Idag görs rörelsemätningar manuellt i vården med hjälp av en goniometer. Mätningarna är ofta tidskrävande och kräver utbildade utövare samt är beroende av utövarens ögonmått. Det har introducerats ny teknik för att göra samma mätningar med hjälp av externa sensorer, vilket har nackdelen att de kan vara kostsamma och utrymmeskrävande. På senare tid har djupkameratekniken introducerats som en alternativ lösning för att effektivisera för både patienter och vårdpersonal. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka om Apples djupkamerateknik kan ersätta nuvarande teknik genom att kunna utföra rörelsemätningar med endast en Ipad/Iphone med inbyggd djupkamera. För detta har en prototyp utvecklats för att automatiskt kunna beräkna medicinskt relevanta vinklar genom att filma en person. Olika rörelsemätningar har sedan utförts och mätresultaten har analyserats. Resultaten av analysen visar att Apples djupkamera har hög precision i mätvärdena. Dock behöver en större undersökning utföras för att kunna konstatera om Apples djupkamera helt skulle kunna ersätta nuvarande teknik. / Today, movement measurements are made manually in healthcare using a goniometer. The measurements are often time-consuming and specially trained practitioners are needed, furthermore the readings are dependent on the practitioner's eye measurements. New technology has been introduced to make the same measurements using external sensors which have the disadvantage that they can be costly and space consuming. Recently, depth camera technology has introduced an alternative solution to make it more efficient for both patients and practitioners. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Apple depth camera technology can replace current technology by being able to perform motion measurements with only one Ipad/Iphone with a built-in depth camera. For this, a prototype has been developed to be able to automatically calculate medically relevant angles by filming a person. Various motion measurements have been performed and the measurement results have been analysed. Apple depth camera has high precision in the measured values. However, a larger study needs to be performed in order to be able to determine whether Apple's depth camera could replace current technology.

No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Cheryl Boyer / The nursery industry in the United States, particularly in the Great Plains region is growing; however, materials used in creation of artificial substrates used to grow ornamental nursery crops continue to increase in price. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) is an indigenous plant throughout much of the United States and, in the Great Plains, it has become a pest. Use of wood-based substrates (primarily composed of pine trees) has been proven effective in both nursery and greenhouse production. Eastern Redcedar chips (JVC) could become a local and sustainable resource for the horticulture industry throughout the Midwest. Experiments were conducted to determine if JVC could be used as a substrate to replace or supplement three major substrate components; pine bark (PB), perlite, or peat moss. Four studies evaluated ornamental crop growth: two focused on comparing nursery crop production in PB and JVC, one focused on greenhouse production in peat moss, and the last on plant propagation in perlite. The first experiment (Chapter 2) involved combining ratios of JVC and PB with two fertilizer rates to grow woody plants. It was shown that while higher levels of fertilizer produced larger plants, that plants grown at either rate of fertilizer showed the same growth trends. As JVC content increased more than 20%, growth measurements such as shoot dry weight and plant height decreased. This decrease in growth can be attributed to the physical properties of JVC, which showed that as JVC content increased so did airspace with a corresponding decrease in container capacity. A follow-up experiment (Chapter 4) evaluated several different particle sizes of JVC and a PB control. It showed that despite the different particle sizes JVC substrate produced less growth than plants grown in PB though plants grown in JVC were all similar to each other. Another experiment (Chapter 3) was conducted to evaluate if JVC as a replacement for peat moss in producing greenhouse-grown annual crops. JVC’s low container capacity hindered plant growth with each increase in JVC content associated with a decrease in growth. Finally a propagation experiment (Chapter 5) used a combination of finely-ground JVC and perlite to grow cuttings of woody and herbaceous plants. It was shown that, in most cases, JVC and perlite were equivocal rooting cuttings. This work demonstrates that JVC can be used as a PB and peat moss supplement, but not a replacement nursery and greenhouse crop production. Use of JVC as a perlite replacement for plant propagation is recommended.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Résumé : Pour se propager dans les cellules de son hôte et évader les réponses immunitaires, les virus végétaux ont développé plusieurs stratégies de défense. Ici, nous avons investigué les structures génétiques du Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV). Nous avons aussi étudié la diversité moléculaire des isolats d’ASPV provenant des poires en regardant les séquences des gènes CP et TGB afin de mieux comprendre les mécanismes évolutionnaires utilisés par ASPV. Nos études ont démontré que les mutations, incluant les insertions et les délétions, la sélection purificatrice et la recombinaison furent des facteurs importants dans l’évolution du l’ASPV en Chine et possiblement mondialement. Comme tous les virus végétaux, l’ASPV se défend contre le RNA silencing de l’hôte grâce à un suppresseur de RNA silencing (VSR) et nous avons montré que le VSR de l’ASPV est la protéine de capside (CP) du virus. Nous avons aussi établi que la diversité moléculaire cause non seulement une variété de symptômes chez son hôte, Nicotiana occidentalis. Cependant elle cause aussi de la variabilité antigénique chez différents isolats, ce qui mène à des écarts de réactivité sérologique entre isolats. Les plantes ont développé plusieurs stratégies pour se défendre contre les virus. Ici, nous avons étudié comment la plante Arabidopsis se défend contre le Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) via le RNA silencing. Nous avons constaté que les phénomènes de susceptibilité, récupération et virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) sont des mécanismes séparables. Nous avons démontré que les protéines AGO2 et AGO4 sont nécessaires à la susceptibilité initiale au TRV, tandis qu’AGO1 est importante pour les VIGS, tandis que la récupération est médiée par d’autres acteurs qui n’ont pas encore été identifiés. Nos résultats suggèrent l’existence de complexes distincts ciblant différentes populations d’ARN viral et cellulaire. De plus, nous avons montré que la répression de la traduction est un mécanisme important durant la récupération de la plante suite à une infection virale, et que les complexes de décoiffage et de RNA processing jouent des rôles importants dans la dégradation des ARNs viraux. Finalement, nous avons montré que les plantes ayant une mutation dans le gène DCP2 présentent un niveaux de VIGS accrue, ainsi qu’une augmentation des niveaux d’ARN viral. Puisque DCP2 fait partie des complexes de décoiffage qui se trouvent dans des granules spécialisés nommés processing bodies (PBs), cela suggère que les PBs jouent un rôle important dans l’élimination les virus. / Abstract : To live in host cells or to escape from host immunity, plant viruses involved a series of defense strategies. Here we investigated Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) population structures and molecular diversity of ASPV pear isolates based on its function important gene CP and TGB in China, so as to infer the evolution mechanisms of ASPV. Our study showed that mutations (including insertions or deletions), purifying selection, and recombination were important factors driving ASPV evolutions in China or maybe even in the world. And also ASPV defends against it hosts by encoding a VSR. We also showed that ASPV molecular diversity not only induced different biological properties on its herbaceous host N. occidentails but also resulted in antigenic variation of different ASPV CP isolates, which leaded to differences in serological reactivity among rCPs of different ASPV isolates. Plants have developed a series of mechanisms to defend themselves against viruses. Here we how Arabidopsis defend against. We show that virus susceptibility, recovery, and virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) appear to be separable phenomena, with AGO2 and AGO4 playing important roles in the initial susceptibility to TRV, AGO1 playing an important role in VIGS, and as yet unidentifid players mediating recovery. These results suggest the existence of distinct RNA-induced silencing complexes that target different RNA populations within the cell and over time. Furthermore, we showed that translational repression of viral RNA is likely to play an important role in virus recovery and that decapping function plays an important role in clearing viral RNA from the cell. We also showed that a decapping mutant (DCP2) displayed an increased VIGS and virus RNA accumulation, an important role for PBs in eliminating viral RNA.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study looked at the incidence, etiology and epidemiology of core rot of apples in orchards situated in the Western Cape, South Africa. Core rot is a post-harvest disease, with three symptoms, namely mouldy core (MC), dry core rot (DCR) and wet core rot (WCR). These symptoms are caused by various pathogenic fungi, including Alternaria and Penicillium. Although MC is not economically important, DCR and WCR are, as they affect the flesh of the fruit. Core rot occurs worldwide in susceptible apple cultivars such as ‘Starking’ and ‘Red Delicious’. These cultivars have a wider, open calyx tube which results in an open core area. In South Africa, core rot of apples are important post-harvest diseases and losses of between 5 and 12% occur in apple cultivars. An in depth literature search was done on core rot including literature on each core rot symptom, the genuses Alternaria and Penicillium, molecular identification and techniques, disease incidence and its economic importance, various inoculum sources, pathogenicity of core rot organisms and integrated management of core rot. This study included two research chapters, with seven objectives, namely, to 1, determine the incidence of core rot in apples from commercial orchards both pre- and post-harvest; 2, to identify the causal organisms associated with core rot symptoms; 3, to identify potential sources of inoculum of core rot pathogens and determine whether there is synergism between Alternaria and Tarsonemus mites associated with core rot; and 4, to determine whether the fungicide Bellis®, used a full bloom application, can be used to manage core rot in South Africa; 5, to identify the species of Alternaria and Penicillium sampled from core rot symptomatic fruit and inoculum sources (air, apple mummies and mites), using morphological and molecular methods; 6, to compare Penicillium species isolated from pre- and post-harvest WCR symptomatic fruit, using molecular species identification methods and 7, to compare and to select the most reliable pathogenicity test for use in future research. The total decay incidence for Ceres is considerably higher than the previous losses indicated in literature. Pre-harvest core rot, which was confirmed by previous studies, had a higher incidence of each core rot symptom than previously indicated. The two most frequently isolated causal organisms were Alternaria and Penicillium. Other organisms isolated and then identified from the symptoms were Fusarium, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Ulocladium, Stemphylium, Phoma, Botryosphaeria, Botrytis, Trichoderma, Verticillium, Paecilomyces and Gliocladium. Three inoculum sources, air, mummies and mites, were regarded as potential sources of infection for core rot. During this study the sources of infection were verified and core rot causing organisms were isolated from these sources. Alternaria was isolated from air inoculum samples, but was not found on the other two sources. This dismissed the hypothesis that there was a possible synergism between Alternaria and Tarsonemus mites. Penicillium species were isolated from all three sources, more frequently from the mummies and mites. Bellis® was applied three times during the bloom period. The subsequent results showed a significant difference between the control and Bellis® treated treatments with the treated fruit having a significant higher incidence than the controlled fruit. No control was observed with this result and managing core rot with only Bellis® is not advisable. Alternaria species were identified using the following genetic loci, ITS, OPA1-3, 2-1 and 10-2 as well as endoPG. Isolates from pre- and post-harvest symptoms and air inoculum were identified using each of the genetic loci. Alternaria arborescens was one of the species that was identified. The other isolates obtained were A. alternata, A. tenuissima, A. gaisen, A. dumosa, A. turkisafria and A. perangusta. Separating combined species was not possible. Another molecular technique, ISSR, was used to identify Alternaria species. This technique, after multiple re-runs, did not give consistent results and species could not be identified. Penicillium species were identified using the genetic loci ITS for isolates collected from pre- and post-harvest symptoms and inoculum sources. Thirteen clades were identified, including the species P. ramulosum, P. sp. (aff. cecidicola), P. sp (aff. dendriticum), P. expansum, P. paneum, P. solitum, P. crustosum , P. brevicompactum, P. novae-zeelandiae, P. glabrum and P. rugulosum. Penicillium expansum and P. ramulosum had the highest distribution between the isolates. Pre- and post-harvest WCR isolates were identified using the partial beta-tubulin PCR-RFLP method, and comparing different banding-patterns. The species identified using this method were P. expansum, P. ramulosum, P. sp. (aff. cecidicola), P. sp (aff. dendriticum), P. rugulosum, P. chermesinum and P. glabrum. Penicillium ramulosum and P. expansum had the highest incidence with P. ramulosum occurring more frequently pre-harvest than post-harvest and P. expansum occurring more frequently post-harvest. Five methods, previously published, were compared to select the most reliable pathogenicity test. The methods included surface wounding of an apple with colonised toothpicks, surface wound inoculated with a pipette, inoculation of an open mesoderm core cavity, deep and non-wounding of apple fruit with colonised toothpicks. The surface wounding with a colonised toothpick gave the most reliable results and can be used in industry as a pathogenicity test for Alternaria in apples. This study contributed to our understanding on the incidence and etiology of core rot in the Western Cape as well as in identifying inoculum sources from where infection can take place in the orchard. The results for the fungicide trial were not as anticipated and more research is required on selecting fungicides for the control of core rot in South African orchards. Although molecular techniques reduce the time in identifying fungal species, it is costly and mistakes can occur due to contamination. Identification of species can be incorrect when using a Genbank as the sequence information may be incorrect. Molecular techniques, though a good tool in identifying species, should be combined with morphological characteristics to ensure more accurate results. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het gekyk na die insidensie, etiologie en epidemiologie van kernvrot in appels vanuit boorde in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Kernvrot is ‘n na-oes iekte, met drie simptome, naamlik beskimmelde kern, droë kernvrot en nat kernvrot. Hierdie simptome word veroorsaak deur verskillende patogeniese swamme, insluitend Alternaria en Penicillium. Alhoewel beskimmelde kern nie ekonomies belangrik is nie, is droë en nat kernvrot wel belangrik, omdat hulle die vrug se vlees affekteer. Kernvrot kom wêreldwyd voor in vatbare kultivars soos ‘Starking’ en ‘Red Delicious’. Hierdie kultivars het ‘n wye, oop kelkbuis wat ‘n oop kern area veroorsaak. In Suid-Afrika is kernvrot van appels ‘n belangrike na-oes siekte en verliese tussen 5 en 12% kom voor in appel kultivars. ‘n In diepte literatuurstudie is gedoen omtrent kernvrot, insluitend literatuur omtrent elke kernvrot simptoom, die genera Alternaria en Penicillium, molekulêre identifikasie en tegnieke, siekte insidensie en sy ekonomiese impakte, verskillende inokulum bronne, patogenisiteit van kernvrot organismes en die geïntegreerde bestuur van kernvrot. Hierdie studie sluit in twee navorsings hoofstukke met sewe doelwitte, naamlik om 1, te bepaal wat die insidensie van kernvrot in appels is vanuit kommersiële boorde vir beide voor en na-oes; 2, om veroorsakende organismses wat met kernvrot simptome geassosieër is te identifiseer; 3, om potensiële inokulum bronne van kernvrot patogene te identifiseer en te bepaal of daar ‘n sinergisme tussen Alternaria en Tarsonemus myte, wat geassosieër is met kernvrot, is; 4, om te bepaal of die fungisied Bellis®, gebruik as ‘n volblom toediening, gebruik kan word om kernvrot in Suid-Afrika te beheer; 5, om die Alternaria en Penicillium spesies wat uit simptomatiese kernvrot vrugte en inokulum bronne geïsoleer is te identifiseer; 6, om Penicillium spesies, wat uit voor en na-oes nat kernvrot simptome geïsoleer is, te vergelyk deur gebruik te maak van molekulêre spesies identifiserings metodes en 7, om die betroubaarste patogenisiteits toets te vergelyk en selekteer vir toekomstige gebruik. Die totale bederfde insidensie vir Ceres is heelwat hoër as die vorige verliese wat aangedui is in literatuur. Vooroes kernvrot, wat deur vorige studies bevestig is, het ‘n hoër insidensie vir elke kernvrot simptoom gehad as wat voorheen aangedui is. Die twee geïsoleerde veroorsakende organismes wat die meeste voorgekom het was Alternaria en Penicillium. Ander organismes wat geïsoleer en geïdentifiseer is vanuit die simptome was Fusarium, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Ulocladium, Stemphylium, Phoma, Botryosphaeria, Botrytis, Trichoderma, Verticillium, Paecilomyces en Gliocladium. Drie inokulum bronne, lug, gemummifiseerde vrugte en myte, is geag as potensiële bronne van infeksie vir kernvrot. Gedurende hierdie studie is hierdie bronne bevestig en kernvrot veroorsakende organismes is uit die bronne geïsoleer. Alternaria is geïsoleer vanuit die lug inokulum monsters, maar is nie geïsoleer vanuit die ander twee bronne nie. Dus die hipotese dat daar ‘n sinergisme tussen Alternaria en Tarsonemus myte is, is verwerp. Penicillium spesies is geïsoleer vanuit al drie bronne, maar meer gereeld vanuit die gemummifiseerde vrugte en die myte. Bellis® is drie keer gedurende die bot toegedien. Die daaropvolgende resultate het ‘n betekenisvolle verskil tussen die kontrole en Bellis® beheerde behandelings getoon, met die behandelde vrugte wat ‘n betekenisvolle hoër insidensie gehad het as die kontrole vrugte. Geen beheer is waargeneem nie en beheer van kernvrot met net Bellis® word nie aanbeveel nie. Alternaria spesies is geïdentifiseer deur die volgende genetise lokusse, ITS, OPA1-3, 2-1 en 10-1, asook endoPG. Isolate van voor en na-oes simptome en lug inokulum is geïdentifiseer deur elk van die genetiese lokusse. Alternaria arborescens is een van die spesies wat geïdentifiseer is. Ander isolate wat verkry is, was A. alternata, A. tenuissima, A. gaisen, A. dumosa, A. turkisafria and A. perangusta. Om gekombineerde spesies te skei was nie moontlik nie. ‘n Ander molekulêre tegniek, ISSR, was gebruik om Alternaria spesies te identifiseer. Hierdie tegniek, na menigte probeerslae, het nie konsekwente resultate gegee nie en spesies kon nie hiermee geïdentifiseer word nie. Penicillium spesies, versamel vanuit voor en na-oes simptome en inokulum bronne, is geïdentifiseer deur die genetiese lokus ITS. Dertien ‘clades’ is geïdentifiseer, insluitend die spesies P. ramulosum, P. sp. (aff. cecidicola), P. sp (aff. dendriticum), P. expansum, P. paneum, P. solitum, P. crustosum , P. brevicompactum, P. novae-zeelandiae, P. glabrum en P. rugulosum. Penicillium expansum en P. ramulosum het die hoogste distribusie tussen die isolate. Voor en na-oes nat kernvrot isolate is geïdentifiseer deur die deels beta-tubulin PCR-RFLP metode, en verskillende band patrone te vergelyk. Die spesies geïdentifiseer deur hierdie metode is P. expansum, P. ramulosum, P. sp. (aff. cecidicola), P. sp (aff. dendriticum), P. rugulosum, P. chermesinum en P. glabrum. Penicillium ramulosum en P. expansum het die hoogste insidensie gehad met P. ramulosum wat meer dikwels vooroes voorkom en P. expansum wat meer dikwels na-oes voorkom. Vyf metodes, wat voorheen gepubliseer is, is vergelyk om die betroubaarste patogenisiteits toets te selekteer. Die metodes sluit in die oppervlak wond van ‘n appel met ‘n gekoloniseerde tandestokkie, oppervlak wond geïnokuleer met ‘n pipette, inokulasie van ‘n oop mesoderm kern area, diep besering en nie-besering van die appel met gekoloniseerde tandestokkies. Die oppervlak besering met ‘n gekoloniseerde tandestokkie het die betroubaarste resultate gegee en kan in die industrie gebruik word as ‘n patogenisiteits toets vir Alternaria in appels. Hierdie studie het bygedra tot ons kennis van die insidensie en etiologie van kernvrot in die Wes-Kaap sowel as die identifisering van die inokulum bronne, van waar die infeksie in die boord kan plaasvind. Die resultate vir die fungisied proef was nie wat ons verwag het nie en meer navorsing word benodig om fungisiede te selekteer vir die beheer van kernvrot in Suid-Afrikaanse boorde. Alhoewel molekulêre tegnieke die tyd verminder om ‘n swam spesie te identifiseer, is dit wel duur en foute kan voorkom as gevolg van kontaminasie. Identifikasie van spesies kan verkeerd wees indien Genbank gebruik is, omdat die informasie daar nie altyd korrek is nie. Molekulêre tegnieke, alhoewel ‘n goeie manier om spesies te identifiseer, moet gekombineer word met morfologiese karakter eienskappe om akurate resultate te verseker.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African apple industry is influenced by a number of factors, including increased globalisation of markets, trade liberalisation, advances in information technology and consumer preferences. These factors have a continuous effect on the competitiveness of the industry and force producers and processors to position themselves as capable competitors in the global free-market environment. This study measures and analyse the competitiveness of the South African apple industry, including some aspects in the value chain, in an attempt to address the following research question: What is the global competitive advantage of the South African apple industry relative to its competitors. To adequately address this research question, a five-step methodology was used to direct the study: The first step was to define competitiveness in the apple industry. Due to the diversity of definitions of competitiveness as a concept, this study adopted the following working definition based on how Esterhuizen, 2006; Freebairn, 1986 define competitiveness. In their view competitiveness is defined as the ability of an industry (apple industry) to trade its products successfully in order to achieve sustainable business growth within the global environment, while earning at least the opportunity cost of returns on resources employed” This definition is accepted in this study because it is noted that competitiveness is most often associated with trade performance. With the above in mind, and in view of the importance of open global apple trade, competitive performance in the South African apple industry is strongly linked to trade performance. The second step was to measure competitive performance based on the accepted definition. Data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations and Trade Map was used to examine the competitiveness of the industry. Three internationally recognised indexes were used to calculate the comparative and competitive advantages of the apple industry in South Africa, namely the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA#) index, the Net Export index (NXi), and the Relative Revealed Comparative Trade Advantage (RTA) index. The results show that South Africa’s apple industry has sustained a competitive advantage, with most of the recent RCA# and RTA index values moving towards 10. When compared with its competitors, Chile and New Zealand show a strong competitive performance, with RTA index values above 10. However, South Africa has a relatively better global competitive advantage over Italy, Argentina, France, Poland, China and the United States of America and are sustaining a third position on the “international apple podium”. Netherlands and Brazil are internationally uncompetitive in the production of apples In step 3 the Apple Executive Survey (AES) was used to identify the factors that constrain and enhance the competitiveness of the South Africa apple industry so that the industry can improve on those factors that constrain competitiveness in order to improve its competitive performance status. The most important factors that were found to have a negative impact on the competitiveness of the South African apple industry were quality of low-skilled labour, cost of crime, availability of skilled labour, SA labour policy, the cost of infrastructure, trust in the political system, administrative regulations, health-related issues (HIV/Aids), the cost of capital and land reform policy. The findings indicate that much needs to be done in these focus areas to boost the competitiveness of the industry in the international market. Factors that enhance the competitiveness of the industry were growth in the international market, the availability of unskilled labour, the availability of transport, competition in the domestic market, industry expenditure on research and development (R&D), the quality of infrastructure, the availability of storage facilities and South African (SA) competition policy. The industry needs to capitalise on these factors in order to improve its competitiveness. In step 4 the Porter Model was then used to group these factors in to the main determinants for competitiveness to prepare the date for an strategic analyses in step 5 where recommendation were made on actions to enhance and rectify or mitigate some of the challenges that are faced by the apple industry in South Africa – these includes: skills training, development of alternative markets, improved cooperation between the apple industry and the government is necessary in supporting the apple industry through infrastructure development, R&D, globally aligned regulations and support to trade promotion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse appelbedryf word deur ’n verskeidenheid van faktore beïnvloed, waaronder verhoogde globalisering van markte, liberalisering van handel, vooruitgang in inligtingstegnologie en verbruikersvoorkeure. Hierdie faktore het ’n deurlopende effek op die mededingendheid van die bedryf en dwing produsente en prosesseerders om hulleself as bekwame mededingers in die globale vryemarkomgewing te posisioneer. Hierdie studie meet en analiseer die mededingendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse appelbedryf, insluitende aspekte van die waardeketting, in ’n poging om die volgende navorsingsvraag aan te spreek: Wat is die globale mededingende voordeel van die Suid-Afrikaanse appelbedryf teenoor dié van sy mededingers? Om hierdie navorsingsvraag behoorlik aan te spreek, is ’n vyfstap-metodologie gebruik om hierdie studie te rig: Die eerste stap was om mededingendheid van die appelbedryf te definieer. As gevolg van die verskeidenheid van definisies van mededingendheid as ’n konsep, het hierdie studie die volgende bruikbare definisie aangeneem, wat gebaseer is op hoe Esterhuizen (2006) en Freebairn (1986) mededingendheid definieer. Hulle siening is dat mededingendheid die vermoë van ’n bedryf (die appelbedryf) is om suksesvol met sy produkte handel te dryf om sodoende onderhoubare besigheidsgroei binne die globale omgewing te behaal, terwyl dit ook ten minste die geleentheidskoste verdien van die opbrengs op hulpbronne gebruik. Hierdie definisie word in die studie aanvaar om beslag te gee aan die uitvoergeneigdheid van die appelbedryf en dat dit opgelet is dat mededingendheid in die bedryf sterk verband hou met handelsprestasie. Die tweede stap was om die mededingende prestasie op grond van die aanvaarde definisie te meet. Data vanaf die Verenigde Nasies se Food and Agricultural Organization( vanaf 1961) en Trade Map ( vanaf 2001) is gebruik om die mededingendheid van die bedryf te ondersoek. Drie internasionaal erkende indekse is gebruik om die vergelykende en mededingende voordele van die appelbedryf in Suid-Afrika te meet, naamlik die Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA#) indeks, die Netto Uitvoer-indeks (Net Export index (NXi)), en die Relative Revealed Comparative Trade Advantage (RTA) indeks. Die resultate toon dat Suid-Afrika se appelbedryf deurlopend ’n posetiewe mededingende voordeel het, met die meeste van die RCA#- en RTA-indekswaardes oor die afgelope dekade stygend na net onder die waarde van 10. In vergelyking met die land se mededingers toon Chili en Nieu-Seeland sterker mededingende prestasie, met RTA-indekswaardes bokant 10. Suid-Afrika het egter ’n relatief beter globale mededingende voordeel oor sy belangrikste mededingers, naamlik Italië, Argentinië, Frankryk, Pole, China en die Verenigde State van Amerika en beklee n konstante derde plek op die “internasionale appel poduim”. Nederland en Brasilië is internasionaal onmededingend in appelproduksie. In stap drie is die Apple Executive Survey (AES) gebruik om die faktore te identifiseer wat die mededingendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse appelbedryf strem of verhoog. Die belangrikste faktore wat gevind is om ’n negatiewe impak op die mededingendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse appelbedryf te hê, was die kwaliteit van laag geskoolde arbeid, die koste van misdaad, die beskikbaarheid van geskoolde arbeid, SA arbeidswetgewing, infrastruktuurkoste, lae vertroue in die politieke stelsel, komplekse en tydrowende administratiewe regulasies, gesondheidsverwante kwessies (MIV/Vigs), die koste van kapitaal en sake wat verband hou met die grondhervormingsbeleid. Die bevindinge toon dat veel nog in hierdie fokusgebiede gedoen moet word om die mededingendheid van die bedryf in die internasionale mark te verhoog. Faktore wat die mededingendheid van die bedryf verhoog, was groei in die internasionale mark, die beskikbaarheid van ongeskoolde arbeid, die beskikbaarheid van vervoer, mededingendheid in die binnelandse mark, besteding op navorsing en ontwikkeling, die kwaliteit van infrastruktuur, die beskikbaarheid van opbergfasiliteite en Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) mededingingsbeleid. Die bedryf moet op hierdie faktore kapitaliseer om sy mededingendheid te verbeter. In stap vier is die Porter-model gebruik om hierdie faktore in die vernaamste determinante vir mededingendheid te groepeer om die raamwerk te stel vir ’n strategiese analise in stap 5, waar aanbevelings gemaak is oor optredes om sommige van die uitdagings wat die appelbedryf in Suid-Afrika in die gesig staar aan te pas, te verbeter en reg te stel. Hierdie sluit in verbeterde vaardigheidsopleiding veral in die laag geskoolde groepe, ontwikkeling van alternatiewe markte, en verbeterde samewerking tussen die appelbedryf en die regering, wat nodig is om vertroue te skep en die appelbedryf d.m.v. infrastruktuurontwikkeling, navorsing en ontwikkeling, globaal belynde regulasies en handelsbevording te ondersteun.

Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Horticulture. / Thesis (PhD (Agric))--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Market preferences for larger fruit have forced producers to adopt cultural practices that will ensure bigger fruit even if this comes at the expense of reduced total yields. In order to obtain acceptable fruit size there must be an adequate supply of photosynthetic carbon products especially during the cell division stage of fruit growth. Competition between fruits and between fruit and vegetative growth, as well as adverse climatic conditions, may limit the carbon supply to the fruits at this critical period and thus limit the final fruit size. Growers are showing renewed interest in the use of girdling or scoring in combination with the usual fruit thinning program to achieve growth control and increase fruit size. A new and milder chemical growth retardant, prohexadione-calcium (ProCa), is now also available for vegetative growth control of apple trees. [n this study, the effects of, and potential interaction between scoring, ProCa and fruit thinning were investigated, with respect to shoot and fruit growth, yield and photosynthetic capacity, in 'Royal Gala" 'Fuji' and 'Cripps' Pink' apple trees. ProCa decreased final extension shoot length in all three cultivars. Extension shoots were generally more sensitive than bourse shoots to scoring and ProCa. ProCa seems to be a more effective way of controlling shoot growth than scoring, with 'Fuji' and 'Cripps' Pink' being more sensitive than 'Royal Gala' to the application of ProCa. Scoring led to increased fruit growth rates during the first 40 days after full bloom (DAFB), and culminated in better fruit size at harvest. Scoring improved the total soluble solids concentration (TSS) of 'Fuji' and 'Cripps' Pink' compared to control and ProCa treatments. ProCa inhibited shoot growth effectively, but no evidence was found for improved carbon allocation to fruits and reproductive buds. Yield efficiencies of scored trees were significantly improved in all cultivars during the second season, due to better reproductive bud development after the first year of scoring. On 'Royal Gala' and 'Cripps' Pink', the efficiency of scoring to stimulate reproductive bud development on old and new spurs declined after 4 weeks after full bloom (WAFB). In 'Fuji', scoring later than I WAFB led to a decreasing positive response on old and new spurs. In contrast, reproductive bud development on long shoots increased with later scoring (6 and 8 W AFB) on all cultivars. It seems that the most beneficial time of scoring is 2-4 W AFB, as early as possible during the cell division stage offruit growth, but not before natural drop has occurred. The combination of early-season scoring and application of ProCa seems to hold potential for increasing carbon allocation to the fruit and improving fruit size and quality attributes. Scoring early in the season reduced photosynthetic capacity, and this reduction in carbon availability led to earlier cessation of shoot growth as well as shorter shoots. Later in the season, reduced fruit numbers led to a decrease in photosynthesis. The optimum temperature range for photosynthesis was found to adjust according to seasonal temperature variations. The harvest-induced reduction in sink strength changed stomatal sensitivity to higher temperature. Due to a reduced demand for carbohydrates by the plant, the maximum rate of photosynthesis (Amax) was reduced post-harvest. Following this reduction in sink strength and Am .. , stomata became more sensitive to high leaf temperatures, thus restricting water loss. Pre-harvest there was a strong demand for carbohydrates, therefore stomata were kept open at higher temperatures to ensure a high rate of C02 incorporation, but at a cost with regard to water use efficiency. The sharp increase in dark respiration (Rd) in leaves and fruit with an increase in temperature would mean that significant carbohydrate shortages could occur in trees during source limited periods early in the season, especially under warm weather conditions commonly experienced in the Western Cape region. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die effek van omgewings- en interne faktore op koolstofproduksie en -allokasie in appelbome (Malus domestlca Borkh.). Mark voorkeur vir groter vrugte forseer produsente om tegnieke te gebruik wat groter vrugte sal verseker selfs al beteken dit verlaagde totale opbrengste. Om aanvaarbare vruggrootte te bereik moet daar voldoende voorsiening van fotosinteties geproduseerde koolstofprodukte aan die vrug wees, veral gedurende die selverdelingstadium van vruggroei. Kompetisie tussen vrugte, en tussen vrugte en vegetatiewe groei sal die voorsiening van koolstof gedurende die kritieke stadium aan die vrug beperk en so vruggroote benadeel. Daar is dus hernude belangstelling in die gebruik van ringelering in kombinasie met die gewone vrug uitdunprogramme om groei te beheer en vruggrootte te verbeter. 'n Nuwe, sagter chemiese groeireguleerder, proheksadioon-kalsium (ProCa) is ook nou beskikbaar vir groeibeheer op appelbome. In hierdie studie is die effekte van, en moontlike interaksie tussen ringelering, ProCa en vruguitdunning ondersoek ten opsigte van loot- en vruggroei en opbrengs, sowel as die effekte op gaswisseling op 'Royal Gala', 'Fuji' en 'Cripps' Pink' appelbome. ProCa veroorsaak korter lote in aJ drie kultivars. Verlengingslote is meer sensitief as beurslote vir ringelering en ProCa. ProCa is effektiewer as ringelering om lootgroei te beheer, en 'Fuji' en 'Cripps' Pink' is sensitiewer as 'Royal Gala'. Ringelering lei tot verbeterde vruggroeitempos gedurende die eerste 40 dae na volblom en verbeterde vruggrootte by oes. Ringelering verbeter die totale oplosbare vastestotkonsentrasie (TOVS) van 'Fuji' en 'Cripps' Pink' in vergelyking met kontrole- en ProCa-behandelings, onderskeideHk. ProCa inhibeer lootgroei effektief, maar geen bewyse van verbeterde koolstomllokasie na vrugte en reproduktiewe knoppe is gevind nie. Opbrengseffektiwiteit van geringeleerde borne verhoog gedurende die tweede seisoen van ringelering weens beter reproduktiewe knopontwikkeling. Ringelering later as 4 weke na volblom (WNVB) is minder effektief om reproduktiewe knopontwikkeling op ou en nuwe spore in 'Royal Gala' en 'Cripps' Pink' te stimuleer. Die positiewe effek van ringelering op reproduktiewe knoppe op 'Fuji' verminder sodra dit later as I WNVB gedoen word. Op langlote het 'n laat ringelering (6 en 8 WNVB) die beste effek op reproduktiewe knopontwikkeling. Die mees voordelige tyd om te ringeIeer was 2-4 WNVB, so vroeg as moontlik gedurende die selverdelingstadium van vruggroei, maar nie voor natuurlike vrugval voltooi is nie. Die kombinasie van vroei! ringelering en die toediening van ProCa het potensiaal om koolstofallokasie na die vrug te verbeter, met die gepaardgaande verbetering in vruggrootte en -kwaliteit. RingeJering vroeg in die seisoen inhibeer fotosintese en hierdie verlaging in koolstof beskikbaarheid het tot gevolg dat lootgroei vroei!r gestaak word. Later in die seisoen veroorsaak verlaagde vruggetalle 'n afname in fotosintese. Die optimum temperatuur vir fotosintese verander na gelang van heersende lugtemperature. Die oes-geinduseerde verlaging in sinksterkte verander stomatale sensitiwiteit vir hoo temperature. Weens 'n verJaagde aanvraag vir koolhidrate deur die plant word fotosintese verlaag na-oes. Weens die verlaging is stomata sensitiewer vir hoer temperature en beperk dus waterverlies. V oor oes is daar 'n hoo aanvraag na koolhidrate dus word stomata oop gehou selfs by hoe temperature ten koste van watergebruiksdoeltreffendheid. Die skerp styging in donker respirasie in blare en vrugte met 'n verhoging in temperature sal beteken dat koolhidraat-tekorte kan ontstaan in bome gedurende die bron-beperkte periodes vroeg in die seisoen, veral onder warm toestande 500S wat algemeen ervaar word in die Wes Kaap.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) is globally associated with latent infection in commercial apple trees. Little is known about this plant-­‐virus interaction. This study made use of next-­‐generation sequencing to investigate the effect of virus-­‐infection on the expression of the different small RNA (sRNA) species namely, miRNAs, nat-­‐siRNAs, phasiRNAs, rasiRNAs, tRNA-­‐derived sRNAs and vsiRNAs. Broad and narrow size-­‐range datasets were generated using sRNA libraries prepared from total and size-­‐selected RNA, respectively. Through bioinformatic data analyses, 130 genomic loci were predicted to give rise to miRNAs, 85 of which were novel MIR genes. Targets were predicted for the majority of miRNAs, a few of which could be validated with a publicly available degradome dataset. Cis-­‐ and trans-­‐natural antisense transcripts (NATs) were identified, of which only the latter were highly enriched for sRNAs in their overlapping regions. Transcript as well as genomic regions were also identified that can give rise to phasiRNAs. For 25 of these loci an in-­‐phase miRNA target site was identified, half of which could be validated with the degradome dataset. Nearly all apple repeat sequences in Repbase were associated with sRNA synthesis. sRNAs derived from both ends of mature tRNAs were identified. These sRNAs corresponded to tRFs and tRNA-­‐halves. Reads associated with tRNA-­‐halves were prominent in the broad range datasets. sRNAs, originating from the central regions of tRNAs, were also observed. Analysis of the vsiRNAs suggested the presence of two ASGV genetic variants in two of the samples, while the third sample was infected with only one variant. Comparison of the vsiRNA profiles generated from the two datasets highlighted the influence of library preparation on the interpretation of results. Differential expression analysis of the identified apple sRNA species showed no variation between healthy and infected plants, except for the tRNA-­‐derived sRNAs, which did show altered expression levels. Taken together, the various sRNA species characterised in this study significantly extended the existing knowledge of apple sRNAs and provide a broad platform for future functional studies in apple. This study also presents the first and most comprehensive report on sRNAs involved in ASGV infection in apple. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Appel gleufstam virus (ASGV) word wêreldwyd geassosieer met latente infeksie in kommersiële appelbome. Min inligting oor hierdie plant-­‐virus interaksie is beskikbaar. Hierdie studie het van volgende-­‐generasie volgordebepaling gebruik gemaak om die effek van virusinfeksie op die uitdrukking van verskillende klein RNA (sRNA) spesies, nl. miRNAs, nat-­‐siRNAs, phasiRNAs, rasiRNAs, tRNA-­‐afkomstige sRNAs en vsiRNAs, te ondersoek. Datastelle met breë en smal grootte-­‐verspreiding is gegenereer m.b.v. sRNA biblioteke wat onderskeidelik voorberei is vanaf totale RNA en RNA van ‘n bepaalde grootte. Deur middel van bioinformatiese data-­‐ontleding is 130 genomiese loci voorspel wat aanleiding kan gee tot miRNAs, waarvan 85 nuwe MIR gene is. Teikens is voorspel vir die meerderheid van die miRNAs en 'n aantal daarvan kon bevestig word m.b.v. 'n publiek-­‐beskikbare degradoom datastel. Cis-­‐ en trans-­‐natuurlike antisense transkripte (NATs) is geïdentifiseer, waarvan slegs die laasgenoemde verryk was vir sRNAs in hul oorvleuelende areas. Transkrip sowel as genomiese areas, wat aanleiding kan gee tot phasiRNAs, is ook geïdentifiseer. Vir 25 van hierdie loci is 'n in-­‐fase miRNA teiken geïdentifiseer, waarvan die helfte bevestig kon word met die degradoom datastel. Byna al die appel herhalende volgordes in Repbase was geassosieer met sRNA sintese. sRNAs afkomstig van beide kante van volwasse tRNAs is geïdentifiseer. Hierdie sRNAs het ooreengestem met tRFs en tRNA-­‐helftes. Volgordes geassosieer met tRNA-­‐helftes was prominent in die breë grootte-­‐verspreiding datastelle. sRNAs, afkomstig van die sentrale dele van tRNAs, is ook waargeneem. Ontleding van die vsiRNAs het die teenwoordigheid van twee ASGV genetiese variante in twee van die monsters aangetoon, terwyl die derde monster met slegs een variant geïnfekteer was. Die vergelyking van vsiRNA profiele, gegenereer vanaf die twee datasteltipes, beklemtoon die invloed van biblioteek voorbereiding op die interpretasie van resultate. Ontleding van die differensiële uitdrukking van die geïdentifiseerde appel sRNA spesies het geen verskil tussen gesonde en geïnfekteerde plante getoon nie, behalwe vir die tRNA-­‐afkomstige sRNAs, wat wel verandering die vlak van uitdrukking getoon het. Die verskillende sRNA spesies wat in hierdie studie geïdentifiseer is, het die bestaande kennis van appel sRNAs aansienlik uitgebrei en bied 'n breë platform vir toekomstige funksionele studies in appel. Hierdie studie bied ook die eerste, en mees omvattende verslag oor sRNAs betrokke in ASGV infeksie in appel.

Human-induced land degradation and climate change can reduce agricultural productivity and increase susceptibility to food shortages at local and global scales. Planting perennial crop species, such as fruit and nut crops, may be an intervention strategy because of their beneficial contributions to sustainable agriculture and human nutrition. Many perennial temperate fruit and nut species are however, particularly vulnerable to frost events, drought, insufficient chill hours, and disease and insect outbreaks. Modifying these species to yield harvests under a wider range of biotic and abiotic conditions may increase the value and long-term viability of perennials in agroecosystems. This dissertation examines adaptation and ecogeography in temperate perennial fruit crops, using apple (Malus sensu lato) as an example for case studies. The resilience of feral domestic apple trees in abandoned farmstead orchards throughout the southwestern U.S. indicates plasticity in adapting to local environmental conditions. Dendrochronology reveals these trees tend to persist where they have access to supplemental water, either as shallow groundwater or irrigation. While domestic apples are cultivated under a range of growing conditions, wild relatives of agricultural crops may further expand the cultivable range of the species. Crop wild relatives are species closely related to agricultural species, including progenitors that may contribute beneficial traits to crops. Sampling the genetic variation in crop wild relatives may benefit from ecological genetics and GIS theory to reveal genetic structure. The Pacific crabapple is an example of a wild apple relative that may contain genetic variation useful in apple breeding. Species distribution modeling of the Pacific crabapple identifies a narrow climatic window of suitable habitat along the northern Pacific coast, and genetic fingerprinting reveals a highly admixed genetic structure with little evidence of natural or cultural selection. While the moist coastal Pacific Northwest is not necessarily characteristic of many apple-growing regions, the species may have useful adaptations transferable to domestic apples. Genetic resources offer a promising source of raw material for adapting crops to future agricultural environments; their characterization, conservation, and use may offer important contributions to adaptation and use of perennial crops in agro-ecosystems.