Agronomical,quality, and molecular characterization of twenty Italian emmer wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum dicoccon</Emphasis>) accessions

Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccon Schrank, 2n = 4x = 28) consists in a hulled wheat; its cultivation has been drastically reduced during the last century as a consequence of its low yield. Recently, its agronomic and nutritive values, as well as the increase of popularity of organic agriculture, have led to a renewed interest making its cultivation economically viable in the marginal lands with an increase of the cultivated areas. In Italy, it mainly survives in few marginal lands of central and southern Italy, where local varieties, adapted to the natural environment from where they originate, are used; moreover, some selected lines have also been developed. In the present work, agro-morphological and qualitative traits, together with molecular analyses of 20 emmer accessions consisting of Italian landraces, breeding lines, and cultivars, were performed. The field experiments were conducted for two consecutive years (2001/2002–2002/2003) in two locations: Viterbo in central Italy, and Foggia in south Italy. The analyzed emmer wheat accessions showed a good amount of genetic variability for both evaluated agro-morphological and molecular traits. This study illustrates an increase in earliness, GY, TW, TKW, and YI going from landraces, breeding lines to cultivars, while the variability does not change proportionally.     

Synthesis and in-vitro antifungal activity of 6-trifluoromethyipyrazolo[3,4-6d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-thiones

Twelve 6-trifluoromethylpyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-thiones were prepared by the reaction between 4-thiocarbamoyl-5-aminopyrazoles and trifluoroacetic anhydride. They were tested in vitro for antifungal activity against a series of phytopathogenic fungi of different taxonomic classes. The EC50 and MIC values of four compounds were comparable or inferior to those of reference commercial fungicides in controlling Sclerotinia minor, Corticium solani and Phytium ultimum.     

The effect of dialkylamine compounds and related derivatives of 1-methylcyclopropene in counteracting ethylene responses in banana fruit

Compounds that can block the ethylene receptor and be applied either as a gas or as a salt by spray or dip have been prepared and tested. Cyclopropenes with a methyl group in the 1-position, on which was attached a substituted amine, were allowed to evaporate in the presence of bananas that were treated with the gas. The minimum amount of a given compound required to inhibit chlorophyll degradation in the banana peel (an indicator of protective effect of the compound against ethylene action) that was subsequently exposed to ethylene, varied considerably depending on the compound, but N,N-dipropyl-(1-cyclopropenylmethyl)amine and N,N-di-(1-cyclopropenylmethyl)amine were the most effective. The degree of response to the ethylene inhibitory effect was similar for all of the compounds tested (32–34 d). The amount of cyclopropene compound required for inhibiting ethylene action following a 24 h exposure of bananas to the salt followed by a 15 h exposure to ethylene was higher than that required by the gas form used under the same conditions for the same effect. However, time of exposure could be much longer than 24 h with the salt than with the gas. The bananas treated with the salt do not need to be in an air-tight container, but could be used in open spaces. Only the banana peel appeared to be protected against ethylene during the 24 h interval when the salt was used. The pulp ripened upon exposure to ethylene.     

Field effect of P fertilization on N2 fixation rate of Ulex europaeus

European gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) N₂ fixation rate (%Ndfa) was studied in a maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aït.) oligotrophic forest. Fertilization field trials were carried out on 5 sites with various inputs of phosphorus (0–240 kg P₂O₅·ha^?1). Seven to ten years after pine planting, gorse were sampled to evaluate the effect of P fertilization on gorse %Ndfa, determined using the ¹⁵N natural abundance method. One of the prerequisites of this method is the existence of a significant difference between the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios in the atmospheric N reference and in the stand soil N references. This prerequisite was satisfied for 80 of 120 cases. The average %Ndfa was high (70 ± 3%) but with high local variability. No significant difference in %Ndfa was detected among P treatments. Nitrogen concentration of gorse was significantly higher in the highest dose treatments compared to the control.     

Tracking leaf area index and coefficient of light extinction over the harvesting cycle of black wattle

The amount of photosynthetic radiation intercepted by a crop is a function of the incident solar radiation on the plants, the leaf area index (L _AI), and the light extinction coefficient (k). We quantified L _AI and k in stands of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) over a 7-year growth cycle at two locations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Our study was conducted in commercial stands in agroecological regions with high densities of black wattle plantations. L _AI was calculated as the ratio between the leaf area of a tree and its planting space, and k was derived from Beer’s law. L _AI depends on the planting site and stand age. Between the two sites, the L _AI was similar over time, the amount of variation differed. Values of k depended only on stand age, with the highest average observed for stands up to 5 years old. The trend of k during the plantation cycle was inversely proportional to L _AI and was correlated with L _AI, leaf area, leaf dry mass, canopy volume, height, branches dry mass, total dry mass, and crown diameter.     

Assessing the influence of mechanical ventilation on blood gases and blood pressure in rattlesnakes

ObjectiveTo characterize the impact of mechanical positive pressure ventilation on heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure, blood gases, lactate, glucose, sodium, potassium and calcium concentrations in rattlesnakes during anesthesia and the subsequent recovery period.Study designProspective, randomized trial.AnimalsTwenty one fasted adult South American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus).MethodsSnakes were anesthetized with propofol (15 mg kg⁻¹) intravenously, endotracheally intubated and assigned to one of four ventilation regimens: Spontaneous ventilation, or mechanical ventilation at a tidal volume of 30 mL kg⁻¹ at 1 breath every 90 seconds, 5 breaths minute⁻¹, or 15 breaths minute⁻¹. Arterial blood was collected from indwelling catheters at 30, 40, and 60 minutes and 2, 6, and 24 hours following induction of anesthesia and analyzed for pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, and selected variables. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and HR were recorded at 30, 40, 60 minutes and 24 hours.ResultsSpontaneous ventilation and 1 breath every 90 seconds resulted in a mild hypercapnia (PaCO₂ 22.4 ± 4.3 mmHg [3.0 ± 0.6 kPa] and 24.5 ± 1.6 mmHg [3.3 ± 0.2 kPa], respectively), 5 breaths minute⁻¹ resulted in normocapnia (14.2 ± 2.7 mmHg [1.9 ± 0.4 kPa]), while 15 breaths minute⁻¹ caused marked hypocapnia (8.2 ± 2.5 mmHg [1.1 ± 0.3 kPa]). Following recovery, blood gases of the four groups were similar from 2 hours. Anesthesia, independent of ventilation was associated with significantly elevated glucose, lactate and potassium concentrations compared to values at 24 hours (p < 0.0001). MAP increased significantly with increasing ventilation frequency (p < 0.001). HR did not vary among regimens.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMechanical ventilation had a profound impact on blood gases and blood pressure. The results support the use of mechanical ventilation with a frequency of 1–2 breaths minute⁻¹ at a tidal volume of 30 mL kg⁻¹ during anesthesia in fasted snakes.     

Short-term baths with essential oils of Lippia sidoides,Ocimum gratissimum and Zingiber officinale influence blood parameters and survival of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila

This study evaluated the effect of short-term baths with the essential oils (EOs) of Lippia sidoides, Ocimum gratissimum and Zingiber officinale on the survival, haematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters of native fish tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. After challenge, the fish infected with A. hydrophila received therapeutic baths of 60 min, for five consecutive days. Treatments were as follows: challenged and not treated; challenged and treated with 10 mg L^?1 of gentamicin; challenged and treated with EO of L. sidoides (2.5 and 5.0 mg L^?1); challenged and treated with EO of O. gratissimum (5.0 and 10.0 mg L^?1); challenged and treated with Z. officinale EO (5.0 and 10.0 mg L^?1). The highest survival rates were 89.5% (fish treated with 5.0 mg L^?1 of O. gratissimum EO) and 75.0% (fish treated with 5.0 mg L^?1 of L. sidoides EO). Reductions in the haematocrit percentage, haemoglobin and erythrocyte number were observed in fish treated with L. sidoides and Z. officinale EOs compared with control fish. Mild to moderate damage to the liver tissue of fish after challenge and EO treatments were observed. It is suggested that baths containing O. gratissimum and L. sidoides EOs consist in a viable treatment to increase survival rates of C. macropomum infected with A. hydrophila.     

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in enteric Escherichia coli from domestic pets and assessment of associated risk markers using a generalized linear mixed model

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global public health problem, which is caused by the use of antimicrobials in both human and animal medical practice. The objectives of the present cross-sectional study were as follows: (1) to determine the prevalence of resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from the feces of pets from the Porto region of Portugal against 19 antimicrobial agents and (2) to assess the individual, clinical and environmental characteristics associated with each pet as risk markers for the AMR of the E. coli isolates.