FC‐61 The role of a liquorice preparation in healing of experimental wounds in calves: a histopathologic study

Liquorice, a derivative of the root of Glycyrrhizia glabra, has been proposed as a treatment for gastric ulcers. Here, a preparation of liquorice combined with sesame oil was evaluated in experimental wound healing. The study was carried out in two female 10‐month‐old Holstein calves. An area of 10 × 10 cm on each side of the thorax of the animals was surgically prepared and infiltrated with local anaesthetic. Eight uniform skin wounds were created in two rows with an 8‐mm biopsy punch on each prepared area. Each side of an animal was used to evaluate one treatment (Groups 1–4). To make the mixture, powdered and sieved liquorice (16 g) was mixed with sesame oil (36 g) to make a suspension. The wounds were treated for 7 days. The wounds of Groups 1–3 were rinsed daily with normal saline, after which the mixture of liquorice and sesame oil (Group 1) or only the sesame oil (Group 2) was applied to the wounds. In Group 4, no treatment was applied. All wounds were left open. On day 8, skin biopsies were taken from the wounds for histopathologic study. In Group 1, seven wounds (87%) showed moderate granulation tissue, mild scab formation, and complete re‐epithelialization. In Group 2, there was massive scab formation with no granulation tissue and minimal re‐epithelialization. In Groups 3 and 4, mild granulation tissue, severe scab formation and very limited re‐epithelialization were observed. We conclude that a preparation of liquorice and sesame oil can be an effective remedy for wound healing. Funding: Self‐funded.     

Epidemiological Study of Non‐contagious Intramammary Infections in Nine Commercial Dairy Herds following a Staphylococcus aureus Control Programme

Changes in prevalence in intramammary infection, by pathogen type, in herds applying a stringent contagious mastitis control programme was studied. Enrollment of 1651 lactating cows and collection of milk samples was made in this ancillary study to a cohort study of the dynamics of mastitis prevalence after adoption of a strict contagious mastitis control programme that targeted the elimination of mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Nine commercial dairies in Italy were used. Aseptic collection of milk samples from all lactating cows was performed at the time of enrollment, from all cows within 7–14 days of entering the lactating herd after the date of enrollment, and from all lactating cows at 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14 months after the date of enrollment. Prevalence of intramammary infection by pathogen type was determined from culture of milk samples. Application of the strict contagious mastitis programme did not lead to an increased risk of non‐contagious mastitis. The risk of coliform, environmental streptococcal and coagulase‐negative staphylococcal intramammary infections decreased after adoption of the programme. The data reported herein indicate that the overall risk for any intramammary infections decreases with adoption of a strict contagious mastitis programme, and that such a programme therefore does not necessarily lead to an increase in environmental mastitis.     

Effect of recent cropping history and herbicide use on the degradation rates of isoproturon in soils

Five soil samples were taken from each of five fields with different crop management histories. Three of the fields were in an arable rotation, the fourth field was temporary grassland, and the final field was under permanent grass. Of the three arable fields, two had been cropped with winter wheat in three of the preceding 6 years, and the third had last been cropped with winter wheat once only, 6 years previously. With one exception, the winter wheat had been sprayed with the herbicide isoproturon. The rate of isoproturon degradation in laboratory incubations was strongly related to the previous management practices. In the five soils from the field that had been treated most regularly with isoproturon in recent years, <2.5% of the initial dose remained after 14 days, indicating considerable enhancement of degradation. In the soils from the field with two applications of the herbicide in the past 6 years, residues after 27 days varied from 5% to 37% of the amount applied. In soils from the other three sites, residue levels were less variable, and were inversely related to microbial biomass. In studies with selected soils from the field that had received three applications of isoproturon in the previous 6 years, kinetics of degradation were not first‐order but were indicative of microbial adaptation, and the average time to 50% loss of the herbicide (DT₅₀) was 7.5 days. In selected soils from the field that had received just one application of isoproturon, degradation followed first‐order kinetics, indicative of cometabolism. Pre‐incubation of isoproturon in soil from the five fields led to significant enhancement of degradation only in the samples from the two fields that had a recent history of isoproturon application.     

The effect of sowing date, stale seedbed, row width and mechanical weed control on weeds and yields of organic winter wheat

Three field experiments were carried out in organically grown winter wheat in Denmark. The treatments were sowing time (normal or late sowing) and false seedbed, row width (12 and 24 cm) and weed control method [untreated; mechanical weed control (weed harrowing at 12 cm supplemented with inter‐row hoeing at 24 cm); and herbicide weed control]. Weed biomass in midsummer was greatest on plots sown at the normal sowing time (compared with delayed sowing) and was reduced by mechanical or chemical weed control (compared with untreated plots). Row width alone had no influence on weed biomass, but in the experiment with high weed pressure, the more intensive mechanical weed control used at a row width of 24 cm reduced weed biomass. Normal sowing time tended to give higher yields, but this was only statistically significant in one of the three experiments. Wide rows gave a yield decrease in the experiment with low weed pressure. The effect of weed control on yield was dependent on the weed pressure. At low weed pressure, mechanical weed control caused a yield decrease compared with untreated or herbicide treated. At intermediate weed levels there were no differences, whereas at high weed pressure, mechanical weed control and herbicide treatment caused a yield increase compared with untreated. False seedbeds were shown to contribute to a decrease in the soil seed reserve.     

Seed production of Chenopodium album in competition with field vegetables

Total weed control within a crop is both difficult and expensive to achieve, so that some weeds will often remain to set seed. The seed production resulting from these weeds will ultimately affect the sustainability of the weed control strategy. If too much is allowed to return each season there could be a gradual, but significant, increase in the potential weed flora over a number of seasons. Field trials were carried out in 2000 and 2001 to quantify the potential magnitude of this weed seed return from Chenopodium album L., grown at two planting densities either in pure stands or in competition with one of two crops (cabbage or onion). Crop and weed weights and weed seed production were notably greater in 2001. Both dry weight and seed production of C. album were suppressed by increasing planting density or by the presence of crop, with cabbage having a more suppressive effect. Despite the plasticity in seed production, a linear relationship was demonstrated between log weed seed production and log weed biomass that was robust over a range of competitive situations with onion and cabbage, at different planting densities and in growing seasons. The study also demonstrated that the relationship could be combined with an existing simple competition model to allow the consequences of incomplete weed control to be assessed in terms of potential weed seed return.     

The effect of non-inversion tillage and light availability on dispersal and spatial growth of Cynodon dactylon

The invasive ability of Cynodon dactylon is dependent on self dispersal and on cultivation practices. Tillage can seriously change patch biomass and spatial structure, spreading vegetative propagules of the weed. The objectives of this study were: (i) to quantify the effect on non‐inversion tillage on dispersal, establishment and colonization of C. dactylon and (ii) to propose a simple model considering soil cultivation effects and light availability on spatial growth of weed patches. Two experiments were carried out, exploring different soils and environmental conditions. Spatial distribution of vegetative units differed when tillage was conducted with different non‐inversion implements and could be described by simple functions. A minimum patch biomass seems necessary before vegetative structures are vulnerable to movement by cultivation. Only a small proportion of the biomass dispersed from original patches was able to establish. However, simulation showed that the area colonized by C. dactylon mostly increased by means of tillage dispersal, both with and without crop competition, in one growing cycle. It appears sensible to consider changing cultivation practices to reduce weed dispersal and to use crop competition for light to create unsuitable habitats limiting weed colonization.     

Yeasts as antagonists against fireblight

Yeasts are potential antagonists of microorganisms in the phyllosphere. Due to their osmotolerance, they should also be able to colonize apple flowers. In field experiments, we applied yeast agents against fireblight at two different sites in the southern part of Germany. They showed efficiencies 0–20% below Plantomycin (streptomycin). Co-culture experiments in liquid basal media with synthetic nectar resulted in suppression of Erwinia amylovora by yeast. This effect could not be confirmed with population studies of yeasts and E. amylovora in flower clusters. Field and laboratory experiments indicated that yeasts have antagonistic properties against fireblight but further research is needed to investigate this potential.     

Détection moléculaire spécifique de la région vir du plasmide pTi d'Agrobacterium tumefaciens dans les sols et plants au Maroc

Le meilleur moyen de contrôle du crown gall ( Agrobacterium tumefaciens ) est la prévention et donc la détection de la bactérie pathogène dans les sols prévus pour les pépinières. Pour cela nous avons essayé une approche moléculaire utilisant la PCR pour caractériser le plasmide pTi par le couple des amorces spécifiques F14/F44 dans les sols de diverses régions marocaines. Cette technique de détection représente un indicateur potentiel d'avertissement sur l'état d'infection des sols et plants par A. tumefaciens qui permet ainsi de déclencher la lutte biologique par le NoGall, produit commercial australien, hébergeant l'antagoniste K₁₀₂₆.     

Non-target toxicology of a new mosquito larvicide, trypsin modulating oostatic factor

Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), a peptide hormone originally isolated from the ovaries of adult Aedes aegypti, is currently under commercial development as a new pesticide chemistry with a novel mode of action for the control of larval mosquitoes. The objective of the current research is to evaluate potential risks of the use of TMOF as an insecticide on non-target organisms. TMOF (YDPAP₆) was degraded in vitro (as determined by HPLC and LC/MS) to DPAP₆, PAP₆, and then AP₆ by leucine aminopeptidase, a pancreatic enzyme found in the digestive system of vertebrates. The rate of degradation of TMOF and PAP₆ was significantly greater than that of DPAP₆, while no metabolism of AP₆ was found. TMOF technical insecticide was produced on a commercial scale by recombinant yeast (heat-killed before application). The technical TMOF when administered in a single dose by gavage to male and female mice at 2000 mg dry weight/kg body weight produced no negative effects as compared to controls up to 12 days after treatment. When male and female mallard ducks were treated by gavage with 1250 mg dry weight of technical TMOF/kg body weight each day for 5 days, again no toxic effects were noted through 35 days after the last treatment. TMOF technical insecticide was also applied to the shaved skin of male and female rabbits at the rate of 2000 mg/kg for 1-2 days, with no effect. The end point observations in these in vivo experiments were mortality; changes in growth rate, behavior, body structure, and color; and possible lesions observed during necropsy. Finally, Daphnia incubated with technical TMOF in rearing water at the level of 1.0 × 10⁶ yeast cells/ml (10 mg/ml) also demonstrated no negative effects on mortality, growth, molting, time to first brood, and production of viable neonates. It appears from these studies that TMOF can be degraded by vertebrate digestive proteases and technical TMOF is not toxic to the non-target organisms examined.