Resumen Un programa de investigación para desarrollar variedades de leucaena estériles fue iniciado para beneficiar la producción de carne roja en diferentes regiones de Australia, incluyendo Western Australia, Northern Territory y New South Wales, donde actualmente no se permite o fomenta el cultivo de leucaena por su potencial riesgo como maleza. En este estudio informamos sobre el desarrollo de una metodología utilizando un agente mutagenizante, EMS (metanosulfonato de etilo), para generar mutaciones en un cultivar comercial de leucaena autofértil, cv. Redlands. Se completaron varios experimentos para determinar la tasa óptima de EMS y se establecieron plantas mutagenizadas de primera generación (M0) en el campo de experimentación Redlands, Cleveland, Queensland, Australia. Se encontró que una concentración de EMS del 0.35% aplicado al papel de germinación es el mejor método para lograr un porcentaje de emergencia del 50%. Hasta la fecha, 27 de 179 plantas M0 mutagenizadas sin semillas se consideran supuestamente estériles. Se han establecido otras 1,200 plantas M0 en el campo, lo que brinda una posibilidad aún mayor de identificar plantas de leucaena estériles al tiempo que se retienen los atributos deseados como alta calidad forrajera y resistencia a los psílidos (insectos de la familia Psyllidae).

Abstract A research program to develop sterile leucaena has commenced to enhance red-meat production in additional regions of Australia including Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales, where growing seeded leucaena is not currently permitted or encouraged. In this study we report on the development of methodology using a mutagenizing agent, EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate), to cause mutations in the self-fertile commercial leucaena cultivar, Redlands. Several experiments to determine the optimum rate of EMS have been completed and first generation mutagenized plants (M0) established in the field at Redlands Research Station, Cleveland, Queensland, Australia. An EMS concentration of 0.35% applied to germination paper proved the best method to achieve a target emergence percentage of 50%. To date, 27 of 179 mutagenized M0 seedless plants are considered to be putatively sterile. A further 1,200 M0 plants have been established in the field providing an even greater chance of identifying sterile leucaena plants with the desired forage quality and psyllid-resistance attributes.

Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) offers rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance. However, little is known about routine point-of-care (POC) use in high TB/HIV burden settings. We describe our experiences of launching Xpert as the POC, initial diagnostic for all TB suspects at a primary healthcare clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. Noted important benefits of POC Xpert were fewer clinic visits, rapid detection of TB and rifampicin resistance, real-time assessment of accompanying household members of new TB cases, and increased staff motivation for TB screening. While Xpert results are available within 2 hours, actual turnaround time was longer for most patients because of sample preparation time and clinic congestion. Consequently, a GX4 instrument did not result in a 16-test capacity during an 8-hour working day, and some patients did not receive same-day results. Loss to follow-up was an unforeseen challenge, overcome by clinic flow changes, marking of clinic files, documenting patients' physical description and locating patients in the clinic by cell phone. Staff with high school education successfully performed the assay after minimal training. Human resource requirements were considerable, with a minimum of 2 staff needed to supervise sputum collection, process sputum, perform assays, and document results for an average of 15 TB suspects daily. POC placement of the instrument transferred logistical responsibilities to the clinic, including quality assurance, maintenance, stock control and cartridge disposal. POC use of Xpert is feasible at the primary healthcare level but must be accompanied by financial, operational and logistical support

Eqüinos abandonados pelos seus proprietários nas margens das principais rodovias federais que cruzam o Estado do Rio de Janeiro foram incluídos neste estudo. Um total de 1.121 eqüinos apreendidos pela Polícia Rodoviária Federal foi examinado de novembro de 1998 a novembro de 2000. Os 107 (9,5%) animais com suspeita clínica de sarna psoróptica foram submetidos a raspados cutâneos superficiais e nestes a espécie Psoroptes equi foi diagnosticada em 37 (34,6%). Não houve associação entre a prevalência da infestação e a idade ou sexo do hospedeiro (chi2, p>0,05). Em relação ao tipo de pelagem, P. equi foi diagnosticada em animais com diferentes cores. A região dorsal (cernelha até a anca) foi a mais afetada.

Horses, abandoned by their owners (stray horses) along the main roads in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, and brought by the Federal Police to a quarantine station at the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, were included in the study. A total of 1,121 horses were examined from November 1998 to November 2000. Skin scrapings from 107 (9.5%) horses with signs of psoroptic mange resulted in 37 (34.6%) positive animals for Psoroptes equi. There was no statistical correlation between prevalence and host age or sex (chi2, p>0,05). P. equi was diagnosed in animals with different hair color. The dorsal region (withers to hip) was the most affected area of the body.

Este trabalho foi instalado na Estação Experimental de Agronomia de Pindorama, SP, com a finalidade de avaliar a interação enxerto vs. porta-enxertos de seringueira, Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg. Os clones utilizados foram IAN 873, RRIM 600, RRIM 701, PB 235, PR 107 e GT 1, enxertados em seis diferentes porta-enxertos provenientes de sementes ilegítimas dos clones IAN 873, RRIM 600, RRIM 701, PB 235, GT 1 e de sementes não selecionadas. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas, tendo os porta-enxertos como tratamentos e os clones (enxertos) como subtratamentos, em quatro repetições. Os resultadosmostram que no período de avaliação o porta-enxerto GT 1 e IAN 873 foram os que produziram os maiores perímetros por planta, sendo 10,20 % maior que o de sementes não selecionadas. Paralelamente, os enxertos em vigor mostraram que os clones PB 235, RRIM 600 e PR 107 apresentaram melhor desempenho, com um perímetro do caule 8,12% maior que o dos clonesRRIM 701 e GT 1,notadamente os de menor vigor. A interação enxerto vs. porta-enxerto não foi significativa.

This paper was established in the experimental fields of Estação Experimental de Agronomia de Pindorama, SP, Brazil, in order to evaluate rootstocks vs. scion interaction in rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr de Juss.) Müell. Arg. The clones involved were: IAN 873, RRIM 600, RRIM 701, PB 235, PR 107 and GT 1 grafted in six different rootstocks from illegitimate seeds ofthe clones IAN 873, RRIM 600, RRIM 701, PB 235, GT 1 and from unselected seeds. The lay out used was that of randomized blocks in split-splot design, with four replications. The outcome has shown that in the evaluation period the GT 1 and IAN 873 rootstocks were the ones which produced the mayor girth per plant, being 10.20% larger than that of unselected seeds. At the same time the clones studied pointed out that PB 235, RRIM 600 and PR 107 had a better achievement with an increase of8.12% in the stem girth compared with RRIM 701 and GT 1 clones that had the worst development. The interaction rootstocks vs. scion was not significant.