The gene for albicidin detoxification from Pantoea dispersa encodes an esterase and attenuates pathogenicity of Xanthomonas albilineans to sugarcane

Albicidin phytotoxins are pathogenicity factors in a devastating disease of sugarcane known as leaf scald, caused by Xanthomonas albilineans. A gene (albD) from Pantoea dispersa has been cloned and sequenced and been shown to code for a peptide of 235 amino acids that detoxifies albicidin. The gene shows no significant homology at the DNA or protein level to any known sequence, but the gene product contains a GxSxG motif that is conserved in serine hydrolases. The AlbD protein, purified to homogeneity by means of a glutathione S-transferase gene fusion system, showed strong esterase activity on p-nitrophenyl butyrate and released hydrophilic products during detoxification of albicidins. AlbD hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate and detoxification of albicidins required no complex cofactors. Both processes were strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, a serine enzyme inhibitor. These data strongly suggest that AlbD is an albicidin hydrolase. The enzyme detoxifies albicidins efficiently over a pH range from 5.8 to 8.0, with a broad temperature optimum from 15 to 35°C. Expression of albD in transformed X. albilineans strains abolished the capacity to release albicidin toxins and to incite disease symptoms in sugarcane. The gene is a promising candidate for transfer into sugarcane to confer a form of disease resistance.

Comparative mapping of Andropogoneae: Saccharum L. (sugarcane) and its relation to sorghum and maize

Comparative genetic maps of Papuan Saccharum officinarum L. (2n = 80) and S. robustum (2n = 80) were constructed by using single-dose DNA markers (SDMs). SDM-framework maps of S. officinarum and S. robustum were compared with genetic maps of sorghum and maize by way of anchor restriction fragment length polymorphism probes. The resulting comparisons showed striking colinearity between the sorghum and Saccharum genomes. There were no differences in marker order between S. officinarum and sorghum. Furthermore, there were no alterations in SDM order between S. officinarum and S. robustum. The S. officinarum and S. robustum maps also were compared with the map of the polysomic octoploid S. spontaneum ‘SES 208’ (2n = 64, x = 8), thus permitting relations to homology groups (“chromosomes”) of S. spontaneum to be studied. Investigation of transmission genetics in S. officinarum and S. robustum confirmed preliminary results that showed incomplete polysomy in these species. Because of incomplete polysomy, multiple-dose markers could not be mapped for lack of a genetic model for their segregation. To coalesce S. officinarum and S. robustum linkage groups into homology groups (composed of homologous pairing partners), they were compared with sorghum (2n = 20), which functioned as a synthetic diploid. Groupings suggested by comparative mapping were found to be highly concordant with groupings based on highly polymorphic restriction fragment length polymorphism probes detecting multiple SDMs. The resulting comparative maps serve as bridges to allow information from one Andropogoneae to be used by another, for breeding, ecology, evolution, and molecular biology.

Posttranscriptional Gene Silencing in Transgenic Sugarcane. Dissection of Homology-Dependent Virus Resistance in a Monocot That Has a Complex Polyploid Genome1

RNA-mediated, posttranscriptional gene silencing has been determined as the molecular mechanism underlying transgenic virus resistance in many plant virus-dicot host plant systems. In this paper we show that transgenic virus resistance in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) is based on posttranscriptional gene silencing. The resistance is derived from an untranslatable form of the sorghum mosaic potyvirus strain SCH coat protein (CP) gene. Transgenic sugarcane plants challenged with sorghum mosaic potyvirus strain SCH had phenotypes that ranged from fully susceptible to completely resistant, and a recovery phenotype was also observed. Clones derived from the same transformation event or obtained after vegetative propagation could display different levels of virus resistance, suggesting the involvement of a quantitative component in the resistance response. Most resistant plants displayed low or undetectable steady-state CP transgene mRNA levels, although nuclear transcription rates were high. Increased DNA methylation was observed in the transcribed region of the CP transgenes in most of these plants. Collectively, these characteristics indicate that an RNA-mediated, homology-dependent mechanism is at the base of the virus resistance. This work extends posttranscriptional gene silencing and homology-dependent virus resistance, so far observed only in dicots, to an agronomically important, polyploid monocot.

Soil quality response to land-use change for sugarcane expansion in Brazil

Globally, increasing demands for biofuels have intensified the rate of land-use change (LUC) for expansion of bioenergy crops. In Brazil, the world\'s largest sugarcane-ethanol producer, sugarcane area has expanded by 35% (3.2 Mha) in the last decade. Sugarcane expansion has resulted in extensive pastures being subjected to intensive mechanization and large inputs of agrochemicals, which have direct implications on soil quality (SQ). We hypothesized that LUC to support sugarcane expansion leads to overall SQ degradation. To test this hypothesis we conducted a field-study at three sites in the central-southern region, to assess the SQ response to the primary LUC sequence (i.e., native vegetation to pasture to sugarcane) associated to sugarcane expansion in Brazil. At each land use site undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected from the 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths. Soil chemical and physical attributes were measured through on-farm and laboratory analyses. A dataset of soil biological attributes was also included in this study. Initially, the LUC effects on each individual soil indicator were quantified. Afterward, the LUC effects on overall SQ were assessed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Furthermore, six SQ indexes (SQI) were developed using approaches with increasing complexity. Our results showed that long-term conversion from native vegetation to extensive pasture led to soil acidification, significant depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) and macronutrients [especially phosphorus (P)] and severe soil compaction, which creates an unbalanced ratio between water- and air-filled pore space within the soil and increases mechanical resistance to root growth. Conversion from pasture to sugarcane improved soil chemical quality by correcting for acidity and increasing macronutrient levels. Despite those improvements, most of the P added by fertilizer accumulated in less plant-available P forms, confirming the key role of organic P has in providing available P to plants in Brazilian soils. Long-term sugarcane production subsequently led to further SOC depletions. Sugarcane production had slight negative impacts on soil physical attributes compared to pasture land. Although tillage performed for sugarcane planting and replanting alleviates soil compaction, our data suggested that the effects are short-term with persistent, reoccurring soil consolidation that increases erosion risk over time. These soil physical changes, induced by LUC, were detected by quantitative soil physical properties as well as by visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), an on-farm and user-friendly method for evaluating SQ. The SMAF efficiently detected overall SQ response to LUC and it could be reliably used under Brazilian soil conditions. Furthermore, since all of the SQI values developed in this study were able to rank SQ among land uses. We recommend that simpler and more cost-effective SQI strategies using a small number of carefully chosen soil indicators, such as: pH, P, K, VESS and SOC, and proportional weighting within of each soil sectors (chemical, physical and biological) be used as a protocol for SQ assessments in Brazilian sugarcane areas. The SMAF and SQI scores suggested that long-term conversion from native vegetation to extensive pasture depleted overall SQ, driven by decreases in chemical, physical and biological indicators. In contrast, conversion from pasture to sugarcane had no negative impacts on overall SQ, mainly because chemical improvements offset negative impacts on biological and physical indicators. Therefore, our findings can be used as scientific base by farmers, extension agents and public policy makers to adopt and develop management strategies that sustain and/or improving SQ and the sustainability of sugarcane production in Brazil.

Include sugar beets and sugarcane as basic commodities : hearing before the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Seventy-third Congress, second session, on H.R. 7907. February 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, 1934.

"Serial J."

Truck noise IV-A: project summary - the reduction of noise levels on the International Harvester quieted truck. Final report.

Transportation Department, Office of Noise Abatement, Washington, D.C.

A rotary seed harvester for crimson clover.

Mode of access: Internet.

The Harvester world.

Description based on: Vol. 8, no. 1 (Jan. 1917); title from cover.

Harvesting wheat with a combined harvester-thresher in the Great Plains region, 1926. By R. S. Kifer, W. R. Humphries [and] J. H. Martin. A preliminary report. April, 1927.

Caption-title.

Operator, organizational, direct support, and general support maintenance manual for tester, fuel injector pump : single end drive, 150 to 3600 RPM (4910-01-037-9417) and adapter kits, fuel injector : American Bosch APE-6BB (4910-01-005-2850), American Bosch PSB-6A and PSB-6 (4910-01-005-2851), American Bosch PSB-12BT (4910-01-005-2852), Simmonds SU (4910-01-005-2853), International Harvester 3200 (4910-01-006-3073), American Bosch PSJ-6A (4910-01-006-3072), Caterpillar (4910-01-005-2854), Roosa Master (4910-01-005-2855), and Cummins (4910-00-763-7495).

Description based on vol. 1.

Organizational maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : tractor, wheeled, diesel engine driven, w/backhoe and front loader, (International Harvester model 3414), FSN 2420-900-8538.

Includes index.

Breeding behavior of certain agronomic characters in progenies of sugarcane crosses at the United States Sugarcane Field Station, Houma, La. /

Literature cited: p. 54.

Strains of sugarcane mosaic virus /

Literature cited: p. 23-25.

In the matter of International Harvester Company, East Moline Works, and United Farm Equipment and Metal Workers of America, Local 104 (CIO) : proceeding of arbitration, allowance rule grievances.

Mode of access: Internet.

Implementação de certificação ambiental Better Sugarcane Initiative-Bonsucro: estudo de caso no setor sucroenergético

O setor sucroenergético desempenha papel cada vez mais importante no contexto econômico brasileiro. A eficiência das empresas atuantes nesse setor passa obrigatoriamente por questões ligadas à sustentabilidade das ações desenvolvidas em seu processo produtivo, o que pode ser alavancado a partir de certificações ambientais alcançadas pelas empresas. Assim, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar a aplicação de alguns dos principais princípios, critérios e indicadores para o atendimento do padrão BSI-Bonsucro de certificação. Para tanto, este estudo descritivo de natureza qualitativa foi executado por meio de estudo de caso único na empresa ALPHA, selecionada em função de sua expressiva relevância no setor sucroenergético brasileiro. A pesquisa documental teve como principal foco o Relatório de Sustentabilidade da empresa analisada, elaborado a partir do padrão Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Como resultados observou-se que, dos seis critérios compreendidos em três dos cinco princípios selecionados para estudo, somente o critério referente ao nível máximo de dióxido de carbono emitido por tonelada de cana-de-açúcar, ainda carece de ações de melhoria para o efetivo cumprimento do que versa a certificação BSI-Bonsucro. Assim, o presente estudo demonstrou ser viável que empresas que atuam no setor analisado passem a pautar suas ações operacionais a partir da observância dos princípios, critérios e indicadores presentes na certificação BSI Bonsucro. A adoção de tal posicionamento pode possibilitar às empresas atingirem melhores resultados a partir de estratégias voltadas ao atendimento das demandas relacionadas à sustentabilidade do negócio.