Metabolic differentiation of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei into procyclic forms in hemin-depleted medium and in the presence of respiratory inhibitors

Bloodforms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei (STIB 247) differentiated in vitro into procyclic forms as described in the accompanying paper (Markos et al. 1989). The importance of the respiratory chain for the process was tested by the inhibition of its development (omission of hemin from the medium) or function (respiratory inhibitors). In the absence of hemin, all enzyme markers of the procyclic state, except for hemoproteins, developed to 50-70 per cent of control values. The presence of hemin is therefore not essential for the onset of differentiation, although the process cannot be completed under hemin limitation. Addition of 1 mumole.dm-3 KCN, 10 mumole.dm-3 antimycin A, or 100 mumole.dm-3 salicyl hydroxamate (SHAM) did not block the differentiation, although it proceeded at a slower rate. The development of the inner mitochondrial membrane markers--succinate: cytochrome c reductase, and NADH: cytochrome c reductase--was strongly inhibited by KCN or antimycin. None of these inhibitors had a significant effect on the activity of procyclic state marker--glycosomal malate dehydrogenase.     

Metabolic aspects of the toxicology of diazinon. I. Hepatic metabolism in the sheep,cow, pig,guinea-pig,rat, turkey,chicken and duck

The phosphorothionate insecticide diazinon was incubated with liver microsomes from the sheep, cow, pig, guinea-pig, rat, turkey, chicken and duck. Metabolism by liver slices of most of these species was also examined. Hydroxydiazinon, isohydroxydiazinon, dehydrodiazinon, their oxons and diazoxon were identified and determined quantitatively or semi-quantitatively. An eighth metabolite was tentatively identified as the 6-aldehyde analogue of diazinon. Yields and rates of production of these metabolites varied greatly between species. Production of oxons was not generally correlated with susceptibility to diazinon poisoning, although it was lowest in the least susceptible animal, the sheep. The degradation of oxons by liver slices was too slow to explain the low toxicity of diazinon to the mammals. The relative importance of hepatic and extrahepatic metabolism in determining toxicity to vertebrates is discussed.     

Metabolic Diversity of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola, Causal Agent of Cowpea Bacterial Blight and Pustule

Fifty-five strains of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola, isolated from blight and pustule symptoms of cowpea leaves, originating from 11 countries, were characterized for their carbon-source metabolization pattern using the Biolog GN microplate system. Great variation was found between strains according to origin. Dextrin, glycogen and succinamic acid were not used by strains from Benin, Uganda or Thailand, but by all the other strains (excluding two strains from Mozambique), whereas N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and malonic acid were used by the strains from Benin, Uganda and Thailand, but generally not by the other strains. The strains from Benin, Uganda and Thailand, as well as strains from Venezuela, Brazil and Mozambique, clustered separately from the others in multivariate analysis. Nineteen substrates were used by all the strains, 47 not by any strain and 29 only by some strains. No considerable differences were found between strains isolated from blight symptoms and from pustules. Virulence of strains was not related to the metabolic pattern. The Biolog database was not representative of the diversity of X. axonopodis pv. vignicola, since all strains were identified as Xanthomonas campestris, although belonging to eight pathovars, while only eight of nine strains from Benin and both strains from Thailand were identified as X. campestris pv. vignicola. The Biolog system appeared to be useful for characterizing the diversity of X. axonopodis pv. vignicola strains. A set of representative strains based on metabolic and molecular diversity, virulence and geographic origin is suggested for screening for resistant cowpea cultivars.     

Effect of sulfite-hydrosulfite and nitrite on thiol redox state, oxidative stress and sclerotial differentiation of filamentous phytopathogenic fungi

This study shows that Na₂S₂O₄, Na₂SO₃ and NaNO₂ decreased differentiation of filamentous phytopathogenic fungi representing the four main types of sclerotia at maximum growth non-inhibiting concentrations, and also increased and decreased the oxidized and the reduced components of their thiol redox state, respectively. Na₂S₂O₄, Na₂SO₃ and NaNO₂ also severely inhibited fungal growth at certain concentrations. These effects concurred by the increase of the high oxidative stress indicator lipid peroxidation and could be attributed to the oxidative cytotoxicity of sulfites and nitrite. The cytotoxic mechanism of the latter may be related to the acidic pH. Sulfites and nitrite can be used as potent fungicides against sclerotiogenic phytopathogenic fungi by acting as growth inhibiting cytotoxic oxidants and by sustaining fungi in their undifferentiated hyphal stage, in which they are more vulnerable to degradation by soil microorganisms.     

A synoptic key for differentiation of Monilinia fructicola, M. fructigena and M. laxa, based on examination of cultural characters

A synoptic key for the identification of three morphologically similar species of Monilinia principally affecting stone and pome fruit is described. Seven morphological characters were assessed after 10 days incubation under well-defined cultural conditions. No one character was found to separate the species. However, the synoptic key resulted in the correct identification of all isolates tested when compared with a molecular method.     

Effect of insect growth regulators on growth and differentiation of the tobacco caterpillarSpodoptera litura FB. (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Topical application of insect growth regulators to freshly moulted sixth-instar larvae ofSpodoptera litura prevented their differentiation into pupae and resulted in the formation of a larval-pupal mosaic and of supernumerary larvae. The degree of the juvenilizing effect was dose-dependent; the doses above 20 μg produced the greatest effect, with 13.3 — 23.3% short-term mortality of treated caterpillars.     

Effect of MCPA and MCPB on 32P accumulation and its incorporation into ATP in Vicia faba L.

Treatment of excised bean root tissue with MCPA and MCPB resulted in a reduced uptake and incorporation of ³²P into ATP accompanied by enhanced or reduced respiration. In all cases MCPB was found to be more toxic than MCPA. These results are explained on the basis that ATP is the energy source for phosphate uptake and that a reduction in ATP synthesis with MCPA and MCPB results in lowered phosphate uptake.     

黄瓜枯萎病菌拮抗菌的筛选、鉴定和防效测定

为获得对黄瓜枯萎病菌Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum(FOC)具有拮抗作用的生防菌株,采用稀释涂布平板和平板生长对峙法从健康黄瓜根际土壤中分离、筛选对FOC具有强拮抗能力的拮抗细菌,并从形态学观察、生理生化特性、全细胞脂肪酸分析及16S rRNA和gyr B基因序列相似性对拮抗能力最强的菌株进行鉴定,同时测定拮抗菌无菌过滤发酵液对FOC菌丝生长、孢子萌发的抑制作用,并评价其发酵液对盆栽和大田黄瓜枯萎病的防治效果。研究结果显示,从健康黄瓜根际土壤中分离获得23株对FOC具有拮抗作用的细菌,其中菌株FJ17-4对FOC抑菌作用最强,鉴定为贝莱斯芽胞杆菌Bacillus velezensis。FJ17-4抑制FOC引起菌丝畸形、扭曲、膨胀、皱缩、缠绕等异常现象。10%无菌过滤液对FOC菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制率分别为70.96%和85.40%。50倍发酵液、菌体悬浮液和无菌过滤液盆栽防治效果分别为70.20%、58.87%和47.80%,大田防治效果分别为69.53%、58.46%和36.12%。综上,FJ17-4能有效抑制FOC,对黄瓜枯萎病具有显...     

Effect of atrazine on growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis by Aspergillus spp.

The effects of atrazine were studied on growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis by four isolates of Aspergillus in vitro. There was little effect of atrazine on Aspergillus spp. at concentrations up to 20 μg ml^?1 but at 40 μg ml^?1 or above, growth, production of aflatoxin, and fatty acid and sterol biosynthesis were remarkably reduced. Palmitic, stearic and linoleic acid synthesis were inhibited in three of the isolates tested at 60 μg ml^?1. At 100 μg ml^?1, except ergosterol, the cholesterol and 5, 7-ergostadienol synthesis was totally inhibited in all isolates. Effet de l'atrazine sur la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols par Aspergillus spp. Chez quatre isolats d'Aspergillus, les effets de l'atrazine sur la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols ont étéétudiés in vitro. Jusqu'à des concentrations de 20 μg ml^?1, l'atrazine n'a eu que peu d'effets, mais à 40 μg ml^?1 et au-dessus, la croissance, la production d'aflatoxine, et la biosynthèse d'acides gras et de stérols ont été nettement réduites. Les synthèses d'acides palmitique, stéarique et linoléique ont été inhibées chez trois des isolats, à 60 μg ml^?1. A 100 μg ml^?1, mis à part l'ergostérol, les synthèses de cholestérol et de 5, 7-ergostanediol ont été totalement inhibées chez tous les isolats. Die Wirkung von Atrazin aufdas Wachslum, die Bildung von Aflatoxin und die Fettsäuren- und Sterol-Biosynthese von Aspergillus spp. Bei vier Isolaten von Aspergillus wurde in vitro die Wirkung auf das Wachstum sowie auf die Bildung von Aflatoxin, Fettsäuren und Sterolen untersucht. Bei Atrazin-Konzentrationen bis zu 20 μg ml^?1 war keine Wirkung zu beobachten, aber ab 40 μg ml^?1 wurden das Wachstum und die Bildung von Aflatoxin, Fettsäuren und Sterolen deutlich herabgesetzt. Bei 60 μg ml^?1 war bei drei Isolaten die Bildung von Palmitin-, Stearin- und Linolensäure gehemmt. Bei 100 μg ml^?1 war bei alien Isolaten die Bildung von Cholesterol und 5, 7-Ergostadienol, aber nicht Ergosterol, unterbunden.     

Effect of wetting duration,and of other environmental factors,on the development ofStemphylium botryosum f. sp.lycopersici in tomatoes

In experiments on artificial inoculation of tomato leaves byStemphylium botryosum f. sp.lycopersici, infection was found to be relatively insensitive to temperature between 15° and the 25°C optimum. Wetting duration had a greater effect on infection than either temperature or spore load, and also influenced the extent of the effect of the two latter factors. The optimum temperature for leaf colonization was found to be 25°C; it was more sharply defined under constant temperature than when alternating with a night temperature of 10°C. At 39°C, colonization was inhibited only by exposure longer than 12 h. The results are used to explain the seasonal pattern of the blight in Israel.     

Cuticular uptake of xenobiotics into living plants. Part 2: influence of the xenobiotic dose on the uptake of bentazone, epoxiconazole and pyraclostrobin, applied in the presence of various surfactants, into Chenopodium album, Sinapis alba and Triticum aestivum leaves

This study has determined the uptake of three pesticides, applied as commercial or model formulations in the presence of a wide range of surfactants, into the leaves of three plant species (bentazone into Chenopodium album L. and Sinapis alba L., epoxiconazole and pyraclostrobin into Triticum aestivum L.). The results have confirmed previous findings that the initial dose (nmol mm(-2)) of xenobiotic applied to plant foliage is a strong, positive determinant of uptake. This held true for all the pesticide formulations studied, although surfactant concentration was found to have an effect. The lower surfactant concentrations studied showed an inferior relationship between the amount of xenobiotic applied and uptake. High molecular mass surfactants also produced much lower uptake than expected from the dose uptake equations in specific situations.     

Effect of Sowing Date, Host Cultivar, and Race of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris on Development of Fusarium Wilt of Chickpea

ABSTRACT Microplots experiments were carried out at Córdoba, southern Spain, from 1986 to 1989 to determine the effects of sowing date in the management of Fusarium wilt of chickpea as influenced by virulence of the pathogen race and by cultivar susceptibility. A total of 108 epidemics of the disease were described, analyzed, and compared to assess the degree of disease control. The epidemics were characterized by five curve elements: final disease intensity index (DII), standardized area under DII progress curve, time to epidemic onset, time to inflection point (t(ip)), and the DII value at t(ip), the last two parameters being estimates from the Richards function adjusted by nonlinear regression analysis. The structure of Fusarium wilt epidemics was examined by conducting multivariate principal components and cluster analyses. From these analyses, three factors accounting for 98 to 99% of the total variance characterized the DII progress curves and provided plausible epidemiological interpretations. The first factor included the t(ip) and the time to disease onset and can be interpreted as a positional factor over time. This factor accounted for the largest proportion of the total variance and may, therefore, be considered as the main factor for analysis of Fusarium wilt epidemics. The second factor concerns the standardized area under DII progress curves and the final DII of the epidemics. The third factor identified the uniqueness of the estimated value for the point of inflection of the DII progress curve over time. Our results indicate that for each year of experiment epidemic development was related mainly to the date of sowing. Thus, for chickpea crops in southern Spain, advancing the sowing date from early spring to early winter can slow down the development of Fusarium wilt epidemics, delay the epidemic onset, and minimize the final amount of disease. However, the net effect of this disease management practice may also be influenced, though to a lesser extent, by the susceptibility of the chickpea cultivar and the virulence and inoculum density of the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race.     

Residues of methoxychlor and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in water, sand, and selected fauna following injections of methoxychlor black fly larvicide into the Saskatchewan River, 1972.

In May 1972, 0.309 ppm methoxychlor black fly larvicide was applied in a single test on the North Saskatchewan River. Eight to nine days later residues of 0.05-0.10 ppm methoxychlor occurred in sand 21-22 km downstream from the point of injection. Methoxychlor was not detected in water, insect larvae, shellfish, or muscle tissues of three fish species on the same sampling date. Perhaps because of relatively high oil content in goldeye fish, methoxychlor residues in muscle tissues were 1.0-1.5 ppm in 8 percent of those sampled, 0.21-0.99 in 21 percent, and 0.02-0.20 in 37 percent. In 34 percent of the goldeye fish no residues were detected. Goldeye and other fish collected before or 17 weeks after this injection did not contain detectable levels of methoxychlor. River water in two samples of the injected slug of water collected 6.5 km downstream from the point of injection contained 0.14 and 0.16 ppm methoxychlor. The suspended solids filtered from these sample contained 40 and 47 percent of this methoxychlor (437 and 892 ppm, respectively). Thus methoxychlor may act selectively against filter-feeding species, especially black fly larvae.     

Effect of canopy cover,seeding depth,and soil moisture on emergence of Centaurea maculosa and C. diffusa*

The effects of canopy cover, seeding depth, and soil moisture on emergence of Centaurea maculosa Lam. and C. diffusa Lam. were studied. Canopy cover had no effect on ermergence rate (seedlings/day/100 seeds) of either species. Seeds of both species emerged faster when placed on the soil surface. Emergence rate decreased as seeding depth increased. Both species required more than 55% initial soil moisture to initiate emergence, with 65–70% being optimum. Percentage emergence followed exactly the same trend as emergence rate. C. maculosa had better emergence characteristics over a wider range of conditions than C. diffusa, possibly being some of the reasons for the former having a wider geographical distribution in the United States and Canada.     

Studies into the differential activity of the hydroxybenzonitrile herbicides: I. Photosynthetic inhibition,symptom development,and ultrastructural changes in two constrasting species

Symptom development in Matricaria inodora and Viola arvensis is compared following field rate application of ioxynil and bromoxynil salts. M. inodora is moderately susceptible to ioxynil-Na and susceptible to bromoxynil-K, whereas V. arvensis is moderately resistant to ioxynil-Na and resistant to bromoxynil-K. Levels of protein, amino acid, and reducing sugars reflected the susceptibility of M. inodora and the transient growth cessation of V. arvensis after hydroxybenzonitrile treatment. Rapid development of chlorotic and necrotic symptoms in M. inodora corresponded with complete inhibition of CO₂ fixation within 4 days of treatment. Chloroplasts were swollen, and, after 7 days, ioxynil-Na induced ultrastructural changes typical of photooxidative processes including thylakoid swelling and vesicle formation in the chloroplast. Bromoxynil-K treated mesophyll cells exhibited general cellular disruption including chloroplast swelling and plasmalemma and tonoplast rupture. In contrast, CO₂ fixation remained at 35% of control levels in bromoxynil-K-treated V. arvensis. Chloroplast grana contained twice the number of thylakoids of untreated chloroplasts and there was a small reduction in the chlorophyll a:b ratio of treated foliage. Ioxynil-Na induced a similar response with additional chloroplast swelling reflecting the greater inhibition of CO₂ fixation by this herbicide.     

Studies into the differential activity of the hydroxybenzonitrile herbicides: II. Uptake,movement and metabolism in two contrasting species

Uptake, movement, and metabolism of unformulated ioxynil and bromoxynil salts were investigated in Matricaria inodora and Viola arvensis. The morphology of these two species did not give rise to different spray retention and contact angles. After 7 days, uptake of [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na reached 8.26% of applied ¹⁴C activity in M. inodora and 16.77% of that in V. arvensis compared with 1.54 and 3.83%, respectively, for [¹⁴C]bromoxynil-K. Over 98% of the ¹⁴C activity detected in the plant after 7 days remained in the treated leaves of V. arvensis following [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na treatment. However, 8.7% of the ¹⁴C activity detected in [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na-treated M. inodora was recovered from the apex and developing leaves reflecting a greater translocation. [¹⁴C]Bromoxynil-K was more mobile in both species and after 7 days 87.5 and 91.39% were detected in the treated leaves of M. inodora and V. arvensis, respectively. In both species the majority of translocated ¹⁴C activity was recovered from the apex and developing leaves. Up to 20% of the applied [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na and [¹⁴C]bromoxynil-K was not detected within the treated plant. Extraction of treated plants revealed no detectable metabolic breakdown of ioxynil-Na to halogenated derivatives in either species. However, metabolic breakdown of bromoxynil-K was apparent in V. arvensis. No significant root exudation was detected when [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na and [¹⁴C]bromoxynil-K were applied to hydroponically grown S. media and V. arvensis. Losses of ¹⁴C activity were due to herbicide volatility or degradation to volatile products on the leaf surface.     

Pseudomonas for biological control of dutch elm disease. I. Labeling,detection and identification of pseudomonas isolates injected into elms; comparison of various methods

To understand the mechanisms involved in biological control of Dutch elm disease byPseudomonas, data were needed on the distribution of the introduced bacteria within elm and on the development of the bacterial population over a period of time.As traditional biochemical identification techniques are not suitable for distinguishment between individualPseudomonas isolates, three alternative approaches were compared.

Effect of Irrigation Water Contaminated with Uranium Mill Tailings on Sudan Grass,Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense,and Fourwing Saltbush,Atriplex canescens

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to estimate the effects of irrigation water quality on chemical uptake and productivity of Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense) and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). Water and soil were obtained from an inactive U ore processing site near Tuba City, Arizona. Two observation wells provided the irrigation water. One was located upgradient from the contaminated site, and was located in the center of the plume downgradient from the area contaminated by the milling operations. A 50/50 mix of the two well waters was used as a third treatment. Concentrations of Se and U in aboveground tissues of saltbush were significantly (< 0.05) elevated when irrigated with the undiluted contaminated water, but not to unacceptable levels. In the case of Sudan grass, Mo, Se, U, NO3 -N, and S were significantly (< 0.05) elevated in the contaminated water treatment, and all except NO3 -N were elevated with the diluted contaminated water, but again within acceptable limits. Saltbush productivity was not significantly (< 0.05) affected by the three irrigation treatments. Sudan grass aboveground biomass results suggest that the undiluted contaminated plume water could be used for effective crop production, although productivity was significantly better with the nutrient-amended baseline water and the diluted contaminated water. Root biomass was significantly greater in the baseline water irrigation.