Cardiac troponins in canine babesiosis

This study compared the sensitivity of ECG and cardiac troponins to predict cardiac histopathological changes, clinical severity, and survival in canine babesiosis. One control group (n = 9) and 4 groups of dogs with mild uncomplicated babesiosis (n = 8), severe uncomplicated babesiosis (n = 9), complicated babesiosis (n = 8), and babesiosis and concurrent immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) (n = 9) were studied. A 1-minute lead II ECG was recorded, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and T (cTnT) concentrations in plasma were measured. cTnI concentrations were significantly higher in the complicated (mean, 9.9; SE, +/-5.76) and concurrent IMHA (mean, 6.53; SE, +/-4.32) groups and in the 3 dogs that died of the disease (mean, 22.17; SE, +/-12.85) than in the control dogs (concentration below detection limit of test, -0.3 ng/mL). The 3 nonsurvivors had the most severe cardiac histopathological changes, but no arrhythmia and minimal other ECG changes. Dogs with babesiosis developed a variety of ECG abnormalities, but the abnormalities were not associated with disease severity, outcome, or plasma cardiac troponin concentrations. The exception was the presence of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs), which were associated with high cardiac troponin concentrations. This study showed an association between cTnI concentration and histological changes, clinical severity, and survival and no correlation between ECG abnormalities and histological changes or biochemical evidence of myocardial damage as reflected by cTnI concentrations. From this study, it was concluded that the analysis of plasma cTnI is a feasible and sensitive test and is superior to cTnT in diagnosing cardiac involvement in dogs with babesiosis.     

Persistence and performance of esfenvalerate residues on broccoli

The efficacy of esfenvalerate (84 g litre-1 EC; Asana XL) at 7.0 g AI ha-1 on broccoli was tested against the flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) and the imported cabbage worm, Pieris rapae L (Pieridae: Lepidoptera) under field conditions. Insect populations were monitored before and after treatment. Periodic sweep-net collections and examination of the leaves in treated and untreated broccoli plots revealed mean reductions of P cruciferae levels of nearly 98% 1 week post-application compared with untreated plots. The residual toxicity of esfenvalerate was also effective for 2 weeks in reducing population density of P rapae by 69% on broccoli leaves. The impact of esfenvalerate on feeding damage to broccoli leaves was established by counting the number of feeding holes made by P cruciferae on spring broccoli and P rapae on fall broccoli. As the leaf area ingested increased, a linear relationship was seen between the number of holes and number of insects. Results indicated that forage destruction by the two pests was significantly reduced by esfenvalerate application. Esfenvalerate was extracted from broccoli at 1 h and 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days post-application for residue analysis. Residues on spring broccoli were 12.2, 5.2 and 2.9 micrograms cm-2 on the leaves and 0.13, 0.05 and 0.02 microgram g-1 on the heads at 1 h, 1 and 3 days, respectively. Only trace levels (0.001 microgram g-1) were detected in/on the heads 14 days after spraying. On the basis of half-life (T1/2) values, persistence of esfenvalerate on spring broccoli leaves (T1/2 = 1 day) was shorter than on fall broccoli (T1/2 = 1.6 days). T1/2 values were 2.1 and 3.6 days on spring and fall broccoli heads, respectively. The implications of these residue levels on re-entry times into treated fields are discussed.     

狗牙根种质对冷害的生理反应

对采自佛山市的3个狗牙根材料(狗牙根1号,3号和5号)及杂交狗牙根品种天堂419的抗寒性进行了比较研究,发现田间种植的狗牙根材料在受到2004年12月的寒潮袭击后,相对电导率升高,其中天堂419的升高幅度最大,而狗牙根1号和5号的升高幅度较小;天堂419的光合速率降低最多,而狗牙根5号的光合速率仅轻微降低;叶片的可溶性糖含量均提高,狗牙根5号的根系可溶性糖含量升高,但其他材料的可溶性糖含量降低。在韶光地区霜冻条件下的试验结果表明,狗牙根5号的草坪质量评分最高,绿期最长,表明狗牙根5号的抗寒性较强。     

渭北旱塬优质苹果种植的农业地质环境特征

渭北旱塬是我国苹果种植的最优气候区。以白水县为例，通过对其气候适生区内果园地质条件的对比分析，寻找出了具体地质要素间的差异，归结出了两类气候区内地貌、土壤母质类型、母质矿物质含量三类要素的组合类型，为进一步探讨地质条件对苹果品质的影响特征，细分气候优生区，促进该区苹果生产优质化提供依据。     

An Aqueous Extract of the Dry Mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum Induces Resistance in Several Crops under Controlled and Field Conditions

We have examined the effect of Pen, an aqueous extract of the dry mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum, on plant–pathogen interactions. Pen controlled a broad range of pathogens on several crop plants under greenhouse and field conditions. Pen protected grapevine from downy and powdery mildew (caused by Plasmopara viticola and Uncinula necator), tomato from early blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans), onion from downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) and apple trees from apple scab (caused by Venturia inaequalis) to a similar extent as fungicides such as copper and sulphur or well-known inducers such as benzothiadiazole or β-aminobutyric acid. Pen had no major direct fungicidal effect and is thus supposed to protect plants by activating their defense mechanisms. The raw material for extraction of Pen was available in constant quality, a prerequisite for commercial application. Under certain conditions, Pen caused phytotoxic side effects. The symptoms mostly consisted of small necrotic spots or, more rarely, of larger necrotic areas. The development of the symptoms was dependent on several parameters, including concentration of Pen, the number of applications, the persistence on the plant tissue, the plant species and variety and environmental conditions. In grapevine, a partially purified fraction of Pen was much less toxic than the crude Pen extract, but protected the plants to a similar extent against P. viticola. Our data show that Pen has interesting and unique properties as a plant protection agent, but more research is needed to further reduce its phytotoxic side effects.     

Effects of pheromone loading, dispenser age, and trap height on pheromone trap catches of the oriental fruit moth in apple orchards

The effects of field aging (0–28 days) and pheromone loading rate on the longevity of red rubber septa loaded with the sex pheromone blend of the oriental fruit mothGrapholita molesta (Busck), were evaluated in North Carolina apple orchards in 2002. Separate field tests examined the influence of trap height and pheromone loading rate of rubber septa on trap catches of adultG. molesta males in an abandoned orchard. The loss of the major pheromone component, (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12:OAc), from red rubber septa over a 4-week period exhibited a relatively constant release rate with 30, 100 and 300 μg pheromone. Trap catch was significantly higher in pheromone traps placed in the upper canopy than in those in the lower canopy. Pheromone traps baited with 100μg lures caught more moths compared with those loaded with 300 μg. There was no apparent relationship between pheromone trap catch and septa age, with trap catch appearing to be primarily a function ofG. molesta population density. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

丁酸梭菌对肠道上皮细胞黏附及对鳗弧菌抑制的研究

本试验以鱼肠道上皮细胞为模型,以肠道的致病鳗弧菌为对照,研究了丁酸梭菌对鱼肠道上皮细胞的黏附作用及黏附对细胞的损伤和成活率的影响。结果表明∶丁酸梭菌对鱼的肠道上皮的黏附率为7.39±1.85,低于鳗弧菌的黏附率(P<0.05);对细胞的损伤率为1.02±0.35,显著低于鳗弧菌对细胞的损伤率(P<0.05);黏附后丁酸梭菌组对细胞的成活率的影响与正常对照组比较,差异不显著;当酪酸菌、鳗弧菌与肠道上皮细胞共同培养时,使鳗弧菌的黏附率下降7.03%(P<0.05)。因此,该株丁酸梭菌可以安全地黏附鱼肠道上皮细胞,并能有效抑制鳗弧菌的黏附。     

苹果高酸品种绿宝的茎尖培养快繁技术研究

以高酸苹果品种绿宝(G reen-gem)为试材,用MS BA 1.2mg/L NAA 0.8mg/L做启动分化培养基,进行茎尖培养快繁技术研究。结果表明,最佳增殖培养基为MS BA 1.0mg/L IBA 0.5mg/L和MS BA 1.0mg/L IBA 0.3mg/L,增殖系数达5以上;最佳生根培养基为1/2MS IBA 0.2mg/L IAA 0.4mg/L,生根率达100%。生根苗经严格的驯化锻炼和过渡移栽后移栽于大田,成活率达98%以上。     

莲雾种质资源遗传多样性的ISSR分析

 对12份莲雾资源和2个莲雾近缘种进行了ISSR分析, 18条引物共扩增出459个位点, 其中多态性位点435个(94.77% ) 。利用UPGMA聚类分析表明: 蒲桃、马六甲蒲桃与莲雾分属于3个不同的组; 12个莲雾品种和品系又分成4个亚组, 这与传统分类学上按照果实成熟期的划分结果基本一致。     

进境美国苹果果实中黑斑病病原的初步鉴定

从美国进境苹果中截获的链格孢Alternaria sp．，经分离纯化后，得到菌株（MP1），通过观察其产孢表型、孢子的形态特征以及接种试验后的病果症状，初步确定为苹果黑斑病菌Alternaria mali Roberts。