Ultramicro-ELISA with a fluorogenic substrate for detection of potato viruses

Summary A double-antibody ELISA is described in which polystyrene-covered polyvinylchloride plates with 10 μl test volume in the wells are used as a solid phase. A fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylum-belliferyl phosphate is used instead of a colorigenic substrate. The plates are loaded with 10 μl samples by using a 50-channel micropipette and fluorescence units read at 0.16 mm thickness with a special measuring device. The practicability and sensitivity of the method are exemplified by the detection of potato viruses X, Y and M (secondary infections) and potato leafroll virus (primary infections), in leaf and tuber extracts. Ultramicro-ELISA is as reliable in detecting the viruses as the standard ELISA. Because of the very small volumes used in the wells, chemicals, antibodies and alkaline phosphatase are reduced by 95% as compared with the standard test.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Ultramikro-ELISA in der Form eines Doppelantik?rper-ELISA (Clark & Adams, 1977) beschrieben, in dem als feste Phase polystyrolbeschichtete Polyvinylchlorid-Folien mit einem Füllvolumen von 10 μl verwendet wurden. Die Dosierung erfolgte in einem Raster von 5×10 mit einem speziellen 50-kanaligen Mikropipetter. Alle Inkubationsschritte wurden bei Raumtemperatur durchgeführt. Nach dem Ausspülen mit PBS-Tween wurden die Folien 20 Minuten mit Aqua dest. gewaschen. An Stelle des chromogenen Substratesp-Nitrophenylphosphat wurde 0,0005 mol/l 4-Methylumbelliferylphosphat in Diethanolaminpuffer verwendet. Die Reaktionszeit für das fluorogene Substrat betrug 20 Minuten. Ein Abstoppen der Substratreaktion entfiel, da die L?sung nach erfolgter Reaktion mit einem Mikropipetter auf eine im Raster 5×10 gekammerte Glasmessküvette überführt wurde. Die Messung der Fluoreszenzintensit?t erfolgte bei 0,16 mm Schichtdicke in einem speziellen Auswerteger?t. Dieser Ultramikro-ELISA, der zur quantitativen Bestimmung des α₁-Fetoproteins Anwendung findet (Horn et al., 1981; Hoffmann-Blume et al., 1983), wurde in seiner Nachweissicherheit mit einem üblichen Doppelantik?rper-ELISA verglichen (Richter et al., 1979). In die Untersuchungen wurden Blattpress?fte von Pflanzen einbezogen, die mit Kartoffelblattroll-Virus (PLRV), Kartoffel-Virus Y (PVY) und Kartoffel-Virus M (PVM) infiziert waren. Des weiteren wurden das Kartoffel-Virus X (PVX) sowie die Viren PVY und PVM in sekund?rinfizierten Knollen und Bl?ttern von Kartoffelzuchtst?mmen (spontane Freilandinfektionen) nachgewiesen. Zum Nachweis prim?rer Infektionen mit PLRV wurden gesunde Mutterpflanzen der Sorte Adretta an zwei Terminen mit Hilfe von Blattl?usen infiziert. Die mit beiden ELISA-Verfahren erhaltenen Ergebnisse stimmten überein. In Blattpresss?ften konnten die Viren bis zu einer Verdünnung von 10⁵ (PVM), 10³ (PVY) und 10² (PLRV) nachgewiesen werden. In 20 Individuen von Kartoffelzuchtst?mmen wurden mit beiden Verfahren übereinstimmend PVX und PVY in 5 Knollen- und Blattproben festgestellt; PVM wurde in 12 Blatt- und 13 Knollenproben nachgewiesen. Die in Blattproben ermittelten Extinktionen bzw. Fluoreszenzintensit?ten lagen um den Faktor 2–5 h?her als die Werte der Knollenextrakte. In 20 mit PLRV prim?rinfizierten Mutterpflanzen wurden im Rahmen der Blattuntersuchungen Ende Oktober mit beiden Verfahren 10 infizierte Stecklinge ermittelt. Die Ergebnisse wurden durch die Augenstecklingsprüfung, bei der 9 infizierte Pflanzen gefunden wurden, unterstützt. Bei der Untersuchung prim?rinfizierter Knollen wurde nach einer Zwischenlagerung von 2,5 Monaten in 17 von 18 dieser Knollen eine PLRV-Infektion best?tigt. Die anschliessende Augenstecklingsprüfung ergab nur 12 PLRV-infizierte Pflanzen. Eine Abh?ngigkeit vom Infektionszeitpunkt wurde nicht gefunden. Der vorgestellte Ultramikro-ELISA besitzt nach diesen Ergebnissen die gleiche Sensitivit?t wie ein üblicher Standard-ELISA. Bedingt durch die geringen Füllvolumina k?nnen jedoch Chemikalien, Antik?rper und alkalische Phosphatase um 95% der im Vergleich zum Standard ben?tigten Mengen reduziert werden.

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Résumé Dans ce travail est décrit une méthode Ultramicro-ELISA avec le principe du double anticorps-ELISA (Clark & Adams, 1977). La partie réceptrice solide se compose de feuilles en polyvinylchloride additionnée de couches en polystérole avec une capacité de 10 μl par alvéole. La sensibilisation des plaques qui correspondent à une grille de 5×10 alvéoles, est effectuée avec une micro-multipipette à 50 canaux. L'incubation a lieu à température ambiante. Après rin?age des plaques avec le PBS-Tween le lavage est effectué durant 20 minutes avec de l'eau distillée. A la place du substratp-nitrophénylphosphore on utilise une solution de 4-methylumbelliferylphosphore 0,0005 mol/l avec un tampon de diethanolamine. La durée de réaction du substrat fluorescent est de 20 minutes. Un stoppage de la réaction est superflu, étant donné qu'une fois la réaction obtenue, la solution est prélevée avec une micro pipette et versée sur une grille-cuvette en verre avec 5×10 champs. La mesure de l'intensité fluorescente est effectuée avec un appareil spécial sur une couche de 0,16 mm. Cet ELISA Ultramicro-test utilisé pour la détermination quantitative de la protéine α-1 Feto (Horn et al., 1981; Hoffmann-Blume et al., 1983) a été comparé sur sa fiabilité avec un double anticorps-ELISA courant (Richter et al., 1979). Les examens comprenaient des jus de feuilles de pommes de terre contaminées par PLRV, PVY, PVM. On a également détecté le PVX, PVY et PVM, infections secondaires de tubercules et feuilles de clones de pommes de terre. Pour la détection des infections primaires de PLRV, des plantes-mères saines de la variété Adretta ont été infectées à deux dates à l'aide de pucerons. Les résultats obtenus avec les deux méthodes ELISA concordent dans tous les essais. Dans le jus de feuilles, les virus ont été détectés jusqu'à une dilution 10⁵ (PVM), 10³ (PVY) et 10² (PLRV). Sur les 20 clones examinés on a décelé avec les deux méthodes 5 cas de PVX et PVY dans les échantillons de tubercules et feuilles. PVM a été détecté dans 12 cas sur les feuilles et 13 fois sur les tubercules. Les extinctions, c'est-à-dire les intensités fluorescentes, sont 2 à 5 fois plus élevées à partir de jus de feuilles que sur du jus de tubercules. Sur 20 plantes qui présentaient une infection primaire, on a obtenu par des analyses foliaires des boutures à fin octobre, 10 individus infectés avec chaque méthode. Ces résultats ont été confirmés par des tests d'indexage qui ont donné 9 individus infectés. Lors de la détection d'infections primaires, après entreposage des tubercules pendant 21/2 mois, on a obtenu 17 tubercules positifs sur 18 contaminés de PLRV. L'indexage d'oeilletons a permis de déceler 12 individus malades sur ce même matériel. On a pas observé de différence selon l'époque d'infection de la plante-mère. Cela avait cependant été démontré lors d'une étude plus conséquente (Richter et al., 1983). Selon les résultats obtenus avec les virus de la pomme de terre PVX, PVY et PVM d'infections secondaires, ainsi que du PLRV d'infections primaires l'ultramicro-test ELISA offre la même sensibilité que le test ELISA standard. En raison des petits volumes des plaques, les substances chimiques, anticorps et phosphatase alcaline, peuvent être réduites de 95% comparativement avec la méthode traditionnelle.

     

Post‐grazing cutting management in tall fescue affects the sward structure,forage and liveweight production

Tall fescue is the main perennial grass of the pastures of the temperate region of Argentina. However, after flowering in spring, tall fescue loses productivity and quality. Based on this, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different post‐grazing mechanical cutting managements on the forage mass, leaf proportion, stocking rate, liveweight gain and liveweight production of tall fescue pastures. The treatments were post‐grazing mechanical cutting at anthesis (FC), post‐grazing mechanical cutting throughout spring and summer (SSC), and no post‐grazing mechanical cutting (NC). The experiment was performed from 2011 to 2014 in Argentina. The greatest and lowest forage mass were determined in September–November and May–September respectively. The leaf proportion of the SSC treatment was greater than that of the NC treatment, except in September–November. NC had higher stocking rate and lower liveweight gain than SSC, and neither NC nor SSC differed from FC. The liveweight production of the treatments was characterized by a trade‐off between stocking rate and liveweight gain. We conclude that FC is an attractive management because, with a single post‐grazing cutting, swards remain productive and leafy.     

Powdery mildew development is positively influenced by grapevine vegetative growth induced by different soil management strategies

In various crop species, high levels of powdery mildew infection and severity have been associated with high vegetative vigour. In grapevine this relationship has also been observed by vine growers, though it has not been quantified. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the development of powdery mildew on leaves and berries and canopy growth, and thus to quantify the relationship between the pathogen and its host. Over a two-year period (2005 and 2006), an experiment was carried out in a vineyard (cv. Aranel) near Montpellier, southern France. Several levels of canopy growth were generated by implementing four soil management strategies: i) perennial cover crop in the inter-row, ii) annual cover crop in the inter-row, iii) chemical weed control over the entire soil surface, iv) chemical weed control all over the soil surface and drip irrigation and fertilization in the row. Powdery mildew was artificially inoculated on experimental sub-plots with Erysiphe necator [Schw.] Burr. conidia. The most vigorous vines developed a larger number of diseased leaves and a higher percentage of mildewed berries compared to low-vigour vines. The major explanatory variable highlighted in these experiments was the shoot leaf number, mainly early in the season. A higher leaf population generated a larger number of powdery mildew colonies close to grapes and consequently a higher probability of berry infection. Our experimental results provide evidence of a positive relationship between powdery mildew development and grapevine vegetative development. These results provide an opportunity to develop new IPM strategies in vineyards.     

The roles of subsurface carbon and hydrogen in palladium-catalyzed alkyne hydrogenation

Alkynes can be selectively hydrogenated into alkenes on solid palladium catalysts. This process requires a strong modification of the near-surface region of palladium, in which carbon (from fragmented feed molecules) occupies interstitial lattice sites. In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements under reaction conditions indicated that much less carbon was dissolved in palladium during unselective, total hydrogenation. Additional studies of hydrogen content using in situ prompt gamma activation analysis, which allowed us to follow the hydrogen content of palladium during catalysis, indicated that unselective hydrogenation proceeds on hydrogen-saturated beta-hydride, whereas selective hydrogenation was only possible after decoupling bulk properties from the surface events. Thus, the population of subsurface sites of palladium, by either hydrogen or carbon, governs the hydrogenation events on the surface.     

Eradication of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis by incorporating fresh crop debris into soil: Preliminary evaluations under controlled conditions

A method for the eradication of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis was tested for its efficacy in three experiments carried out in the laboratory and greenhouse. In the first experiment, peat moss and sand mix in pots was amended with fresh tomato debris which was either artificially infected with the pathogen, or was not amended. Pots were enclosed in plastic bags or left open. Two temperatures (25 °C and 45 °C) were tested over a 6-week period. The pathogen was not detected in the amended soil after 4 weeks treatment at 45 °C, but was not eradicated after treatments in open pots at 25 °C.In the second experiment, the survival of C.m. michiganensis in either artificially infested soil or in artificially infected tomato plants was studied to determine the behaviour of the pathogen under these conditions. Strains of saprophytic bacteria in the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus and Brevibacillus were identified under the experimental conditions. In vitro antagonism between Bacillus subtilis and C.m. michiganensis was observed. Finally, the recovery of C.m. michiganensis introduced into disinfected substrate was determined. Survival of C.m. michiganensis in plates artificially inoculated with substrate was greatly reduced after a 4-week treatment at 25 °C, or after 1 week at 45 °C.C.m. michiganensis remained pathogenic on plant tissue after 4 weeks of either thermal treatment.It is important to take these results into account with regard the effect of different soil disinfection techniques or ecological alternatives such as biofumigation, solarization, and the addition of organic matter, as well as for integrated pest management systems.     

Mycosporine-like amino acids and marine toxins--the common and the different

Marine microorganisms harbor a multitude of secondary metabolites. Among these are toxins of different chemical classes as well as the UV-protective mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The latter form a group of water-soluble, low molecular-weight (generally < 400) compounds composed of either an aminocyclohexenone or an aminocyclohexenimine ring, carrying amino acid or amino alcohol substituents. So far there has been no report of toxicity in MAAs but nevertheless there are some features they have in common with marine toxins. Among the organisms producing MAAs are cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and diatoms that also synthesize toxins. As in cyclic peptide toxins found in cyanobacteria, amino acids are the main building blocks of MAAs. Both, MAAs and some marine toxins are transferred to other organisms e.g. via the food chains, and chemical modifications can take place in secondary consumers. In contrast to algal toxins, the physiological role of MAAs is clearly the protection from harmful UV radiation by physical screening. However, other roles, e.g. as osmolytes and antioxidants, are also considered. In this paper the common characteristics of MAAs and marine toxins are discussed as well as the differences.     

Enhanced kernel set promoted by synchronous pollination determines a tradeoff between kernel number and kernel weight in temperate maize hybrids

Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield is strongly related to the number of harvested kernels, where kernel number can be increased by synchronously pollinating silks rather than allowing them to be progressively pollinated as they naturally appear from the husks. However, there is scarce evidence on how this practice affects kernel weight (KW) and plant grain yield (PGY), and no report exists on its effects when combined with treatments aimed to reduce apical dominance, like male sterility and detasseling. Field experiments were conducted in two growing seasons (Exp₁ and Exp₂) using two hybrids, cropped at contrasting stand densities (3 and 9 plants per m²) and including (i) male-fertile and male-sterile versions, (ii) tasseled and detasseled plants, and (iii) natural (NP) and synchronous pollination (SP; pollen added manually to ears bagged 5 days after initial silking) systems. Tassel growth of sterile and fertile versions was also evaluated in a separate experiment (Exp₃). Detasseling increased the number of ears per plant reaching silking (P < 0.001) of NP plants, but this beneficial effect of reduced apical dominance did not improve kernel number per plant (KNP) or PGY. Similarly, the early arrest of anther growth in male-sterile plants had no clear benefit on KNP. In contrast, KNP was enhanced by synchronous pollination (range between −13% and +71%; average of +15.4% in Exp₁ and +3.9% in Exp₂). However, this pollination system promoted a decreased in KW (range between −30% and +4%; average of −11.8% in Exp₁ and −7.8 in Exp₂) such that the treatment had no effect on PGY (range between −19% and +37%; average of +1% in Exp₁ and −4% in Exp₂). Because plant growth rate around flowering was not different between pollination treatments, assimilate availability per kernel was reduced from ovary fertilization onwards in synchronously pollinated plants when compared to open pollinated plants. This explains the reduced KW when increasing KNP by synchronous pollination. In summary, none of the imposed treatments allowed grain yield to be increased at the plant level.     

Surface Glucan Structures in Aeromonas spp.

Aeromonas spp. are generally found in aquatic environments, although they have also been isolated from both fresh and processed food. These Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria are mostly infective to poikilothermic animals, although they are also considered opportunistic pathogens of both aquatic and terrestrial homeotherms, and some species have been associated with gastrointestinal and extraintestinal septicemic infections in humans. Among the different pathogenic factors associated with virulence, several cell-surface glucans have been shown to contribute to colonization and survival of Aeromonas pathogenic strains, in different hosts. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), capsule and α-glucan structures, for instance, have been shown to play important roles in bacterial–host interactions related to pathogenesis, such as adherence, biofilm formation, or immune evasion. In addition, glycosylation of both polar and lateral flagella has been shown to be mandatory for flagella production and motility in different Aeromonas strains, and has also been associated with increased bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, and induction of the host proinflammatory response. The main aspects of these structures are covered in this review.     

Potato plants transformed with a potato virus Y P1 gene sequence are resistant to PVYO

The cloned P1 sequence of PVY^O was transferred in sense orientation into the potato cultivar Pito usingAgrobacteriummediated transformation. Sixteen of the putatively transformed plants (NPTII positive) were assayed for PVY^O resistance. No PVY^O was detected in four plants, representing two lines, 21 days after two sap-inoculations and 35 days after graft-inoculation, and the plants remained symptomless, whereas other tested plants showed mosaic symptoms and had high PVY titers similar to those of the control plants. No line was resistant to PVY^N and potato viruses A and X. Southern analysis confirmed the presence of the transgene(s) in the two PVY^O-resistant and one susceptible line examined, but no signal was detected in nontransformed Pito. These results suggest a high level of protection against PVY^O in potato transformed with P1 sequence of PVY^O.