Molecular cloning and characterization of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) CD8alpha

In this work, the gene and cDNA of the sea bass CD8alpha have been isolated and characterized. The coding sequence has an ORF of 666 bp. It retains the Ig motif that interacts with MHC and the two cysteines responsible for an intra-chain disulfide bridge. The hinge region contains the two essential cysteines involved in dimerization. The transmembrane region is well conserved in all analysed sequences. Similar to other teleosts, the cytoplasmic region lacks the consensus p56(lck) motif common in higher vertebrates. Analysis of the expression pattern using RT-PCR shows the highest expression in the thymus. Like in the human gene, the sea bass CD8alpha genomic structure is organized into six exons, which roughly correspond to separate functional domains of the protein. Southern blotting shows that CD8alpha exists as a single copy gene. Together, these results support the concept that the basic structure of CD8alpha has been maintained through evolution.     

Critical disease components of common bacterial blight to effectively evaluate resistant genotypes of snap bean

Common bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) is the main bacterial disease of snap bean. The present work aimed to select snap bean genotypes that are resistant to CBB based on three components of resistance: area under the disease progress curve, latent period, and lesion diameter on pods (DL). A completely randomized two-factor factorial design with six replications was used to evaluate leaves and pods of 14 snap bean and three common bean genotypes (PI 207262, BAC-6 and A-794) with high resistance to CBB. Two Xap isolates, 1394-98 and 775-90, were used to inoculate leaves and pods. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics. Significant differences were observed among the evaluated genotypes for all of the components of resistance, except for DL. The snap bean UENF 1482 demonstrated good performance in two disease resistance components. For this reason, this genotype can be recommended for use in breeding programs that aim to generate snap bean genotypes resistant to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli.     

Effect of shade on biomass accumulation and partitioning for Eucalyptus camaldulensis sprouts

ABSTRACT

Eucalyptus is widely cultivated in homogeneous monocultures throughout the world alongside plants of the same age. Furthermore, the productivity of forest stands is highly dependent on how solar radiation is intercepted and used. Meanwhile, it is possible to consider cultivating trees of different ages in the same area, and thus under different regimes of available solar radiation, creating a sequence of plantings and harvestings and to develop Eucalyptus-based agroforestry systems. We have examined biomass accumulation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis along a shade gradient. Eucalyptus trees presented power-law responses to increasing irradiance for biomass, indicating it has low plasticity and is unable to maintain growth under lower irradiance levels. Biomass partitioning showed no dependence on available irradiation. Leaf density presented very little increase toward sunnier places meaning that an increment in Eucalyptus biomass would be mostly due to its increase in size and thus higher radiation interception. Careful management of shade will be a key consideration for the integration of Eucalyptus into agroforestry. With knowledge of the growth habits of different species, we will have the potential to propose more perennial ways in which to manage land and reduce anthropogenic disturbances by avoiding clear-cuts of areas that removes all plant structures.     

Treatment Abandonment in Feline Sporotrichosis – Study of 147 Cases

This study describes the epidemiological, clinical and mycological aspects of feline sporotrichosis cases attending the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonosis in Domestic Animals – Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute (LAPCLIN‐DERMZOO/IPEC/FIOCRUZ), from 1998 to 2005. It was possible to get in contact with 147 (19.2%) cat owners. One hundred and thirteen (76.9%) cats were male, 117 (79.6%) had no defined race and 87 (59.2%) were sexually intact. The age ranged from 72 to 216 months (median = 108 months). Nineteen cats were reassessed: eleven (57.8%) were male, thirteen (36.8%) were breed and fifteen (47.3%) castrated. Fourteen (52.6%) animals lived at home and did not roamed the streets. Seven (36.8%) had normal clinical findings and negative mycological examination. Twelve (63.1%) cats had skin lesions compatible with sporotrichosis. Thirty‐one (21%, n = 147) cats disappeared after abandoning treatment, 36 (24.5%, n = 147) were alive and 80 (54.4%, n = 147) had died. Causes of death informed by the owners were: sporotrichosis in 35 (43.7%, n = 80), accidental death in 27 (33.7%, n = 80) and other diseases in 18 (22.5%, n = 80). Withdrawal of treatment occurred mainly at the time of clinical improvement and may represent a serious obstacle to the control of sporotrichosis.     

Crop use and profile distribution of phosphorus in soils that developed on mafic rocks in southern Portugal

The phytoavailability of soil phosphorus (P) depends on the different forms in which it occurs and how these forms change after the application of P fertiliser to the soil. Forms of P in the A, B and C horizons of eleven pedons that developed on mafic rocks were characterised by a fractionation method before and after fertilisation with single superphosphate, and a micropot experiment was conducted to assess the short-term use of P fertiliser by rye (Secale cereale L.). The main sources of P to the crop were (i) phosphate adsorbed on mineral surfaces and pedogenic Fe, Al or Ca phosphates in the A horizon and (ii) Ca-phosphates in B and C horizons. In the C horizons, poor in Fe/Al phases and clay, the precipitated Ca-P showed low solubility, resulting in a reduction in shoot biomass. The apparent P recovery by rye was similar in the A (36%) and B (29%) but decreased in the C (15%) horizons. The partial factor productivity (g g^?1) decreased from the A (58) to B (11) and C (5) horizons. P phytoavailability decreased with increasing profile depth because the transformation of P fertiliser to poorly soluble Ca-P forms increased with depth.     

Mixed-effect non-linear modelling for diameter estimation along the stem of Tectona grandis in mid-western Brazil

This study evaluated the efficiency of taper functions and the application of mixed-effect modelling for diameter estimation along the stems of Tectona grandis. We sampled 266 trees of Tectona grandis, measuring the diameter at relative heights for volume determination, grouping the data according to three form-factor classes. Six taper functions were fitted, selecting the function with better fit performance. Six taper functions were fitted, selecting the function with better fit performance. The selected function was fitted in its basic formulation, and with the mixed non-linear modelling technique in different scenarios, and for the stem stratified in three portions of the total height. The precision and selection of the adjusted models were evaluated regarding the coefficient of determination, standard error of estimate, the Akaike information criterion, bias, quadratic error and absolute bias. According to the statistical criteria used, the model of Kozak was selected for the adjustments. For diameter estimation, the scenario with two coefficients as random effects provided an accuracy increase of 11.91%, and the mixed non-linear modelling better estimated the stem diameter for the stratified stems. In conclusion, the model of Kozak can be used to describe the stem shape of Tectona grandis, and the mixed-effect non-linear model approach was the best technique to estimate diameter along the stem of Tectona grandis.     

Relationships between reflectance and absorbance chlorophyll indices with RGB (Red,Green, Blue) image components in seedlings of tropical tree species at nursery stage

Methods based on RGB (Red, Green, Blue) image segmentation may emerge as a new and low-cost method for estimation the quality of tree seedlings. However, the vast number of indexes based on the use of the RGB image segmentation and the lack of references in the literature still hinder the widespread use of this technology. Thus, we conducted a study aiming to test the relationships between methods based on absorbance and reflectance, widely used for the estimation of chlorophyll contents and physiological status of trees, and ten indexes based on RGB component analysis. We used leaves of five tropical tree species, belonging to different botanical families. Leaf absorbance was measured using the handheld chlorophyll meter SPAD-502, reflectance was measured using a spectrometer and the RGB indices were obtained from digitalized images of the leaves using a flatbed scanner. Modified linear regression models including all five species were used to relate RGB indices to absorbance and reflectance indices. Data collected from leaves of seedlings of five tropical tree species indicated that digital image processing technology can be a useful and rapid nondestructive method for assessment of physiological status of tree seedlings at nursery stage. Among the RGB indexes tested in this study the R, 2R*(G???B)/(G?+?B) and 2G*(G???B)/(G?+?B) are the most promising for analysis the tropical seedlings physiological status and quality.