The Effects of Soil Solarization and Compost on Soil Suppressiveness against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Melonis

Soil suppressiveness against Fusarium was tested using solarized and non-solarized soils combined with composts of three maturation levels, and a non-amended control. The soils were sampled on three dates: after previous year solarization but before current year solarization (0 weeks), at the end of the solarization period of the current year (4 weeks), and 4 weeks later (recovery time). Melon seedlings were inoculated with Fusarium spores and disease severity was assessed. The study showed a reduction of soil suppressiveness capacity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis after 1 year of solarization (0 weeks). Fusarium disease severity in artificially inoculated melon plants, expressed by area under the disease progress curve, was higher in solarized soil than in non-solarized soil. Compost addition lowered the disease severity, both in the solarized and in the non-solarized soils. However, suppression was not obtained at the end of the solarization period, whereas compost beneficial effect was found at this time.     

Protection by polyphenols of postprandial human plasma and low-density lipoprotein modification: the stomach as a bioreactor

Recent studies dramatically showed that the removal of circulating modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) results in complete prevention of atherosclerosis. The gastrointestinal tract is constantly exposed to food, some of it containing oxidized compounds. Lipid oxidation in the stomach was demonstrated by ingesting heated red meat in rats. Red wine polyphenols added to the rats' meat diet prevented lipid peroxidation in the stomach and absorption of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat plasma. In humans, postprandial plasma MDA levels rose by 3-fold after a meal of red meat cutlets. MDA derived from meat consumption caused postprandial plasma LDL modification in human. The levels of plasma MDA showed a 75% reduction by consumption of red wine polyphenols during the meat meal. Locating the main biological site of action of polyphenols in the stomach led to a revision in the understanding of how antioxidants work in vivo and may help to elucidate the mechanism involved in the protective effects of polyphenols in human health.     

Structure of human urokinase plasminogen activator in complex with its receptor

The urokinase plasminogen activator binds to its cellular receptor with high affinity and initiates signaling cascades that are implicated in pathological processes including tumor growth, metastasis, and inflammation. We report the crystal structure at 1.9 angstroms of the urokinase receptor complexed with the urokinase amino-terminal fragment and an antibody against the receptor. The three domains of urokinase receptor form a concave shape with a central cone-shaped cavity where the urokinase fragment inserts. The structure provides insight into the flexibility of the urokinase receptor that enables its interaction with a wide variety of ligands and a basis for the design of urokinase-urokinase receptor antagonists.     

Compost suppressiveness against Fusarium oxysporum was not reduced after one-year storage under various moisture and temperature conditions

The effect of storage conditions on compost suppressiveness against fusarium wilt of melon, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM) was studied in relation to the dynamics of compost microbial activity and biodegradability. For this purpose, mature suppressive compost, prepared from tomato plants and separated cow manure, was divided into four portions and stored for one year under cool/warm (12 or 28 °C) or dry/wet (15-35 or 55-65% moisture content) conditions, in four different combinations: cool-dry, warm-dry, cool-wet and warm-wet. All composts retained and even enhanced their suppressive capacity during storage, with no significant differences among them by the end of the storage period. However, significant differences were found in the dynamics of some of the measured chemical and microbial properties. The microbial activity of composts stored under wet conditions was higher than that of those stored under dry condition, which resulted in a substantial decrease in dissolved organic matter content (expressed as dissolved organic carbon; DOC) and increase in its recalcitrance to biological degradation, decrease in basal heat emission, slower response to added glucose or citric acid, and higher NO₃ concentration, indicating increased nitrification under wet conditions. The DOC significantly correlated with several microbial properties as well as with compost suppressiveness of fusarium wilt of melon seedlings, and may be regarded as a most suitable general index for compost maturity. A best-subset multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the three best predictors, namely dissolved organic carbon (DOC), basal heat, and mesophilic bacterial counts, could explain as much as 83% of the total variance in compost suppressiveness. The generally agreed association between compost maturity and suppressiveness was verified in this case. It appears that compost microbial populations might compete and interfere with the saprophytic stage of FOM conidia, between germination and host invasion. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that compost suppressiveness against fusarium wilt of melon can be maintained for at least one year under a wide range of storage conditions, without any loss of suppressive capacity. This fact has positive logistical implications for the use of suppressive composts against FOM.     

Comparative toxicity of several insecticides to eggs,larvae and adults of the Egyptian cottonworm,Spodoptera littoralis,in laboratory trials

Insecticides commonly used in cotton fields in Israel against lepidopterous pests were tested against eggs, as well as against 2nd-instar larvae and adults raised from eggs ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) collected in cotton fields in the Bet She’an Valley. Methomyl, chlorpyrifos, methidathion, monocrotophos, ethyl parathion, and methyl parathion were effective against eggs even at low doses, profenofos and phosfolan were less active, and azinphos-methyl was ineffective. The doses needed for 90% kill (LD ₉₀ ) of the 2nd-instar larvae were 8.5, 35, 280, 1300 and 3400 g a.i./1000 m ² for chlorpyrifos, methomyl, profenofos, methyl parathion and ethyl parathion, respectively; monocrotophos was inactive against 2nd-instar larvae even at relatively high doses. The LD ₉₀ of adults was reached with 16, 32, 1700 and 6100 ga.i./l000 m² of chlorpyrifos, methomyl, ethyl parathion and profenofos, respectively. Only chlorpyrifos and methomyl gave successful control of all three stages of the insect tested, at doses close to those generally used with aerial applications.     

Application of a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for evaluation of the immune status to canine parvovirus and distemper virus in adult dogs before revaccination.

A growing body of literature has been published indicating that the current practice of annual vaccination of dogs may not be beneficial and in some cases may even be harmful. A number of publications have proposed assessing the immune status of dogs before annual revaccination. In this study the usefulness of a commercially available dot-ELISA kit was evaluated to determine the duration IgG antibody titers to canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) in 158 dogs vaccinated at least one year ago. Overall, the percentage of dogs with protective antibody titers to both CPV and CDV was 84%. The percentage of dogs with borderline antibody titers was 11% for CPV and 10% for CDV. Four percent of the dogs had no detectable antibody to CPV and 6% had no antibody to CDV. The results reported here are in good agreement with other studies measuring IgG antibody levels. It is concluded that the kit offers veterinarians the opportunity of determining antibody titers and revaccinating only those pets whose antibody titers to specific diseases have waned.     

Post-fire analysis of pre-fire mapping of fire-risk: A recent case study from Mt. Carmel (Israel)

The recent devastating wildfire on Mt. Carmel provided a unique opportunity to evaluate a fire-risk map constructed for the region, published two years ago in this journal. This largest forest fire in the history of Israel, occurred during December 2010, covering 2180 ha, burning more than half-million trees and causing the loss of life of 45 people.A study of fire risk in this area was conducted between 2007 and 2009 utilizing a combination of Monte Carlo simulation of spatial spread of fire ignition with fire behavior model (FARSITE). The fire risk map produced in 2009 is assessed here with reference to the area burnt during December 2010. The results showed that most of burnt areas corresponded to high risk levels in the risk map. According to a null model, the five lower risk levels taken together would have corresponded to 50% of the burnt area, while in fact they were presented in only 5.6% of the area. In contrast, the three highest risk levels, for which the null model expectation would be a representation of 30%, were represented in 87% of the area. Comparing the fire risk map against the map of the real recent fire provided support to the general approach, and strengthened the confidence of our fire risk model.     

Studies of the response of the spiny bollworm,earias insulana,to rearing on leaves,flower buds and bolls of high-terpenoid-aldehyde cotton genotypes in the laboratory

Survival rates of neonate larvae of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana Boisd., on leaves, flower buds and bolls of ten high-gossypol (HG) [terpenoid-aldehyde] and Acala SJ^b2 cotton lines were 40-74%, 66-92% and 54-76%, respectively. Partial resistance of leaves of three cotton lines, no resistance of flower buds, and resistance of bolls of one line (HG-BR-8) to larval infestation were observed. Bolls which had their bases and bracts removed were heavily penetrated by larvae and more adults were obtained on them, as compared with intact ones. Complete development on cotton bolls, from hatching to the adult, took 25.6-32.6 days, with significant differences among some of the cotton lines. Growth on bolls of HG lines in the larval stage had no effect on oviposition by the corresponding adults. Fertility of these eggs was not affected.     

Horticultural Characteristics Of Licorice Waste Compost

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is a leguminous herbaceous perennial. Its root extracts are commonly used for medicinal uses and as a flavoring agent in the food and tobacco industries. After extraction, about 10,000 tones of licorice root residues are accumulated in Israel annually with no recycling outlet. The objectives of the current research were to develop a reliable protocol for licorice root wastes composting, to test the use of licorice compost as a peat substitute in growing media and to study its suppressiveness against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM) – the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of melon (Cucumis melo L.). Licorice root wastes were cocomposted using temperature controlled forced aeration with the coarse fraction of separated cow manure, in order to enrich both its nutrients content and microbial population. Thermophilic conditions prevailed in the pile for 90 days and the compost stabilized and reached ambient temperature 110 days from start. The physical characteristics of the resulted compost were comparable to that of peat. Nutrient content was high and salinity was relatively low. No phytotoxicity was found in the compost extract, based on the cress germination test. Tomato plants grown in compost showed enhanced development as compared to peat. The number of surviving FOM spores incubated in the compost declined faster then in peat. Fusarium infested melon plants survived much better if planted in the licorice compost, as compared to peat. It is concluded that licorice compost can serve as a peat substitute with preferable qualities.     

Effect of triflumuron on two species of nitidulid beetles,Carpophilus hemipterus andUrophorus humeralis

Egg hatch of two nitidulids,Carpophilus hemipterus L. andUrophorus humeralis F., was affected by the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron (Alsystin; BAY SIR 8514)via the adult stage of the beetle. This occurred by exposure to treated diets, by a brief dip of the adults in aqueous dilutions of the toxicant, or by contact with a treated plastic netting cage. Exposure of adults ofC. hemipterus for 24 h to 0.0125%, 0.00125%, 0.00025% or 0.000125% and ofU. humeralis to 0.0125% a.i.-treated diets completely prevented hatch of eggs laid during the subsequent 48 h on an untreated diet. Although at first sterile eggs were obtained with adults of either nitidulid species transferred to an untreated diet after 24 h exposure to the 0.0125%-treated diet, egg viability gradually recovered. The speed of recovery and the course of mortality of larvae that hatched from eggs laid by treated adults, indicated thatC. hemipterus was more susceptible thanU. humeralis to triflumuron. DippingC. hemipterus adults — males or females — in 0.0125% a.i. triflumuron also resulted in complete prevention of egg hatch. Similar results were obtained by a 1-h contact of adults with treated cages. Triflumuron had no direct ovicidal activity against the two species at the concentrations used but was very effective against larvae of both species. At 0.0125% a.i., 3-5-mm-long larvae ofU. humeralis were more tolerant than newly hatched larvae and than 3-5-mm-long larvae ofC. hemipterus. Application of 0.0125% a.i. triflumuron in a date palm grove did not prevent fruit infestation by nitidulid adults but, due to prevention of egg hatch, almost no larval development was observed.