Highland Areas Research Articles

Diagnostic study on major honeybee disease, pests and predators in North Western Ethiopia.

The study was conducted in Pawe district from Benishangul-Gumuz and Jawi and Fagita Lekoma districts from the Amhara region to investigate major honeybee pests, predators and diseases. Using a purposive sampling technique, 183 households were interviewed, and 240 samples were collected for laboratory analysis of bee disease; data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The share of hive types owned by sampled respondents was 88.6%; overall, 1.1% and 10.3% were traditional, transitional and modern beehives, respectively. About 92% of the sample respondents acquired their base colonies by catching swarm bees on the apex of trees. The majority of beekeepers executed external inspections of their colony, whereas only 50% carried out internal inspections. Based on the responses of beekeepers, around 48.9%, 56.3% and 23.1% of colonies absconded every year from Pawe, Jawi and Fagita Lekoma districts, respectively. Ants, wax moths, bee lice, beetles, spiders, birds, monkeys and honey badgers were the major honeybee pests and predators discovered in study areas in decreasing order. Concerning the incidence of Varroa mites, Nosema apis and amoeba disease, 27.5%, 60% and 71.6% of samples showed positive results in study locations, respectively. From this result, we observed that ants, wax moths, bee lice, beetles, spiders, birds, monkeys and honey badgers were the major honeybee pests and predators. The prevalence of amoeba disease was comparatively higher in highland areas and in the summer season. This finding suggests the need for the alertness of beekeepers in controlling bee disease and pests and strengthening bee colonies through seasonal colony management. There should be a strict quarantine, and check-up undertaken when a new colony is purchased from one region to another is essential.

Structure of the macrozoobenthos community in Buai River, Pulau Tengah, Keliling Danau District, Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province

Background: Buai River is a river located in the village of Jembatan Merah Pulau Tengah, Keliling Danau District, Kerinci Regency, Jambi. Sungai Buai with topographic conditions in the form of a hilly highland area, surrounded by mountains and dense forests so that it has a heterogeneous microhabitat and is still natural for macrozoobenthos. Therefore, a study was conducted on the presence and structure of macrozoobenthos in the Sungai Buai area of Central Island. This study aims to analyze the structure of the macrozoobenthos community based on the composition of the macrozoobenthos species, density, diversity, dominance and distribution of macrozoobenthos in the waters of the Buai River. This research is expected to provide information in the form of scientific data and knowledge about the structure of the macrozoobenthos community in the waters of the Buai River to be used as comparative data for future research. This research was conducted from January to February 2022. Method: The research method used is a quantitative descriptive method, which is to describe and evaluate a symptom or event that appears systematically. Determination of research stations is done by purposive sampling method, which is taken five stations based on environmental baseline. Data analysis was carried out by calculating the composition, macrozoobenthos density, Diversity Index, Dominance Index and Community Similarity Index between stations. Findings: The results showed that there were 5 classes, 11 orders, 26 families and 42 genera. Diversity values ranged from 1,4 to 2,45 which was classified as moderate, the dominance ranged from 0.1 to 0.45, and the similarity of the macrozoobenthic community in Sungai Buai 60.71% - 82.54% the similarity of the macrozoobenthos was relatively the same with little organic pollution. Conclusion: Based on the structure of the macrozoobenthos community in the Buai River, Central Island, it can be concluded that the Buai Pulau Tengah River, Keliling Danau District, Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province is still classified as very good. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study presents novel findings by revealing the structure of the macrozoobenthos community in a relatively undisturbed highland river surrounded by dense forests, which provide a unique heterogeneous microhabitat. It contributes original data on the species composition, density, diversity, and distribution of macrozoobenthos in this specific region, offering a baseline for future comparative studies.

Genotype by Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis for Grain Yield in White Seeded Tef [<i>Eragrostis tef</i> (zucc.)Trotter] Genotypes in Western Oromia, Ethiopia

Tef [<i>Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter </i>L.] is a most important cereal crop in Ethiopia in terms of production, consumption and cash. The study was carried out to investigate grain yield stability and genotype by environment interaction for 18 genotypes conducted in the potential high land areas of Western Oromia, Ethiopia for two consecutive years (2020 to 2021) using Randomized Complete Block Experimental Design with three replications. The study of variance for grain yield using the AMMI model indicated highly significant variation for genotypes, environment, and genotype-environment interactions. Environment accounted for 18.7% of the variance in grain yield, 17.9% for genotypes, and 61.5% for genotypes. The first IPCA component accounted for 47.9% of the interaction effect and revealed the two models were fit. Genotypes G15, G10, G4, G1, and G3 had the lowest AMMI stability value (ASV), indicating stability; genotypes G16, G14, G9, G7, G2, and G5 had the highest ASV value, indicating instability. From over all analysis genotype G1 and G3, showed a high mean grain yield, lowest GSI, ASV and stable compared to other genotypes in the study. As a result, G1 and G3 were identified as the best genotypes for future breeding programs and potential release in Western Oromia, Ethiopia's highlands.

The Effect of Ecological and Physiological Adaptation of Food Crops on Food Security in the Banyumas Highlands Region

This study aims to analyze the influence of ecological and physiological adaptations of food crops on food security in the highland area of Banyumas Regency. The research area includes Baturaden, Kedungbanteng, and Cilongok Districts, which are known to have a surplus of rice food reserves. Ecological adaptation includes how food crops adapt to specific environmental conditions at high altitudes, while physiological adaptation includes plant responses to factors such as temperature, humidity, and soil type. The data used in this study came from the Central Statistics Agency of Banyumas Regency in 2021. The results show that food accessibility, measured through physical and social access, has a significant correlation with food security. Physical and social access were significantly correlated with food security, with significance values of 0.046 and 0.017, respectively. The study concluded that the ecological and physiological adaptations of food crops play an important role in supporting food security in the Banyumas highlands, and that increased physical and social accessibility can improve food security stability in the region. Local governments need to focus on providing facilities and infrastructure that support food accessibility to ensure sustainable food security in the highlands.

Analisi Prediksi Tingkat Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Nelayan Lombok Timur Dengan Algoritma Naïve Bayes

The water area in Indonesia is wider than the land area, therefore Indonesia is known as a maritime country. Indonesia also has many natural resources that come from the ocean, for example fish. Coastal communities use fish as their livelihood, where most of them become fishermen. Fishing is a daily job to meet the family's economic needs. The Fishermen's Community can be called a group of people who mostly work as fishermen. This group of people is different from people who live in lowland and highland areas, they have different characteristics, natural factors have changed their lifestyle and also their economy. It is because of the uniqueness of their lifestyle that makes the author interested in conducting research. This research uses existing data to obtain new information from that data. Researchers will predict the level of welfare of fishing communities in East Lombok using the Naive Bayes algorithm. To support the results of the decisions that will be evaluated, researchers use five variables, namely: Education, family members, wells, employment and housing. From these five variables, researchers hope to get good final results that can be used to predict the level of welfare of the fishing community in East Lombok. Evaluation is carried out using the Naive Bayes algorithm, this algorithm was chosen because it suits the characteristics of the data we have. Naive Bayes is a simple algorithm. The final results of this research were 99% for accuracy value, 81% for precision value and 100% for recall

Training on Processing Chicken Feather Waste into Wall Panels as an Environmentally Friendly Alternative Material

Borisallo Village is a highland area in the Parangloe sub-district, Gowa Regency, where many broiler chicken business actors have less knowledge to utilize the chicken feather waste properly, which can lead to environmental pollution. This PkM activity aims to provide education and training regarding the use and processing of chicken feather waste as an alternative material, which can be used directly by residents to improve their skills and knowledge in the use of chicken feather waste and to save the surrounding environment. The activity was held on 6-8 September 2023 in the Borisallo Village Office Yard, which was attended by around 15 participants including broiler chicken business actors, PKK members, Village officials, and members of the local Village Extension Agency. The method used was the Service Learning (SL) method, which provided the public with an understanding of the benefits of chicken feather waste based on the research results conducted previously, then held training and assistance regarding processing chicken feather waste into environmentally friendly alternative materials. The results showed that the objective of the activity was achieved in the form of increasing the knowledge and skills of the community regarding processing chicken feather waste. This can be seen from the panels made by the community had good quality according to the manufacturing procedures. The conclusion from this activity is that the community has the potential to support government programs related to Indonesia's sustainable development focus, namely the Green Economy.

Detection of land surface albedo changes over Iran using remote sensing data

AbstractAlbedo is one of the key parameters in climatic studies. Investigating its temporal and spatial behavior can be a tool for understanding environmental changes. The MODIS sensor continuously produces the land surface albedo on a global scale and with the appropriate spatial resolution and makes it available to researchers. In this study, to analyze Iran's surface albedo trend, first, the daily albedo data of the MODIS on Iran in the period from January 1, 2001 to December 30, 2021 with a spatial resolution of 500 m were prepared from the NASA website. After the necessary pre‐processing, the long‐term seasonal and annual trend of Iran's albedo was calculated at the 90% confidence level using the non‐parametric Mann–Kendall test. The findings showed that the albedo trend is positive in the lowland interior areas of Iran and negative in the highland areas. Since the decreasing trend of albedo in highland areas indicates the reduction of snow cover in these areas, this issue can challenge the life and water resources of these areas that rely on the accumulation of snow.

Adaptation test of rainfed rice fields highland in Jambi Indonesia

Abstract Increasing national rice productivity can be achieved by optimizing existing resources, including rainfed rice fields in highlands areas. Rainfed rice fields in Indonesia are quite diverse in agroecosystem conditions, ranging from lowlands to highlands. Indonesia has the potential for highlands that can be planted with rice to support national rice production. The high variety of biophysical, edaphic, and biotic conditions of the main agroecological areas of rice cultivation makes it difficult to obtain varieties that can grow well in all types of agroecosystems. The purpose of this study is to determine the potential yield and adaptability of rice hope strains to anaerobic germination conditions in rainfed land and highland rainfed rice strains. Ten rice strains and two reference varieties from The Indonesian Centre for Rice Research Sukamandi in West Java were tested in 2021, with four repetitions. The area of each plot of 4 x 5 m was carried out on rainfed rice fields in Kerinci regency with an altitude of 788.5 meters above sea level and a Sungai Penuh regency of 795 meters above sea level. Observations were made of vegetative, generative parameters of plants, as well as temperature and humidity. Results showed that the strains with the highest production and medium harvest age had good observational agronomic parameters, namely in strains B15617E-4-MR-3, BP29337-2-CRB-0-SKI-0-7-PWK-1-SKI-3-3, and BP19980-JK-2-IND-2-SKI-0-PWK-1-SKI-5-1.

Exploring the Mechanism of Zhishi-Xiebai-Guizhi Decoction for the Treatment of Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Analyses.

Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension (HPH), a prevalent disease in highland areas, is a crucial factor in various complex highland diseases with high mortality rates. Zhishi-Xiebai-Guizhi Decoction (ZXGD), traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of use in treating heart and lung diseases, lacks a clear understanding of its pharmacological mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of ZXGD on HPH. We conducted a network pharmacological prediction analysis and molecular docking to predict the effects, which were verified through in vivo experiments. Network pharmacological analysis revealed 51 active compounds of ZXGD and 701 corresponding target genes. Additionally, there are 2,116 target genes for HPH, 311 drug-disease co-target genes, and 17 core target genes. GO functional annotation analysis revealed that the core target genes primarily participate in biological processes such as apoptosis and cellular response to hypoxia. Furthermore, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that the core targets are involved in several pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol- 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway and Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (HIF1) signaling pathway. In vivo experiments, the continuous administration of ZXGD demonstrated a significant improvement in pulmonary artery pressure, right heart function, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and pulmonary vascular fibrosis in HPH rats. Furthermore, ZXGD was found to inhibit the expression of PI3K, Akt, and HIF1α proteins in rat lung tissue. In summary, this study confirmed the beneficial effects and mechanism of ZXGD on HPH through a combination of network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. These findings provided a new insight for further research on HPH in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.

Morphological, Molecular Identification and Genetic Diversity Assessment of Three Terrestrial Isopods from the High-Altitude Region

Terrestrial specimens were collected from Ashshafa, a south-western highland area in Saudi Arabia. Three species, i.e., Porcellio laevis, Porcellionides pruinosus (Porcellionidae), and Armadillidium vulgare (Armadillidiidae), were identified in this study based on their morphological characteristics. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences were used for DNA barcoding and biodiversity assessments. A phylogenetic tree of 22 haplotypes from 35 specimens of the three isopod species was drawn from the most similar sequences obtained from BLAST with the associated accession numbers. The tree included two clades. The first clade included samples of P. laevis and P. pruinosus, whereas the second clade included samples of A. vulgare. Each identified species formed a distinct subclade within the main clade, along with similar sequences obtained from the NCBI database. The heat map of genetic distance among haplotypes shows the haplotype diversity (Hd) ranged from 0.590 to 0.933 (mean = 0.767) and total nucleotide diversity (πT) ranged from 0.001 to 0.089 (mean=0.049), with a similar trend observed for nucleotide diversity per site (θw) ranged from 0.001 to 0.80 (mean = 0.049). In contrast, synonymous nucleotide diversity (πs), mean=0.009, was low compared to nonsynonymous nucleotide diversity (πs), mean=0.060, across all species. In conclusion, the morphological identification of terrestrial isopods was confirmed using COI gene sequencing of mitochondrial DNA. These results will be helpful in developing a deeper isopod identification method.

Pemanfaatan Metode TOPSIS dalam Membangun Sistem Pendukung Keputusan untuk Menentukan Jenis Penyakit Tanaman Gandum; Studi Kasus di Ladang Gandum Alahan Panjang, Sumatera Barat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an annual plant that can grow in highland areas. There are many types of diseases that attack wheat plants, making it difficult for farmers to determine the type of disease. Therefore, it is necessary to build a Decision Support System (DSS) that can determine the type of disease that attacks wheat plants. This research aimed to design and develop a Decision Support System (DSS) application to identify the types of diseases affecting wheat by observing the physical characteristics of the plants. These disease characteristics (criteria) were then inputed into the system, which used an algorithm based on the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to a Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. The DSS method used was TOPSIS, which considered four criteria: Flower, Stem, Seed, and Leaf. The application development method for the DSS used the Waterfall model, which consisted of the following stages: requirements, definition, system and software design, implementation, and unit testing. A DSS application using the TOPSIS method can determine the type of wheat disease based on physical characteristics as criteria that are inputed into the application. This application can help wheat farmers identify the diseases affecting their plants. The use of the TOPSIS method algorithm in developing the SPK application is an innovation that can help Alahan Panjang wheat farmers in detecting diseases types affecting their crops based on visible physical characteristics. Automatically, the system provides recommendations on the type of disease affecting the wheat plants.

SOIL ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT ACROSS VARIOUS GEOMORPHIC UNITS IN MANGROVE FOREST: A CASE OF DUBLAR CHAR, SUNDARBANS

Lying at the tidally active region of the Bengal Delta, the Sundarbans act as a terrestrial carbon sink and play a crucial role in climate change mitigation. However, this forest is underrepresented in term of soil organic carbon research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Soil Organic Carbon dynamics across various geomorphic units within a small area of mangrove forest ecosystem of Dublar char of Sundarbans. Salinity and pH trends were also examined across geomorphic units to understand their interplay with soil organic carbon dynamics. Soil samples from 25 locations across various geomorphic units were collected and analyzed to determine soil organic carbon, salinity and pH levels. The Walkley-Black wet oxidation method was employed to determine the organic carbon content. Results indicate varying degree of organic carbon concentration across geomorphic units with Highland areas having high level of soil organic carbon concentrations with average concentration level of 2.05%, followed by Creeks with 1.55%. Salinity levels also varied across different geomorphic units with values ranging from 4.8 ppt to 12.7 ppt, with creek area having high level of salinity due to its close proximity to seawater. Fringe forest areas had the highest pH levels with average value of 7.4 and the lowest average pH value (6.86) was observed in Beach areas of the study area. The study holds immense significance in understanding the organic carbon dynamics of mangrove ecosystem in the Sundarbans, providing essential insights for long term climate resilient land management and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Assessment of metals and other trace elements in the drinking water along River Indus, Allai and Nagar

Trace element contamination in water is a global issue due to its widespread occurrence and health effects. Regular intake of elevated metal levels in drinking water can unequivocally cause several types of cancers. This study was primarily focused to assess the quality of drinking water in Allai, Nagar and along River Indus. So for this study a total of 64 spring, 14 waterfall and 7 glacier water samples were collected. Additionally, 13 sediment samples were also collected from Allai and Nagar which were located in the vicinity of mountainous River Indus, Pakistan. The samples were tested for arsenic, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy so as to get the elemental concentrations in parts per billion. The range of metals and other trace elements were compared with the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO) and the standards laid down by Environmental Protection Agency of Pakistan. The results revealed the (minimum-maximum) concentrations (µg/L) of drinking water quality parameters as follows: arsenic 0-0.06, calcium 1.74-176.87, chromium 0-0, copper 0-0, iron 0-0.25, sodium 1.27-292, potassium 0-24.01, magnesium 0.05-120.22, lead 0-0 and zinc 0-0. Moreover, the (minimum-maximum) concentrations (µg/L) of sediment samples were recorded as arsenic 0-0. 88, calcium 42.98-2068, chromium 0.16-0.65, copper 0.12-1.76, iron 166-544, sodium 8.99-15.36, potassium 35.57-247, magnesium 47.14-453, lead 0-0.23 and zinc 0.67-1.66. The study concluded that all the samples collected from the vicinity of River Indus had elemental concentrations within the recommended guidelines set by the National Drinking Water Quality Standards of Pakistan and WHO. Furthermore, a detailed study encompassing samples from the springs, glaciers, waterfalls and lakes is recommended to evaluate the possible trace element contamination either due to deposition or mixing of metal bearing rocks with water both in the low lying and highland areas of Upper Indus Basin. The outcomes of this research can be useful for the concerned authorities of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in the provision of safe drinking water to the people living in the vicinity of River Indus, Pakistan.

Análisis de la sostenibilidad en los sistemas de producción ovina en el Altiplano de Michoacán

The sustainability of sheep production systems may be at risk and must be evaluated in order to identify actions to improve their performance. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the sustainability of sheep production units in the highlands area of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The method of sustainability indicators of agricultural holdings was used, through the scales: agroecological, socio-territorial and economic. 40 indicators were evaluated through a semi-structured survey in 108 production units. The indicators of each sheep production unit were concentrated in a database and scores were obtained according to the method guide. In order to group sheep production units with similar characteristics, a multivariate cluster analysis was carried out using the hierarchical method. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found in the three scales evaluated with: 42.3; 47.7 and 50.0% sustainability units respectively. The main limitation of sustainability was the agroecological scale, in the space organization component. Four clusters of sheep production units with different characteristics were obtained. The sheep production units in the area have not reached a state of acceptable sustainability. The limited land area puts its permanence at risk. These production units manage to generate economic resources and support family self-sufficiency, which has allowed them to remain over time, due to the diversity of the agricultural species they manage.

Red blood cell indices and cytokine levels in complicated pediatric Malaria in unstable malaria transmission area of Vihiga highlands, Kenya

Red blood cell indices and cytokine levels in complicated pediatric Malaria in unstable malaria transmission area of Vihiga highlands, Kenya

Serological and Community Awareness Study of Lumpy Skin Disease in Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Sidama Regional State, Southern Ethiopia.

The lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccination status and epidemiological distribution remain unknown in some parts of Ethiopia, including the Sidama regional state. In this study, a serological survey of LSD was performed using a specific virus neutralization assay in selected districts of the Sidama regional state representing three agroecological zones from September 2021 to June 2022. Moreover, an assessment of community awareness and LSD vaccine-related problems was conducted using a questionnaire. Our results showed an overall animal and herd level seroprevalence of 40.8% (95%CI = 35.8, 45.8) and 81% (95%CI = 77, 85), respectively. High and low seroprevalence were observed in lowland (48%) and highland (28%) areas, although they were not statistically significant. However, risk factors such as management systems and breeds showed substantial differences in their LSD prevalence. The results obtained through the questionnaire showed that a small portion of respondents (29.2%) know about LSD and vaccinate their cattle (23.3%) against this disease. Only 20.8% of the respondents stated that there was LSD occurrence in their vaccinated cattle. In conclusion, both qualitative and quantitative study results showed the need for intervention in terms of community-based awareness creation about LSD clinical signs and vaccination advantages together with the frequently updated information on LSD prevalence.

Pendampingan Kewirausahaan Desa Berbasis Agro Industri Kelapa Sawit di Desa Bulian Jaya

Bulian Jaya Village is an extra-transmigration village of the Bulian I Transmigration Settlement Unit (UPT) under the guidance of the Transmigration Department which was a Central Government program in 1992, this village is an oil palm plantation village. Apart from having extensive oil palm plantation land, in Bulian Jaya Village there is also an oil palm plantation company, namely PT. Inti Indosawit Subur Kebun Muara Bulian. In general, Bulian Jaya Village is a hilly highland area with very extensive plantations. As an independent village that has potential in the field of oil palm plantations, Bulian Jaya Village has many opportunities to improve the economy and welfare of its community through utilizing the potential of existing plantations. This condition makes it very possible to develop entrepreneurship based on the oil palm agro-industry as the main potential possessed by the village. Through this mentoring activity, it is hoped that village entrepreneurship will be formed based on the palm oil agro-industry

Genetic structure and current distribution of Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on vegetable crops in Bali, Indonesia

Abstract. Utama IWEK, Supartha IW, Yuliadhi KA, Sudiarta IP, Yudha IKW, Saleh S, Wahyuni S, Wiradana PA. 2024. Genetic structure and current distribution of Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on vegetable crops in Bali, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2104-2114. Liriomyza spp. (Diptera: Agromizidae) is a polyphagous pest that attacks various types of vegetable and ornamental plants throughout the world. The most damaging species are Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard), and Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess). There have been no reports regarding mapping of population distribution and population genetics of Liriomyza in the Bali region using the Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I (COI) approach. This research aims to map the population and genetic structure of L. huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii on vegetable plants in Bali. This research uses a purposive sampling method which represents vegetable plantings in each district and city in Bali Province. Identification of the Liriomyza spp. gene structure using the COI approach using LCO and HCO primers. The results of the research found that the spatial distribution of invasive leafminer fly species, namely L. sativae and L. trifolii, was evenly distributed throughout the city districts in Bali. The distribution pattern of L. trifolii is uniform with an S2/X value <1, while L. huidobrensis is found in the highland areas with a clustered distribution pattern with an S2/. The genetic distance between the three Liriomyza species found in vegetable plants in Bali is much longer. This means that the three Liriomyza species show very high levels of genetic differentiation in mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and differentiation between species in nuclear genes. This genetic variation can influence the ability of insects to quickly adapt to new environments and contribute to population dynamics and dispersal capacity.

Geminiviridae and Alphasatellitidae Diversity Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis of Susceptible and Tolerant Tomato Cultivars across Distinct Brazilian Biomes.

The diversity of Geminiviridae and Alphasatellitidae species in tomatoes was assessed via high-throughput sequencing of 154 symptomatic foliar samples collected from 2002 to 2017 across seven Brazilian biomes. The first pool (BP1) comprised 73 samples from the North (13), Northeast (36), and South (24) regions. Sixteen begomoviruses and one Topilevirus were detected in BP1. Four begomovirus-like contigs were identified as putative novel species (NS). NS#1 was reported in the semi-arid (Northeast) region and NS#2 and NS#4 in mild subtropical climates (South region), whereas NS#3 was detected in the warm and humid (North) region. The second pool (BP2) comprised 81 samples from Southeast (39) and Central-West (42) regions. Fourteen viruses and subviral agents were detected in BP2, including two topileviruses, a putative novel begomovirus (NS#5), and two alphasatellites occurring in continental highland areas. The five putative novel begomoviruses displayed strict endemic distributions. Conversely, tomato mottle leaf curl virus (a monopartite species) displayed the most widespread distribution occurring across the seven sampled biomes. The overall diversity and frequency of mixed infections were higher in susceptible (16 viruses + alphasatellites) in comparison to tolerant (carrying the Ty-1 or Ty-3 introgressions) samples, which displayed 9 viruses. This complex panorama reinforces the notion that the tomato-associated Geminiviridae diversity is yet underestimated in Neotropical regions.

Evaluate the adaptability of Eucalyptus species in the highlands of the Amhara region

The predominant cultivation of Eucalyptus globulus in the highlands of the Amhara region poses a significant risk, as any disease/insect outbreak affecting this species could result in extensive barren lands across the country. Therefore, the study aimed to explore the adaptability of various Eucalyptus species to diversify and safeguard against potential ecosystem disruptions. Six different Eucalyptus species (E.globulus, E.camaldulensis, E.grandis, E.saligna, E.viminalis, and E.citiodora) were subjected to a Randomized Complete Design with three replications. All the required parameters were measured and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with R version 4.3.1. Statistically significant variations were observed between Eucalyptus species at P < 0.001 in height, survival rate, volume, and mean annual increment. In conclusion, E.viminalis, E.saligna, and E. grandis are viable alternatives for Eucalyptus growers in Wadela and similar highland areas of Ethiopia. This research underscores the importance of diversifying Eucalyptus species to enhance resilience and sustainability in the face of potential threats to the dominant species, Eucalyptus globulus.