Insecticidal properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus persicus</Emphasis> essential oil against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tribolium castaneum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis>

Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) are considered to be the major insect pests in storage. Essential oils from aromatic plants are recognized as proper alternatives to fumigants. Thymus persicus (Ronniger ex Rech. f.) is one of these plants that have medicinal properties and is indigenous to Iran. The essential oil was obtained from aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Carvacrol (44.69%) and thymol (11.05%) were the major constituents of the oil extracted. In this experiment, fumigant toxicity of the essential oil was studied against T. castaneum, S. oryzae at 27 ± 1°C and 60 ± 5% RH in dark condition. The adult insects were exposed to the concentrations of 51.9, 111.1, 207.4 and 370.4 μl/l air to estimate median lethal time (LT₅₀) values. The fumigant toxicity was increased in response to increased essential oil concentrations. The LT₅₀ values at the lowest and the highest concentrations tested were ranged from 28.09 to 13.47 h for T. castaneum, and 3.86 to 2.30 h for S. oryzae. It was found that S. oryzae adults were much more susceptible to the oil than T. castaneum. After 24 h of exposure, the LC₅₀ values (95% fiducial limit) for T. castaneum and S. oryzae were estimated to be 236.9 (186.27–292.81) and 3.34 (2.62–4.28) μl/l air, respectively. These results suggest that T. persicus essential oil merits further study as potential fumigant for the management of these stored-product insects.     

Determinants of the biodiversity patterns of ammonia-oxidizing archaea community in two contrasting forest stands

Purpose

The variation in soil microbial community patterns is primarily influenced by ecological processes associated with spatial distance and environmental heterogeneities. However, the relative importance of these processes in determining the patterns of soil microbial biodiversity in different successional forests remains unclear.

Materials and methods

Based on the species data from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, we described the composition and beta diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) community, an important functional microbial group in regulating nitrogen cycle, in a middle-succeed stand (60 years of secondary succession) and an undisturbed native stand in a subtropical forest in southern China. The composition pattern was examined using a multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP), and the beta diversity was described using the Sørensen index. The relative influence of edaphic, vegetational, spatial, and topographical factors on AOA composition and beta diversity was assessed by variation partitioning and multiple regression on distance matrices (MRM), respectively.

Results and discussion

We did not find any stand-specific patterns in AOA community composition in the two stands; however, the influential variables were different between the two stands; 7.3 and 4.5 % of the total variation in AOA community composition could be explained by edaphic (i.e., available potassium and total phosphorus) and spatial variables, respectively, in the middle-succeed stand, while 3.7 and 2.8 % of the variation were explained by spatial variable and available phosphorus, respectively, in the native stand. Soil total phosphorus influenced the beta diversity of AOA community most in the middle-succeed stand, while genetic distance of tree species was found to be the most important factor in driving the beta diversity pattern in the native stand.

Conclusions

Soil nutrients influenced the beta diversity of AOA community in the middle-succeed stand more than that in the native stand, while vegetation is more important in the native stand. The substantial unexplained variations were possibly due to the effects of other unmeasured variables. Nevertheless, dispersal process is more important in controlling AOA community composition in the native stand, while processes associated with environmental heterogeneities are more important in the middle-succeed stand in this subtropical forest.

     

The Relationship Between Active Oxygen Metabolism and Resistance to Late Blight in Potato

The relationship between active oxygen metabolism and resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was studied for 72 h post-inoculation by comparing three resistant cultivars (low disease index) with three susceptible ones (high disease index). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and the content of ascorbic acid (ASA), were higher in the resistant cultivars than in the susceptible ones. The production rate of the superoxide anion radical (O₂^?) was lower in the resistant cultivars than in the susceptible ones. These changes, which were associated with the potato plant’s response to infection with P. infestans, provide some insight into the physiological basis of resistance and may also provide a screening tool for resistance to late blight.     

Neuronal Cell Reconstruction with Umbilical Cord Blood Cells in the Brain Hypoxia-Ischemia

Background: Brain hypoxia-ischemia is a human neonatal injury that is considered a candidate for stem cell therapy. Methods: The possible therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) stem cells was evaluated in 14-day-old rats subjected to the right common carotid occlusion, a model of neonatal brain hypoxia-ischemia. Seven days after hypoxia-ischemia, rats received either saline solution or 4 × 10⁵ HUCB cells i.v. Rats in control group did not receive any injection. After two weeks, rats were assessed using two motor tests. Subsequently, rats were scarified for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: Our immunohistochemical findings demonstrated selective migration of the injected HUCB cells to the ischemic area as well as reduction in infarct volume. Seven days after surgery, we found significant recovery in the behavioral performance in the test group (12.7 +/- 0.3) compared to the sham group (10.0 +/-0.05), a trend which continued to day 14 (15.3 ± 0.3 vs. 11.9 ± 0.5, P<0.05). Postural and motor asymmetries at days 7 and 14 in the test group showed a significant decrease in the percentage of right turns in comparison to the sham group (75% and 59% vs. 97% and 96%, P<0.05). Conclusion: The results show the potential of HUCB stem cells in reduction of neurologic deficits associated with neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Key Words: Hypoxia-Ischemia, Nerve cell, Umbilical Cord Blood     

Induction of Immunogenic Response in BALB/c Mice by Live and Killed Form of Recombinant Lactococcus lactis Displaying EG95 of Echinococcus granulosus

Background:CE is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus worldwide and is associated with economic losses among livestock animals. EG95 is an immunogenic antigen from the E. granulosus. Lactococcus lactis has been prested as a safe vehicle for antigen delivery. The goal of this study was to design a novel L. lactis strain displaying EG95 as a vaccine delivery system. Methods:The eg95 encoding gene fragment fused to the M6 anchoring protein was cloned into the pNZ7021 vector, and L. lactis NZ9000 displaying recombinant EG95 was constructed. The expression of an approximately 32-kDa EG95 protein was confirmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. The immune responses were evaluated in BALB/c mice immunized orally and subcutaneously with the live and killed recombinant L. lactis, respectively. Results:Total IgG level in mice immunized with heat-killed recombinant L. lactis (pNZ7021-eg95) significantly increased compared to the control group. sIgA was significantly higher in mice received live recombinant L. lactis (pNZ7021-eg95) compared to the control mice. Splenic lymphocytes from immunized mice represented the high levels of IFN-γ and the low-levels of IL-4 and IL-10. Conclusion:Our results indicate that immunization with EG95-expressing L. lactis can induce both specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Key Words: Echinococcus granulosus, Lactococcus lactis, Immunization, Vaccines     

Evaluation of genetic and non-genetic factors on foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus vaccine-elicited immune response in Hardhenu (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos taurus</Emphasis> x <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos indicus</Emphasis>) cattle

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the most contagious disease of mammals and a major threat to animal husbandry sector. In India, vaccination with the inactivated trivalent (O, A and Asia1) vaccine is one proven way for protecting the livestock from FMD. However, many outbreaks have been reported in different parts of the country. Therefore, present study was aimed at elucidating the effects of genetic and non-genetic factors on FMD viral vaccine-elicited immune response in Hardhenu cattle. The effect of season of vaccination was not consistent. The effect of status of animal was significant for all the pre and post AB titres except for pre AB titre of serotype O and post AB titre of Asia1.The estimates of heritability for response to vaccination were low to high ranging from 0.11 to 0.45. The highest heritability estimate was obtained for serotype O and the lowest for Asia1. The heritability estimates for pre and post AB titres ranged from 0.15 to 0.33. All the pre and post AB titres and responses to vaccination had genetic correlations ranged from high negative to high positive among them. Results of this study highlight the variation in vaccine response which needs to be further exploited on large-scale animal data for better immunization and protection against highly contagious viral vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals.     

Achieving food and nutritional security through agroforestry: a case of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Faidherbia albida</Emphasis> in sub-Saharan Africa

Faidherbia albida is an ideal agroforestry tree commonly intercropped with annual crops like millet and groundnuts in the dry and densely populated areas of Africa. With its peculiar reverse phenology, it makes growth demands at a different time from that of crops. In addition, it deposits great amount of organic fertilizer on food crops. Leaves entering soils are comparable to fertilization of almost 50 t·ha 1 ·year 1 of manure in dense stands of 50 large trees per ha. These nutrients help maximize agricultural production and reduce the need for a fallow period on poorer soils. Research has shown that millet grown under F. albida yielded 2.5 and 3.4 fold increases in grain and protein, respectively. Animals eat pods which contain mean amounts of crude protein of 20.63% and carbohydrate of 40.1% in seeds. Moreover, the continued existence of F. albida in agroforestry parklands as in Ethiopia and Mali signifies the success of traditional conservation measures. Modern scientists have also developed much interest in the role of agroforestry in maintaining long-term biological balance between agriculture and livestock production systems. To ensure food security, which still remains a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, and concurrently minimize environmental degradation, promotion of agroforestry that specifically involves indigenous trees is crucial. We discuss the prospective role of F. albida in alleviating poverty while simultaneously protecting the environment from factors associated with, for example, deforestation and loss of biodiversity. The overall aim is to promote wide-scale adoption of F. albida as a valuable tree crop in farming systems, particularly in those areas where it remains unexploited.     

Drivers of adoption of eucalypt tree farming by smallholders in Thailand

Eucalypt (Eucalyptus spp.) tree farming is a source of income for many smallholders in developing and emerging countries and critical to the resource supply of many pulp and paper companies. These companies rely on smallholders adopting tree farming, sometimes by offering a contract. This paper reports a study from four regions of Thailand, where smallholder eucalypt tree farming is important, which investigated what characteristics of smallholders were associated with greater adoption of tree farming. A total of 461 eucalypt tree farmers and 171 non-tree farmers were randomly selected and surveyed in these regions, using a door-to-door household survey. A logit analysis corroborated hypotheses about the drivers of adoption. Qualitative analyses were used to inform interpretation of the quantitative results and shed light on the role of eucalypt tree farming in smallholders’ livelihood. Results demonstrate that those with suitable land available are more likely to adopt eucalypt tree farming than others. In addition, perception of land tenure security matters in the adoption of tree growing, but holding a formal land tenure document does not. Adoption of eucalypt tree farming in Thailand is not part of a land use intensification strategy. Instead, eucalypts are used as an alternative crop for low productivity land, on which eucalypts are the most profitable crop. Eucalypt tree farming also gives smallholders an opportunity to diversify their income. In addition, this alternative land use has the advantage of requiring low labour inputs between planting and harvest. This is particularly advantageous for many tree growers who have off-farm income or rely on hired labour for farming their land.