Effects of sharp eyespot (Rhizoctonia cerealis) on yield and grain quality of winter wheat

Sharp eyespot caused by Rhizoctonia cerealis was assessed in four winter wheat crops surveyed at four locations in north-central Poland in 2006?C2009. At the four locations symptoms developed on 41.9?C67.7?% of shoots of all plants (average of 4?years) and on 49?C73.5?% of shoots of diseased plants (average of 4?years). Slight (category 1) disease was most frequent, occurring on 24.4?C41.3?% of shoots (range 14.8?C51.3?%); moderate (category 2) disease was less frequent, occurring on 16.9?C25.5?% of shoots (range 8.9?C32.4?%); severe (category 3) disease was least frequent, occurring on 3.2?C7.1?% (range 0?C22.0?%) of shoots. Sharp eyespot affected wheat growth and yield, and grain quality. Disease, especially in the severe category, was associated with significant decreases in plant and ear dry weights, number of grains per ear, grain dry weight per ear and thousand-grain weight, and with increases in grain protein and wet gluten contents, Hagberg falling number and sedimentation value. There was an association between occurrence of sharp eyespot in stems and colonization of grain by fungi. Alternaria alternata and E. nigrum were the most common species.     

Evidence for a functional second thymus in mice

The thymus organ supports the development of T cells and is located in the thorax. Here, we report the existence of a second thymus in the mouse neck, which develops after birth and grows to the size of a small lymph node. The cervical thymus had a typical medulla-cortex structure, was found to support T cell development, and could correct T cell deficiency in athymic nude mice upon transplantation. The identification of a regular second thymus in the mouse may provide evolutionary links to thymus organogenesis in other vertebrates and suggests a need to reconsider the effect of thoracic thymectomy on de novo T cell production.     

Weak competitive ability may explain decline of Taxus baccata

Context

Taxus woodlands suffer from a lack of natural regeneration across its whole distribution range.

Aims

In Knyazhdvir Reserve in Ukraine Taxus baccata primarily competes with Abies alba. It has been assumed that in the conditions of deep shade, yews have a greater competitive advantage than firs.

Methods

To verify this hypothesis, a plot with both species growing under the canopy was established. Wood samples were taken from 20 trees of T. baccata and 20 trees of A. alba.

Results

There were no differences in the mean tree-ring width, height and age between both species. Due to a lack of spatial separation of both species, yews and firs inhabited the same area in the analysed plot. Fir seedlings (up to 0.5?m) were recorded to grow under yew saplings (above 0.5?m), but the inverse situation of yew seedlings growing under fir saplings was not seen.

Conclusion

Seedling distribution, tree-ring growth rate, possibility of growth of fir seedlings under yew saplings and greater potential growth suggested that fir was predisposed to having the competitive edge over yew. Our results may confirm the hypothesis that T. baccata has a restricted distribution because of weak competitive abilities and can exist only in habitats where faster growing species are absent. The results call into question the prevailing opinion that human influences are the principal cause for the decline of T. baccata.     

The impact of gastrointestinal parasites infection on slaughter efficiency in pigs

The aim of the present study was to determine an influence of parasites invasion on fodder consumption and slaughter yield of fatteners in three different maintenance systems. The experimental part of the study was conducted on pigs farm producing in a close cycle. The study on internal parasites of fatteners were conducted based on coproscopic methods. In order to describe the relationship between following variables: meatiness, slaughter yield, fodder consumption and mean EPG value, the principal component analysis (PCA) was used. The analysis between fodder consumption and maintenance system and fodder consumption and helminths infection did not demonstrate any significant relationship. The analysis between slaughter yield and meatiness and an infection demonstrated in turn a decrease in both parameters values in the two maintenance systems, i.e. in fatteners kept on litter meatiness decrease in infected fatteners of 4.2% and yield of 1.7%. On slatted floor meatiness decrease in infected fatteners of 6.1% and yield of 2.7%. The decreasing tendency in meat content (3.7%) and in slaughter yield (1.1%) was also observed in fatteners maintained on deep litter, however the values were not significant statistically.     

Modelling Habitat Suitability for Deciduous Forest Focal Species – A Sensitivity Analysis using Different Satellite Land Cover Data

We explored the usefulness of three satellite land cover data sets available to land managers in south-central Sweden for conservation planning using four deciduous forest focal resident bird species with different habitat requirements. Habitat suitability models using empirical species-specific habitat parameters and a Geographic Information System were applied to evaluate and compare the degree of consistency among three different land cover data sets. The study area encompassed 10,000 km² in a landscape mosaic of managed boreal forests and is within the distribution range of all four focal species. Although the three land cover data sets indicated similar total amounts of deciduous forest, the habitat suitability models showed that different land cover data yielded inconsistent results regarding the amount and distribution of suitable habitat within 5×5 km grid cells. Given this sensitivity to the choice of land cover data sets, the habitat suitability models showed positive relationships among the selected focal species for each land cover data set separately. As expected, decreasing amounts of suitable habitat were identified for species with higher specialisation. Thus, because habitat suitability models are an appropriate way to gain insight into the functionality and connectivity of habitat networks, land cover data must be carefully evaluated and if necessary combined with other landscape information for effective conservation planning.     

Image interplay between events and destinations

Events have become increasingly important in acting as image builders for their host destinations (i.e., cities, regions). Equivalently, the image of a destination can have an impact on event perceptions, resulting in careful considerations for event managers and destination stakeholders to make when pairing an event with a host destination. As a contribution to event and destination image impact research, this paper systematically conducts a review process and identifies peer‐reviewed articles that fall within its established research criteria, thereby synthesizing and gaining new perspectives, as well as presenting new implications by conjoining aspects of destination and event image research. To conduct the review process Cooper's (1988, Knowledge in Society) taxonomy of literature reviews was used. Events play a positive role in impacting a destination's image, whether by increasing awareness and familiarity, reducing negative images, providing believable associations and authenticity as well as community support, or ensuring the host gains positive associations from the event. Destination impacts on events’ images were a far less researched area and therefore revealed a very sparse amount of results. The review for the first time focuses on image implications for both events and host destinations, as opposed to just image impacts from an event to a destination.     

The cannabinoid receptors system in horses: Tissue distribution and cellular identification in skin

BackgroundThe endocannabinoid system (ECS) is composed of cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CBR1) and type 2 (CBR2), cannabinoid‐based ligands (endogenous chemically synthesized phytocannabinoids), and endogenous enzymes controlling their concentrations. Cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) have been identified in invertebrates and in almost all vertebrate species in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as in immune cells, where they control neuroimmune homeostasis. In humans, rodents, dogs, and cats, CBRs expression has been confirmed in the skin, and their expression and tissue distribution become disordered in pathological conditions. Cannabinoid receptors may be a possible therapeutic target in skin diseases.ObjectivesTo characterize the distribution and cellular expression of CBRs in the skin of horses under normal conditions.AnimalsFifteen healthy horses.MethodsUsing full‐thickness skin punch biopsy samples, skin‐derived primary epidermal keratinocytes and dermal‐derived cells, we performed analysis of Cnr1 and Cnr2 genes using real‐time PCR and CBR1 and CBR2 protein expression by confocal microscopy and Western blotting.ResultsNormal equine skin, including equine epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblast‐like cells, all exhibited constant gene and protein expression of CBRs.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceOur results represent a starting point for developing and translating new veterinary medicine‐based pharmacotherapies using ECS as a possible target.     

Reactions of sewage farm soils to different irrigation solutions in a column experiment. 1. Solid phase physicochemical properties

Veränderungen in Rieselfeldböden während eines Säulenversuchs mit unterschiedlichen Beregnungslösungen. 1. Physikochemische Eigenschaften der Festphase In einem 2.5 Jahre dauernden Säulenexperiment wurden die physikochemischen Eigenschaften von zwei Sandböden, eines genutzten sowie eines ehemaligen Rieselfeldes, untersucht. Die Böden wurden gekalkt, beziehungsweise mit unterschiedlichen Beregnungslösungen beaufschlagt. Die Menge an austauschbaren basischen Kationen sowie die Basensättigung beider Böden veränderte sich deutlich während des Experiments. Diese Veränderungen wurden durch Boden-pH-Änderungen verursacht. Die spezifische Oberfläche und die Kationenaustauschkapazität dieser Standorte hängen vom Gehalt an organischer Substanz im Bodenprofil ab. Die Oberflächenladungsdichte war — unabhängig von der Tiefe — in beiden Böden gleich.     

Pathogenic and genetic diversity of Puccinia triticina from triticale in Poland between 2012 and 2015

Variation among Puccinia triticina isolates collected from triticale in Poland between 2012 and 2015 was studied based on virulence and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Two hundred and forty-two single-uredinial isolates from four geographically separated locations were tested for virulence against 33 near-isogenic Thatcher lines containing known Lr resistance genes, and their molecular genotypes were characterized with 34 SSR markers. Structure and relationships of the regional and annual populations of P. triticina were analysed using an assignment-based approach for both the virulence and SSR data. The molecular marker analysis was based on two different models of SSR evolution: the stepwise mutation model with a variable mutation rate (SMMv) and the infinite alleles model (IAM). A highly significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium among SSR genotypes, a high proportion of heterozygotes, and a moderate association of relationships between virulence phenotypes and SSR genotypes were consistent with the occurrence of clonal lineages of related races within the population. While the results suggest that genetic drift and mutation affect variation within the pathogen population, it seems that migration has the most significant role in shaping the population structure of P. triticina occurring on triticale in Poland.