Relationship between somaclonal variation and type of culture in cucumber

Highly inbred B line of cucumber was used to compare the effect of four types of in vitro culture on somaclonal variation. The plants were regenerated from the following types of culture: twelve- and eighteen-month-old liquid culture of meristematic clumps (LMC₁₂₍₁₈₎), ten-month-old embryogenic cytokinin-dependent suspension (CDS), eighteen-month-old embryogenic cytokinin-dependent suspension in medium with modified NH⁺ ₄/NO₃ ^- ratio (CDS 1.7), twelve-month-old embryogenic auxin-dependent suspension (ADS), thirty six-month-old embryogenic auxin-dependent suspension in medium with modified NH⁺ ₄/NO₃ ^- ratio (ADS 1.7) and recurrent leaf callus regeneration (RLC) – repeated 5 times. The differences in the incidence of the following properties were observed: the ploidy of R₀ plants, the segregation of new morphological traits in R₁ and the germination ability of R₁ seeds. R₁ families with the segregation of new phenotypes were most numerous in CDS (62.5%) and LMC₁₈ (57.9%), next in CDS1.7 (35.7%), while the smallest number was found in LMC₁₂ (11.1%) and RLC (3.4%).Tetraploid and mixoploid plants occurred in ADS1.7 and ADS (100%) whereas CDS and RLC were observed to contain only tetraploids, respectively 33.3% and 55.2%. There were no changes of ploidy after LMC₁₂, LMC₁₈ and CDS1.7. Among new phenotypes there were such that have not been described so far in cucumber: ginkgolike leaf (gll), yellow-green chlorophyll mutants (y-gc), serrate margin of corolla in male and female flowers (smc). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Digital radiography (DR) and imaging analysis for evaluating the penetration and distribution of organic substances used in wood conservation

Consolidation treatments are commonly employed in museum conservation studios for treating biologically deteriorated wooden cultural heritage objects. Impregnation using either a solvent/resin or a polymerizing system is an example of such an intervention, which is often difficult to describe in terms of its behavior within the object’s structure. A new simple method has been devised to evaluate the effectiveness of these impregnation treatments in terms of spatial distribution of consolidant solution. A combination of digital radiography and imaging analysis has permitted to evaluate the degree of penetration of a consolidant and to determine its location within the artifact by studying the X-ray images taken before, during, and after treatment. The adequacy of polymer solutions or their effectiveness as wood consolidants is properties which are often difficult to investigate due to limited visual access to the interior of the object. The proposed method provides an alternative way of studying these parameters through analysis of X-ray attenuation recorded on two images: taken before and after the conservation treatment. The resulting image is then converted into a two-dimensional map of consolidation agent within the object using a straightforward calibration procedure.     

Rhamnolipids Increase the Phytotoxicity of Diesel Oil Towards Four Common Plant Species in a Terrestrial Environment

The study focused on assessing the influence of rhamnolipids on the phytotoxicity of diesel oil-contaminated soil samples. Tests evaluating the seed germination and growth inhibition of four terrestrial plant species (alfalfa, sorghum, mustard and cuckooflower) were carried out at different rhamnolipid concentrations (ranging from 0 to 1.200?mg/kg of wet soil). The experiments were performed in soil samples with a different diesel oil content (ranging from 0 to 25?ml/kg of wet soil). It was observed that the sole presence of rhamnolipids may be phytotoxic at various levels, which is especially notable for sorghum (the germination index decreased to 41?%). The addition of rhamnolipids to diesel oil-contaminated soil samples contributed to a significant increase of their phytotoxicity. The most toxic effect was observed after a rhamnolipid-supplemented diesel oil biodegradation, carried out with the use of a hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria consortium. The supplemention of rhamnolipids (600?mg/kg of wet soil) resulted in a decrease of seed germination of all studied plant species and an inhibition of microbial activity, which was measured by the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride tests. These findings indicate that the presence of rhamnolipids may considerably increase the phytotoxicity of diesel oil. Therefore, their use at high concentrations, during in situ bioremediation processes, should be avoided in a terrestrial environment.     

Electrolyte level and blood pH in dogs infected by various 18S RNA strains of Babaesia canis canis on the early stage of babesiosis

The purpose of the studies was to determine electrolyte disturbances and blood pH changes in dogs with babesiosis and possibly show a connection between the Babesia (B.) canis strain causing the infection and the intensity of these irregularities. 40 animals (group 1) with early babesiosis and 40 healthy dogs (group 2) were studied and their blood pH and blood levels of potassium, chlorides; calcium and sodium were determined. At the same time, molecular typing of parasites was carried out to detect which B.canis strain (18S RNA-A or 185 RNA-B) had caused the disease in dogs of group 1. In group 1, four dogs were acidaemic, twelve had normal blood pH, and 24 were alkalaemic. Potassium concentration was below normal in 16 out of 40 dogs (40%) and normal in 24 dogs. Hypochloremia was present in 36 out of 40 dogs; chloride was normal in the remaining four animals. Serum sodium concentration was low in 16 of 40 dogs, normal in 20 of 40 dogs and high in four dogs. Calcium concentration was normal in all 40 dogs. In dogs of group 2 no abnormalities of haematological or blood biochemical parameters were observed. 29 out of the 40 dogs of group 1 were infected with the 18S RNA-A strain and eleven with the 18S RNA-B strain of Babesia canis canis. We did not observe any correlation between the type of strain causing the infection and the electrolyte disturbances in the serum of sick dogs. Hypocalaemia was observed in ten specimen infected with 18S RNA-A and six infected with 18S RNA-B. Additionally, in dogs infected with 18S RNA-A, hypochloraemia (28), hyponatraemia (10), hypernatraemia (2) were observed, as well as blood pH drop (4) or increase (14). The 18S RNA-B-infected dogs suffered from hypochloraemia (8), hyponatraemia (6), hypernatraemia (2) and increase in blood pH (10).The studies conducted did not answer the question of whether the type of electrolyte disturbances in dogs with babesiosis can be connected with the strain of the parasite that induced the disease, as happens in the case of other clinical parameters (Adaszek et al., 2009). Further studies in this respect, conducted on a larger group of animals, are necessary.     

Feline hip joint anatomy in magnetic resonance images

The aim of this study was to develop an anatomical model of the feline hip joint for low‐field magnetic resonance imaging (LF‐MRI) based on high‐field magnetic resonance imaging (HF‐MRI). The study was performed on six adult clinically healthy European shorthair cats, aged 1–3 years, with body weight of 2.8–4.4 kg. The animals were examined with the use of the Vet‐MRI Grande Esaote LF (0.25 T) scanner and high‐field Siemens Magnetom TRIO (3 T) MRI scanner. In the LF‐MRI, most satisfactory results in T1‐weighted images were obtained when TE was 26 ms in all three planes and when TR was 350–950 ms in the transverse plane, 950–1150 ms in the sagittal plane and 520–750 ms in the dorsal plane. In T2‐weighted images, TE was 90 ms in the transverse and dorsal plane and 120 ms in the sagittal plane. The results were presented as images acquired with LF‐MRI scanners in three planes. The slice thickness was 3 mm for each plane. In LF‐MRI, muscles in the hip joint region and round ligament were well visualized. Unlike in LF‐MRI, the cross section of the femoral nerve was identified in HF‐MRI scans. In examinations of the feline hip joint, the main limitations of LF‐MRI were a lack of reliable contrast between articular cartilage and synovial fluid as well as longer scan time. Despite the above, LF‐MRI images were characterized by good contrast between bones and the surrounding soft tissues.     

Breeding value of selected blackcurrant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ribes nigrum</Emphasis> L.) genotypes for early-age fruit yield and its quality

The study was conducted in the years from 2011 to 2013 at the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice, Poland. The aim of the research was to assess the breeding value, based on the effects of general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA), of 15 parental genotypes of blackcurrant in terms of fruit yield and quality. The plant material consisted of F₁ generation seedlings obtained by crossing, in a factorial mating design of twelve maternal (‘Bona’, ‘Big Ben’, ‘Chereshnieva’, Kupoliniai’, ‘Gofert’, ‘Tines’, ‘Sofievskaia’, ‘Tihope’, ‘Ores’, ‘Ruben’, ‘Titania’ and D13B/11) and three paternal cultivars (‘Ceres’, ‘Foxendown’ and ‘Saniuta’). It was found that the cultivars ‘Ruben’, ‘Big Ben’, ‘Gofert’ and D13B/11 had significant positive effects of GCA on fruit yield at least in two consecutive years. ‘Ruben’, ‘Saniuta’ and D13B/11 had positive GCA effects on fruit weight. For ‘Chereshnieva’, ‘Gofert’, ‘Tines’, ‘Sofievskaia’, ‘Tihope’, ‘Titania’, ‘Ceres’ and Saniuta’ positive GCA effects were estimated for soluble solids content, whereas ‘Ruben’, ‘Ceres’, ‘Gofert’ and ‘Ores’ had positive GCA effects on the ascorbic acid content in fruit. This indicated a high breeding value of these parental genotypes in terms of the evaluated traits. The significantly positive values of SCA, estimated for the crossing combinations: ‘Big Ben’?×?‘Saniuta’, ‘Ruben’?×?‘Foxendown’, ‘Titania’?×?‘Ceres’, ‘Kupoliniai’?×?‘Saniuta’, ‘Gofert’?×?‘Foxendown’, ‘Gofert’?×?‘Saniuta’, ‘Tines’?×?‘Ceres’ and ‘Tihope’?×?‘Foxendown’ for at least two traits describing fruit yield and quality, were evidence of the interaction of both these parental genotypes in the creation of new dessert-type cultivars of blackcurrant.     

Isolation and characterization of novel soilborne lytic bacteriophages infecting Dickeya spp. biovar 3 (‘D. solani’)

Nine bacteriophages infecting Dickeya spp. biovar 3 (‘Dickeya solani’) were isolated from soil samples collected in different regions in Poland. The phages have a typical morphology of the members of the order Caudovirales, family Myoviridae, with a head diameter of c. 90–100 nm and tail length of c. 120–140 nm. In host range experiments, phage ?D5 expressed the broadest host range, infecting members of all Dickeya spp., and phage ?D7 showed the narrowest host range, infecting isolates of Dickeya dadantii and ‘D. solani’ only. None of the phages was able to infect Pectobacterium spp. isolates. All phages were prone to inactivation by pH 2, temperature of 85°C and by UV illumination for 10 min (50 mJ cm^?2). Additionally, phages ?D1, ?D10 and ?D11 were inactivated by 5 m NaCl and phage ?D2 was inactivated by chloroform. Phages ?D1, ?D5, ?D7 and ?D10 were characterized for optimal multiplicity of infection and the rate of adsorption to the bacterial cells. The latent period was 30 min for ?D1, 40 min for ?D5, 20–30 min for ?D7 and 40 min for ?D10. The estimated burst size was c. 100 plaque‐forming units per infected cell. The bacteriophages were able to completely stop the growth of ‘D. solani’ in vitro and to protect potato tuber tissue from maceration caused by the bacteria. The potential use of bacteriophages for the biocontrol of biovar 3 Dickeya spp. in potato is discussed.     

Application of reactive UV-absorbers for increasing protective properties of cellulose fabrics during standard laundering process

A number of water-soluble colourless fibre-reactive UV-absorbers derivatives of symmetrical triazine were used as additives during commercial laundering process. UV-protection factor (UPF) of such treated cotton tricot samples was measured. Changes in protection properties of modified textiles after repeated standard laundering process were determined. Carried-out experiments gave evidence of covalent bond formation between applied absorbers and cellulose fibre during standard washing process at 40 °C or 60 °C. Textiles modified by this method have provided UV-protective properties for prolonged time.     

The effects of cadmium and copper on embryonic and larval development of ide Leuciscus idus L.

The effects of Cd and Cu on embryos and larvae of the ide Leuciscus idus were evaluated. The ide is an European cyprinid fish, natural populations of which tend to decrease. The ide is also used as a bioindicator organism to evaluate water quality. However, sensitivity of ide early developmental stages to heavy metal intoxication is not known. Fish were exposed to Cd or Cu (100 μg/L) during embryonic, larval or both developmental periods. Survival of the embryos, time of hatching, size and quality of newly hatched larvae were evaluated at the end of embryonic period. Correctly developed larvae from the control and Cd or Cu-exposed groups were transferred to clean water, Cd or Cu solutions (100 μg/L) immediately after hatching. Larval development was observed, and the larvae were photographed. Time of yolk sac resorption, onset of active feeding and swim bladder inflation were evaluated, and the measurements were done on body and swim bladder size. The results showed that exposure of embryos to Cd and Cu significantly reduced embryonic survival and increased frequency of body malformations and death in newly hatched larvae and delayed hatching. Exposure to Cd and Cu during larval period reduced larval survival, growth and delayed development (yolk utilization, beginning of active feeding and swim bladder inflation). Cadmium was more toxic to the ide embryos and larvae than copper. Exposures to metals during embryonic period alone caused adverse impact on larval performance even when larval development took place in clean water. However, exposure of embryos to Cu reduced toxic impact of metal on larvae in continuous Cu exposure compared to the non-preexposed fish, but no such an effect occurred in case of Cd exposure. The results show that even a short-term exposure to Cd or Cu during early development of ide may adversely affect recruitment of this species. Among the measured endpoints, quality of newly hatched larvae (frequency of body malformations and larvae dead immediately after hatching) and swim bladder size were the most sensitive to intoxication with both metals. Embryos were more sensitive to Cu intoxication than larvae, while in case of Cd, sensitivity of both stages was similar.