Maize Production in a Changing Climate

Plant breeding and improved management options have made remarkable progress in increasing crop yields during the past century. However, climate change projections suggest that large yield losses will be occurring in many regions, particularly within sub-Saharan Africa. The development of climate-ready germplasm to offset these losses is of the upmost importance. Given the time lag between the development of improved germplasm and adoption in farmers’ fields, the development of improved breeding pipelines needs to be a high priority. Recent advances in molecular breeding provide powerful tools to accelerate breeding gains and dissect stress adaptation. This review focuses on achievements in stress tolerance breeding and physiology and presents future tools for quick and efficient germplasm development. Sustainable agronomic and resource management practices can effectively contribute to climate change mitigation. Management options to increase maize system resilience to climate-related stresses and mitigate the effects of future climate change are also discussed

Investigation of the association between foot-and-mouth disease clinical signs and abattoir serological data in large ruminants in northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious and endemic disease in Lao PDR. However, surveillance is weak, and outbreaks are not routinely reported. To address this, serum samples were routinely collected from cattle and buffalo from provincial abattoirs between November 2021 and December 2022. A total of 2,663 serum samples were collected from large ruminants (n = 1,625 cattle; n = 1,038 buffalo) from 17 provinces. Samples were tested for specific antibodies directed against FMD non-structural protein (NSP) to determine the proportion of animals exposed to FMD virus. In addition to sampling from abattoirs, further independent data was collected to report clinical signs and outcomes from 94 districts in 12 northern provinces. These incident reports were recorded by district staff using a Google Form and summarised monthly in the National Animal Disease Reporting System. Information was collected on species, incident date, herd size, location and which clinical signs the animals presented. Overall, 46% of the tested animals returned a positive result using ID Screen® FMD NSP Competition ELISA. Results from serological testing were then compared with reported clinical signs from the same district. In districts reporting ‘mouth problems’ (regardless of other clinical signs) the median FMD seroprevalence was 49.7%, compared to 31.6% in districts not reporting mouth problems (p = 0.021). This finding suggests that reporting clinical cases of ‘mouth problems’ could be a potential predictor of FMD infection at a district level in cattle and buffalo in Lao PDR. Furthermore, in districts reporting ‘fever’, ‘mouth problems’, and ‘nose/mouth secretions’ together, the median FMD seroprevalence was 46.2%, compared to 24.4% in districts not reporting these signs (p = 0.033). In districts reporting ‘mouth problems’ and ‘nose/mouth secretions’ the median FMD seroprevalence was 49.4%, compared to 25.5% in districts not reporting these signs (p = 0.037). In districts reporting both ‘fever’ and ‘mouth problems,’ the median FMD seroprevalence was 46.4% compared to 25% in districts not reporting these signs (p = 0.017). Based on serological data generated by abattoir surveillance, this study identified clinical signs most predictive of FMD seroprevalence. These novel findings can be used to guide passive surveillance efforts in the future specifically in northern Laos and help support improved FMD surveillance more broadly in FMD endemic countries in Southeast Asia

Geographical mapping and seroprevalence of Burkholderia pseudomallei amongst livestock species in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei causes a severe infectious disease known as melioidosis in humans and animals. It is considered endemic in tropical countries, including Thailand, Lao PDR (Laos), and Northern Australia. B. pseudomallei is a saprophyte found in contaminated soil and surface water. Humans and animals can become infected via direct exposure to contaminated water or soil and inhalation of dust or water droplets. Despite the high morbidity and mortality rates of melioidosis, there is a lack of knowledge of its geographical distribution and seroprevalence, even within endemic countries, raising a significant public health concern. For a better understanding of melioidosis in livestock in Laos, both as an animal health concern and as an indicator of human risk, we collected serum samples from an abattoir monitoring program for B. pseudomallei antibody testing using the Indirect Haemagglutination Assay (IHA). Out of the 917 sera collected, major findings included the identification of a significant cluster (p = 0.041) in the southwest border region adjoining northeastern Thailand, in the province of Savannakhet in Laos. Sera collected in January 2020 had the highest B. pseudomallei seroprevalence (17.0%), and cattle had the highest seroprevalence (22.8%), followed by buffalo (19.7%) and swine (4.0%). The B. pseudomallei seroprevalence results among the common livestock species and the maps generated can assist with future monitoring, prevention, and detection of melioidosis in Laos

Field Survey of Vigna Genetic Resources in Laos, November 15-26, 2003

A field survey was conducted in Laos from November 15 to 26, 2003. During the survey, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak and Saravan provinces were explored. A total of 19 Vigna accessions consisting of 5 Vigna umbellata, 1 V. unguiculata , 3 V. hirtella, 1 Vigna sp. (cf. V. reflexo-pilosa), 5 V. minima and 4 Vigna sp. (cf. V. hirtella ) were collected. V. umbellata (rice bean) was found cultivated in a farmer\u27s garden near Vientiane. Escaped V. umbellata was also found in Champasak and Saravan provinces. An accession of black seeded V. unguiculata (cowpea) was found growing as an escape around paddy field in Luang Prabang province. Three accessions of V. hirtella and 1 accession of Vigna sp. (cf. V. reflexo-pilosa) were found in Luang Prabang province. On the Bolovens plateau of Champasak province, an unidentified Vigna species (cf. V. hirtella) was found near an upland rice field at an elevation of around 1000 m. V. minima was found at a high elevation (the Bolovens plateau) and also a low elevation area (around lowland paddy rice field) in Champasak and Saravan provinces.ラオスは東南アジア大陸部に位置し, 北部山岳地帯から南部平原地帯まで多様な生態環境を有する国であるが, これまで植物遺伝資源の組織的調査収集は行われてこなかった. 今回ラオスのヴィエンチャン (Vientiane) 周辺, ルアンプラバン (Luang Prabang) 県周辺およびチャンパサック (Champasak), サラヴァン (Saravan) 県周辺において Vigna (ササゲ) 属マメ類遺伝資源の分布調査を行い, ツルアズキ (Vigna umbellata) 5点, エスケープと思われるササゲ (V. unguiculata) 1点, V. hirtella 3点, Vigna sp. (cf. V. reflexo-pilosa) 1点, V. minima 5点, Vigna sp. (cf. V. hirtella) 1点を収集できたので報告する. ツルアズキはヴィエンチャン郊外の農家の庭先で栽培されていた. 南部のチャンパサックやサラヴァン県においても, ボロヴェン高原パクソン (Pakxong) の市場で売られていた他, パクソン東部の陸稲畑でも自家消費用に作られていた. この陸稲畑の周辺にはおそらく V. hirtella と思われる植物が多数生育していた. また, 低地部サラヴァンの町では民家の垣根にエスケープと思われる黄色種子のツルアズキが自生していた. ササゲは, 広く一般に栽培されていた. ルアンプラバンの南東部水田地帯で水田の周辺に自生していた逸脱と思われるササゲを収集した. このササゲは黒種子で現在一般に栽培されている品種に比べて小粒で莢の裂莢性が高かった. 農民はこの自生しているササゲを収集して食べるという. ルアンプラバンの南部標高約1000m の山岳道路脇で V. hirtella を2点収集した. また, ルアンプラバンの北部水田地帯の小河川沿いで V. hirtella と思われる個体を発見したが未熟で種子は収集できなかった. また, そこから約15mの地点で河川沿いの樹木に絡み付いている V. reflexo-pilosa と思われる植物を発見した. V. minima は, 南部においていくつかの自生地を見出すことができた. まず, ボロヴェン高原の焼畑跡地と思われる道路脇の草原に自生しているのを発見した. さらに, サラヴァンやチャンパサック県の平地部では水田地帯の畦や周辺の林に生育していた. サラヴァン県 Khongsedon 村の農民によれば, 水稲の収穫期には畦は V. minima の黄色い花で覆われるそうで, 昔からその花や若莢を集めて食べていたという. 水稲の収穫後には, 水田に水牛を放牧し畦や周辺の V. minima やその他の雑草を食べさせるそうである

Conservation of Legume-Symbiotic Rhizobia Genetic Diversity in Laos, 2005

A field survey was conducted in Laos (Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, Xaisomboune, Houa Phan, Luang Prabang and Sayabouli Provinces) from November 6 to 24, 2005. For cultivated legumes, 1 accession of black gram (Vigna mungo), 5 of mungbean (V. radiata), 10 of rice bean(V. umbellata), and 7 of cowpea (V. unguiculata) were collected. For wild legumes, 3 accessionsof V. angularis, 6 of V. hirtella , 3 of V. minima, 1 of V. reflexo-pilosa, 4 of V. tenuicaulis, 4 of V. trinervia and 10 of V. umbellata were collected. Three wild Vigna species, V. angularis, V. trinervia and V. umbellata were found for the first time in Laos. Seed samples as well as root nodules were collected if they are available and were deposited in the country of origin.本報告は, ラオスにおいて行っているマメ科植物遺伝資源共同調査の3年目の報告である. 本年度の調査では, ラオスの Xieng Khouang 県, Vientiane 県, Xaisomboune 県, Houa Phan 県, Luang Prabang 県および Sayabouli 県を11月に探索し, 伝統的マメ科作物, その近縁野生種および共生している根粒菌の収集保全を行った. その結果, 栽培種としてケツルアズキ (Vigna mungo) 1系統, リョクトウ (V. radiata) 5系統, ツルアズキ (V. umbellata) 10系統, ササゲ (V. unguiculata) 7系統を, 野生種としてヤブツルアズキ (V. angularis var. nipponensis) 3系統, V. hirtella 6系統, コバノツルアズキ (V. minima) 3系統, オオヤブツルアズキ (V. reflexo-pilosa) 1系統, V. tenuicaulis 3系統, V. trinervia 4系統, ツルアズキ10系統を収集した. このうちの3種の野生種(V. angularis var. nipponensis, V. trinervia, V. umbellata) は, 今年度の調査によってラオスでの分布が初めて確認された種である

Screening for visceral leishmaniasis in humans and animals in Laos

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne protozoan disease with a global distribution, with higher rates of infection associated with HIV. Zoonotic species of Leishmania have also been reported infecting domestic animals. Reports of VL are increasing in Southeast Asia, with over 200 cases reported in Thailand since the first autochthonous case in 1999, and recently the first patients have been reported from Vietnam and Cambodia. However, no cases of VL have been reported from Lao PDR (Laos) and clinical awareness of the disease is limited. This study aimed to investigate whether Leishmania is circulating in Laos by screening people living with HIV, stored samples from unselected patients with fever, and ruminants taken to abattoirs. Methods: People living with HIV from two specialist units in Vientiane Capital had EDTA blood taken and DNA extracted and tested for Leishmania by nested-PCR. Stored serum samples from patients presenting to Mahosot Hospital with fever and without known HIV infection, as well as serum from goats, cows and buffalo taken to abattoirs in four provinces in Laos were tested for Leishmania using the InBios Kalazar Detect Rapid Test. Results: There were 1015 people living with HIV tested between 2021 and 2024 for Leishmania by nested-PCR, all of whom were negative. Of 511 human serum samples collected between 2005 and 2023, two (0.4%) tested positive by rapid test. These samples were identified as coming from the same patient, with samples taken 10 months apart. There were 5/159 (3.1%) ruminant serum samples positive by rapid test with 3/45 (6.7%) buffalo positive, 2/47 (4.3%) goat positive and 0/67 cows positive. Conclusions: This study suggests Leishmania may be circulating in Laos with undetected cases. Further investigation is needed to confirm the findings, determine at-risk populations and increase clinical awareness of the disease. This study expands on the current regional knowledge on leishmaniasis and shows the need for further epidemiological studies

Conservation of Legume-Symbiotic Rhizobia Genetic Diversity in Laos, 2006

A field survey was conducted in southern Laos (Bolikhamxai, Khammouane, Savannakhet, Saravan and Champasak Provinces) from November 13 to 21, 2006. For cultivated legumes, 1 accession of mungbean (Vigna radiata ), 6 of cowpea (V. unguiculata ) were collected. For wild legumes, 9 accessions of Vigna minima were collected. Seed samples as well as root nodules were collected if they are available and were deposited in the country of origin.本報告は，ラオスにおいて行っているマメ科植物遺伝資源共同調査の4年目の報告である．本年度の調査では，ラオスのBolikhamxai県，Khammouane県，Savannakhet県，Salavan県，Champasak県を2006年11月に探索し，伝統的マメ科作物，その近縁野生種および共生している根粒菌の収集保全を行った．その結果，栽培種としてリョクトウ(Vigna radiata) 1系統，ササゲ(V.unguiculata) 6系統を，野生種としてVigna minima 9系統を収集した．ラオス南部に広く分布していることが確認されたV. minimaは，その花や若莢が野菜として利用されていた

Ecological Survey and Conservation of Legume-Symbiotic Rhizobia Genetic Diversity in Southern China and Northern Laos, 2004

A field survey was conducted in southern China (Wenshan district of Yunnan province) from October 10 to 22, 2004 and in northern Laos (Udom Xai, Luang Nam Tha and Phongsali provinces) from November 6 to 22, 2004. In Yunnan, Vigna umbellata, V. angularis, V. unguiculata, V. hirtella, Lablab purpureus, Glycine max, and Phaseolus vulgaris were collected. In northern Laos, Vigna reflexo-pilosa, V. unguiculata, V. minima, V. umbellata, V. hirtella, V. tenuicaulis, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Lablab purpureus, and Glycine max were collected. In both areas, the most important traditional leguminous crop among minor ethnic groups was found to be the rice bean (V. umbellata). A high level of seed color variation in rice bean landraces was observed in northern Laos, while creamy tan seed color rice bean was predominant in Yunnan. Rice bean had already been harvested in mid-October in Yunnan, while most of the rice bean plants were still in the shifting cultivation fields when we visited (mid-November) in northern Laos. Seed samples as well as root nodules were collected when they are available and were deposited in each country of origin.中国雲南省から東南アジア大陸部北部山岳地帯は, 照葉樹林文化の中核に当たる地帯であり, 古くから焼畑農耕を生産基盤にした多様な民族が暮らしてきた場所である. 農耕の長い歴史のもとに, 多様な民族がそれぞれに独自の栽培品種を成立させてきたものと考えられるため, 在来作物の高い遺伝的多様性が期待できる. 本調査では, 中国雲南省文山壮族苗族自治州およびラオス北部の Luang Prabang 県, Udomxai 県, Luang Nam Tha 県, Phongsali 県を探索し, 伝統的マメ科作物, その近縁野生種および共生している根粒菌の収集保全を行った

Review of biochar role as additive in anaerobic digestion processes

because of the urgent need to provide renewable energy sources and efficiently manage the continuously growing amount of organic waste. Biochar (BC) is an extremely versatile material, which could be produced by carbonization of organic materials, including biomass and wastes, consistently with Circular Economy principles, and “tailor-made” for specific applications. The potential BC role as additive in the control of the many wellknown critical issues of AD processes has been increasingly explored over the past few years. However, a clear and comprehensive understanding of the connections between BC and AD is still missing. This review paper analyses and discusses significant references (review articles, research papers and international databases and reports), mostly published in the last 10 years. This review is aimed at addressing three key issues related to the better understanding of the BC role in AD processes: 1. Investigation of the influence of BC properties on AD performances and of their ability to counteract its main challenges; 2. Assessment of the optimal BC production chain (i.e. feedstock-pyrolysis-activation) to achieve the desired features; 3. Evaluation of the economic and environmental advantages connected to BC use in AD processes, compared to conventional solutions applied to address AD challenges