Testing the effect of routine fungicide application on ectomycorrhiza formation on Pinus halepensis seedlings in a nursery

The fungicides benomyl, captan, hymexazol, iprodione, propamocarb hydrochloride and thiram were applied in a combined schedule to Pinus halepensis seedlings grown under nursery conditions to study their effect on mycorrhiza formation and plant growth. The inoculated fungi Pisolithus tinctorius (strains 3SR and Mx) and Lactarius deliciosus formed mycorrhizas when fungicides were applied. However, fungicide application led to a significant decrease of mycorrhizal plants with Pisolithus tinctorius strain 3SR (from 62% without fungicides to 35% with fungicides). This effect could be attributed to a direct effect of fungicides on mycelial growth. The morphometric and nutritional parameters were very similar in plants treated with or without fungicides, and no differences on sanitary status of plants were noted. The use of preventive fungicide treatments in plant production, which may have a harmful effect on the environment, is therefore questioned.     

Negative Impact on the Aquatic Ecosystems of the State of Morelos, Mexico from Introduced Aquarium and Other Commercial Fish

Of the 22 fish species presently inhabiting the waters of the state of Morelos, México, more than half (64%) have been introduced, mainly for fisheries and ornamental aquaculture purposes. Even though there are other significant problems such as pollution, eutrophication and drought, we found that fish introductions have caused the worst ecological impacts. These problems stem from a general lack of knowledge regarding the characteristics, importance and appropriate use and management of aquatic resources. Conservational actions are proposed.     

Disposition of orally administered cefpodoxime proxetil in foals and adult horses and minimum inhibitory concentration of the drug against common bacterial pathogens of horses

OBJECTIVES: To determine the disposition of orally administered cefpodoxime proxetil in foals and adult horses and measure the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the drug against common bacterial pathogens of horses. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult horses and 6 healthy foals at 7 to 14 days of age and again at 3 to 4 months of age. PROCEDURE: A single dose of cefpodoxime proxetil oral suspension was administered (10 mg/kg) to each horse by use of a nasogastric tube. In 7- to 14-day-old foals, 5 additional doses were administered intragastrically at 12-hour intervals. The MIC of cefpodoxime for each of 173 bacterial isolates was determined by use of a commercially available test. RESULTS: In 7- to 14-day-old foals, mean +/- SD time to peak serum concentration (Tmax) was 1.7 +/- 0.7 hours, maximum serum concentration (Cmax) was 0.81 +/- 0.22 microg/mL, and elimination half-life (harmonic mean) was 7.2 hours. Disposition of cefpodoxime in 3- to 4-month-old foals was not significantly different from that of neonates. Adult horses had significantly higher Cmax and significantly lower Tmax, compared with values for foals. The MIC of cefpodoxime required to inhibit growth of 90% of isolates for Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella spp, Klebsiella spp, and beta-hemolytic streptococci was 0.38, 1.00, 0.16, 0.19, and 0.09 microg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral administration at a dosage of 10 mg/kg every 6 to 12 hours would appear appropriate for the treatment of equine neonates with bacterial infections.     

High genetic diversity of Spanish common wheats as judged from gliadin alleles

Gliadin alleles were identified in 100 common wheat cultivars registered and/or grown in Spain during the last 40 years. A very high level of genetic polymorphism was found: in total, 103 allelic variants including one null‐allele were found at the six major Gli loci in the Spanish wheats studied. An average genetic diversity for these six loci was found to be higher (H=0.844) than in any group of wheat cultivars studied previously. Spanish wheats bred in Spain demonstrated even higher genetic diversity (H=0.868), probably because of the occurrence in this group of some landraces (local varieties) assumed to be strongly differentiated to fit local environments. The high level of genetic diversity of wheats grown in Spain was maintained by the introduction of distantly related wheat germplasm from different sources, especially from Italy and CIMMYT. A slight decrease of genetic diversity in recently registered cultivars might be caused by the excessive introduction of French wheats. Thirteen new alleles found in Spanish wheats were catalogued, including Gli‐D2w which encodes the first Gli‐D2‐controlledγ‐gliadin to be found.     

The distribution of metals from wastewater in the Mexican Valley of Mezquital

Since the beginning of this century, wastewater has been utilized for crop production in the Mexican Valley of Mezquital; however, few data are available for evaluating the level of heavy metal pollution in that region. Waters, soils and plants were sampled in different sites, representing three specific irrigation sources in the valley. Trace metals were determined in all samples. Total amount of most trace metals in raw municipal wastewater, and that of Ni, Cr, Pb and Zn in diluted water were quite high. Wastewater irrigation markedly increased the amounts of trace elements extracted from soils by 4M HNO₃; the amounts of metals were proportional to the amount of wastewater applied. Copper, chromium, and lead concentrations in soils roughly paralleled their organic matter contents. A wide range in tissue concentration of metals was observed. Zinc was the most metal absorbed by alfalfa and oats. Levels of Ni and Pb in plants, and to some extent, those of Co and Cu, were increased by raw wastewater irrigation. Chromium and lead accumulations in alfalfa were well above the tolerance levels suggested by some workers and the high Co concentration found in this legume may be a health risk for animals and human beings.     

Complexity of the Gli-A3 locus in bread wheat

Two bread wheat cultivars, ‘Ariana 8’ and ‘Cajeme 71’, and 129 F₂, grains from the cross between them were analysed for gliadin composition. Two monodimensional (A-PAGE and SDS-PAGE) and two different two-dimensional (SDS-PAGE x SDS-PAGE and A-PAGE x SDS-PAGE) electrophoretic methods were used. Parents differed at the Gli-Al locus, detected by A-PAGE. The SDS-PAGE of the aqueous ethanol extractable protein under nonreduced conditions showed two bands of ‘Ariana 8’ and one of ‘Cajeme 71’, encoded by genes located 22 cM from the Gli-Al locus, and therefore, located at the Gli-A3 locus. This locus has been considered to contain genes coding for ω-gliadins alone. The two-dimensional maps of the parents showed that one band from ‘Ariana 8’ was an ω-gliadin, but the other two bands, one from each parent, were γ-gliadins. Results obtained indicated that GH-A3, like Gli-Al, is a complex locus coding for both ω-and γ-gliadins.     

Gli-B3/Glu-B2 encoded prolamins do not affect selected quality properties in the durum wheat cross 'Abadía'×'Mexicali 75'

A study was made of the effects of the Gli-B3/Glu-B2 encoded prolamins on durum-wheat quality. Twenty-six F₃ lines from the durum wheat cross ‘Abadia’בMexicali 75’ were analysed electrophoretically for prolamin composition and for the following quality parameters: SDS sedimentation value, mixing properties, and percentage grain protein and percentage vitreous kernels. The results showed that the presence or absence of the Gli-B3/Glu-B2 encoded prolamins did not result in any significant difference in the quality characteristics of the F₃ lines; however, as expected, the LMW glutenins encoded at Glu-B3 showed large differences and are therefore the major prolamins influencing durum wheat gluten quality.