Field evaluation of transgenic pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) cv. ‘Smooth Cayenne’ for resistance to blackheart under subtropical conditions

A comparative analysis of transgenic pineapple lines transformed with a polyphenol oxidase (PPO) gene (ppo) and the untransformed cultivar ‘Smooth Cayenne’ was made from plants grown in a series of field trials under cool subtropical conditions in southeast Queensland. In the four field trials where blackheart was recorded, all of the control lines expressed blackheart on each occasion and exhibited the greatest incidence (50%) and severity (34%) of symptoms. Irrespective of the gene transfer method or the gene construct used, 38% of the lines produced were regarded as blackheart resistant, having no blackheart symptoms in two or more trials. Five blackheart resistant transgenic lines consistently performed as well as or better than control plants in terms of fruit characteristics and quality.

Ecological Networks in Stored Grain: Key Postharvest Nodes for Emerging Pests, Pathogens, and Mycotoxins

Wheat is at peak quality soon after harvest. Subsequently, diverse biota use wheat as a resource in storage, including insects and mycotoxin-producing fungi. Transportation networks for stored grain are crucial to food security and provide a model system for an analysis of the population structure, evolution, and dispersal of biota in networks. We evaluated the structure of rail networks for grain transport in the United States and Eastern Australia to identify the shortest paths for the anthropogenic dispersal of pests and mycotoxins, as well as the major sources, sinks, and bridges for movement. We found important differences in the risk profile in these two countries and identified priority control points for sampling, detection, and management. An understanding of these key locations and roles within the network is a new type of basic research result in postharvest science and will provide insights for the integrated pest management of high-risk subpopulations, such as pesticide-resistant insect pests.