Comparison of Genetic and Virulence Diversity of Melampsora larici-populina Populations on Wild and Cultivated Poplar and Influence of the Alternate Host

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were, first, to compare the genetic and virulence diversity between populations of the rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina on wild and cultivated poplar stands and, second, to investigate the influence of the presence of the alternate host of the pathogen, larch, on which its sexual reproduction occurs, on these diversities. Nine French M. larici-populina populations collected from poplar trees in autumn and four populations collected from larch trees during the following spring were analyzed using both virulence factors and neutral markers. In all, 30 pathotypes were identified within the 13 populations studied. The pathotypic structure clearly distinguished the cultivated stands with high richness and complexity from the wild stands with low richness and complexity. High linkage disequilibria between virulences indicated preferential virulence associations, probably due to selection by the host. In all, 19 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used, which revealed a very high genetic diversity in the 743 isolates analyzed. The nine populations from poplar appeared moderately differentiated, indicating long-distance gene flow, and no isolation by distance was found. Linkage disequilibria between RAPD markers generally were low, indicating frequent recombination, but they were not lower in populations located near larch, probably due to long-distance dispersal.     

Effects of intravenous sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate on equine acid-base status

Changes in blood gases, pH, and plasma electrolyte concentrations in response to intravenously infused sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and sodium acetate (NaCH₃CO₂) solutions (1.34 mEq/mL) in 5 light breed mares were investigated. Jugular venous blood samples were collected before and after completion of the infusions in 20-minute intervals for 200 minutes. Infusion of sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate caused significant (P < .00l) increases in blood pH and bicarbonate ion concentration that persisted throughout the collection period. The elevation in blood pH and bicarbonate ion concentrations was greater (P < .01) for sodium bicarbonate than for sodium acetate immediately after the completion of the infusions but was not different (P > .05) thereafter. There were significant reductions (P < .01) in plasma-ionized calcium and potassium after infusion of both sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate. This study found that significant metabolic alkalosis in horses and corresponding shifts in electrolyte concentrations can be induced by intravenous infusion of solutions of either sodium bicarbonate or sodium acetate, and they persist for at least 3 hours. These data show that the short-term elevation in pH and bicarbonate ion concentration is momentarily higher after infusion of sodium bicarbonate. This is likely due to the direct infusion of bicarbonate ions in the sodium bicarbonate treatment, such that further metabolism is not required to be effective. However, the longer-term alkalosis did not differ between isomolar solutions of sodium bicarbonate and sodium acetate.     

Reproduction of mucosal disease with cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea virus selected in vitro

Isolates of non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus from 18 persistently infected calves from one herd were compared by using monoclonal antibodies directed against the major viral glycoprotein gp53. All the isolates displayed an almost identical reaction pattern. Based on this antigenic analysis three cytopathogenic BVD and three non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses closely related to the non-cytopathogenic BVD herd isolate were selected. Six of the persistently infected calves were inoculated with a pool of the three closely related cytopathogenic BVD viruses and two with a pool of the three non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses. In addition three animals were infected with one closely related cytopathogenic BVD strain (Indiana) and two animals with the antigenetically different cytopathogenic BVD viral strain A1138/69. Regardless of the inoculation route all the animals superinfected with closely related cytopathogenic BVD viruses developed the characteristic lesions of mucosal disease within 14 days of infection. Animals which were inoculated with non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses which closely resembled the herd isolate, or with cytopathogenic BVD viruses which did not resemble the herd isolate did not develop any signs of disease. However, the latter group produced antibodies to the superinfecting virus.     

Differential clustering of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC strains by PCR-REA of the bgl locus

In order to develop a specific tool differentiating the African field strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC from other potentially less virulent strains, including the vaccine strains, we have developed a PCR followed by a restriction enzyme analysis (PCR–REA). This approach also differentiates the African field strains from the Australian strains and the type strain PG1. The genomic marker detected by the PCR–REA is based on a single nucleotide change in the bgl gene that codes for 6-phospho-β-glucosidase (Bgl), an enzyme that is involved in sugar metabolism.     

Morbillivirus infection of seals (Phoca vitulina) during the 1988 epidemic in the Bay of Heligoland. I. Mode, frequency and significance of cultural virus isolation and neutralizing antibody detection

From 16 (14%) out of 112 dead or euthanized seals originating from wildlife and seal orphanages phocine morbillivirus was isolated. The majority of viral isolates in cell cultures was obtained from lung homogenates of 15 out of 71 free-ranging seals (21%). The virus was isolated by longterm cultivation in roller cultures of seal kidney cells. The phocine morbillivirus was detected by typical cytopathogenic alteration and by peroxidase-linked antibody (PLA) assay, respectively. A neutralization test based on PLA was used for antibody detection in seals using a canine distemper virus (CDV) strain and in parallel one of the phocine morbillivirus isolates. All sera tested were proven to contain neutralizing antibodies of higher titres against the latter virus than against the CDV strain. Several seals furnished morbillivirus isolates and at the same time exhibited neutralizing antibodies of low to medium titres. No viral isolates were obtained from the majority of sick animals with moderate to high neutralizing titres (greater than 1/1,000). The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the cause of the mass mortality amongst seals observed in 1988 in the Bay of Heligoland.     

Effects of S1-recurrent selection for protein yield on seven agronomic traits of oat

Summary Three S₁-recurrent selection programs (designated HG, HP, and HGP) for increasing protein yield of oat (Avena sativa L.) were conducted for five cycles of selection. The selection criteria in each program (line of descent) emphasized different components of protein yield; high grain yield in HG, both high protein concentration of the groats (caryopsis) and high grain yield in HP, and high protein yield per se in HGP. Heading date and height were restricted to no net change. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the agronomic performance of these three lines of descent and the correlated responses in agronomic traits due to selection. Thirty to sixty random S₀-derived lines from each cycle and ten check lines were grown in hill-plot experiments at two locations in 1989. Grain yield increased in all three lines of descent; HG showed the greatest rate of gain followed by HGP and then HP (0.20, 0.10, and 0.07 Mg ha^-1 per cycle, respectively). Test weight decreased in HGP by 2.6 kg m^-3 per cycle and in HP by 4.0 kg m^-3 per cycle, but remained constant in HG. Cycle 5 (C₅) means for straw yield, height, and seed weight were not significantly different from the C₀ means for any line of descent. Groat percent remained unchanged in HGP, increased from 70.1 to 71.7% in HG, and decreased from 69.9 to 67.6% in HP. Heading date decreased by 3 d in HG and HGP, but remained unchanged in HP. HG compares most favorably with commercial cultivars because of its high yield and acceptable agronomic traits, while HP tends to be low in test weight, seed weight, and groat percent.Abbreviations BM- above ground biomass - GP- groat (caryopsis) percent, fraction of average seed weight that is groat rather than hulls - GPC- groat-protein concentration - GPY- groat-protein yield - GTY- groat yield - GY- grain yield - HD- heading date - HG- selection for protein yield through high grain yield - HGP- selection for protein yield per se - HP- selection for protein yield through high grain yield and high groat-protein concentration - HT- height - PY- protein yield - SDWT- seed weight - SY- straw yield - TWT- test weight