Contact activity of diflubenzuron against Spodoptera littoralis larvae

The effect of diflubenzuron as a residue on glass or applied topically to Spodoptera littoralis larvae was investigated. Diflubenzuron was active as a residue on glass against 100 and 200 mg larvae; the toxicity of residues was identical whether a dispersable formulation or a wettable powder or the technical substance were used. By topical application, diflubenzuron had an ED₅₀ for cumulative percentage mortality up to the adult stage of 004 and 0066 μg/larva for 100 and 200mg larvae respectively. Neither the site of the topical application nor whether the larvae were kept singly or in groups of ten after the treatment had an influence on toxicity. The data indicate that diflubenzuron has contact toxicity to at least one insect species as well as the known stomach poison action.     

Molecular Response to Toxic Diatom-Derived Aldehydes in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Diatoms are dominant photosynthetic organisms in the world’s oceans and represent a major food source for zooplankton and benthic filter-feeders. However, their beneficial role in sustaining marine food webs has been challenged after the discovery that they produce secondary metabolites, such as polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs), which negatively affect the reproductive success of many invertebrates. Here, we report the effects of two common diatom PUAs, heptadienal and octadienal, which have never been tested before at the molecular level, using the sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, as a model organism. We show that both PUAs are able to induce teratogenesis (i.e., malformations), as already reported for decadienal, the better-studied PUA of this group. Moreover, post-recovery experiments show that embryos can recover after treatment with all three PUAs, indicating that negative effects depend both on PUA concentrations and the exposure time of the embryos to these metabolites. We also identify the time range during which PUAs exert the greatest effect on sea urchin embryogenesis. Finally, we report the expression levels of thirty one genes (having a key role in a broad range of functional responses, such as stress, development, differentiation, skeletogenesis and detoxification processes) in order to identify the common targets affected by PUAs and their correlation with morphological abnormalities. This study opens new perspectives for understanding how marine organisms afford protection from environmental toxicants through an integrated network of genes.     

Long chain alkanes in silk extracts of maize genotypes with varying resistance to Fusarium graminearum

The alkane content of the silks of nine maize genotypes was analyzed to investigate the role of silk wax in resistance to Fusarium graminearum. Silk samples were collected 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after silk emergence and divided into three sections: exposed silk, silk channel silk, and silk that is under the husk and overlying the kernels. Four major unbranched alkanes (C(25), C(27), C(29), and C(31)) and three isoalkanes (C(27i), C(29i), and C(31i)) were identified. Total alkane contents were highest in the exposed silk followed by the silk channel silk, with the lowest in the youngest silk closest to the kernels. In the silk channel and overlying kernel silks, the moderately resistant inbred CO272 consistently had the highest alkane content. None of the other inbreds with improved resistance had as high a level of alkanes as CO272, indicating that alkane content is not a major mechanism of resistance.     

Early-age feed restriction affects viability and gene expression of satellite cells isolated from the gastrocnemius muscle of broiler chicks

Background: Muscle growth depends on the fusion of proliferate satellite cells to existing myofibers. We reported previously that 0-14 day intermittent feeding led to persistent retardation in myofiber hypertrophy. However, how satellite cells respond to such nutritional insult has not been adequately elucidated. Results: One-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to control (Con, ad libitum feeding), intermittent feeding (IF, feed provided on alternate days) and re-feeding (RF, 2 days ad libitum feeding after 12 days of intermittent feeding) groups. Chickens were killed on Day 15 and satellite cells were isolated. When cultured, satellite cells from the IF group demonstrated significant retardation in proliferation and differentiation potential, while RF partly restored the proliferation rate and differentiation potential of the satellite cells. Significant up-regulation of insulin like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) (P<0.05) and thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα) (P<0.05), and down-regulation of growth hormone receptor (GHR) (P<0.01) and IGF-I (P<0.01) mRNA expression was observed in freshly isolated IF satellite cells when compared with Con cells. In RF cells, the mRNA expression of IGF-I was higher (P<0.05) and of TRα was lower (P<0.01) than in IF cells, suggesting that RF restored the mRNA expression of TRα and IGF-I, but not of GHR and IGF-IR. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio tended to increase in the IF group, which was reversed in the RF group (P<0.05), indicating that RF reduced the pro-apoptotic influence of IF. Moreover, no significant effect of T 3 was detected on cell survival in IF cells compared with Con (P<0.001) or RF (P<0.05) cells. Conclusions: These data suggest that early-age feed restriction inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells, induces changes in mRNA expression of the GH/IGF-I and thyroid hormone receptors in satellite cells, as well as blunted sensitivity of satellite cells to T3 , and that RF partially reverses these effects. Thus, a moderate nutritional strategy for feed restriction should be chosen in early chick rearing systems.     

Effects of gibberellic acid on ovarian biochemical composition and ecdysteroid amounts in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera,Acrididae)

Migratory locusts represent the most important crop pests in Africa and Asia. Because environmental damages are associated with the use of synthetic insecticides in locust and grasshopper control, new environmentally acceptable approaches are becoming increasingly important. The effects of gibberellic acid (GA₃), a plant growth regulator, was investigated by topical application and ingestion on the reproductive physiology and ecdysteroids production of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria at concentrations of 125, 625, 3125, 4125, 5125 and 6125 μg/mL. The treatment applied to adult females during the pre-ovipositional phase provokes a significant adverse influence on their reproductive potential. Indeed, GA₃ significantly reduced both fecundity and fertility. Gibberellic acid also caused disturbances in the incorporation of the hemolymph metabolites (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) in the oocyte resulting in a significant reduction in their concentrations in the ovaries. Ecdysteroid production was measured by an enzymo-immunoassay. GA₃, administered by ingestion to the adult females, significantly reduced the ecdysteroid titers in ovaries and freshly laid eggs.     

A Recombinant ω-Gliadin-like D-Type Glutenin and an α-Gliadin from Wheat (Triticum aestivum): Two Immunoglobulin E Binding Proteins, Useful for the Diagnosis of Wheat-Dependent Allergies

Among the wheat prolamins, D-type glutenins display a highly repetitive sequence similar to ω-gliadins, but they contain a cysteine, that allows them to be included in the gluten macropolymers. An ω-gliadin-like D-type glutenin, an α-gliadin, and an ω5-gliadin-like D-type glutenin were obtained as recombinant proteins and compared using synchrotron radiation circular dichroism. This technique evidenced the strong thermostability of the ω5-gliadin-like protein. The IgE reactivity of recombinant proteins was evaluated using 45 sera from wheat-allergic patients. The sera from patients diagnosed with cutaneous hypersensitivity to hydrolyzed wheat proteins often reacted with the ω-gliadin-like D-type glutenin and α-gliadin, whereas the IgE reaction was less frequent after dietary sensitization. So, these two proteins could be useful to diagnose these diseases. The sera from patients with exercise-induced anaphylaxis recognized the ω5-gliadin-like protein as a positive control and, less frequently, the other proteins tested. Only some sera from patients with baker's asthma reacted with the proteins tested.     

Effect of dietary garlic supplementation on lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation biomarkers of tissues as well as some serum biochemical parameters in common carp Cyprinus carpio

This study aims to investigate the effects of dietary garlic powder (25 and 50 g kg^?1 feed) supplementation for 6 weeks on lipid and protein oxidation biomarkers in various tissues as well as some blood biochemical parameters in common carp. Based on the present study results, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were decreased following garlic supplementation, but the decrease was only significant (P < 0.05) in the group that received 50 g kg^?1 dietary garlic compared with the control group. Moreover, garlic at 50 g kg^?1 diet caused significant decrease in MDA values of liver and kidney. Additionally, the decreasing effect of garlic at 25 g kg^?1 diet on MDA values was only significant in liver. Protein carbonyl contents were only decreased significantly in muscle following garlic administration at 25 g kg^?1 diet. Serum aspartate aminotransferase activity decreased significantly in carp that received 25 g kg^?1 dietary garlic. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase activity decreased significantly in carp fed diets containing 25 and 50 g kg^?1 garlic. On the other hand, garlic supplementation had no significant effect on gamma-glutamyl transferase activity and total protein, albumin, and creatinine concentrations. The results of the present study indicate that garlic powder has potential to decrease oxidative stress to some extent by reducing lipid and protein oxidation in some tissues of common carp.     

Aquaculture potential of the basket cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii). Part 1: effects of stocking density on first year grow‐out performance in intertidal and off‐bottom suspended culture

The basket cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii) is a candidate species for aquaculture in the northeast Pacific. The aim of the current research was to assess the feasibility of C. nuttallii grow‐out, with an emphasis on growth performance and qualities affecting product marketability. In this article, we investigated the combined effects of culture mode (intertidal and off‐bottom suspended culture) and initial stocking density (1500, 3000, 10 500 and 21 000 ind m^?2) on C. nuttallii survival and growth during the first year of grow‐out (May through October). In intertidal culture, cockles exhibited low survival and poor growth rates. In suspended culture, survival was consistently high (>96%) at all stocking densities tested; growth and condition parameters had the highest values at 1500 and 3000 ind m^?2. The edible portion (meat yield) exceeded 40% of the whole wet weight at all stocking densities, occurrences of fouled and deformed cockles were <1% and no commensal species were observed. Depending on the minimum harvestable size and stocking density chosen, harvestable proportions constituted from 1.1% to 15.2% by October of the first grow‐out year in the suspended system. The effects of stocking density and depth on second year grow‐out performance of C. nuttallii are reported in a companion paper (Dunham et al. in this issue).