratory on a thermal gradient table. Genotypes used in these experiments included cultivars or breeding lines from each peanut market-type along with their near-isogenic, high oleic counterparts. Field emergence, or germination, was recorded in the field in 4 geographically different regions, as well as in the laboratory on a thermal gradient table. Thermal gradient table experimental results demonstrated a lag in germination in high oleic genotypes compared to their normal oleic counterparts in all market-types, but the effect was lowest in the runner-type pair. Results from these experiments increase the understanding of the agronomic properties of high-oleic peanut cultivars and could influence the modification of standard protocols used by state agencies to test high-oleic peanut germination for registered seed quality labeling. Furthermore, this study indicates that although producers may experience delayed germination from high oleic seed compared to low oleic counterparts, this germination lag is overcome by 21 days post-planting and does not negatively impact the agronomical performance of high oleic cultivars.

BACKGROUND:The Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is valuable to fishing and biomedical industries, for education in public aquaria, and of ecological importance because the eggs provide a critical food source for migratory shorebirds. While hematologic and biochemical analyses are fundamental tools for health assessment, reports are limited for the four extant species of horseshoe crabs; L polyphemus (East Coast North America), Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (mangrove horseshoe crab Southeast Asia), Tachypleus gigas, and Tachypleus tridentatus (Southeast and East Asia).OBJECTIVES:This prospective study measured hemolymph values to determine RIs from free-ranging horseshoe crabs during the annual breeding aggregation in Delaware Bay, USA.METHODS:Near-shore animals were briefly manually restrained for hemolymph collection from the cardiac sinus. Hematologic samples (25 males, 25 females) were collected for hemocytometer counts using the Natt and Herrick method. A second set of 50 animals (25 males, 25 females) was sampled for biochemistry measurands, including copper concentration by spectrophotometer, osmolality by vapor pressure osmometer, and protein electrophoresis.RESULTS:Total hemocyte counts varied widely (RI 6600-44 300/µL). Electrolytes were consistent with osmoconformers living in seawater. There was a marked difference in sexes, with females showing much lower protein, glucose, and copper levels. Eleven females had multiple outliers, and all data were excluded from RI calculations.CONCLUSIONS:Further studies of this species outside of spawning season are needed. Expanding our knowledge of horseshoe crab health is important to decreasing morbidity and mortality in research applications and maximizing longevity and overall health in display settings.

This paper reports beetle pests common to flourmills targeted during a series of trapping studies over a two-year period in flourmill 1 and a one year period in flourmill 2. Objectives were (1) use pheromone-baited traps to detect T. castaneum (Herbst) and other pest species present for their distribution over space and time, (2) monitor T. castaneum activity before and after fumigations to assess efficacy of the treatment, and (3) correlate counts of T. castaneum via trap capture against direct T. castaneum counts from samples of the milled flour to assess the value of trap data to estimate relative size of the pest population. Traps were deployed in two different flourmills over two consecutive years. T. castaneum was the most commonly trapped beetle during both years in mill 1. In mill 2, Typhaea stercorea (L.) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) were both captured in higher numbers than T. castaneum. In mill 1, trap capture was higher overall during Year 2 for most of the species compared with capture during Year 1, likely due to a dust cover modification made for the pitfall trap used in Year 2. Trap capture was also evaluated by location within the mills and a significant difference was found in the capture of T. stercorea during both years in mill 1. T. castaneum captures were significantly reduced following most fumigations, which used methyl bromide in milling areas and phosphine in bulk-stored finished flour. However, in most cases trap catches showed that beetle populations were not eliminated. Trap captures after fumigation suggest either that the fumigations were not entirely effective, or that full grown adult beetles were entering the mill soon after fumigation. When captures of T. castaneum from traps in two spaces of mill 1 during Year 2 were compared with counts of beetles from samples of siftings collected in the finished flour, the correlation coefficients were nearly significant for both sets of traps.

Tan spot of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis can be a significant disease, and thus developing resistant varieties using fit and virulent isolates is critical to wheat breeding programs.  Hence, variability in fitness characters and virulence was determined for P. tritici-repentis isolates collected in three different decades (1980s, 1990s, and 2000s) from Oklahoma wheat fields. Growth (hyphal extension on media), conidia production on media, and conidia production on wheat leaves of a susceptible (TAM 105), an intermediate (Deliver) and a resistant (Red Chief) variety were determined for 17 isolates. Isolates also were evaluated for pseudothecia production and ascospore maturity on wheat straw, and isolate virulence was determined on all three wheat varieties. Isolates differed significantly (p<0.01) for growth on media, and for conidia production on agar and on wheat leaves. Isolates varied significantly in pseudothecia production and ascospore maturity on wheat straw. Isolates differed significantly (p<0.01) in virulence (percent leaf area infection) on the three wheat cultivars. Isolates collected from the 2000s were more virulent than those collected in the 1980s and 1990s, and also were deemed to be more fit than isolates collected in the 1980s and 1990s in terms of traits such as growth, conidia production, pseudothecia formation, mature ascospore production, and virulence. This fitness could affect the competitiveness of these isolates in the field, as well as facilitate selection of isolates used to test wheat germplasm lines for reaction to tan spot.