基于qPCR和LAMP技术的马铃薯晚疫病菌快速检测方法

马铃薯晚疫病菌（Phytophthora infestans）能侵染多种茄科植物,它引起的马铃薯晚疫病,是马铃薯生产中的第一大病害。为了开发能在田间快速检测马铃薯晚疫病病原的方法,利用P. infestans T30-4基因组测序数据的contig 1.18131,设计qPCR和LAMP引物,优化扩增条件后得到引物的特异性和灵敏度,最后通过检测田间收获薯块,比较形态学传统方法、qPCR及LAMP的差异。特异性检测结果发现,qPCR和LAMP仅在含有P. infestans DNA模板的体系有阳性扩增,在寄主和其他微生物DNA中均无扩增;在优化的条件下,qPCR和LAMP的检测下限可达1×10 ^-6ng/μL,在有寄主和其他微生物DNA存在的条件下,引物的灵敏度没有显著差异。利用两种快速方法对在大理、丽江及昆明3个地区田间收获薯块上检测发现,qPCR和LAMP方法得到的检出率差异极为不显著（P=0.420）,两种快速检测方法和形态学鉴定方法检出率差异极显著（P=0.009）。在大理、丽江及昆明3个地区的薯块中,两种分子检测方法检出率均比形态学方法高。其中,qPCR检测方法比形态学方法分别提高了12.00%、2.00%、8.70%;LAMP检测方法比形态学方法分别提高了11.30%、2.00%、8.70%。     

Procyanidin fractions from pine (Pinus pinaster) bark: radical scavenging power in solution, antioxidant activity in emulsion, and antiproliferative effect in melanoma cells

Pine (Pinus pinaster) bark is a rich source of procyanidin oligomers. From a total polyphenolic extract, we have generated fractions of different procyanidin composition. The mixtures, devoid of gallate esters, were active as free radical scavengers against ABTS(*+), DPPH, and HNTTM. Pine bark fractions were tested for antioxidant activity in solution (hydrogen donation and electron transfer) and emulsion (inhibition of lipid peroxidation) and compared with their galloylated counterparts from grape origin. While galloylation clearly influenced the free radical scavenging efficiency in solution, it did not seem to play a determinant role in protection against lipid peroxidation in emulsion. The fractions were very mild inhibitors of cell proliferation. Because gallate esters appear to interfere with crucial cell functions, gallate free pine procyanidins may be the innocuous chemopreventative agents of choice for many applications in food and skin protection.     

Monitoring of eucalyptus sprouts control using digital images obtained by unmanned aerial vehicle

This study evaluated the effectiveness of chemical control for eradicating eucalyptus sprouts using images obtained with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The study was carried out in eucalyptus plantations in Itabela, BA, in replanting areas during pre-planting application of herbicide. Aerial images obtained by a UAV were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicide application for sprouts control. After the images were acquired, they were processed to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and submitted to a supervised classification to quantify the percentage reduction of sprout green matter. The percentage data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5%. The differences, both visual and average percentages were observed only during the evaluation period with no evident effect of the treatments on sprout control. The images provided by the UAV allowed to monitor and identify visually the plots where biomass reduced or increased and to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical control of eucalyptus sprouts, indicating areas where it was nonexistent, partial or total.     

Implementation of a low-cost crop detection prototype for selective spraying in greenhouses

During phytosanitary treatments aimed at minimizing product losses, selective spraying systems can be employed. These systems consist of a group of detection–action devices which manage the spraying. In this work, the technical feasibility of a low-cost ultrasound detection system prototype has been assessed for pesticide spray application on greenhouse crops. The prototype is based on a commercially-available car parking assistance system, which has been modified to amplify the signal and activate an electro-valve for spray control. This system was fitted into a self-propelled machine with two vertical spray booms. A laboratory test was carried out to evaluate the system limitations (detection range, response time, optimal sensor location); and once the feasibility of the system was known, a field test was conducted. Inside the greenhouse, the same parameters were determined for canopy presence. The system’s capacity to start and stop spraying at the beginnings and ends of the crop lines was also analysed. In addition, the minimum crop line surface with no plant mass that triggers system activation was determined. The results show that the detection range was 0–0.4 m with an average response time of 1.67 s. Based on these parameters, the optimal sensor location was determined for the different forward velocities. In conclusion, the results show that this system is suitable for plant detection at a forward speed of 0.9 m s^?1, allowing growers to stop spraying automatically at the ends of the crop lines and where plant mass absence is greater than 1.0 lineal meter.     

Loquat as a crop model for successful deficit irrigation

During three consecutive seasons, two different deficit irrigation strategies were compared with control fully irrigated trees regarding their capacity to induce early bloom and harvest in “Algerie” loquat. The first strategy, a continuous deficit irrigation strategy, consisted in a uniform reduction of 20% water needs through the entire season; the second strategy, a regulated deficit irrigation approach, while accounting for the same global reduction of 20% loquat water needs, concentrated water shortages after harvest from mid-May through the end of August. Regulated deficit irrigation resulted more successful. Postharvest regulated deficit irrigation advanced full bloom 10–20 days depending on the season. Such enhancement led to more precocious and valuable yield, with an average increase of fruit value of 0.21 € kg⁻¹. The effects of continuous deficit irrigation were less noticeable and average fruit value was increased 0.08 € kg⁻¹. Yield and fruit quality were not affected for the different deficit irrigation strategies. Water savings established around 1450 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Deficit irrigation rose water use efficiency up to more than a 40%.     

鲸类体内持久性有机氯残留研究的进展

文章综述了20世纪70年代以来有关鲸类体内持久性有机氯（persistent organochlorines，POs）的研究进展和概况，包括鲸类体内POs残留水平的分析方法；POs进入鲸体内的方式及消除途径；鲸类体内POs的残留水平；POs对鲸的有害影响；鲸类体内POs污染的毒性评价。通过分析表明，POs对海洋生态系统的影响还将持续很长时间，中国应进一步研究近岸海域哺乳动物POs的长期污染效应，进而更深入地研究其环境行为、归宿和影响效应。     

Weeds,aphids, and specialist parasitoids and predators benefit differently from organic and conventional cropping of winter cereals

The aphid–natural enemy interaction in winter wheat fields constitutes a complex system that has been frequently studied because of its implication for biological control. However, not all of the aphids living in cereal fields are crop pests, as there are also aphids living on weeds that may serve as alternative hosts or prey for aphid parasitoids or predators. In this context, a concomitant survey of the plant and insect communities was conducted to understand how different plant communities affect the abundance and richness of aphids and the interactions with their natural enemies. The plant community was split into functional groups (grasses, legumes and forbs), and the aphid community was divided into feeding groups according to their host preferences (specialists in grasses or forbs). The grass aphids, which dominated the total aphid catches, responded positively to grass cover, which was particularly enhanced in the conventional fields. Conversely, the forb aphids, which mainly conditioned the total species richness of the aphids, were closely correlated with the local abundance of legumes. The system of cereal aphid-parasitoids was enhanced in the conventional fields, where the abundance of grasses was higher, whereas the legumes of the organic fields indirectly played a key role in enhancing the richness of the parasitoids and the abundance of predators. Our findings indicate that a bottom-up effect exists throughout the plant community, aphids, and aphidophagous insects and that plant community characteristics should be considered to better understand cereal aphid control.     

Immediate semi-static loading using compression healing abutments: a stability study in dogs

Loading in implant dentistry to accelerate prosthodontic treatment has been receiving increasing interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an early controlled lateral loading (after 7 days) on the establishment of osseointegration by means of resonance frequency analysis. Two groups of six beagle dogs each were used. Group I had implants without loading. Group II had implants loaded with a new prototype compression abutment that created controlled semi-static loading. Loaded implants showed slightly better stability after 5 weeks of healing, but the difference was not significant. We concluded that controlled loading is beneficial to maintain, and even improve, stability during the early critical healing period.