A simple, rapid, and efficient method for isolating genomic DNA from germinated seeds of wheat that is free from polysaccharides and polyphenols is reported. DNA was extracted, treated with RNase, measured and tested for completeness using agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA purification from wheat grains yielded abundant, amplifiable DNA with yields typically between 100 and 200 ng DNA/mg. The effectiveness and reliability of the method was tested by assessing quantity and quality of the isolated DNA using three PCR-based markers. Inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) were used to assess the genetic diversity between different wheat varieties. Specific PCR primer pair Tox5-1/Tox5-2 and a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) procedure were used to detect genomic DNA of Fusarium graminearum in contaminated wheat seeds. In this method there is no need to use liquid nitrogen for crushing germinated seedlings. The protocol takes approximately one hour to prepare high quality DNA. In combination with the LAMP assay it is a fast and cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic methods for the early detection of toxigenic fusaria in cereals.

ABSTRACT. Colletotrichum musae is the causal agent of anthracnose in banana fruits; infection by this fungal pathogen results in severe post-harvest losses. Eleven C. musae isolates were obtained from infected imported banana fruit samples with anthracnose lesions collected from different markets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The pathogenic, morphological, cultural, and molecular characteristics of these C. musae isolates were evaluated. The cultures had characteristic fast-growing sparse aerial mycelia that were white, with copious cinnamon conidial masses, conidia usually elliptical, and setae absent. An inoculation test was used to determine whether isolates could cause anthracnose symptoms on banana fruits. Necrotic lesions developed and orange-colored spore structures were later observed on these lesions. Microsatellite-primed PCR (MP-PCR) was used to identify genetic variation among the C. musae isolates. The dendrogram obtained from cluster analysis of the MP-PCR fingerprints revealed a great deal of homogeneity among the isolates, shown by the formation of two clusters. Intraspecific similarity among the C. musae isolates ranged from 83 to 100%. This is the first report demonstrating morphological and genetic variation within a population of C. musae in Saudi Arabia.

T hIs study aimed to investigate the most effective treatment technique for the wastewater generated from food processing factory to be reused according to Egyptian standards. The discharged wastewater was highly polluted by organic load. As presented by average chemical oxygen demands (COD) value of 4950 mgO 2 L -1 . Four treatment scenarios were investigated to select the most appropriate module for reuse of wastewater. Chemical coagulation-flocculation followed by adsorption onto granular activated carbon (GAC) achieved 84% of COD removal. The Fenton oxidation followed by adsorption onto GAC achieved COD removal of 91%.The Aerobic treatment followed by adsorption onto GAC reached to 92% COD removals. The quality of treated effluent using the previous modules was far less than the required values stated in Egyptian code for reuse in agriculture (Grade A). Integration of the studied different treatment modules in the form of sedimentation then chemical coagulation-flocculation followed by aerobic treatment then sandwich filter using adsorption/filtration (Sand/GAC/ sand) produced water quality complying with the Egyptian code for reuse in agriculture with COD removal of 99.8%.