Sero-prevalence of chlamydiosis in cattle and selected wildlife species at a wildlife/livestock interface area of Zimbabwe

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Chlamydia abortus infection in cattle and some selected wildlife...     

Diversity in a pea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis>) world collection for key agronomic traits in a rain-fed environment of Southern Europe

The marked underutilization of pea ecotype and old cultivar genetic resources need be reversed by producing information on elite germplasm and diversity patterns for key agronomic traits. This study generated such information for a world collection of 223 ecotypes or old cultivars of P. sativum subsp. sativum subdivided into 19 regional pools (each represented by 9–15 entries) and one reference pool of 11 locally-adapted varieties from France, Spain and Germany. The collection was evaluated for grain yield, seed protein content, straw biomass, phenology and other agronomic and morphological traits in a spring-sown, water-limited environment of Northern Italy. Variation within ecotype/old cultivar germplasm pools was at least two-fold greater for seed size and protein content and seven-fold greater for other traits relative to variation between pools, and was particularly large within pools from Central Europe, Near East and United Kingdom. The traditional germplasm, compared with improved variety material, tended to display higher dry grain yield (1.11 vs. 0.85 t/ha) and straw biomass, later crop maturity, smaller seed, and similar protein content. Traditional germplasm from Central Europe combined outstanding grain yield and total biomass with high seed protein content. High grain yield characterized, inter alia, the germplasm pools from Ukraine and Spain, the latter also featuring high protein content. Several ecotype/old cultivar accessions out-performed (P < 0.05) the best-ranking varieties for grain yield or protein content. Patterns of phenotypic variation were poorly related to geographic origin of germplasm pools, while highlighting the distinctness of improved variety germplasm.     

Recycling of nitrogen in the xylem of Prunus avium trees starts when spring remobilization of internal reserves declines

Nitrogen (N) storage capacity of cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees grown in sand culture was preconditioned by applying contrasting N supplies for one year. During the spring of the following year, a constant amount of 15N was supplied and the dynamics of N remobilization and root uptake were characterized as a function of internal N status of the trees. To calculate the flux of N through xylem, both xylem sap N concentration and whole-tree transpiration rates were measured. By comparing the cumulative flux of N through the xylem with the amount of N recovered in the new above ground growth, we indirectly evaluated the recycling of N in the xylem, i.e., the amount of N derived from shoot-root translocation that was subsequently reloaded into the xylem. The contrasting N storage capacities imposed during the first year affected both N remobilization and uptake from roots in the following year. Recycling of N in the xylem apparently did not occur during the remobilization of internal reserves (i.e., during the first 6-8 weeks after bud burst). However, when remobilization declined, measurement of the cumulative flux of N through the xylem overestimated the amount of N recovered in the new biomass, allowing the extent of N recycling to be evaluated. The amount of N recycling in the xylem was greater in high-N trees, which also took up less N through their roots than trees preconditioned to have a lower internal N status. This suggests that recycling of N in the xylem is a mechanism by which plants regulate N uptake by roots.     

Problems of using pines in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber melanosporum</Emphasis> culture: soils and truffle harvest associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. sylvestris</Emphasis>

In Mediterranean pine forests, truffles and mushrooms generate greater profits than any other woodland products. However, there are no studies on Tuber melanosporum Vittad. associated with pines. For this reason, we have carried out a study of this truffle in mountain woods with Pinus sylvestris L. and P. nigra Arnold subsp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco, in central Spain. Two hundred and eight Tuber melanosporum burns were monitored for 7 years in five different habitats within the same geographical area. An ANOVA test confirmed significant differences in carpophore production. In higher producing habitats, pines were less abundant. We also confirmed that in 433 burns, T. melanosporum was always unequivocally associated with the root base of Quercus or Corylus trees. Similarly, 14 truffle collectors confirmed that they had never found a single burn with carpophore production associated exclusively with pines. Nevertheless, soil analyses indicated that the soil of these pine woods was very favourable to Tuber melanosporum. We therefore conclude that at present Pinus nigra salzmannii and P. sylvestris are of little interest to Tuber melanosporum culture, as they hinder carpophore production. However, this study has also confirmed that Pinus nigra salzmannii and P. sylvestris mycorrhize easily with Tuber melanosporum, both in the laboratory and in natural environments. On this basis, we propose that pines may act as transmitters of T. melanosporum, although they do not induce fruiting. As a result, the commercial cultivation of Pinus nigra salzmannii and P. sylvestris seedlings mycorrhized with Tuber melanosporum is not recommended in truffle culture at the present time.     

Elm bark beetles and Dutch Elm Disease: tests of combined control

The possibility for the combined control of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and Scolytus multistriatus was tested in Italy. Two elm clones [U. pumila × U. minor (clone B) and U. glabra var. pendula grafted onto U. pumila × U. minor pollards (clone A)] were treated by stem injection of different blend or concentrations of fungicides and insecticides. Then, adults of S. multistriatus, either loaded with spores of two isolates of O. novo-ulmi (H328 and 182) or provided of their natural load of conidia, were forced to feed in twig crotches of the treated trees. After 48 hours all insects were checked (dead or alive). One month later, the same twigs were cut off and brought to the laboratory. From each twig, three discs almost 1?mm thick were then taken (0, 3 and 6?cm over the point where the insect fed). The wood discs were inoculated in selective substrate and stored until the development of O.?novo-ulmi colonies. All thesis containing insecticides give good results against S. multistriatus. Similarly, all thesis containing fungicides show a good fungus control independently from the fungal isolated. The percentage of fungal transmission obtained from insects carrying the natural load of conidia was lower than percentages obtained from beetles artificially loaded. Both beetle sex and position on the foliage never influence insect mortality or O. novo-ulmi infection. The best results were obtained injecting the Carbendazim?+?Acephate blend in the clone A. High chemical concentrations did not improve the general results.     

A rapid multiplexed chemiluminescent immunoassay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes pathogen bacteria

A simple and rapid multiplexed sandwich chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay has been developed for the simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes. To achieve the multiplexed detection of the four pathogens, a new polystyrene 96 well microtiter plate format has been designed, in which each main well contains four subwells in the bottom. The monoclonal antibodies specific for each bacteria were separately immobilized in each subwell. When the samples were added to the main wells, the bacteria able to specifically bind to the corresponding monoclonal antibody were captured in one of the four subwells. Subsequently, a mixture of peroxidase-labeled polyclonal antibodies against the four bacteria was added and the peroxidase activity of the bound polyclonal labeled antibodies in each well was measured by an enhanced luminol-based chemiluminescent cocktail using a low-light charge-coupled imaging device. The assay was simple and fast, and the limit of quantification was in the order of 104-105 CFU/mL for all bacterial species. The accuracy of the method, evaluated by comparison of the results with a conventional culturing methodology, was satisfactory, with recovery values ranging from 90 to 120%. This method can be used as a screening test to evaluate the presence of these pathogen bacteria in different foodstuffs.     

Antioxidant activity of Sicilian pistachio (Pistacia vera L. var. Bronte) nut extract and its bioactive components

Pistacia vera L. is the only species of Pistacia genus producing edible nuts. This paper investigates the antioxidant potential of a Sicilian variety of pistachio nut by chemical as well as biological assays and measured antioxidant vitamins and a number of antioxidant polyphenols in either the hydrophilic and/or the lipophilic nut extract. In accordance with the majority of foods, the total antioxidant activity, measured as a TAA test, was much higher (50-fold) in the hydrophilic than in the lipophilic extract. Substantial amounts of total phenols were measured. The hydrophilic extract inhibited dose-dependently both the metal-dependent and -independent lipid oxidation of bovine liver microsomes, and the Cu+2-induced oxidation of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Peroxyl radical-scavenging as well as chelating activity of nut components may be suggested to explain the observed inhibition patterns. Among tocopherols, gamma-tocopherol was the only vitamin E isomer found in the lipophilic extract that did not contain any carotenoid. Vitamin C was found only in a modest amount. The hydrophilic extract was a source of polyphenol compounds among which trans-resveratrol, proanthocyanidins, and a remarkable amount of the isoflavones daidzein and genistein, 3.68 and 3.40 mg per 100 g of edible nut, respectively, were evaluated. With the exception of isoflavones that appeared unmodified, the amounts of other bioactive molecules were remarkably reduced in the pistachio nut after roasting, and the total antioxidant activity decreased by about 60%. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that the Sicilian pistachio nut may be considered for its bioactive components and can effectively contribute to a healthy status.     

A convenient route to the synthesis of isotopomeric dihydro-2(3H)furanones

A general synthetic procedure leading to isotopomeric dihydro-2(3H)furanones (gamma-butyrolactones) containing two, four, or six deuterium atoms has been developed. The labeled dihydro-2(3H)furanones were synthesized in quantitative yield from the saturated diacid C4 (succinic) or unsaturated diacids C4 (fumaric, maleic, or acetylendicarboxylic) in the presence of Ru4H4(CO)8(PBu3)4 using a deuterium pressure of 180 bar at 180 degrees C. This methodology was applied to the total synthesis of a hexadeuterated matairesinol lignan: The 3,4-bis[[3-methoxy-4-(phenylmethoxy)phenyl]methyl]dihydro-2(3H)furanone-[7,7',8,8',9',9'-D6] (benzyl-protected matairesinol-D6) was fully characterized.     

Cassini encounters Enceladus: background and the discovery of a south polar hot spot

The Cassini spacecraft completed three close flybys of Saturn's enigmatic moon Enceladus between February and July 2005. On the third and closest flyby, on 14 July 2005, multiple Cassini instruments detected evidence for ongoing endogenic activity in a region centered on Enceladus' south pole. The polar region is the source of a plume of gas and dust, which probably emanates from prominent warm troughs seen on the surface. Cassini's Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) detected 3 to 7 gigawatts of thermal emission from the south polar troughs at temperatures up to 145 kelvin or higher, making Enceladus only the third known solid planetary body-after Earth and Io-that is sufficiently geologically active for its internal heat to be detected by remote sensing. If the plume is generated by the sublimation of water ice and if the sublimation source is visible to CIRS, then sublimation temperatures of at least 180 kelvin are required.