Recent reports implicating excess storage iron as a risk factor in coronary heart disease have prompted a reevaluation of the physiological role of iron. When the consequences of both iron depletion and iron overload are considered, it becomes apparent that recommendations to the general public regarding iron status need to be based on results of sound scientific investigations and not only on conjecture and hypotheses.

Virus inactivation for development of lyphilized tissue vaccine against viral haemorrhagic disease in rabbits was achieved by thermal effect. The thermovaccine proved to be harmless, active and highly immunogenic. A single immunization of rabbits with 0,5 ml dosage created on the 4-th day the immunity that lasted not less than 12 months. During storage for 12 months, the vaccine keeps high immunobiological features

Fifteen field fungi belonging to 10 genera and five storage fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus were isolated from twenty six seed samples of nine cultivars of soybean. The field fungi causing reduction in seed germination or seedling emergence were Alternaria alternata, Cercospora kikuchii, Colletotrichum truncatum and C. dematium. The fungi causing diseases of roots and damping-off comprised of Fusarium equiseti, F. moniliforme, F. pallidoroseum, F. oxysporum, F. solani and Macrophomina phaseolina while pathogens causing foliage and pod disease were A. alternata, C. dematium, C. truncatum, C. kikuchii, Curvularia lunata, Phomopsis sojae, Myrothecium verrucaria and Stemphylium botryosum. All seed samples of four cultivars namely NARC-III, Crawford, William-82 and Century were found infected to some degree whereas 50 to 66.70 percent samples of other five cultivars showed no infection. Range of fungal infection percentage in individual samples varied from 0.00 to 14.0. High incidence of storage fungi (Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus spp.) reduced seed germination potential in-vitro.

Sterilization of apparatus and culture media. Culture of pathogens. Long-term storage of plant pathogens. Detection and estimation of inoculum. Establishment of disease and testing for resistance. Soil microorganisms. Fungicide evaluation. Biological control. Bright-field microscopy techniques. Culture media and their formulas. Plant nutrient solutions. Solutions to maintain constant humidity in a closed atmosphere. Drying agents. pH indicator dyes. Approximate figures for conco]entrated acids and bases. Preservation of museum specimens. Collection, preparation, and mailing of cultures and specimens. Glassware cleaning solutions. Revised scientific names of selected plant pathogens.

Cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) results from inherited deficiencies of the lysosomal hydrolase, acid lipase (LAL; E.C. 3.1.1.13). To establish the molecular defects in LAL deficiency, two unrelated probands with severely reduced LAL activity were examined. DNA amplification by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequence analysis of LAL cDNA identified two mutant alleles. Patient 1, presenting with hepatosplenomegaly, mildly elevated liver function tests, and hyperlipidemia, was homozygous for a deletion of nucleotides 823 to 894 of the LAL cDNA. This 72-bp deletion maintained the reading frame and resulted in a loss of 24 amino acids from the LAL protein. Analysis of genomic DNA revealed that the 72 bp corresponded to an exon of the LAL gene. A single G to A point mutation at the last exon position was observed in the genomic DNA of patient 1, indicating a splicing defect with consecutive exon skipping underlying the 72-bp deletion. Patient 2 was a compound heterozygote for the 72-bp deletion and a dinucleotide deletion at positions 967 and 968. This deletion resulted in a shifted reading frame carboxyterminal of codon 296, and 43 random amino acids followed the frame shift. A premature stop at codon 339 truncated the mutant LAL protein by 34 amino acids. Allele-specific hybridization confirmed that patient 1 was homozygous for the 72-bp deletion mutation, and that patient 2 was a compound heterozygote for the 72-bp deletion and the 2-bp deletion.

Methods are described to collect and store basidiospores of Crinipellis perniciosa and to inoculate seedlings of cacao (Theobroma cacao) for evaluation of resistance to witches'-broom disease. Basidiospores of C. perniciosa collected overnight in a 16% glycerol solution (containing buffer and Tween 20) remained viable but did not germinate until the collecting solution was diluted to 3% glycerol. Basidiospores freshly collected or stored in the collecting solution for 1 week at 4 degrees C, or stored in liquid nitrogen for up to 18 months remained viable and, after application to cacao seedlings, caused witches'-broom. Witches'-broom developed on inoculated susceptible seedlings placed in a dew chamber for 4 to 6 h at 25 degrees C, but did not develop on seedlings after 2 to 4 h of wetness. Maximal percentages of seedlings became diseased with 15 h of wetness. Differences in percentage of witches'-broom were evident among susceptible and putatively resistant cacao families inoculated with basidiospore concentrations of 10,000 and 12,500 spores per ml; however, higher concentrations (25,000 to 100,000 per ml) resulted in nearly 100% disease. Likewise, inoculation of flushes with large succulent leaves resulted in high percentages of disease in all families. Discrimination among families by percentages of diseased seedlings was achieved when small (0.3 to 1.5 cm) leaves were inoculated. Procedures for basidiospore collection and storage, inoculation of cacao seedlings, and control of pre- and postinoculation conditions support the effective and efficient screening of cacao for resistance to witches'-broom disease.

Connie M. Weaver, Ph.D., is professor and Head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University. Much of Dr. Weaverʼs research has focused on the metabolism of minerals, particularly calcium and iron.Recent reports implicating excess storage iron as a risk factor in coronary heart disease have prompted a reevaluation of the physiological role of iron. When the consequences of both iron depletion and iron overload are considered, it becomes apparent that recommendations to the general public regarding iron status need to be based on results of sound scientific investigations and not only on conjecture and hypotheses.

PSB Pn (UPL Pn 12) is a Valencia peanut variety derived from the 3-way cross between (UPL Pn 2 x FESR 1) x NC6. Its seed yield is higher than both check varieties. It exceeded the seed yield of BPI Pn 2 by 17.54 percent and PSB Pn-1 by 12.88 percent in the 12 NCT trials during the two dry cropping seasons across seven locations. It has better resistance to peanut rust and late Cercospora leafspot disease than both check varieties. Similar to PSB Pn 1, it has resistance to leafhopper damage. It has moderate resistance to Aspergillus flavus invasion during seed resistance test and it has high seed viability even after six months pod storage at ambient storage condition. It is a Valencia type of peanut with two to four seeds per pod. Majority of the pods are 3-seeded. It has tan seed coat. Similar to UPL Pn 4, it has sweet taste and could be used as boiled peanut and for peanut butter manufacture

Thiabendazole-resistant strains of Fusarium sambucinum and F. solani var. coeruleum threaten to negate chemical control options for post harvest treatment of Fusarium dry rot. Biological control of dry rot of storage tubers is feasible using bacterial antagonists (25). The impact of yeasts on dry rot has not been investigated. Initial biological control tests employed strains of twenty species of yeasts from the ARS Culture Collection (NRRL). Strain selection was based on strain isolation from plant matter or from environments that would indicate a high likelihood of strain survival in soil. The control potential of these and 29 additional strains isolated from soil adhering to recently harvested tubers was evaluated using a whole Russet Burbank tuber bioassay. At 2 times 10-6 cells/ml, only two unidentified strains and Cryptococcus laurentii strain NRRL Y-2536 reduced disease (P=0.05, P=0.10, respectively) while bacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens 2.79 (NRRL B-15132) was more effective (P=0.01). Conversely, Debaryomyces robertsiae increased disease (P=0.05). No yeast strains significantly controlled disease in a subsequent trial. One of six additional strains of C. laurentii (P=0.10), none of five strains of Pichia farinosa and neither unidentified strain controlled disease at 5 times 10-7 cells/ml whereas P. fluorescens again reduced disease (P=0.01). After 6 h, four yeast strains decreased and three increased conidial germination of E. sambucinum R-6380 though there were no differences after 18 h. Five yeast strains, including two strains of C. laurentii (NRRL Y-2536, NRRL Y-7139) were marginally effective in controlling disease incited by F. solani var. coeruleum S-1257. Though additional testing may identify yeast strains with considerable promise as biological control agents active against Fusarium dry rot, evidence to date indicates bacterial agents have a greater potential for commercial development.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.) suffers from 24 diseases of fungal, bacterial, viral and mycoplasmal origin. Of them, soft rot (Pythium aphanidermatum), yellows (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi), bacterial wilt (Pseudomonas solanacearum), Phyllosticta leaf spot (Phyllosticta zingiberi) and storage rot by many pathogenic, saprophytic fungi and bacteria are of economic importance because of their potential to cause great losses to ginger production. The constraints in disease management and the strategies that have been developed to manage the diseases involving' cultural, chemical and biological methods combined with soil solarization are discussed. Future options for the management of ginger diseases by integration of conventional strategies with modern biotechnological means for effective control measures are also discussed.