Flowing solution culture system maintains uniform root environment composition

Flowing solution culture enables the researcher to study effects of root environment variables independently. This flowing solution culture system utilizes air pressure and syphoning or a peristaltic pump to circulate the nutrient solution. Because this system is inexpensive, simple in design, and compact, several factors can be studied concurrently, treatments can be replicated to test for system effects, nutrient deviations, and block for growth effects due to environment. These systems have been used successfully with experiments in N form, plant growth regulators, salt stress, and mechanical stress. Non‐destructive measurements of root growth and nutrient uptake are possible.     

Evidence for the Predisposition of Fungicide-Resistant Isolates of Venturia inaequalis to a Preferential Selection for Resistance to Other Fungicides

In the United States, populations of the apple scab pathogen Venturia inaequalis have progressed through three consecutive rounds of fungicide resistance development, first to dodine, then to the benzimidazoles, and most recently to the sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs). Analysis of extensive monitoring data have to date provided no indication of detectable cross-resistance or partial cross-resistance of V. inaequalis populations to the three unrelated classes of fungicides prior to the selection of resistant subpopulations. However, in this study, resistance to both benomyl and DMIs developed to significantly higher frequencies within the previously established dodine-resistant population than in the population sensitive to dodine. Accelerated selection of phenotypes double resistant to dodine and the DMI fenarimol was apparent over the course of distinct seasons of apple scab management with either dodine or fenarimol. The data provide evidence for an accelerated speed of resistance development among phenotypes of V. inaequalis already resistant to an unrelated fungicide. This finding represents a departure from the previous model, which assumed entirely independent rounds of resistance developments. The data indicate that phenotypes of V. inaequalis might not only be selected for the trait of fungicide resistance but also for traits allowing a more flexible response to changes in the environment where they compete.     

Evaluation of PCR,IEF and ELISA techniques for the detection and identification of potato cyst nematodes from field soil samples in England and Wales

Effective management of potato cyst nematodes (PCNs) requires simple, rapid and accurate identification and quantification of field populations. Soil samples from a survey of 484 fields in potato rotations in England and Wales were used to compare the identification and quantification of PCNs using IEF, PCR, ELISA and bait plant tests. The cyst counts and bait plant test revealed that 64.3% of field samples contained PCNs. Bait plant tests increased the detection rate of PCNs in field samples by 4–6.4%. This means that some infestations are cryptic and would not normally be detected by standard counts. IEF, PCR and ELISA methods distinguished between Globodera rostochiensis and G pallida and were able to register mixed populations; however they were not in full agreement. All methods suggested that G pallida is the dominant species in the field samples tested. The PCR results indicated that 66% of field samples contained pure G pallida, 8% contained pure G rostochiensis and 26% contained mixtures of the two species. Estimates of the relative process times taken per sample in the PCR, IEF and ELISA techniques are given. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Intracellular regulation of endometrial PGF(2a) and PGE(2) production in dairy cows during early pregnancy and following treatment with recombinant interferon-tau

Objectives were to examine how the conceptus and recombinant bovine interferon-tau (rbIFN-tau) regulate intracellular components of the PGF(2a) synthetic pathway and to determine if arachidonic acid (AA) is limiting in endometrial tissue of pregnant cows. In Experiment 1, uteri were collected from either cyclic or pregnant dairy cows on Day 17 post-estrus. Intercaruncular explants were dissected and incubated for 60 min to quantify PGF(2a) production in response to oxytocin (10(-6) M), A23187 (10(-5) M), melittin (10(-5) M), and phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDBu, 10(-6) M). Additional explants from the same cows were incubated for 24 h with and without AA. Oxytocin and A23187 did not stimulate PGF(2a) in explants from either cyclic or pregnant cows. Both PDBu, melittin, and A23187 + melittin stimulated PGF(2a) production in explants of cyclic cows, but not in explants of pregnant cows. The addition of AA to explant cultures for 24 hr did not increase PGF(2a) production during a subsequent 60-min incubation. In Experiment 2, explants were collected from cows that received intrauterine infusions of either BSA (1.9 mg/1.2 ml) or rbIFN-tau (0.2 mg rbIFN-tau + 1.7 mg BSA/1.2 ml) twice a day from Days 14 to 17 of the estrous cycle. Treatments of rbIFN-tau attenuated PGF(2a) secretion induced by in vitro PDBu and A23187 treatments. However, rbIFN-tau treatment in vivo had no effect on the in vitro induction of PGF(2a) secretion by melittin. IFN-tau may regulate the PGF(2a) synthetic pathway by reducing activity of PKC or PKC mediated events.     

Nutritional stress as a cause of thymic atrophy in broiler chickens

A study was conducted to examine the effect of nutritional stress on the development of the thymus, bursa, and pancreas of 7-to-14-day-old commercial meat-type chickens. One group of 7-day-old chickens was given access to food for only 30 minutes daily for 7 days. The birds were necropsied, and the thymus, pancreas, and bursa were compared with those of the control chickens fed ad libitum and necropsied at 7 and 14 days of age. The thymuses from birds on the restricted diet were atrophied (0.45 +/- 0.08 g) and congested compared with the thymuses from chickens fed ad libitum (1.32 +/- 0.31 g). The bursae from chickens on a restricted diet were also smaller (0.26 +/- 0.08 g) than the bursae from birds with free access to food (0.74 +/- 0.11 g). The restricted diet did not appear to cause any gross or histological pancreatic changes. The thymic lesions produced by nutritional stress were similar to those observed in the runting/stunting syndrome.     

Changes in wood properties at the boundary of polyporus amarus decay pockets

Summary Incense cedar heartwood infected by the pocket rot fungus Polyporus amarus was subjected to microtensile testing and miscroscopical examination to determine effects of this fungus upon wood substance adjacent to advanced decay pockets. Although springwood of the annual ring nearest the decay pocket in some samples had a slightly lower tensile strength than springwood from the same ring but a distance from the pocket, the difference was not statistically significant. Microscopical examination revealed the presence of small, sparse bore holes and hyphae in approximately the same number inside and outside the advanced decay pockets, and in discolored regions of incipient decay. A few bore holes and hyphae were found in specimens from what was macroscopically considered to be sound wood. Polarized illumination revealed no evidence of diffusion of cellulolytic enzymes from the hyphae in regions other than within advanced decay pockets, but the small numbers of hyphae and bore holes observed in decay pockets indicated that considerable enzyme diffusion might be necessary for decay to procede. The data suggest that possible alteration of physical, mechanical, and chemical properties in wood substance surrounding decay pockets need not be a significant factor for consideration in utilization of pecky incense cedar.

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Zusammenfassung Kernholz von Zeder (Libocedrus decurrens), das von Polyporus amarus befallen worden war, wurde Mikro-Zugfestigkeitsprüfungen und einer mikroskopischen Durchmusterung unterworfen. Es sollten die Auswirkungen dieses Pilzbefalles auf jene Teile der Holzsubstanz geprüft werden, die unmittelbar an die Befallsstellen angrenzen. Das Frühholz eines Jahrringes, das einer Befallsstelle am nächsten lag, zeigte zwar bei einigen Proben eine geringfügig niedrigere Zugfestigkeit als das Frühholz desselben Jahrringes, das aber von der Befallsstelle weiter entfernt lag. Die Unterschiede waren jedoch statistisch nicht signifikant. Die mikroskopische Durchmusterung deckte das Vorhandensein von kleinen, etwas zerstreut liegenden Bohrlöchern und Hyphen auf, in etwa gleichgroßer Anzahl innerhalb und außerhalb der Stellen fortgeschrittenen Befalls und in den verfärbten Bereichen des beginnenden Befalls. Einige wenige Bohrlöcher und Hyphen wurden ferner in Proben festgetsellt, die bei makroskopischer Betrachtung gesund erschienen. Im polarisierten Licht ließ sich keine Diffusion von aus Hyphen stammenden celluloitischen Enzymen außerhalb der Befallsbereiche beobachten. Die wenigen Hyphen und Bohrlöcher, die in den Befallsstellen beobachtet werden konnten, gaben aber einen Hinweis darauf, daß bei der Ausbreitung eine beträchtliche Enzymdiffusion stattfinden muß. Die ermittelten Werte weisen darauf hin, daß die möglicherweise eintretende Änderung der physikalischen, mechanischen und chemischen Eigenschaften des Holzes in unmittelbarer Umgebung der Befallsstellen als wichtige Faktoren bei der Verarbeitung dieses Holzes beachtet werden müssen.

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Presented at the 1968 Forest Products Research Society Annual Meeting.     

Broken eggs as a cause of infertility of coho salmon gametes

Egg content originating from ruptured ova progressively reduced the success of fertilization in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) eggs. The salmon egg differs in ionic composition from the ovarian fluid in exhibiting higher K⁺ and Mg²⁺ and lower Na⁺ concentrations. Normal ovarian fluid induced spermatozoan motility whereas ovarian fluid contaminated with egg content progressively lost the ability to induce motility. Loss of motility was related to decreasing $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ ratios in the ovarian fluid, indicating that reduced fertility may be caused by inactivation of sperm cells in the insemination medium. Removal of contaminated ovarian fluid by rinsing ova in isotonic media induced spermatozoan motility and restored fertility completely. The use of an isotonic NaHCO₃ solution for rinsing of ova is suggested as a routine procedure for artificial insemination in salmonids where the presence of broken eggs is suspected.