Onion (Allium cepa) is an economically important crop in the United States, generating over $900 million annually in farm receipts from 2000 to 2004 (88). U.S. onion production area ranges from 65,000 to 70,000 hectares annually, with over 80% of the summer production (54,000 hectares) in the western states. On average, 53 million metric tons of onion bulbs are harvested annually from nearly 3 million hectares worldwide. A significant portion of the U.S. and world supply of onion seed is produced in the western United States, primarily in the Pacific Northwest (124). The genus Allium includes various economically important cultivated species, including the bulb onion, chive (A. schoenoprasum), garlic (A. sativum), and leek (A. porrum) (10). At least 18 other Allium species are consumed as fresh vegetables, pickled, or used as flavoring. However, the bulb onion is the most economically valuable species. On average, worldwide production of garlic is valued at about 10% that of the bulb onion (10). Leek and bunching onion are the next most valuable species, with production concentrated in Europe and the Orient, respectively. Bunching onion (A. fistulosum) production also is important in some areas of the United States, such as California. The distinctive flavor or odor of Allium spp. is produced when plant tissues are bruised or cut, and the enzyme alliinase hydrolyzes S-alk(en)yl cysteine sulfoxide precursors to form volatile sulfur compounds (10). Onion, garlic, and their relatives, although primarily grown for food, are also used in traditional medicine, including the treatment of chicken pox, the common cold, influenza, measles, and rheumatism. Antimicrobial characteristics of alliums are likely the result of sulfur compounds. Research has demonstrated that extracts of onion and garlic decrease sugars, lipids, and platelet aggregation, and enhance fibrinolysis in blood, indicating that alliums may help prevent arteriosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases (111).
New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622–4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a quiescent state since at least early 2015, reactivated between 2017 March 19 and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100× larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after reactivation was at least 800× larger than during quiescence, and has been decaying exponentially on a 111 ± 19 day timescale. This high-flux state, together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3–6 keV pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be broadly consistent with that determined 6–8 years earlier. However, rotating vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7 within six months of reactivation.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) has become an increasingly important vegetable crop in many parts of the world. Significant changes in production practices, particularly in the U.S. and E.U., have occurred in the past 10-15 years as a result of increased product demand. These changes likely increased the incidence and severity of downy mildew, caused by Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae. Recently, progress has been made to define the genetics of resistance to this pathogen and the closely related white rust pathogen, Albugo occidentalis. In this paper, we outline the genetic and genomic resources currently available for spinach, draw parallels between spinach diseases and more thoroughly characterized pathosystems, and describe efforts currently underway to develop new genetic and genomic tools to better understand downy mildew and white rust of spinach. Presently, many crucial tools and resources required to define the molecular underpinnings of disease are unavailable for either spinach or its pathogens. New resources and information for spinach genomics would provide a jumpstart for ongoing efforts to define (and deploy) genetic resistance against downy mildew and white rust.
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