Effect of high temperature treatment on disinfestation and quality characteristics of sorghum

Sorghum grain (two varieties) was modified to different water contents (12% to 16% wet weight basis) and heated to 60°C, 70°C and 80°C for periods of 4, 8 and 12 min. Germination, seedling vigour, seedling dry matter, free fatty acid (FFA) content, fungal contamination and infestation with the insect pest Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) were all markedly affected by heat treatment. The effectiveness of the heat treatment was also influenced by the size of the sample used. Heat treatment at 60°C and 70°C resulted in germination being unaffected or stimulated while at 80°C and the higher water contents significantly reduced, when compared to untreated controls. The dry matter of seedlings, and seedling vigour was positively correlated with germination and heat treatment. Heat treatment had no effect on FFA. All stages of the insect pest, R. dominica, were destroyed at 70°C and an 8 min exposure time. However, the water content of the sorghum was critical in determining the efficacy against this pest. The percentage fungal contamination of grain was reduced from 90% to about 25% by heat treatment. However, some grain fungi, particularly Eurotium spp., Aspergillus niger and Penicillium spp. could still be isolated from sorghum grain treated at 80°C for up to 12 minutes.     

Effect of temperature on the survival and infectivity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudotheraptus devastans</Emphasis> vector

The aim of this study was to investigate under a controlled environment, the effect of temperature on the survival and infectivity of Pseudotheraptus devastans Distant, a cassava anthracnose disease vector. The insect P. devastans was collected from young cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) field plots, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. A mixture of the different developmental stages of eggs, first to fifth instar nymphs, and adults, were incubated in controlled environment chambers, under various constant temperatures of: 15, 17, 22, 25, 27, 30, and 35°C. Relative humidity at different temperature conditions were recorded and maintained at 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, and 60%, respectively. A significant increase in insect survival was observed between 22 and 27°C temperature conditions while a significant decrease in survival was observed at 15°C and above 30°C. Lesion number, lesion diameter and infectivity among the insect stages varied as a function of temperature and relative humidity. Infectivity was highest at 22–25°C maintained at 75–80% RH and lowest at 15°C and above 30°C maintained respectively, at 65% RH and 90% RH. There was considerable low vector infectivity due to low survival of the insects at extreme temperatures.     

Storage and preservation of temperate mushroom cultures, agaricus bisporus and pleurotus Florida

Two temperate mushroom cultures namely Agaricus bisporus (U-3) and Pleurotus florida (PAU-5) were evaluated for their physiological (linear growth and biomass production), biochemical (β-1,4 endoglucanase production) and fruiting behaviour after preservation in 10% (v/v) glycerol and storage at room temperature (25–35°C), −20°C and −196°C for 6 months with the objective of establishing the recovery/changes in these fungi after storage. Studies indicated that the viability and recovery of A. bisporus and P. florida is affected by the storage conditions. Both the fungi could be best stored in liquid nitrogen for longer durations but for regular use, conventional sub-culturing was appropriate.     

Enhanced biodegradation of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in contaminated soils via inoculation with Sphingobium indicum B90A

Soil pollution with hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) has caused serious environmental problems. Here we describe the targeted degradation of all HCH isomers by applying the aerobic bacterium Sphingobium indicum B90A. In particular, we examined possibilities for large-scale cultivation of strain B90A, tested immobilization, storage and inoculation procedures, and determined the survival and HCH-degradation activity of inoculated cells in soil. Optimal growth of strain B90A was achieved in glucose-containing mineral medium and up to 65% culturability could be maintained after 60 days storage at 30°C by mixing cells with sterile dry corncob powder. B90A biomass produced in water supplemented with sugarcane molasses and immobilized on corncob powder retained 15–20% culturability after 30 days storage at 30°C, whereas full culturability was maintained when cells were stored frozen at −20°C. On the contrary, cells stored on corncob degraded γ-HCH faster than those that had been stored frozen, with between 15 and 85% of γ-HCH disappearance in microcosms within 20 h at 30°C. Soil microcosm tests at 25°C confirmed complete mineralization of [¹⁴C]-γ-HCH by corncob-immobilized strain B90A. Experiments conducted in small pits and at an HCH-contaminated agricultural site resulted in between 85 and 95% HCH degradation by strain B90A applied via corncob, depending on the type of HCH isomer and even at residual HCH concentrations. Up to 20% of the inoculated B90A cells survived under field conditions after 8 days and could be traced among other soil microorganisms by a combination of natural antibiotic resistance properties, unique pigmentation and PCR amplification of the linA genes. Neither the addition of corncob nor of corncob immobilized B90A did measurably change the microbial community structure as determined by T-RFLP analysis. Overall, these results indicate that on-site aerobic bioremediation of HCH exploiting the biodegradation activity of S. indicum B90A cells stored on corncob powder is a promising technology.     

Ecology of fungi associated with moist stored barley grain

A study of the ecology of fungi associated with moist stored barley grain was carried out on samples from a partially sealed silo in Cumberland. Samples were collected during harvest and after storage at high moisture content in a partially sealed silo. At harvest, the field fungi Alternaria, Fusarium, Cladosporium and Mucor spp. were dominant both in the husks and in the dehusked, surface-sterilized grain but they were rapidly succeeded by the storage fungi: Aspergillus, Penicillium and Absidia spp. then constituted about 80 % of the initial invasion. At this stage internal grain infection rarely exceeded 5 % compared to 65–80 % infection in the husks. In subsequent months, there was a remarkable increase in invasion, mainly by Penicillium, Aspergillus and Absidia spp. and by yeasts, which appeared both in the husks and in dehusked grain. In the third month of storage, Penicillium cyclopium, P. roqueforti, Absidia corymbifera, Aspergillus candidus, A. terreus and yeasts became dominant. The thermophilous species Aspergillus fumigatus, A. terreus, Absidia corymbifera, Mucorpusillus and Dactylomyces crustaceus were isolated from husks and in dehusked grain incubated at 37 and 45 °C. Most grains were infected significantly by single genera.     

Physiological differences in the growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sargassum horneri</Emphasis> between the germling and adult stages

The effects of temperature, irradiance, and daylength on Sargassum horneri growth were examined at the germling and adult stages to discern their physiological differences. Temperature–irradiance (10, 15, 20, 25, 30°C × 20, 40, 80 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹) and daylength (8, 12, 16, 24 h) experiments were carried out. The germlings and blades of S. horneri grew over a wide range of temperatures (10–25°C), irradiances (20–80 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹), and daylengths (8–24 h). At the optimal growth conditions, the relative growth rates (RGR) of the germlings were 21% day⁻¹ (25°C, 20 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹) and 13% day⁻¹ (8 h daylength). In contrast, the RGRs of the blade weights were 4% day⁻¹ (15°C, 20 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹) and 5% day⁻¹ (12 h daylength). Negative growth rates were found at 20 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹ of 20°C and 25°C treatments after 12 days. This phenomenon coincides with the necrosis of S. horneri blades in field populations. In conclusion, we found physiological differences between S. horneri germlings and adults with respect to daylength and temperature optima. The growth of S. horneri germlings could be enhanced at 25°C, 20 μmol photons m⁻²s⁻¹, and 8 h daylength for construction of Sargassum beds and restoration of barren areas.     

Temperature and relative humidity effects on egg and nymphal development of Aceria tulipae (K.) (Acari: Eriophyidae) on garlic leaves (Allium sativum L.)

Aceria tulipae (K.) is responsible for important crop losses of garlic in all production areas around the world. However, very little is known about its development in relation to temperature and relative humidity (r.h). Laboratory rearings from egg to adult stage were done on pieces of the apical part of young garlic leaves. These leaf pieces were placed in aluminium dishes floating on water or put on a solid hygroscopic salt in closed plastic trays. Rearing done in dark incubators at constant temperatures (10°C to 45°C) and with different r.h (25% to 75%) at 15°C and 25°C showed that: i) the shortest development time occurs at about 25°C; ii) the upper lethal temperature and the development threshold for the eggs are respectively estimated about 45°C and 6°C; iii) a r.h close to 100% is required for a high percentage of egg hatching, but water condensation on leaves is harmful. Host transpiration has an important regulatory effect on humidity conditions favouring mite survival.     

Characterization of BflI – A Thermostable,Co++-Requiring Isoschizomer of BsiYI from Anoxybacillus Flavithermus

A thermophile, isolated from geothermal areas in the northern Himalayan region of India, was identified by partial 16S rDNA sequence (GenBank accession # AF482430) analysis as Anoxybacillus flavithermus. The isolate produced BflI (REBASE # 4910), a Type II restriction endonuclease, which recognized the sequence 5′-CCNNNNN/NNGG-3′ and was the isoschizomer of BsiYI. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by passing through Cibacron Blue F3GA agarose, DEAE-cellulose, heparin-agarose and MonoQ FPLC. The purified enzyme (MW 36 kDa) worked best at 60 °C in Promega's buffer C and preferentially required Co⁺⁺(0.4 mM) as cofactor followed by Mg⁺⁺(10 mM) and Mn⁺⁺(1 mM). The enzyme showed high specific activity and worked in the presence of high concentrations of β-mercaptoethanol (200 mM), Triton-X-100 (25%), urea (30%), formamide (6%) and guanidine (40 mM) and showed no star activity in the presence of 40% glycerol. In the absence of any stabilizing agent, BflI retained t _1/2 for at least 96 h at 37 °C, 6 h at 60 °C and 6 months at 4 °C. N-terminal sequencing showed that its first 10 amino acid residues were DFHEDKTIAR. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study on the factors affecting storage of edible aroids

The effects of temperature (15 °C, 25 °C, 30°C and 24–29°C), relative humidity (45%, 85% and 86–98%) and harvest maturity on the storage behaviour of cormels of the edible aroid species Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium were studied. The changes monitored were respiration rates, weight losses, incidence of decay and sprouting. Post-harvest losses that occurred during storage were influenced by the storage conditions, the state of maturity at harvest and the morphological characteristics of the cormels. When stored under high temperature and humidity more sprouting and decay occurred with C. esculenta cormels than with X. sagittifolium cormels. Less sprouting and decay occurred with Colocasia cormels at high temperature and low humidity than at high temperature and high humidity but higher weight losses were recorded. Wound pathogens were the major cause of post-harvest deterioration in Colocasia cormels and the causal pathogen of cormel decay was Sclerotium rolfsii. Under conditions of low temperature (15 °C) and high humidity (85%), cormels of both C. esculenta and X. sagittifolium were successfully stored for periods of 5–6 weeks. Similar storage periods were also possible under tropical ambient conditions with the Xanthosoma cultivars used in these experiments. Under the same storage conditions up to 60% decay occurred in the Colocasia cormels indicating the need for post-harvest fungicide treatment.     

Effects of relative humidity on development, fecundity and survival of three storage mites

The developmental rate of immature stages and the reproduction of adults of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), T. neiswanderi Johnston and Bruce and Acarus farris (Oudemans) were examined at 70, 80 and 90% r.h. and a constant temperature of 25°C. At 70% r.h., T. putrescentiae and A. farris immature stages failed to reach the protonymph stage as 100% of the larvae died, whereas T. neiswanderi was able to complete development. The developmental time of all immature stages for the three species was significantly increased as relative humidity was reduced. The mobile stages were particularly susceptible, as the time needed to complete their development at lower relative humidities suffered greater increases than the egg stage. At 70% r.h., T. putrescentiae and A. farris were not able to lay eggs and only 24% of T. neiswanderi pairs were fertile. The reproductive parameters of the three species at the relative humidities at which they were able to lay eggs showed significant differences, except for the percentage of fertile mating at 80 and 90% r.h. As relative humidity increased, preoviposition period was reduced and fecundity and daily fecundity was increased, whereas the oviposition period showed different patterns for the three species. The intrinsic rate of increase (r _m ) of T. neiswanderi at 70% r.h. was negative indicating that, at these conditions, mite populations of this species will diminish until they disappear. As relative humidity increased from 80 to 90% r.h. this parameter was almost twofold for both Tyrophagus species. The r _m obtained for A. farris at 90% r.h. was similar to that of T. neiswanderi at the same humidity while at 80% r.h. it was very small so that the population doubling time was more than 84 days. The influence of relative humidity on biology of these mites and its practical application as control measure are discussed.     

Survival and colonization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on spinach leaves as affected by inoculum level and carrier, temperature and relative humidity

Aims: To determine survival and colonization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on spinach leaves as affected by inoculum level and carrier, temperature and relative humidity (r.h.). Methods and Results: Spinach leaves were inoculated with suspensions of E. coli O157:H7 in distilled water (DW) and 0·1% peptone water (PW) and incubated at 4, 12 and 25°C and 43, 85 and 100% r.h. The number of E. coli O157:H7 on leaves (5·6 or 1·9 log CFU per leaf) inoculated using DW as a carrier medium increased significantly at 25°C and 100% r.h. within 120 h but remained constant or decreased significantly under other test conditions. E. coli O157:H7 on leaves (5·4 log CFU per leaf) inoculated using PW as a carrier increased significantly within 72 and 24 h, respectively, at 12 or 25°C and 100% r.h.; counts using a low inoculum (2·2 log CFU per leaf) increased significantly within 24 h at 25°C. Conclusions: Escherichia coli O157:H7 can colonize on spinach leaves at 12 or 25°C in a 100% r.h. environment. Organic matter in the inoculum carrier may provide protection and nutrients which enhance survival and colonization. Significance and Impact of the Study: Colonization of E. coli O157:H7 on spinach leaves as affected by organic matter in the inoculum, temperature and r.h. was determined. These observations will be useful when developing strategies to prevent growth of E. coli O157:H7 on pre‐ and postharvest spinach.     

Environment factors influence in vitro interspecific interactions between A. ochraceus and other maize spoilage fungi,growth and ochratoxin production

The effect of water availability (water activity,a_w; 0.995–0.90) and temperature (18–30 °) on in vitro interactions between an ochratoxin producing strain of Aspergillus ochraceus and six other spoilage fungi was assessed in dual culture experiments on a maize meal-based agar medium. Inprimary resource capture of nutrient substrate, A. ochraceus was dominant against many of the interacting species, being able to overgrow and replace A. candidus, and sometimes A. flavus and the Eurotium spp. regardless of a_w or temperature. However, with freely available water (0.995 a_w) A. alternata and A. niger were dominant, with mutual antagonism between A. ochraceus and A. flavus at 25–30 °C. In the driest conditions tested (0.90 a_w) there was also mutual antagonism between A. ochraceus and the two Eurotium spp. Overall, under allconditions tested the Index of Dominance for A. ochraceus was much higher than for other competing species combined suggesting that A. ochraceus wasa good competitive colonist able to replace a numberof other species. However, the growth rate ofA. ochraceus was modified and decreased by the interaction with competitors. Interaction between A. ochraceus and species such as A. alternata (18°C/0.995) and Eurotium spp. (0.995–0.95 and 25–30 °C) resulted in a significant stimulation of ochratoxin production. Theresults are discussed in relation to the effect that environmental factors have on the possible competitiveness of A. ochraceus in the maizegrain ecosystem and the role of ochratoxin in nicheexclusion of competitors. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fruit-body production of two ectomycorrhizal fungi in the genusHebeloma in pure culture

Fruit-body production of two ectomycorrhizal fungi,Hebeloma radicosum andhebeloma sp. (nagaenosugitakedamashi in Japanese), in pure culture was examined. First, nutrients that promote mycelial growth of the fungi when added to the basal medium consisting of barley grains and sawdust were determined. Then the fungi were cultivated to produce fruit-bodies in larger-scale media containing additional nutrients selected for each fungus. Mature fruit-bodies bearing basidiospores were formed after incubation at 22°C for 35–42 d, followed by incubation at 17°C for 21–32 d.     

Production,formulation and antagonistic activity of the biocontrol like-yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aureobasidium pullulans</Emphasis> against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium expansum</Emphasis>

Aureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud (Ach 1-1) was grown in a glucose fed-batch fermentor to 106 g dry wt l⁻¹ in 48 h. The cells were dried in a fluidized bed dryer with a final viability of 62%. After 7 months at 4°C, the viability was 28% of the initial value (= 2.3 × 10¹⁰ c.f.u. g⁻¹ dry matter). A protection level of 89% was achieved with the biomass preparation at 1 × 10⁸ c.f.u. ml⁻¹ after 28 and 7 days for apples stored respectively at 5 and 25°C against Penicillium expansum. Our process is suitable to produce large quantities of the strain Ach 1-1 as biological control agent for apple preservation.     

Epidemiology of Cladosporium allii and Cladosporium allii-cepae, leaf blotch pathogens of leek and onion.

Conidia of Cladosporium allii and C. allii-cepae germinated over the temperature range 2–30°C on agar with optimal responses at 15–20°C (C. allii) and 20°C (C. allii-cepae). Conidia of both fungi germinated in water and at c. 100% relative humidity (r.h.) but not at lower humidities on leaf and glass slide surfaces. Germination was more rapid when spores were applied dry to agar or leaves than when applied in water or nutrient solution. More lesions developed when conidia of C. allii-cepae were deposited dry on onion leaf discs or leaf surfaces than when they were applied suspended in water. Conidia of both fungi required 18–20 h at c. 100% r.h. to germinate and infect when applied dry to leaves. Damaging the leaves or the addition of nutrients to the leaf surface increased the incidence of infection by C. allii-cepae compared to controls. Inoculated onion bait plants placed out-of-doors developed infection after at least 17 h at c. 100% r.h. or with leaf wetness. Similar conditions were necessary for infection of bait plants exposed in onion and leek crops infected by C. allii-cepae and C. allii respectively. Disease development and spread of infection occurred at different rates over the same period in two different cultivars of leeks, with spore concentrations increasing in proportion to disease. Spore numbers in the air fell considerably when infected leeks were ploughed under.     

Response of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) to varying temperature and relative humidity under laboratory conditions

The effect of temperature and relative humidity were determined on the development of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on stored bean (Vigna unguiculata) seeds exposed to five temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) and six relative humidity levels (40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90%). Oviposition and total adult progeny responded in a curvilinear pattern to temperature and relative humidity while developmental period presented a linear response. Egg laying (117.33 ± 3.21) and adult emergence (35.00 ± 1.70) were least at 20 °C and 90% R.H. but those showed the optimal values at 30 °C and 70% R.H. The implication of these findings is that the growth attributes of C. maculatus relate with the weather variables studied in a curvilinear manner and thus quadratic equations generated could be used for the prediction of optimum temperature and relative humidity in a given area for the management of C. maculatus in stored beans.     

Growth and toxigenicity of Fusaria of the sporotrichiella section as related to environmental factors and culture substrates

Isolates ofFusarium poae, F. sporotrichioides, F. sporotrichioides var.chlamydosporum andF. sporotrichioides var.tricinctum made their best growth on PDA substrates at 24 °C, but good growth was also made at 18 °C and 30 °C. At 35 °C growth made by theF. sporotrichioides var.chlamydosporum was quite good, and superior to that of the other fungi. Moderate growth was made by all fungi at 12 °C and byF. sporotrichioides var.tricinctum also at 6 °C, while growth of the other fungi at that temperature was slight. At low temperatures toxic isolates of all butF. sporotrichioides grew better than non-toxic isolates, and growth of all isolates usually was better in light than in darkness up to temperatures of 18 °C. F. poae andF. sporotrichioides produced highest toxicity on rabbit skins when grown at 5–8 °C,F. sporotrichioides var.tricinctum at 15–20 °C. Darkness always favoured toxin development at all temperatures. In a comparison of 3 liquid substrates, overall toxin production was stronger on a starch substrate than on Czapek's or carbohydrate-peptone substrates. Among grain substrates, barley gave highest overall toxicity, which was again favoured by darkness.F. poae isolates were most toxic when derived from soil,F. sporotrichioides isolates when derived from barley. Further tests with 8 liquid substrates confirmed thatF. poae andF. sporotrichioides produce stronger toxicity at 8 °C than at 25 °C, and substrates favoured toxin production at pH 5.6 more than at pH 3.8 or 7.2. At pH 5.6 the isolates induced marked changes in the pH level of the substrate on which they grew. No relation was found to exist between the vigour of growth made by any of these fungi under various environmental conditions and the severity of the toxiç reaction their extracts produced on rabbit skins.     

Effects of temperature, light, storage conditions, sowing time, and burial depth on the seed germination of Cardiocrinum cordatum var. glehnii (Liliaceae)

In this study, we conducted experiments to accumulate practical information on the propagation and establishment of a population of Cardiocrinum cordatum var. glehnii by seed sowing. C. cordatum var. glehnii seeds require approximately 19 months from seed dispersal to cotyledon emergence in the field. However, the period from seed dispersal to radicle emergence was shortened to approximately 7–8 months by the temperature transition of 25/15°C (60 days) → 15/5°C (30 days) → 0°C (120 days) → 15/5°C (i.e., 15/5°C represents alternating temperature treatment wherein the seeds were placed at 15°C for 12 h during the day and then at 5°C for 12 h during the night). More than 90% of the seeds, which were stored dry at 5°C for 12 months and sown in pots in the field, showed cotyledon emergence, whereas in seeds stored dry at 25°C, dry at room temperature, and non-dry at room temperature, cotyledon emergence was decreased by less than 1%. More than 88% of the seeds that were stored dry at 5°C and sown in the field in October 2002 immediately after collecting, November, and from April to July 2003 showed cotyledon emergence in spring 2004. However, seeds sown in August, September, and October 2003 showed cotyledon emergences of 57.6%, 0%, and 0% in spring 2004, respectively. Seeds collected in October 2002 and sown until July 2003 in the field received adequate high temperature in summer, moderate temperature in autumn, and cold temperature in winter; therefore, the percentage of cotyledon emergence was high in spring 2004. On the other hand, seeds sown in August 2003 or later could not receive enough high temperature; thus, cotyledons emerged from only a few seeds.     

In vitro fungitoxicity of the essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum

The in vitro antifungal activity of clove oil was studied against four test fungi namely Alternaria alternata, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Helminthosporum oryzae and Rhizoctonia bataticola by the agar well diffusion method. These test fungi were found to be highly sensitive to clove oil at a concentration of 100 μl/well. The inhibition zone diameter was found to be in the range of 55–65 mm. The toxicity of clove oil on the germination and growth of A. alternata was further examined in liquid medium. Concentration- and time-dependent toxicity was recorded from 0.05 to 20% (v/v) concentration. The minimum fungistatic concentration was found to be 0.05%. Above this concentration, lysis of conidia and inhibition of mycelial growth were detected. Microscopic analysis showed 20–40% lysis of conidia after 72 h of incubation at 5% concentration. However at higher clove oil concentration (10%), up to 20% of conidia were lysed within 24 h of incubation. Similar concentration- and time-dependent toxicity was observed at different concentrations and time intervals. The findings indicated that clove oil possesses fungicidal activity against phytopathogenic fungi. Further study is required to determine whether it could have value in the management of plant infectious diseases. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Alginate production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas mendocina</Emphasis> in a stirred draft fermenter

In this study alginate production by Pseudomonas mendocina in a laboratory-scale fermenter was investigated. In the experiments the effect of temperature (25–31°C) and agitation (500–620 rev min⁻¹) at a constant air flow of 10 v/v/h were evaluated in relation to the rate of glucose bioconversion to alginate using response surface methodology (RSM). The fermenter configuration was also adapted to a system with a screw mixer and draft tube, due to the change in rheological characteristics of the fermentation broth. The adjusted model indicates a temperature of 29.1°C and agitation of 553 rev min⁻¹ for optimum alginate synthesis. In this fermentation system a Y _p/s of 44.8% was achieved. The alginate synthesized by P. mendocina showed a partially acetylated pattern as previously reported for alginates obtained from other Pseudomonas spp and Azotobacter vinelandii.