Performance of peach and plum based rootstocks of different vigour on a late peach cultivar in replant and calcareous conditions

The field performance of fifteen peach and plum based rootstocks of different vigour (Adesoto, Evrica, Garnem, GF 677, HM-2, Krymsk^® 1, PAC 9801-02, PAC 960, PAC 9907-02, PAC 9917-26, PAC-MUT, PADAC 9907-23, ROOTPAC^® 40, ROOTPAC^® 70 and Tetra) grafted with ‘Calrico’ cultivar was compared after 7 years of establishment on an Armillaria infested replant site. ‘Calrico’ is a selected clone of “Calanda” late peach cultivar. Differences in parameters such as tree survival, leaf chlorophyll content, vigour, yield, cumulative yield, yield efficiency and fruit size were analyzed among rootstocks. All PAC 9801-02 and Tetra trees survived and the mortality rate was low in Evrica, PADAC 9907-23 and ROOTPAC^® 40. The rest of genotypes showed higher mortality rates. Leaf chlorophyll concentration was higher when grafted on Adesoto and Evrica and lower when grafted on PAC 9907-02 and PAC 9917-26. Garnem and PADAC 9907-23 were the most vigorous rootstocks. The highest yield efficiency was induced by Krymsk^® 1 and PAC 9801-02 due to their lower vigour. The highest fruit weight was also induced by Krymsk^® 1 but its cumulative yield was low. Other rootstocks that showed high fruit weight and cumulative yields were ROOTPAC^® 70 and Tetra. Overall, Evrica, PAC 9801-02, ROOTPAC^® 40 and Tetra were among the best adapted to soil sickness and calcareous soil showing a good agronomic performance. The first three rootstocks (Evrica, PAC 9801-02, ROOTPAC^® 40) also exhibited a high capacity to control tree vigour associated with high yield efficiency.     

Species-specific interference exerted by the shrub <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cistus clusii</Emphasis> Dunal in a semi-arid Mediterranean gypsum plant community

Background

The gypsovag shrub Cistus clusii is locally dominant in semi-arid gypsum plant communities of North-Eastern Spain. This species commonly grows in species-poor patches even though it has nurse potential, suggesting interference on neighbouring species. Other Cistus species exert a chemically mediated interference on plant communities, suggesting that it might be a common phenomenon in this genus. This study aimed investigating whether C. clusii exerts chemically mediated interference on neighbouring species in gypsum plant communities. We tested in a greenhouse whether aqueous extracts from C. clusii leaves (L), roots (R) and a mixture of both (RL) affected germination, seedling survival, and growth of nine native species of gypsum communities, including C. clusii itself. We further assessed in the field richness and abundance of plants under the canopy of C. clusii compared to Gypsophila struthium (shrub with a similar architecture having a nurse role) and in open patches. Finally, we specifically assessed in the field the influence of C. clusii on the presence of the species tested in the greenhouse experiment.

Results

Aqueous extracts from C. clusii (R and RL) negatively affected either germination or survival in four of nine species. In the field, richness and abundance of plants were lower under the canopy of C. clusii than under G. struthium, but higher than in open patches. Specifically, five of nine species were less frequent than expected under the canopy of C. clusii.

Conclusions

Cistus clusii shows species-specific interference with neighbouring species in the community, which may be at least partially attributable to its phytotoxic activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of species-specific interference by C. clusii.

     

Postharvest treatment of isothiocyanates to control Alternaria rot in netted melon

The fungicidal activity of allyl-isothiocyanate (allyl-ITC), benzyl-isothiocyanate (benzyl-ITC) and a mixture of isothiocyanates (allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, phenyl-isothiocyanate and 2-phenylethyl-isothiocyanate; MCIT), was tested in netted melon infected with Alternaria alternata as, was the effect of these compounds on the postharvest quality. Fruits were inoculated with A. alternata and exposed to allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, or MCIT, at 0.25 and 0.5 mg ml⁻¹ concentrations. A commercial fungicide, Captan (CF), was used as a positive control. The fruit was stored at 20°C and 92% relative humidity for up to 8 days. Allyl-ITC and MCIT at both tested concentrations, significantly reduced Alternaria rot, by 82.73% to 88.67%. None of the ITC treatments had a significant effect on weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity or pH. Fruits treated with 0.5 mg ml⁻¹ of AITC were more firm than others. Treatment with allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, or MCIT appears to be a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides for controlling postharvest diseases in netted melon.     

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) as an indirect assessment of remission status in canine multicentric lymphoma undergoing multi-drug chemotherapy

Vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) is an indirect measure of heart rate variability and may serve as a marker of disease severity. Higher heart rate variability has predicted lower tumour burden and improved survival in humans with various tumour types. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate VVTI as a biomarker of remission status in canine lymphoma. The primary hypothesis was that VVTI would be increased in dogs in remission compared to dogs out of remission. Twenty-seven dogs were prospectively enrolled if they had a diagnosis of intermediate to high-grade lymphoma and underwent multidrug chemotherapy. Serial electrocardiogram data were collected under standard conditions and relationships between VVTI, remission status and other clinical variables were evaluated. VVTI from dogs in remission (partial or complete) did not differ from dogs with fulminant lymphoma (naive or at time of relapse). Dogs in partial remission had higher VVTI than dogs in complete remission (p = 0.021). Higher baseline VVTI was associated with higher subsequent scores (p < 0.001). VVTI also correlated with anxiety level (p = 0.03). Based on this pilot study, VVTI did not hold any obvious promise as a useful clinical biomarker of remission status. Further investigation may better elucidate the clinical and prognostic utility of VVTI in dogs with lymphoma.     

Glycemic Response to Oat Bran Muffins Treated to Vary Molecular Weight of β‐Glucan

Oat bran muffins, containing 4 or 8 g of β‐glucan per two‐muffin serving, were prepared with or without β‐glucanase treatment to produce a range of β‐glucan molecular weights from 130,000 to just over 2 million. Following an overnight fast, the glycemic responses elicited by the untreated and treated muffins was measured in 10 healthy subjects and compared with a control whole wheat muffin. Taken all together, the 4‐g β‐glucan/serving muffins reduced blood glucose peak rise (PBGR) by 15 ± 6% compared with the control. The 8‐g β‐glucan/serving muffins had a significantly greater effect (44 ± 5% reduction compared with the control, P < 0.05). The efficacy of the muffins decreased as the molecular weight was reduced from a 45 ± 6% reduction in PBGR (P < 0.05) for the untreated muffins (averaged of both serving sizes) to 15 ± 6% (P < 0.05) for muffins with the lowest molecular weight. As the molecular weight was reduced from 2,200,000 to 400,000, the solubility of the β‐glucan increased from a mean of 44 to 57%, but as the molecular weight was further decreased to 120,000, solubility fell to 26%. There was a significant correlation (r² = 0.729, P < 0.001) between the peak blood glucose and the product of the extractable β‐glucan content and the molecular weight of the β‐glucan extracted.     

Effect of industrial dehydration on the soluble carbohydrates and dietary fiber fractions in legumes

The effects of soaking, cooking, and industrial dehydration treatments on soluble carbohydrates, including raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), and also on total dietary fiber (TDF), insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), and soluble (SDF) dietary fiber fractions were studied in legumes (lentil and chickpea). Ciceritol and stachyose were the main alpha-galactosides for chickpea and lentil, respectively. The processing involved a drastic reduction of soluble carbohydrates of these legumes, 85% in the case of lentil and 57% in the case of chickpea. The processed legume flours presented low residual levels of alpha-galactosides, which are advisable for people with digestive problems. Processing of legumes involved changes in dietary fiber fractions. A general increase of IDF (27-36%) due to the increase of glucose and Klason lignin was observed. However, a different behavior of SDF was exhibited during thermal dehydration, this fraction increasing in the case of chickpea (32%) and decreasing in the case of lentil (27%). This is probably caused by the different structures and compositions of the cell wall networks of the legumes.     

Removal of Copper and Cadmium Ions from Diluted Aqueous Solutions by Low Cost and Waste Material Adsorbents

The sorption of copper and cadmium ions using activated carbon,kaolin, bentonite, diatomite and waste materials such as compost,cellulose pulp waste and anaerobic sludge as sorbents is reported. Equilibrium isotherms were obtained for the adsorption of these metals in single and binary solutions. Bentonite presented the highest adsorption capacities for both copper and cadmium. A competitive uptake was observed when both metals are present; copper being preferentially adsorbed by all materials with theexception of anaerobic sludge. Equilibrium data were fitted toLangmuir and Freundlich models, with satisfactory results for most of the adsorbent-metal systems studied.Of all the adsorbents studied, bentonite and compost presentedthe highest removal efficiencies, reaching 99% for copper whencadmium is also present, for initial solution concentrations ofup to 100 mg L^-1. Anaerobic sludge has a greater preferencefor cadmium, even in the presence of copper, with removal efficiencies of 98% for similar concentrations to those mentioned above.