Screening for resistance to potato cyst nematode in Australian potato cultivars and alternative solanaceous hosts

The potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis (Woll.) and G. pallida (Stone), are major pests of ware and seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crops worldwide and severely impact the movement of potatoes around the globe through quarantine restrictions. In Australia, only G. rostochiensis has been discovered, on four separate occasions between 1986 and 2008. The infested areas are the subject of strict regulation and quarantine procedures and while they are considered to be contained, managing nematode populations remains a priority. This study has identified the G. rostochiensis Ro1 resistance-status of potato cultivars currently grown by Australian potato growers, and new cultivars emerging from the Australian Potato Breeding Program. Resistance was assessed by a simple and robust procedure carried out in a purpose-built quarantine facility. Of the 24 potato cultivars grown in the affected Koo Wee Rup district in 2004, 10 were resistant to nematode infestation, including the locally important cultivar Atlantic. Other cultivars important to the Victorian and Australian potato industry, such as Kennebec, Desiree, Sebago and Coliban, were classified as susceptible. Importantly, this study provided evidence that the Koo Wee Rup PCN population was able to complete its lifecycle on the native plant species, S. aviculare (kangaroo apple), potentially acting as an alternate host and spreading PCN among potato crops.

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver : the residuum of a biliary cystadenoma?

Inflammatory pseudotumour is a rare form of a liver mass. We report the case of a 28-year-old man presenting with obstructive jaundice, in whom an inflammatory pseudotumour arose with the resolution of a mucus secreting cystic liver lesion. The initial features suggested an intrahepatic cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma, which on its involution left a solid mass. Histopathology showed an inflammatory pseudotumour with no evidence of malignancy. A similar case has been reported recently, with the development of an inflammatory pseudotumour following collapse of a liver cyst seen on imaging. These two cases may shed some light on the origins of these rare liver lesions.

Biotemplated fabrication of a novel hierarchical porous C/LiFePO4/C composite for Li-ion batteries

Hierarchical porous composites are a potentially attractive material for high-rate cathode. This work presents a facile sol-gel process for the fabrication of a hierarchical porous C/LiFePO4/bio-C composite by using artemia cyst shells as natural biological carbon templates. The C/LiFePO4/bio-C composite exhibits a superior electrochemical performance with discharge capacities of 105 mA h g-1, 93 mA h g-1 and 80 mA h g-1 at 5 C, 10 C and 20 C, respectively. Remarkably, it produces a high discharge capacity of 69.1 mA h g-1 and no fading after 50 cycles even at a high current density of 6800 mA g-1. This journal is