Management of downy mildew of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) caused by Peronospora belbahrii by means of resistance inducers, fungicides, biocontrol agents and natural products

To control downy mildew of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), incited by Peronospora belbahrii Thines, a number of compounds were tested in 2011 and 2012 under glasshouse conditions. These included copper-based fungicides, biocontrol agents, and compounds previously reported to induce resistance in plants to pathogens. Results were compared with those provided by fungicides registered for downy mildew control in Italy. The tested compounds were used alone or applied in rotation in spray programs. In all trials, the greatest reduction in disease incidence and severity was found with treatments that included metalaxyl-M?+?copper hydroxide, a mineral fertilizer ‘Alexin’, mandipropanid, and azoxystrobin. The glucohumates activator complex and acibenzolar-S-methyl also provided significant disease control (P?<?0.05). The mineral fertilizer Alexin, the glucohumates activator complex and acibenzolar-S significantly reduced disease incidence and severity 20 days after the last treatment compared with the untreated control (P?<?0.05). Among the copper-based products, the greatest reductions in disease incidence and severity were provided by copper hydroxide with terpenic alcohols and copper oxychloride?+?copper hydroxide. The mineral fertilizer Kendal and prohexadione-Ca, as well as mustard oil, partially reduced disease incidence and severity compared with the untreated control (P?<?0.05), whereas the biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis QST 713 and thyme oil extract were not effective in two out of three trials. When different combinations of various products used in rotation were tested, effective control was found either using a rotation of fungicides with compounds that can induce resistance, as well as by using rotation with different resistance-inducing compounds on their own.     

Hydrocarbon and fatty acid composition of cheese as affected by the pasture vegetation type

The determination of the geographical origin of dairy products is an ongoing issue. In this paper the effects of botanical diversity of two pastures on the hydrocarbon and fatty acid composition of cheese fat were studied, over 2 years of experimentation. Two areas in the Italian southwestern Alpine region, dominated by Trifolium alpinum (T) and Festuca nigrescens (F) vegetation, respectively, were chosen, and milk obtained from cows grazing on these pastures was used to produce a semihard traditional cheese. Cheese samples showed a significantly different composition of most linear hydrocarbons, odd-chain (C15, C17, and C17:1) and unsaturated (trans-11,cis-15-C18:2, C18:3, C20:4n-6, C20:4n-3, and 20:5n-3) fatty acids, according to pasture type. The ratio between C(29) and C(27) linear hydrocarbons, unlike the absolute content of the single molecules, showed a good discriminating ability between the two pastures and was little affected by the natural variability due to the climatic and environmental factors.     

Characterization of Sardinian cork oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis> L.) genetic resources for economically important traits

Considering the very high socio economic value of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in Mediterranean areas, a better knowledge of local genetic resources is necessary in order to reach a good balance between the conservation issues and the need of an efficient cork production network. In such frame, local germplasm of Q. suber from the main cork production areas of Sardinia was analysed for DNA and isozyme polymorphisms and for cork quality in relation to some environmental parameters. A total number of 24 sample stands of cork oak were selected, representing typical vegetation, sylvicultural and cork quality features within the eight identified cork growing areas in Sardinia. Considerable variation was found between cork oak stands of the different areas. Results of the principal component analysis performed on the cork quality data and environmental characters of the eight areas, showed that the first three components explain 72.2% of the variation. The major characters involved in this differentiation were cork quality characters such as dimensional recover, moisture and Mg content of the cork and also elevation of stands m a.s.l. for the first component. The second component appears to be determined by some climatic parameters (average annual temperature and average of the minimum temperatures of coldest month) and by the Fe and Zn in the cork. For the third component, major characters involved in differentiation are average annual rainfall, bark thickness and Ca content in the cork.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Coxiella burnetii infection in cattle in northeast Algeria

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors associated with C. burnetii infection in cattle in the state of...     

In Vitro Bioactivity of Astaxanthin and Peptides from Hydrolisates of Shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) By-Products: From the Extraction Process to Biological Effect Evaluation,as Pilot Actions for the Strategy “From Waste to Profit”

Non-edible parts of crustaceans could be a rich source of valuable bioactive compounds such as the carotenoid astaxanthin and peptides, which have well-recognized beneficial effects. These compounds are widely used in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, and their market is rapidly growing, suggesting the need to find alternative sources. The aim of this work was to set up a pilot-scale protocol for the reutilization of by-products of processed shrimp, in order to address the utilization of this valuable biomass for nutraceutical and pharmaceuticals application, through the extraction of astaxanthin-enriched oil and antioxidant-rich protein hydrolysates. Astaxanthin (AST) was obtained using “green extraction methods,” such as using fish oil and different fatty acid ethyl esters as solvents and through supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), whereas bioactive peptides were obtained by protease hydrolysis. Both astaxanthin and bioactive peptides exhibited bioactive properties in vitro in cellular model systems, such as antioxidant and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities (IA). The results show higher astaxanthin yields in ethyl esters fatty acids (TFA) extraction and significant enrichment by short-path distillation (SPD) up to 114.80 ± 1.23 µg/mL. Peptide fractions of <3 kDa and 3–5 kDa exhibited greater antioxidant activity while the fraction 5–10 kDa exhibited a better ACE-IA. Lower-molecular-weight bioactive peptides and astaxanthin extracted using supercritical fluids showed protective effects against oxidative damage in 142BR and in 3T3 cell lines. These results suggest that “green” extraction methods allow us to obtain high-quality bioactive compounds from large volumes of shrimp waste for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.     

Kaolin influences tomato response to salinity: physiological aspects

Environmental stress as salinity can negatively affect the physiology of tomato plants. Conditions leading to a reduction of transpiration can contribute to greater tolerance to salinity. Use of kaolin-based particle film technology (PFT) may be an effective tool to control stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, thus mitigating the detrimental effect of salinity. The present three-year study has investigated the effects of kaolin application on leaf gas exchange, leaf water potential, leaf and canopy temperature of field-grown tomato, irrigated with brackish water by drip method, in southern Italy. Treatments were: (1) three salinity levels of irrigation water (electrical conductivity of water = 0.5, 5 and 10 dS m^?1); (2) tomato plants treated or not with kaolin; and (3) two cultivars in each year. The increase in salinity caused the reduction of leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis and transpiration rate, and the increase of leaf and canopy temperature. Kaolin has resulted in an improvement of leaf water potential, and the reduction in gas exchange variables in low-salinity conditions. Under high salinity, kaolin was effective in limiting the reductions in net photosynthesis and reducing leaf and canopy temperature. These latter variables were slightly affected by kaolin, in different ways in respect to the saline treatments; while in non-saline conditions were 0.2–0.5°C higher in the kaolin-treated plants, the situation was reversed in more saline treatment. The variation of leaf and canopy temperature shows that kaolin influences the thermal balance mainly for the dual effect of reflection of the incident radiation and partial occlusion of the stomata. Kaolin mitigated detrimental effects of salinity also on yield, contributing to the improvement of income for the farmers. The use of kaolin-based PFT may be an effective tool to alleviate salinity stress in tomato production under arid and semi-arid conditions.     

Reproductive success of rose‐ringed parakeets Psittacula krameri in a captive UK population

BACKGROUND: Rose‐ringed parakeets Psittacula krameri (Scop.) have recently become established in several European countries, with potential for significant negative economic and ecological impacts. However, in northern Europe the potential for reproductive output is largely unknown. In 2005 the authors established a captive outdoor colony in north‐east England and examined breeding success over 2 years. RESULTS: In 2006 (19 pairs, 15 clutches) the average first clutch size was 3.6 (±0.3) eggs. Six clutches were infertile, and overall the colony produced 1.4 (±0.5) fertile eggs per pair. Eleven pairs produced a second clutch following removal of the first; seven were infertile, and overall productivity was 0.7 (±0.4) fertile eggs per pair. Unsuccessful pairs were rearranged or replaced. In 2007, overall productivity was 2.5 (±0.4) and 1.8 (±0.4) fertile eggs per pair for the first and second attempts respectively. For pairs that remained unchanged through 2006–2007, productivity was consistent between years and breeding attempts. CONCLUSION: Where food and nest sites were not limiting, clutch sizes in north‐east England were similar to those in the native range, and consistent between first and second attempts. This has implications for the future expansion and management of the species. © Crown Copyright 2009. Reproduced with permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Masking the taste of the conditioned taste aversion agent levamisole using an ion-exchange resin, for practical application in wildlife management

For a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) agent to be successful in wildlife management applications, the compound must not be detectable by the animal. Levamisole is an effective CTA agent when administered by oral intubation, but it is readily detected by a number of species when mixed directly in food. This paper describes the development of an ion-exchange resin complex (resinate) to mask the taste of levamisole. Two different resins were evaluated, Amberlite IRP-64 and Amberlite IRP-69, and release studies indicated that the resinate formed using IRP-64 resin would be most suitable for use in wildlife management. Although it contained a relatively low loading of levamisole (77 g kg(-1)), the results indicated that the IRP-64 resinate should be stable in the mouth and release the levamisole quickly in the acid environment of the stomach (93% of levamisole was released into 0.1 M HCl in 5 min). In a bioassay using laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus Berk), we showed that the taste of levamisole was successfully masked in a biscuit bait using the IRP-64 resinate and that a CTA was generated to untreated bait. The use of ion-exchange resins is a new approach in the taste-masking of CTA agents and could be applied to other wildlife management applications.     

Inclusion of licuri meal in the diet of pasture dairy cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of increasing levels of licuri meal as a substitute for soybean bran in the diet of pasture-based...     

Early luteal development in Santa Inês ewes superovulated with reduced doses of porcine follicle‐stimulating hormone

The aim was to compare the early luteal development in ewes superovulated with different doses of pFSH. Twenty‐nine Santa Inês ewes received a progesterone device (CIDR®) for 8 days. Gonadotrophic treatment started on Day 6: G200 (control, n = 9, 200 mg); G133 (n = 10, 133 mg); and G100 (n = 10, 100 mg of pFSH). On Day 6, all females received eCG (300 IU). B‐mode and spectral Doppler ultrasonography were performed daily during the early luteal phase (Days 11–15) to monitor the development of corpora lutea (CLs; dimensions) and ovarian arteries indices. CLs were also classified as normal or prematurely regressed (PRCL) on Day 15 by videolaparoscopy. Ewes from G100 and G133 showed gradual increase in luteal diameter during the early luteal phase (p < 0.001), whereas G200 animals presented increase from Day 11 to Day 13, and then decrease on Days 14 and 15 (p < 0.001). The G200 females showed greater percentage of PRCL (45.20%) than those of the other groups (p < 0.001). The normal CLs number was greater in G100 than in G133 (p = 0.04), while the PRCL number was greater in G200 than in the other groups (p = 0.03). Resistive index (RI) was greater in G200 than in G100 (p = 0.02). RI was lower in Day 12 than Day 15 (p = 0.02). Pulsatility index (PI) was greater on Days 14 and 15 (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the lowest dose of pFSH (100 mg) can be considered sufficient for an efficient superovulatory response in sheep, producing better CLs development dynamic in early luteal phase and ovarian blood perfusion and smaller number of PRCL than the traditional (200 mg) pFSH dose.