Injury Ratings Research Articles

Transmission of Cotton Seed and Boll Rotting Bacteria by the Verde Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Field experiments and supporting laboratory work were conducted to characterize the ability of the verde plant bug, Creontiades signatus (Distant), a boll-feeding sucking bug, to transmit a cotton seed and boll rot bacterial pathogen, Serratia marcescens (Bizio) (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae). Serratia marcescens was originally isolated from bolls infested with verde plant bug in south Texas, and a Rifampicin resistant S. marcescens strain was used in transmission and retention experiments. Serratia-exposed and nonexposed adult verde plant bugs from a laboratory colony were placed individually on 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-d-old bolls (postanthesis). The bacterial acquisition process did not apparently affect insect vigor based on similar average boll injury ratings observed across both exposed and nonexposed bugs. Cotton bolls caged with Serratia-exposed verde plant bugs had significantly greater presence of S. marcescens and cotton boll rot symptoms than bolls caged without bugs (no-insect controls) or nonexposed bugs. Transmission of the disease agent by verde plant bug was confirmed across all boll ages assayed. Incidence of diseased locules on 5- and 6-d-old bolls was the same or greater than on 7- and 8-d-old bolls. Verde plant bug was able to harbor the disease agent from 24- to 96-h postinfection, and transmission efficiency rates ranged from 54 to 62% during initial transmission and retention (transmission across two bolls fed upon consecutively) studies. Along with photographic evidence, the experimental data supported that boll damage associated with verde plant bug infestations was magnified when insects transmitted the cotton pathogen S. marcescens as demonstrated in this 2-yr field experiment.

Impacts of carbohydrate pulses and short-term sub-zero temperatures on vase life and quality of cut Paeonia lactiflora Pall. hybrids

Abstract Flower quality of cut Paeonia lactiflora (peony) Pall. hybrids is best preserved between 0 and 1 °C. However, cut flower traits such as vase life and flower size often decline following 4 or more weeks of storage. While the use of sub-zero temperatures is avoided in the cut flower industry due to fears of freeze injury, sub-zero temperatures may allow extended storage of cut flowers. Peonies are a candidate for sub-zero storage due to their natural cold tolerance, exposure to spring freezes before harvest, and limited seasonal availability. Three cultivars: Karl Rosenfield, Monsieur Jules Elie, and Sarah Bernhardt were used to evaluate freeze tolerance of cut peonies by holding cut stems at three temperatures: 0, −2, −4 °C for 5 h. Pre-cold treatment pulses consisting of 24 h in either 100 g·L−1 sucrose, 100 g·L−1 fructose, or tap water did not improve total vase life, summation of the time spent as a bud and time open. Total vase life was 10.5, 7.1, and 9.3 d for ‘Karl Rosenfield’, ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’, and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’, respectively. Sucrose-pulsed stems of ‘Karl Rosenfield’ and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ had the lowest total vase life. Pulses and cold-treatments decreased bud time for ‘Karl Rosenfield’ and ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’ by 2–3 d and 0.5–1 d, respectively. Petals were the only tissue to develop water-soaked spotting (freeze injury) following 5 h at -4 °C. Stems kept dry (not pulsed) prior to cold treatment were uninjured. Fructose-pulsed stems of ‘Karl Rosenfield’ and ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’ had the highest injury ratings when held at -4 °C. Carbohydrate-pulsing did not influence injury ratings on ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. Supercooling and multiple freeze events were observed with infrared video in all tissues when held at -4 °C. Typically, ice nucleation started at the base of the cut stems and propagated throughout the stem, leaves, and bud within 3–5 min of initiation. Stems that were not pulsed remained in a supercooled state longer than those that were pulsed. These findings indicate that storage temperatures between 0 and -2 °C may be a good option for longer periods of dry storage for peonies and other cold tolerant cut flower species.

Increased Absorption and Translocation Contribute to Improved Efficacy of Dicamba to Control Early Growth Stage Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)

Abstract Rapid growth of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) poses a challenge for timely management of this weed. Dose response studies were conducted in 2017 and 2018 under field and greenhouse conditions near Garden City and Manhattan, KS, respectively, to evaluate the efficacy of dicamba to control ≤10 cm, 15 cm, and 30 cm tall-Palmer amaranth that mimics three herbicide application timing: on time application (Day 0), and 1 (Day 1) and 4 days (Day 4) delay. Visual injury rating and reduction in shoot biomass (% of non-treated), and mortality were assessed at four weeks after treatment using a three- and four-parameter log-logistic model, in R software program. Increasing dicamba doses increased A. palmeri control regardless of plant height both in the field and greenhouse studies. The results suggest that delaying application one (15 cm) and four days (30 cm), resulted in a two- and 27-fold increase in the effective dose of dicamba on A. palmeri, respectively, under field conditions. However, in the greenhouse, for the same level of A. palmeri control, more than one- and two-fold increase in dicamba dose, respectively was required. Similarly, the effective dose of dicamba required for 50% reduction in A. palmeri shoot biomass (GR50) increased more than four- and eight-fold or more than one- and two-fold when dicamba application was delayed by one (15 cm) and four days (30 cm), in the field or in the greenhouse, respectively. To understand the basis of increased efficacy of dicamba in controlling early growth stage of A. palmeri, dicamba absorption and translocation studies were conducted. Results indicate a significant reduction in dicamba absorption (7%) and translocation (15%) with increase in A. palmeri height. Therefore, increased absorption and translocation of dicamba results in increased efficacy in improving A. palmeri control at early growth stage.

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on flea beetle (Phyllotreta cruciferae) and cabbage seedpod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus) injury and crop yield in dry land canola

Nitrogen (N) availability is an important factor affecting the canola (Brassica napus L.) yield. While N fertilization is commonly used to enhance the yield and quality of canola, it is also known to influence the incidence of insect pests in the crop. The flea beetle Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and the cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsh), are two economically important pests of canola in the northern Great Plains of the United States. This study investigated the effects of N fertilization (0, 56, 112 and 168 kg/ha) with or without insecticide seed treatment application on P. cruciferae and C. obstrictus injury levels, canola seed yield, and quality in replicated field trials at the two locations (Conrad and Sweet Grass) of north central Montana. The study showed that N fertilization had no influence on P. cruciferae and C. obstrictus injury levels, regardless of the study location or sampling date. However, insecticide seed treatment application significantly influenced P. cruciferae injury ratings at the both locations. In Conrad, insecticide-treated plots had significantly lower injury levels at the four leaf, pre-flower, and pod formation stages but without an effect at the cotyledon stage of canola plants when compared with untreated control plots. Similarly, in Sweet Grass, injury levels were significantly lower in insecticide-treated plots from cotyledon to pre-flowering stages but not at the pod stage of canola plants. In contrast, insecticide seed treatment had no impact on pod infestation rates by C. obstrictus at either location. Insecticide seed treatment, averaged over all the N rates, improved canola seed yield and quality parameters compared to the untreated plots.

Distribution of herbicide-resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) across row crop production systems in Texas

AbstractWe conducted a survey in the major row-crop production regions of Texas to determine the response of waterhemp to glyphosate (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase [EPSPS] inhibitor), atrazine (photosystem II [PSII] inhibitor), pyrithiobac (acetolactate synthase [ALS] inhibitor), tembotrione (hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase [HPPD] inhibitor), fomesafen (protoporphyrinogen oxidase [PPO] inhibitor), and dicamba (synthetic auxin). We evaluated 127 accessions for these herbicides. Resistance was confirmed on the basis of plant survival within an accession, and the injury ratings of surviving plants were used to categorize each accession as resistant (<50% injury) or less sensitive (50% to 89% injury). For glyphosate, approximately 27% of all tested accessions were resistant and 20% were less sensitive. The Gulf Coast region had the most glyphosate-resistant accessions (46% of the accessions from this region), followed by the Blacklands region (9%). A dose-response assay of the most resistant waterhemp accession (TX-25) exhibited 17-fold resistance to glyphosate when compared with a susceptible standard. Waterhemp resistance to atrazine also was common in the Gulf Coast region. The accession with the greatest atrazine resistance (TX-31) exhibited 47- and 68-fold resistance to this herbicide when applied POST and PRE, respectively. Widespread resistance to pyrithiobac was observed in waterhemp accessions throughout the Blacklands and Gulf Coast regions. The most resistant accession identified in this study was 61-fold resistant compared with a susceptible standard. No high-level resistance was detected for tembotrione, dicamba, or fomesafen, but high variability in sensitivity to tembotrione and dicamba was observed. One waterhemp accession exhibited reduced sensitivity to fomesafen; the rest were sensitive. Overall, at least two accessions exhibited resistance or reduced sensitivity to herbicides with five different sites of action. The study illustrates the prevalence of multiple herbicide resistance in waterhemp accessions in Texas and emphasizes the need to implement diversified management tactics.

The reliability of the ICD-AIS map in identifying serious road traffic injuries from the Helsinki Trauma Registry

ObjectiveThe EU has recommended that its member countries compile statistics on the number of serious road traffic injuries. In Finland, the number of seriously injured road traffic patients is assessed using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and the automatic conversion tool (ICD-AIS map) developed by The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). The aim of this study was to assess how reliably the ICD-AIS map identifies both serious injuries and seriously injured patients due to road traffic accidents. MethodsData was derived from the Helsinki Trauma Registry (HTR) and included 215 severe (New Injury Severity Score >15) trauma patients injured in road traffic accidents from the years 2016 and 2017. The severity ratings of injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale, AIS 3+) and patients (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale, MAIS 3+) were determined by direct AIS coding of the HTR and were also generated by the ICD-AIS map based on ICD-10 injury codes. These two ratings were compared by injury mechanism and Injury Severity Score (ISS) body regions. The strength of agreement was described using Cohen’s κ. The most common injury codes with errors in severity rating by the ICD-AIS map were presented. ResultsThe number of seriously injured patients by the ICD-AIS map was 21% lower, and the number of serious injuries was 36% lower than the corresponding numbers by direct coding. The exact agreement of the injury ratings was 72% (κ = 0.44, 95% CI 0.42–0.46). Most of the conversion errors were due to the simplicity of the ICD-10 codes used in Finland compared to those used in the ICD-AIS map (ICD-10-CM) and the missing codes from the ICD-AIS map. The most frequent misclassifications were due to multiple rib fractures, visceral organ injuries, some open fractures of extremities, and specific head injuries. Missing codes were most common in face, chest, and limb injuries. ConclusionsThe ICD-10 injury codes presently used in Finland should be more specific to permit reliable conversion results by the ICD-AIS map. The problem with missing codes should be considered more closely. When implementing the ICD-11, all detailed injury codes should be introduced.

Evaluation of auxin tolerance in selected tomato germplasm under greenhouse and field conditions

AbstractTomato is injured by low doses of 2,4-D, dicamba, quinclorac, and glyphosate. New crop varieties resistant to 2,4-D and dicamba are likely to increase use of these herbicides and may increase drift problems. There is a diverse germplasm of tomato available that includes wild relatives known to be tolerant to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. A greenhouse and field study was conducted to investigate auxin tolerance in three wild tomato accessions (TOM199, TOM198, and TOM300) and compare them with two commercial tomato cultivars (‘Money Maker’ and ‘Better Boy’). Auxin herbicides, which included 2,4-D, dicamba, and quinclorac, were applied at doses of 11, 3, and 39 g ae ha−1, respectively. Visible injury ratings of each accession for each herbicide treatment were recorded at 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after treatment (DAT) on a 0% to 100% scale. Results indicate that all three wild tomato accessions exhibited less than 15% injury compared with 100% injury for two commercial cultivars after application of dicamba. The three wild accessions (TOM199, TOM198, and TOM300) did not show any significant reduction in plant height compared with nontreated plants. At 28 DAT, plant heights of TOM199, TOM198, and TOM300 were 25, 25, and 28 cm when treated with dicamba and 31, 30, and 31 cm nontreated, respectively. Based on these results, the identified lines can serve as a genetic resource for developing herbicide-tolerant tomato, thus minimizing or eliminating the negative impacts of drift from nonlabeled herbicides tested in this project.

Injury by Contarinia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) to early-seeded and late-seeded canola in northeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, and assessment of seed treatments for midge control

AbstractA three-year field study in northeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, determined the effects of seeding date and seed treatment on feeding injury by Contarinia Róndani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) midges to canola, Brassica napus Linnaeus (Brassicaceae), and subsequent seed yield. Emergence cage monitoring indicated the presence of two generations of midges at the four locations observed. Intensity of midge injury to canola was low, but damaged plants were common. Field location and seeding date influenced probability of midge injury and canola growth stage. The wettest of the four locations had the greatest number of midges but low levels of probability of damage in two of three years. Early-seeded plots had higher injury probability than late-seeded plots, with the highest probability of injury occurring one to two weeks after flowering commenced. Seed treatment marginally affected midge injury ratings, suggesting that insecticide efficacy dissipated before the midges attacked. Seed yield was higher in early-seeded than in late-seeded plots in two of three years, despite the greater level of damage seen in early-seeded plots. Overall, the research showed that the agronomic benefits of early seeding outweighed the effects of the midge damage observed; therefore, producers in the Canadian prairie provinces should seed canola when conditions are most agronomically suitable.

The Use of Canopeo for Seedling Cotton Health Ratings in Small Plot Research

Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in west Tennessee to determine if Canopeo, an image analysis tool available as a smartphone app, could be used to supplement current methods to estimate cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., seedling health in small-plot research tests. A total of six tests, providing a range of cotton seedling health, were used in this analysis. Cotton seedlings in replicated small-plot tests were visually rated for vigor and thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) injury. A photograph of the center two rows of each plot was taken and analyzed to determine green canopy cover using Canopeo. Additionally, above ground biomass samples were collected in three of the tests. Strong correlations were observed between green canopy cover and biomass, green canopy cover and vigor, and thrips injury ratings and biomass. These data suggest that green canopy cover assessment using Canopeo is a useful and non-destructive way to objectively assess treatment effects on plant health in small-plot cotton research trials.

LibertyLink®, WideStrike® and XtendFlex® Tolerance to Late Postemergence Applications of Glufosinate and S-Metolachlor

Glufosinate remains an important postemergence (POST) herbicide for controlling glyphosate-resistant Amaranthus palmeri (S. Wats) in auxin-tolerant trait systems. Although visual injury from glufosinate applications to WideStrike cultivars is expected, concerns have been raised on the visual injury noted in XtendFlex cultivars, particularly with sequential late-POST glufosinate applications or when S-metolachlor is tank-mixed with glufosinate. Field trials were established in Jackson, TN during 2015 and 2017 and in Huntersville, TN during 2016. Herbicide treatments included an untreated; one, two, and three sequential applications of glufosinate; and glufosinate + S-metolachlor followed by (FB) glufosinate FB glufosinate + S-metolachlor. Applications began 40 days after planting and sequential applications were made every 10 to 14 days. Cultivars included DP 1522 B2XF (DeltaPine, Bayer CropScience, St. Louis, MO), PHY 333 WRF (Phytogen, Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, IN), and ST 4946 GLB2 (Stoneville, BASF Corp., Florham Park, NJ). Visual injury ratings varied across timing, treatment, cultivar, and site-year. Three sequential applications of glufosinate with two applications of S-metolachlor caused 7 to 20%, 2 to 15%, and 1 to 8% injury 10 days after the last application in PHY 333 WRF, DP 1522 B2XF, and ST 4946 GLB2, respectively. Cultivar lint yield and fiber quality did not vary by herbicide treatment. Producers who apply glufosinate should expect increasing visual injury from LibertyLink to XtendFlex to WideStrike cultivars, with a sharp increase in visual injury from XtendFlex to WideStrike cultivars; however, sequential, labeled applications of glufosinate with or without two applications of S-metolachlor will likely not impact yields of LibertyLink, WideStrike, or XtendFlex cultivars.

Effects of Planting Date on Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Cotton.

At-plant applications of insecticides are the most common method to manage thrips in upland cotton, Gossypium hirstutum L. Because the primary pest species, tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), has developed resistance to commonly used neonicotinoid insecticides used in producing cotton, alternative control options are needed for sustainable thrips management programs. A 3-year study (2015-2017) showed that densities of thrips, feeding injury from thrips, cotton growth, and yield varied among 10 planting dates. Densities of thrips were lowest in seedling cotton planted after mid-May in all years. Thrips injury ratings in all years were highest in cotton planted in April, lowest in cotton planted in June, and below intermediate injury (intermediate corresponded to a 3 on the 0-5 scale) levels in cotton planted after mid-May. Cotton planted during May, rather than in April or June, had the highest yield potential, regardless of variety. Results of the study indicated that altering planting date could potentially be useful in mitigating injury and losses from thrips in upland cotton.

Improved method of screening maize germplasm for resistance against Chilo partellus (Swinhoe)

Thirty diverse maize genotypes were evaluated by infesting them artificially by stem borer, Chilo partellus under field conditions during Kharif, 2014 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi and observed for their reaction. The stem borer infestation was measured in terms of leaf injury rating (LIR), dead hearts and stem tunneling. The damage by C. partellus revealed significant differences among the genotypes in respect of all the three traits measured. The leaf injury rating ranged from 2.16 in PFSR51016/1 to 8.74 in HKI 1352. The genotype WNZPBTL2 recorded minimum (14.03 per cent) dead hearts while the genotypes HKI 1378 recorded maximum (55.94 per cent) dead hearts. The larval feeding inside the stem resulted in minimum stem tunneling in WNZPBTL2 and maximum in Basi local i.e. 13.75 and 44.75 per cent respectively. The correlations among damage parameters revealed significant positive association of leaf injury with dead hearts and stem tunneling. Thus these traits proved to be visual indicators of stem borer resistance. A selection index was constructed Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012 India based on LIR and percent stem tunneling for selecting the best genotypes in the test population. The selection index led to the identification of WNZPBTL2 and PFSR 51016/1 as the resistance sources for C. partellus.

Tolerance of commercial Upland (Gossypium hirsutum) and Pima (G. barbadense) cotton cultivars, advanced breeding lines and glandless cotton to halosulfuron (Sandea) herbicide under field conditions

Halosulfuron (Sandea) herbicide is recommended to control problem weeds with the use of hood for cotton protection. However, no information is available on genotypic variation in cotton response to Sandea. In this study, 104 entries representing 81 cotton genotypes including 8 Pima (Gossypium barbadense L.) and 73 Upland (G. hirsutum L.) genotypes were divided into four replicated tests for evaluation of Sandea tolerance at the 4–5th true-leaf stage (27 days after planting, DAP) under the same field conditions in 2016. The analysis of variance did not detect a significant genotypic difference among the Pima cotton cultivars and lines tested, while there were significant genotypic variations in the three replicated Upland cotton tests. The broad-sense heritability estimates for Sandea tolerance based on crop injury ratings at 6 days after treatment (DAT) ranged from 72.1 to 82.6%, with an average of 77.9%. When 18 lines were tested in 2–3 tests (or twice in the same test), overall consistent results in crop injury ratings were obtained, which allowed the selection of the tolerant check Acala 1517-08 and the sensitive check glandless Acala 1517-18 GLS for screening cotton for Sandea tolerance. As compared to the tolerant check, no Upland genotype was more tolerant to Sandea, but many of them were as tolerant. However, three glandless cotton lines were the most sensitive to Sandea, which were significantly more sensitive to Sandea than all the glanded cotton tested except for PHY 499 WRF which was equally sensitive. Furthermore, seedlings at the first true-leaf stage (14 DAP) were not sensitive to Sandea, as no apparent crop injury was observed at 6 DAT. This is the first report on genotypic variation for Sandea tolerance in cotton, and the results provide useful information in cotton breeding for cultivar selection for tolerance to Sandea herbicide.

Effect of postemergence fomesafen application on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) growth and utilization by monarchs (Danaus plexippus)

Field experiments were conducted to investigate impacts of herbicide injury to common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) on oviposition preference of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus Linnaeus). Common milkweed seedlings were transplanted in patches containing five plants spaced 25 cm apart in a no-till soybean field shortly after soybean planting in 2016. Herbicide treatments included an untreated control and 0.14 kg ha−1 fomesafen plus 0.5% crop oil concentrate applied postemergence. The experiment was repeated in the same area in 2017 by planting soybean no-till prior to common milkweed emergence. Common milkweed leaves displayed chlorosis and necrotic lesions five days after fomesafen application during both years. Two weeks following application many leaves damaged by fomesafen dehisced, and plants averaged an injury rating of 3.4 (visual scale of 1 = healthy and 5 = dead). Leaves emerging from the apical meristem following fomesafen application appeared normal, and four weeks after application injury ratings decreased to an average of 2.6. Dry weight of common milkweed ten weeks after application was not affected by fomesafen in either year. Common milkweed plants were examined for monarch eggs and larval instars weekly from May to August. In 2016, patches averaged 0.8 eggs, whereas in 2017 patches averaged 45.2 eggs. Fomesafen did not affect oviposition preference by monarch butterflies in either year. Larval instars on the milkweed patches were recorded throughout 2017. Presence and survival of instars were not affected by fomesafen, with patches averaging 7.5 and 0.1 first and fifth instars, respectively. In greenhouse experiments, common milkweed survived fomesafen rates up to 0.28 kg ha−1, twice the rate typically used in soybean, and plants showed signs of recovery within two weeks of application.

Selectivity of Very‐Long‐Chain Fatty Acid‐Inhibiting Herbicides in Rice as Influenced by Application Timing and Soil Texture

Core Ideas Alternative herbicide sites of action are desperately needed in US rice. Rice exhibited tolerance to the currently non‐labeled herbicides acetochlor and pethoxamid when applied at the one‐ to two‐leaf growth stage on a silt loam and clay soil. Delaying application of very‐long‐chain fatty acid‐inhibiting herbicides until drill‐seeded rice has completely emerged enhanced crop tolerance. Very‐long‐chain fatty acid (VLCFA)‐inhibiting herbicides include pyroxasulfone, S‐metolachlor, acetochlor, and pethoxamid. Currently, no VLCFA‐inhibiting herbicides are labeled for use in US rice production; however, if rice tolerance can be established they would provide an alternative herbicide site of action (SOA). In 2015 and 2016, pyroxasulfone (Zidua) at 0.14 lb a.i. ac−1, S‐metolachlor (Dual Magnum) at 0.95 lb a.i. ac−1, acetochlor (Warrant) at 0.95 lb a.i. ac−1, and pethoxamid at 0.75 lb a.i. ac−1 were applied delayed preemergence (DPRE) and to spiking and one‐ to two‐leaf rice on a Dewitt silt loam and a Sharkey clay soil. Trials were conducted at separate locations to determine the effect differing soil properties may have on the tolerance of rice to VLCFA‐inhibiting herbicides. Substantial rice injury was observed on the Dewitt silt loam soil following all pyroxasulfone and S‐metolachlor treatments, ranging from 20 to 100% injury 3 weeks after rice flooding. On the Dewitt silt loam, treatments containing acetochlor and pethoxamid applied to one‐ to two‐leaf rice resulted in minimal injury and the highest yields observed among VLCFA‐inhibiting herbicides. In general, rice injury ratings were less on the Sharkey clay soil. Pethoxamid and acetochlor applied to rice at any application timing resulted in ≤ 1% injury 2 weeks after treatment. Hence, contingent on a label, pethoxamid and acetochlor can be applied under similar conditions as early as DPRE on the Sharkey clay soil and not until the one‐ to two‐leaf rice stage on the Dewitt silt loam at the rates assessed.

Application Timing and Rate Effects on Rice Tolerance to Very‐Long‐Chain Fatty Acid–Inhibiting Herbicides

Core Ideas We evaluated dry‐seeded rice tolerance to four very‐long‐chain fatty acid‐inhibiting herbicides over four application timings. As application timing was delayed relative to rice planting, rice tolerance to all herbicides generally improved. Injury to rice from S‐metolachlor and pyroxasulfone was unacceptable, whereas rice exhibited sufficient tolerance to pethoxamid and acetochlor. Integrating herbicide sites of action used in other cropping systems into rice (Oryza sativa L.) production provides a unique opportunity to control weeds that are resistant to current rice herbicides. Today, there are no very‐long‐chain fatty acid (VLCFA)–inhibiting herbicides labeled for use in U.S. rice. Field trials were conducted in 2015 and 2016 near Stuttgart, AR, to assess rice tolerance to four VLCFA‐inhibiting herbicides. Individual field trials were conducted to determine rice tolerance to pyroxasulfone, S‐metolachlor, pethoxamid, and a microencapsulated formulation of acetochlor. In each trial, two rates of the particular herbicide were applied to rice at the delayed preemergence, spiking, 1‐ to 2‐leaf (lf), and 3‐ to 4‐lf timings. Rice injury ranging from 20 to 96% was observed 5 wk after flooding following the use of pyroxasulfone at all rates and application timings, which caused a decrease in rice yield relative to the nontreated control in both years. Rice injury from S‐metolachlor was reduced as application timings were made past planting in 2016; however, injury ratings ranged from 19 to 100% over the growing season, largely because of differences in application timing and rainfall following the earlier applications. Overall, acetochlor and pethoxamid caused the lowest injury with little or no yield reduction compared with the nontreated control. Because of rice tolerance to acetochlor and pethoxamid at the 1‐ to 2‐lf and 3‐ to 4‐lf application timings, it appears that these herbicides can safely be applied in U.S. rice production.

Assessing ozone damage to cutleaf coneflower in an ozone bioindicator garden

To collect data on ozone pollution and foliar damage, we established the first Philadelphia Ozone Bioindicator Garden at The Franklin Institute Science Museum. In this paper, we examine the relationship between ozone concentrations in an urban environment and changes in foliar damage in cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) plants. Higher ozone concentrations were observed during Summer 2015 than during Summer 2014 at our site. Diurnal analysis reveals a nightly diminishment of ozone's rate of dissipation around 4am, which we attributed to intrusions of air from the residual layer (the layer of air above the boundary layer). We saw that visible foliar injury starts relatively slowly and accelerates beginning in late July for stippling and early August for chlorosis and necrosis. We found that injury ratings on ozone-damaged leaves progress faster later in the season despite lower ambient ozone concentrations; we hypothesized that this is evidence of a “latency period” in the cutleaf coneflower's foliar injury response to ozone. Cutleaf coneflowers may serve as engaging tools to alert and inform Philadelphians about air quality issues. Our results suggest that these plants are good candidates for future work in developing bioindicators of ozone where direct monitoring is not feasible.

Trauma transitional care coordination: A mature system at work.

We have previously demonstrated effectiveness of a Trauma Transitional Care Coordination (TTCC) Program in reducing 30-day readmission rates for trauma patients most at risk. With program maturation, we achieved improved readmission rates for specific patient populations. TTCC is a nursing driven program that supports patients at high risk for 30-day readmission. The TTCC interventions include calls to patients within 72 hours of discharge, complete medication reconciliation, coordination of medical appointments, and individualized problem solving. Account IDs were used to link TTCC patients with the Health Services Cost Review Commission database to collect data on statewide unplanned 30-day readmissions. Four hundred seventy-five patients were enrolled in the TTCC program from January 2014 to September 2016. Only 10.5% (n = 50) of TTCC enrollees were privately insured, 54.5% had Medicaid (n = 259), and 13.5% had Medicare (n = 64). Seventy-three percent had Health Services Cost Review Commission severity of injury ratings of 3 or 4 (maximum severity of injury = 4). The most common All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups for participants were: lower-extremity procedures (n = 67, 14%); extensive abdominal/thoracic procedures (n = 40, 8.4%); musculoskeletal procedures (n = 37, 7.8%); complicated tracheostomy and upper extremity procedures (n = 29 each, 6.1%); infectious disease complications (n = 14, 2.9%); major chest/respiratory trauma, major small and large bowel procedures and vascular procedures (n = 13 each, 2.7%). The TTCC participants with lower-extremity injury, complicated tracheostomy, and bowel procedures had 6-point reduction (10% vs. 16%, p = 0.05), 11-point reduction (13% vs. 24%, p = 0.05), and 16-point reduction (11% vs. 27%, p = 0.05) in 30-day readmission rates, respectively, compared to those without TTCC. Targeted outpatient support for high-risk patients can decrease 30-day readmission rates. As our TTCC program matured, we reduced 30-day readmission in patients with lower-extremity injury, complicated tracheostomy and bowel procedures. This represents over one million-dollar savings for the hospital per year through quality-based reimbursement. Therapeutic/care management, level III.

Dynamic variation trend and prognostic value of bronchial wall thickness in severely burned patients combined with inhalation injury

Objective: To explore the dynamic variation trend of bronchial wall thickness (BWT) in severely burned patients combined with inhalation injury, and to determine the value of BWT to prognosis of patients. Methods: Forty-three severely burned patients with inhalation injury hospitalized in Intensive Burn Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Nankai University (Tianjin No.4 Hospital) from July to November 2016, conforming to the study criteria, were divided into survival group (n=27) and death group (n=16) according to the prognosis of patients within 14 days after admission. All patients underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy and inhalation injury rating based on abbreviated injury scale at admission. High resolution CT examination was performed in patients of two groups at admission and 24 h post admission, 3, 7, and 14 d post admission to measure the BWT of right superior lobar bronchus trunk opening. Receiver operating characteristic curves of rating of inhalation damage at admission and BWT at admission were drawn to evaluate the predictive value for death of 43 patients. Data were processed with chi-square test, independent sample t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement and least-significant difference-t test. Results: (1) The numbers of patients rated as 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 grade for inhalation injury in survival group and death group were 0, 19, 6, 2, and 0, and 0, 2, 7, 7, and 0, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (Z=-3.79, P<0.01). (2) BWT of patients in death group at admission and 24 h post admission, 3, 7, and 14 d post admission was respectively (2.72±0.26), (3.18±0.22), (2.98±0.18), (2.29±0.17), and (1.45±0.21) mm, which was significantly larger than (2.24±0.15), (2.49±0.15), (1.51±0.17), (1.04±0.16), and (1.01±0.13) mm in survival group (t=7.55, 12.14, 27.11, 19.99, 7.11, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group at 24 h post admission, 3, 7, and 14 d post admission showed statistically significant difference when compared with that at admission within the corresponding group (t=5.97, 16.63, 28.21, 38.57, 5.34, 3.31, 4.39, 6.48, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group on 3, 7, and 14 d post admission was significantly smaller than that at 24 h post admission within the corresponding group (t=22.27, 34.02, 45.03, 2.77, 10.53, 10.59, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group on 7 and 14 d post admission was significantly smaller than that on 3 d post admission within the corresponding group (t=10.49, 18.26, 9.57, 11.44, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group on 14 d post admission was significantly smaller than that on 7 d post admission within the corresponding group (t=6.97, 6.15, P<0.01). (3) The total areas under ROC curves of inhalation injury rating at admission and BWT at admission for predicting death of 43 patients were 0.880 and 0.956, respectively (with 95% confidence intervals 0.768-0.991, 0.882-1.000, P<0.05). Grade 1.5 and 2.75 mm were respectively chosen as the optimal threshold values of inhalation injury rating at admission and BWT at admission, with sensitivity of 87.50%, 83.33% and specificity of 77.78%, 96.00%, respectively. Conclusions: The BWT of survived and dead patients with severe burn and inhalation injury increases significantly post burn, while the BWT of survived patients restores to normal level faster. BWT can be used to assess the severity of inhalation injury and to predict death in severely burned patients combined with inhalation injury.

Potential biopesticides for crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) management under dryland canola production in Montana

The crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze), is an economically important and dominant pest of canola (Brassica napus L) in the Northern Great Plains of the USA. The current flea beetle management strategy is based on using synthetic chemical treated seeds and if necessary, foliar spray of chemicals at canola seedlings in early spring for targeting adult population. However, there is an increasing demand for development of alternative management strategies for P. cruciferae pertaining to concerns over the development of resistance to synthetic insecticides and non-target effects on pollinators and other beneficial insects. Replicated field trials were conducted to test the efficacy of several commercially available biopesticides including Entrust® (spinosad), entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae + Barricade® (polymer gel 1%), Aza-Direct® (azadirachtin), Pyganic 1.4® EC (pyrethrin), Grandevo® SC (Chromobacterium subtsugae), Venerate® XC (Heat killed Burkholderia sp. strain A396 as seed treatment and foliar application) and Gaucho® (imidacloprid) (chemical check) for the P. cruciferae management at two locations (Conrad and Sweetgrass) of Montana in 2016. Biopesticide products were evaluated based on canola leaf area injury ratings and seed yield levels. Although, there was no clear trend of canola yield increase, selected biopesticide treatments were effective in maintaining low leaf area injury ratings as compared to untreated control. Entrust was able to maintain low leaf area injury ratings (8.5–14.5%) when compared to untreated control (16.0–21.4%) at both the locations. Entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae + Barricade® and Venerate® applied as foliar treatments maintained significantly lower feeding injury pressure at Sweetgrass (11.8%) and Conrad (13.4%) locations respectively, when compared to the untreated control. Our study results suggest that these biopesticide treatment results were comparable in efficacy to the chemical seed treatment Gaucho®. Other two biopesticide products- Aza-Direct® and Pyganic 1.4® EC treatments did not provide effective control of P. cruciferae at both the locations.