Issue infomation - Global Science Books

The Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology
Abbreviation: Americas J. Plant Sci. Biotech.
Print: ISSN 1752-3931
Frequency and Peer status: Biannual, Peer reviewed
Scope and target readership: The Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology accepts reviews and original papers that focus
on any aspect of plant science, fundamental or applied. The Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology forms part of the
Global Science Series that focuses on plant science research originating from any part of North, Central or South America, reflecting
cultural and/or geographical influence from countries on these continents. In general the author(s) should be from a country inside the
Americas, or if a foreign team of researchers is involved, then at least one of the authors should be from a country in the Americas.
Editor-in-Chief
Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva, Kagawa University, Japan
Technical Editor
Kasumi Shima, Japan
Statistics Advisor
Marcin Kozak, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
Editorial Board and Advisory Panels (Listed alphabetically)
Emil Alexov, Clemson University, USA
Andrei Alyokhin, University of Massachusetts, USA
Anne J. Anderson, Utah State University, USA
Christian P. Andersen, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA
Ademir S. F. Araújo, Federal University of Piauí, Brazil
Niranjan Baisakh, Louisiana State University, USA
Chhandak Basu, University of Northern Colorado, USA
Saikat Kumar Basu, University of Lethbridge, Canada
Pankaj Kumar Bhowmik, Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada, Canada
Maristela Sanches Bertasso Borges, Centro Universitário de Rio
Preto, Brazil
Juan Francisco Jiménez Bremont, Institute for Scientific and
Technological Research of San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Humberto Fabio Causin, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ítalo Herbert Lucena Cavalcante, Federal University of Piauí, Brazil
Jin-Gui Chen, University of British Columbia, Canada
Prem S. Chourey, USDA-ARS, USA
Pio Colepicolo, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Chris Cutler, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Canada
Samir C. Debnath, Atlantic Cool Climate Crop Research Centre,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada
Hany A. El-Shemy, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, USA
Esmaeil Fallahi, University of Idaho, USA
Patricia Dias Fernandes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Danilo D. Fernando, State University of New York, USA
Jorge Fonseca, The University of Arizona, USA
Rodrigo Barba Gonzalez, Centro de Investigacion y Asistencia en
Tecnologia y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Mexico
Xinhua He, University of California, Davis, USA
Kathleen Hefferon, Cornell University, USA
Blas Lavandero Icaza, Universidad de Talca, Chile
Nirmal Joshee, Fort Valley State University, USA
Ara Kirakosyan, The University of Michigan, USA
Robert W. Korn, Bellarmine University, USA
Igor Kovalchuk, University of Lethbridge, Canada
Carlos A. Labate, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz,
Brazil
Luiz Fernando Carvalho Leite, EMBRAPA, Brazil
Ramamurthy Mahalingam, Oklahoma State University, USA
Norimoto Murai, Louisiana State University, USA
Madhugiri Nageswara Rao, University of Florida, IFAS, USA
Sanjib Nandy, Lethbridge Research Centre, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, Canada
Mary M. Peet, North Carolina State University, USA
S. Reza Pezeshki, University of Memphis, USA
Gopi K. Podila, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, USA
Rudra P. Singh, Potato Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada, Canada
Alan Smith, University of Minnesota, USA
James T. Tambong, Agric & Agri-Food Canada, Canada
Karen Tanino, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Judith Thomas, North Carolina State University, USA
Lining Tian, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada
Selvakumar Veluchamy, North Carolina State University, USA
Aiming Wang, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/The University of
Western Ontario, Canada
Anand K. Yadav, Fort Valley State University, USA
David Zlesak, University of Minnesota, USA

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The Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology ©2011 Global Science Books, Ltd.
All rights reserved. No parts of this journal may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
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Guest Editor
Dr. Khalil Al-Mughrabi
Potato Development Center, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Canada
Cover photos/figures: Top left: A model of EB1 activities on microtubule plus ends (Sherryl R. Bisgrove, pp 98-106).
Center left: Potato virus Y tuber necrosis strain (PVY NTN ) induced symptoms in tobacco plant and potato tubers (Xianzhou
Nie, pp 107-114). Top right: Representation of the different research centers mentioned in this review administered by
Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Forest Service (Germain and Li, pp 115-120). Center right: Crystal structure of a
basic class IV chitinase of Picea abies (Islam et al., pp 22-36). Bottom: Schematic representation of in vivo and in vitro
plant reproductive development (Baron and Stasolla, pp 11-21).
Disclaimers: All comments, conclusions, opinions, and recommendations are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the publisher, or the Editor(s). GSB does not specifically endorse any product mentioned in any
manuscript, and accepts product descriptions and details to be an integral part of the scientific content.
Printed in Japan on acid-free paper.
Published: December, 2011.

The Guest Editor
Dr. Khalil Al-Mughrabi was born in Jerusalem in 1965. He earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Plant Protection from
the University of Jordan, graduating with high honors. He received his Ph.D. in Biology from Dalhousie University in Nova
Scotia, Canada in 1994. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Dalhousie University, Nova
Scotia, Canada.
Dr. Al-Mughrabi is the National Chair of the "National Late blight Working Group" in Canada, and is a regional reviewer
for the Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. He is also a Guest Editor of “The Americas Journal of Plant
Science and Biotechnology”.
Dr. Al-Mughrabi was appointed in 2001 the position of the Provincial Potato Pathologist by the New Brunswick Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture in New Brunswick, Canada. In 1993, he was the Provincial Plant Pathologist for
the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Between 1993 and 1994, Dr. Al-
Mughrabi did his Post-Doctoral research at the Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Canada, in the
area of population biology and genetics of wood decay fungi. Dr. Al-Mughrabi worked between 1995 and 1998 as the
Quality Control Manager and Coordinator of Brooks Diagnostics Ltd., a private Plant Health Clinic located in Alberta,
Canada.
In 1998, Dr. Al-Mughrabi joined the Faculty of Agricultural Technology of Al-Balqa’ Applied University (BAU) in Jordan
as a Professor, and was then promoted to Assistant Dean for Community Colleges Affairs, and Chairman of the Department
of Biotechnology. He established the Department of Biotechnology and the M.Sc. degree in Biotechnology program at BAU,
and assisted in establishing laboratories and new diploma programs at the university and its affiliated Agricultural Colleges
across Jordan. He was a chairman and member of many university, faculty, departmental and college committees at BAU,
and was Jordan’s representative for the Middle East Forum on Biotechnology, and an external examiner on 3 M.Sc. defense
committees at the University of Jordan.
Dr. Al-Mughrabi’s research and teaching interests are in biotechnology, plant pathology, plant disease diagnostics, distance
diagnostics using digital imaging technology, fungicide efficacy, pesticide residue analysis, integrated pest management,
disease forecasting systems, quarantine potato diseases, and others. He has a large number of publications in national and
international refereed journals. He is a member of the Canadian Phytopathological Society, the American Phytopathological
Society, the Potato Association of America, and the New Brunswick Institute of Agrologists.
Dr. Al-Mughrabi received several awards including Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Visiting
Fellowship in Canadian Laboratories (NSERC-VF), 1998; National Research Council of Canada – Innovation Center Award
“Creating A Technology-Based Business Venture: Enterpreneurship Training Program”, 2001; Dalhousie University
Graduate Scholarship, 1991-1994; Canadian Seed Potato Export Agency (Potatoes Canada) and the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) Scholarship, 1990; Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship, University of Jordan, 1989-
1990; The Higher Council for Science and Technology Scholarship, Jordan, 1989; the Agricultural Materials Company
(Miqdadi) Scholarship, Jordan, 1988-1989; and the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship, University of Jordan, 1987-
1988.
Dr. Khalil Al-Mughrabi is residing in Canada with his wife Katherine and their three kids Isaac, Tatiana and Zaid.

Foreword
These three special issues (SIs) of The Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology (AmJPSB) published by
Global Science Books (GSB) is dedicated to “plant science and biotechnology in North America – focus on Canada”.
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the
continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic
Ocean. It is the world's second largest country by total area. Canada is a bilingual nation with both English and French as
official languages at the federal level. One of the world's highly developed countries, Canada has a diversified economy that
is reliant upon its abundant natural resources and upon trade, particularly with the United States.
Agriculture in Canada is among the most sophisticated and technologically advanced in the world. Research scientists
from across the nation contribute to the success of the agricultural industry in Canada.
GSB Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva, extended an invitation to me in March of 2009 to become a Guest
Editor of a SI of the AmJPSB focusing on plant science and biotechnology in Canada. I accepted this invitation and
contacted researchers in the field of plant science and biotechnology to contribute to this special issue. Researchers from
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, universities, provincial governments, and private
research institutes accepted my invitation. A large number of manuscripts representing all aspects of plant sciences were
submitted. Topics covered in the special issue include biological control of insects, plant diseases, plant-based vaccines,
genetically-modified crops, biological control of plant pathogens, molecular plant pathology, resistance, crop production,
pollution, breeding, physiology, volatile metabolites, plant disease management, plant stress, etc. Due to higher than
expected number of submissions, the publisher produced three issues to accommodate all accepted manuscripts. Although
these manuscripts represent a wide range of plant science research expertise in Canada, there are many disciplines that are
not covered.
I would like to thank all the researchers who contributed their high quality, well written manuscripts of research results
or review papers to this special issue. Your understanding and patience with me and with the publisher, despite the
unexpected delays in concluding this project, are highly appreciated.
I would also like to thank my employer, the Government of New Brunswick, for supporting me and encouraging me to
take on this project. The Potato Development Centre of the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and
Fisheries provides a professional work environment which allows me to excel at what I do in my capacity as the Provincial
Potato Pathologist. Last but not least, I would like to thank Dr. Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva, the Editor-in-Chief of GSB, who
despite what he encountered of health issues during the course of this project, and despite operating with a small number of
volunteer staff, was able to finalize and conclude this project.
Dr. Khalil Al-Mughrabi, December 2011

SPECIAL ISSUE: CONTENTS
Khaled Al-Taweel (Canada/Syria), W.G. Dilantha Fernando (Canada) Differential Gene Expression is a Promising Tool for
Understanding Host–Pathogen Interactions
Kevin Baron, Claudio Stasolla (Canada) The Role of Stress during in Vivo and in Vitro Plant Reproductive Development:
Implications for Cropping Systems and Germplasm Enhancement in Canada
M. Aminul Islam, Rona N. Sturrock, Abul K.M. Ekramoddoulla (Canada) Conifer Chitinases
Yvan Pelletier (Canada), Finbarr Horgan (The Philippines), Julien Pompon (Canada) Potato Resistance to Insects
Godfrey P. Miles (USA), Marcus A. Samuel (Canada) Living in the O-zone: Ozone Formation, Ozone-Plant Interactions and
the Impact of Ozone Pollution on Plant Homeostasis
Patricia E. Juskiw, James H. Helm, Donald F. Salmon (Canada) Breeding of Feed Grains for Western Canada
Jaswinder Singh, Michael Ngadi, Anuradha Varier, Suha Jabaji (Canada) Jerusalem Artichoke: An Emerging Crop for
Bioenergy and Bioproducts in North America
Bin Zhu, Bao-Luo Ma (Canada) Genetically-Modified Crop Production in Canada: Agronomic, Ecological and Environmental
Considerations
Sherryl R. Bisgrove (Canada) Microtubules and Root Responses to Mechanical Impedance and Gravity
Xianzhou Nie (Canada) Plant Viral Disease Management in the Genomics Era
Hugo Germain, Xin Li (Canada) Research on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions in Canada
Yaw L. Siow, Jay Petkau, Lindsei Sarna, Jennifer Enns, Karmin O (Canada) Berberine: Biochemical Analysis and
Cardiovascular Benefits
Aiming Wang (Canada), David J. Wang (Canada/USA), R. V. Chowda-Reddy, Hongyan Chen, Shengwu Ma (Canada)
Development of a Plant-based Vaccine against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus: Research Progress and
Future Prospects
1
11
22
37
53
64
78
90
98
107
115
121
127

Khaled Al-Taweel (Canada/Syria), W.G. Dilantha Fernando (Canada) Differential Gene Expression is a Promising Tool for
Understanding Host–Pathogen Interactions (pp 1-10)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Expression of genes is essential for normal development and pathological processes. Therefore, discovery of
differentially expressed genes is critical for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in normal and pathological
states, as well as providing new insights for discovery of novel molecular genes. To date, a number of techniques such as
microarray, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and differentially displayed - reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain
reaction (DD-RT-PCR) have been developed for novel gene discovery. Microarray analysis is one of the fastest-growing new
technologies in the field of genetic research. Scientists are using microarrays that allow us to look at thousands of genes at one
time and determine which are expressed in a particular cell type or under certain conditions. The SSH is a method that is used
for the comparison of two RNA populations that differ in expression in response to a particular stimulus or environment, such as
an infection by a pathogen, can identify differences in the abundance of specific transcripts that vary in a population dependent
manner. DD-RT-PCR is a method based on PCR that allows systematic comparisons of expressed mRNA in the cells, so, is
becoming more efficient nowadays to isolate and characterize genes differentially expressed among cells, tissues or individuals.
In this mini-review, we will describe the techniques mentioned above that have been widely used in the field of molecular
biology in the last decade to identify differentially expressed genes in many biological systems, including our own work in
Fusarium head blight disease of wheat.
Kevin Baron, Claudio Stasolla (Canada) The Role of Stress during in Vivo and in Vitro Plant Reproductive Development:
Implications for Cropping Systems and Germplasm Enhancement in Canada (pp 11-21)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: High-yielding cereal and oilseed cultivars are integral components of modern cropping systems in Canada.
Climate change occurring at both regional and global scales, along with increased frequency of extreme weather events, has
resulted in greater emphasis upon yield stability or safety in local breeding programs. The reproductive development of crop
and model plant species is particularly sensitive to environmental stress with undesirable reductions in seed yield linked to
pollen sterility and ovule abortion along with defects in embryogenesis, storage product accumulation and seed maturation. In
contrast to the detrimental role environmental stress plays in reducing harvestable yields, plants also employ controlled ‘stress’
programs at various checkpoints throughout the plant lifecycle. Modern in vitro tissue culture techniques which support
breeding programs also employ stress as a means of reprogramming plant development. The following review covers recent
molecular and physiological studies that have improved our understanding of the mechanism(s) through which both model and
crop species cope with environmental or imposed stress during in vitro and in vivo reproductive development. Through
approaches such as germplasm screening or genetic engineering plant biologists can utilize the information provided to
enhance the stress tolerance of species of importance to the Canadian agriculture and forestry sectors.
M. Aminul Islam, Rona N. Sturrock, Abul K.M. Ekramoddoulla (Canada) Conifer Chitinases (pp 22-36)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Over the last two decades scientists have focused much attention on the physiological, molecular and
functional biology of plant chitinases and there is considerable evidence suggest that chitinases play important roles in plant
defense systems. Chitinases have also been shown to play a role in plant growth and development. Several review articles
exist for chitinases of angiosperms but there is no such review for conifer chitinases, despite the economic and ecological
significance of coniferous species in the world’s forests. Conifer chitinases consist of at least several classes of enzymes that
are represented by small gene families. Class II (acidic) and class IV (basic) chitinases, expressed differentially over time and
space, have been shown to be the major defense players in many conifer pathosystems. Class I and III chitinases are also
reported in some conifers. This review discusses the current body of knowledge regarding conifer chitinases, including the
molecular structure of chitinase genes and their regulation and function in conifer plants. Future potential uses for conifer
chitinases as biopesticides and agents of biofuel production are also discussed.
Yvan Pelletier (Canada), Finbarr Horgan (The Philippines), Julien Pompon (Canada) Potato Resistance to Insects (pp
37-52)

ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Potato, Solanum tuberosum, is the fourth major crop and is grown around the world. It is subject to a large
number of insect pests, but the Colorado potato beetle, the potato tuber moths and aphids are the most damaging. Crop
resistance to these insects can alleviate problems caused by the use of synthetic insecticides. The diversity of wild
tuber-bearing Solanum species offers a source of resistance to insects and pathogens; however, it has so far been
under-utilized. This article reviews progress made in the development of insect resistant potato cultivars, as well as the
biological and methodological challenges of developing insect resistant potato varieties. We conclude that the prospects of
using wild species in future potato breeding programs are good, but, screening and experimental protocols need to be more
holistic given the complexity of insect-potato interactions.
Godfrey P. Miles (USA), Marcus A. Samuel (Canada) Living in the O-zone: Ozone Formation, Ozone-Plant Interactions and
the Impact of Ozone Pollution on Plant Homeostasis (pp 53-63)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Ozone is a key constituent of the terrestrial atmosphere. Unlike in the stratosphere, where ozone provides an
essential barrier to incoming UV radiation, within the troposphere, it is a major secondary air pollutant that is estimated to cause
more damage to plant life than all other air pollutants combined. In the troposphere, ozone is produced by photochemical
oxidation of primary precursor emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide
(SO 2) in association with elevated levels of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ≡ NO + NO 2). Because of its strong oxidizing potential,
ozone is damaging to plant life through oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids and lipids either directly or as a result of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from ozone decomposition. In plants, ROS, directly of indirectly derived from ozone
exposure, are routinely scavenged by an array of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms. The various
ROS generated by ozone have strong influence on the plant’s biochemical and signaling network eliciting a wide range of
responses including cell death.
Patricia E. Juskiw, James H. Helm, Donald F. Salmon (Canada) Breeding of Feed Grains for Western Canada (pp 64-77)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: The production of livestock in western Canada is moving from a small farm system to a highly mechanized,
intensive system of production with animals having superior genetics. With this change, the feed demand by the industry has
been moving from using the cheapest feed available to the best quality available. Defining that quality has been a challenge.
Different classes of livestock have different feed demands. As well, adoption of production practices to maintain sustainability
has meant a shift from maximization of inputs/outputs to integrated crop management and optimization of resource use.
Through development of tools to enhance selection, and maintenance and development of diverse germplasm, breeding of the
feed grains barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and triticale (X Triticosecale Witt.) has been an evolving effort throughout western
Canada. In this review, we present the changes and challenges of feed grain breeding with focus on the breeding program at
the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC), Lacombe, AB.
Jaswinder Singh, Michael Ngadi, Anuradha Varier, Suha Jabaji (Canada) Jerusalem Artichoke: An Emerging Crop for
Bioenergy and Bioproducts in North America (pp 78-89)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Bioenergy has become an urgent topic worldwide. States, nations, and companies are investing heavily to
enhance their energy security and reduce fossil-fuel carbon emissions and pollution. Ethanol from sugarcane and maize are
arguably the first renewable fuels to supplement petroleum-based fuels for use in transport. However, major drawbacks include
the limited availability of suitable agricultural lands to grow these crops as well as their nutrient and water demands. Moreover,
use of these crops has a negative impact on the food supply, especially with the use of maize (grain) as a feedstock. Jerusalem
artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) with its low input requirement, high ability to sequester C producing high amounts of
biomass and inulin promises to be a good alternative for producing bioethanol with the added advantage of obtaining profitable
bioproducts. Jerusalem artichoke (JA) is a tuberous rooted perennial plant which is a close relative of sunflower, an important oil
seed crop. The storage carbohydrate of JA tubers is inulin, a fructan which is sweeter than sugar and has both nutritional and
health benefits. Additionally, fructan containing food is also known for increasing the bioavailability of minerals and for
stimulating immune system. The inulin present in tubers and stem can be converted to bioethanol. JA can be grown on marginal

lands and even on post industrial site. We will review the potential of this crop for bioenergy while highlighting genetics,
genomics, biotechnological and bioconversion efforts to turn this native Canadian crop to a viable feedstock for sustainable
production of bioproducts.
Bin Zhu, Bao-Luo Ma (Canada) Genetically-Modified Crop Production in Canada: Agronomic, Ecological and Environmental
Considerations (pp 90-97)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Since the commercial introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops for field cultivation in 1996, the area of
GM crop production in Canada has increased from 0.14 million ha to the current 8.2 million ha. Inserting genes tolerant to
herbicides and resistant to insect pests into the crops allows GM crops to be grown with fewer pesticide applications, thus
reducing production cost. With the rapid adoption of GM crops, modern agricultural systems offer new crop management
strategies so that both production efficiency and crop yield on a per-hectare basis are increased. As a result, there is a potential
to offer better agricultural productivity than that conventional crops can provide. Despite the potential economic benefits,
commercial production of GM crops at large has also raised some concerns about potential adverse effects on the environment.
Over the past decade, there have been many research projects conducted to assess the risks posed by GM crops in the
environment, especially for gene flow and non-target effects. Using a balanced approach to appraise agronomic benefits and
environmental issues, this review summarizes the results obtained in numerous studies associated with GM crop production in
Canada with special reference on the major GM crops of canola (Brassica spp.), maize or corn (Zea mays), and soybean
(Glycine max), and the two main GM traits of herbicide tolerance (HT) and insecticidal toxins from a bacterium, Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt).
Sherryl R. Bisgrove (Canada) Microtubules and Root Responses to Mechanical Impedance and Gravity (pp 98-106)
ABSTRACT
Invited Mini-Review: Gravity and mechanical impedance represent two environmental cues that roots respond to as they grow
through the soil. Roots generally grow down in response to gravity. However, rocks and other obstacles mechanically impede
growth and roots need to maneuver around them as they penetrate into the soil. To do this roots change the direction in which
they are growing by forming a bend that reorients the tip of the root. Microtubules are thought to play important roles in these
root growth responses. By regulating the direction of cell expansion they are essential for ensuring that roots continue to
elongate through the soil. In addition, microtubules are hypothesized to function in root responses to touch and gravity signals.
These functions include signal detection, cytoplasmic organization in sensory columella cells, and the differential growth
response that occurs during root bending. However, roles for microtubules in these responses are somewhat controversial
since there are experiments that have produced conflicting results. We recently reported that Arabidopsis plants carrying
mutations in the microtubule associated protein END BINDING 1 (EB1) have defects in their responses to touch/gravity stimuli
(Bisgrove et al. 2008). These mutants open the door for analyses aimed at determining how and where in the response pathway
EB1 and, by association, microtubules are involved. In animal and fungal cells EB1 appears to regulate the compliment of
proteins that associate with microtubule plus ends. EB1 binding partners include proteins that function in signaling pathways,
vesicle shuttling, and cross talk between the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. Similar processes may occur during root
responses to touch/gravity signals, although possible roles for EB1 are speculative. Further analyses of eb1 mutants and the
identification of EB1 interactors in plants should provide additional insights.
Xianzhou Nie (Canada) Plant Viral Disease Management in the Genomics Era (pp 107-114)
ABSTRACT
Invited Review: Viral diseases pose a significant threat to crop production and quality. This is particularly true for crops in the
tropical and subtropical regions and those whose propagation relies on vegetative tissues. Effective management of viruses
and their vectors thus play a pivotal role in crop production. Various practices such as stringent phytosanitary measures, seed
certification programs and vector controls have been widely applied in various crops. As more and more viruses, viroids
included, have been fully sequenced and their transmission modes better understood, molecular detection/diagnosis/monitoring
of target viruses/viroids in plants and vectors have been gradually development and employed. Modern technologies such as
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based and nucleic acid hybridization-based techniques including PCR, real-time PCR and
microarray demonstrate a great potential for efficient and accurate detection of a large number of viruses/viroids as well as

other formats of pathogens in real-time, thus providing accurate guidance for controlling/managing the pathogens. Meanwhile,
the genomic era technologies have also significantly expanded our understanding of the molecular basis of host-virus-vector
interactions, which will undoubtedly improve virus disease management in various aspects including more efficient
development and utilization of resistant cultivars especially those with multiple resistances and more efficient management of
vectors and vector-mediated transmission.
Hugo Germain, Xin Li (Canada) Research on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions in Canada (pp 115-120)
ABSTRACT
Invited Mini-Review: The study of molecular plant-pathogen interactions is a very active field of research in Canadian
universities and research centers. This is not surprising given that the Canadian economy is tightly bound to food crops and
forest resources for domestic use and export. The goal of this mini-review is to provide an overview of the excellent research
that is being done on this topic in Canada. The availability of funding for genome-scale projects on model and non-model crop
plants has led the field of plant pathogen interactions into a new era. The different approaches used by researchers in Canada
to decipher bacterial and fungal virulence strategies and the research tools currently being used to study the plant immune
system will be discussed. Relevant work on Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana is included but most of the work
discussed herein is related to non-model species.
Yaw L. Siow, Jay Petkau, Lindsei Sarna, Jennifer Enns, Karmin O (Canada) Berberine: Biochemical Analysis and
Cardiovascular Benefits (pp 121-126)
ABSTRACT
Invited Mini-Review: Berberine is an alkaloid found in plants such as goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis L.), European
barberry or jaundice berry (Berberis vulgaris L.), and Chinese goldthread or Huanglian (Coptis chinensis Franch.). Goldenseal
can be grown in Canada and natural health products derived from this plant have been found on consumer shelves. In this
review, a UPLC-based analysis of berberine in a goldenseal product is presented. The linear range for berberine is from 10 to
500 μg/mL with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.9996. Two major cardiovascular benefits of berberine are discussed: lipid
lowering and antioxidant effects. Berberine has been shown to lower blood cholesterol through the stabilization of LDL receptor
mRNA and to lower triglycerides through activation of AMPK, which in turn, targets two other enzymes involved in lipid
biosynthesis, ACC and HMG CoA reductase. For its antioxidant effects, berberine has been shown to directly scavenge
ROS/RNS species, to upregulate endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms and to inhibit endogenous
ROS/RNS-generating oxidases such as NADPH oxidase. Berberine has potential to be used as a complementary therapy for
hyperlipidemia and for prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.
Aiming Wang (Canada), David J. Wang (Canada/USA), R. V. Chowda-Reddy, Hongyan Chen, Shengwu Ma (Canada)
Development of a Plant-based Vaccine against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus: Research Progress and
Future Prospects (pp 127-131)
ABSTRACT
Invited Mini-Review: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of a few important pathogens that
threaten the pig industry worldwide. The disease caused by PRRSV is a major source of economic loss for pork producers.
PRRSV infects pigs through the mucosal surface of the respiratory tract. Therefore, the production of an oral vaccine to induce
specific mucosal immune response may represent the most effective approach to preventing PRRSV infection. As the
production of safe subunit vaccines in systems such as mammalian, bacterial or insect cells is either impossible or too
expensive, plants become a promising bioreactor. In the past several years, we have investigated the possibility of application
of plants for the development of a low cost, orally administered, plant-based vaccine against PRRSV. We used the cholera toxin
B subunit (CTB) of Vibrio cholerae as an adjuvant and the PRRSV GP5 or its neutralizing epitope (GP5-NE) as a vaccine
antigen. We found GP5 or the CTB-GP5 fusion protein was no detectable in transgenic tobacco plants, though large amounts of
corresponding RNA were evident. The expression level of CTB-GP5-NE in transgenic plants was in the range of 0.003 to
0.087% of total soluble proteins. The plant-derived CTB-GP5-NE was biologically active. To increase the yield of the
CTB-GP5-NE recombinant protein in plant hosts, we developed a Soybean mosaic virus-based viral expression system. In this
research review, we summarize our research progress and discuss challenges and future prospects of the development of a
plant-based PRRSV vaccine.