Biotic stress caused by Tetranychus urticae mites elevates the quantity of secondary metabolites, cannabinoids and terpenes, in Cannabis sativa L.

Identification of Pu'er raw tea with different storage years by infrared spectroscopy

This study was conducted to compare the goose down and the woolen pillows in terms of number of house dust mites per gram of dust. The study was conducted in Kars province, Turkey in September 2020. A total of 180 house dust samples were collected from 45 randomly selected houses in various districts of the city. The number of houses in which at least one sample was positive regarding mites was found to be 39 (86.66%). Overall, 137 (76.11%) of dust samples were mite positive. This rate was 87.77% in dust samples of woolen and 64.44% in dust samples of goose down pillows. The number of mites/g dust varied between 15 and 625 in mite-positive woolen pillows, 10 and 420 in mite-positive goose down pillows. Mean number of mites per g of dust was 127.67 in woolen pillows and 79.39 in goose down pillows. A statistically significant difference was found between woolen and goose down pillows in terms of the number of mites per gram of dust (P<0.05). A total of 1,362 mite specimens were isolated from the dust samples. As a result of the identification of isolated specimens; a total of 16 species belong to 10 genera and 6 families were determined. Of these; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart, 1897) (65.85%), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank) (9.25%) and Acarus siro Linnaeus (6.16%) were the most dominant species in terms of number of specimens.

Comparison of goose down and woolen pillows in terms of house dust mites

Tea plant necrotic ring blotch virus (TPNRBV), which carries four positive−sense single−stranded RNA segments, causes discoloration spots and multiple necrotic ring blotches in tea trees. To understand the distribution and transmission of TPNRBV in tea trees and prevent its spread, a SYBR Green real−time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT−qPCR) method for detecting the four virus segments was developed. The limit of detection of RT−qPCR was 3.81, 4.73, 3.58, and 4.64 copies/μL for the four strands of TPNRBV, which was 100−fold more sensitive than conventional PCR for RNA1 detection, 10−fold for RNA2 and RNA3, and 1000−fold for RNA4 detection. Visual observation and RT−qPCR of different tea plant tissues showed that symptomatic mature leaves contained the highest TPNRBV load; the concentrations of the four RNAs in other tissues decreased or were undetectable with increasing distances from symptomatic leaves. TPNRBV did not spread efficiently through seeds, cuttings, or mechanical inoculation, but was transmitted to some tea cultivars, particularly light albinistic varieties such as ‘Zhonghuang 1′ and ‘Huangjinya’, under field conditions. Our TPNRBV detection method is useful for determining the distribution and transmission characteristics of TPNRBV and selecting tissues with the highest viral load for early diagnosis, monitoring, and management of the disease.

/pdf/quantitative-distribution-and-transmission-of-tea-plant-1yd2m85l.pdf

Quantitative Distribution and Transmission of Tea Plant Necrotic Ring Blotch Virus in Camellia sinensis

Yield loss and physicochemical changes in fresh tea leaves caused by Polyphagotarsonemus latus (banks) attack in different tea clones

Introduction Darjeeling tea of India is one of the most famous beverages globally. However, a large amount of tea crop is damaged every year by the attack of mites. Objectives The study aimed to determine the changes in different pigments and biochemical components of tea leaves due to mite infestation. Materials and methods We used UV-visible and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy simultaneously to understand the damages in pigment contents of the leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) due to attack of phytophagus mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner. Furthermore, chemical analysis of infested tea leaves was also performed to compare the nutrients of the plants, namely total phenol, protein and soluble sugar. Results The UV-visible study reveals severe reduction of the pigments such as chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids and xanthophylls in the tea leaf due to mite infestation. The findings of the FTIR study, also shows variation in different physiochemical components in the leaf Chl. The sugar and protein content of the infested leaves have been reduced compared to uninfested ones. Results in the case of tea leaves plucked during first (March) and third (November) flushes show similar trends. Conclusion The increase in phenolic and alcoholic components and decrease in Chl contents may affect the quality of Darjeeling tea. The extent of damages done by the pests measured here could aid the pest management in tea gardens.

Phytochemical analysis of mite-infested tea leaves of Darjeeling Hills, India

/pdf/a-faunistic-survey-of-house-dust-mites-of-kolkata-west-3g8072zemg.pdf

A faunistic survey of house dust mites of Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Little is known about genetic factors and mechanisms underlying shrimp allergy. Genome-wide association studies identified HLA class-II and IL13 genes as highly plausible candidates for shrimp allergy. The present study was designed to investigate potential associations of HLA-DQ rs9275596, IL13 rs20541, and IL13 rs1800925 polymorphisms with challenge-proven shrimp allergy using the data from 532 people of West Bengal, India; selected on basis of positive skin prick test, elevated specific IgE and medical history. Risk genotypes, i.e., HLA-DQ rs9275596 CC, IL13 rs20541 AA, and IL13 rs1800925 TT, were found to be significantly associated with challenge positive shrimp allergy (P = 0.04, 0.01, and 0.03, respectively). Distribution of genotypes for HLA-DQ and IL13 polymorphisms in allergic and control subjects showed significant difference between younger (20–40 years) and older (> 40 years) age group (P = 0.006). Risk genotypes significantly associated with elevated shrimp-specific IgE. IL13 TA haplotype significantly associated with shrimp allergy and elevated specific IgE (P = 0.02). Synergistic effect of IL13 TA haplotype–HLA-DQ rs9275596 CC genotype interaction significantly elevated specific IgE (P = 0.03). The present study suggests that HLA-DQ and IL13 polymorphisms pose major risk for shrimp allergic patients in West Bengal, India and thus could be helpful for early target-specific therapeutic intervention in near future.

Association of HLA-DQ and IL13 gene variants with challenge-proven shrimp allergy in West Bengal, India

The present note reports for the first time in West Bengal the occurrence of 27 species of mites under 26 genera, 16 families and three orders collected from 25 species of insects. Out of those, 5 are predators, 13 are parasites and remaining 9 are phoretic in habits. A majority of the mites appeared to be unknown species and their descriptions and illustrations will be published elsewhere after conformation of their novelties. Altogether a total of 830 specimens of insects belonging to 8 orders were examined in the present investigation.

Himani Biswas

Papers

Phytochemical analysis of mite-infested tea leaves of Darjeeling Hills, India

A faunistic survey of house dust mites of Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Association of HLA-DQ and IL13 gene variants with challenge-proven shrimp allergy in West Bengal, India

Mites associated with insects of Agri-horticultural importance