Thermal shock induction of triploidy in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

The effects of thermal treatments on induction of triploidy in Atlantic cod have been investigated. Cold shock [−1.7±0.1°C at 20 min post fertilization (PF) for 2 h] was based on a previously developed protocol, and heat shocks, below the lethal threshold of 24°C, were at 16, 18 or 20°C applied 20, 30 or 40 min PF for 20 min. Cold shock did not affect larval survival and was ineffective for producing triploids (range 0–4%). A heat shock of 20°C at 20 min PF generated the highest percentages (range 66–100%) of triploid larvae at hatching, with survival ranging from 10% to 20% relative to the controls. Lower heat shock temperatures or delayed shocks increased survival but decreased the number of triploids, providing no net gain in triploid yield (range 1–9%). Heat shocks applied later than 20 min PF produced 2–4% tetraploid larvae at hatching. A thermal shock of 20°C initiated at 20 min PF and lasting 20 min proved to be the most generally efficient treatment for induction of triploidy in Atlantic cod.     

Relationships between line per se and testcross performance for agronomic traits in two broad-based populations of maize

Degree of the association between line per se performance (LP) and testcross performance (TP) is important in breeding programs and simultaneous improvement of commercial hybrids and their parental lines. This experiment was designed to study genetic variability and genetic correlation for several agronomic traits in two maize (Zea mays L.) broad-based populations (NS12-SG and NS14-SG). Independent trials with 80 entries of S₁ progenies as well as their testcrosses were arranged according to an incomplete block design with replicates in sets. Grain yield, stay green, anthesis-silking interval, stalk water content and grain moisture were evaluated in four environments. The anthesis-silking interval had the highest genetic variation, followed by stay green. High heritability estimates (>0.50) for all traits, pointed out that further selection would be possible. Genetic correlations between line per se and testcross performance were lowest for grain yield (0.396** and 0.592**, for NS12-SG and NS14-SG, respectively), and highest for grain moisture (0.937** and 0.821**, respectively). High correlations between line per se and their testcrosses for stay green, anthesis-silking interval, stalk water content and grain moisture indicated that additive gene action might be more important than dominance in controlling the expression of these traits.     

Liquid crystalline networks composed of pentagonal, square, and triangular cylinders

T-shaped molecules are designed in such a way that they self-organize into nanoscale liquid crystalline honeycombs based on polygons with any chosen number of sides. One of the phases reported here is a periodic organization of identical pentagonal cylinders; the other one is a structure composed of square-shaped and triangular cylinders in the ratio 2:1. These two different packing motifs represent duals of the same topological class. The generalization of the concept applied here allows the prediction of a whole range of unusual complex liquid crystalline phases.     

Metabolic fate of <Superscript>14</Superscript>C-labelled chlorinated and non-chlorinated fatty acids in goldfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis>)

In order to study the metabolic fate of chlorinated fatty acids in fish, goldfish were fed either 9,10-dichlorostearic acid or oleic acid, chosen as the unchlorinated analogue, both radiolabelled at either the carboxyl (1st) or the terminal (18th) carbon of the fatty acid chain. By keeping the fish in hermetically closed aquaria, all the respired, assimilated and excreted radioactivity could be accounted for. Fish fed 9,10-dichlorostearic acid labelled in the terminal end respired radioactive CO₂ to a much lower degree than fish fed the other test compounds. As a consequence, the radioactivity bound in lipids was higher in the group of fish fed dichlorostearic acid labelled in the terminal end. It is suggested that the chlorine atoms in the middle of the carbon chain obstruct the metabolic turn-over of 9,10-dichlorostearic acid, which may have an impact on the residence time of these compounds in the ecosystem.     

Matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and gas chromatographic determination of chloramphenicol in muscle tissue

A method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) was developed for the gas chromatographic (GC) determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) residues in animal muscle tissue. Muscle tissue was blended with octadecylsilyl-derivatized silica (C(18)). A column made from the C(18)/muscle tissue matrix was washed with n-hexane and acetonitrile/water (5 + 95), after which CAP was eluted with acetonitrile/water (50 + 50) and partitioned into ethyl acetate. The final extract was evaporated, and a trimethylsilyl derivative of CAP was prepared with Sylon HTP and detected by GC with an electron capture detector (ECD) and a mass spectrometer. For quantitation, the internal standard used was the meta isomer of CAP (m-CAP) for GC-ECD. Muscle tissue samples were fortified at three concentration levels. At 5, 10, and 15 microg/kg levels the respective mean recoveries were 93, 96, and 98%, and the repeatabilities were 13, 11, and 3%. The detection and quantitation limits with ECD were 1.6 and 4.0 microg/kg, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the efficiency of CAP extraction from muscle tissue of various animals (bovine, porcine, and poultry) by the MSPD technique.     

Fungicide sensitivity,growth rate,aggressiveness and frost hardiness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia fructicola</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia laxa</Emphasis> isolates

Monilinia fructicola, the most destructive pathogen of the genus Monilinia, has recently been introduced into Serbia and many other European countries. Since then, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the characteristics of Monilinia species that have a role in the establishment and survival of the pathogen in new areas. The present study assessed the capacity of M. fructicola to repress and replace Monilinia laxa in Serbia based on: fungicide sensitivity, growth rate and aggressiveness at different temperatures, as well as frost hardiness of the isolates of both species. The results showed that the isolates of M. fructicola, compared to M. laxa, were significantly less sensitive to the following fungicides: iprodione, tebucanozole, chlorothalonil, azoxystrobin, fluopyram, and boscalid. In addition, M. laxa isolates exhibited little variation in sensitivity to all of the tested fungicides, whereas M. fructicola isolates displayed a wide range of sensitivity. The temperature of 5°C favored M. laxa growth and aggressiveness, while at 30°C M. fructicola grew faster and had higher lesion expansion rate. These results support an assumption that M. fructicola will continue to spread in Serbian orchards in coming years, particularly on stone fruits harvested during hot summer weather.     

The effects of cold pre-treatment on the toxicity of several contact insecticides on adults of three Sitophilus granarius (L.) populations

As very little is known about the impact of cold pre-treatments on insecticidal toxicity to the surviving stored-product insects, we examined the effects of cooling (?5 °C) on the toxicity of five contact insecticides to Sitophilus granarius adults from three populations (laboratory, field and selected). We determined: (a) weevil lethal time after exposure to ?5 °C, (b) the effects of two cold pre-treatments (LT₂₀ and LT₅₀—lethal time for 20 and 50 % of exposed adults) on 24 and 72 h recovery rates of laboratory adults after exposure to five insecticides and (c) deltamethrin, dichlorvos and malathion toxicity to two weevil populations with altered insecticide susceptibility after exposure to the LT₂₀ and LT₅₀ pre-treatments. The tested S. granarius populations showed no significant differences in their susceptibility to cooling. All insecticides except dichlorvos were more toxic to the laboratory weevils after 24 h than after 72 h recovery from the LT₂₀ pre-treatment. Dichlorvos and deltamethrin were more toxic to the other two populations after 72 h of recovery. Comparing the effects of cold pre-treatment and non-treatment on the laboratory strain, no significant increase in the toxicity of insecticides was detected, while only deltamethrin was significantly more toxic to the field and selected populations recovering for 24 h (12.1 and 11.0 times, respectively) and 72 h (6.9 and 36.6 times) from the LT₂₀ pre-treatment. In conclusion, only the shorter of the two cold pre-treatments was found effective in terms of increasing the insecticidal toxicity, especially against the populations with altered susceptibility to insecticides.     

Economic evaluation of several control programs for the cattle nematode Parafiliria bovicola using benefit—cost analysis

An attempt to predict the rate of spread of and economic losses due to Parafiliaria bovicola infections in Swedish cattle was made for a 20-year period using the best epidemiological data available. By 1990, yearly losses in the absence of a control program may amount to 40 million Swedish crowns (8 million U.S.$). The estimated losses were compared to four presumptive eradication measures: (i) pharmaceutical treatment of cows with cutaneous Parafilaria bleeding, (ii) culling of bleeding cows, (iii) indoor management of bleeding cows, and (iv) pharmaceutical treatment of young livestock going to slaughter. Only the first three control programs will theoretically result in eradication of the parasite. The calculated benefit—cost ratios were 30.0, 5.9, 5.9 and 1.9 for (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), respectively.