Allelopathic Effect of Three Serious Weeds of Nigerian Savanna on Germination and Seedling Vigour of Soybean and Maize

Allelopathic effects of aqueous extract of three weeds, Ageratum conyzoides L., Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv and Commelina benghalensis L. of Nigerian savanna were investigated on the germination and seedling vigour of soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr.) and maize ( Zea mays L.). Aqueous extracts of these weeds exhibited allelopathic phenomenon on seed germination and seedling vigour. Aqueous extracts of I. cylindrica and C. benghalensis at 1 % and 5 % concentration (w/v) had stimulatory effect on soybean germination as against inhibitory effect of 10 % aqueous extract of all weeds on the germination of both soybean and maize seeds. Seedling vigour-length of roots and shoots and fresh weight of seedlings were promoted by aqueous extract of A. conyzoides up to 5 % concentration in soybean whereas all concentrations of extract stimulated the seedling vigour of maize. Aqueous extract of I. cylindrica up to 5 % also caused stimulatory effect on the seedling vigour of both crops but such effects were lesser in magnitude than that observed in case of A. conyzoides. On the contrary, the aqueous extract of C. benghalensis at all concentrations resulted in deleterious effect on the seedling vigour of both soybean and maize.     

Differences in the activity and bacterial community structure of drained grassland and forest peat soils

The microbial activity and bacterial community structure were investigated in two types of peat soil in a temperate marsh. The first, a drained grassland fen soil, has a neutral pH with partially degraded peat in the upper oxic soil horizons (16% soil organic carbon). The second, a bog soil, was sampled in a swampy forest and has a very high soil organic carbon content (45%), a low pH (4.5), and has occasional anoxic conditions in the upper soil horizons due to the high water table level. The microbial activity in the two soils was measured as the basal and substrate-induced respiration (SIR). Unexpectedly, the SIR (μl CO₂ g⁻¹ dry soil) was higher in the bog than in the fen soil, but lower when CO₂ production was expressed per volume of soil. This may be explained by the notable difference in the bulk densities of the two soils. The bacterial communities were assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiling of 16S rRNA genes and indicated differences between the two soils. The differences were determined by the soil characteristics rather than the season in which the soil was sampled. The 16S rRNA gene libraries, constructed from the two soils, revealed high proportions of sequences assigned to the Acidobacteria phylum. Each library contained a distinct set of phylogenetic subgroups of this important group of bacteria.     

Two- and three-domain bacterial laccase-like genes are present in drained peat soils

Laccases of fungal origin have been intensively studied due to their importance in various biotechnological applications. There is a constant demand for new laccases with improved properties such as stability at higher temperatures or at an alkaline pH. Growing molecular evidence suggests that laccases may also be widespread in bacteria. While only a handful of bacterial laccases have been purified and characterized, several novel traits have already been discovered (e.g. pH-stability and 2-domain organization of the enzyme as opposed to the usual 3-domain structure of fungal laccases). The aim of this study was to examine the diversity of bacterial laccase-like genes in two types of high-organic peat soil using a cloning and sequencing approach. Gene libraries prepared of small fragments (150 base pairs) revealed an amazing diversity of bacterial laccases. The fragments clustered in 11 major lineages, and one third of the 241 sequences resembled laccase-like genes of Acidobacteria. Additionally, a new primer was used to retrieve several larger fragments of the putative bacterial laccase genes that spanned all four copper-binding sites. Both “conventional” 3-domain laccases and the recently described 2-domain small laccases have been obtained using this approach, demonstrating the potential of the primer. The present study thus contributes to the understanding of the diversity of bacterial laccases and provides a new tool for finding laccase-like sequences in bacterial strains and soil samples.     

Stress and fold localization in thin elastic membranes

Thin elastic membranes supported on a much softer elastic solid or a fluid deviate from their flat geometries upon compression. We demonstrate that periodic wrinkling is only one possible solution for such strained membranes. Folds, which involve highly localized curvature, appear whenever the membrane is compressed beyond a third of its initial wrinkle wavelength. Eventually the surface transforms into a symmetry-broken state with flat regions of membrane coexisting with locally folded points, reminiscent of a crumpled, unsupported membrane. We provide general scaling laws for the wrinkled and folded states and proved the transition with numerical and experimental supported membranes. Our work provides insight into the interfacial stability of such diverse systems as biological membranes such as lung surfactant and nanoparticle thin films.     

Flight patterns of Russian wheat aphid,Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.) during its expansion to Central Europe (Hom., Aphididae)

Flight patterns of migrant alate Russian wheat aphids (=RWA),Diuraphis noxia (Kurdj.) during its expansion from the south-east to Central Europe were determined. Samples were taken by Rothamsted-type suction air traps in Hungary (one location, 1990–1997) and in the Czech Republic (5 locations, 1994–1998). The results document a progressive expansion of RWA, and population variation in the individual years and periods of the season. A comparison of the evidence on RWA in the individual years since its detection in Hungary and in the Czech Republic supports the presumption on the occurrence of an expansion route from the south-east (Turkey) to Central Europe. This expansion is classified as an adventive route of the over-all expansion that has covered the whole West-Mediterranean (South Europe, North Africa).     

Observations on the increase of wild gilthead seabream,Sparus aurata abundance,in the eastern Adriatic Sea: problems and opportunities

The recent increase of the local population of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, in three areas along the southeastern Adriatic Sea: Malostonski Bay (Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina), Neretva Estuary (Croatia) and Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) and its adverse effects on shellfish culture by preying on Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, are studied. The results from the analysis of the existing information show that the main reason for the recent increase is the escapes from local fish farm which enrich the local population constantly with new gilthead sea bream. The existence of practically endless food in the area of the shellfish farms allows the concentration of the population in the region instead of its dispersion along the Adriatic coast. Moreover, ecological analysis indicates that the gilthead seabream is facing a very low competition from other local species which enhances its capacity to further populate the region. While the impact on the ecosystem is not yet known, the socio-economic impact of the increase of the gilthead seabream population is evident today. Many shellfish farms are closing today in the region since the damages may reach over 90 % of the production.     

Sample type is vital for diagnosing infection with peste des petits ruminants virus by reverse transcription PCR

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) diagnosis from suspected samples from sheep and goats was carried out. Buffy coat, tissues, and oculo-nasal swabs were analyzed using nucleoprotein (NP3/NP4) and fusion protein (F1/F2) gene primers, respectively. Analysis of the sample types and primer set revealed that buffy coat are the best type of samples for PPR diagnosis and the use of two set of primers will increase the number of positives.     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Herbicide Quinmerac in Various Types of Natural Water

The efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide quinmerac in aqueous TiO₂ suspensions was examined as a function of the type of light source, TiO₂ loading, pH, temperature, electron acceptors, and hydroxyl radical (^?OH) scavenger. The optimum loading of catalyst was found to be 0.25?mg?mL^?1 under UV light at pH?7.2, with the apparent activation energy of the reaction being 13.7?kJ?mol^?1. In the first stage of the reaction, the photocatalytic degradation of quinmerac (50???M) followed approximately a pseudo-first order kinetics. The most efficient electron acceptor appeared to be H₂O₂ along with molecular oxygen. By studying the effect of ethanol as an ^?OH scavenger, it was shown that the heterogeneous catalysis takes place mainly via ^?OH. The results also showed that the disappearance of quinmerac led to the formation of a number of organic intermediates and ionic byproducts, whereas its complete mineralization occurred in about 120?min. The reaction intermediates (7-chloro-3-methylquinoline-5,8-dione, three isomeric phenols hydroxy-7-chloro-3-methylquinoline-8-carboxylic acids, and 7-chloro-3-(hydroxymethyl)quinoline-8-carboxylic acid) were identified and the kinetics of their appearance/disappearance was followed by LC?CESI?CMS/MS. Tentative photodegradation pathways were proposed and discussed. The study also encompassed the effect of quality of natural water on the rate of removal of quinmerac.     

Linearity of eprinomectin pharmacokinetics in lactating dairy sheep following pour-on administration: excretion in milk and exposure of suckling lambs

Pharmacokinetics of eprinomectin (EPR) were studied in blood plasma and milk in two groups of six Istrian Pramenka dairy sheep and their suckling lambs following pour-on administration of EPR to ewes at dose levels of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg. Maximum concentration in plasma was 2.22 and 5.25 μg/l, and AUC was 13.6 and 33.7 μg day/l for the 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg dose, respectively. These results indicate that drug exposure with a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, which is commonly used in cattle, may be subtherapeutic. The concentration time course in milk paralleled plasma concentrations. In the dose range studied, linear pharmacokinetics of EPR were demonstrated. Milk-to-plasma AUC ratio was 0.79 ± 0.12 and 1.12 ± 0.43; the fraction of dose recovered in milk was 0.037 ± 0.011 and 0.058 ± 0.027% for the low and high dose, respectively. Maximum residual levels in milk were below the maximum acceptable level of 20 μg/kg; however, EPR was detected in all samples investigated. Despite low permeability in milk, AUC in plasma of suckling lambs was between 20 and 30% of the AUC in plasma of ewes.