ADA,a fast‐growth medium for Hymenoscyphus fraxineus

The growth rate of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was evaluated on five different media under laboratory conditions. Statistically significant differences were found among them, where H. fraxineus demonstrated the highest growth rate on ADA medium (a newly designed nutritive medium). This study suggests that ADA is a suitable medium for growing H. fraxineus.     

Biochemical parameters in the blood of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) supplemented with commercially available β‐glucan‐based product (IMUNO‐2865®)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a promising new immune stimulant in aquaculture (IMUNO‐2865^®) on biochemical parameters in sea bream during the winter stress period. A total of 640 sea bream were fed throughout 90 days with diets containing 0 (Group 1), 1 (Group 2), 10 (Group 3) and 25 g (Group 4) of IMUNO‐2865^® kg^?1 of feed. Samples were taken each month and 90 days after supplementation. No statistical differences among treatment groups were noticed for the following biochemical parameters: glucose (GLU), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma cholesterol (CHOL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea (URE) and creatinine (CREA). At the final sampling, total ammonia (NH₃) was higher in Groups 3 and 4 compared to the control and the low supplementation group (p < .05), while total proteins (TP) was significantly higher in Group 4 compared to all other groups, and in Groups 2 and 3 compared to the control group (p < .05). Blood Ca⁺⁺ levels were significantly higher after 60 days of feeding in all treatment groups compared to the control, and remained elevated in Group 4 even after 90 days following cessation of supplementation (p < .05). The results of this study described the increase of biochemical parameters in the blood of sea bream after use of IMUNO‐2865^® but future research is needed to evaluate its potentially immunostimulative effect on fish in commercial aquaculture.     

Recent observations of sooty bark disease of sycamore maple in Prague (Czech Republic) and the phylogenetic placement of Cryptostroma corticale

The anamorphic fungus Cryptostroma corticale (Xylariaceae) causing sooty bark disease (SBD) of Acer pseudoplatanus has been reported within the past decade in several European countries. In the last decade, severe drought conditions during summer also resulted in an outbreak of SBD in park areas in Prague (Czech Republic). Trees with the typical syndromes were recorded in four localities in Prague. Some trees were also located in the alluvial plain of the Vltava River with groundwater available all year long. We suppose that the trees were stressed by full water saturation for several months after flood in 2012 and that SBD was triggered by anoxia and subsequent phytopththora root rot. Sterile fungi isolated from one tree and one lesion were identified as C. corticale based on the similarity of their ITS rDNA sequences with strains of C. corticale in a public collection. Furthermore, C. corticale was placed in the family Xylariaceae within the genus Biscogniauxia based on phylogenetic analysis of four genes (ITS nrDNA, actin, RPB2 and β‐tubulin). The closest relatives are B. bartholomei and Graphostroma platystoma.     

Annual Variations of Needle Surface Characteristics of Pinus Sylvestris Growing Near the Emission Source

In present study, pollutant effects on needle surface characteristics of Pinus sylvestris in the area affected by a nitrogen fertilizer plant have been investigated over 1994–1997 year period. Near the factory, sites with 15–25-year-old trees on a 0.5–22 km interval were chosen. Mean monthly concentrations of NO₂ and NH₃ varied across the transect in the range of 1.8–8.8 µg m^?3 and 1.8 – 69.3 µg m^?3, respectively. NH₃ concentrations exceeded the critical level (>23 µg m^?3) only in the 0.5 km vicinity. Assessment of needle surface wettability by measuring contact angles (CA) of water droplets and surface quality by measuring stomatal area covered by structural wax (SW) revealed significant (p<0.05) needle age, site, and year of sampling related differences. Comparison of SW between sites showed reliably (p<0.05) higher surface wax erosion on one-year-old needles sampled in the area, where ammonia concentration exceeds critical level. Significant correlations between site SW on one-year-old needles and distance from the pollution source, NO₂ and NH₃ concentrations were detected (r = 0.539; r = ? 0.495; r = ? 0.426; p<0.001, respectively). Correlations between CA and factors mentioned were lower.     

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) from North Dakota—a New Bioenergy Crop for the Nemoral Zone of Europe

ABSTRACT

Parallel to the growing interest in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in southern countries of Europe, there is enhanced interest in knowing about its potential adaptability in the European regions with cool and moderate climates. The objective of this work was to characterize important agricultural parameters of switchgrass originated from North Dakota in order to identify the most valuable accessions for further research, propagation, and breeding in the Nemoral zone of Europe. The selection aimed at evaluating overwintering and productivity of switchgrass, with the ultimate objective of biomass quality improvement. Field trials were carried out in the central lowland of Lithuania during 2012–2014 on 33 germplasm accessions of switchgrass originating from North Dakota. Allthe tested accessions exhibited almost similar overwinter survival rate, i.e., 93.7–96.7%. Significant differences were observed in mean dry matter yields of all the tested accessions harvested once or twice per season (P < 0.05). The higher yielding accessions during both study years were differentiated. The yield potential of these accessions depended on a number of morphological traits, including internode thickness, plant height, panicle length, and leaf and stem weight per tiller (P < 0.05). Ash and mineral composition was associated with the genotype and the year of biomass harvest (P < 0.05). The switchgrass genotypes originating from North Dakota appeared to be adaptable to the European environment with cool and moderate climate and short growing season. The best-performing accessions can serve as a valuable genetic source for future breeding programmes.     

Zur Nutzung vonAllium-Wildarten der mongolischen Flora

Zusammenfassung Allium-Arten gehören zu den regelmäßig und traditionell von der mongolischen Bevölkerung genutzten Wildpflanzen, die vor allem als Würzmittel für die sonst vorzugsweise auf tierischen Produkten beruhende Kost dienen. Besondere Bedeutung haben dabeiA. altaicum, A. victorialis undA. ramosum, bei denen die Sammlung von Zwiebeln bzw. oberirdischer Pflanzenteile nicht nur für den individuellen Bedarf, sondern auch für die Marktversorgung erfolgt. Als Ausgangsmaterial zur Herstellung eines Winterkraftfutters sindA. polyrrhizum undA. mongolicum in den Halbwüstengebieten der MVR von hohem wirtschaftlichem Wert. Bei einigen Arten(A. altaicum, A. macrostemon) hat die intensive Nutzung zur Verringerung der natürlichen Bestände geführt.

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The use of wild species ofAllium in the mongolian flora

Summary Wild species ofAllium have been used regularly and traditionally by the Mongolian people mainly as spice plants for their food which is based mostly on animal products. The most important species areA. altaicum, A. victorialis andA. ramosum, gatherings of their bulbs resp. overground parts does happen not only for individual purposes but for the market, too. FromA. polyrrhizum andA. mongolicum dry pellets are prepared as forage (mostly for sheep) for the winter time, therefore these taxa are economically very useful especially in the semidesert regions of the country. Extensive collecting resulted in population shrinkngs of some species(A. altaicum, A. macrostemon).

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Allium

Allium , . A. altaicum, A. victorialis A. ramosum, , .A. polyrrhizum A. mongolicum . (A. altaicum, A. macrostemon) .

     

Breeding of rutabaga (Brassica napus var. napobrassica L. Reichenb.) based on biomarker selection for root maggot resistance (Delia radicum L.)

Cabbage root maggot (Delia radicum) is the most devastating and persistent pest for rutabaga (Brassica napus var. napobrassica) in all production areas in Canada. With the deregistration of terbufos (Counter^?) to combat maggot attack, only chlorpyrifos (Lorsban^?), an organophosphorous pesticide, remains and extensive use could lead to insecticide resistance. An unprotected crop would lead to serious domestic and export losses. Root maggot resistance from canola, that originated from the weedy crucifer, Sinapis alba, was transferred to rutabaga by standard hand crossing. A population of doubled haploids was developed from the F1s and screened in a high pressure root maggot rutabaga production field. Resistant and susceptible isolines were identified from different crossing groups and these isoline pairs were used to develop a biochemical selection protocol based on HPLC profiles where glucosinolates can be present as an aid to resistance breeding. Fourteen peaks in the HPLC profile were identified as markers and predictably varied between the more resistant and more susceptible lines. The 3–4 leaf stage was identified as the ideal stage for tissue extraction for profiling which is close to the stage when gravid female maggot flies seek host plants for oviposition utilizing olfactory signals from the host. Olfactory signals for Delia commonly are isothiocyanates which are volatile break down products of glucosinolates. The peaks in the HPLC profiles identified as markers for resistance contain glucosinolates and may be partially responsible for the plant-insect interaction. A predictive model is proposed as an aid to breeders for the development of root maggot resistant rutabaga lines.     

Analysis of Fatty Acid Esters of Hydroxyl Fatty Acid in Selected Plant Food

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Metabolic syndrome, characterized by obesity, low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension, is a major risk factor for...     

Crop damage may occur after herbicide disposal in manure: A preliminary study

Abstract

Six plant protection products (esfenvalerate, diflufenican, isoproturon, terbutylazine, chlorsulphuron, and metsulphuron-methyl) were added to pig and bovine liquid manure, and the degradation of the compounds was followed over a period of 57 &lparlsulphonylureas)(sulphonylureas) or 77 (other compounds) weeks. After 57 weeks more than 50% of the sulphonylureas remained in the bovine liquid manure, while 25% remained in the pig liquid manure. After 77 weeks >90% terbutylazine, 50–60% enfenvalerate, and 10–40% diflufenican and isoproturon had been degraded in both bovine and pig liquid manure. With exception of terbutylazine, the examined plant protection products were neither quickly nor extensively degraded. The practice to add unused spraying liquid or rinse-water containing plant protection products to liquid manure constitutes a risk that unwanted compunds are inadvertently added to the fields when the liquid manure is used as fertilizer, and this may cause crop damage.     

Effects of organic and conventional fertilization on the occurrence of Brevicoryne brassicae L. and its natural enemies in white cabbage

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a rapid growth in organic farming in Lithuania. We aimed to compare the occurrence of Brevicoryne brassicae L., its primary parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) and predators from Coccinellidae and Cecidomyiidae families in non-fertilized, organically (with cow manure) and synthetically fertilized white cabbage crops. Occurrence of B. brassicae was higher on organically fertilized plants. Parasitoid D. rapae had the strongest effect in reducing the aphid population, as other predators occurred only in small densities. Quantity of parasitized aphids by D. rapae was higher on manure fertilized plants. In non-fertilized cabbage plants seasonal parasitization per cent of B. brassicae by D. rapae increased along with the expected lower aphid pressure compared with fertilized plants and reached on average 28.5%. D. rapae reduced the population of cabbage aphid by on average 15.5% in manure fertilized and ?12.9% in synthetically fertilized plants. The regression showed a positive relationship between the increase of the number of B. brassicae and activity of D. rapae. No coccinellids were found in aphid colonies on synthetically fertilized plants. Different fertilization did not have any significant effect on the incidence of Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rond. In conclusion, organic fertilization increased the population of cabbage aphid more than its natural enemies and the abundance of natural enemies was too small to provide effective reduction of this pest.