Chemical restraint-reversal with medetomidine and atipamezole in veterinary small animal practice: a survey on the opinions of the dog owners and veterinarians.

The opinions of animal owners and practising veterinarians concerning a new restraint-reversal medication (medetomidine-atipamezole) for dogs were obtained by two questionnaires in connection with a clinical study. Four alternative answers to each statement question scored as "completely agree", "somewhat agree", "somewhat disagree" and "completely disagree". The questionnaires were completed by 21 veterinarians and 245 dog owners. The overall response to the treatment was clearly positive. Both groups had a favourable attitude towards drug use with mean combined scores (from 1 to 4; 4 = most favourable) of 48.1 (max 56) for the dog owners and 39.2 (max 52) for the veterinarians. Only a little information was gained about the background of negative sentiments. Some pet owners (19%) opposed to medication on a priori grounds, some (26%) reacted strongly to the dizziness of their animals and some owners (21%) complained because of general anxiety before, during and after their pets were treated.     

Content of the flavonols myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol in finnish berry wines

The amounts of myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol were analyzed in 16 red and 2 white berry and grape wines after acid hydrolysis using an RP-HPLC method with diode array detection. The red berry wines analyzed were made mainly from black currant, crowberry, and bog whortleberry, i.e., berries rich in flavonols. The red grape wines were made mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot grapes in several countries. The white wines studied were gooseberry and white currant wines and Chardonnay and Riesling wines. The amount of myricetin ranged from 3.8 to 22.6 mg L(-1) in red berry wines and from 0 to 14.6 mg L(-1) in red grape wines. The amount of quercetin was from 2.2 to 24.3 mg L(-1) red berry wines and from <1.2 to 19.4 mg L(-1) in red grape wines. Low levels of kaempferol were found in all red berry wines and in 9 red grape wines. The total concentration of these flavonols was from 6 to 46 mg L(-1) (mean 20 mg L(-1)) in red berry wines and from 4 to 31 mg L(-1) (mean 15 mg L(-1)) in red grape wines. Small amounts of quercetin were found in white currant and gooseberry wines, whereas no flavonols were detected in white grape wines. These results demonstrate that the contents of flavonols in red     

Brook Water Quality and Background Leaching from Unmanaged Forested Catchments in Finland

The water chemistry of 21 outlet brooks in undisturbed, forested catchments (0.074–38 km²) in Finland was monitored during three years (1997–1999) in order to estimate the background levels and leaching of total organic carbon (TOC), iron, nitrogen and phosphorus, and examine the relationships between catchment characteristics and brook water quality in pristine forested areas. The studied catchments are located throughout Finland except the northernmost parts of the country. The concentrations of TOC were relatively high, on average 20 mg L^-1. Annual leaching of TOC ranged from 3000 to 10 000 kg km^-2. The average total nitrogen concentration and annual leaching were 430 μg L^-1 and 140 kg km^-2, respectively. The average total phosphorus concentration and annual leaching were 15 μg L^-1 and 5.4 kg km^-2, respectively. On a national level temperature and discharge conditions were the most important variables for predicting total phosphorus, total nitrogen and TOC concentrations. Both total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrationsdisplayed positive correlation with temperature, and thus the concentrations were higher in the south than in the north. Nitrogen was mainly organic and showed strong correlation with TOC. On the catchment level, both TOC and total nitrogen concentrations and export had a strongpositive correlation with the abundance of Norway spruce (Piceaabies Karsten) and a strong negative correlation with the abundance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Nitrate concentrations and leaching were related to average site type. The more fertile the average site type was in the catchment, the higher the nitrate concentrations and export were.     

Growing Cloned Teak Seedlings for Small-Scale Farmers in Costa Rica

This paper investigates the profitability of cloned teak seedlings among small-scale farmers in the Canton of Hojancha in Costa Rica. A survey was conducted among small-scale farmers to explore their opinions regarding tree breeding. Most respondents considered that the use of improved seedling material is profitable and their willingness to plant clones in the future was high. The net present value of teak plantations at a 5% discount rate was estimated to be USD 12,330, USD 12,814, USD 14,284 and USD 14,308 per hectare for four non-genetically modified seedling plantations. According to a sensitivity analysis, the profitability of a teak plantation based on non-genetically modified seedlings is more sensitive to changes in timber prices than to changes in silvicultural costs. Investment in clone planting appears potentially highly profitable. With interest rates of 5 and 3%, it was profitable to plant clones if only 1% of genetic gain in volume was achieved and if the price of the clones was not greater than 50% of non-genetically modified seedlings.     

Occurrence of the moth Cydia pactolana is associated with the spruce canker fungus Neonectria fuckeliana

Several young damaged Norway spruce stands in eastern and central Finland were observed from 2013 to 2016. The damage included trees with heavy resin flow, necrotic foliage, stem and branch cankers and dead trees. Pest identification resulted in the tortricid moth Cydia pactolana whose occurrence was always associated with the presence of the ascomycete pathogen Neonectria fuckeliana. Both the insect and the disease contributed to the extent of the damage, but it is not possible to say in which order they had attacked the trees. Apparently, changed climate has affected the increased occurrence of both the fungus and the moth. However, the characteristics of the insect–fungus interaction and the factors contributing to the coincidences are unknown. Emerging coexistence or potential symbiosis of the two damaging agents is a serious threat for Norway spruce cultivation. Understanding the biology of this fungus–insect interaction is important for controlling them.     

Ectomycorrhizal fungi and exogenous auxins influence root and mycorrhiza formation of Scots pine hypocotyl cuttings in vitro

We studied the ability of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch and Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr. (Strain H), to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and to affect the formation and growth of roots on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) hypocotyl cuttings in vitro. Effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and the auxin transport inhibitor, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), on rooting and the cutting-fungus interaction were also studied. Both fungi produced IAA in the absence of exogenous tryptophan, but the mycelium and culture filtrate of Pisolithus tinctorius contained higher concentrations of free and conjugated IAA than the mycelium and culture filtrate of Paxillus involutus. Inoculation with either fungus or short-term application of culture filtrate of either fungus to the base of hypocotyl cuttings enhanced root formation. Inoculation with either fungus was even more effective in enhancing root formation than treatment of the hypocotyl bases with IBA. Fungal IAA production was not directly correlated with root formation, because rooting was enhanced more by Paxillus involutus than by Pisolithus tinctorius. This suggests that, in addition to IAA, other fungal components play an important role in root formation. Treatment with 5 microM TIBA increased the rooting percentage of non-inoculated cuttings, as well as of cuttings inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius, perhaps as a result of accumulation of IAA at the cutting base. However, the marked reduction in growth of Pisolithus tinctorius in the presence of TIBA suggests that the effects of TIBA on rooting are complicated and not solely related to IAA metabolism. The high IAA-producer, Pisolithus tinctorius, formed mycorrhizas, and the IBA treatment increased mycorrhizal frequency in this species, whereas TIBA decreased it. Paxillus involutus did not form mycorrhizas, indicating that a low concentration of IAA together with other fungal components were sufficient to stimulate formation and growth of the roots, but not the formation of ECM symbiosis.     

Effects of acid rain treatments on the birch rust,Melampsoridium betulinum and birch,Betula pendula

Effects of acidic rain on birch rust and on the growth of Betula pendula seedlings were studied by irrigating with acidic water at pH 3, 4 and 5.6. The seedlings were inoculated with uredospores of Melampsoridium betulinum and the development of rust and the severity of rust infection was examined. The increasing acidity of the irrigation water did not affect on the development of the rust, but the nitrogen in the acidified water resulted in an extension of seedling growth, and hence the leaves became senescent at a later date in autumn and the rust grew for a longer time.     

Waterlogging under simulated late-winter conditions had little impact on the physiology and growth of Norway spruce seedlings

Context

Waterlogging is predicted to become more common in boreal forests during winter and early spring with climate change. So far, little is known about the waterlogging tolerance of boreal tree species during their winter dormancy.

Aim

The aim was to quantify the degree of waterlogging tolerance of 1-year-old dormant Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings.

Methods

The seedlings were exposed to waterlogging in a growth chamber at temperature of 2 °C for 4 weeks and then allowed to recover for 6 weeks during the growth stage. Shoot and root responses were monitored by physiological and growth measurements.

Results

No effect was found in the seedling biomass, but root mortality increased slightly during the early growth stage following waterlogging. The water potential of the needles became less negative at the end of the waterlogging and the early growth stage. The ratio of apoplastic to symplastic electrical resistance (R _e/R _i) of the needles was lower after waterlogging, indicating changes in the proportions of symplastic and apoplastic space. No differences were found between the treatments in the dark-acclimated chlorophyll fluorescence (F _v/F _m) of the needles. Slightly greater accumulation of starch and temporary reductions of some mineral nutrients in needles were found after waterlogging.

Conclusions

We conclude that in late winter and early spring, Norway spruce seedlings potentially tolerate short periods of waterlogging.     

Genetic diversity of Dothistroma septosporum in Estonia, Finland and Czech Republic

Dothistroma needle blight is one of the most damaging foliage diseases in pine plantations worldwide. Recently it has become more aggressive in native pine stands in northern America and has been found frequently on Scots pine stands in northern Europe. In Estonia and Finland it was noticed for the first time in 2006 and 2008, respectively and in Central Europe in the late 1990s. We show considerable diversity in allele patterns of several microsatellite loci in populations of these countries which does not support the hypothesis of a recent introduction. We investigated 104 isolates by using eight microsatellite loci. Estonian and Finnish isolates originated from P. sylvestris and those from the Czech Republic from six species of Pinus spp. and Pseudotsuga menziesii. The genetic diversity was considerable in all three populations, and did not differ significantly between populations. The results suggest slight migration from south to north, even if no similar haplotypes were found between any of the populations. Both, the pairwise genetic differentiation and Nei’s genetic distance reflected geographic distances between the populations. Differentiation between the studied populations of D. septosporum was low but statistically significant. Only 6 % of the genetic variation was due to differences between populations. The high haplotypic diversity, low number of identical haplotypes, and low degree of genetic disequilibrium in all investigated populations suggested occurrence of sexual proliferation in this area, although the sexual state of the fungus has not been recorded in Estonia and Finland. The high diversity may suggest a long presence of D. septosporum in northern Europe, or alternatively, its recent introduction as a massive inoculum from an unknown direction.     

Endosperm and aleurone cell structure in barley and wheat as studied by optical and Raman microscopy

Grain ultrastructure is of utmost importance when designing grain processing procedures in the food industry. In this study, wheat and barley grain components were localised using optical and Raman microscopy. The optical microscopic analyses were performed using several selective stains to localise β-glucan, protein and starch or autofluorescence to image the ferulic acid and other fluorescing substances. Alternatively, Raman microscopy was applied to localise the grain components without any need for preceding staining or other sample pretreatment. Both methods provided consistent information on the grain structures, illustrating the distribution of polysaccharides, aromatics and protein in endosperm and aleurone layers. In aleurone layers of both barley and wheat, a distinct difference between the anticlinal and periclinal cell walls was observed. The anticlinal cell walls were enriched with aromatic substances which were present in remarkably lower concentrations in the inner periclinal cell walls but for barley, an even higher concentration in the outer periclinal cell wall was observed. In addition, Raman spectroscopy illustrated the detailed distribution of substances across the aleurone cell walls: β-glucan was adjacent to proteins and it was deficient in the middle lamella whereas arabinoxylan was enriched in the outer cell wall layers and middle lamella.