Study of the genetic variability of porcine circovirus type 2 detected in Serbia and Slovenia

Recent variants of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were obtained from tissues of domestic pigs with porcine circovirus associated disease and from randomly selected wild boar samples from Serbia and Slovenia. A 450-base-pair nucleotide sequence was obtained by PCR from the ORF2. The derived nucleotide and amino acid sequences were aligned and compared to the corresponding region of closely related PCV2 sequences determined in previous years and retrieved from the GenBank. The 30 Serbian and 17 Slovenian PCV2 sequences clustered into three previously determined genotypes (PCV2a: 7), (PCV2b: 38) and (PCV2d: 2). Three major variable regions, concerning 29 amino acid position substitutions within the ORF2, were observed, which further supports the segregation of the detected strains into three separate genotypes. This study indicates that PCV2b is the predominant genotype in Serbia and Slovenia and the detected PCV2 strains are closely related to those previously described in Europe and in other parts of the world.     

Genetic variability and virulence among Verticillium albo-atrum isolates from hop

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium albo-atrum or V. dahliae, is an important disease of many worldwide crop species. In Europe, V. albo-atrum isolates infecting hop express different levels of virulence, inducing mild or lethal disease syndromes, and it is therefore an attractive model for studying the virulence of this pathogen. In this work, eleven amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations were used to analyze genetic variability among 55 V. albo-atrum hop isolates from four European hop growing regions, as well as isolates from other hosts and V. dahliae isolates. Cluster analysis divided V. albo-atrum and V. dahliae isolates into two well-separated groups. Within the V. dahliae cluster, isolates were separated without host specific grouping, although no host adapted isolates were included. In V. albo-atrum, the alfalfa isolates were distinct from isolates of other hosts, where a high association with virulence was observed in hop and tomato isolates. All lethal hop isolates were genetically different from mild hop isolates. The lethal hop isolates from England and Slovenia expressed the same virulence phenotype, although they showed a different AFLP pattern. The mild hop isolates formed two subgroups, to which isolates clustered irrespective of geographical location. These data suggest multiple origins of V. albo-atrum hop isolates, and the possible appearance of new virulent isolates in the future in other hop growing regions.     

Effect of Pb(NO3)2 on poplar tissue culture and the ultrastructural localization of lead in culture cells

In tissue cultures of Populus maximowiczii Henry, Pb(NO₃)₂ had a restraining effect on fresh weight increase and anthocyanin content. In ultrastructural research Pb deposits of various size were mainly present in the intercellular spaces, cell walls (mainly in the region of the middle lamella), in the paramural bodies and in the vacuoles. Small deposits of this metal were also observed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), dictyosomes and dictyosome derivated vesicles.     

Contents of selected heavy metals in the liver, kidneys and abdominal muscle of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) in Central Pomerania, Poland

The content of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, lead, and cadmium was determined in the kidney, liver, and abdominal muscle of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus), a species known for its bioindicative potential in environmental quality assessment. The animals assayed were divided into immature (in their first year of life; n=25) and adult (n=39). The hares were acquired in an area situated far away from major cities and direct impacts of industrial and transport pollution. The zinc content found in the assayed hare's muscles (25.9 microg/g w.w.) and that of manganese in the kidneys, liver, and muscles (2, 2.51 i 0.85 microg/g w.w., respectively) tended to be higher than those reported from the brown hare elsewhere in Europe. The content of cadmium (particularly in the kidneys) and lead proved substantial and close to those typical of the hare inhabiting industry-affected areas. Analysis of the data pooled for all the individuals showed Zn and Cd contents to increase with age in the kidneys, the liver Cd content increasing with age as well; on the other hand, the age-Cu content was negative. In addition, a number of significant correlations between the metals themselves were revealed, particularly with respect to Zn-Cd correlation in kidneys (r(s)=0.47), Fe-Cd, Zn-Cu, Mn-Zn, Mn-Cu, and Mn-Pb in the liver (r(s) of 0.42, 0.86, 0.72, 0.79, and 0.42, respectively), and Zn-Cu in the muscle (r(s)=0.56). The kidney cadmium content was higher by 81% in the adult than in the immature hare, the adult hare muscle copper content being lower by 15.5%.     

Rating and mapping the suitability of the climate for pest risk analysis*

The assessment of the suitability of the climate for pest establishment is an important part of pest risk analysis (PRA). This paper describes the work undertaken by the EU 7th Framework project PRATIQUE (Enhancements of Pest Risk Analysis Techniques) to develop guidance for this component of PRA. Firstly, there is a guide to rating the suitability of the climate in the PRA area using qualitative methods. Secondly, a Decision‐support scheme (DSS) has been created to assist analysts in deciding whether to map climatic suitability, and to guide the selection of the most appropriate method from the large number available. The process of selecting a climatic mapping method is based on a review of the pest’s climatic responses and distribution. A spreadsheet provides a comparison of the potential problems that can arise, depending on the mapping method and on the amount and quality of available data. Diagrams are provided to help choose the location data category that best represents the possible biases in the known distribution of the pest. A second spreadsheet provides general information on the differences and similarities of each method in terms of categories such as functionality, ease of use and quality assurance. A variety of data, tools and supporting documents are available as appendices to the DSS. All of the tools and guides are freely available online.     

Biochemical response of grapevine variety ‘Chardonnay’ (Vitis vinifera L.) to infection with grapevine yellows (Bois noir)

This study was carried out on the leaves of phytoplasma susceptible grapevine variety ??Chardonnay?? (Vitis vinifera L.), and included research of the alterations in chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, contents of phenol compounds and in related enzymes activity in the phenylpropanoid pathway during the Bois noir (BN) infection. Phytoplasma-infected leaves showed reduced contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids, which promoted their susceptibility to oxidative reactions. Furthermore, modulation of flavonoid biosynthesis occurred in infected leaves, leading to an increased activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase and polyphenoloxidase, but to a decreased peroxidase activity. Phytoplasma infection led to an increase of the contents of hydroxycinnamic acids (caftaric acid, sinapic acid glucose derivate and coutaric acid), flavanols (procyanidin B1, procyanidin dimer 3, catechin, epicatechin) and flavonols (quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, quercetin 3-O-glucoside) especially in the period up to vérasion. The study demonstrated that at certain phenological key-stages infection with phytoplasma (BN) induced different alterations in enzyme activities and in the contents of biochemical compounds from primary and secondary metabolism.