Development of Spinitectus inermis (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae), a parasite of eel,Anguilla anguilla,in Europe

The development of the nematode Spinitectus inermis (Zeder, 1800), a parasite of the stomach of eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.) in Europe, was experimentally studied. Mayfly nymphs Caenis macrura, Ecdyonurus dispar, Heptagenia sulphurea, Potamanthus luteus and Seratella ignita from Portugal and the Czech Republic were found to serve as experimental intermediate hosts. After ingestion of the nematode eggs by the mayfly nymphs, the toothed first-stage larvae were released and penetrated into the body cavity of the intermediate host. There they moulted twice (on day 4 and 6 post infection [p.i.] at water temperatures of 20-25 degrees C), attaining the third infective stage. The definitive host, A. anguilla, undoubtedly acquires infection by feeding on mayfly nymphs harbouring infective-stage larvae. In an experimentally infected eel, the fourth-stage larva undergoing the third moult was observed 28 days p.i. at water temperature of 20 degrees C. The larval stages, including moulting forms, are described and illustrated. The prepatent period of S. inermis is estimated to be about two months.     

Effects of species and sex on plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations in crossbred Brahman cattle and crossbred water buffalo

Buffalo meat is tasty and indistinguishable from beef, and has been described as being lean and low in cholesterol in comparison with beef. However, little is known about the plasma hormone and metabolic profiles related to fat metabolism in buffalo, and how their levels are affected by species and sex. In this study levels of plasma hormones and metabolites were compared between species and sexes. Ten growing crossbred Brahman cattle and ten growing crossbred buffaloes (five males and five females in each), with an average age of 22 months were used. The animals were fed on an experimental diet composed of corn silage, brewer's spent grain and a concentrate mixture at a 50:30:20 ratio on a dry matter basis during a fattening period of 6 months. Blood samples were collected every month during the experiment, and were analysed for plasma leptin, insulin, glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations. Plasma leptin, insulin and TC concentrations increased during fattening and were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cattle than in buffaloes. These concentrations in cattle showed a big difference between sexes in comparison with buffaloes, and were higher in females than in males. The plasma glucose and TG concentrations did not differ (P > 0.05) between cattle and buffaloes.

The crude fat content of longissimus muscle was significantly higher in cattle than in buffalo. Differences in body fat deposition seem to have an influence on plasma leptin, insulin and TC concentrations differently between cattle and buffaloes.     

Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences and conditions affecting the type of conidial germination of Bipolaris oryzae

One taxonomic characteristic of Bipolaris species is the bipolar germination of conidia, but conidia of Bipolaris oryzae , the causal pathogen of brown spot in rice, are regularly observed to show intercalary germination, a characteristic of Drechslera species. The effect of selection, culture media and culture age on type of conidial germination was determined for three brown spot isolates from Cavinti, San Pablo and Palawan in the Philippines, obtained from infected leaves showing typical disease symptoms. Based on the analyses of their ITS1, ITS2 and 5·8S rDNA nucleotide sequences, the local isolates were clearly identified as B. oryzae . Selection for colonies of the three isolates derived from single conidia with either bipolar or intercalary germination had no effect on the number of spores showing bipolar germination in subsequent cultures. Germination on seven different culture media was tested; of these, rabbit food agar and water agar increased the percentage of bipolar germination of conidia, although this varied between isolates. Incubation of the cultures of all three isolates for longer periods prior to harvesting conidia increased the percentage of bipolar-germinating conidia from c . 40 to c . 90% with 5-day-old and 30-day-old cultures, respectively.     

Note: Pyrethroid resistance and possible involvement of glutathione<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-transferases in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> from Turkey

An introductory study was conducted to investigate the pyrethroid resistance ofHelicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) strains in Turkey, collected from cotton fields in the Adana and Antalya provinces, through two different synthetic pyrethroid insecticides: lambda-cyhalothrin and esfenvalerate. In addition, the roles of glutathioneS-transferases (GSTs) in this resistance mechanism were analyzed. It was found that whereas resistance ratios for lambda-cyhalothrin (LD₅₀ levels) were 3- and 98-fold increased in the Adana and Antalya strains, respectively, esfenvalerate ratios were 3.3- and 92.3-fold increased in the Adana and Antalya strains, respectively, with respect to the susceptible strain. Furthermore, Adana and Antalya strains showed 2.4- and 2.9-fold higher GST activities than the susceptible strain, respectively. In the Antalya field strain, the minor increase in GST activity compared with the resistance levels implies that GSTs may be not greatly involved in this resistance. It also provides evidence that they could not be the only metabolic mechanism responsible for resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin and esfenvalerate inH. armigera from Turkey. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 16, 2006.     

Critical Use Exemption for methyl bromide for soil disinfestation: Italy’s experience with the European union process

Methyl bromide (MB) was phased out on January 1, 2005, and a Critical Use Exemption (CUE) process has been established in order to define the rules for allocating the needed amounts of the fumigant. This paper deals with the effects of the CUE process on Italian horticulture. The actual usage of the amounts of MB allocated to Italy for the year 2005 in the different areas and on the economically most important crops was monitored and critically evaluated. The usage pattern monitored shows that already in the first year after MB phaseout, Italy was able to replace it completely on crops such as zucchini, salad greens, basil and watermelon. However, on crops such as tomato, pepper, melon, eggplant, strawberry, and cut flowers, further work is required in order fully to replace MB. The emerging problems and research needs are discussed briefly.     

Towards identifying pathogenic determinants of the chickpea pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascochyta rabiei</Emphasis>

Ascochyta blight is a serious disease of cool-season grain legumes (chickpea, faba bean, lentil and pea) caused by fungal species of the anamorphic genus Ascochyta and related genera. Despite extensive studies on the biology, ecology, epidemiology and management of the disease, little is known about the pathogenic determinants of these pathogens. This research aims at using Ascochyta rabiei as a model for the genus in investigating genetic factors of pathogenicity, with the ultimate goal of elucidating pathogenic mechanisms. Three advances were made: (1) insertional mutants with altered pathogenicity were identified through in vivo screening, and genomic regions adjacent to the insertion sites in selected mutants were determined; (2) a phage library of A. rabiei genomic DNA was constructed, and the library was estimated to provide complete coverage of the A. rabiei genome. This library was used successfully to recover clones with DNA adjacent to insertional mutation sites and to isolate specific genes; (3) DNA probes specific for an acyl-CoA ligase (cps1) and a polyketide synthase gene (pks1) were developed and library clones containing the corresponding genomic regions were identified from the phage library. These advances provide the foundation and necessary tools for experimentation of ectopic complementation assays and targeted mutagenesis to elucidate the genetic mechanisms of pathogenicity of A. rabiei.     

Simulating the cumulative effects of multiple forest management strategies on landscape measures of forest sustainability

While the cumulative effects of the actions of multiple owners have long been recognized as critically relevant to efforts to maintain sustainable forests at the landscape scale, few studies have addressed these effects. We used the HARVEST timber harvest simulator to predict the cumulative effects of four owner groups (two paper companies, a state forest and non-industrial private owners) with different management objectives on landscape pattern in an upper Michigan landscape managed primarily for timber production. We quantified trends in landscape pattern metrics that were linked to Montreal Process indicators of forest sustainability, and used a simple wildlife habitat model to project habitat trends. Our results showed that most trends were considered favorable for forest sustainability, but that some were not. The proportion of all age classes and some forest types moved closer to presettlement conditions. The trend for the size of uneven-aged patches was essentially flat while the average size of patches of the oldest and youngest age classes increased and the size of patches of the remaining age classes decreased. Forest fragmentation generally declined, but edge density of age classes increased. Late seral forest habitat increased while early successional habitat declined. The owners use different management systems that cumulatively produce a diversity of habitats. Our approach provides a tool to evaluate such cumulative effects on other landscapes owned by multiple owners. The approach holds promise for helping landowner groups develop and evaluate cooperative strategies to improve landscape patterns for forest sustainability.     

Identification of functional corridors with movement characteristics of brown bears on the Kenai Peninsula,Alaska

We identified primary habitat and functional corridors across a landscape using Global Positioning System (GPS) collar locations of brown bears (Ursus arctos). After deriving density, speed, and angular deviation of movement, we classified landscape function for a group of animals with a cluster analysis. We described areas with high amounts of sinuous movement as primary habitat patches and areas with high amounts of very directional, fast movement as highly functional bear corridors. The time between bear locations and scale of analysis influenced the number and size of corridors identified. Bear locations should be collected at intervals ≤6 h to correctly identify travel corridors. Our corridor identification technique will help managers move beyond the theoretical discussion of corridors and linkage zones to active management of landscape features that will preserve connectivity.