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Occurrence of Deformed wing virus, Chronic bee paralysis virus and mtDNA variants in haplotype K of Varroa destructor mites in Syrian apiaries.

A small-scale survey was conducted on 64 beehives located in four governorates of Syria in order to assess for the first time the presence of honeybee-infecting viruses and of Varroa destructor mites in the country. RT-PCR assays conducted on 192 honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) using virus-specific primers showed that Deformed wing virus (DWV) was present in 49 (25.5%) of the tested samples and Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) in 2 (1.04%), whereas Acute bee paralysis virus, Sacbrood virus, Black queen cell virus and Kashmir bee virus were absent. Nucleotide sequences of PCR amplicons obtained from DWV and CBPV genomes shared 95-97 and 100% identity with isolates reported in the GenBank, respectively. The phylogenetic tree grouped the Syrian DWV isolates in one cluster, distinct from all those of different origins reported in the database. Furthermore, 19 adult V. destructor females were genetically analyzed by amplifying and sequencing four fragments in cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), ATP synthase 6 (atp6), cox3 and cytochrome b (cytb) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes. Sequences of concatenated V. destructor mtDNA genes (2696 bp) from Syria were similar to the Korean (K) haplotype and were found recurrently in all governorates. In addition, two genetic lineages of haplotype K with slight variations (0.2-0.3%) were present only in Tartous and Al-Qunaitra governorates.

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Tolerance Of Faba Bean, Chickpea And Lentil To Salinity: Accessions' Salinity Response Functions

AbstractThe productivity of crops irrigated with saline water or grown on salt‐affected soils depends on the salt tolerance of the crops, their accessions, and various environmental and cultural conditions such as soil properties, climate and irrigation methods. The level and ability of plants to tolerate salt stress is the most critical information for the successful management of salt‐affected agricultural lands and saline irrigation waters. In this paper, responses of three food legume crops (faba bean, chickpea and lentil) to salinity stress were analysed using the threshold‐slope linear response function and modified discount function. The response functions are calibrated using the 2009–2010 season data and validated using the 2010–2011 season data from faba bean, chickpea and lentil experiments conducted in Raqqa, Syria. The comparison was also made through SALTMED model predictions. The results of this study show that the salinity response functions and productivity of grain yield are highly variable within the accessions of the same crop. For optimum outcome, practitioners need to consider salinity response functions and also the productivity of different accessions and their response to salinity in relation to the soil and available irrigation water salinity levels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Evaluating the Productivity Potential of Chickpea, Lentil and Faba Bean Under Saline Water Irrigation Systems

AbstractThe information on salinity threshold levels for food legumes when irrigating with saline water is limited and old. In a multi‐year study at two sites in the Euphrates Basin, we aimed at (i) evaluating the potential of saline water irrigation for chickpea, faba bean and lentil production; and (ii) using the SALTMED model to determine threshold crop yields based on irrigation water salinity in equilibrium with ambient soil solution salinity. To evaluate 15 accessions each of lentil and chickpea, and 11 accessions of faba bean, three irrigation treatments were used with salinity levels of 0.87, 2.50 and 3.78 dS m‐1 at Hassake and 0.70, 3.0 and 5.0 dS m‐1 at Raqqa. Aggregated grain yields showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among crop accessions. Calibration and validation of the SALTMED model revealed a close relationship between actual grain yields from the field sites and those predicted by the model. The 50% yield reduction (π50 value) in chickpea, lentil, and faba bean occurred at salinity levels of 4.2, 4.4 and 5.2 dS m‐1, respectively. These results suggest that of the three food legume crops, faba bean can withstand relatively high levels of irrigation water salinity, followed by lentil and chickpea. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Effect of teflubenzuron on ultrastructure and components of the integument in Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal) 5th instar nymphs

Newly ecdysed 5th instar Schistocerca gregaria nymphs were orally treated with LC75 of the chitin synthesis inhibitor teflubenzuron (135ppm) for 24h; subsequently they were offered an untreated diet for the duration of this instar. Ultrastructural observation of the cuticle in 7 day old untreated 5th instar desert locust nymphs showed that the moulting events had already began. Meanwhile, in treated nymphs of the same age, the ultrastructure of the integument showed that the moulting process was delayed, as no new chitin lamellae of 5th instar were formed and lamellae of the previous instar were still evident. Furthermore, a protein matrix was observed as a homogenous layer with the lack of chitin and occurrence of vacuoles and abundance of mitochondria. The cuticle dry weight in treated 8day old nymphs was significantly less than that of the control, (i.e. 8.5 and 15mg/nymph, respectively). Furthermore, in 8day old treated 5th instar nymphs, chitin and total soluble protein content were 4.5 and 4.85mg/ nymph, respectively. These weights were also highly significantly less than their equivalent control being 8.5 and 7.85mg/nymph for chitin and total soluble protein, respectively. Inhibition in chitin and protein synthesis was calculated to be 88.9% and 61.85%, respectively, in 8day old 5th instar nymphs following their treatment with LC75 concentration of teflubenzuron.

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Agrarian Reform and Philippine Political Development

For about sixty-five years, the problem of landownership and control of resources continue to be a political development issue in the Philippines—between the wealthy landlords and the poor and landless farmworkers. Agrarian reform is viewed as a necessary condition for agricultural modernization and rural industrialization and the fundamental mooring for global competition. After 12 years of implementing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the Philippines, the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have redistributed 5.33 million hectares of land that account for 53.4 percent of the total farmland. This accomplishment represents 66 percent of the total CARP scope. About 3.1 million rural poor households, who constitute about forty-two percent of the total agricultural population, have directly benefited from the land redistribution. Agrarian Reform has contributed to improvement of the socioeconomic conditions of landless farmers and political development of the Philippines in terms of engaging the landless in the process of policy making and distribution of large private landholdings to the landless. The various modalities that give peasants a stake in society such as decisive role in agrarian legislations, engaging them in dialogue to resolve agrarian cases, presenting manifesto pinpointing their criticisms and recommendations on implementing rules and guidelines, identification of farmer beneficiaries and lands to be covered, negotiation on the mode of land acquisition and distribution and computation of land values, have significantly influence the process of democratization and establishment of participatory institutions at the local and national levels.

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