Production of Pycnidia and Conidia by Guignardia bidwellii, the Causal Agent of Grape Black Rot, as Affected by Temperature and Humidity.

Black rot, caused by the fungus Guignardia bidwellii, is a polycyclic disease affecting grape leaves and berries. In environmentally controlled experiments and in a 3-year field study, the effects of temperature and relative humidity (RH) were assessed on the following growth parameters of G. bidwellii: (i) formation of pycnidia and cirri in grape leaf lesions, (ii) production and germination of conidia, and (iii) length of the period between lesion appearance and pycnidia production. Pycnidia were produced between 5 and 35°C and at 90 to 100% RH but more pycnidia were produced between 20 and 30°C. No pycnidia were produced at RH < 90%. The first pycnidia were produced in approximately 2 days after lesion appearance at ≥20°C and in 8 days at 5°C; pycnidia continued to be produced on the same lesion for 5 to 16 days after lesion appearance, depending on the temperature. Models were developed to describe the effect of temperature and RH on pycnidia production, accounting for 95 and 97% of variability, respectively. Cirri were extruded only between 15 and 35°C and mainly at 100% RH. Field experiments confirmed that pycnidia are produced for several days on a leaf lesion and that the length of the period between lesion appearance and pycnidia production depends on temperature. Overall, the findings showed that production of conidia requires high humidity; under field conditions, some hours at high humidity, which usually occur at nighttime, rather than constant high humidity may be sufficient.

Effect of Environmental Factors on Mycelial Growth and Conidial Germination of Fusicladium eriobotryae, and the Infection of Loquat Leaves.

In Spain, loquat scab, caused by Fusicladium eriobotryae, is usually controlled by fungicides when there are favorable conditions for infection. Lacking specific data on the effect of weather conditions on infection by F. eriobotryae, infection periods are predicted based on the Mills table for apple scab. Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of temperature, wetness duration, relative humidity (RH), and dry periods on mycelial growth, conidial germination, and infection of loquat leaves by F. eriobotryae. F. eriobotryae was able to grow and the conidia to germinate in a wide range of temperatures, whereas no germination occurred at RH < 100%. Maximum conidial germination occurred with 24 h of wetness and germination was strongly reduced by >10 h of dryness interrupting the wetness period. Loquat infection occurred between 10 and 20°C, and disease incidence and severity increased as the duration of wetness period increased. The combined effect of temperature and wetness duration on conidial germination of F. eriobotryae and infection of leaves was described by combining ß and Gompertz equations, while the effect of dry periods on reducing the conidial germination was described by a logarithmic equation. The equations developed in this work provided a reasonable fit of the biological processes investigated and could be used for better disease control; they could be further integrated in a disease prediction system for scheduling fungicide sprays against loquat scab.

[Management of patients with terminal cancer at a primary care center]. / Manejo de los pacientes con cáncer terminal en un centro de atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics, family surrounding and place of death of terminal oncologic patients from 1991. DESIGN: Descriptive and retrospective study. We used Fisher's test. SITE. San Gregorio, Telde (Las Palmas province). PATIENTS: We worked with 27 patients in terminal disease (17 were men and 10 were women). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Average age was 66.7 +/- 17 years. The most frequent type was digestive (10), breast (5) and lung (3). Average time of survival was 17.5 +/- 26.5 months. Principal symptoms were: pain (23), anorexia (17), constipation (13) and depression (11). 23 received analgesia (11 with morphine), 17 laxatives and 13 benzodiazepines. The numbers of visit they received was 13.6 +/- 9.3 patients knew their diagnostic. 22 of the families were considered collaborators. 70% of patients in control by Primary Care Center died at home; whereas no one did so in control by hospital (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients in terminal phase in our zone die in their home. Patients under control by Primary Care Center are significantly more likely to die in their own homes. We give special attention to the high percentage of patients who use opiates. Finally we consider that workers in Primary Care Centers are a vital element in handle these patients and their families.