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ABSTRACT Objective. To provide a comprehensive overview of geographical patterns (2001-2010) and time trends (1993-2012) of cancer incidence in children aged 0-19 years in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and interpret the findings in the context of global patterns. Methods. Geographical variations in 2001-2010 and incidence trends over 1993-2012 in the population of LAC younger than 20 years were described using the database of the third volume of the International Incidence of Childhood Cancer study containing comparable data. Age-specific incidence per million person-years (ASR) was calculated for population subgroups and age-standardized (WSR) using the world standard population. Results. Overall, 36 744 unique cases were included in this study. In 2001-2010 the overall WSR in age 0-14 years was 132.6. The most frequent were leukemia (WSR 48.7), central nervous system neoplasms (WSR 23.0), and lymphoma (WSR 16.6). The overall ASR in age group 15-19 years was 152.3 with lymphoma ranking first (ASR 30.2). Incidence was higher in males than in females, and higher in South America than in Central America and the Caribbean. Compared with global data LAC incidence was lower overall, except for leukemia and lymphoma at age 0-14 years and the other and unspecified tumors at any age. Overall incidence at age 0-19 years increased by 1.0% per year (95% CI [0.6, 1.3]) over 1993-2012. The included registries covered 16% of population aged 0-14 years and 10% of population aged 15-19 years. Conclusions. The observed patterns provide a baseline to assess the status and evolution of childhood cancer occurrence in the region. Extended and sustained support of cancer registration is required to improve representativeness and timeliness of data for childhood cancer control in LAC.

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RESUMO Objetivo. Apresentar uma visão abrangente dos padrões geográficos (2001 a 2010) e das tendências temporais (1993 a 2012) da incidência de câncer em crianças e jovens de 0 a 19 anos na América Latina e no Caribe (ALC) e interpretar os resultados no contexto de padrões mundiais. Métodos. Foram descritas variações geográficas de 2001 a 2010 e tendências de incidência de 1993 a 2012 na população com menos de 20 anos da ALC usando informações comparáveis da base de dados do terceiro volume do estudo International Incidence of Childhood Cancer. Foram calculadas taxas de incidência específica por idade por milhão de pessoas-ano (ASR, na sigla em inglês) para subgrupos populacionais e taxas padronizadas por idade usando a população padrão mundial (WSR, na sigla em inglês). Resultados. No total, foram incluídos 36 744 casos únicos. No período de 2001 a 2010, a WSR para todos os tumores combinados na faixa etária de 0 a 14 anos foi de 132,6. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram leucemia (WSR de 48,7), neoplasias do sistema nervoso central (WSR de 23,0) e linfoma (WSR de 16,6). A ASR para todos os tumores combinados na faixa etária de 15 a 19 anos foi de 152,3, e a maior taxa foi a de linfoma (ASR de 30,2). A incidência foi maior no sexo masculino do que no sexo feminino e maior na América do Sul do que na América Central e no Caribe. De modo geral, em comparação com as estimativas mundiais, a incidência na ALC foi menor, exceto para leucemia e linfoma entre 0 e 14 anos e para outros tumores e tumores não especificados em qualquer idade. A taxa de incidência na faixa etária de 0 a 19 anos aumentou em 1,0% ao ano (IC de 95% [0,6, 1,3]) entre 1993 e 2012. Os registros incluídos cobriam 16% da população de 0 a 14 anos e 10% da população de 15 a 19 anos. Conclusões. Os padrões observados servem de referência para avaliar o status e a evolução da ocorrência de câncer infantil na região. É necessário garantir um apoio ampliado e consistente aos registros de câncer para aprimorar a representatividade e a disponibilidade das informações em tempo adequado para o controle do câncer infantil na ALC.

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Murine leprosy is a systemic infectious disease of mice caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) in which the central nervous system (CNS) is not infected; nevertheless, diseased animals show measurable cognitive alterations. For this reason, in this study, we explored the neurobehavioral changes in mice chronically infected with MLM. BALB/c mice were infected with MLM, and 120 days later, the alterations in mice were evaluated based on immunologic, histologic, endocrine, neurochemical, and behavioral traits. We found increases in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 associated with high bacillary loads. We also found increase in the serum levels of corticosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the adrenal gland, suggesting neuroendocrine deregulation. Mice exhibited depression-like behavior in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests and anxiolytic behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The neurobehavioral alterations of mice were correlated with the histologic damage in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as with a blood-brain barrier disruption in the hippocampus. These results reveal an interrelated response of the neuroimmune--endocrinological axis in unresolved chronic infections that result in neurocognitive deterioration.

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We investigated increasing genetic gain for grain yield using early generation genomic selection (GS). A training set of 1,334 elite wheat breeding lines tested over three field seasons was used to generate Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBVs) for grain yield under irrigated conditions applying markers and three different prediction methods: (1) Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (GBLUP), (2) GBLUP with the imputation of missing genotypic data by Ridge Regression BLUP (rrGBLUP_imp), and (3) Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) a.k.a. Gaussian Kernel (GK). F2 GEBVs were generated for 1,924 individuals from 38 biparental cross populations between 21 parents selected from the training set. Results showed that F2 GEBVs from the different methods were not correlated. Experiment 1 consisted of selecting F2s with the highest average GEBVs and advancing them to form genomically selected bulks and make intercross populations aiming to combine favorable alleles for yield. F4:6 lines were derived from genomically selected bulks, intercrosses, and conventional breeding methods with similar numbers from each. Results of field-testing for Experiment 1 did not find any difference in yield with genomic compared to conventional selection. Experiment 2 compared the predictive ability of the different GEBV calculation methods in F2 using a set of single plant-derived F2:4 lines from randomly selected F2 plants. Grain yield results from Experiment 2 showed a significant positive correlation between observed yields of F2:4 lines and predicted yield GEBVs of F2 single plants from GK (the predictive ability of 0.248, P < 0.001) and GBLUP (0.195, P < 0.01) but no correlation with rrGBLUP_imp. Results demonstrate the potential for the application of GS in early generations of wheat breeding and the importance of using the appropriate statistical model for GEBV calculation, which may not be the same as the best model for inbreds.

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INTRODUCTION: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a device that reduces or eliminates the need of mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic respiratory failure who keep the phrenic nerve-diaphragm axis intact, as long as they do not present intrinsic lung disease. Although its implantation has been practiced for deca des, its use is not widespread and to date, there is little published literature about it, mostly related to high spinal cord injury and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To describe an experience of diaphragmatic pacemaker implantation in a pediatric patient with acquired cen tral hypoventilation syndrome. CLINICAL CASE: Female patient with central hypoventilation syndrome secondary to ischemic brainstem lesion as a result of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. For this reason, for 5 years she was supported by inpatient mechanical ventilation. At 7 years of age, a diaphragmatic pacemaker was implanted by thoracoscopic surgery, which allowed, after a period of rehabilitation and respiratory conditioning, mechanical ventilation withdrawal, and hospital dischar ge. CONCLUSIONS: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a feasible, potentially safe, and cost-effective option for decreasing or eliminating mechanical ventilation dependence and improve life quality in patients with acquired central hypoventilation syndrome.

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Resumen: Introducción: El marcapasos diafragmático permite reducir o eliminar la necesidad de ventilación mecánica en pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica que conservan el eje nervio frénico-diafragma in tacto, siempre que no presenten enfermedad pulmonar intrínseca. Aunque su implantación ha sido practicada por décadas, su uso no está ampliamente difundido, y existe poca literatura pu blicada al respecto, la mayoría relacionada con lesión medular alta y síndrome de hipoventilación central congénito. Objetivo: Describir una experiencia de implantación de marcapasos diafragmático en paciente pediátrico con síndrome de hipoventilación central adquirido. Caso Clínico: Pa ciente femenino con síndrome de hipoventilación central secundario a lesión isquémica de tronco cerebral como resultado de disfunción de válvula de derivación ventrículo peritoneal, motivo por el cual durante 5 años se mantuvo con asistencia de ventilación mecánica intrahospitalaria. A los 7 años de edad se implantó marcapasos diafragmático mediante cirugía toracoscópica, lo que per mitió posterior a un periodo de rehabilitación y acondicionamiento respiratorio el destete de la ventilación mecánica y el egreso hospitalario. Conclusiones: El marcapasos diafragmático es una opción factible, potencialmente segura y costo efectiva para disminuir o eliminar la dependencia de ventilación mecánica y mejorar la calidad de vida en pacientes con síndrome de hipoventilación central adquirido.

Abstract: Introduction: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a device that reduces or eliminates the need of mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic respiratory failure who keep the phrenic nerve-diaphragm axis intact, as long as they do not present intrinsic lung disease. Although its implantation has been practiced for deca des, its use is not widespread and to date, there is little published literature about it, mostly related to high spinal cord injury and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Objective: To describe an experience of diaphragmatic pacemaker implantation in a pediatric patient with acquired cen tral hypoventilation syndrome. Clinical Case: Female patient with central hypoventilation syndrome secondary to ischemic brainstem lesion as a result of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. For this reason, for 5 years she was supported by inpatient mechanical ventilation. At 7 years of age, a diaphragmatic pacemaker was implanted by thoracoscopic surgery, which allowed, after a period of rehabilitation and respiratory conditioning, mechanical ventilation withdrawal, and hospital dischar ge. Conclusions: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a feasible, potentially safe, and cost-effective option for decreasing or eliminating mechanical ventilation dependence and improve life quality in patients with acquired central hypoventilation syndrome.

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During the development of the sympathetic nervous system, signals from tropomyosin-related kinase receptors (Trks) and p75 neurotrophin receptors (p75) compete to regulate survival and connectivity. During this process, nerve growth factor (NGF)- TrkA signaling in axons communicates NGF-mediated trophic responses in signaling endosomes. Whether axonal p75 signaling contributes to neuronal death and how signaling endosomes contribute to p75 signaling has not been established. Using compartmentalized sympathetic neuronal cultures (CSCGs) as a model, we observed that the addition of BDNF to axons increased the transport of p75 and induced death of sympathetic neurons in a dynein-dependent manner. In cell bodies, internalization of p75 required the activity of JNK, a downstream kinase mediating p75 death signaling in neurons. Additionally, the activity of Rab5, the key GTPase regulating early endosomes, was required for p75 death signaling. In axons, JNK and Rab5 were required for retrograde transport and death signaling mediated by axonal BDNF-p75 in CSCGs. JNK was also required for the proper axonal transport of p75-positive endosomes. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the activation of JNK by p75 in cell bodies and axons is required for internalization to a Rab5-positive signaling endosome and the further propagation of p75-dependent neuronal death signals.

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This study main aim was to analyse the spatio-temporal trend in seismicity recorded in the proximity of the Pirrís Reservoir (central Costa Rica), where impoundment for the purposes of filling the reservoir to its total volume (3,6 * 107 m3) started in 2011. We differentiated between the events that occurred before, during and after this filling operation. Using a seismic analysis, we sought to define and understand the effects which such reservoir operations have on seismic activity in the area. To this end, we evaluated the spatio-temporal evolution of Coulomb failure stress (ΔCFS) changes due to surface water load, and its correlation with seismicity. Overall, the results of this study provide a perspective of how the water load in the reservoir can affect the stress state in the close area. In our study case, we have detected: an increase in b-value after impoundment, an increment of rate for shallowest events (h ≤ 10 km), an increasing trend of higher magnitude events and a possible trigger effect on local faults. All these aspects could be useful to control the reservoir operations and to help in decision making in order to guarantee the safety of these critical emplacements.

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Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is valued for its high-quality wood and use in urban landscapes in Mexico. During surveys of mango-producing areas in the central western region of Mexico, symptoms of malformation, the most important disease of mango in the area, were observed on big-leaf mahogany trees. The objectives of this research were to describe this new disease and determine its cause. Symptoms on big-leaf mahogany at four sites in Michoacán, Mexico resembled those of the vegetative phase of mango malformation, including compact, bunched growth of apical and lateral buds, with greatly shortened internodes and small leaves that curved back toward the supporting stem. Of 163 isolates that were recovered from symptomatic tissues, most were identified as Fusarium pseudocircinatum (n = 121) and F. mexicanum (n = 39) using molecular systematic data; two isolates represented unnamed phylospecies within the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC 20-d and FIESC 37-a) and another was in the F. solani species complex (FSSC 25-m). However, only F. mexicanum and F. pseudocircinatum induced malformation symptoms on 14-day-old seedlings of big-leaf mahogany. The results indicate that F. mexicanum and F. pseudocircinatum, previously reported in Mexico as causal agents of mango malformation disease, also affect big-leaf mahogany. This is the first report of this new disease and the first time that F. mexicanum was shown to affect a host other than mango.

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Since 1984, the 'Chilero' spring wheat line developed by CIMMYT has proven to be highly resistant to leaf rust and stripe rust. Amid efforts to understand the basis of resistance of this line, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between Avocet and Chilero was studied. The parents and RILs were characterized in field trials for leaf rust and stripe rust in three locations in Mexico between 2012 and 2015 and genotyped with DArT-array, DArT-GBS, and SSR markers. A total of 6,168 polymorphic markers were used to construct genetic linkage maps. Inclusive composite interval mapping detected four colocated resistance loci to both rust diseases and two stripe rust resistant loci in the Avocet × Chilero population. Among these, the quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1BL was identified as a pleotropic adult plant resistance gene Lr46/Yr29, whereas QLr.cim-5DS/QYr.cim-5DS was a newly discovered colocated resistance locus to both rust diseases in Chilero. Additionally, one new stripe rust resistance locus on chromosome 7BL was mapped in the current population. Avocet also contributed two minor colocated resistance QTLs situated on chromosomes 1DL and 4BS. The flanking SNP markers can be converted to breeder friendly Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers for wheat breeding programs.

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Sleep loss induces a low-grade inflammatory status characterized by a subtle but sustained increase of pro-inflammatory mediators, which are key regulators of blood-brain barrier function. To investigate the influence of inflammatory status on blood-brain barrier dysfunction induced by sleep restriction we performed an experiment using two strains of mice with different immunological backgrounds, C57BL/6 mice that have a predominant pro-inflammatory response and BALB/c mice that have a predominant anti-inflammatory response. Mice were sleep-restricted during 10 days using the flowerpot technique during 20 h per day with 4 h of daily sleep opportunity. The systemic inflammatory status, blood-brain barrier permeability, and the hippocampal expression of neuroinflammatory markers were characterized at the 10th day. Serum levels of TNF and IFN-γ increased in sleep-restricted C57BL/6 but not in BALB/c mice; no changes in other cytokines were found. Sleep restriction increased blood-brain barrier permeability in C57BL/6 strain but not in BALB/c. The hippocampus of sleep-restricted C57BL/6 mice exhibited an increase in the expression of the neuroinflammatory markers Iba-1, A2A adenosine receptor, and MMP-9; meanwhile in sleep-restricted BALB/c mice the expression of this markers was lesser than the control group. These data suggest that cytokines may be playing a key role in modulating blood-brain barrier function during sleep restriction, and probably the effects are related to Iba-1, MMP-9 and A2A adenosine receptor overexpression.

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Chronic sleep loss in the rat increases blood-brain barrier permeability to Evans blue and FITC-dextrans in almost the whole brain and sleep recovery during short periods restores normal blood-brain barrier permeability. Sleep loss increases vesicle density in hippocampal endothelial cells and decreases tight junction protein expression. However, at the ultrastructural level the effect of chronic sleep loss on interendothelial junctions is unknown. In this study we characterised the ultrastructure of interendothelial junctions in the hippocampus, the expression of tight junction proteins, and quantified blood-brain barrier permeability to fluorescein-sodium after chronic sleep restriction. Male Wistar rats were sleep restricted using the modified multiple platform method during 10 days, with a daily schedule of 20-h sleep deprivation plus 4-h sleep recovery at their home-cages. At the 10th day hippocampal samples were obtained immediately at the end of the 20-h sleep deprivation period, and after 40 and 120 min of sleep recovery. Samples were processed for transmission electron microscopy and western blot. Chronic sleep restriction increased blood-brain barrier permeability to fluorescein-sodium, and decreased interendothelial junction complexity by increasing the frequency of less mature end-to-end and simply overlap junctions, even after sleep recovery, as compared to intact controls. Chronic sleep loss also induced the formation of clefts between narrow zones of adjacent endothelial cell membranes in the hippocampus. The expression of claudin-5 and actin decreased after chronic sleep loss as compared to intact animals. Therefore, it seems that chronic sleep loss disrupts interendothelial junctions that leads to blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability in the hippocampus.

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Sleep is a vital phenomenon related to immunomodulation at the central and peripheral level. Sleep deficient in duration and/or quality is a common problem in the modern society and is considered a risk factor to develop neurodegenerative diseases. Sleep loss in rodents induces blood-brain barrier disruption and the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Several reports indicate that sleep loss induces a systemic low-grade inflammation characterized by the release of several molecules, such as cytokines, chemokines, and acute-phase proteins; all of them may promote changes in cellular components of the blood-brain barrier, particularly on brain endothelial cells. In the present review we discuss the role of inflammatory mediators that increase during sleep loss and their association with general disturbances in peripheral endothelium and epithelium and how those inflammatory mediators may alter the blood-brain barrier. Finally, this manuscript proposes a hypothetical mechanism by which sleep loss may induce blood-brain barrier disruption, emphasizing the regulatory effect of inflammatory molecules on tight junction proteins.

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Pentastomids are parasites that infect respiratory cavities of vertebrates, they are pretty common but poorly known in wildlife veterinary. A Bothrops asper snake (Garman, 1884) was captured in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica and had its lung infested with pentastomids, identified as ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). This represents the first record of Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) on B. asper as well as P. cf. clavatus in Costa Rica. Further studies are needed to clarify their taxonomic position, images and scanning electron microscopy photographs (SEM) of the specimens are given.

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Pentastomids are parasites that infect respiratory cavities of vertebrates, they are pretty common but poorly known in wildlife veterinary. A Bothrops asper snake (Garman, 1884) was captured in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica and had its lung infested with pentastomids, identified as ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). This represents the first record of Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) on B. asper as well as P. cf. clavatus in Costa Rica. Further studies are needed to clarify their taxonomic position, images and scanning electron microscopy photographs (SEM) of the specimens are given.(AU)

Pentastomídeos sâo parasitas que infectam as cavidades respiratórias dos vertebrados, eles são bastante comuns, mas pouco conhecido nos animais silvestres. Uma Bothrops asper (Garman, 1884) foi capturada na região do Caribe da Costa Rica e teve seu pulmão infestado de pentastomídeos, identificados como ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). Isto representa o primeiro registro de Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) em B. asper, assim como P. cf. clavatus na Costa Rica. Mais estudos detalhados são necessários para esclarecer sua posição taxonómica. Imagens e fotografias de microscopia electrónica de varredura (MEV) dos espécimes são dadas.(AU)

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Abstract Pentastomids are parasites that infect respiratory cavities of vertebrates, they are pretty common but poorly known in wildlife veterinary. A Bothrops asper snake (Garman, 1884) was captured in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica and had its lung infested with pentastomids, identified as ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). This represents the first record of Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) on B. asper as well as P. cf. clavatus in Costa Rica. Further studies are needed to clarify their taxonomic position, images and scanning electron microscopy photographs (SEM) of the specimens are given.

Resumo Pentastomídeos sâo parasitas que infectam as cavidades respiratórias dos vertebrados, eles são bastante comuns, mas pouco conhecido nos animais silvestres. Uma Bothrops asper (Garman, 1884) foi capturada na região do Caribe da Costa Rica e teve seu pulmão infestado de pentastomídeos, identificados como ca Porocephalus clavatus (Wyman, 1845). Isto representa o primeiro registro de Porocephalus (Humboldt, 1812) em B. asper, assim como P. cf. clavatus na Costa Rica. Mais estudos detalhados são necessários para esclarecer sua posição taxonómica. Imagens e fotografias de microscopia electrónica de varredura (MEV) dos espécimes são dadas.

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Mango (Mangifera indica L.) malformation disease (MMD) is one of the most important diseases affecting this crop worldwide, causing severe economic loss due to reduction of yield. After the first report in India in 1891 (3), MMD has spread worldwide to most mango-growing regions. Several species of Fusarium cause the disease, including F. mangiferae in India, Israel, the USA (Florida), Egypt, South Africa, Oman, and elsewhere; F. sterilihyphosum in South Africa and Brazil; F. proliferatum in China; F. mexicanum in Mexico; and recently, F. tupiense in Brazil (1,2,3,4). Besides F. mexicanum, F. pseudocircinatum, not yet reported as a causal agent of MMD, was isolated in Mexico from affected inflorescences and vegetative malformed tissues (4). Symptoms of vegetative malformation caused by F. pseudocircinatum included hypertrophied, tightly bunched young shoots, with swollen apical and lateral buds producing misshapen terminals with shortened internodes and dwarfed leaves. Infected inflorescences of primary or secondary axes on affected panicles were shortened, thickened, and highly branched, while the peduncles became thick, remained green and fleshy, and branches profusely resembled a cauliflower in shape and size (3). Ten isolates of F. pseudocircinatum were recovered from cultivars Ataulfo, Criollo, Haden, and Tommy Atkins in Guerrero, Campeche, and Chiapas states and characterized. Isolates produced mostly 0-septate but occasionally 1- to 3-septate oval, obovoid, or elliptical aerial conidia (0-septate: 4 to 19 [avg. 8.7] × 1.5 to 4 [avg. 2.6] µm) in false heads in the dark and in short false chains under black light, unbranched or sympodially branched prostrate aerial conidiophores producing mono- and polyphialides, and sporodochia with straight or falcate conidia that were mostly 3- to 5-septate, but sometimes up to 7-septate (3-septate: 25 to 58 [avg. 41] × 2 to 3.3 [avg. 2.9] µm; 5-septate: 33.5 to 76.5 [avg. 56.7] × 2.5 to 6 [avg. 3.5] µm). Circinate sterile hyphae were rarely formed. Two representative isolates, NRRL 53570 and 53573, were subjected to multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses of portions of five genes: nuclear large subunit 28S ribosomal RNA, ß-tubulin, calmodulin, histone H3, and translation elongation factor (TEF)-1α (GenBank GU737456, GU737457, GU737290, GU737291, GU737371, GU737372, GU737425, GU737426, GU737398, and GU737399). Two pathogenicity tests were conducted with NRRL 53570 and 53573 on healthy 2-year-old nucellar seedlings of polyembryonic Criollo; 20 µl conidial suspensions (5 × 106 conidia/ml) of each isolate and water controls were inoculated separately on 15 buds on 3 different trees, as described previously (1). The following conditions were used in experiment 1: 24 to 27°C with light intensity of 16.2 to 19.8 •Mol m-2s-1 in the range of 400 to 700 nm, and photoperiods of 14 h light and 10 h dark. Typical vegetative disease symptoms were discernible in plants inoculated with NRRL 53570 (20%) and 53573 (7%) after 8 months. In experiment 2, after 3 months growth under the above conditions, seedlings were transferred to an outdoor nursery in Iguala, Guerrero. Typical vegetative symptoms of MMD were observed in 86.7 and 13.3% of the buds inoculated with F. pseudocircinatum NRRL 53570 and 53573, respectively, after 9 months. Isolates from typical symptomatic vegetative buds were confirmed as F. pseudocircinatum by sequencing a portion of their TEF-1α gene, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. This is the first report of F. pseudocircinatum as a causal agent of MMD. References: (1) S. Freeman et al. Phytopathology 89:456, 1999. (2) C. S. Lima et al. Mycologia 104:1408, 2012. (3) W. F. O. Marasas et al. Phytopathology 96:667, 2006. (4) G. Otero-Colina et al. Phytopathology 100:1176, 2010.

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The state of Michoacán is the most important strawberry producer in México. During January 2007, field-grown strawberry plants cv. Aromas showing vein necrosis were observed in 3 ha in Zamora County, in fruit production fields. The average disease incidence in the field was 80%. Infected plants presented water-soaked lesions limited by veins on the lower leaf surfaces, which enlarged to form angular spots (1). Additionally, most affected plants presented severe necrosis in the main veins and reddish to necrotic lesions on the upper leaf surfaces. Gram-negative bacteria were consistently isolated from leaves with water-soaked lesions. Isolated bacteria produced mucoid, yellow colonies on YDC, grew on tween and nutrient agar (NA), but not on SX media. Strains produced non-fluorescent colonies on King's B media, were positive starch hydrolysis, negative esculin hydrolysis; and produced acid from fructose but not from arabinose, galactose, celobiose, and trehalose. Growth was inhibited by 2% NaCl (3). Indirect ELISA analysis (NEOGEN, Lansing, MI) was conducted using antibodies specific for Xanthomonas fragariae. Conventional PCR assay using the primer pairs 241A/241B was performed (2). The ELISA test was positive. The expected 300- and 550-bp bands were observed in the PCR analysis. The bacteria was identified as X. fragariae Kennedy and King. Pathogenicity tests were conducted twice in a greenhouse (24 ± 4°C) on a total of five strawberry cv. Aromas plants. The main vein of each of three leaves per plant were punctured using sterile needles. Pathogen inoculum was obtained from 6- to 8-day-old NA cultures. Bacteria were applied onto the wounds with a sterile cotton swab dipped into the bacterial suspension (105 CFU/ml). Inoculated plants were covered with plastic bags for 48 h. Symptoms resembling those seen in the field developed on all inoculated plants after 9 days. X. fragariae was re-isolated from the necrotic lesions and identified by PCR. Control plants were similarly inoculated with water but did not develop symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of X. fragariae causing angular leaf spot in strawberry in Michoacán, México. References: (1) J. L. Maas, ed. Compendium of Strawberry Diseases. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1998. (2) M. R. Pooler et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:3121, 1996. (3) N. W. Schaad et al. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 3rd ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001.

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Geranium is one of the most popular ornamental plants in México. In December 2012, rust symptoms were observed on leaves of common geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum L. H. Bailey) growing in pots in garden landscapes in Morelia, Michoacán. Dark brown pustules with chlorotic halos appeared on the lower leaf surface. A center pustule surrounded by one or more partial-to-complete concentric circles of smaller pustules was observed in each lesion. Urediniospores were globose or subglobose to ovoid, light brown, echinulated, thin-walled with two more or less conspicuous subequatorial pores, and 21 to 29 × 18 to 24 µm (25.5 × 22.8 µm average). Teliospores were not observed. Based on these characters, the rust was identified as Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis Doidge (1,2). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on three healthy P. × hortorum plants that were sprayed with water droplets containing urediniospores. The inoculated plants were covered with a plastic bag and placed in a screened house. The bags were removed after 24 h. Afterwards, the plants were maintained outside the screened house in full sun at ambient temperature (24 to 30°C in the day and 5 to 10°C at night). Initial symptoms were observed 15 to 17 days post inoculation. Symptoms appeared as small light yellow spots on the upper surface of mature leaves. Urediniospores production on the lower surface of the leaves was evident 22 to 25 days post inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. pelargonii-zonalis in the state of Michoacán, México. Geranium rust has been previously reported only in the state of Guanajuato (2). References: (1) E. M. Doidge. Bothalia 2:1, 1926. (2) H. L. Gallegos and G. B. Cummings. Uredinales (royas) de México. Vol. 1. Culiacán, Sinaloa, México, SARH, 1981.