On-line gas chromatography combustion/pyrolysis isotope ratio mass spectrometry (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) volatiles

By use of extracts prepared by liquid-liquid separation of the volatiles from self-prepared juices of pineapple fruits (Ananas comosus) (n = 14) as well as commercial pineapple recovery aromas/water phases (n = 3), on-line capillary gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry was employed in the combustion (C) and the pyrolysis (P) modes (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) to determine the delta(13)C(VPDB) and delta(2)H(VSMOW) values of selected pineapple flavor constituents. In addition to methyl 2-methylbutanoate 1, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate 2, methyl hexanoate 3, ethyl hexanoate 4, and 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3[2H]-furanone 5, each originating from the fruit, the delta(13)C(VPDB) and delta(2)H(VSMOW) data of commercial synthetic 1-5 and "natural" (biotechnologically derived) 1-4 were determined. With delta(13)C(VPDB) data of pineapple volatiles 1-4 varying from -12.8 to -24.4 per thousand, the range expected for CAM metabolism was observed. Compound 5 showed higher depletion from -20.9 to -28.6 per thousand. A similar situation was given for the delta(2)H(VSMOW) values of 3-5 from pineapple ranging from -118 to -191 per thousand, whereas 1 and 2 showed higher depleted values from -184 to -263 per thousand. In nearly all cases, analytical differentiation of 1-5 from pineapple and natural as well as synthetic origin was possible. In general, natural and synthetic 1-5 exhibited delta(13)C(VPDB) data ranging from -11.8 to -32.2 per thousand and -22.7 to -35.9 per thousand, respectively. Their delta(2)H(VSMOW) data were in the range from -242 to -323 per thousand and -49 to -163 per thousand, respectively.     

Detection and quantification of equine herpesvirus-1 viremia and nasal shedding by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection is common in young horses throughout the world, resulting in respiratory disease, epidemic abortion, sporadic myelitis, or latent infections. To improve on conventional diagnostic tests for EHV-1, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was developed, using primers and probes specific for the EHV-1 gB gene. Amplification efficiencies of 100% +/- 5% were obtained for DNA isolated from a plasmid, infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and nasal secretions from infected ponies. The dynamic range of the assay was 8 log10 dilutions, and the lower limit of detection was 6 DNA copies. Fifteen ponies, seronegative for EHV-1, were experimentally infected with EHV-1, and nasal samples were used to quantify shedding of virus by both virus isolation and real-time PCR analysis. Virus isolation identified nasal shedding of EHV-1 in 12/15 ponies on a total of 25 days; real-time PCR detected viral shedding in 15/15 ponies on 75 days. Viremia was quantified using PBMC DNA, subsequent to challenge infection in 3 additional ponies. Viremia was identified in 1/3 ponies on a single day by virus isolation; real-time PCR detected viremia in 3/3 ponies on 17 days. When real-time PCR was used to analyze PBMC DNA from 11 latently infected ponies (documented by nested PCR), EHV-1 was not detected. We conclude that real-time PCR is a sensitive and quantitative test for EHV-1 nasal shedding and viremia and provides a valuable tool for EHV-1 surveillance, diagnosis of clinical disease, and investigation of vaccine efficacy.     

Einfluss assoziativer rhizosphärenbakterien auf die äHrstoffaufnahme und den Ertrag von Mais

In mehrjährigen Feldversuchen (1990–1995) in Nordostdeutschland wurde der Einfluß selektierter assoziativer Rhizosphärenbakterien auf den Ertrag und die Nährstoffaufnahme bei Mais untersucht.

Der Trockenmasse‐ und Kolbenertrag zur Siloreife bzw. der Samenertrag wurde durch die Bakterienstämme Pseudomonas fluorescens (PsIA12), Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A1A4), Rhizobium trifolii (R39) und z.T. durch Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (PsIB2) in den Jahren 1990 bis 1995 auf lehmigen Sandböden wiederholt signifikant, auf sandigem Lehm zum Teil signifikant erhöht. Maissorten können unterschiedlich auf die Bakterieninokulation reagieren. Die Bakterien stimulierten insbesondere bei Jungpflanzen die Wurzelentwicklung und die Nährstoffaufnahme (N, P, K) aus dem Boden. Sie bildeten Phytohormone (Auxine und z.T. Cytokinine) und überlebten, auch unter Feldbedingungen, im Rhizosphärenraum von Mais während der gesamten Vegetation.     

Balaustium murorum (Hermann, 1804) (Acarina,Erythraeidae) in Häusern. Eine wenig beachtete sommerliche Milbenplage

Zusammenfassung Fünf in der BRD erstmalig registrierte Fälle von mehr oder weniger starkem Auftreten vonBalaustium murorum (Hermann, 1804) in oder an Häusern, von denen Material der Verfasserin zur Untersuchung vorlag, werden aufgeführt. Ferner werden Beobachtungen von C. F.van de Bund in den Niederlanden und I. M.Newell in Nordamerika erwähnt. Bei letzteren ist wichtig, daß Vertreter der GattungBalaustium, von denen einige offensichtlich Pflanzenfresser sind, auch den Menschen angreifen und Bakterien übertragen können.

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Summary Five cases of more or less heavy appearance ofBalaustium murorum (Hermann, 1804) in or at houses are represented, at first observed in West Germany by the writer. Observations from the Netherlands and North America are mentioned. The latter ones are important because species ofBalaustium may feed on plants but also may attack man and transmit bacteria.

     

Occurrence of naturally acetylated lignin units

This work examines the occurrence of native acetylated lignin in a large set of vascular plants, including both angiosperms and gymnosperms, by a modification of the so-called Derivatization Followed by Reductive Cleavage (DFRC) method. Acetylated lignin units were found in the milled wood lignins of all angiosperms selected for this study, including mono- and eudicotyledons, but were absent in the gymnosperms analyzed. In some plants (e.g., abaca, sisal, kenaf, or hornbeam), lignin acetylation occurred at a very high extent, exceeding 45% of the uncondensed (alkyl-aryl ether linked) syringyl lignin units. Acetylation was observed exclusively at the gamma-carbon of the lignin side chain and predominantly on syringyl units, although a predominance of acetylated guaiacyl over syringyl units was observed in some plants. In all cases, acetylation appears to occur at the monomer stage, and sinapyl and coniferyl acetates seem to behave as real lignin monomers participating in lignification.     

Proteomic Characterization of Equine Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a biofluid that is reflective of overall health. Although proteomic profiling of human CSF has been performed in the context of a variety of disease states, this report represents the first comprehensive proteomic analysis of equine CSF. A total of 320 proteins were confidently identified across six healthy horses, and these proteins were further characterized by gene ontology terms mapped in UniProt, and normalized spectral abundance factors were calculated as a measure of relative abundance. Theses results provide an optimized protocol for analysis of equine CSF and lay the groundwork for future studies involving the study of equine CSF in the context of pathogenic disease states.     

Identification of tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum) by polyacrylamide isoelectric focusing

Summary Isozyme analyses have been used for the definitive identification of many plant cultivars, but not for cultivated tomatoes. Six isozyme systems, namely alcohol dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, esterase, phosphoglucoisomerase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase of tomato seed extracts were resolved by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels with a narrow pH gradient. Nine alcohol dehydrogenase phenotypes were distinguished which, with three acid phosphatase phenotypes, identified twelve of the seventeen cultivars. Fewer differences were found for the other isozymes. Since this method could differentiate between breeding parents and their progeny it is concluded that further investigations are warranted.Abbreviations APS acid phosphatase - ADH alcohol dehydrogenase - EST esterase - IEF isoelectric focusing - PGI phosphoglucoisomerase - PGM phosphoglucomutase - 6-PGDH 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - RFLP restriction fragment length polymorphism - VOPRI Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Research Institute     

Selection for Seed Yield in Lolium perenne L.*

Components of seed yield were estimated for each set of 100 plants derived from six varieties of Lolium perenne. Significant differences between the varieties were found for all components of seed yield, but the range was broader within each variety. An indirect selection of seed yield using the character seeds per spike produced a selection response similar to that obtained by direct selection on high seed yield per plant. A direct and indirect selection of characters estimated in small, drilled plots of topcross off-springs (F₁) was less successful than the selection based on the single plants. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the single plants and their offsprings did not show significant agreement for seed yield. But altogether the results indicated that the increase of seed yield/area was about 6 % when 10 % of the best plants were selected.     

Mikrosymptome des Bor-Mangels an Mentha piperita L.

Microsymptoms of boron deficiency in Mentha piperita L. The influence of boron deficiency on the development of oil glands and glandular hairs and on leaf and stem tissue development was studied. The experiments were carried out with Mentha piperita L. – var. Mitcham – under controlled experimental conditions in solution culture. Boron deficiency resulted in disturbances in the development of the vascular bundles and cambium extension. Excretions of dark substances could also be observed. Oil glands as well as glandular hairs were severely damaged under boron deficiency; the production of the essential oil decreased.     

Establishment of Retama sphaerocarpa L. seedlings on a degraded semiarid soil as influenced by mycorrhizal inoculation and sewage‐sludge amendment

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of mycorrhizal inoculation with three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, Glomus deserticola (Trappe, Bloss. & Menge), and Glomus mosseae (Nicol & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe) and the addition of composted sewage sludge (SS) with respect to the establishment of Retama sphaerocarpa L. seedlings, in a semiarid Mediterranean area. Associated changes in soil chemical (nutrient content and labile carbon fractions), biochemical (enzyme activities), and physical (aggregate stability) parameters were observed. Six months after planting, both the addition of composted SS and the mycorrhizal‐inoculation treatments had increased total N content, available‐P content, and aggregate stability of the soil. Values of water‐soluble C and water‐soluble carbohydrates were increased only in the mycorrhizal‐inoculation treatments. Rhizosphere soil from the mycorrhizal‐inoculation treatments had significantly higher enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, protease‐BAA, acid phosphatase, and β‐glucosidase) than the control soil. In the short‐term, mycorrhizal inoculation with AM fungi was the most effective treatment for enhancement of shoot biomass, particularly with G. mosseae (about 146% higher with respect to control plants). The addition of the composted SS alone was sufficient to restore soil structural stability but was not effective with respect to improving the performance of R. sphaerocarpa plants.