Evaluation of dietary addition of 2 essential oils from Achillea moschata,or their components (bornyl acetate,camphor, and eucalyptol) on in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbial community composition

This study investigated the effects of 2 Achillea moschata essential oils extracted from plants collected in 2 different valleys of the Italian Alps and 3 pure compounds of oils — bornyl acetate (BOR), camphor (CAM), and eucalyptol (EUCA) — on in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbiota. An in vitro batch fermentation experiment (Exp. 1) tested the addition of all of the substances (2 essential oils and 3 compounds) in fermentation bottles (120 mL) at 48 h of incubation, whereas a subsequent in vitro continuous culture experiment (Exp. 2) evaluated the pure compounds added to the fermenters (2 L) for a longer incubation period (9 d). In both experiments, total mixed rations were incubated with the additives, and samples without additives were included as the control (CTR). Each treatment was tested in duplicate and was repeated in 3 and 2 fermentation runs in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Gas production (GP) in Exp. 1 was similar for all of the treatments, and short chain volatile fatty acid (SCFA) production was similar in both experiments except for a decrease of SCFA produced (P = 0.029) due to EUCA addition in Exp. 2. Compared to CTR, BOR and CAM reduced the valerate proportion (P = 0.04) in Exp. 1, and increased (P < 0.01) the acetate proportion in Exp. 2. All treatments increased (P < 0.01) total protozoa counts (+36.7% and +48.4% compared to CTR on average for Exp. 1 and 2, respectively). In Exp. 1, all of the treatments lowered the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes and increased the Proteobacteria relative abundances (P < 0.05), whereas in Exp. 2, the EUCA addition increased (P = 0.012) the Ruminococcus. In Exp. 1, methane (CH₄) as a proportion of the GP was lowered (P = 0.004) by the addition of CAM and EUCA compared to CTR, whereas in Exp. 2, EUCA reduced the amount of stoichiometrically calculated CH₄ compared to CTR. Overall, essential oils extracted from A. moschata and the pure compounds did not depress in vitro rumen fermentation, except for EUCA in Exp. 2. In both experiments, an increase of the protozoal population occurred for all the additives.     

A rapid liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(n) method for evaluation of synephrine in Citrus aurantium L. samples

Immature bitter orange fruit and its extracts have been introduced into the market as an alternative to Ephedra in weight loss products. However, the safety of the immature bitter orange fruit and its extracts is a debated argument due to the presence of synephrine, a constituent known as a sympathomimetic agent. In this paper, we describe the development of a new, rapid, and simple liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method devoted to the quantitative determination of synephrine in bitter orange samples, containing a high quantity of synephrine, and sweet orange samples, known to contain a low level of synephrine but at the same time being one of the main synephrine sources in a normal human diet. Two bitter orange dry extracts containing 5 and 6% sSynephrine and 10 sweet orange samples have been analyzed. Between the sweet orange samples, six were fresh oranges and four were fresh-squeezed juices; in these samples, the synephrine levels ranged from 0.00128 to 0.00349%.     

New data on the aberrant spermatogenesis of Collembola

Aberrant spermatogenesis in the two species Stenognathellus denisi (Katiannidae) and Sminthurides aquaticus (Sminthurididae) is described. An ultrastructural study of spermatogenesis in these species has allowed us to reveal the presence of two types of secondary spermatocytes; one with a normal appearance, the other one is characterized by a small size, a reduced cytoplasm (showing only two centrioles), and a nucleus with very condensed chromatin. These latter aberrant cells are not able to perform the second meiotic division and will degenerate. This finding allows us to extend the identification of an aberrant spermatogenesis and the consequent post-zygotic sex determination to two more families of Symphypleona.     

Contribution to the taxonomy ofVicia species belonging to the sectionFaba

Summary Vicia faba belongs to the sectionFaba. While the other species of the sectionV. narbonensis, V. johannis andV. bithynica cross enough well each other,V. faba seems to be strongly isolated from them. In addition the chromosome morphology ofV. faba differs from the other species of the section which among themselves are enough homogenous in this respect.To contribute to a wider knowledge on the taxonomical position ofV. faba in its section, electrophoretical and karyological analysis of 500 individuals belonging to 50 populations of different origin were carried out.The analyzed species were:V. faba, V. narbonensis, V. serratifolia, V. bithynica, V. galilaea andV. johannis.

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Beitrag zur Taxonomie derVicia-Arten der SektionFaba

Zusammenfassung Vicia faba gehört zur sect.Faba. Während andere Arten der Sektion (V. narbonensis, V. johannis undV. bithynica) untereinander relativ gut kreuzbar sind, istV. faba von ihnen deutlich isoliert. Darüberhinaus unterscheidet sichV. faba in der Morphologie seiner Chromosomen von den anderen Arten der Sektion, die in dieser Hinsicht eine relativ einheitliche Merkmalsausprägung zeigen. Um zu einer besseren Kenntnis der systematischen Stellung vonV. faba innerhalb der Sektion beizutragen, wurden chromatographische und karyologische Analysen von 500 Individuen aus 50 Populationen verschiedener Herkunft durchgeführt. Analysiert wurdenV. faba, V. narbonensis, V. serratifolia, V. bithynica, V. galilaea undV. johannis.

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Vicia, Faba

Vicia faba Faba. (V. narbonensis, V. johannis, V. bithynica) ,V. faba ë . ,V. faba , . V. faba , 500 50 . :V. faba, V. narbonensis, V. serratifolia, V. bithynica, V. galilaea, V. johannis.

     

A check-list of the cultivated plants of the Ghāt oases

Summary The Ght oases are rich in plant genetic resources. During a mission in 1983 cultivated plants of this area have been studied and altogether 57 accessions of land-races collected. Compiling the results from the collections, from observations all over the Fezzan and from literature studies a check list of the cultivated plants of the Ght oases is presented. Close relationships can be demonstrated especially to land-races from Ethiopia but also from other parts of Africa. The plant genetic resources of the Ght oases may be useful in breeding programmes.

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Eine Liste der Kulturpflanzen der Ght-Oasen

Zusammenfassung Die Ght-Oasen sind reich an pflanzlichen genetischen Ressourcen. Während einer Reise im Jahre 1983 wurden die Kulturpflanzen dieses Gebietes studiert und insgesamt 57 Muster gesammelt. Aus den Ergebnissen der Sammlungen, der Beobachtungen aus dem gesamten Fezzan-Gebiet und der Literaturstudien wird eine Liste der Kulturpflanzen der Ght-Oasen zusammengestellt. Enge Beziehungen können besonders zu den Landsorten Äthiopiens aber auch anderer Teile Afrikas postuliert werden. Die pflanzlichen genetischen Ressourcen der Ght-Oasen stellen ein wertvolles Ausgangsmaterial für die Pflanzenzüchtung dar.

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Characterization of Some Italian Common Bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus Vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) Landraces by RAPD,Semi-random and ISSR Molecular Markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and a semi-random PCR system were used to analyze the genetic diversity of 16 Italian common bean landraces and their relationship to four commercial cultivars. Of the primers tested, 8 ISSR, 6 RAPD and 7 semi-random primers produced polymorphic and reproducible DNA fragments. A higher proportion of polymorphic bands were observed using ISSR (85%) and semi-random (90%) primers than RAPD (69%) method. The combination of any two semi-random markers allowed the identification of all 20 bean genotypes. In contrast ISSR (except for primer (CAC)₃GC) and RAPD markers appeared to be less informative as more than two markers were necessary to achieve the same diagnostic level. Moreover, 7 ISSR, 2 RAPD and 8 semi-random exclusive bands were identified as putative population-specific markers. Semi-random and ISSR derived dendrograms showed similar tendencies in terms of genetic relatedness, whereas clustering of genotypes within groups was not similar when compared with the RAPD technique. Despite the different ability to resolve genetic variation among the investigated landraces, two major clusters with less than 60% (ISSR) and 40% (RAPD and semi-random) genetic similarity were formed with all three marker systems. The two groups were correlated with the phaseolin patterns and seed size of the landraces. The analysis showed that the cultivar ȁ8Lingua di Fuocoȁ9 and most of the landraces (13 out of 16) collected in Italy belong to the Andean gene pool, whereas only the three populations from Pratomagno belong to the Middle American gene pool.     

Phospholipid composition of plasma and erythrocyte membranes in animal species by 31P NMR

The aim of this study was to provide basal values of phospholipid (PL) composition in different animal species by 31P NMR analysis using detergents. This fast and accurate method allowed a quantitative analysis of PLs without any previous separation. Plasma and erythrocyte membrane PLs were investigated in mammals (pig, cow, horse). Moreover, for the first time, the composition of plasma PLs in avian (chicken and ostrich) was performed by 31P NMR. Significant qualitative and quantitative interspecies differences in plasma PL levels were found. Phosphatidilcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SPH) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in chicken plasma than all the other species tested. In erythrocytes, cow PC and phosphatidylcholine diarachidoyl were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than for pigs and horses, whereas pig PC presented intermediate values among cows and horses. Inorganic phosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels were also significantly different between the species under investigation. The [SPH/total PLs] molar ratios in erythrocytes confirmed interspecies differences in phospholipid composition while the PC/SPH molar ratios could be related to a distinct erythrocyte flexibility and aggregability. Diet and nutrition may contribute primarily to the interspecies differences in plasma PL amounts detected. Significant differences between chicken plasma PC and SPH levels and those of the other animal species could be ascribed to a fat metabolism specific to egg production.     

Assessment of the origin of new citrus tetraploid hybrids (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 4x) by means of SSR markers and PCR based dosage effects

We report the accurate determination of the allelic configurations of a total of eight new citrus tetraploid hybrids by means of SSR analysis, coupled with capillary electrophoresis, and PCR based dosage effects. Tetraploid hybrids were spontaneously obtained from different interploid crosses (2x × 4x) between diploid ‘Femminello’ lemon and the allotetraploid somatic hybrid (2n = 4x = 36) ‘Key’ lime + ‘Valencia’ orange, and between diploid ‘Wilking’ and ‘Fortune’ mandarins and an autotetraploid ‘Dancy’ mandarin (2n = 4x = 36). To understand the opportunity to employ them in further backcross programs, the cytological mechanisms underlying their ploidy level were unambiguously determined using six SSR primers. PCR conditions were optimized and skewness in template/product ratios were verified. Tetraploid allelic configurations were determined from PCR based dosage effects using electropherogram peak heights to estimate the copy number per allele. In all the tetraploid hybrids we found out that diploginy (2n eggs) has occurred, contributing the extra haploid genome in the tetraploids. According to the marker genotypes, it was further inferred that the 2n eggs in ‘Femminello’ lemon resulted from first division restitution (FDR), while in ‘Wilking’ and ‘Fortune’ mandarins 2n eggs occurred in second division restitution (SDR). These new genotypes, with their improved genetic female background, can be therefore considered very valuable in our citrus genetic improvement program as pollen donors in backcrosses suitable to eliminate negative traits.