Increased bacterial endophyte populations in Nicotiana benthamiana with a branched‐chain alkane mixture

The aim of this study was to determine if treatment of soil with a branched‐chain alkane mixture known to induce resistance against Colletotrichum orbiculare also changes populations of bacterial endophytes from Nicotiana benthamiana. Eight culturable bacterial endophyte types matching six species of Bacillus and two species of Pseudomonas were found in roots, stem + petioles and/or leaves. Application of the branched‐chain alkane mixture resulted in significantly higher endophyte populations compared to the water or emulsifier controls for the Pseudomonas sp. LW3, Bacillus simplex LW4 and Bacillus pumilis LW5 colony types in roots and the B. simplex LW4 colony type in stem + petioles. The Pseudomonas sp. LW3 and B. simplex LW4 colony types also had higher populations in pure cultures under in vitro conditions with the branched‐chain alkane mixture compared to the controls. Inoculation with each of the eight colony types increased their population in the plant and induced resistance against C. orbiculare, with the most effective being Pseudomonas sp. LW3 and Pseudomonas alcaligenes SW1. Most of the endophytes could inhibit C. orbiculare growth in vitro, but the level of resistance in planta was not correlated to the ability of the colony type to inhibit C. orbiculare in culture. Thus, a branched‐chain alkane mixture can selectively affect the biomass of a subset of bacterial endophytes, demonstrating that it is a novel in planta endophyte growth promoter.     

Effect of hCG on Early Luteal Serum Progesterone Concentrations in PG600‐Treated Gilts

Gilt oestrus and ovulation responses to injection of a combination of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (PG600) can be unpredictable, possibly reflecting inadequate circulating LH activity. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of PG600 followed by supplemental hCG on gilt ovarian responses. In experiment 1, 212 Hypor gilts (160 day of age) housed on two farms in Spain received intramuscular (i.m.) injections of PG600 (n = 47), or PG600 with an additional 200 IU hCG injected either concurrently (hCG‐0; n = 39), or at 24 h (hCG‐24; n = 41) or 48 h (hCG‐48; n = 45) after PG600. A further 40 gilts served as non‐injected controls. Ovulation responses were determined on the basis of initial blood progesterone concentrations being <1 ng/ml and achieving >5 ng / ml 10 d after the PG600 injection. The incidence of ovulating gilts having progesterone concentrations >30 ng/ml were recorded. During the study period, 10% of control gilts ovulated whereas 85–100% of hormone‐treated gilts ovulated. There were no significant differences among hormone groups for proportions of gilts ovulating. The proportions of gilts having circulating progesterone concentrations >30 ng/ml were increased (p ≤ 0.02) in all hCG treated groups compared with the PG600 group. In experiment 2, a total of 76 Hypor gilts at either 150 or 200 days of age were injected with PG600 (n = 18), 400 IU eCG followed by 200 IU hCG 24 h later (n = 20), PG600 followed by 100 IU hCG 24 h later (n = 17), or 400 IU eCG followed by 300 IU hCG 24 h later (n = 21). Blood samples were obtained 10 days later for progesterone assay. There were no effects of treatment or age on incidence of ovulation, but fewer 150‐day‐old gilts treated with PG600 or 400 IU eCG followed by 200 IU hCG had progesterone concentrations >30 ng / ml. We conclude that hCG treatment subsequent to PG600 treatment will generate a higher circulating progesterone concentration, although the effect is not evident in older, presumably peripubertal, gilts. The mechanism involved and implications for fertility remain to be determined.     

Comparison of induced resistance activated by benzothiadiazole, (2R,3R)‐butanediol and an isoparaffin mixture against anthracnose of Nicotiana benthamiana

Resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana against anthracnose caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare was activated by benzothiadiazole (BTH), (2R,3R)­butanediol or PC1, an isoparaffin‐based mixture. In inoculation experiments, BTH, (2R,3R)­butanediol and PC1 reduced the number of lesions per leaf area caused by C. orbiculare by 98%, 77% and 81%, respectively. Foliar application of BTH induced expression of genes for the acidic pathogenesis‐related (PR) proteins, NbPR‐1a, NbPR‐3Q and acidic NbPR‐5. In contrast, soil application of (2R,3R)­butanediol or PC1 primed expression of genes for the basic PR proteins, NbPRb‐1b, basic NbPR‐2 and NbPR‐5dB. These results are consistent with the activation of salicylic‐acid‐dependent systemic acquired resistance (SAR) by BTH and that of jasmonate/ethylene‐dependent induced systemic resistance (ISR) by (2R,3R)­butanediol or PC1, and show that (2R,3R)­butanediol and PC1 can affect gene expression similarly to plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria. However, the effects of (2R,3R)‐butanediol and PC1 were not identical. In addition to priming, (2R,3R)‐butanediol induced expression of basic NbPR‐2, whereas PC1 treatment induced expression of both NbPRb‐1b and basic NbPR‐2. Although a number of microbial products, such as (2R,3R)­butanediol, have been shown to produce ISR, this is the first demonstration that an isoparaffin‐based mixture, not derived from a microorganism, can produce ISR.     

Potential new genes for resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycosphaerella graminicola</Emphasis> identified in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophopyrum elongatum</Emphasis> disomic substitution lines

Lophopyrum species carry many desirable agronomic traits, including disease resistance, which can be transferred to wheat by interspecific hybridization. To identify potentially new genes for disease and insect resistance carried by individual Lophopyrum chromosomes, 19 of 21 possible wheat cultivar Chinese Spring × Lophopyrum elongatum disomic substitution lines were tested for resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV), the Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor, and the fungal pathogens Blumeria graminis and Mycosphaerella graminicola (asexual stage: Septoria tritici). Low resistance to BYDV occurred in some of the disomic substitution lines, but viral titers were significantly higher than those of two Lophopyrum species tested. This suggested that genes on more than one Lophopyrum chromosome are required for complete resistance to this virus. A potentially new gene for resistance to CYDV was detected on wheatgrass chromosome 3E. All of the substitution lines were susceptible to Mayetiola destructor and one strain of B. graminis. Disomic substitution lines containing wheatgrass chromosomes 1E and 6E were significantly more resistant to M. graminicola compared to Chinese Spring. Although neither chromosome by itself conferred resistance as high as that in the wheatgrass parent, they do appear to contain potentially new genes for resistance against this pathogen that could be useful for future plant-improvement programs.     

Histologic incidence and distribution of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in chickens: 68 cases in 1986

In 1986, a retrospective examination of histologic data determined that 68 histology accessions at the Georgia Poultry Laboratories had a diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. These cases represented 6.4% of the 1065 histologic examinations of chickens performed at the facility. Of the protozoan infections, only Eimeria sp. was diagnosed more frequently (105/1065 = 9.9%). Infected chickens came from 11 companies. Most of the cases were significantly (chi 2 = 103, df = 10, P less than 0.001) associated with two of these companies. These chickens ranged in age from 14 to 51 days. The number of cases per age group was significantly correlated (r = 0.85, t = 3.98, df = 6, P less than 0.01) with the number of cases per age group of the population of histology accessions. Additionally, cases of cryptosporidiosis had a significantly (P less than 0.05) uneven temporal distribution in that few cases were diagnosed during the winter.     

Zeolitization of tuffaceous rocks of the green river formation, wyoming

The alkali-rich zeolites mordenite and clinoptilolite have been discovered in tuffaceous rocks of the Green River Formation, Wyoming. This occurrence strongly supports the alteration of glass to alkali-rich zeolite to analcime as the paragenetic sequence of alteration of tuffaceous rocks deposited in ancient Lake Gosiute.     

Surgical Treatment of Colic Results in 181 Horses

A retrospective study was performed of 181 horses that underwent an exploratory celiotomy because of acute abdominal disease. Forty-four horses died or were euthanized during surgery. Of the 137 horses that recovered from anesthesia, 72 died of associated diseases or complications, 86 were discharged from the hospital of which 60 survived at least 7 months. Horses with disorders affecting the small intestine had a significantly lower survival rate. Causes of death early in the postoperative period included long bone fracture, shock, ileus, gastric rupture, and peritonitis. After discharge from the hospital, deaths were attributed to colic of unknown cause, malabsorption syndrome, adhesive small bowel obstruction, small and large intestinal volvulus, perforated bowel, and laminitis. Of the 60 horses that were alive at the time of survey, 93.3% had returned to their previous use. A second occurrence of the initial acute abdominal disease was not documented in any horse.     

Comparisons of packed cell volumes (PCVs) from so-called chicken anemia agent (CAA; a virus)-free broilers to PCVs from CAA-free specific-pathogen-free leghorns.

Packed cell volumes (PCVs) from 3-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28-, and 35-day-old clinically healthy chicken anemia agent (CAA)-free and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) leghorn chicks were compared with PCVs from age-matched clinically healthy CAA-free broiler chicks. The PCVs of the SPF chicks regressed significantly (F = 20.6, df = 2/3, P < 0.025) on age in a linear fashion. The PCVs of the broiler chicks regressed significantly (F = 9.56, df = 2/3, P < 0.05) on age in a cubic parabola. The mean PCVs of the broiler chicks were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than PCVs of SPF chicks at every tested time interval. Results indicate that PCV values are higher in broiler chicks than in SPF leghorn chicks, and that PCVs increase as chicks age. Clinicians, diagnosticians, and investigators who intend to work with chicken blood must be aware of these differences.     

Comparison of histopathology to the direct immunofluorescent antibody test for the diagnosis of infectious laryngotracheitis in chickens.

Histopathology and direct immunofluorescent antibody (DIFA) tests were compared for diagnoses of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) in 144 cases of spontaneous respiratory disease in chickens presented to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory during 1988. For the 48 cases in which ILT was diagnosed, correct histologic diagnoses were made 100% (48/48) of the time and correct DIFA diagnoses were made 96% (46/48) of the time. For the 96 cases in which ILT was not diagnosed, correct histologic and DIFA diagnoses were made in every case. A Kappa test showed that DIFA was as effective as histopathology for the diagnosis of ILT in chickens (P = 0.0). It was concluded that increased use of DIFA could be instrumental in the abatement of ILT in chickens.