Reviewing research priorities in weed ecology, evolution and management: a horizon scan.

Weedy plants pose a major threat to food security, biodiversity, ecosystem services and consequently to human health and wellbeing. However, many currently used weed management approaches are increasingly unsustainable. To address this knowledge and practice gap, in June 2014, 35 weed and invasion ecologists, weed scientists, evolutionary biologists and social scientists convened a workshop to explore current and future perspectives and approaches in weed ecology and management. A horizon scanning exercise ranked a list of 124 pre-submitted questions to identify a priority list of 30 questions. These questions are discussed under seven themed headings that represent areas for renewed and emerging focus for the disciplines of weed research and practice. The themed areas considered the need for transdisciplinarity, increased adoption of integrated weed management and agroecological approaches, better understanding of weed evolution, climate change, weed invasiveness and finally, disciplinary challenges for weed science. Almost all the challenges identified rested on the need for continued efforts to diversify and integrate agroecological, socio-economic and technological approaches in weed management. These challenges are not newly conceived, though their continued prominence as research priorities highlights an ongoing intransigence that must be addressed through a more system-oriented and transdisciplinary research agenda that seeks an embedded integration of public and private research approaches. This horizon scanning exercise thus set out the building blocks needed for future weed management research and practice; however, the challenge ahead is to identify effective ways in which sufficient research and implementation efforts can be directed towards these needs.

A functional-structural model of ephemeral seagrass growth influenced by environment.

Background and Aims: Ephemeral seagrasses that respond rapidly to environmental changes are important marine habitats. However, they are under threat due to human activity and are logistically difficult and expensive to study. This study aimed to develop a new functional-structural environmentally dependent model of ephemeral seagrass, able to integrate our understanding of ephemeral seagrass growth dynamics and assess options for potential management interventions, such as seagrass transplantation. Methods: A functional-structural plant model was developed in which growth and senescence rates are mechanistically linked to environmental variables. The model was parameterized and validated for a population of Halophila stipulacea in the Persian Gulf. Key Results: There was a good match between empirical and simulated results for the number of apices, net rhizome length or net number of internodes using a 330 d simulation. Simulated data were more variable than empirical data. Simulated structural patterns of seagrass rhizome growth qualitatively matched empirical observations. Conclusions: This new model successfully simulates the environmentally dependent growth and senescence rates of our case-study ephemeral seagrass species. It produces numerical and visual outputs that help synthesize our understanding of how the influence of environmental variables on plant functional processes affects overall growth patterns. The model can also be used to assess the potential outcomes of management interventions like seagrass transplantation, thus providing a useful management tool. It is freely available and easily adapted for new species and locations, although validation with more species and environments is required.

A Comparison of Outcomes in Patients with Infrapopliteal Disease Randomised to Vein Bypass or Plain Balloon Angioplasty in the Bypass vs. Angioplasty in Severe Ischaemia of the Leg (BASIL) Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare outcomes in a subgroup of patients with infrapopliteal (IP) disease randomised to infrapopliteal vein bypass (VB) or plain balloon angioplasty (PBA) in the original BASIL trial. METHODS: A comparison of outcomes from patients randomised to VB or PBA undergoing revascularisation for severe limb ischaemia (SLI) because of IP disease with or without femoropopliteal disease. Data were extracted from case report forms from the BASIL trial. The primary outcome was amputation free survival (AFS); secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS), 30 day mortality and morbidity, freedom from arterial re-intervention, immediate technical success, repeat and crossover interventions, length of hospital stay, and quality of revascularisation. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were identified in the BASIL study with IP disease, 56 randomised to IP VB, and 48 to IP PBA. Groups were similar at baseline except for more chronic kidney disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the VB group, and more previous surgical arterial intervention and antihypertensive use in the PBA group. There were no statistically significant differences in AFS or OS; however, clinically important trends were apparent in favour of a VB first strategy. Patients allocated to VB demonstrated significantly quicker relief of rest pain when compared with PBA (p = .005), but no significant differences in improved tissue healing. Median length of index hospital admission was significantly greater in the VB than in the PBA group (18 vs. 10 days, p < .0001) but there was no difference between the two groups in median total hospital stay between randomisation and the primary endpoint (VB 43.5 vs. PBA 42 days). CONCLUSIONS: Further randomised trials, like BASIL-2 and BEST-CLI, are required to determine whether patients with severe limb ischaemia who require IP revascularisation and who are suitable for VB should have bypass or endovascular intervention as their primary revascularisation procedure.

Forecasting model for Pea seed-borne mosaic virus epidemics in field pea crops in a Mediterranean-type environment.

An empirical model was developed to forecast Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) incidence at a critical phase of the annual growing season to predict yield loss in field pea crops sown under Mediterranean-type conditions. The model uses pre-growing season rainfall to calculate an index of aphid abundance in early-August which, in combination with PSbMV infection level in seed sown, is used to forecast virus crop incidence. Using predicted PSbMV crop incidence in early-August and day of sowing, PSbMV transmission from harvested seed was also predicted, albeit less accurately. The model was developed so it provides forecasts before sowing to allow sufficient time to implement control recommendations, such as having representative seed samples tested for PSbMV transmission rate to seedlings, obtaining seed with minimal PSbMV infection or of a PSbMV-resistant cultivar, and implementation of cultural management strategies. The model provides a disease forecast risk indication, taking into account predicted percentage yield loss to PSbMV infection and economic factors involved in field pea production. This disease risk forecast delivers location-specific recommendations regarding PSbMV management to end-users. These recommendations will be delivered directly to end-users via SMS alerts with links to web support that provide information on PSbMV management options. This modelling and decision support system approach would likely be suitable for use in other world regions where field pea is grown in similar Mediterranean-type environments.

Establishing alighting preferences and species transmission differences for Pea seed-borne mosaic virus aphid vectors.

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) infection causes a serious disease of field pea (Pisum sativum) crops worldwide. The PSbMV transmission efficiencies of five aphid species previously found landing in south-west Australian pea crops in which PSbMV was spreading were studied. With plants of susceptible pea cv. Kaspa, the transmission efficiencies of Aphis craccivora, Myzus persicae, Acyrthosiphon kondoi and Rhopalosiphum padi were 27%, 26%, 6% and 3%, respectively. Lipaphis erysimi did not transmit PSbMV in these experiments. The transmission efficiencies found for M. persicae and A. craccivora resembled earlier findings, but PSbMV vector transmission efficiency data were unavailable for A. kondoi, R. padi and L. erysimi. With plants of partially PSbMV resistant pea cv. PBA Twilight, transmission efficiencies of M. persicae, A. craccivora and R. padi were 16%, 12% and 1%, respectively, reflecting putative partial resistance to aphid inoculation. To examine aphid alighting preferences over time, free-choice assays were conducted with two aphid species representing efficient (M. persicae) and inefficient (R. padi) vector species. For this, alatae were set free on multiple occasions (10-15 repetitions each) amongst PSbMV-infected and mock-inoculated pea or faba bean (Vicia faba) plants. Following release, non-viruliferous R. padi alatae exhibited a general preference for PSbMV-infected pea and faba bean plants after 30min-4h, but preferred mock-inoculated plants after 24h. In contrast, non-viruliferous M. persicae alatae alighted on mock-inoculated pea plants preferentially for up to 48h following their release. With faba bean, M. persicae preferred infected plants at the front of assay cages, but mock-inoculated ones their backs, apparently due to increased levels of natural light there. When preliminary analyses were performed to detect PSbMV-induced changes in the volatile organic compound profiles of pea and faba bean plants, higher numbers of volatiles representing a range of compound groups (such as aldehydes, ketones and esters) were found in the headspaces of PSbMV-infected than of mock-inoculated pea or faba bean plants. This indicates PSbMV induces physiological changes in these hosts which manifest as altered volatile emissions. These alterations could be responsible for the differences in alighting preferences. Information from this study enhances understanding of virus-vector relationships in the PSbMV-pea and faba bean pathosystems.

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus Pathosystem Drivers under Mediterranean-Type Climatic Conditions: Deductions from 23 Epidemic Scenarios.

Drivers of Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) epidemics in rainfed field pea crops were examined under autumn to spring growing conditions in a Mediterranean-type environment. To collect aphid occurrence and PSbMV epidemic data under a diverse range of conditions, 23 field pea data collection blocks were set up over a 6-year period (2010 to 2015) at five locations in the southwest Australian grain-growing region. PSbMV infection levels in seed sown (0.1 to 13%), time of sowing (22 May to 22 June), and cultivar (Kaspa or PBA Twilight) varied with location and year. Throughout each growing season, rainfall data were collected, leaf and seed samples were tested to monitor PSbMV incidence in the crop and transmission from harvested seed, and sticky traps were used to monitor flying aphid numbers. Winged migrant Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Lipaphis erysimi, Myzus persicae, and Rhopalosiphum padi were identified in green tile traps in 2014 and 2015. However, no aphid colonization of field pea plants ever occurred in the blocks. The deductions made from collection block data illustrated how the magnitude of PSbMV spread prior to flowering is determined by two primary epidemic drivers: (i) PSbMV infection incidence in the seed sown, which defines the magnitude of virus inoculum source for within-crop spread by aphids, and (ii) presowing rainfall that promotes background vegetation growth which, in turn, drives early-season aphid populations and the time of first arrival of their winged migrants to field pea crops. Likely secondary epidemic drivers included wind-mediated PSbMV plant-to-plant contact transmission and time of sowing. PSbMV incidence at flowering time strongly influenced transmission rate from harvested seed to seedlings. The data collected are well suited for development and validation of a forecasting model that informs a Decision Support System for PSbMV control in field pea crops.

Contamination risk of stable isotope samples during milling.

RATIONALE: Isotope analysis of wood is an important tool in dendrochronology and ecophysiology. Prior to mass spectrometry analysis, wood must be homogenized, and a convenient method involves a ball mill capable of milling samples directly in sample tubes. However, sample-tube plastic can contaminate wood during milling, which could lead to biological misinterpretations. METHODS: We tested possible contamination of whole wood and cellulose samples during ball-mill homogenization for carbon and oxygen isotope measurements. We used a multi-factorial design with two/three steel milling balls, two sample amounts (10 mg, 40 mg), and two milling times (5 min, 10 min). We further analyzed abrasion by milling empty tubes, and measured the isotope ratios of pure contaminants. RESULTS: A strong risk exists for carbon isotope bias through plastic contamination: the δ(13) C value of polypropylene deviated from the control by -6.77‰. Small fibers from PTFE filter bags used during cellulose extraction also present a risk as the δ(13) C value of this plastic deviated by -5.02‰. Low sample amounts (10 mg) showed highest contamination due to increased abrasion during milling (-1.34‰), which is further concentrated by cellulose extraction (-3.38‰). Oxygen isotope measurements were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: A ball mill can be used to homogenize samples within test tubes prior to oxygen isotope analysis, but not prior to carbon or radiocarbon isotope analysis. There is still a need for a fast, simple and contamination-free sample preparation procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus: Stability and Wind-Mediated Contact Transmission in Field Pea.

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) stability in sap and its contact transmission between field pea plants were investigated in glasshouse experiments. When infective leaf sap was kept at room temperature and inoculated to plants in the absence of abrasive, it was still highly infective after 6 h and low levels of infectivity remained after 30 h. PSbMV was transmitted from infected to healthy plants by direct contact when leaves were rubbed against each other. It was also transmitted when intertwining healthy and PSbMV-infected plants were blown by a fan to simulate wind. When air was blown on plants kept at 14 to 20°C, contact transmission of PSbMV occurred consistently and the extent of transmission was enhanced when plants were dusted with diatomaceous earth prior to blowing. In contrast, when plants were kept at 20 to 30°C, blowing rarely resulted in transmission. No passive contact transmission occurred when healthy and infected plants were allowed to intertwine together. This study demonstrates that PSbMV has the potential to be transmitted by contact when wind-mediated wounding occurs in the field. This may play an important role in the epidemiology of the virus in field pea crops, especially in situations where contact transmission expands initial crop infection foci before aphid arrival.

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus in Field Pea: Widespread Infection, Genetic Diversity, and Resistance Gene Effectiveness.

From 2013 to 2015, incidences of Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) infection were determined in semi-leafless field pea (Pisum sativum) crops and trial plots growing in the Mediterranean-type environment of southwest Australia. PSbMV was found at incidences of 2 to 51% in 9 of 13 crops, 1 to 100% in 20 of 24 cultivar plots, and 1 to 57% in 14 of 21 breeding line plots. Crops and plots of 'PBA Gunyah', 'Kaspa', and 'PBA Twilight' were frequently PSbMV infected but none of PSbMV resistance gene sbm1-carrying 'PBA Wharton' plants were infected. In 2015, 14 new PSbMV isolates obtained from these various sources were sequenced and their partial coat protein (CP) nucleotide sequences analyzed. Sequence identities and phylogenetic comparison with 39 other PSbMV partial CP nucleotide sequences from GenBank demonstrated that at least three PSbMV introductions have occurred to the region, one of which was previously unknown. When plants of 'Greenfeast' and PBA Gunyah pea (which both carry resistance gene sbm2) and PBA Wharton and 'Yarrum' (which carry sbm1) were inoculated with PSbMV pathotype P-2 isolate W1, resistance was overcome in a small proportion of plants of each cultivar, showing that resistance-breaking variants were likely to be present. An improved management effort by pea breeders, advisors, and growers is required to diminish infection of seed stocks, avoid sbm gene resistance being overcome in the field, and mitigate the impact of PSbMV on seed yield and quality. A similar management effort is likely to be needed in field pea production elsewhere in the world.

Pregnancy outcomes in cystic fibrosis: a 10-year experience from a UK centre.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis manifests as a multisystem disease, despite this female fertility is relatively preserved with levels approaching that of the non-cystic fibrosis population. We reviewed pregnancies in cystic fibrosis patients over a 10-year period from a UK adult cystic fibrosis centre by considering maternal and fetal outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-note review of pregnancies during 2003-2013 using respiratory and obstetric records. RESULTS: We observed moderate falls in lung function immediately after delivery, which persisted at 12 months postpartum. We found that a decline in lung function at delivery was a marker for further decline in function during the subsequent postpartum period. We found baseline lung function was predictive of gestational age at delivery. We observed a high incidence of haemoptysis. CONCLUSION: Consistent with current guidance we found pregnancy is feasible and well tolerated in the majority of patients with cystic fibrosis. There was a high incidence of haemoptysis, which warrants further study.

Maternal depression and foetal responses to novel stimuli: insights from a socio-economically disadvantaged Indian cohort.

Maternal stress during pregnancy has pervasive effects on stress responsivity in children. This study is the first to test the hypothesis that maternal prenatal depression, as observed in South India, may be associated with how foetuses respond to a potentially stressful stimulus. We employed measures of foetal heart rate at baseline, during exposure to a vibroacoustic stimulus, and post-stimulation, to study patterns of response and recovery in 133 third trimester foetuses of depressed and non-depressed mothers. We show that the association between maternal depression and foetal stress responsivity is U-shaped with foetuses of mothers with high and low depression scores demonstrating elevated responses, and poorer recovery, than foetuses of mothers with moderate levels. The right amount of intra-uterine stimulation is important in conditioning foetuses towards optimal regulation of their stress response. Our results imply that, in certain environmental contexts, exposure to moderate amounts of intra-uterine stress may facilitate this process.

Dopexamine and its role in the protection of hepatosplanchnic and renal perfusion in high-risk surgical and critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Dopexamine is increasingly being used in high-risk surgical and critically ill patients to preserve hepatosplanchnic and renal perfusion. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials was undertaken to investigate the clinical evidence for using dopexamine in this role. METHODS: Data sources included Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and CINAHL and reference lists of relevant articles. Randomized controlled trials which compared dopexamine treatment with a control group, in high-risk surgical and critically ill adult patients and with primary outcome measures designed to assess hepatosplanchnic and renal perfusion were included. Articles not published in English were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty-one trials were selected from the literature search. The results suggest that dopexamine may protect against colonic mucosal damage in patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery and may improve gastric mucosal pHi in general surgical patients, especially those with preoperative gastric mucosal pHi measurements <7.35 and those undergoing pancreatico-duodenectomy surgery. Dopexamine may have beneficial effects on renal perfusion in patients undergoing cardiac surgery but appears to have little or no benefit on gastric mucosal pHi in the same patient population. In critically ill patients none of the studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of dopexamine on either hepatosplanchnic or renal perfusion. CONCLUSION: The evidence provided by the existing studies is both inadequate and inconsistent. There is insufficient evidence to offer reliable recommendations on the clinical use of dopexamine for the protection of either hepatosplanchnic or renal perfusion in high-risk surgical patients. Furthermore, there is no current evidence to support a role for dopexamine in protecting either hepatosplanchnic or renal perfusion in critically ill patients.

Use of blood products in cardiac surgery.

The quantity of blood products used perioperatively during cardiac surgery is known to vary widely between institutions. This study looked at the amount of blood products used perioperatively in 74 consecutive elective cardiac operations in one institution. The results are compared with those from other European centres and a cost analysis carried out. On average 2.33 +/- 0.74 (95% confidence interval 1.93-2.77) units of red cell concentrate were transfused perioperatively per patient. Six (8%) patients received no blood products. In addition a number of preoperative factors were studied in an attempt to identify predictors of transfusion requirements. Age, preoperative haemoglobin, female sex and red cell mass were all found to have some predictive value. In the face of increasing demands on a limited supply of blood products we question the need for cross matching more than four units of red cell concentrate in elective cardiac surgery.