ABSTRACT
Tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is widely used in landscape layout in sparse forests, botanical gardens and villa areas, and it is also a kind of Chinese herbal medicine. The flower and bud use as Chinese herbal medicine causing heat-clearing and detoxification. In August 2019, observed on tall verbena in Shangqiu, Henan Province, China. Symptoms white fungal growth observed on both sides of fresh and mature leaves of tall verbena grown on campus at Shangqiu Normal University. More than 60% plants were infected by this fungus and infected plants were observed to shed leaves early. One representative voucher specimen was deposited at the herbarium of Shangqiu Normal University (SQNU), Shangqiu, China, under the accession number of Vb01. Conidiophores of the fungus contained 5-6cells and measured 102.0-142.9µm (mean 126.2µm, n = 30) long, with foot-cells of conidiophores measured 36.5-46.9µm (mean 42.9µm, n = 30). Conidia produced in chains were variable in shape, ellipsoid to ovoid, and measured 24.8-30.7×12.0-17.9 µm (mean 27.35×15.08µm, n = 50), with a length/width ratio of 1.4 to 2.3. Fibrosin bodies were observed in the conidia. No chasmothecia were found. The morphological characteristics were consistent with the genus Podosphaera. To identify above powdery mildew fungus at species level using molecular markers, the complete ITS region of rDNA from the representative specimen was amplified with universal primer pair ITS1/ITS4 and directly sequenced. The resulting sequence of 567 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. MT864007). A BLAST search of this sequence showed more than 99% sequence identity with P. xanthii isolates (AB046985, AB462804, AB936277 and KM260741) on various hosts (Hirata T, 2000; Meeboon, J., and Takamatsu, S. 2015; Tam L. T. T. 2016). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ITS sequence from Vb01 isolate was grouped into a clade with P. xanthii s. lat.. A pathogenicity test was conducted through inoculation by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto five healthy leaves of a potted tall verbena. Five non-inoculated seedlings were used as controls. The plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 26 to 28 â, and relative humidity of 60 to 65%. Inoculated leaves developed symptoms after nine days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus presented on the inoculated plant was morphologically identical to that originally observed on diseased plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. P. xanthii s. lat. has been reported on several hosts in China (Braun & Cook, 2012). This is the first report of P. xanthii s. lat. on Verbena bonariensis outside of Japan (Meboon, 2015).
ABSTRACT
To scientifically evaluate the intervention effect of Chinese medicine preventive administration(combined use of Huo-xiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) on community population in the case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a large cohort, prospective, randomized, and parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. Total 22 065 subjects were included and randomly divided into 2 groups. The non-intervention group was given health guidance only, while the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention group was given two coordinated TCM in addition to health guidance. The medical instructions were as follows. Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid: oral before meals, 10 mL/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days. Jinhao Jiere Granules: dissolve in boiling water and take after meals, 8 g/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days, followed up for 14 days, respectively. The study found that with the intake of medication, the incidence rate of TCM intervention group was basically maintained at a low and continuous stable level(0.01%-0.02%), while the non-intervention group showed an overall trend of continuous growth(0.02%-0.18%) from 3 to 14 days. No suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case occurred in either group. There were 2 cases of colds in the TCM intervention group and 26 cases in the non-intervention group. The incidence of colds in the TCM intervention group was significantly lower(P<0.05) than that in the non-intervention group. In the population of 16-60 years old, the incidence rate of non-intervention and intervention groups were 0.01% and 0.25%, respectively. The difference of colds incidence between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). In the population older than 60 years old, they were 0.04% and 0.21%, respectively. The incidence of colds in the non-intervention group was higher than that in the intervention group, but not reaching statistical difference. The protection rate of TCM for the whole population was 91.8%, especially for the population of age 16-60(95.0%). It was suggested that TCM intervention(combined use of Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) could effectively protect community residents against respiratory diseases, such as colds, which was worthy of promotion in the community. In addition, in terms of safety, the incidence of adverse events and adverse reactions in the TCM intervention group was relatively low, which was basically consistent with the drug instructions.
