Stickstoffernährung und Al-Toxizität bei Buchenjungpflanzen. I: Entwicklung von Buchenjungpflanzen in Abhängigkeit von der Form der Stickstoffernährung und dem Aluminiumgehalt der Nährlösung

Nitrogen nutrition and Al toxicity with young beech plants. I: Development of young beech plants in relation to the source of nitrogen and the Al content of the nutrient solution Young beech plants were grown in aerated nutrient solutions with different Al concentrations over a period of 14 weeks. Nitrogen was supplied in either NO₃- or NH₄-form. pH-changes of the solutions were either corrected to the initial pH of 4 after two days, or not corrected over a period of two weeks. Root growth of the beech seedlings was inhibited by Al. Reduction of root length and dry matter production was more severe if the plants were fed with ammonium nitrogen compared to nitrate nitrogen. Detrimental effect of Al on root growth was also influenced by the pH of the solution. NH₄-N-nutrition led to pH decrease and therefore to increased solubility and toxicity of aluminium. On the contrary, NO₃-N-nutrition weakened Al toxicity because of pH increase at the root surface and in the AFS. This led to an inactivation of Al in the form of insoluble hydroxy aluminium polymers. Compared to NO₃-N-nutrition NH₄-N promoted shoot growth. During 14 weeks no detrimental effect of Al on shoot growth was observed.     

Stickstoffernährung und Al-Toxizität bei Buchenjungpflanzen. II: Mineralstoffgehalte junger Buchen in Abhängigkeit von der Form der Stickstoffernährung und dem Al-Gehalt der Nährlösung

Nitrogen nutrition and Al toxicity with young beech plants. II: Mineral contents of young beech plants in relation to the source of nitrogen and the Al content of the nutrient solution Young beech plants were grown in aerated nutrient solutions with different Al concentrations over a period of 14 weeks. Nitrogen was supplied in either NO₃ or NH₄-form. pH-changes of the solutions were either corrected to the initial pH of 4,0 after two days, or not corrected over a period of two weeks. The cation contents of the roots and shoots were greater if the nitrogen was supplied in NO₃-form. Increasing Al concentrations in the nutrient solutions led to an increase in Al contents and a decrease in Ca- and Mg-contents in roots and shoots.     

Conversion of single-layered Scots pine monocultures into close-to-nature mixed hardwood forests: effects on parasitoid wasps as pest antagonists

In the north Saxon lowlands (near Torgau), effects of conversion of pure pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.) into mixed stands by planting deciduous trees [Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl] were investigated on parasitoid wasps as pest antagonists. The effects of planting deciduous trees in pine stands were investigated using the strategy of space-for-time substitution including advanced plantations of beech and oak of different age classes. Wasps were captured at 4-week intervals by ground photoeclectors (GPE, n=6, 1 m²) and flight-interception traps (FIT, n=8), placed in the tree crown layer during the vegetation period (April–October) of 2000. A total of 32,479 parasitoid wasps belonging to 30 families were caught in the traps. Fifty-nine percent of individuals were representatives of families relevant as antagonists of forest insect pests: Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Eulophidae, Mymaridae, Trichogrammatidae, and Scelionidae. Compared to the pure pine stand, individual numbers of most families of parasitoid wasps were statistically significantly higher in mixed stands with deciduous trees. The clearest promoting effects of deciduous trees on parasitoid wasps were manifested in the oldest age classes of advanced beech and oak plantations. Oak exerted stronger effects than beech. This applied especially to the tree crown layer, the stratum with the highest spatial correlation between important phytophagous pine pests and relevant parasitoids. The increased structural diversity of the stands and the broader spectrum of potential hosts are regarded as key factors for the promoting effects of advanced plantings of deciduous trees in pine stands on the community of parasitoid wasps.     

Teaching small animal reproduction via virtual patients

Virtual patients have become an interesting alternative in medical education. Due to increasing demands regarding theoretical and clinical teaching and to improve an interdisciplinary approach, a new blended learning concept including virtual patients was developed and implemented in the veterinary curriculum of the Freie Universität Berlin. In the presented project, three virtual patients from the field of canine reproduction were developed. They focus on pregnancy diagnosis with suspected luteal insufficiency, pyometra and benign prostatic hyperplasia, respectively. The results of an evaluation by veterinary students of the 7th semester showed a high acceptance of virtual patients in a blended learning reproduction module in the interdisciplinary lectures. Students especially preferred videos, such as video lectures, hands-on videos and animations as well as a glossary for background information, to successfully and autonomously work on a virtual case. The content covered by the new modules that were developed in the context of this project is part of a spiral curriculum; they will be revised and enhanced during the clinical year.     

Development and in vitro characterization of canine CD40-Ig

We recently reported that blockade of the CD40-CD154 ligand interaction with the cross-reacting mouse anti-human CD154 antibody, 5c8, together with donor-specific transfusion led to enhanced but not completely successful engraftment in a canine model of DLA-identical marrow transplantation after 100cGy total body irradiation (TBI). In order to improve the transplantation outcomes, we sought to develop a canine-specific reagent. To that end, we fused the extracellular domain of the canine CD40 with a mouse IgG2a Fc tail and tested the immunosuppressive effectiveness of the fusion protein in mixed leukocyte reactions. The extracellular domain of canine CD40 was fused with the Fc portion of mouse IgG2a in a pcDNA3.1+vector. Dhfr-deficient CHO cells were co-transfected with the CD40-Ig vector and a dhfr-containing vector. Stable, high producing clones were selected under increasing methotrexate concentrations. The fusion protein was purified, tested in mixed leukocyte reactions, and its immunosuppressive effect compared to that of the anti-CD154 antibody 5c8. The transfected cell line produced a CD40-Ig dimer whose identity was confirmed by mass spectroscopy. The purified canine CD40-Ig blocked mixed leukocyte reactions at a concentration of 1nM, which was 10 times more effective than the anti-CD154 antibody. Canine CD40-Ig is more immunosuppressive than the anti-human CD154 antibody 5c8 in canine mixed leukocyte reactions and may be more effective in vivo in a model of marrow transplantation.     

Einfluß von Ammonium- und Nitratstickstoff auf die Entwicklung von Buchenjungpflanzen

Influence of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen on the growth of young beech plants Young beech plants were grown in aerated nutrient solutions with NH₄ or NO₃ nitrogen for a period of 12 weeks. pH-changes caused by the source of nitrogen were corrected every second day. Absorption of NH₄-N was higher than of NO₃-N. NH₄-N was superior for shoot growth and development of lateral roots, NO₃-N for growth of the main root. Nutrient solution containing both sources of nitrogen was the most favorable.     

Changes in nitrogen supply along transects from farmland to calcareous grassland

In this study nutrient supply along transects from farmland to calcareous grasslands was investigated. The aim was to assess a gradient in nutrient supply parallel to the change in species composition. Net nitrogen mineralization was measured under field conditions and in a laboratory incubation experiment. The seasonal course of net N mineralization was determined by the increase of soil temperature in spring and changes in soil moisture during summer. In the farmland soils fertilization was also an important factor. Annual net N mineralization was highest in the moderately acid soils of the Rosenberg on the Lower Devonian schist. It was lowest in the soils of the transect near Erdorf on limestone. Two transects on dolomite took an intermediate position. At all study sites net N mineralization and the mineral nitrogen contents were higher in the peripheral zones of the calcareous grasslands than in the centre of the grasslands. In the base-rich soils of the three transects on limestone and dolomite annual net N mineralization varied in the calcareous grasslands between 4.6 and 61 mg/kg, in the peripheral zones between 35 and 190 mg/kg and in the farmland between 117 and 350 mg/kg. In the base-poor soils of the transect on Rosenberg it was 96 mg/kg in the calcareous grassland, 115–130 mg/kg in the boundary zone and 165 mg/kg in the meadow. It is presumed that the increase in nitrogen supply was caused by nutrient input from the adjacent farmland.