Relationship between metabolic bone disease and bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the green iguana (Iguana iguana)

The aim of our work was to study the feasibility of using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to obtain reference bone density values in relation to body weight, gender, and metabolic bone disease in the green iguana. The study was performed on 28 animals. The weight, age, and gender of each iguana were recorded. Each lizard was carefully examined and radiographed to detect signs of metabolic bone disease. Blood samples were collected from each animal to evaluate Ca/P and total protein. All animals, both affected (group B; n = 11) and unaffected (group A; n = 17) by metabolic bone disease, were individually scanned using an X-ray densitometer. The regions of interest were the head, lumbar spine, right, and left femur. Statistical analysis was performed separately for each region of interest. Body weight had the strongest relationship with bone density (P < 0.01). Within regions of interest, for iguanas of average weight (710 g), statistically significant differences between healthy and sick animals were found: head (0.140 vs. 0.090 g/cm2; P < 0.01); lumbar spine (0.164 vs. 0.107 g/cm2; P < 0.01); right femur (0.103 vs. 0.076 g/cm2; P < 0.01); left femur (0.103 vs. 0.078 g/cm2; P < 0.01). Regression equations to obtain reference values of bone density as a function of body weight for animals affected and not affected by metabolic bone disease are provided. Our data indicate that X-ray bone densitometry is an additional tool for studying bone pathophysiology in reptiles.     

Effects of fungicide application on physiological and molecular responses of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.): a comparison between copper and sulfur fungicides applied alone and in combination with novel fungicides

BACKGROUND

Chemical products against fungi and oomycetes pose serious environmental issues. In the last decade, the use of less impacting active ingredients was encouraged to reduce chemical inputs in viticulture. In this study, the effect of different antifungal compounds on grapevine agronomic, physiological, and molecular responses in the vineyard was evaluated in addition to protection against powdery and downy mildews.

RESULTS

In 2 years and in two Vitis vinifera cultivars (Nebbiolo and Arneis), a conventional crop protection approach, based on traditional fungicides (sulfur and copper), was compared to combined strategies. A well-known resistance inducer (potassium phosphonate), Bacillus pumilus strain QST 2808 and calcium oxide, both active ingredients whose biological interaction with grapevine is poorly characterized, were applied in the combined strategies in association with chemical fungicides. Despite a genotype effect occurred, all treatments optimally controlled powdery and downy mildews, with minimal variations in physiological and molecular responses. Gas exchange, chlorophyll content and photosystem II efficiency increased in treated plants at the end of season, along with a slight improvement in the agronomic performances, and an activation of molecular defense processes linked to stilbene and jasmonate pathways.

CONCLUSION

The disease control strategies based on potassium phosphonate, Bacillus pumilus strain QST 2808 or calcium oxide combined with traditional chemical compounds did not cause severe limitations in plant ecophysiology, grape quality, and productive yields. The combination of potassium phosphonate and calcium oxide with traditional fungicides can represent a valuable strategy for reducing copper and sulfur inputs in the vineyards, including those organically managed. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine following constant rate infusion for postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariectomy

Objective

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine and its main active metabolite, norbuprenorphine, after administration of an intravenous loading dose followed by constant rate infusion (CRI) in dogs.

Classification of Italian honeys by 2D HR-NMR

The importance of honey has been recently increased because of its nutrient and therapeutic effects, but the adulteration of honey in terms of botanical origin has increased, too. The floral origin of honeys is usually determined using melisso-palynological analysis and organoleptic characteristics, but the application of these techniques requires some expertise. A number of papers have confirmed the possibility of characterizing honey samples by selected chemical parameters. In this study high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-NMR) and multivariate statistical analysis methods were used to identify and classify honeys of five different floral sources. The 71 honey samples (robinia, chestnut, citrus, eucalyptus, polyfloral) were analyzed by HR-NMR using both 1H NMR and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation spectroscopy (HMBC). Spectral data were analyzed by application of unsupervised and supervised pattern recognition and multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and general discriminant analysis (GDA). The use of 1H-(13)C HMBC coupled with appropriate statistical analysis seems to be an efficient technique for the classification of honeys.     

Immunochemical assays for direct sulfonamide antibiotic detection in milk and hair samples using antibody derivatized magnetic nanoparticles

Two direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed for detection of sulfonamide antibiotic residues in milk samples. One of them is using magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) for target capture/enrichment (Ab-MNP-ELISA), and the second is performed using microtiter plates. Selective polyclonal antibodies, raised against 5-[6-(4-amino-benzenesulfonylamino)-pyridin-3-yl]-2-methyl-pentanoic acid (SA1), used in combination with an enzyme tracer prepared with the same hapten, has allowed us to reach a limit of detection (LOD) lower than 0.5 microg L(-1) for both ELISA formats. Sulfapyridine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfathiazole, and sulfachloropyridazine are detected below the maximum residue limits established by the European Union for these antibiotics in milk (100 microg L(-1)). Matrix effects and accuracy studies performed with full-cream milk and hair extracts indicated a lack of interference from these sample matrices and very good recovery values, especially when using the Ab-MNP format. Milk samples and hair extracts can be measured without any previous treatment. The results demonstrate the high potential of these methods as screening tools for food safety and inspection controls.     

Short-Term Response of Soil Microbial Biomass to Different Chabazite Zeolite Amendments

Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. However, little is known about their effects on soil microbial biomass. This study aimed to evaluate short-term effects of different chabazite-rich ZT (CHAZT) amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. A silty-clay agricultural soil was amended in three different ways, including the addition of natural (5% and 15%) and NH_4~+-enriched (10%) CHAZT. Soil dissolved organic carbon (C), total dissolved N, NH_4~+, NO_3~-, NO_2~-, microbial biomass C and N, and ergosterol were measured periodically over 16 d in a laboratory incubation. To verify the microbial immobilization of the N derived from NH_4~+-enriched CHAZT, a high15N source was used for enriching the mineral to measure the microbial biomass δ15N signature. An increase in the ergosterol content was observed in the soil amended with 5% natural CHAZT. However, no similar result was observed in the soil amended with 15% natural CHAZT, suggesting that the fungal biomass was favored at a lower CHAZT application rate. In the soil amended with NH+ 4-enriched CHAZT, microbial biomass N was related to NO_3~-production over time and inversely related to NH_4~+, suggesting high nitrification process. Isotopic measurements on microbial biomass confirmed immediate assimilation of N derived from NH_4~+-enriched CHAZT. These results suggested that the NH_4~+-enriched CHAZT used in this study supplied an immediately available N pool to the microbial biomass.     

Comparison of integrated field programmes for the reduction of fumonisin contamination in maize kernels

Fusarium verticillioides is a common maize pathogen which causes diseases on ears and synthesis of the mycotoxins, fumonisins, in kernels. Fumonisin production is influenced by both environmental conditions and agricultural inputs during growth and maturation of the maize plant. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of crop management techniques on fumonisin contamination in maize kernels. Experiments were conducted in Northern Italy during 2006 and 2007 using two maize hybrids with different precocity. Factors evaluated were seed planting time (March versus May), plant density (65,000 plants versus 80,000 plants per ha), N fertilization (200 kg N versus 400 kg N per ha), and chemical treatment to control European maize borer (ECB) (yes versus no). These factors were analyzed were as follows: (T1) May sowing, high plant density and N fertilization, (T2) March sowing time, high plant density and N fertilization, (T3) March sowing time, low plant density and balanced N fertilization, (T4) the same agronomic techniques as T3 plus a chemical treatment to control European maize borer. Ears were analyzed morphologically for ECB incidence and severity. Subsequently, kernels were analyzed chemically for fumonisins. Fumonisin contamination was reduced by 57%, 69% and 86% for T2, T3 and T4, respectively, compared to T1. This study clearly underlines that the application of good agricultural practices (GAP) in crop management strategies can effectively control fumonisin contamination of maize kernels.     

Effect of foliar treatments to durum wheat on flag leaf senescence, grain yield, quality and deoxynivalenol contamination in North Italy

Since the production of durum wheat in the drier areas of the Mediterranean Basin is characterized by high variability in terms of yield and grain quality, there is also considerable interest in developing durum wheat in the northern regions, where the pedo-climatic conditions can offer the possibility of obtaining grain yields with higher technological quality and stability. However, the climatic conditions in the northern regions make durum wheat more prone to fungal foliar disease, particularly to Septoria Tritici Blotch (Septoria tritici Rob.) and to Fusarium Head Blight (Fusarium graminearum Petch and Fusarium culmorum Sacc.), with the consequent occurrence of DON in grains.Field experiments have been conducted over two growing seasons at four sites in North West Italy to evaluate the effect of fungicides and foliar nitrogen fertilizer application on durum wheat yield and grain quality. Five combinations of foliar application were compared at each site and each year (untreated control, azole fungicide application at heading, strobilurin fungicide at the stem elongation stage and/or at heading, the addition of a foliar N fertilizer to a fungicide programme). The following parameters were analysed: Septoria Tritici Blotch (STB) severity, flag leaf greenness using a chlorophyll meter, grain yield, test weight, grain protein content, ash content, vitreousness, Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) incidence and severity and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination. The collected data underline that the cultivation of durum wheat at the climatic conditions of North Italy is actually risky and needs a direct control of fungal disease, which would be able to reduce the development of both foliar and head attacks. The double treatment, with a strobilurin application during the stem elongation stage and azole at heading, results to be an essential practice and showed advantages in terms of the delay of flag leaf senescence (+27%), STB control (+31), FHB control (+11%), yield (+32%) and DON contamination (−45%), compared to the untreated control. Other foliar treatments at heading, such as strobilurin or foliar N fertilizer applications, do not seem to provide any further advantage, for either grain yield or quality. No significant effect of fungicide or foliar N fertilizer application was recorded on the protein or ash concentration or vitreousness.     

精确滴灌施肥技术对大棚土壤盐渍化和氮磷流失控制的研究

针对温室大棚盐渍化土壤灌水洗盐而导致的农业面源污染问题,以常规肥水管理方式为对照,在上海崇明东滩温室大棚采用土壤次生盐渍化监测、灌水洗盐过程模拟和农作物生产试验等方法研究精确滴灌施肥技术在降低土壤次生盐渍化程度和减少农田氮磷流失中的作用.结果表明,滴灌施肥技术可有效降低农田表层土壤的盐分积累速度,以此降低洗盐频次,进而显著削减温室大棚因灌水洗盐而引起的氮磷流失负荷.当滴灌施肥区洗盐频次降低为常规区的一半时,总氮、总磷、硝氮和氨氮的年流失负荷较常规方式削减45%～53%.而作物产量基本可以保持;当洗盐频次降低为常规区的1/4时,总氮、总磷、硝氮和氨氮的年流失负荷的削减率达58%～75%,但后茬作物减产明显.     

Genetic variability of Italian southern Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) populations: the rear edge of the range

Understanding the genetic structure and diversity of edge populations can shed light on the role of peripheral populations and their relevance for conservation strategies. In this study, three fragmented and isolated Apennine populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) belonging to the rear edge of the species’ distribution were analyzed using both nuclear (nSSR) and chloroplast (cpSSR) microsatellites and were compared with an Alpine population belonging to the species’ main range. Although small population size and considerable isolation have probably reduced the genetic variability of Apennine populations, these fragmented populations maintain a high level of within-population genetic diversity. A significant among-population differentiation was found using both nSSR (F _ST = 0.08) and cpSSR markers (ρ = 0.14). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) on the nSSRs attributed all variabilities to the among Apennine populations component supporting the theoretical predictions regarding fragmentation effects on genetic structure. On the other hand, AMOVA on the cpSSRs attributed all variances to the between-region component and no differentiation was found within region, among the Apennine populations. This result suggests the importance of pollen gene flow in homogenizing populations on this geographical scale. Our results confirm the genetic distinctiveness of Apennine populations and their possible derivation from different glacial refugia than those of the Alps. Considering their peculiarity and the high level of intrapopulation genetic diversity that they still retain, fragmented Apennine populations should be considered of high priority for conservation.