A survey of Nicotiana germplasm for resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)

The reaction to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was evaluated in 94 accessions of Nicotiana, originating from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation tobacco germplasm collection in Pu?awy, Poland. Tests for resistance were conducted under greenhouse conditions using single TSWV isolate collected from tobacco plantation in Lublin district, Poland. The presence of the virus was verified using DAS-ELISA. SCAR markers associated with TSWV resistance gene were applied. The members of the section Alatae, the genus Nicotiana: N. alata, N. forgetiana, and Nicotiana x sanderae as well as N. tabacum cultivars: ‘Polalta’ and ‘Wiktoria’ with the TSWV resistance gene introduced from N. alata, displayed the hypersensitive reaction (HR) against TSWV (grade 0 on symptom intensity scale). In some of those accessions, the virus spread from the initially infected areas eliciting systemic hypersensitive reaction (SHR). Five accessions of N. alata and three of Nicotiana x sanderae were composed of 6.3–50.0 % of plants in which SHR symptoms appeared. In all of N. forgetiana plants HR reaction was followed by systemic infection (SHR). In N. tabacum ‘Wiktoria’ 21.1 % of plants showed HR reaction, while the remaining were susceptible (S). All of the genotypes which responded with HR or SHR reaction to TSWV infection demonstrated the presence of SCAR markers linked to the resistance gene. The remaining eighty tested accessions were identified as being susceptible upon exposure to TSWV.     

Production and characterization of amphihaploid hybrids between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana wuttkei</Emphasis> Clarkson et Symon and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N. tabacum</Emphasis> L

Nicotiana wuttkei Clarkson and Symon discovered in the 1990s in Australia may be of potential interest to breeders as it carries resistance to Peronospora hyoscyami de Bary. The crossability between N. wuttkei (2n = 4x = 32) and three N. tabacum (2n = 4x = 48) cultivars (‘Puławski 66’, ‘Wiślica’ and ‘TN 90’) and the morphology and cytology of their amphihaploid hybrids (2n = 4x = 40) were studied. Seeds were produced only when N. wuttkei was used as the maternal parent, but under normal germination all seedlings died. Viable F₁ hybrids of N. wuttkei × N. tabacum cv. ‘Puławski’ and N. wuttkei × N. tabacum cv. ‘Wiślica’ were obtained only by in vitro cotyledon culture. The amphihaploid plants were intermediate between the parents for most morphological traits. In 46.4% of the PMC’s, only univalents were present. The remainder of the cells had 1–5 bivalents and 1–2 trivalents. In spite of a detectable frequency of monads (2.6%), dyads (2.6%) and triads (4.5%), the hybrids were self and cross sterile.     

Hematological changes during the course of canine babesiosis caused by large Babesia in domestic dogs in Warsaw (Poland)

In the presented study we evaluated the hematological changes in samples of blood obtained from 248 dogs naturally infected with large Babesia. The evaluation included red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leucocyte counts, thrombocyte counts, mean platelet volume (MPV), morphology of erythrocytes and leucogram. The most common disorders in affected dogs were thrombocytopenia and anisocytosis. The count of erythrocytes below reference values was detected in 26.2% of dogs and 31.4% of affected animals presented hematocrit below the reference values. Hemoglobin concentration below the reference values was noted in 29% of dogs, an increase of MCHC above normal values was detected in 21% of examinated dogs and MCV below normal values was recognized in 2% of dogs. 60.5% of dogs presented anisocytosis, 25% poikilocytosis, 23.8% polychromasia, 19.7% hypochromia and 4.4% erythroblastosis. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 99.5% of dogs, but only 15.3% of examined animals showed increase of MPV, which suggests a response of the bone marrow. 36.3% of dogs had neutropenia, and 21.8% presented a left shift, 14.9% had the lymphocytosis and 7.2% lymphopenia.     

Multifactorial Analysis of the Follicular Environment is Predictive of Oocyte Morphology in Cattle

Numerous attempts have been recently made in the search for a reliable, fast and noninvasive assay for selection of oocytes suitable for in vitro embryo production. Potential markers have been described in the follicle such as follicular fluid (FF) or cumulus cells (CCs). However, the reported findings are contradictory, which may reflect the complexity of metabolism of the ovarian follicle. In the present experiment, a data set from individual follicles of known diameter was obtained: cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) morphology, fatty acid composition and glucose concentration in FF as well as apoptotic index in CCs. The obtained data was statistically analyzed either separately (univariate analysis) or simultaneously (multivariate analysis) to examine its predictive value in morphology assessment of bovine COCs. Although the univariate analysis yielded a complex relation system of the selected parameters, no clear outcome could be established. In multivariate analysis, the concentration of the four fatty acids (C16:0, C16:1, C18:1cis9, C22:5n3) and Δ⁹-desaturase (16) as well as elongase activities were selected as covariates. This allowed prediction of the morphology of a COC with an accuracy of 72%, which is the most interesting finding of the experiment. The present study indicates that the multifactorial model comprising of selected parameters related to the follicle appeared more effective in predicting the morphology of a bovine COC, which may improve the effectiveness of in vitro production systems.     

Tubulin polyglutamylase enzymes are members of the TTL domain protein family

Polyglutamylation of tubulin has been implicated in several functions of microtubules, but the identification of the responsible enzyme(s) has been challenging. We found that the neuronal tubulin polyglutamylase is a protein complex containing a tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) protein, TTLL1. TTLL1 is a member of a large family of proteins with a TTL homology domain, whose members could catalyze ligations of diverse amino acids to tubulins or other substrates. In the model protist Tetrahymena thermophila, two conserved types of polyglutamylases were characterized that differ in substrate preference and subcellular localization.     

Genetic variability within <Emphasis Type="Italic">Septoria carvi</Emphasis> Syd.- a pathogen of caraway <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carum carvi</Emphasis> L

Genetic variability within Septoria carvi isolates obtained from various organs of caraway cultivated in south-eastern and central Poland was studied using the RAPD-PCR technique. The tests were performed using randomly selected primers. The DNA profiles obtained using four primers proved useful in determining genetic variability among the genotypes of Septoria carvi isolates. The present study characterized the differences in the nucleotide sequence within the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) of selected S. carvi isolates and reference strains of Septoria spp. Moreover, eight isolates were sequenced for three loci: actin, calmodulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and the obtained sequences were compared with the sequences of Septoria reference strains affecting other plants of the family Apiaceae. Phylogenetic analysis showed distinct differences of the tested isolates, which allowed to treat them Septoria carvi species affecting the above-ground organs of caraway Carum carvi L. This study is the first report on the genetic characteristics of the species S. carvi.