Generalist plant pathogens may have wide host ranges, but many exhibit varying degrees of host specialization, with multiple pathogen races that have narrower host ranges. These races are often genetically distinct, with each race causing highest disease incidence on its host of origin. We examined host specialization in the seed pathogen Pyrenophora semeniperda by reciprocally inoculating path...

Bromus sect. Triniusa is revised in Khorassan based on the new taxonomic concepts of Bromus danthoniae complex group and a remarkable herbarium material collected from Khorassan (Kopetdagh, northeastern Iran), as the main center of its diversity. Bromus turcomanicus, a narrow endemic species in central Kopetdagh hitherto known only from the type locality in southern Turkmenistan, is newly recor...

Hallux rigidus refers to degenerative arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. Although Davies-Colley provided the first description of the condition in 1887, Cotterill coined the term hallux rigidus to characterize the painful limitation of motion at the first MTP joint.15,18 After hallux valgus, it is the most common affliction of the great toe and the most common form of degen...

Various techniques have been described for first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint arthrodesis. The purpose of this study was to determine if cup and cone preparation by a single surgeon with an interfragmentary screw and dorsal plate fixation provides a comparable union rate in hallux valgus versus hallux rigidus. Our study included all patients who underwent first MTP joint fusions using cup an...

Understanding community dynamics and processes, such as the factors that generate and maintain biodiversity, drive succession, and affect invasion susceptibility, is a central goal in ecology and evolution. While most studies of how species interactions affect communities have focused on highly visible macroorganisms, we show that mutualistic microfungal endophytes have community-level effects ...

BACKGROUND Hallux valgus and hallux rigidus are common foot conditions that lead to a deterioration in health status. Patients with significant pain or deformity from these conditions frequently resort to surgery. In this project, the foot health status of patients with hallux valgus and hallux rigidus presenting to foot surgeons in Australia was compared. METHODS Foot health status was measu...