Histological Studies of Ditylenchus africanus Within Peanut Pods.
Ditylenchus africanus entered the immature pegs and pods of peanut (Arachis hypogaea cv. Sellie) at the peg-connection and subsequently invaded the parenchymatous regions of the hull exocarp and endocarp, and eventually the seed testa. The nematode caused malformations of the cells of infected tissues, cell wall breakage, and cell collapse. The damage appeared to be due to enzymatic activity. In some testae the entire parenchyma region, which aids in protection of the seed, was destroyed. In immature pods, the nematodes moved across the fibrous region of the mesocarp into the hull endocarp. In mature pods, however, the fibrous mesocarp of the hull was lignified and apparently was a barrier to penetration of the inner pod tissues. In late-harvested pods, increased numbers of eggs and anhydrobiotes were found in the hull tissues, and eggs in the seed testa, suggesting the onset of winter survival mechanisms of the nematode.
A study of the systematics and implications of the presence of the testa nematode, Aphelenchoides arachidis Bos, 1977 in South Africa
An introduction to nematode systematics is provided which deals broadly with the history of the classification of nematodes, the controversial usage of the Phylum names Nemata Cobb, 1919 and Nematoda (Rudolphi, 1808) Lankester, 1877 and the reason why the name Nematoda was used in the present study. The classification, diagnosis and bionomics of the genus Aphelenchoides Fischer, 1894, the genus to which A. arachidis Bos, 1977 belongs is discussed. The section on bionomics is included to capture the astounding ability of this group of organisms to adapt to different trophic levels, a concept that is used to attempt an explanation for the ability of a supposedly African nematode, A. arachidis, to infest an alien crop species (groundnut). The ability of Aphelenchoides spp. to adapt to different host plant species is discussed, as well as the ability of the groundnut plant to mature its pods underground, a characteristic that predisposes these plants to a host of pathogens. The damage caused by two of the most important endoparasitic nematode species on groundnut, A. arachidis and Ditylenchus africanus Wendt, Swart, Vrain & Webster, 1995 were compared with each other. The South African population of A. arachidis was found predominantly in the shells of groundnut, whereas they were found in the shells, roots, hypocotyls and testas of the groundnut plants in Nigeria. The present study showed that A. arachidis and D. africanus occur together in groundnut in South Africa with D. africanus usually being the dominant species. In only one instance, at Bullhill (Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme, Northern Cape), the groundnut shells and testas were infested by A. arachidis alone. The importance of plant quarantine in South Africa is dealt with and the aims and principles of quarantine, as well as the different guidelines that have to be adhered to when deciding on the quarantine status of an organism are explained. Descriptions are provided of the methods used to prepare specimens for viewing with the light microscope (LM) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM), as well as the procedures of the molecular study. A morphological and morphometrical description of A. arachidis specimens from South Africa, as well as a comparison with specimens from Nigeria was done. Differences between the South African and Nigerian populations included, respectively, a lower bvalue (7 11 vs 10 18), more lateral lines (2 4 vs 2), a slightly shorter stylet (8-10 |xm vs 10 12 um) and a longer length of the post-uterine sac as a percentage of the
Nursing theory and administrative practice: Agenda for the 1990s
&NA; Despite past progress in the development of nursing theory, a theoretical nursing perspective is not yet common to the practice of nursing administration. Such a perspective could serve as a catalyst both to advance knowledge development for administrative nursing practice and to align clinical and administrative practice within a common framework. In this article assumptions, concepts, and questions common to both clinical and administrative nursing practice are identified. Select domain concepts are used to exemplify the themes shared by nurse clinicians and nurse administrators. The article concludes with a five‐item agenda as a guide for future theory development.