This review of Fusarium ear blight (scab) of small grain cereals has shown that up to 17 causal organisms have been associated with the disease, which occurs in most cereal‐growing areas of the world. The most common species were Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae), F. culmorum, F, avenaceum (G, avenacea), F, poae and Microdochium nivale (Monographella nivalis). The disease was recorded most frequently under hot, wet climatic conditions where significant yield losses and mycotoxin accumulation in grain were reported. Possible sources of inoculum were reported as crop debris, alternative hosts and Fusarium seedling blight and foot rot of cereals. The mode of dispiersal of inoculum to ears remains unclear, but contaminated arthropod vectors, systemic fungal growth through plants, and wind and rain‐splash dispersal of spores have been proposed. Infection of wheat ears was shown to occur mainly during anthesis, and it has been demonstrated that fungal growth stimulants may be present in anthers. Despite the importance of the disease, particularly during epidemic years, control methods are limited. Much effort has gone into breeding resistant wheat varieties and into improving our understanding of the possible mechanisms and genetic basis of resistance, with only moderate success. There are also surprisingly few reports of successful fungicidal or biological control of the disease in the field.

No abstract

Summary1. Wild predators sometimes kill livestock. In Australia the red fox kills lambs, but there are limited experimental data to demonstrate the eects of controlling foxes on the predation level. 2. Using a balanced experimental design over 2 years, we investigated the eects of three levels of fox control, using poisoning with sodium mono¯uoroacetate (compound 1080), on lamb production, lamb predation and fox abundance in southeastern Australia.3. There was no eect of fox control on lamb production. Fox predation was the probable cause of lamb death for a minimum of 0Á8% and a maximum of 5Á3% of 1321 lamb carcasses. Fox control signi®cantly (P < 0Á05) reduced the minimum percentage of lamb carcasses classi®ed as killed by foxes from 1Á50% (no fox control) to 0Á90% (fox control once per year) or 0Á25% (fox control three times per year). Fox control also signi®cantly (P < 0Á005) reduced the maximum percentage of lamb carcasses classi®ed as killed by foxes from 10Á25% (no fox control) to 6Á50% (fox control once per year) or 3Á75% (fox control three times per year). Poisoning did not aect fox abundance in spring. 4. We estimated the number of treatment replicates needed to detect an eect of predator control on the number of lambs successfully reared to lamb marking (10 weeks old). The estimated numbers were high if predation eects were small. It is recommended that the eects of fox control should be evaluated carefully to determine if the present results are widespread, as some fox control may be wasted. 5. The general eects of predator control on livestock predation requires more experimental investigation and economic evaluation. However, ®eld experiments of sucient power to detect eects will present considerable challenge.

No abstract

Objective This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate an integrated service provided by pharmacists to consumers based on the results of a risk‐assessment survey carried out by the pharmacist and testing of bone mineral density (BMD) by a radiographer. It also investigated whether measurement of BMD in the pharmacy increased the effectiveness of the service and pharmacist referral in terms of adherence to advice and uptake of referral compared with the same service offered without BMD testing. Setting Community pharmacists in urban and rural settings in New South Wales, Australia, delivered the service. Method The adherence to advice or referral given by 12 community pharmacists during 2003 to 217 participants about the prevention of osteoporosis following screening with either a BMD test plus risk‐assessment questionnaire or a risk‐assessment questionnaire only was compared. Key findings No significant between‐group differences in adherence to advice or referral were found. However, participants valued the BMD service significantly more highly than the non‐BMD service as measured by satisfaction scores. Conclusions Consumers were interested in receiving information about osteoporosis and their own risk of it and even greater interest in BMD testing in the pharmacy. There was no difference in uptake of referral or advice following either questionnaire only or questionnaire plus BMD testing. Low uptake of referral and advice overall by those deemed to be at high risk is of concern. Far greater education and encouragement for consumers to follow through is required.