Examination and presentation of element distribution in soil

Goal, Scope and Background  

The distribution of elements cannot only scatter widely in investigation areas, but also to a small scale in investigation fields. Chemometric methods are useful tools to describe the spatial distribution of the elements and are suitable to characterize the inhomogeneity in the soil. This knowledge can also be beneficial, among other things, for the creation of problem-adapted sampling strategies. The element distribution at one sampling point, the so-called microinhomogeneity considerably affects the representativeness of pollution assessment for a whole investigation area.     

Genetic resistance of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) to Trypanoplasma borreli: influence of transferrin polymorphisms

In serum most of the iron molecules are bound to transferrin (Tf), which is a highly polymorphic protein in fish. Tf is an essential growth factor for mammalian trypanosomes. We performed a series of experiments with Trypanoplasma borreli to detect putative correlations between different Tf genotypes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and susceptibility to this blood parasite. Five genetically different, commercially exploited carp lines (Israelian 'D', Polish 'R2' and 'K', Ukrainian 'Ur', Hungarian 'R0') and a reference laboratory cross ('R3xR8') were challenged with T. borreli and parasitaemia measured to determine susceptibility to the parasite. Among the commercial carp lines, Israelian 'D' carp were identified as most and Polish 'R2' carp as least susceptible, and used to produce a next generation and reciprocal crosses. These progenies were challenged with T. borreli and parasitaemia measured. We demonstrated significant effects of genetic background of the carp lines on susceptibility to T. borreli. This genetic effect was preserved in a next generation. We also observed a significant male effect on susceptibility to T. borreli in the reciprocal crosses. Serum samples from a representative number of fish from two infection experiments were used for Tf genotyping by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), identifying DD, DG and DF as most frequent Tf genotypes. We could detect a significant association of the homozygous DD genotype with low parasitaemia in the least susceptible 'R2' (and 'K') carp lines and the lack of a such an association in the most susceptible 'D' carp line. Upon examination of parasite growth in vitro in culture media supplemented with 3% serum taken from fish with different Tf genotypes, we could show a faster decrease in number of parasites in culture media with serum from DD-typed animals.     

The endocrine regulation of aging by insulin-like signals

Reduced signaling of insulin-like peptides increases the life-span of nematodes, flies, and rodents. In the nematode and the fly, secondary hormones downstream of insulin-like signaling appear to regulate aging. In mammals, the order in which the hormones act is unresolved because insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, and thyroid hormones are interdependent. In all species examined to date, endocrine manipulations can slow aging without concurrent costs in reproduction, but with inevitable increases in stress resistance. Despite the similarities among mammals and invertebrates in insulin-like peptides and their signal cascade, more research is needed to determine whether these signals control aging in the same way in all the species by the same mechanism.     

GUIDE VALUES FOR ANTHURIUM (ANTHURIUM CULTORUM BIRDSEY) GROWN IN EXPANDED CLAY

Coefficients of variation and guide values of nutrients were determined for Anthurium cultorum Birdsey cvs. ‘Baron’, ‘Choco’, ‘Pistache’, ‘President’, ‘Midori’, and ‘Tropical’ grown in expanded clay (inert medium) using drip fertigation. Fully developed leaves after freshly-cut flowers were collected as index parts for chemical analyses at two-month intervals over the period of three years (2002–2004). Investigations were conducted at two specialized commercial farms, recording optimal yielding in terms of quantity and quality. A standard nutrient solution for anthurium hydroponics was used in fertigation. Mean guide values for six analyzed cultivars of Anthurium cultorum Birdsey are (in d.m. leaves): 1.40–1.70% nitrogen (N), 0.30–0.40% phosphorus (P), 3.60–4.50% potassium (K), 1.40–1.80% calcium (Ca), 0.20–0.30% magnesium (Mg), 0.30–0.40% sulfur (S), 46.0–60.0 ppm iron (Fe), 35.0–47.0 ppm manganese (Mn), 54.0– 72.0 ppm zinc (Zn), 5.10–6.50 ppm copper (Cu), and 64.0–83.0 ppm boron (B). Guide values for cvs. ‘Baron’, ‘Choco’, ‘Pistache’, ‘President’, ‘Midori’ and ‘Tropical’ are given in the text of this paper. A diversification was shown in guide values for analyzed cultivars in relation to certain macro- and microelements. Coefficients of variation were determined for nutrient contents in index parts of plants. A very high variation (%) was found for Mn 47.5 and Zn 41.8, high for Mg 38.5, P 32.6, S 30.6, medium for Fe 29.2, Ca 28.0, Cu 23.3 and B 20.3, while low for K 11.4 and N 9.9.     

Construction of integrated linkage map of a recombinant inbred line population of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

We report the development of a Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) marker panel and its utilisation in the development of an integrated genetic linkage map of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) using an F₈ recombinant inbred line population derived from Kiev Mutant/{"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P27174","term_id":"14195583","term_text":"P27174"}}P27174. One hundred and thirty-six DArT markers were merged into the first genetic linkage map composed of 220 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and 105 genic markers. The integrated map consists of 38 linkage groups of 441 markers and spans a total length of 2,169 cM, with an average interval size of 4.6 cM. The DArT markers exhibited good genome coverage and were associated with previously identified genic and AFLP markers linked with quantitative trait loci for anthracnose resistance, flowering time and alkaloid content. The improved genetic linkage map of white lupin will aid in the identification of markers for traits of interest and future syntenic studies.     

Beta-Glucan as Wall Material in Encapsulation of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Extract

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of using β-glucan as wall material to microencapsulate the elderberry extract. Firstly, the extract was...     

Effect of tillage systems on pea crop infestation with weeds

In a multi-year experiment, weed infestation of pea crop in three tillage systems was analyzed: a) conventional tillage (CT), b) reduced tillage (RT), and c) no-tillage (NT), and in two terms: 1) at 2–3 pea leaves stage (23–25 stage in BBCH scale) and 2) at the flat pod stage (75–79 BBCH). Treatments conducted in the CT system included shallow ploughing and pre-winter ploughing in the autumn. In the RT system, both these treatments were replaced by double cultivation, whereas only glyphosate treatment was applied in the NT system. In both terms of weed infestation assessment, the highest number and air-dry weight of weeds were determined in the RT system, lower ones in CT and the lowest ones in the NT system. In the first term, the number of weeds m^?2 in the RT system was higher by 43.9% than in NT and by 26% than in CT system. Also in the second term was the weed number m^?2 in RT higher by 58.6% than in NT and by 27.9% than in CT. Tillage systems differentiated also weed mass in pea crop. In RT, it was 4-fold higher than in NT and over 2-fold higher than in CT.     

Early drought-induced changes to the needle proteome of Norway spruce

To elucidate early drought responses in needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies (Karst.) L.), we subjected 1-year-old seedlings to gradual desiccation for 6 weeks. Four weeks of drought treatment caused a small but significant decrease in photosystem II quantum yield of light-adapted needles (phi(a)) compared with that of well-watered controls. Six weeks of drought treatment reduced phi(a) and the photosystem II quantum yield of dark-adapted needles (phi) by 50 and 8%, respectively, and reduced shoot water potential by 0.7 MPa, but had no measurable effect on needle relative water content. After two weeks of drought treatment, and before there was a discernible effect of drought on phi or a statistically significant effect on shoot water potential, needles were analyzed for changes in protein composition. Five out of several hundred detected proteins in needles of drought-treated plants showed consistent changes compared with control leaves. The proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS as components of the oxygen-evolving complex (oxygen evolving enhancer protein 2), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit, and one protein of unknown function, whose mRNA was found in a previous screen of wound- and methyl-jasmonate-induced bark proteins.     

Immunomodulatory effect of dietary brewer’s yeast extract in Sander lucioperca juveniles against the challenge of Aeromonas salmonicida

The present study examined the influence of extract obtained from the interior of cells of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NuPro^®), on the growth, proximate composition, nonspecific cellular and humoral defense mechanisms, and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). It was noted that eight weeks of supplementation with 40 g of NuPro^® kg^?1 feed (containing approximately 0.22 % exogenic nucleotides) enhanced pikeperch innate immunity. Increased serum lysozyme activity and total Ig levels (P < 0.05) were noted in the NuPro^®-fed group, which indicated the activation of nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms. Brewer’s yeast extract also stimulated nonspecific cellular defense mechanisms as indicated by the increased metabolic activity of blood phagocytes and pronephric macrophages, and in the increased intracellular killing activity of phagocytes and proliferative responses of T and B lymphocytes (P < 0.05). Additionally, reduced mortality (15 %) after the in vivo challenge with pathogenic Aeromonas salmonicida suggested that NuPro^® activated nonspecific protection against furunculosis in pikeperch. The experimental feed did not have a significant impact on the growth or proximate composition of the fish (P > 0.05).