A leaf spot disease of Nymphaea alba in the Netherlands

A destructive leaf spot disease was found onNymphaea alba in the lakes near Kortenhoef, Netherlands. After comparison of fresh material and herbarium specimens the causal agent is namedColletotrichum nymphaeae (Pass.) van der Aa, comb. nov. Synonymy, morphology and cultural characters of the fungus are described and discussed. Some remarks on the relationship with several host plants are given and the provisional conclusion is that the species is a widespread parasite, but that the destructive attack in the Kortenhoef region is probably caused by a combination of various factors.     

Review: The strobilurin fungicides

The original article to which this Correction refers was published in Pest Management Science 58 (7): 649–662 (2002).Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of organic phosphorus on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles of anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics at the end of breeding season

The effect of organic phosphorus on metabolic, haematological and hormonal status, restoration of ovarian functions and conception rate in anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics were evaluated. Anoestrous Farafra ewes (n  = 24; 34.72 ± 0.52 kg body weight) were allocated into two equal groups: control and phosphorus groups. The ewes of phosphorus group were treated with sodium 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐methyl‐phenyl‐phosphonate as an organic bound phosphorous twice a week for successive 3 weeks. Ovarian follicle development and corpora lutea were checked three times a week till occurrence of oestrus using ultrasonography while pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post‐service. Plasma metabolites, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and minerals were detected at weeks ?2, ?1, 0 (mating day) and + 4 weeks post‐oestrus. Phosphorus group had significantly (p  < .05) short interval to oestrous resumption if compared to control ewes (2.1 ± 0.8 weeks vs . 4.6 ± 1.1 weeks). In addition, phosphorous supplementation significantly (p  < .05) increased the number of antral follicles (developed and their sizes in addition to sizes of corpora lutea (8.72 ± 0.3 mm vs . 7.46 ± 0.9 mm) as well. Number of services per conception (2.6 vs . 1.4; p  < .01) was higher in control group than that of phosphorus group. Pregnancy rate (80 vs . 50%) was significantly (p  < .01) higher in phosphorus group when compared to control. White blood cells in treated ewes (10.8 ± 0.44; p  < .05) and monocytes (2.93 ± 0.13; p  < .01) were higher than that of control group (white blood cells; 9.53 ± 0.50 and monocytes; 2.24 ± 0.14). Metabolic parameters did not differ between phosphorus and control groups during different times of treatment. It could be concluded that phosphorous administration to anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics could improve reproductive performance and restore ovarian activity at the end of spring and early summer.     

Recovery of sperms bearing X chromosomes with different concentrations of magnetic nanoparticles in ram

Pre-conceptual sex selection is still a highly debatable process whereby X and Y chromosome bearing spermatozoa are isolated before oocyte fertilization. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) have been used to determine X and Y chromosomes bearing spermatozoa as a result of searching for a cheap, highly efficient method using non-toxic materials. This study aimed to recover the sperm bearing X chromosomes in ram with different concentrations of MNP and then evaluate the success of this method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ram sperms were divided into four groups, treated with 0 (control), 50, 100 and 200 μg/ml MNP, respectively. MNP was used to restore sperm cells bearing X chromosomes. Upon recovery, the PCR was performed to identify the X and Y sperms, Methyl ThiazoleTetrazolium (MTT), to assess MNP toxicity and sperm viability and acridine orange (AO) to evaluate sperm DNA integrity. The results of PCR revealed that the treatment of spermatozoa- bearing X chromosomes with 50 μg/ml MNP had the highest effects on the recovery of X sperm rather than the other concentrations of MNP. However, the concentrations of MNP did not have any toxic effects on spermatozoa, sperm viability and, DNA integrity, but the high concentration of MNP (200 μg/ml) significantly reduced DNA integrity. According to MTT and AO results, the concentrations of MNP used in this study had no toxic effects on spermatozoa and did not reduce the sperm viability and DNA integrity, except that 200 μg/ml MNP significantly reduced DNA integrity.     

The pharmacokinetics of promethazine after intravenous administration in camels

The pharmacokinetics of promethazine were determined in seven camels (Camelus dromedarius) after an intravenous dose of 0.5 mg kg body weight.-1 The data obtained (median and range) were as follows: the elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) was 5.62 (2.84-6.51) h; the steady state volume of distribution (Vdss) was 8.90 (7.10-12.00) L kg-1, total body clearance (CT) was 24.5 (17.22-33.65) ml kg-1 min-1 and renal clearance (Clr) was 4.81 (1.97-5.48) ml kg-1 min-1.     

The pharmacokinetics, metabolism and urinary detection time of etamiphylline in camels after intramuscular administration

The pharmacokinetics of etamiphylline were determined after an intramuscular (i.m.) dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight in six healthy camels. Furthermore, the metabolites and drug detection time were evaluated. The data obtained median and (range) were as follows: the terminal elimination half-life (t(1/2 beta), h) was 3.04 (2.03-3.62); apparent total body clearance (Cl/F, L/h/kg) was 1.27 (0.74-2.99); the apparent volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)/F, L/kg) was 4.94 (3.57-12.54); and renal clearance (Cl(r), L/h/kg) determined in two camels was 0.005 and 0.004, respectively. The detection time of etamiphylline in urine after an i.m. dose of 3.5 mg/kg body weight ranged between 12 and 13 days. Three etamiphylline metabolites were tentatively identified in camels urine: The first one desethyletamiphylline was the main metabolite and resulted from N-deethylation of etamiphylline had a molecular weight of 251, and was detected in urine for about 13-14 days. Theophylline (molecular weight 180) was the second metabolite and resulted from ring N-dealkylation of etamiphylline. It was present in small amounts and was detected for about 5 h after drug administration in urine. The third metabolite, possibly resulted from demethylation of etamiphylline, had a molecular weight of m/z 265, and was present in small amounts and was detected in urine for about 5 h after drug administration.     

Morphinandienone alkaloids from Dehaasia longipedicellata

Five morphinoid alkaloids have been isolated from Dehaasia longipedicellata, namely (-) pallidine, a new alkaloid (+) pallidinine (1), (+)-milonine, (-) 8,14-dehydrosalutaridine and (-) sinoacutine.     

Performance and yield of 14 eucalypt species on Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. grassland 3 years after planting

A species trial with 14 eucalypt species with randomized complete blocks design was planted on Imperata cylindrica dominated grassland in South Kalimantan, Indonesia in January 1987. The site was prepared mechanically. No fertilizers were used. At the age of three years E. camaldulensis had clearly the highest survival rate (95%) and mean annual increment (5.9 m³ha^–1a^–1) compared with the other species tried. It was followed by E. urophylla, E. deglupta, E. pellita, E. tereticornis, E. alba, E. torelliana, E. intermedia, E. grandis and E. pilularis. Four other species, E. phaeotricha, E. resinifera, E. cloeziana and E. microcorys died either in the nursery or immediately after planting. All the eucalypts tried had narrow crowns and open canopies. It is suggested that eucalypts are not recommendable for grassland reforestation under minimum plantation tending. Effects of intensive weeding, spacing, fertilizing and performance in second rotation or mixed stands should be tested to elaborate the suitability of eucalypts on grasslands.     

Assessment of morphological and functional changes in the mouse testis and epididymal sperms following busulfan treatment

BACKGROUND: Busulfan, a cytotoxic drug, which is currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent, has many side effects on different body organs. In this research, the effects of busulfan on sperm parameters and microstructure of mouse testis were investigated. METHODS: Busulfan was injected intrapretoneally at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/kg and testes were removed after 4, 6 and 8 weeks, weighed and processed for light microscopic examination. Transverse and cross section diameters of testes, seminiferous tubules diameters, percentage of different types of tubules, epithelium thickness, spermatogenic cell numbers and capsule thickness as well as the sperm parameters in epididymis were measured. RESULTS: There was a significant decline in sperm numbers and marked changes in testes structures. Almost 8 weeks after the injection of drug, some of the changes are reversed. Accordingly, the changes in percent of normal tubules without sperm, abnormal tubules and capsule thickness were increased until 6 weeks of drug administration, the changes declined thereafter. CONCLUSION: In general, busulfan caused a decrease in all analyzed parameters (except capsule thickness, normal tubules without sperm and abnormal tubules), probably due to the arrest of spermatogenesis. Our results also revealed that some of the changes are reversible and dose dependent.     

Production of Wild Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) Embryos by Interspecies Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Using Domestic Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Oocytes

The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of producing wild buffalo embryos by interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) through handmade cloning using wild buffalo somatic cells and domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes. Somatic cells derived from the ear skin of wild buffalo were found to express vimentin but not keratin and cytokeratin‐18, indicating that they were of fibroblast origin. The population doubling time of skin fibroblasts from wild buffalo was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, and the cell proliferation rate was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared with that of skin fibroblasts from domestic buffalo. Neither the cleavage (92.6 ± 2.0% vs 92.8 ± 2.0%) nor the blastocyst rate (42.4 ± 2.4% vs 38.7 ± 2.8%) was significantly different between the intraspecies cloned embryos produced using skin fibroblasts from domestic buffalo and interspecies cloned embryos produced using skin fibroblasts from wild buffalo. However, the total cell number (TCN) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (192.0 ± 25.6 vs 345.7 ± 42.2), and the apoptotic index was significantly (p < 0.05) higher (15.1 ± 3.1 vs 8.0 ± 1.4) for interspecies than that for intraspecies cloned embryos. Following vitrification in open‐pulled straws (OPS) and warming, although the cryosurvival rate of both types of cloned embryos, as indicated by their re‐expansion rate, was not significantly different (34.8 ± 1.5% vs 47.8 ± 7.8), the apoptotic index was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for vitrified–warmed interspecies than that for corresponding intraspecies cloned embryos (48.9 ± 7.2 vs 23.9 ± 2.8). The global level of H3K18ac was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in interspecies cloned embryos than that in intraspecies cloned embryos. The expression level of HDAC1, DNMT3a and CASPASE3 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, that of P53 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in interspecies than in intraspecies embryos, whereas that of DNMT1 was similar between the two types of embryos. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that wild buffalo embryos can be produced by iSCNT.