Suppression subtractive hybridization and microarray analysis reveal differentially expressed genes in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr39/41</Emphasis>-mediated wheat resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia triticina</Emphasis>

Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt) is one of the most severe fungal diseases threatening the global wheat production. The use of leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes in wheat breeding programs is the major solution to solve this issue. Wheat isogenic line carrying the Lr39/41 gene has shown a moderate to high resistance to most of the Pt pathotypes detected in China. In the present study, a typical hypersensitive response (HR) was observed using microscopy in leaves of the Lr39/41 isogenic line inoculated with the avirulent Pt pathotype THTT from 48 h-post inoculation. Two Lr39/41 resistance-associated suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) libraries with a total of 6000 clones were established. Microarray hybridizations were performed on all obtained SSH clones using RNAs extracted from leaves of the Pt-inoculated and non-inoculated Lr39/41 isogenic lines, and leaves of the Pt-inoculated and non-inoculated Thatcher susceptible lines. Differentially expressed clones were analyzed by significance analysis of microarrays (SAM), followed by further sequencing. A total of 36 Lr39/41-resistance-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, many of which had been previously reported to be involved in the plant defense response. The expression levels of eight selected DEGs during different stages of the Lr39/41-mediated resistance were further quantified by a qRT-PCR assay. Several pathogenesis-related (PR) and HR-related genes seem to be crucial for the Lr39/41-mediated resistance. In general, a brief profile of DEGs associated with the Lr39/41-mediated wheat resistance to Pt was drafted.     

Alien species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) found in Serbia,new to the Balkan Peninsula

New alien species of aphids (Illinoia liriodendri (Monell), Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillete), Takecallis arundicolens (Clarke) and Tinocallis takachihoensis Higuchi) have been found for the first time in Serbia. These records are new for the Balkan Peninsula. Data of Ericaphis scammelli (Mason), species recently mentioned in Serbia, are also presented in the text. The species have been found during the last five years at four sites (Belgrade, Zemun, Mladenovac and Bojnik) on five cultivated plants. Ericaphis scammelli is a pest of blueberry and a vector of Blueberry scorch virus. The other four develop colonies on decorative plants: I. liriodendri has been found on Liriodendron tulipifera, W. nervata on Rosa sp., T. arundicolens on Pseudosasa japonica and T. takachihoensis on Ulmus x hollandica. The origin of three of the species (E. scammelli, I. liriodendri and W. nervata) is North America and two (T. arundicolens and T. takachihoensis) have come from East Asia. Their morphology, biology and the damage they inflict are discussed here, as well as their potential economic and environmental threat. Only parthenogenetic viviparous females of all 5 species have been collected. Their biology has not been studied enough in Europe and needs further examination. Original drawings of all species are presented.     

Retrospective study of cecocolic intussusception (cecal inversion) in nine horses (1982–1998)

We retrospectively evaluated the medical records and obtained follow-up information for nine horses which had been treated for cecocolic intussusception (CCI) between January 1982 and April 1998. During the 16-year study period, CCI was diagnosed in nine of 748 horses in which exploratory celiotomy was undertaken for abdominal pain, representing an incidence of 1.2%. Most affected horses (78%) were less than four years of age (median age was 12 months, age range was five months to 15 years). Cecocolic intussusception affected male horses (78%) more commonly than female horses. The most common clinical presentation was abdominal pain of a severe, acute nature or milder but recurrent signs of abdominal pain persisting in spite of conservative treatment for several days. Correction of CCI by either simple reduction or reduction followed by partial typhlectomy was successful if compromise of the intestine by devitalization and adhesion formation was not found at surgery. Definitive diagnosis of CCI necessitates exploratory celiotomy, although an ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen may confirm the diagnosis in some cases. When recognized early during the course of disease, surgical correction of CCI is associated with a favorable outcome; of the eight horses which underwent surgery in our series, five horses (63%) survived surgical correction of CCI. Handling of compromised gut during reduction of CCI necessitates extreme caution because the risk of intestinal tearing is quite high.     

Landscape genetics of the foundational salt marsh plant species black needlerush (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Juncus roemerianus</Emphasis> Scheele) across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Context

Common species important for ecosystem restoration stand to lose as much genetic diversity from anthropogenic habitat fragmentation and climate change as rare species, but are rarely studied. Salt marshes, valuable ecosystems in widespread decline due to human development, are dominated by the foundational plant species black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus Scheele) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Objectives

We assessed genetic patterns in J. roemerianus by measuring genetic and genotypic diversity, and characterizing population structure. We examined population connectivity by delineating possible dispersal corridors, and identified landscape factors influencing population connectivity.

Methods

A panel of 19 microsatellite markers was used to genotype 576 samples from ten sites across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico from the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) to the Apalachicola NERR. Genetic distances (F_ST and D_ch) were used in a least cost transect analysis (LCTA) within a hierarchical model selection framework.

Results

Genetic and genotypic diversity results were higher than expected based on life history literature, and samples structured into two large, admixed genetic clusters across the study area, indicating sexual reproduction may not be as rare as predicted in this clonal macrophyte. Digitized coastal transects buffered by 500 m may represent possible dispersal corridors, and developed land may significantly impede population connectivity in J. roemerianus.

Conclusions

Results have important implications for coastal restoration and management that seek to preserve adaptive potential by sustaining natural levels of genetic diversity and conserving population connectivity. Our methodology could be applied to other common, widespread and understudied species.

     

SONOGRAPHY OF THE EQUINE PALMAR METACARPAL SOFT TISSUES

It was hypothesized that ultrasonography may be a sensitive method for identifying pathologic changes in the tendons and ligaments of the palmar metacarpus of the horse. The palmar meta-carpi of equine cadavers and live horses were examined sonographically. The advantages and disadvantages of various ultrasound scanning techniques and the normal appearance of longitudinal and transverse palmar metacarpal sonograms are described.     

Influence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigella sativa</Emphasis> seeds, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosmarinus officinalis</Emphasis> leaves and their combination on growth performance,immune response and rumen metabolism in Dorper lambs

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa L. seeds, Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaves and their combination on rumen metabolism, nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, immune response and blood metabolites in Dorper lambs. Twenty-four entire male Dorper lambs (18.68?±?0.6 kg, 4–5 months old) were randomly assigned to a concentrate mixture containing on a dry matter basis either, no supplement (control, T1), 1% R. officinalis leaves (T2), 1% N. sativa seeds (T3) or 1% R. officinalis leaves +1% N. sativa seeds (T4). The lambs had ad libitum access to urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) and were raised for 90 days. Supplemented lambs had greater (P?< 0.05) intake of DM and UTRS than the control lambs. The T4 lambs had lower (P?< 0.05) nutrient digestibility than those fed other treatments. Total and daily weight gain was greater (P?< 0.05) in T2 lambs than those fed other diets. The T3 and T4 lambs had greater (P?< 0.05) ruminal pH than the T1 and T2 lambs. Supplemented lambs had lower (P?<?0.05) ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate, propionate, NH₃-N and C18:0 than the control lambs. The T4 lambs had lower (P?< 0.05) population of Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, methanogens and total protozoa compared with those fed other diets. Supplemented lambs had lower (P?< 0.05) neutrophils, basophils and serum urea and greater (P?<?0.05) serum IgA and IgG compared with the control lambs. The current results emphasised the variation in the efficacy of medicinal plants in ruminant nutrition.     

Effect of exposure to a country liquor (Toddy) during gestation on lipid metabolism in rats

The objective of this study was to determine theeffects of country liquor Toddy and its equivalentquantity of ethanol on lipid metabolism duringgestation in rats. Female rats weighing an average of125 g were exposed to Toddy (24.5 ml/body weight/day)and ethanol (0.52 ml/kg body weight/day) for 15 daysbefore conception and throughout gestation. On the19th day of gestation, altered liver function andhyperlipidemia was seen in both the treated groups.Altered liver function was evidenced by the increasedactivity of alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehydedehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase oraspartate amino transferase (GOT), glutamic pyruvictransaminase or alanine amino transferase (GPT) andgamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Hyperlipidemiawas caused by increased biosynthesis and decreaseddegradation of lipids. The incorporation of ¹⁴Cacetate in lipids and activities of HMG CoA reductaseand lipogenic enzymes were elevated and activity ofLPL and bile acids contents were decreased. Toddytreated rats were more severely affected than thosereceiving an equivalent quantity of ethanol. Toddyseemed to potentiate the toxicity induced by alcoholindicating the role of the nonethanolic portion.Hepatic functions were also affected.