The ecosystem services concept: a new Esperanto to facilitate participatory planning processes?

Landscape Ecology - Several case studies investigated the role of ecosystem services in participatory planning processes. However, no systematic study exists that cuts across a large number of...     

Detection of the Defoliating Pathotype of Verticillium dahliae in Infected Olive Plants by Nested PCR

Spread of Verticillium wilt into newly established olive orchards in Andalucía, southern Spain, has caused concern in the olive industry in the region. This spread may result from use of Verticillium dahliae-infected planting material, which can extend distribution of the highly virulent, defoliating (D) pathotype of V. dahliae to new areas. In this study, a molecular diagnostic method for the early in planta detection of D V. dahliae was developed, aimed especially at nursery-produced olive plants. For this purpose, new primers for nested PCR were designed by sequencing a 992-bp RAPD marker of the D pathotype. The use of the specific primers and different nested-PCR protocols allowed the detection of V. dahliae pathotype D DNA in infected root and stem tissues of young olive plants. Detection of the pathogen was effective from the very earliest moments following inoculation of olive plants with a V. dahliae pathotype D conidia suspension as well as in inoculated, though symptomless, plants.     

Heritability of the resistance to pepper huasteco yellow vein virus in wild genotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis>

Pepper huasteco yellow vein virus (PHYVV) is the main virus of pepper crop in Mexico. No resistant cultivars are available and resistance breeding is hampered by the lack of knowledge of heritability (h ²) of PHYVV resistance. This is a continuation of previous studies and the objectives were to analyze the h ² and the behavior of the resistant trait to PHYVV. Four resistant assays were done with three resistant wild lines (UAS12, UAS13 and UAS10) of Capsicum annuum in the S4, S5, S6 and S7 generation under greenhouse conditions. Plants from all tests were inoculated with PHYVV through Bemisia tabaci. Line UAS12 was the most resistant showing a significantly proportion of resistant plants, less disease symptoms and longer incubation time, followed by the lines UAS13 and UAS10 in all assays. Distribution of symptoms showed a bimodal tendency in all the trials, suggesting that two groups of genes are involved in this resistance trait. The lines UAS12, UAS13 and UAS10 showed the same pattern of response to selection with an average of h ² of 0.17, 0.06, 0.02 and 0.00 in the S4, S5, S6 and S7, respectively. These results indicate that all lines responded positively to the selection in the S4, S5 and S6, whereas in the S7 there was no response by the possible exhaustion of variation. Line UAS12 is the most promising genotype and the lines UAS13 and UAS10 are genetic resources that can be supplemented to breed the resistance of PHYVV. These results provides basic information for resistance breeding.     

Enzyme activities and diuron persistence in soil amended with vermicompost derived from spent grape marc and treated with urea

Mineral fertilizers, organic amendments, and pesticides are inputs commonly used in conventional farming practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of single or combined applications of spent grape marc-vermicompost, urea, and/or diuron on soil-enzyme activities and the persistence of this herbicide in soils with low organic carbon content. The application of vermicompost enhanced dehydrogenase (DHase) enzyme activity over time but altered soil urease activity to a very limited extent. The reduction in diuron concentrations and the increase in DHase activity indicated that the soil microorganisms were capable of degrading the ureic herbicide. Treatment with vermicompost and diuron had a stimulatory effect on soil microbial activity. On the whole, the application of diuron and urea to the vermicompost-amended soil raised DHase and urease activity to maximum levels (>3 μg INTF g^?1 h^?1 and >47 μg NH₄⁺ g^?1 h^?1, respectively). The application of urea to the unamended and vermicompost-amended soil decreased diuron persistence from 18.8 and 33 d to 12.5 and 15 d, respectively. Our findings show that although vermicompost additions reduce diuron availability, this boosts diuron degradation when combined with urea. These additions, under different soil management conditions, minimize the bioavailability and persistence of diuron and consequently the risk of leaching and seepage into aquifers. Compared with untreated soils, these types of treated soils could also improve agricultural sustainability and the quality of the environment.     

An in vitro study of hematopoietic progenitor cells from peripheral blood of rabbits

The purpose of this study was to isolate and cultivate a subpopulation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from the peripheral blood of rabbits, which are frequently used in veterinary research as an animal model. Pluripotent stem cells, as described in human beings, are fibroblast-like cells that exhibit a CD34 marker, specific from other hematopoietic stem cells. Commonly used human commercial media has been researched for culturing rabbit PSCs. These findings allow us to contemplate the direct application of this simple and standardized methodology in several areas of study, such as of the pharmacological effect of many drugs on hematopoietic cells, veterinary practice, and even the study of new strategies in cellular therapy for some human diseases.     

Oral administration of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enhances the cellular innate immune response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)

The effects of including lyophilised whole yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in the diet on the seabream innate immune response were investigated. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) specimens were fed four different diets for 4 weeks: a commercial diet as control and the same diet supplemented with 1, 5 or 10 g/kg yeast. After 1, 2 and 4 weeks, serum complement titres, as a humoral parameter, and phagocytic, respiratory burst, myeloperoxidase and natural cytotoxic activities of head-kidney leucocytes, as cellular parameters, were evaluated. The results showed that yeast supplements enhanced all the latter responses, but not the humoral response. This enhancement was dose-dependent except for the cytotoxic activity that was only stimulated by the lower dose of yeast assayed. As yeast cell walls are able to enhance the seabream cellular innate immune response, these results support the possible use of whole yeast as natural inmunostimulants in common fish diets.     

Evaluation of a specific immunochemotherapy for the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis

The efficacy of specific immunochemotherapy against Leishmania infantum infection in dog was studied. The effects on transmission of the disease, as well as the cellular and humoral immune response were examined. The treated animals showed a significant reduction in the infection rates that were detected in Phlebotomus perniciosus females fed on the dog. The humoral immune response, assayed with an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), did not show significant variations under the influence of the therapy. The characterisation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using flow cytometry indicated a significant increase in the proportion of T lymphocytes, especially of CD4/TcR(alpha)(beta)(+) and CD4/CD45RA(+) cells, without showing evidence for modifications in the other leukocyte subsets. Cellular lymphoproliferation studies indicated a lack of a specific response to soluble leishmanial antigen (SLA), but the non-specific lymphoproliferative capacity assayed with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was maintained.     

Isolation and characterization of immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell lines

Primary porcine endothelial cells have a limited life span in culture. After four to five passages, they tend to de-differentiate and eventually reach senescence. The aim of this work was to establish immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell lines (AOCs) to facilitate in vitro studies of different pathological process involving the endothelium. Primary porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) were transfected with a plasmid containing the SV40 genome and selected on the basis of morphological and phenotypical features. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated uptake of acetylated low density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL) and constitutive expression of SLA class I, CD29, CD31, CD41/61, CD80/86, CD46, SWC3, and LAMP-1 antigens by all analyzed lines and showed little differences to primary cells. The functional similarity between primary and immortalized endothelial cells was demonstrated in a cytotoxicity assay using a human natural killer cell line (NKL) as effector. The AOCs cell lines should be valuable tools for in vitro study of the human immune response against pig endothelial cells. In addition, they would be very useful to gain insight in the pathogenesis of some viral haemorrhagic diseases of pig such as African swine fever (ASF) or classical swine fever (CSF).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Physalis ixocarpa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. peruviana</Emphasis>, new natural hosts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato chlorosis virus</Emphasis>

Tomato chlorosis virus causes yellow leaf disorder epidemics in many countries worldwide. Plants of Physalis ixocarpa showing abnormal interveinal yellowing and plants of Physalis peruviana showing mild yellowing collected in the vicinity of tomato crops in Portugal were found naturally infected with ToCV. Physalis ixocarpa and P. peruviana were tested for susceptibility to ToCV by inoculation with Bemisia tabaci, Q biotype. Results confirmed that ToCV is readily transmissible to both species. The infection was expressed in P. ixocarpa by conspicuous interveinal yellow areas on leaves that developed into red or brown necrotic flecks, while P. peruviana test plants remained asymptomatic. Infected plants of both P. ixocarpa and P. peruviana served as ToCV sources for tomato infection via B. tabaci transmission. This is the first report of P. ixocarpa and P. peruviana as natural hosts of ToCV.     

Structure of genetic variation in vegetative phenology of Cedrela odorata L.: implications for tree breeding

New Forests - The study of vegetative phenology is important to understand adaptation to different environments and potential trade-offs with growth traits. Crown leaf-out and leaf-fall phenology...