Maize Voc Induction after Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen,Pantoea ananatis,Alters Neighbouring Plant Voc Emissions

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Plants induce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after pathogen infection and exposure to a neighbouring infected plant. In a greenhouse, we measured VOCs...     

Motility parameters of perch spermatozoa (Perca fluviatilis L.) with cryoprotectors addition

The addition of cryoprotectants during the freezing of semen in liquid nitrogen protects spermatozoa from the negative influence of freezing. Every species needs an appropriate cryoprotectant that has to be experimentally selected. Semen obtained from five perches was diluted with the Kobayashi buffer solution at 1:9 ratio. To determine the influence of cryoprotectants on spermatozoa motility parameters, the same type of buffer solution was applied with the addition of methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylacetamide (DMA) using the concentration of 10, 5, 2.5 %, respectively, glycerol (15; 7.5 %), sucrose and trehalose (0.45; 0.225; 0.113 M). After the preparation of such tests, parameters of spermatozoa motility were measured, using the CASA system (Image House CRISMAS Company Ltd.). Among used cryoprotectants, methanol did not cause any effect on the sperm motility parameters. The lowest percentage concentrations of DMA, DMSO, glycerol, sucrose and trehalose did not significantly influence the percentage of motile spermatozoa. Higher concentrations of these compounds considerably lowered all motility parameters. As for glycerol and saccharides, their addition resulted in the lowering of the spermatozoa motility possibly due to a higher viscosity of the solution. However, DMA and DMSO were most probably toxic to perch sperm cells. The obtained results indicate that the best cryoprotectant to be used with perch spermatozoa is methanol.     

Early development and allometric growth patterns in burbot Lota lota L.

This study analyzed the morphological development and allometric growth patterns of Lota lota L. (burbot) larvae reared under controlled laboratory conditions. From hatching to day 50, twenty larvae were sampled each [between 1 and 14 days post-hatch (DPH)] or every second day (between 14 and 50 DPH) and measured under a stereoscopic microscope using analytic software. Based on the external morphology, the different stages during early development of burbot were identified: yolk sac larva 0–8 DPH [3.92–4.37 mm total length (TL)]; preflexion larva 9–26 DPH (4.57–12.06 mm TL); flexion larva (between notochord degradation and its replacement with rays) 28–34 DPH (14.00–16.34 mm TL) and postflexion larva/juvenile 36–50 DPH (18.20–29.27 mm TL). Allometric growth patterns of some parameters (e.g., total length, head length, body length, tail length, head depth, body depth, eye diameter) were modeled by a power function and described by the growth coefficient. Organogenesis and changes of body proportions in burbot larvae were more rapid and complex during the yolk sac and preflexion phase of development as larvae developed most of their sensorial, feeding, respiratory and swimming systems and after notochord flexion, when most morphological changes were related to the progressive transformation from pelagic larva to demersal larva/juvenile.     

Changes in ide Leuciscus idus (L.) females’ reproductive parameters after stimulation with carp pituitary homogenate (CPH) and Ovopel: the effect of domestication?

Three groups (wild—WS, semi-pond—SPS, and pond-cultured—PS) of ide Leuciscus idus (L.) were examined. Each group consisted of 30 females and 10 males, aged 5–8 years. All groups were stimulated with two agents: carp pituitary homogenate (CPH) and a synthetic hormonal preparation Ovopel. The amount of ovulating females decreased in conjunction with females’ domestication level, mainly because of very low efficacy of CPH for pond-reared ide stimulation. The percentage of ovulating females stimulated with Ovopel (97.0 %) was significantly higher comparing to CPH (63.0 %). No significant differences were found in latency time between the groups but spawning synchronization increased in conjunction with ide domestication. The positive correlation between domestication level and latency time, i.e., the higher the domestication level, the higher the latency time, was stated. No significant differences were found in PGSI as well as in total volume of obtained eggs, but groups differed significantly in the number of dry eggs and in number of swollen egg. Significant negative correlation between domestication level and number of swollen eggs, i.e., the higher the domestication level, the lower the number of eggs, was detected. The survival rate at the eyed stage was the highest in WS group (60.4 %) and PS group (57.7 %), and was significantly higher than in SPS group (51.8 %). Eggs obtained after CPH stimulation had higher survival rate at the eyed-egg stage (60.3 %) than eggs obtained from the fish stimulated with Ovopel (53.0 %). The data suggest that some form of domestication appeared in ide cultivated for several generations in carp pond.     

Comparison of phenolic acids profile and antioxidant potential of six varieties of spelt (Triticum spelta L.)

Phenolic acids profile and antioxidant activity of six diverse varieties of spelt are reported. Antioxidant activity was assessed using eight methods based on different mechanism of action. Phenolic acids composition of spelt differed significantly between varieties and ranged from 506.6 to 1257.4 μg/g DW. Ferulic and sinapinic acids were the predominant phenolic acids found in spelt. Total ferulic acid content ranged from 144.2 to 691.5 μg/g DW. All analyzed spelt varieties possessed high antioxidant potential. In spite of the fact that bound phenolic acids possessed higher antioxidant activities, analysis of antioxidant potential and their relationship with phenolic acid content showed that free phenolics were more effective. Eight antioxidant methods were integrated to obtain a total antioxidant capacity index that may be used for comparison of total antioxidant capacity of spelt varieties. Total antioxidant potential of spelt cultivars were ordered as follows: Ceralio > Spelt INZ ≈ Ostro > Oberkulmer Rotkorn > Schwabenspelz > Schwabenkorn.     

Artificial reproduction of wild and cultured barbel (Barbus barbus, Cyprinidae) under controlled conditions

The aim of this work was to compare the effects of controlled reproduction of cultured and wild common barbel, Barbus barbus (L.). Preparations containing different GnRH analogues and dopamine receptor antagonists (Ovopel, Ovaprim) as well as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (in the case of cultured fish) were applied and their influence on ovulation, spermiation and quality of gametes obtained was determined. No differences in the qualitative or quantitative parameters of semen were found between fish stimulated with different hormonal preparations and those not receiving hormonal stimulation. The high suitability of Ovaprim for ovulation induction in (cultured and wild) barbel was confirmed. The highest synchronisation of ovulation was obtained after the application of Ovopel (18 ± 3 h), but the best results of controlled reproduction (expressed as the percentage of ovulations and survival of embryos) were obtained by applying Ovaprim (83.2 ± 4.1). A significantly higher percentage of ovulation was obtained in cultured fish (80-90%) than in wild fish (< 25%).     

Interaction between zinc deficiency and boron toxicity on growth and mineral nutrition of sour orange seedlings

Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seedlings were grown for 3 months in diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA)‐buffered nutrient solutions to study the effect of Zn stress on the plants’ sensitivity to high boron concentration in the root environment. There were three zinc treatments: 21 μM Zn (LOW Zn‐DTPA), 69 μM Zn (NORMAL Zn‐DTPA) in the nutrient solution, or 12 weekly foliar sprays with ZnSO₄ (FOLIAR‐Zn). In the FOLIAR‐Zn treatment, the nutrient solution contained 21 μM Zn. Zn activities calculated with a chemical equilibrium model, Geochem PC, and expressed as pZn=‐log(Zn⁺²), were 10.2 and 9.7 in the LOW Zn‐DTPA and NORMAL Zn‐DTPA nutrient solutions, respectively. One half of the plants in each Zn treatment were grown in 51 μM B (NORMAL‐B) and the other half in 200 μM B (HIGH‐B) nutrient solution. Seedlings grown in LOW Zn‐DTPA/NORMAL‐B nutrient solution developed Zn deficiency symptoms such as: reduced shoot growth, small and chlorotic leaves, and white roots with visibly shorter and thicker laterals than in Zn sufficient plants. The HIGH‐B treatment decreased shoot growth, leaf and stem dry weight, leaf area, and induced severe leaf B toxicity on seedlings grown in the LOW Zn‐DTPA nutrient solution but the effect was either absent or less pronounced in the NORMAL Zn‐DTPA or FOLIAR‐Zn treatments. Seedlings in the LOW Zn‐DTPA FOLIAR‐Zn treatments but they had lower B concentration on a whole plant basis indicating less B uptake per unit of dry weight. The FOLIAR‐Zn and NORMAL Zn‐DTPA treatments were equally effective in alleviating leaf B toxicity symptoms. The FOLIAR‐Zn treatment, however, was less effective than the NORMAL Zn‐DTPA treatment in alleviating the deleterious effect of high B on leaf dry weight even though the B concentrations in leaves, stems, and roots of the foliar‐sprayed seedlings were similar to the NORMAL Zn‐DTPA seedlings. Leaf concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, mangenese, and copper were within the optimal range for citrus with the exception of Ca which was low. Although B and particularly Zn treatments modified the concentration of some of these elements in leaves and roots, these changes were too small to explain the observed growth responses. The observation that B toxicity symptoms in Zn‐deficient citrus could be mitigated with Zn applications is of potential practical importance as B toxicity and Zn deficiency are simultaneously encountered in some soils of semiarid zones.     

Concentrations of isoflavones and their metabolites in the blood of pregnant and non-pregnant heifers fed soy bean

The present study compared the changes in isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) and their metabolite (equol and para-ethyl-phenol) concentrations in the blood plasma of cyclic and pregnant heifers after feeding with soy bean. Twelve healthy heifers were divided into three groups: cyclic heifers (days 8-12 of the estrous cycle; control group; n=4), an early pregnancy group (2 months pregnant; n=4) and a late pregnancy group (8 months pregnant; n=4). All heifers were fed a single dose of 2.5 kg of soy bean and then blood samples were taken from the jugular vein for 8 h at predetermined intervals. The concentrations of soy bean-derived isoflavones and their active metabolites were measured in the blood plasma on an HPLC system. In the blood plasma of the early- and late-pregnant heifers, we found lower concentrations and time-dependent decreases in daidzein and genistein in comparison to cyclic heifers (P<0.05). Moreover, we noticed significant increases of equol and para-ethyl-phenol in the blood plasma of the early-pregnant heifers (P<0.05). In contrast, in the blood plasma of the late-pregnant heifers, we did not find an increase in the isoflavone metabolite concentrations compared with the early-pregnant heifers (P>0.05). In conclusion, physiological status (cyclicity or pregnancy) of the females influenced the concentrations of isoflavone metabolites in the blood plasma of the heifers. The stage of pregnancy affects isoflavone absorption, biotransformation and metabolism differently and results in higher concentrations of active metabolites of isoflavones during early pregnancy in comparison to their lower concentrations during late pregnancy. Therefore, we surmise that cows are more sensitive to active isoflavone metabolite actions during early pregnancy than cyclic heifers and heifers in late pregnancy.     

The possibility of application of agglomerate elastomers (EPP) as media for biological bed in aquaculture

The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of experimental media (agglomerate elastomers EPP) application as biological media bed, which serves the purpose of water purification in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). RAS enables mass‐production of fish in small volume of water in a limited area. This involves the possibility of multiple usage of water during culture. However, for that purpose of maintaining proper physico‐chemical parameters, water purification from products of metabolism, especially toxic nitrogen compounds, is required. One of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve it is combining application of two types of water filtration: mechanical and biological. It is needed to study new media for biological bed with proper filling is able to purify water from toxic nitrogen compounds.