Einfluss verschiedener Unterlagen auf vegetative und generative Parameter bei der Apfelsorte ‘Topaz’ unter biologischen Anbaubedingungen in Ostösterreich

In autumn 2008, in the research orchard of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, the apple cultivar ‘Topaz’ was planted on the rootstocks M9 (clone T337) with and without ‘Rubinola’ as interstem, M26, M7 grafted at 25?cm and at 55?cm respectively, M111 and ‘Bittenfelder seedling’, trained as spindles and tested for eight years according to organic production rules. The trees on seeding grew very vigorously, followed by MM111 and M7 normally grafted; the M7 highly grafted trees showed less vigor, comparable with M26, while the trees on M9 with and without interstem grew very weakly. Tree losses were only observed on M9 without interstem. The highest yields per hectare were found on M7 normally grafted, followed by M26, M7 highly grafted and M9 without interstem. M7 highly grafted showed the highest single fruit weights, followed by MM111, at the other end were M9 with and without interstem, and M26. The rootstock M7 grafted at 55?cm combines a medium growth with high yield and good fruit quality and therefore can be recommended for dry areas like our site. M9 without interstem showed a higher specific yield and fruit firmness after storage compared to the variant with interstem. Whether these advantages for ‘Topaz’ on M9 can be combined with a higher grafting height as effective preventive method to control Phytophthora cactorum, has to be examined in further research.     

Typhlitis and abdominal cystic lymphangiomatosis in a Mt. Carmel blind mole rat (Nannospalax (ehrenbergi) carmeli)

An abdominal cystic lymphangiomatosis in a Mt. Carmel blind mole rat (Nannospalax (ehrenbergi) carmeli) is described. This case was most likely due to a congenital abnormality with long-term compensation by the animal. The case describes the clinical course and subsequent postmortem examination. The death in the animal was caused by an abscess in the peritoneal wall and subsequent peritonitis.     

Non-destructive Method of Frog (Rana esculenta L.) Skeleton Elemental Analysis Used During Environmental Assessment

Amphibians, particularly frogs, are increasingly used as bioindicators of contaminant accumulation in pollution studies. Their use for field scientific purposes is limited because most frog species are endangered and protected in most countries; killing of specimens are not allowed. The aim of our study was to work out and assess a method by which the elemental contents of frog bones could be estimated effectively based on the toe bones. For this purpose, Rana esculenta L. individuals were collected from an urban pond in Debrecen city (Hungary). The following large bones were also analysed: skull, spinal, femur, tibia–fibula, tarsal bones, metatarsus, humerus and digits from front and hind limbs. In the bones, P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na, S and Zn elements were measured. The elemental contents of large bones were significantly correlated with bones weight in the case of each element. The elemental contents of phalanges were also estimated based on the large bones. The measured and the estimated elemental contents of phalanges were not different significantly based on the tibia–fibula, metatarsalis bones, front and hind limb digits. Elemental analysis based on phalanges adds a further way of use of phalanges. Frogs using their phalanges could be useful indicators in the assessment of environmental contamination.     

Molecular cytogenetics and flow cytometry reveal conserved genome organization in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus mugo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. uncinata</Emphasis>

• Introduction   

The most common representatives of the European mountain pine complex (Pinus mugo s.l.) are P. mugo s.s. and Pinus uncinata.     

The effects of land‐use change on plant–soil–erosion relations,Nyereg Hill,Hungary

Vegetation of the Tihany Peninsula in Hungary has undergone serious changes caused by heavy trampling and overgrazing during the last century. In Tihany, the vegetation started to change towards anthropogenic associations. After grazing ceased, vegetation started to rearrange. There were no significant changes in species composition on trampled areas (on the ridge of the hill) between the examinations in 1994 and 2002. As a result of ceased grazing, the proportion of natural species was high in the grasslands of the S Nyereg Hill in 1994, while during the 2002 investigations, forest and scrub expanded at a rate that did not leave space for grassland on shallow soils and slope steppe (closing dry grasslands on hilly areas). The coverage of Elymus repens decreased, while Festuca species increased. The possible effects of plant‐cover change on soil loss were examined with the USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) model on the sloping areas. Eliminating harmful effects can decrease soil degradation, but the original state of soils can be restored only after a long period (hundreds of years). Further degradation of soils assists the expansion of drought‐resistant species and weeds in the associations. In 2007, soil‐thickness measurements and on‐site examinations were carried out to check the results of the former surveys and modeling.     

Seaweed Protein Hydrolysates and Bioactive Peptides: Extraction,Purification, and Applications

Seaweeds are industrially exploited for obtaining pigments, polysaccharides, or phenolic compounds with application in diverse fields. Nevertheless, their rich composition in fiber, minerals, and proteins, has pointed them as a useful source of these components. Seaweed proteins are nutritionally valuable and include several specific enzymes, glycoproteins, cell wall-attached proteins, phycobiliproteins, lectins, or peptides. Extraction of seaweed proteins requires the application of disruptive methods due to the heterogeneous cell wall composition of each macroalgae group. Hence, non-protein molecules like phenolics or polysaccharides may also be co-extracted, affecting the extraction yield. Therefore, depending on the macroalgae and target protein characteristics, the sample pretreatment, extraction and purification techniques must be carefully chosen. Traditional methods like solid–liquid or enzyme-assisted extraction (SLE or EAE) have proven successful. However, alternative techniques as ultrasound- or microwave-assisted extraction (UAE or MAE) can be more efficient. To obtain protein hydrolysates, these proteins are subjected to hydrolyzation reactions, whether with proteases or physical or chemical treatments that disrupt the proteins native folding. These hydrolysates and derived peptides are accounted for bioactive properties, like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or antihypertensive activities, which can be applied to different sectors. In this work, current methods and challenges for protein extraction and purification from seaweeds are addressed, focusing on their potential industrial applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.     

Osteoblastic osteosarcoma in a Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) - short communication

The Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus) is a nocturnal lemur species that lives only in Madagascar. It is one of the most abundant lemur species and its native populations are not endangered, but animals belonging to this species are rarely exhibited in zoos. While tumours are quite frequently described in other primates, there are very few publications about neoplasia in lemurs. In this case report we describe a mandibular osteoblastic osteosarcoma in a Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus). To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first scientific article describing osteosarcoma in a prosimian and also reporting a tumour in the mandible in this taxon.     

Toxoplasmosis in Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) in the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden (2006-2010)

Smaller macropodid species (commonly referred to as wallabies) are extremely susceptible to toxoplasmosis: in most cases, infection with Toxoplasma gondii leads to death within a short time. Between June 2006 and July 2010, T. gondii was detected by immunohistochemical examination in six Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) that died in the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden; in another four specimens histopathology revealed T. gondii-like organisms (which could not be differentiated from Neospora caninum solely by morphology), and in another 11 animals toxoplasmosis as the possible cause of death could not be excluded. The current zoo population of 12 Tammar wallabies was tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies by the modified agglutination test (MAT), with negative results. We suppose that most of the deaths were due to acute toxoplasmosis resulting from a recent infection.     

Morphological and histological characterization of an ectopically mineralized structure in a gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata with opercular deformation

In this study, we describe an abnormal ectopically mineralized structure (EMS) that was found inside the skull of a juvenile Sparus aurata that also showed a bilateral opercular deformation. The overall phenotype and tissue composition were studied using micro‐CT scanning and histological analyses. The ectopic structure occupies a large volume of the brain cavity, partially extruding into the gill cavity. It shows a dense mineralization and an extracellular matrix‐rich phenotype, with variation in both the morphology and size of the cell lacunae, combined with an irregular fibre organization inside the matrix. This study is the first to report such an EMS in a juvenile teleost fish, where the tissue does not resemble any other connective tissue type described in bony fish so far. The tissue phenotype seems to rule out that the EMS corresponds to a tumorous cartilage. Yet, it is rather reminiscent of a highly mineralized structure found in cartilaginous fish, where it is suggested to be associated with damage repair.