Genetic Analysis of Soybean Plant Introductions with Resistance to Phytophthora sojae

ABSTRACT Phytophthora sojae, which causes Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean, is a serious disease worldwide and is managed primarily by deploying cultivars with resistance. Thirty-two soybean plant introductions (PIs), all but three of which were from South Korea, were proposed as new sources of single-gene resistance to P. sojae. The objective of this study was to characterize the inheritance of resistance to P. sojae in these PIs. Twenty-two soybean populations from crosses of these PIs and the susceptible cv. Williams were inoculated with P. sojae OH17 (vir 1b, 1d, 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4, 5, 6, 7), and OH25 (vir 1a, 1b, 1c, 1k, 7). These isolates were selected because they are virulent on soybeans with all known Rps genes and many Rps gene combinations. Thirteen of the twenty-two populations had consistent segregation responses following inoculations between the two generations. In two PIs, resistance was conferred by two genes to OH17 and three genes to OH25. Resistance to both isolates was conferred by a single gene in PI 398440 although the individual families were not resistant to the same isolates. The data suggest that six of the populations have three-Rps gene combinations as previously proposed, while another four may have either a novel Rps gene or a four-Rps gene combination. Based on this phenotypic analysis, novel and uncharacterized Rps genes may be present in this material. More importantly, these PIs may serve as sources of novel Rps genes that can be used to more effectively manage Phytophthora root and stem rot.     

Evidence of Schmallenberg virus circulation in ruminants in Greece

During March 2013, we investigated the presence and the levels of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) circulation in three dairy cow herds and three sheep flocks in Central Macedonia, Greece. In two cow herds, a high number of abortions had been observed during the winter. Six bulk-tank milk samples and 147 individual sera were screened for SBV-specific antibodies by ELISA. Positive reactions were obtained from 5 out of 6 bulk-tank milk samples, 58 out of 90 sera from the 3 cow herds, and 2 sera from 2 of the 3 sheep flocks. Twenty-two ELISA-positive sera were tested by serum neutralization test (SNT). SNT confirmed the presence of neutralizing antibodies against SBV in all samples tested, with titers ranging between 1:32 and ≥1:256. No neutralizing antibodies against Akabane virus (AKAV) or Shamonda virus (SHAV) were detected, indicating that neutralizing antibodies against SBV do not cross react with AKAV or SHAV in SNT. ELISA testing of bulk-tank milk samples proved to be convenient and reliable. None of the tested sera was found positive for SBV by real-time RT-PCR, indicating that the sampling was conducted past the viremia stage. This is the first report of SBV circulation in Greece.     

Herd diagnosis of low pathogen diarrhoea in growing pigs – a pilot study

Background

The major indication for antibiotic use in Danish pigs is treatment of intestinal diseases post weaning. Clinical decisions on antibiotic batch medication are often based on inspection of diarrhoeic pools on the pen floor. In some of these treated diarrhoea outbreaks, intestinal pathogens can only be demonstrated in a small number of pigs within the treated group (low pathogen diarrhoea). Termination of antibiotic batch medication in herds suffering from such diarrhoea could potentially reduce the consumption of antibiotics in the pig industry. The objective of the present pilot study was to suggest criteria for herd diagnosis of low pathogen diarrhoea in growing pigs.Data previously collected from 20 Danish herds were used to create a case series of clinical diarrhoea outbreaks normally subjected to antibiotic treatment. In the present study, these diarrhoea outbreaks were classified as low pathogen (<15% of the pigs having bacterial intestinal disease) (n =5 outbreaks) or high pathogen (≥15% of the pigs having bacterial intestinal disease) (n =15 outbreaks). Based on the case series, different diagnostic procedures were explored, and criteria for herd diagnosis of low pathogen diarrhoea were suggested. The effect of sampling variation was explored by simulation.

Results

The diagnostic procedure with the highest combined herd-level sensitivity and specificity was qPCR testing of a pooled sample containing 20 randomly selected faecal samples. The criteria for a positive test result (high pathogen diarrhoea outbreak) were an average of 1.5 diarrhoeic faecal pools on the floor of each pen in the room under investigation and a pathogenic bacterial load ≥35,000 per gram in the faecal pool tested by qPCR. The bacterial load was the sum of Lawsonia intracellularis, Brachyspira pilosicoli and Escherichia coli F4 and F18 bacteria per gram faeces. The herd-diagnostic performance was (herd-level) diagnostic sensitivity =0.99, diagnostic specificity =0.80, positive predictive value =0.94 and negative predictive value =0.96.

Conclusions

The pilot study suggests criteria for herd diagnosis of low pathogen diarrhoea in growing pigs. The suggested criteria should now be evaluated, and the effect of terminating antibiotic batch medication in herds identified as suffering from low pathogen diarrhoea should be explored.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2046-0481-67-24) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Artificial Reefs, the Attraction-production Issue, and Density Dependence in Marine Ornamental Fishes

Artificial reefs may provide a useful tool to enhance production of marine ornamentals and to divert detrimental harvesting activities from sensitive natural habitat. The efficacy of this strategy depends, in part, on the extent to which artificial reefs contribute to new production (vs. attract fishes from natural habitat) and therefore benefit harvested populations on a local and regional basis. Here the attraction and production hypotheses and their application to marine ornamentals are presented. Specifically, it is discussed how the strength and timing of density dependence can affect the response of fish population dynamics to artificial reefs. In addition to this discussion, examples of density dependence in marine ornamentals and related reef fishes are provided. Based on this information, a simple conceptual model is presented to clarify the role of density dependence, and this is followed by a discussion on the use of artificial reefs in the management and production of marine ornamentals. Finally, unresolved scientific issues that remain to be addressed are provided.     

An assessment of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, stocking contributions in eastern South Dakota lakes

The success and value of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), stocking programmes are largely unknown because of the difficulties in differentiating between naturally recruited and translocated stocks. To determine stocking contributions of yellow perch, fingerlings and adults were collected from natural rearing ponds in south-eastern South Dakota. Prior to stocking, all fish were marked for 6 h in transfer tanks containing 700 mg L⁻¹ oxytetracycline hydrochloride. Six lakes containing yellow perch populations were supplemented at low, medium and high stocking densities of about 25, 135 or 200 fish ha⁻¹, respectively. Yellow perch populations were subsequently sampled with experimental gill nets during late summer; two lakes were resampled with additional gears (electric fishing, trap nets and cloverleaf traps). Yellow perch were processed for routine measurements, and saggital otoliths were removed to determine the origin of the fish. Stock contribution estimates determined from gill-net samples for Island (low), Oak (low), Twin (medium) and Wall (high) lakes were approximately 18, 5, 41, and 38%, respectively. Samples from other gears provided stock contributions of 15 and 10% for Cavour Lake and 41% for Diamond Lake (high density stockings). Although these results showed that supplemental stockings were successful, variability in stock contributions among populations indicates a need for further assessment of variables that may influence the stocking success of yellow perch.     

Characterization of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) heartwood extractives: identification of resveratrol and piceatannol

Robinia pseudoacacia L. heartwood is characterized by a very high natural durability. However, a significant difference was observed between the mature and juvenile heartwood, the latter presenting less durability against fungi decay, which could be attributed to lower extractive content. In order to elucidate this idea, extractives from mature and juvenile heartwoods of black locust trees were investigated. Results showed that extractive and phenolic contents were higher in mature than in juvenile heartwoods. The identification of phenolic compounds by UPLC–DAD–MS/MS revealed, for the first time, the presence of resveratrol and piceatannol. These two stilbenes as well as the flavonoid dihydrorobinetin were present at the highest level in mature heartwood, and as they are known antifungals, they could account for the great durability of mature heartwood. The stilbenes were detected in significant amounts particularly in mature heartwood where piceatannol reached a level tenfold higher than that reported for Japanese knotweed roots, the primary natural source of these stilbenes, whereas resveratrol level was comparable with reported values. As resveratrol and piceatannol receive increasing demand for nutraceutical, cosmetic and, possibly, pharmaceutical purposes, due to their beneficial health effects, this study underlines the use of R. pseudoacacia as a promising sustainable and economical source of resveratrol and piceatannol.     

Local and remote physical processes driving variability of the planktonic system in the Juan Fernández Archipelago: A multidisciplinary framework providing conservation insights

1. The Juan Fernandez Ridge, a vulnerable marine ecosystem located far off the coast of central Chile and formed by several seamounts, guyots and three islands (Robinson Crusoe, Santa Clara and Alejandro Selkirk), has recently been declared a Coastal Marine Protected Area of Multiple Uses with several National Parks embedded in it.
2. Recent studies have highlighted the influence of remote and local oceanographic structures on the hydrographic dynamics of this ridge. However, there is still a gap in understanding how they affect the structure and dynamics of the surrounding insular planktonic communities.
3. A hydroacoustic and oceanographic survey was conducted during the austral spring (October 2016), including hydrographic and zooplankton sampling around Robinson Crusoe Island. Oceanographic features were identified and tracked using satellite data (chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature) and modelling results.
4. Two events of Chl-a increase relative to a threshold (>0.45 mg m⁻³) were forced by different physical processes, both affecting the western side of Robinson Crusoe Island. In event A during the cruise period, Chl-a subsurface maxima were associated with the arrival of a coastal meander originating on the continental shelf off Chile (remote process); the zooplankton was dominated by copepods and salps, with an evident coastal–oceanic gradient. In event B, Chl-a maxima were linked to a local upwelling forced by the intensification of a localized SSW wind. No influence of remote eddies or local Von Kármán vortices on Chl-a distribution was observed.
5. These findings highlight the influence of remote and local physical processes on the structure of planktonic communities around Robinson Crusoe Island. Understanding the variability of these mechanisms and their effects at the base of the pelagic food web is critical in adopting an ecosystem-level approach.

     

Branchial structure and hydromineral equilibrium in juvenile turbot (S<Emphasis Type="Italic">cophthalmus maximus)</Emphasis> exposed to heavy fuel oil

This study is an attempt to go further in the comprehension of the effects of heavy fuel oil in the context of an accidental oil spill at sea. It focuses on the link between morphological and functional impacts of realistic doses of the dissolved fraction of a heavy fuel oil on fish gills. Juvenile turbot, Scophthalmus maximus were exposed to the dissolved fraction of a heavy fuel oil for 5 days and then placed 30 days in clean sea water for recovery. During the contamination period, the concentration of the 16 US EPA priority poly-aromatic hydrocarbons showed small variations around a mean value of 321.0 ± 9.1 ng l⁻¹ (mean ± SEM). The contamination induced a 64% increase in hepatic cytochrome P 450 1A (Western blot analysis). Osmolality, [Na⁺] and [Cl⁻] rapidly and significantly increased (by 14, 23 and 28% respectively) and slowly decreased to normal levels during the recovery period. At the same time, branchial histology showed decreases in the number of mucocytes (by 30%) and of chloride cells (by 95%) in the interlamellar epithelium. Therefore, it is suggested that the osmotic imbalance observed after the 5 days of exposure to the dissolved fraction of the heavy fuel oil is the consequence of the structural alteration of the gills i.e, the strong reduction of ionocyte numbers.     

Caudal epidural analgesia induced by xylazine administration in cows

Xylazine (0.05 mg/kg of body weight diluted to a 5-ml volume, using 0.9% NaCl) or 5 ml of 0.9% NaCl was administered epidurally into the first caudal intervertebral space (Co1-Co2) in 8 cows (mean +/- SD body weight, 583 +/- 150 kg). Cows were observed for responses to deep needle pricking of the caudal dermatomes (S3 to Co), sedation, and ataxia. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, rate of ruminal contractions, coccygeal arterial blood pressure, pHa, blood gas tension (PaO2, PaCO2), base excess, total solids concentration, and PCV were determined before and after xylazine administration. Epidurally administered xylazine induced sedation and selective (S3 to Co) analgesia for at least 2 hours. Mild ataxia of hind limbs was observed in 6 cows, but all cows remained standing. Heart rate, respiratory rate, rate of ruminal contractions, arterial blood pressure, PaO2, PCV, and total solids concentration were significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased, and PaCO2, base excess, and bicarbonate concentration were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased after xylazine administration. Epidurally administered 0.9% NaCl did not alter sensory perception to needle pricking and did not affect any of the physiologic variables determined. Although epidural administration of xylazine induced analgesia and sedation in healthy cows, it should be avoided for epidural analgesia in cattle with heart disease, lung disease, and/or gastrointestinal disease because of its potent cardiopulmonary and ruminal depressant effects.     

Staat und Wissenschaft im Deutschen Reich

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