Exploitation of Annual and Perennial Herbaceous Species for the Rehabilitation of a Sand Quarry in a Mediterranean Environment

Commercial seeds are widely used for re‐vegetation interventions in Mediterranean areas. These seeds mostly consist of species and varieties of non‐local provenance. The current practice relies mainly on forage or turf and fast growing species, even if it is often inefficient. Twenty‐two local populations or commercial varieties of annual and perennial species belonging to the botanical families Leguminosae, Graminaceae and Compositae were evaluated in a 4‐year field experiment in order to investigate their potential in terms of establishment and persistence in the re‐vegetation of an inactive sand quarry. Native species showed better performances than commercial varieties and encouraged further actions for the valorisation of local plant biodiversity. Among legumes, the best adapted species was the perennial Lotus cytisoides that showed high persistence in combination with other positive traits. A few annual species, that is, Melilotus indica, Trifolium subterraneum and Ornithopus sativus performed well and persisted until the end of the experiment. Among perennial grasses, Cynodon dactylon survived to drought and low soil nutrients. Both native annual grasses Lolium rigidum and Aegilops geniculata performed very well during the first 2 years of experiments. Both forbs, the perennial Cichorium intybus and the annual Chrysanthemum coronarium did not guarantee a satisfactory persistence. Some native species were evidenced, which may play an important role in the re‐vegetation of sand quarries and have good potential to be further characterized before introduction in the seed market. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of nitrogenous fertiliser application on leaf traits in durum wheat in relation to grain yield and development

Nitrogen (N) fertilisation boosts the grain yield of wheat through its influence on yield components, phenology and leaf traits. Both crop growth and senescence are dependent on N supply, as are the number of kernels set per unit area and per ear, and the mean kernel size. A two-season trial of four semi-dwarf durum wheat cultivars, grown at two levels of N, was used to illustrate the effects of N on canopy temperature, leaf resistance and flag leaf senescence pattern under irrigated conditions in a Mediterranean climate, and to explore the consequences of these effects on the crop phenology, its yield and its yield components. The well-fertilised crop developed a larger leaf area index at anthesis and a lower leaf resistance, thus generating a lower canopy temperature and delayed anthesis. Its grain fill duration was shorter, in spite of its lower canopy temperature, presumably because the increased N availability resulted in the development of a stronger sink (more kernels per unit area and per ear), which was associated with earlier senescence, thereby shortening the duration of grain fill, and led to reduced kernel weight.     

Detection of helicobacter candidatus suis by PCR in oesophagogastric ulcers of swine in Italy

The aim of this study was to evaluate by PCR the presence of Helicobacter spp. in gastric mucus from the fundic region of the stomach and to investigate its role in oesophagogastric ulcers in swine bred and regularly slaughtered in Piedmont (Northern Italy). Stomachs from 595 regularly slaughtered swine were subjected to gross pathological examination in order to evaluate the presence of gastric ulcers (revealed in 75 cases, 12.6%). Histopathological examination was performed to better characterise erosions and ulcers. DNA extracted from gastric mucus collected from all the ulcer-affected and from 25 normal stomachs was submitted to PCR using Helicobacter spp. 16S rRNA gene target primers. Sixty-three percent (47/75) of the affected stomachs was positive as well as 24% (6/25) of the non-affected ones. Sequence analysis from 5 positive samples showed 99% homology with Helicobacter candidatus suis 16S ribosomal RNA gene.     

Conservation of Mediterranean habitats and biodiversity countdowns: what information do we really need?

• 1. The relentless increase in both human activities and exploitation of marine resources is a threat to marine habitats and species.
• 2. For marine systems, several protection initiatives have been outlined over the past decade to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional, and national levels, and to establish representative networks of marine protected areas with the aim of protecting 10–30% of marine habitats.
• 3. Reliable estimates of the total area occupied by each habitat are crucial to set adequate protection initiatives. Habitat mapping requires a sound habitat classification. Many classification schemes have been developed in different areas of the world, sometimes based on questionable criteria.
• 4. A critical analysis of the most recent marine habitat classification list produced for the Mediterranean Sea from the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) showed that (i) 39% of habitats and associated species considered in the list are scarcely covered by scientific knowledge from Web‐based resources; (ii) 62% of the species/genera included in the list are primary producers; (iii) quantitative information about the geographical distribution of selected habitats and associated species is scant; and (iv) when available, information is largely unbalanced and biased towards the shallow western Mediterranean Sea.
• 5. Improved inventories of marine habitats are needed to support accurate and consistent mapping activities. The combination of large‐scale mapping and sound habitat classifications will allow better estimates of biodiversity distribution, to reverse regional/global habitat loss rates through the achievement of conservation targets and deadlines that, for the moment, are systematically not met. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

MICRONODULAR ULTRASOUND LESIONS IN THE COLONIC SUBMUCOSA OF 42 DOGS AND 14 CATS

Micronodular ultrasound lesions have been detected in the colonic submucosa of dogs and cats at our hospital. The lesions had rounded/oval shapes, measured 1–3 mm in size, and exhibited a hypo/anechoic ultrasonographic pattern. To our knowledge, these lesions have not been previously reported in human or veterinary patients. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether micronodular lesions were associated with other abdominal ultrasound abnormalities or clinical findings. Medical records of dogs and cats with sonographic reports describing micronodular lesions within the colonic submucosa were reviewed. Concurrent ultrasonographic abnormalities were recorded and compared with clinical sidgns and follow‐up data. A total of 42 dogs and 14 cats met inclusion criteria. Concurrent sonographic abnormalities included the following: increased colon wall thickness (12.5%); small bowel wall thickening, altered layering, and/or hyperechoic mucosa (45%); abdominal effusion (29%); caudal mesenteric lymphadenopathy (46%); mesenteric lymphadenopathy (27%); and pericolic peritoneal fat reactivity (9%). Fifty of 56 animals presented with diarrhea. Twenty‐seven cases had clinical signs of colitis and ultrasonographic lesions were limited to the colonic submucosa. In nine cases, follow‐up examination at 6–8 weeks showed resolution of clinical and ultrasonographic signs. Ultrasonographic and clinical examinations in 17 patients at 12–18 months and in 20 patients at 18–30 months from initial diagnosis showed resolution of submucosal lesions and clinical signs of enteropathy. The authors propose that micronodular submucosal ultrasound lesions may represent reactive intraparietal lymphoid follicles and may be indicators of colonic inflammatory diseases in dogs and cats.     

Suppression of Rhizoctonia root-rot of tomato by Glomus mossae BEG12 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A6RI is associated with their effect on the pathogen growth and on the root morphogenesis

Rhizoctonia solani root-rot is a major soilborne disease causing growth and yield depression. The ability of Glomus mosseae BEG12 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A6RI to suppress this soilborne disease in tomato was assessed by comparing the shoot and root growth of plants infested with R. solani 1556 when protected or not by these beneficial strains. The epiphytic and parasitic growth of the pathogenic R. solani 1556 was compared in the presence and absence of the biocontrol agents by microscopical observations allowing the quantification of roots with hyphae appressed to epidermal cells (epiphytic growth) and of roots with intraradical infection (parasitic growth). The root architecture of the tomato plants under the different experimental conditions was further characterized by measuring total root length, mean root diameter, number of root tips and by calculating degree of root branching. G. mosseae BEG12 and P. fluorescens A6RI fully overcame the growth depression caused by R. solani 1556. This disease suppression was associated with a significant decrease of the epiphytic and parasitic growth of the pathogen together with an increase of root length and of the number of root tips of inoculated tomato plants. The combined effects of G. mosseae BEG12 and P. fluorescens A6RI on pathogen growth and on root morphogenesis are suggested to be involved in the efficient disease suppression.     

Mediterranean cork oak wooded grasslands: synergies and trade-offs between plant diversity,pasture production and soil carbon

Mediterranean wooded grasslands that emerge from silvopastoral activities are multifunctional systems that result in high biodiversity and offer ecosystem services such as forage production and soil carbon sequestration. During 3 years, ten grazed wooded grassland fields were studied in the Berchidda–Monti long-term observatory, located in NE Sardinia, Italy, with the aim of exploring the synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity and selected ecosystem services. Positions below and outside the canopy of three cork oak trees in each field were randomly selected to compare seasonal pasture production, pasture utilization rate by animals, botanical composition, biodiversity indicators (Shannon index and plant species richness) and soil organic carbon. In autumn, dry matter production of pasture was similar in the two positions; in two winters out of three it was greater below the trees than outside, and in spring it was greater outside than below the trees. While plant species richness and Shannon index were not significantly influenced by the position, the overall wooded grassland plant species richness was 31% higher than that outside of the tree crown. The soil organic carbon content in the 0–40-cm soil layer was also higher below the trees. Our findings highlight that if the main purpose of the wooded grasslands is to provide forage for grazing animals rather than conserving and/or enhancing plant diversity and soil fertility, the presence of trees constrains the overall forage productivity, although the greater forage availability in winter under the trees can contribute to improve the seasonal distribution of forage production.     

Peripheral nerve stimulation under ultrasonographic control to determine the needle‐to‐nerve relationship

ObjectiveTo determine the needle‐to‐nerve distances during electrical nerve location in dogs at different currents and pulse duration using a peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) under ultrasound control (US), and the minimal electrical thresholds (MET) necessary to obtain a motor response (MR) after achieving needle‐to‐nerve contact.Study designProspective in vivo experimental trial in a clinical settingAnimalsThirty dogs, scheduled for locoregional anaesthesia of the sciatic nerve.MethodsNeedle‐to‐nerve distance was measured ultrasonographically after obtaining the MR of sciatic nerve with 2, 1 and 0.5 mA and pulse duration 0.1 ms (NS0.1). Thereafter the needle was placed in contact with the nerve and MET was determined. The procedure was repeated with 0.3 ms (NS0.3). Finally the needle was reintroduced to contact the sciatic nerve guided only by US, thus MET‐US was determined. Data were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis or Mann–Whitney tests.ResultsNeedle‐to‐nerve distances were greater when MR was obtained with 2 mA than with 1 and 0.5 mA at 0.1 and 0.3 ms. No significant differences were observed between the needle‐to‐nerve distances using 0.1 or 0.3 ms.The MET [median (range)] was 0.4 (0.18–1.3) mA in NS0.1, 0.32 (0.12–0.8) mA in NS0.3; while MET‐US was 0.7 (0.32–1.5) mA. When the needle contacted the nerve, the MR achieved with currents below 0.3 mA was obtained in 17.2, 40 and 0% of cases using NS0.1, NS0.3 and US respectively.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe electrical current necessary to obtain a MR decreased as the needle moved towards the nerve. However when the needle tip contacted the nerve, an MR with low current intensity could not be obtained. Thus the absence of motor response at currents below 0.3 mA cannot rule out needle‐epineurium contact. When ultrasound is combined with PNS, it is more important to assess the correct needle position than searching for an MR at low currents.