Variation and covariation for Gibberella ear rot resistance and agronomic traits in testcrosses of doubled haploid maize lines

Gibberella ear rot (GER) of maize caused by Fusarium graminearum reduces grain yield and leads to contamination of the grains with deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin that adversely affects the health of humans and animals. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze means and genotypic variances for line per se performance (LP) and testcross performance (TP) of doubled haploid (DH) lines for GER severity and DON concentration as well as for some agronomic traits, (2) examine correlations among these traits, (3) validate QTL for resistance detected in previous studies for LP and their effect on TP and (4) investigate the relative efficiency of indirect selection (RE) for LP to improve TP. Testcross progenies of 94 DH lines originating from four flint populations were developed using a susceptible dent tester as pollinator. Artificial inoculations with F. graminearum led to appreciable disease development. Average TP for GER severity and DON concentration were lower than the mean mid-parent values of the tester and DH lines, indicating mid-parent heterosis for resistance. Genotypic variation for resistance was significant for LP and TP. Genotypic correlations between LP and TP were low and resistance QTL for LP had no significant effects on TP. Accordingly, RE for resistance was low, suggesting to allocate resources mostly to the evaluation of testcrosses. Correlations of resistance to GER and DON contamination with grain yield (measured under non-inoculated conditions) were not significant, indicating that selection for resistance and higher grain yield can be carried out simultaneously.     

Seroepidemiological characterization and risk factors associated with seroconversion to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in goats from Northeastern Brazil

Goat breeding in the Northeast region of Brazil plays an important socioeconomic role. However, there are significant losses caused by sanitary deficits and infectious diseases, particularly caseous lymphadenitis (CL). Although CL is considered endemic in Northeastern Brazil, a comprehensive and up-to-date study of this disease in goat herds in this region is necessary. The objective of this study was to determine the farm-level and animal-level seroprevalences for the disease and to identify the possible risk factors that characterize CL in the caprine species of five Northeastern’s states (Ceará, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Sergipe). A total of 2744 goat serum samples from 230 farms were collected between 2010 and 2012. The diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection was performed using the indirect ELISA technique. Farm-level and animal-level seroprevalences were 87.8% and 30.3%, respectively, suggesting that C. pseudotuberculosis is widespread in goat herds of the Northeast region. The risk factors were as follows: absence of forage silage (odds ratio?=?5.39), not separating animals by sex (odds ratio?=?4.16) or by age (odds ratio?=?6.30), not replacing old goat breeders (odds ratio?=?7.80), and non-treatment of CL lumps prior to spontaneous rupture (odds ratio?=?10.34). This study supports the idea that caseous lymphadenitis is widely disseminated in goats from Northeastern Brazil and based on the risk factor analysis attention should be given to the need to establish adequate control measures, such as incision and early drainage of superficial abscesses, quarantine and elimination of affected animals, periodic inspection of the herd, non-introduction of infected animals, and early disposal of animals with recurrent CL.

     

Immune defense of wild‐caught Norway rats is characterized by increased levels of basal activity but reduced capability to respond to further immune stimulation

Studies of wild animals' immunity often use comparison with laboratory‐raised individuals. Using such an approach, various data were obtained concerning wild Norway rat's immunity. Lower or higher potential of immune system cells to respond to activation stimuli were shown, because of analysis of disparate parameters and/ or small number of analyzed individuals. Inconsistent differences between laboratory and wild rats were shown too, owing to great response variability in wild rats. We hypothesized that wild rats will express more intense immune activity compared to their laboratory counterparts which live in a less demanding environment. To test this, we analyzed the circulating levels of inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), a mediator which has a central role in host immune defense. In addition, we examined the activity of the central immune organ, the spleen, including cell proliferation and production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐17 (IL‐17), which are major effectors of cellular adaptive immune response. In order to obtain reasonable insight into the immunity of wild Norway rats, analysis was conducted on a much larger number of individuals compared to other studies. Higher levels of plasma IL‐6, higher spleen mass, cellularity and basal IFN‐γ production concomitantly with lower basal production of anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) revealed more intense immune activity in the wild compared to laboratory rats. However, lower responsiveness of their spleen cells' proinflammatory cytokine production to concanavalin A (ConA) stimulation, along with preserved capacity of IL‐10 response, might be perceived as an indication of wild rats' reduced capability to cope with incoming environmental stimuli, but also as a means to limit tissue damage.     

TREATMENT OF UNILATERAL PERINEAL HERNIAS IN 2 MALE CHINCHILLAS (CHINCHILLA LANIGERA)

Two sexually intact adult male chinchillas were presented with a swelling in the perineal region. Radiographically both masses had a soft tissue opacity. Ultrasonography confirmed the tentative diagnosis of perineal hernia. In the first case the ultrasonographic examination revealed a fluid-filled structure inside the swelling, which was determined to be the urinary bladder. In the second case the hernia sac was filled with homogeneous tissue, belived to be fat. Subsequently, unilateral perineal herniorrhaphies including an internal obturator muscle flap transposition technique were performed. Both chinchillas recovered well with subsequent uneventful healing of the surgical sites. No long-term complications or recurrences of the perineal hernias were reported. This clinical report shows that perineal hernias occur in chinchillas and can be surgically treated with success.     

Can we face different types of storms under the same umbrella? Efficiency and consistency of connectivity umbrellas across different patchy landscape patterns

Context

The umbrella approach applied to landscape connectivity is based on the principle that the conservation or restoration of the dispersal habitats for some species also can facilitate the movement of others. Species traits alone do not seem to be enough to identify good connectivity umbrella species, showing the need to investigate the influence of additional factors on this property.

Objectives

We test whether the potential of a species as a connectivity umbrella can be influenced by landscape composition and configuration.

Methods

We simulated movement routes for eight hypothetical species in artificial patchy landscapes with different levels of fragmentation, habitat amount and matrix permeability. We determined the effectiveness of the connectivity umbrella of the virtual species using pairwise intersections of important habitats for their movements in all landscapes.

Results

The connectivity umbrella performance of all species was affected by the interaction of fragmentation level and habitat amount. In general, species performance increased with decreasing fragmentation and increasing habitat amount. In most landscapes and considering the same dispersal threshold, species able to move more easily through the matrix showed higher umbrella performance than those for which the matrix offered greater resistance.

Conclusions

The connectivity umbrella is not a static feature that depends only on the species traits, but rather a dynamic property that also varies according to the landscape attributes. Therefore, we do not recommend spatial transferability of the connectivity umbrella species identified in a landscape to others that have divergent levels of fragmentation and habitat quantity.

     

Metabolite fingerprint of “capim dourado” (Syngonanthus nitens), a basis of Brazilian handcrafts

Syngonanthus nitens is a grass-like species, whose flower stems assume a beautiful golden colour when dried, hence their common name “capim dourado”. This plant represents an important source of income for rural communities, especially in Jalapão region, being the scapes used in the craft industry to make, together with buriti palm strips, traditional handcrafts from their coils. Therefore, considering that scapes and not flowerheads are used, we carried out an analytical study to define the metabolite fingerprint of both S. nitens parts, with the aim, on one hand, to identify the molecules responsible for the characteristic golden colour of the capim dourado herb and, on the other hand, to identify the occurrence of interesting constituents in S. nitens flowerheads to increase the value of this part of the plant, considered a waste matter of golden grass handcrafts. Therefore an HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ method, based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray negative ionization multistage ion trap mass spectrometry, was developed to rapidly identify and guide the isolation of the secondary metabolites occurring in flowers and scapes. On the basis of the on-line HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ screening, 17 compounds, including 6 new molecules, were isolated, and their structures were unambiguously elucidated by NMR spectroscopic data.     

Variation in Nutritional Quality and Chemical Composition of Fresh Strawberry Fruit: Combined Effect of Cultivar and Storage

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Bioclimatic air ionisation system (BI) works by neutralising air pollutants and microorganisms by means of oxidation with “activated oxygen”. We...     

Muscarinic M3-like receptors, cyclic AMP and L-type calcium channels are involved in the contractile response to cholinergic agents in gut smooth muscle of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Cholinergic signalling in mammalian gut smooth muscle usually involves M3 muscarinic receptors for direct contraction via phospholipase C activation and M2 muscarinic receptors to reduce cyclic AMP levels. However, the proportion of receptor subtypes and second messengers involved varies among tissues and animals and studies in non-mammalian species will provide information on the conservation of pathways and consequently on their importance for signal transduction. In the present study we investigated receptor subtypes, involvement of calcium, phospholipase C and cyclic AMP in the cholinergic contraction of the rainbow trout gut. Intestinal and gastric smooth muscle strip preparations, with the mucosa removed, were used in functional studies, and homogenised strips were used for measurements of cyclic AMP. Calcium-free medium, the L-type calcium-channel inhibitor verapamil, the cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX + isoprenaline, and the M3-antagonist 4-DAMP methiodide all caused a partial or marked reduction of the response to cholinergic agonists. Neomycin, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, and SKF96365, an inhibitor of receptor-operated calcium channels, had no effect. Carbachol (0.1 mM) reduced the levels of cyclic AMP transiently. It is concluded that the cholinergic signal transduction in rainbow trout gut smooth muscle involves (1) binding to M3-like receptors, (2) a transient reduction in cyclic AMP levels, (3) influx of extracellular calcium, in part through L-type calcium-channels and (4) no involvement of phospholipase C.     

Antibacterial triterpenes from the threatened wood-decay fungus Fomitopsis rosea

From a biologically active extract from the fungus Fomitopsis rosea, two new lanostane triterpenes were isolated, 3α-(3′-butylcarboxyacetoxy)oxepanoquercinic acid C 1 and 3α-hydroxy-24-methylene-23-oxolanost-8-en-26-carboxylic acid 2, along with three known triterpenes, 3–5, and the epidioxy sterol derivative 6. The structures of the compounds were elucidated based on their spectral properties. All triterpenes demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus but possessed no antiradical activity against DPPH radicals.